Visiting as a Guest

"Eh? It's the owner of Sweet Delights Shop!" The little beauty spoke first.

Lu Zheng froze for a moment, then immediately came to his senses. Smiling, he cupped his hands. "Are you two Old Man Liu's family?"

"Greetings, Young Master Lu."

The great beauty smiled faintly with her jade-like face, dipped her head in a graceful salute, her willow waist and flower-like bearing exquisite.

Good heavens, a classic ancient beauty—a lady from a distinguished family. Lu Zheng blinked and returned the salute with cupped hands.

Only after they exchanged names did Lu Zheng learn that the great beauty was called Liu Qingyan, while the little beauty was Liu Qingquan.

There were four people in the Liu family. They had only moved into their new home today. Old Man Liu and Madam Liu were still directing the servants as they arranged the household, while these two had already impatiently gone shopping in Cong An Ward.

Sure enough, women in every world shared certain traits, transcending the boundaries of the universe.

"Young Master Lu, the Sugar Frost in your shop is so sweet." Liu Qingquan's eyes shone.

Poor child. What child in twenty-first-century China still ate rock sugar dry?

"Is that so? I've also made some special candy myself. I'll let you try some later."

"Is it even tastier than Sugar Frost?"

"It's definitely tastier than Sugar Frost." Lu Zheng nodded solemnly. "But you can't eat too much. Too much sugar can easily ruin your teeth."

Liu Qingquan shook her head like a rattle-drum. "My teeth won't go bad! Look!"

Liu Qingquan moved closer to Lu Zheng, raised her head, and bared her teeth, revealing a mouthful of little white teeth.

Neat and orderly, white as jade—they looked even better than modern whitened teeth.

"Mm-hm, I see them." Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly and took two steps back.

It was their first meeting. He couldn't reveal his true nature! "Please forgive her, Young Master Lu. My little sister has not yet come of age and is still immature." Liu Qingyan reached out and pulled her sister back.

"It's fine, it's fine. Your sister has such a bright personality. I quite... well, anyway, she's very nice."

Lu Zheng's courtyard was not far from the alley entrance, and the Liu residence was even closer. They had only exchanged a few words before arriving at the Liu family's gate.

"Lu Lang." Old Man Liu happened to be coming out and spotted Lu Zheng.

"Greetings, Old Man Liu. I happened to meet your daughters at the alley entrance and exchanged a few casual words."

"No matter, no matter. Oh, right—I don't know anyone else in Tonglin County. I was planning to visit your home this afternoon and invite you for dinner, as a housewarming feast." Old Man Liu said with a smile.

"When an elder invites, I dare not refuse. This boy shall respectfully comply."

I'm not going just to look at the pretty young ladies. Absolutely not!

The Liu Family Sisters bade Lu Zheng farewell before entering their home, while Lu Zheng also said goodbye to Old Man Liu and returned to his own residence.

"Young Master, the Liu family next door..."

Uncle Li had just come up to greet him when Lu Zheng waved his hand. "I just met them at the gate. It's a housewarming feast, right?"

"Precisely."

"I understand. Then I won't be eating dinner at home." Lu Zheng nodded and entered the rear courtyard.

"Mm, a housewarming feast. They're inviting me to dinner, and I'm visiting as a guest. I should bring a gift. What should I give them?"

With a flash, Lu Zheng returned to the modern world, changed clothes, and headed for the China Resources supermarket at the entrance to his residential complex.

"Judging by how the Liu family dresses, they don't seem short of money. They must at least be moderately well-off."

"Mm, candy is definitely a must."

Passing through the candy section, Lu Zheng picked up a tin of imported fruit hard candies. This was for the little beauty, Liu Qingquan.

The little beauty was very cute, and they would likely run into each other often in the future. A box of hard candy would lay the groundwork first; there was no hurry for more advanced things like chocolate or Eclairs. One step at a time.

Mm, adults could drink a little in the evening, so Lu Zheng also picked up a bottle of thirty-five-proof low-alcohol Wuliangye. It should make Old Man Liu happy.

He wondered whether Old Man Liu might let something slip if he drank happily enough. As for the women...

Lu Zheng casually took two more bottles of fruit wine: one Green Plum Wine and one Peach Blossom Brew.

For their first meeting, this should be about enough, right?

Thus, Lu Zheng left the supermarket carrying three bottles of wine and a box of candy, then bought a set of engraved purple clay teaware from the tea room next door.

"Done!"

"For a first meeting, I can't give anything too precious. It could easily cause misunderstandings."

Purple clay teapots also existed in the Great Jing Dynasty. Lu Zheng's set was much more refined, but it was still only an ordinary object.

As for the candy and wine, they were everyday food and drink. Their value was hard to define.

Lu Zheng carried the items home, but as he walked, he let out a sigh.

"Ah... it's too hard being me..."

Actually, when Lu Zheng had first transmigrated, he had considered buying a pretty maid in the Great Jing Dynasty. But after thinking it over, he gave up on the idea.

Because she would be someone at his side, unlike Uncle Li and Aunt Liu, who lived in the front courtyard. His occasional disappearances would be impossible to hide from her.

And his wings had not yet fully grown. Whether he spent the night at Spring Breeze Pavilion in the Great Jing Dynasty or found someone for a night of spring in a modern bar, he could not risk bringing anyone into his home.

So...

Lu Zheng's thoughts gradually calmed, and the true qi within his body circulated through a grand cycle.

"It's only your first meeting. What are you even thinking? Your values really run after your facial features! Have you already thought of names for the children?"

"Infinite Heavenly Lord, sin upon sin!"

"Exhale... inhale..."

"Of course, no matter what, there's no harm in getting closer. I can just appreciate beauty."

"A classic ancient beauty. If I hadn't seen her in broad daylight, and if the Peace Talisman hadn't reacted, I would have thought she was another Corpse Ghoul."

"I wonder what her personality is like... pfft!"

He returned home, changed clothes, dealt with the gifts, and then transmigrated to the Great Jing Dynasty.

After placing the rebottled wine and the unwrapped tea set into a wooden box, Lu Zheng checked the sky and headed out.

"Please come in, Young Master Lu!"

The one opening the door was an old man. For some reason, gatekeepers in ancient times were always old men.

The Liu residence had much the same layout as Lu Zheng's courtyard. After passing the screen wall, Lu Zheng saw the four members of the Liu family already waiting for him outside the main hall.

"Greetings, Old Man Liu. Greetings, Madam Liu. Greetings, young ladies."

It was Lu Zheng's first time meeting Old Man Liu's wife. Her hair was now streaked with gray, but she had maintained herself well enough that one could still glimpse a trace of her former charm.

"Lu Lang has arrived. Please, take a seat. There are few people in our family, and there aren't many rules. Let us simply sit together and have a simple meal."

"That suits me perfectly." Lu Zheng smiled and handed the wooden box in his hand to the old man beside him.

Old Man Liu smiled. "You are too courteous."

"It is only proper for a first visit." Lu Zheng drew a cloth pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Qingquan. "The candy I promised you."

Liu Qingquan's eyes lit up, and she immediately accepted it.

"Qing Quan!" Liu Qingyan scolded softly.

But Liu Qingquan had already opened the pouch and taken out a yellow-orange hard candy.

"This is..."

"Tangerine-flavored."

"Candy can have fruit flavors too?" Liu Qingquan immediately popped the hard candy into her mouth.

Then her eyes curved into crescents.

Liu Qingquan: (ω｀) "It's so delicious!"

Lu Zheng forcibly held back the urge to reach over and pat her head.

"Please forgive her, Young Master Lu." Madam Liu said apologetically from the side. "I've spoiled my daughter too much in everyday life."

Lu Zheng smiled. "Qing Quan is innocent and lively. This is very good."

"This way, Young Master!"

Madam Liu gestured for Lu Zheng to enter the hall, but Old Man Liu suddenly twitched his nose.

"This is... the fragrance of wine?"

Thanks to fellow cultivator zznongzn, fellow book friend Z of The Rest of My Life, and reader 1349900093491490816 for the hundred-yuan rewards, and thanks to fellow cultivator I Am Meng Xiang for the two-thousand-yuan reward.