Manager Wan, feeling helpless, then spoke, "Also, I’ve asked soone in Xianyang City to arrange a marriage for you. Or else..."
"No, no, no!"
Zhao Lvzi’s face turned red, and he quickly waved his hands, "No need, Uncle Wan, I’ll figure it out myself."
Having said that, he fled in a panic.
Watching his retreating figure, Manager Wan’s face was a picture of helplessness.
After leaving Shangyi Village, Zhao Lvzi quickened his pace and, in less than an hour, returned to the Mountain God Temple on the mountain.
There, the previously disheveled Mountain God Temple was now spotlessly clean, and a woman was humming a tune while weaving reeds into mats.
Her complexion was fair, and her beauty was exceptional. Despite wearing coarse clothing and doing the work of a farr’s wife, her delicate jade hands had grown sowhat rough, yet her deanor was composed, as if picking flowers in a garden.
Seeing Zhao Lvzi, she smiled gracefully, "You’re back?"
"Mm."
Zhao Lvzi murmured, nodding, then hesitated before saying, "I’ve asked around; the situation in Chang’an is still a bit tense..."
The woman blinked, "Are you so eager to have leave?"
"That’s not... I..."
Zhao Lvzi suddenly panicked, his words tripping over themselves.
The woman chuckled. "Don’t worry, I’m not leaving."
She said, looking toward Chang’an with a flicker of disdain in her eyes, "That place, I never want to go back. Everyone there is scheming, living in fear. Here, at least I can sleep peacefully every night."
"Mm."
Zhao Lvzi humd in agreent, scratching the back of his head.
Though not eloquent, the smile in his eyes was unmistakable.
"Fool."
The woman laughed again, her eyes filled with tenderness, "And don’t call Miss Feng anymore. Where the husband goes, the wife follows; from now on, just call Zhao Fengshi."
Zhao Lvzi humd again.
"Is ’mm’ all you can say?"
"Mm."
"What a fool..."
...
Xianyang City, Zhang’s Martial Arts School.
Today was Zhang Yuanshang’s sixtieth birthday.
Though he was a low-key person, as the chairman of the Divine Fist Association in Xianyang City, celebrating his birthday sotis was not entirely up to him.
By now, the entire martial arts school was brightly decorated, with disciples bustling about preparing the banquet, and even a theatrical troupe from Chang’an had been invited.
Zhang Shitong, holding a note from Manager Wan, made his way quickly through the bustling crowd to the backyard.
There, much like an old farr, Zhang Yuanshang crouched on the steps, puffing away at a large smoking pipe.
Zhang Shitong hurried forward, bowing and reporting, "Father, Li Yan has left, and there were no issues."
"What issues could there be!"
Zhang Yuanshang grunted irritably, "I’ve realized, this boy is wilder and more trouble-prone than his father. After stirring up so much trouble in Guanzhong, what choice did he have but to flee?"
"Where did they go?"
"I heard they are heading to Ezhou; by now they should have reached Manchuan Pass."
"Ezhou? They’ll have to pass through Yunyang Prefecture on the way; that place... eh, forget it, this kid always knows how to land on his feet. Let him be."
Seeing Zhang Yuanshang agitated, Zhang Shitong whispered, "Father, you’ve invited both families here; if they..."
"What could possibly happen?"
Zhang Yuanshang glared, "It’s my birthday today; even if they’re upset, they’ll keep it to themselves. It’s better if things can be openly discussed; after all, everyone is just trying to make a living."
"Just like Li Yan, who resorts to killing at the slightest disagreent!"
"Everyone’s nearly here; let’s go."
Saying this, Zhang Yuanshang stood up, patted his bottom, and left the backyard.
In the front yard, the scene was lively and bustling.
"Good health to Elder Zhang!"
"Chairman Zhang, good to see you!"
As Zhang Yuanshang arrived, everyone hurriedly ca forward to greet him.
Zhang Yuanshang bead, skillfully engaging with everyone, creating a harmonious atmosphere throughout the martial arts school.
From the distant stage, the resonant and heroic voice of a perforr rose:
"Heaven and earth bow down, the wise and the foolish awaken from drunkenness, through the rise and fall of tis, with a heart braving the cold night with the strength to return ho, again in a foreign land..."
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