Zheng Estate's Visitors

The next morning.

The meat he had brought back from Liu Yong's house had been eaten clean. Taking advantage of the early morning, Li Chengfeng went to the butcher at the market in high spirits and bought some meat, then replenished some vegetables before returning.

When he got home, he handed the things to Liu Yuniang to sort out, then went to the edge of the bamboo grove in complete comfort to cultivate Taiji Fist.

By the time he had practiced in one vigorous burst until noon, Liu Yuniang had already finished making fragrant pork rice and dishes.

Li Chengfeng only wiped his sweat, sat down on the stool, and could begin eating at once.

As he ate the food in great mouthfuls, he thought about the silver he had left, and his heart was incomparably content.

"One jin of pork is twenty copper coins. There are dozens of taels of silver at home. Even if I don't go hunting and eat as much as I want, it'll last a very long time."

Li Chengfeng felt comfortable inside. He reached out and rubbed Liu Yuniang's soft white leg again, and amid her still somewhat embarrassed expression at the change in their identities, thoughts turned in his mind.

"The only concern is that Master Zheng. Before he thinks of doing anything, I have to raise my strength to the level of a martial artist."

Thoughts surged in Li Chengfeng's heart. Looking at Liu Yuniang's shy expression before him, a trace of gentleness appeared on his face.

In truth, before the night before last, Liu Yuniang had not been so easily embarrassed.

It was only after the night before last, when Li Chengfeng kept bringing up her former form of address, that Liu Yuniang was always so ashamed she did not dare raise her head.

Thinking of all kinds of benefits, Li Chengfeng's heart became even more resolute.

Taking advantage of this opening while the other side had yet to react, he absolutely had to practice martial arts properly!

Once his mind was set, Li Chengfeng sped up and finished his meal, wiped his mouth, rose, held Liu Yuniang's face, and kissed her rosy red lips.

Then, under the gaze of Liu Yuniang's tender white cheeks, which had flushed scarlet with shame, he got up with a smile and went to the courtyard to practice and digest his food.

Inside the house, Liu Yuniang tightened her fingers, then also sped up her eating. After finishing, she cleared the bowls and chopsticks, carefully wiped the table and chairs, put everything in order, and then, following Li Chengfeng's arrangements, moved around in the courtyard after the meal.

When they had moved around for about long enough, the two each used towels to wipe themselves down.

Liu Yuniang had just put down the towel and was about to turn toward the bed when a pair of hands landed on her backside. Li Chengfeng picked her up and went straight onto the bed.

"Aiya, sleep..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Time slowly flowed by amid Li Chengfeng's cultivation that was relaxed and measured.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the fifth day since Li Chengfeng had killed Liu Yong and returned home.

That morning, Li Chengfeng was at home honing his martial arts, while Liu Yuniang was also moving her body with health-preserving qigong after the meal.

As the two were practicing, they suddenly saw a middle-aged man in a brocade robe and long gown, with a queue, walking up to the gate of their courtyard, followed by two attendants in cloth clothes.

"Knock, knock, knock. I am Wei Zhong, steward of Master Zheng's household. I have business and request an audience."

Along with a burst of knocking, a sonorous voice rang out from outside, seeming unhurried and methodical.

"Master Zheng's steward? What is he doing at our home?"

Liu Yuniang looked over in surprise and could not help casting her gaze toward Li Chengfeng.

"Whoosh~"

"The Zheng family's steward? Master Zheng?"

Li Chengfeng's expression darkened as he ended his practice and stood still. He could not help glancing at the skill panel.

[Skill: Taiji Fist]

[Level: Beginner (780/800)]

[Effect: Whole-Body Power]

"Yuniang, go back inside. I'll go take a look."

Looking at the Taiji Fist skill level that was still twenty skill points away from breaking through, Li Chengfeng looked at Master Zheng's steward outside the courtyard and took a deep breath. In a calm voice, he first spoke to Liu Yuniang.

"Husband..."

At first, Liu Yuniang had not been especially worried, but seeing Li Chengfeng's dark expression, her own expression froze for a moment and instantly turned worried. Her rosy red lips parted slightly, and she opened her mouth in concern, wanting to say something. But looking at Li Chengfeng's solemn expression, she thought for a moment, then still nodded, pursed her lips, and returned inside the house.

"Creak~"

After Liu Yuniang entered the house and closed the door, Li Chengfeng looked back. Only when he heard the sound of the door being bolted did he turn his head toward the courtyard gate and stride over.

"Whoosh~"

He circulated Whole-Body Power, his figure swift as he walked behind the courtyard gate, pulled the two doors inward, and the courtyard gate instantly opened.

Outside the gate, the cloth-clothed attendant who had just raised his hand to knock froze for a moment. Then he looked at Li Chengfeng and smiled, withdrew his hand, and stood behind the middle-aged man in the brocade robe in the center.

"May I ask what business Steward Wei has come here for?"

Li Chengfeng glanced at the two attendants and saw that they were sturdy and well-built. His eyes narrowed, then he looked again at the brocade-robed middle-aged man in the center, cupped his fist, and asked in a deep voice.

"Oh, you are Li Chengfeng, the one who used to work short-term jobs at the Zheng family, aren't you?"

Steward Wei lifted his head. His gaze swept over Li Chengfeng, and with his mouth open, he slowly asked.

"I did indeed once work as a day laborer for the Zheng family."

Li Chengfeng furrowed his brow, nodded, and asked again, "May I ask what brings Steward Wei here?"

"The Wei family is hiring day laborers again now. Why not go work there? They pay two hundred copper coins a month."

Steward Wei did not answer Li Chengfeng right away. Instead, he looked at him with a smile and spoke.

"I've found some other ways to make a living, so for now I don't want to work as a day laborer. If Steward Wei came here for that, please go back."

Li Chengfeng furrowed his brow, raised his hands in a cupped-fist salute, and turned as if to go back into the courtyard and shut the door.

"Ah—don't be in such a hurry. In this season, other ways of making a living aren't easy. Yet you stay home every day doing nothing and can still nourish your body so well. Looks like you're eating and drinking nicely."

Steward Wei raised a hand to stop Li Chengfeng, his eyes looking at him with depth. The wrinkled corners of his mouth curved in a smile, and he spoke in a calm voice. "Recently, Liu Yong, a long-term worker of our Zheng family, died. His younger brother Liu Hong died too. And all the money in their home vanished without wings. Whoever the villain was who robbed them of their family wealth, after getting that sum of money, his days must have become much easier."

"Liu Hong deserved death ten thousand times over. As for Liu Yong, I don't know."

Li Chengfeng furrowed his brow and looked at Steward Wei with a calm voice. "Could it be that Steward Wei came here because you suspect I killed them and robbed them of their family wealth?"

"Ah, what need is there for me to come here for that?"

Steward Wei smiled. "As for who killed them, isn't that just a matter of one word from Master Zheng? Crushing a man to death doesn't count for much."

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng narrowed his eyes, then cupped his fists as if in envy. "Master Zheng's might is matchless. It truly makes one envious."

"Now, that's all the foundation the Zheng family built up over several generations of being masters, several generations of being martial artists, saved bit by bit through bitter toil. Being a master is hard work for him, with so much to worry about. It isn't like you day laborers, who don't need to worry about anything."

Hearing Li Chengfeng's words, Steward Wei sighed with feeling. Then, seeing Li Chengfeng's brows knit, he stopped talking, narrowed his eyes as he swept a glance over him, and said with a smile, "Master Zheng has gone out recently. He has matters outside and can't return, but when he comes back from handling business outside, there should always be a little celebratory prize."

"I heard from Liu Yong that you have a widowed sister-in-law at home, with a unique bodily fragrance and rather fine looks. Master wants to take her as a concubine, to make himself happy."

"For this, Master Zheng was willing to give ten taels of silver before. Originally, Liu Yong had already reported to Master Zheng that the matter was settled. But as it turned out, over a month ago Master Zheng went out on important business and didn't come back, and Liu Yong told me you had gone back on your word again."

After Steward Wei finished, he looked at Li Chengfeng with a beaming smile. "I waited a month and still didn't see you change your mind, so I thought I'd come ask whether there was some misunderstanding with Liu Yong. On my private side, I'm willing to add another five taels of silver, purely to make Master Zheng happy. But then Liu Yong died, so I had no choice but to come ask you myself."

"I wonder what you mean to do. If you're willing, then when the time comes, I'll give you an extra five taels for marrying off your sister-in-law—fifteen taels of silver in total. How about it?"

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng's brow deeply furrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Steward Wei raised a hand and chuckled softly.

"Ah, young man, don't be in such a rush to speak."

After saying this, Steward Wei looked at him meaningfully. "Master Zheng likely won't be back until a little over a month from now. I'll come see you again in a month. Just give me your answer then."

"Steward Wei, there's no need to consider it. My sister-in-law has already followed my uncle's wishes and formed a family with me. She is now my wife."

Steward Wei had just finished speaking with an air as light as wind and clouds and was about to leave with his hands clasped behind his back when he heard Li Chengfeng's stiff voice.

His brow lifted, and he turned his head expressionlessly to look at Li Chengfeng.