The bustling camp seed deserted as everyone had moved into the Underground City. The small patrol team outside rubbed their hands and breathed into them, waiting for the last group to migrate, the Han Family.
"Deputy, look, they’re coming."
An eagle-eyed team mber spotted a small black shadow a few hundred ters away.
Cheng Dawei squinted his small sheep-like eyes and scrutinized it for a while. Unable to see clearly, he stood up decisively, "Let’s go have a look!"
"All right!"
As they approached, sure enough, it was the Han Family Master leading his family, arriving through the dust and wind.
When the two groups t, they exchanged a few pleasantries and returned to the Underground City together.
At this ti, the Underground City was bustling. Cheng Xiaoxiao had organized a simple celebration banquet to celebrate the foundation of Phoenix City. That’s right; from today, the fad Phoenix City was established deep in Daxing Mountain.
The phoenix rises from the ashes, symbolizing the arrival of a new era. Cheng Xiaoxiao was determined to create a burgeoning city here that combined ancient and modern cultures.
For this, she shalessly asked Zhou Yanlan to inscribe words. The grand characters, dragon-like and vigorous, were magnificent. The production departnt’s craftsmanship was impeccable, replicating the characters on a jet-black stone slab and mounting it high above the city gate. Under the baptism of snow and cold wind, it appeared even more solemn and mysterious.
After the lively cheers, everyone couldn’t wait to go down to the Underground City.
Not for anything else but tempted by Mr. Cheng’s hearty invitation to dine tonight.
Indeed, this sumptuous dinner left everyone with lingering taste and endless aftertaste.
They not only ate the legendary fresh stir-fried vegetables with bean sprouts but also the especially spicy pickled fish; smooth and tender stead egg custard; spicy and refreshing fresh tofu; crispy, salty fried atballs; slightly sweet white bread rolls; thick and fragrant sweet potato porridge paired with a dish of red oil pickles, a feast for the eyes and palate.
Each table also had a small jug of high-proof wine of unknown na, indulging the n in drinking rounds to their heart’s content, and lower-proof fruit wine for won that tasted sweet and heartwarming.
Mr. Cheng’s frankness and wealth surprised them again. With nearly ten thousand people gathered in the Underground City, how much foodstuff would that take? Yet everyone ate well and enough, with their stomachs full, it was truly impressive and admirable.
The Han Family had the most feelings. They didn’t expect to be warmly welcod and treated to such a feast on their first day integrating into this big family.
The bitterness of emotions welled up, bringing tears to their eyes.
As they say, sotis you must break to stand firm.
Sticking to outdated ideas, bearing the heavy shackles of responsibility, with clan elders constantly intervening, they truly regretted not joining the 132th Regint sooner.
Tonight, rare relaxation and ease perated, with everyone imrsed in joy and cheer. After three rounds of drinks, they frequently exposed their true characters, doing things they normally wouldn’t or dared not do, creating jokes that caused bouts of laughter among the crowd.
Cheng Xiaoxiao sat in the main seat, laughing along, holding a little one who kicked and flailed their small limbs, occasionally making incoherent sounds, which amused the person next to them. The latter waved their small hands frequently, trying to overthrow the other and take their place but lacked the strength, almost crying out of urgency.
The expression seed to say: Hey! Buddy, get off, that’s my special seat, who allowed you to usurp my place.
The accused little one had no clue about their older brother’s anger, babbling away. Seeing so many people and such a lively scene, they giggled along.
Occasionally fed a spoon of egg custard, the little toothless mouth smacked in satisfaction.
Of course, it was our Little Crown Prince in Cheng Xiaoxiao’s arms.
Now called Cheng Hongyi, he had grown rosy and lovely over ti, quickly gaining popularity and surpassing Yi, adored by all.
The proud Cheng Hongyi had his troubles, often kissed randomly by soone, much to his frustration. His keeper was overly enthusiastic, which he found hard to handle. He often dodged left and right as the other tried to kiss him, causing laughter that made the other even more pleased, insisting on a kiss for satisfaction.
Sitting at Cheng Xiaoxiao’s right, Yanlan handled the enthusiastic toasts from n, sowhat uncomfortable, given his usual aloofness unaccustod to the current warmth and closeness of others.
Seeing everyone basking in warm smiles yet unwilling to disturb the montarily beautiful atmosphere, he managed to cope.
While internally resisting, there was also a bit of heartache and envy.
Part of his mind lingered on a certain person with a brilliant smile on his left side.
His heartache grew more rampant, with bitter emotions growing within yet having nowhere to vent, so he tightly gripped his cup, drinking away his bitterness mixed with the fiery liquor.
The reason the other was so happy was probably the harmonious family seated together, teasing and bantering each other, the atmosphere joyful, fulfilling, and ample.
Though sitting together, he felt out of place, detached from the laughter and warmth. Such heartfelt warmth was sothing he could no longer feel, or perhaps had never felt.
Though his mother protected him as a child, being very young, there weren’t many mories, but that care and affection were enough to warm his repeatedly scarred heart.
Fatherly love was seemingly absent in his life, even though the man awakened near his end, not making up for the years of indulgence and neglect.
The past, like fleeting smoke, faded slightly after vendetta was achieved, or perhaps unwilling to recall the past, his subconscious closed off all emotions, leaving no sorrow or joy.
Until arriving here, the warmth flooded with the scent of human life which lavishly spread, compelling him to be moved and yearn for more.
Knowing this warm sensation didn’t belong in his life, he should leave once he settled here but found excuses to stay.
Though persuaded by others to stay, if he wanted to leave, who could stop him? Oh well! Wait until Han Yi returns, and then it’s ti to depart.
After six rounds of drinks, the crowd gradually dispersed.
The drunk and those not drunk supported each other back to their allocated little hos, almost collapsing into bed imdiately to sleep.
No one noticed above the sky at the mont, within the dim air, fog was condensing, and clouds were swirling, consuming one another.
Above the clouds, raindrops seed to fall but were whisked away by the strong wind into the condensing fog.
At the end of the midnight hour, after brewing for long, a sky storm suddenly descended. Dark clouds gathered densely, strong winds rose ferociously, temperatures rapidly dropped, and within monts it felt like falling into an ice cellar. People in their dreams couldn’t act in ti before their breath weakened and eventually ceased.
Following closely ca hail the size of a baby’s fist, chasing down from the sky, pounding on the ground and slowly integrating into the mountain’s ice rivers.
User Comments
0 comments from readers