A Lavish Welcome from a Powerful Kyoto Family

Three days later, Zhang Yang boarded a plane to Kyoto with Cheng Dongxue and Liu Mei.

"Xiao Yang, are we really going on vacation?"

Liu Mei looked extremely nervous. Perhaps that was how everyone felt on their first flight. Zhang Yang was a little nervous himself.

"Of course."

Zhang Yang had not told Liu Mei the truth. He wanted to take her sightseeing, show her the bustle of Kyoto, and let her experience life in another thriving city.

To everyone else, Liu Mei was a farmwife who grew vegetables in the countryside. Even Yang Su and her husband had always thought so.

But Zhang Yang knew his mother, Liu Mei, had secrets.

White clouds filled the view outside. Liu Mei sat by the window, staring out as though something weighed on her mind.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Cheng Dongxue sat between them. Zhang Yang's question made her realize that her mother-in-law was preoccupied too.

"Hmm... Nothing!"

Liu Mei seemed distracted. Cheng Dongxue assumed she was having trouble adjusting to her first flight.

The flight from Linchuan to Kyoto took several hours. Once Zhang Yang was sure his mother was all right, he leaned back to rest.

He slept so soundly that the plane was already descending when he opened his eyes.

"Come to my place for a simple meal first, brother. You can have a good rest there."

Zhang Daoru pushed his own suitcase, walking with a light, vigorous stride that belied his age. He kept pace beside Zhang Yang without having to hurry.

Zhang Yang did not object to his arrangements. Kyoto was Zhang Daoru's territory, and it made sense to follow his host's lead when he did not know the city.

Zhang Daoru's family was one of Kyoto's great families, though the city had many such families.

Zhang Yang