As New Year's Day approached, the long-debated curfew was finally lifted, and Zhonghai City gradually began to show signs of prosperity.
If one set aside the crisis posed by the God of Lightning, this year had been much better than the last. Supplies were plentiful, prices had fallen, and the markets were stable. Small-scale barbarian raids had all but vanished, and most of Great Xia Nation remained at peace.
This was even more true of Zhonghai, Great Xia Nation's economic center.
And with large numbers of second- and third-line soldiers being discharged, commerce was gradually flourishing as well.
Great Xia Nation had far too many people, and employment had always been a huge problem. Even in wartime, given the country's circumstances, it was impossible for the entire economy to shift to a wartime footing.
The shops lining the streets stood one after another, all thriving.
Chen Shouyi was also receiving more and more invitations to meetings. Most came from the government, some from Zhonghai City and others from the capital. At his level, taking part in government and political affairs was only natural.
But Chen Shouyi had no interest in any of it. Every day, he simply stuck to his usual cultivation routine.
Early one morning.
Chen Shouyi and Chen Xingyue chatted as they ate breakfast.
"Isn't anyone at school pursuing you? How come you still don't have a boyfriend?" Chen Shouyi teased.
"Plenty of people are after me!" Chen Xingyue said proudly. "They're all old men, though. They're already twenty-three or twenty-four and still have the nerve to chase after me. What do you think they're after? I'm not even eighteen yet."
"You shouldn't date someone too much older." Chen Shouyi wholeheartedly agreed. He didn't like older people either.
"And if someone wants to pursue me, he has to