"What are you saying? When family reunites, there's never an end to what they have to say. That's a good thing, isn't it?"
Ji Jue smiled unconcernedly. "May I ask how I should address you?"
"An Jiu, just an idle handyman in the household."
The newcomer smiled faintly. "The main victim of that staircase you just mentioned is me. Unfortunately, the one in charge at home refuses to let us build a road no matter what. Every time we buy some jars and bottles, we have to trek over mountains and ridges... Ahem, I've said too much nonsense. Please, come up with me."
"Uncle Jiu!"
Little An took the initiative to greet him, his eyes sparkling.
"A Ran is back?"
As they walked, the old man affectionately ruffled his hair. "Let me see—you've grown taller. How's your studying going?"
"I've learned a lot!" An Ran answered obediently. "Brother Ji Jue taught me. I can speak Empire Language now, and physics, chemistry, and mathematics..."
"Oh, that's impressive. Are you going to take the university entrance exams?"
"Mm, I am!"
"Then work hard. You might become the first university student in the family."
An Jiu rambled on sentimentally. "Don't be like your sister. Every time she comes down the mountain, she hauls back a huge pile of textbooks, but after buying them, she never reads them. They all end up being used as firewood..."
They followed the stone steps upward all the way, taking in the magnificent mountain scenery. Beyond the main gate lay a sight resembling a village.
It was completely unlike the heavily guarded or grim, austere scene Ji Jue had imagined.
It was quaint and antique, yet not lacking in modern equipment. People came and went, most of them ordinary people, though each bore more or less White Deer's