Hibiscus City Revisited
Zhang Xuezhou has been traveling around for the past few months, and the people taking care of him have been constantly changing, from the reliable Rong Tianding.
Today, he can finally catch his breath and return to a normal life.
Our last stop was Hibiscus City, where we stayed overnight.
"Cousin?"
"Cousin, you really went back to Hibiscus City?"
For those who prefer walking or horseback riding, the Taishan area is a bit far from Hibiscus City.
But for Zhang Xuezhou, who possessed two flying techniques, crossing mountains and valleys saved him a great deal of time.
It wasn't even noon yet, but Zhang Xuezhou had already leisurely arrived in Hibiscus City.
He first went to Rong Li's pig slaughtering stall, but after not finding her, he went to the Rong Household's residence.
The Rong Household mansion was bustling with people. A banquet had been set up, and many people sat on the ground to congratulate and eat. A servant carried a jar of wine that was rarely drunk by ordinary people and went back and forth between the seats to refill the wine.
The heads of the table were Rong Li and Jia Zhiyuan, with Rong Tianding in the second seat.
It had been a long time since Zhang Xuezhou had seen Rong Li. The Rong Li who used to wield a knife and kill people had now grown white hair and was no longer the fierce and valiant woman Zhang Xuezhou had seen back then.
Jia Zhiyuan looked older and thinner, but he was clearly very happy holding the wine, with a slightly flushed face, almost falling asleep.
Rong Tianding, on the other hand, was beaming and kept greeting people.
When his gaze swept across the entrance, Rong Tianding couldn't help but rub his eyes.
Zhang Xuezhou was the first to call out, and only then did he realize that Zhang Xuezhou had indeed arrived in Hibiscus City.
Rong Tianding shouted, which made Rong Li quickly stand up and look at Zhang Xuezhou who stepped into the room.
Having not seen him for many years, Zhang Xuezhou looked more mature, but he was still easily recognizable at a glance.
Zhang Xuezhou was dressed in coarse cloth, and at first glance, he looked like an ordinary young man from Hibiscus City.
Just thinking about how Rong Tianding used to boast that Zhang Xuezhou had become a cultivator with earth-shattering cultivation, Rong Li couldn't help but feel extremely angry. She felt that Rong Tianding was just making up such a big lie because he didn't want to inherit the pig slaughtering stall.
Judging from Zhang Xuezhou's appearance, Rong Li didn't see any signs of him being a high-ranking official in the imperial court, nor did he seem like an enlightened cultivator.
Especially since the other person was carrying a wooden cane, it looked like they had traveled a long way.
If Rong Tianding only wanted to be a Daoist priest who swindled money from offerings, Rong Li could at least give the pig-slaughtering stall to Zhang Xuezhou to make a living.
They've been holding their "retirement banquet" for several days now, with neighbors coming and going, enjoying the lively feast, when suddenly their nephew, dressed in shabby clothes, runs back.
For a fleeting moment, Rong Li almost wanted to pick up a butcher's knife and give her good-for-nothing son a good beating.
"Auntie!"
Zhang Xuezhou's timely intervention calmed Rong Li's short temper slightly.
"Come sit here with your aunt, we're having a feast today!" Rong Li said. "Take whatever you want to eat!"
"Okay, it's been quite a while since I've had this," Zhang Xuezhou nodded.
"What suffering you've endured, child!"
Rong Li felt utterly cold inside.
She watched as Rong Tianding grinned and pulled Zhang Xuezhou to his seat, then slapped him across the face.
"Mom, why are you taking pictures of me?"
A faint blue light emanated from Rong Tianding's body.
The sound of the blows to his face was loud, but it didn't cause any damage.
"Cousin, my mom might have misunderstood something. She suddenly hit me, and I was completely baffled!"
Even if Rong Tianding had reached the Body Control Realm, was weak, he was still a cultivator. As long as Rong Li didn't use swords or knives, ordinary punches and kicks wouldn't have much effect on Rong Tianding.
Rong Tianding appeared to tilt his head to the side, clutching his cheek, but he didn't seem to be in any pain at all. Instead, he quickly called for help from Zhang Xuezhou.
"It seems my cousin has communicated with Xu Ji and obtained the manual!"
Zhang Xuezhou nodded, then smiled at Rong Li.
"Auntie, let's fight together when it gets dark. It'll be easier then," Zhang Xuezhou advised, trying to calm things down.
"Then let your cousin have his fun for half a day first!"
Rong Li lowered her right hand, feeling a great sense of relief.
However, Rong Li couldn't help but feel somewhat worried, unsure how to resolve the various issues.
Rong Tianding Rong Tianding returned to Hibiscus City for some time. During this period, he not only sold the Daoist temple owned by Daoist Mu, but also persuaded Rong Li to close her pig slaughtering stall. He also continued to sell off the Rong Household's property in preparation for moving to Chang'an City.
These days, even getting around requires a "festival," making it extremely difficult to migrate with a family.
Rong Tianding mentioned that everything along the way could be resolved, but Rong Li, somewhat belatedly, realized that Rong Tianding was probably not being honest.
The Rong Household had worked hard in Hibiscus City for a century, and after Rong Tianding, a descendant who loved to paint, the family business of slaughtering pigs was cut off.
"I shouldn't have listened to Wang Er's advice to marry into the Rong Household. If Jia Zhiyuan Jia Zhiyuan n't married into the Rong Household, I could have found a butcher. I wouldn't have spent half my life butchering pigs and raising a son who doesn't inherit the family business. Ruoruo's life is so hard. Why do I have to be so hard at my age..."
Rong Li kept rambling on for a while, which startled Jia Zhiyuan, who was drinking next to her, so much so that he broke out in a cold sweat and stopped drinking.
"My nephew's back! When did he get back?"
After looking around, Jia Zhiyuan noticed Zhang Xuezhou Rong Tianding.
"Tian Ding said you're a high-ranking official in Chang'an, and he wants us to come there and enjoy a life Chang'an City luxury," Jia Zhiyuan muttered in a low voice. "Uncle is going to enjoy a life of luxury with you!"
"My nephew is no high-ranking official!"
Zhang Xuezhou had barely uttered a humble remark when Jia Zhiyuan slapped him across the face, and he immediately cowered, not daring to say another word.
He remained as henpecked as ever, leaving Zhang Xuezhou helpless and forced to turn to Rong Li for advice.
"Auntie, don't be upset. Your nephew still has some business in Chang'an City. Making a living with my cousin won't be a problem!"
Zhang Xuezhou was an exceptionally adaptable person; one moment he could be chatting and laughing in the Immortal Court, and the next he could immerse himself in the world of ordinary people and adapt again.
Rong Tianding added a couple of sentences, and then Jia Zhiyuan spoke up, which made him suddenly understand the problem.
Zhang Xuezhou made a fortune in Jiangdu, but Rong Tianding received no related news.
Rong Tianding ran back to Hibiscus City, mostly to get aid. Hundreds of people from Zhang Household Village were Chang'an City looking for food and drink, and the longer they stayed, the harder it would be to survive, especially the winter.
Having harvested grain last year, Rong Tianding was well aware of exactly how much money this group of people needed.
He came home to sell whatever he could to help the people of Zhang Household Village.
Rong Tianding had no feelings for the people of Zhang Household Village, but Zhang Xuezhou's father, Zhang Zhong involved. No matter what, he had to do everything he could to help out of respect for Zhang Xuezhou.
Taking the money was simple, but persuading Rong Li was quite difficult, especially since it involved the long-term expenses of hundreds of people for food and drink, which was no small amount.
He couldn't help but tell a few small lies to quickly wrap things up and resolve the matter, so as not to waste any more time.
"That's roughly how it is," Rong Tianding said in a low voice.
"Then let's move to Chang'an City together," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "With our abilities, we shouldn't have any problem holding out!"
There are already over a hundred people from Zhang Household Village outside Chang'an City, so Zhang Xuezhou doesn't mind bringing in a few more.
Providing food and drink for so many people is a problem, but enabling so many people to have their own lives and make a living is an even greater challenge.
And trying to be decent is almost impossible.
Zhang Xuezhou could only observe as he walked.
Having many trusted confidants is clearly an advantage. Once they get through the most difficult phase, they will inevitably have an advantage in Chang'an City, and may even develop like the aristocratic Aristocratic Clan in Chang'an City.