Reunion

Qin Yaxin was completely stunned.

She clearly remembered that Elder Lu had gone missing halfway to Lidu.

For an old man with one foot already in the grave, that had practically meant certain death.

Not to mention that Zhang Yao had gone back to look for him.

But after the shock passed, threads of delight welled up in Qin Yaxin's heart.

She knew full well what the elderly kitchen worker meant to Zhang Yao. He was not merely his lifesaver, but also a close friend with whom he could speak of anything, a witness who had accompanied him through decades of wind and rain. Though they were not family, the bond between them ran even deeper than family.

Now that Elder Lu was still alive, it was no different from rekindling Zhang Yao's fighting spirit and hope.

Search GOOGLE TWKAN

"It's Fortune Mansion. I ordered this meal from Fortune Mansion. It looks like Elder Lu must have returned to his old trade there."

Qin Yaxin quickly guessed what had happened.

"Fortune Mansion, is it? I'll go take a look right now!"

Zhang Yao immediately headed outside, his face brimming with irrepressible joy.

Seeing this, Qin Yaxin hurried after him.

After checking on Zhang Zhi in the side courtyard, Shen Yuniang heard the commotion and hastily came out.

"Miss Qin, what happened to Zhang Yao?"

Catching sight of Zhang Yao striding outside with a glowing face, Shen Yuniang looked utterly astonished, unable to understand what was going on.

"Ah, it's like this—Elder Lu seems to still be alive."

"Old Lu? Wait, that old fellow from the kitchen?"

Shen Yuniang furrowed her brow, a trace of displeasure flashing through her eyes, but her expression soon relaxed again.

"That old fellow is actually still alive? Fine. With things as they are now, it would be good if Old Lu could come back."

That was right. If that fellow's return could restore fighting spirit to the lifeless Zhang Yao, then it was not a bad thing.

After Zhang Yao and Qin Yaxin left, Shen Yuniang ran back to the side courtyard and told her daughter, Zhang Zhi, the news.

After hearing it, Zhang Zhi's face remained as calm as before. Yet after Shen Yuniang left, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, and her expression softened by a fraction.

In Fortune Mansion's back kitchen.

Lu Fan was tidying up the kitchenware. Just as he finished wiping down the stove and was about to return to the storeroom, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the back door.

At the same time, a familiar presence entered his senses.

This was...

A few breaths later, hurried footsteps rang out at the courtyard gate, followed closely by a somewhat weathered figure striding into the courtyard.

"Old Lu, are you here?"

"Old Lu!"

Zhang Yao crossed the courtyard in a few quick strides, calling out loudly.

At that moment, Lu Fan happened to emerge from the back kitchen, and the two came face-to-face.

"Hall Master?"

Lu Fan looked at Zhang Yao with an expression of great surprise.

"Old Lu, you really are alive!"

"That's wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Zhang Yao's eyes reddened slightly. He strode forward and pulled Lu Fan into a tight embrace.

"Cough, cough. Hall Master, let go already. These old bones of mine are about to be crushed by you."

"Ah, sorry. Old Lu, are you all right?"

Only then did Zhang Yao come to his senses. He hurriedly released him and repeatedly checked Lu Fan over.

"No, I'm fine. But I didn't expect you to be in Lidu too, Hall Master."

Lu Fan replied.

At that moment, Qin Yaxin also entered with Fortune Mansion's manager.

"Oh, Miss Qin is here as well?"

"Elder Lu, it has been a long time. I heard from the manager that you are helping out in the kitchen here now?"

Qin Yaxin stepped forward, smiling brightly at Lu Fan.

"Yes, just scraping together a meal. This old man is a stranger in Lidu, after all."

Lu Fan nodded.

"Then, Elder Lu, if you are willing, come work in our Qin Household's kitchen instead. That way, you can also catch up with Hall Master Zhang whenever you like."

"Hall Master Zhang, what do you think?"

As Qin Yaxin spoke, she looked toward Zhang Yao again.

Zhang Yao nodded again and again in agreement.

"Ah, you have truly troubled yourself over this, Miss Qin. Old Lu, pack your things and come back with us. I've missed your meat soup terribly."

"But I've only been at Fortune Mansion for a short while. The manager..."

Lu Fan deliberately looked troubled as he glanced at the manager beside Qin Yaxin.

The manager quickly waved with a smile. "All right, Old Lu. I never expected you to have ties to the Qin Household. Hurry along. Just remember to lend me a hand after you make it big."

Only after receiving the manager's approval did Lu Fan look to Qin Yaxin.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Qin."

"No, it's nothing."

Qin Yaxin smiled, a flicker of joy passing through her eyes.

Now that Lu Fan had returned, Zhang Yao's lost soul had returned as well. The matter of finding guards for the shops should be settled afterward.

As long as Zhang Yao could reignite his fighting spirit, everything that followed would be easier to handle.

After all, damaged meridians were not some incurable terminal illness without remedy.

Right now, within the Qin Household's main branch in Lidu, she did not merely lack useful pieces on the board—she had scarcely anyone she could trust.

For her, helping Zhang Yao recover his fighting spirit was unquestionably a major step forward.

Deep within the Qin Household, inside a room filled with books.

There was a knock at the door. Someone quickly entered and reported the situation.

"Is that so? Yaxin recruited an old man from Fortune Mansion. No need to bother with it."

"Observe for a few more days, then withdraw."

"Yes."

Before long, the door closed again. Qin Zhao set down the brush in his hand, his handsome face heavy with gravity.

Although the Qin Household was a super family in Lidu, that was already a thing of the past.

When he became the head of the household several years ago, he understood that the Qin Household was already strong on the outside but weak within, nothing more than an empty name.

And the reason was simple: the Qin Household's Core-Embracing Realm ancestor's grand birthday was approaching.

Normally, everyone in the Lineage should have kept silent about such a matter, but somehow the news had leaked out.

A few years ago, there had only been minor probing. But lately, those watchful, tiger-eyed people were nearly unable to hold themselves back.

At this rate, it would likely not be long before those people truly made their move.

After all, the Qin Household currently controlled one-third of Lidu's medicinal pill trade. That was a lucrative post dripping with fat.

Who knew how many families outside were staring eagerly, waiting for the Qin Household to fall so they could take over the medicinal pill business.

It was only because those people feared the Qin Household ancestor's prestige that they did not dare act rashly.

But now, that prestige likely would not be able to deter them for much longer.

"The Li Family has not been very settled lately either. It might well be them fanning the flames from behind the scenes, but there is no point considering such matters now."

"The most important thing is, how much longer can Ancestor... hold on?"

Qin Zhao could not help clenching his fists.

For the Qin Household, what they needed most now was time.

As long as another Core-Embracing Realm expert was born before their ancestor passed away, the Qin Household could still maintain its current position.

And if not, then what awaited them would be...

"Whew. It's time to visit Ancestor."

After a long silence, Qin Zhao rose with a grim face and walked toward the depths of the study.