Chapter Thirty: The True Master

  (Thank you again to the students who rewarded me! After a while, Xiaolong will specially list a reward list to thank you. In addition, thanks also to those readers who silently voted for Xiaolong!!! Although the collection is not many, I feel your sincerity!)

  After leaving the hotel, Zhao Guang drove them to another place at the foot of Qingyan Mountain.

  All the way, the rain was misty, the green mountains and clear waters seemed to be covered with a layer of shallow sorrow. Zhao Yanzi fiddled with the hem of her long T-shirt, staring at the rainy scene outside the window, silent.

  Because of today's cooler temperature, she changed into a new set of clothes. However, Hao Ren didn't bring any spare clothes and could only wear the same undershirt as yesterday.

  Against the backdrop of the continuously moving mountains outside, the square car window perfectly outlined Zhao Yanzi's profile. This was a very delicate face, with a pale neck supporting such a small head, and black hair fluttering around her ears like jade, giving off a vague and hazy beauty.

  This girl is actually quite pretty if she doesn't make a fuss. Hao Ren secretly looked at her, thinking to himself.

  The car stopped in front of a quadrangle courtyard, and the owner of the courtyard warmly invited Zhao Guang and his three companions to enter the yard.

  Hao Ren noticed that there were many elderly people living here, and due to the rain, they hadn't gone out for a walk. Instead, they sat on the long benches under the eaves of their houses, chatting idly about everyday things.

  "This is a suitable place for older people to escape the summer heat." Zhao Hongyu explained to Hao Ren.

  Hao Ren was delighted, this place is located at the foot of the mountain, with a pleasant climate, fresh air, and is indeed a great place to spend one's later years. In the future, if there's an opportunity, I can also bring grandma here to experience it for herself.

  The owner of the courtyard led them to a small backyard, and Hao Ren only discovered that there was another world here, a semi-outdoor small restaurant.

  Bamboo fences, trellises covered with grapevines, an old Ba Xian table, and a small piece of land planted with vegetables... all reminded Hao Ren of his childhood.

  "Sit down." Zhao Guang found a table and sat down, saying.

  There are only four tables here, and it's not as lively as a regular restaurant.

  Light rain pattered down, and the green cornfield in the distance swayed like waves. The rainwater flowed down along the grape trellis, with a unique charm.

  The stir-fry here is very cheap, but it tastes great. Pure natural flavor.

  Zhao Yanzi's mother, Zhao Hongyu, was in a pleasant mood, talking about past events. She mentioned the barren mountain here and how it gradually developed with the changes of history.

  For things that happened before they were born, Zhao Yanzi and Hao Ren both listened with relish.

  Even Zhao Guang, who was usually taciturn, in this natural environment of returning to simplicity and truth, talked about some humanistic allusions near Qingyan Mountain, and then mentioned the way of life of Hao Ren's grandparents, which sparked the interest of Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi.

  Zhao Yanzi had never experienced such a thing before, so he was very interested. Hao Ren still had some vague memories of the past in his heart, and Zhao Guangyue said that it made him more nostalgic.

  After eating more than half of the meal, Zhao Yanzi couldn't sit still and wanted to take a walk around. Zhao Hongyu didn't stop them either, borrowing an umbrella for them and letting Hao Ren accompany them.

  Then the two of them rushed out of this small yard surrounded by a bamboo fence and went to the nearby vegetable field to "make trouble".

  The drizzle fell sparsely, Zhao Yanzi didn't want to hold an umbrella, like a small bird released from its cage, she quickly ran forward.

  She lifted her pant legs and, relying on the fact that she was wearing sandals, suddenly charged into the muddy cornfield. Hao Ren wore running shoes and couldn't go down, so he could only watch from the ridge as she went wild in the field.

  In Hao Ren's memory, when he was a child, his parents often sent him to live with his grandparents in the countryside, and at that time, the rural areas were so similar to this scene!

  Unfortunately, later on, with the expansion of the city, that rural area in the suburbs was also replaced by steel and concrete, becoming factories, warehouses, and ports...

  "Hahaha......" Zhao Yanzi, with mud all over her feet, finally had enough fun in the fields and happily returned to the ridge where Hao Ren was standing.

  Because the path was narrow and the rain made the muddy road slippery, she almost lost her balance and hastily hugged Hao Ren.

  Hao Ren supported her, seeing that she found everything here novel and fresh, discovering that she indeed had adorable moments too.

  Nowadays, how many city kids have really been to the countryside? They don't even have the chance to touch a piece of soil, let alone run wildly in the fields!

  Tall corn stalks, as if separating a small world from the outside world.

  Looking up, the cool rainwater gently pats the face, and a piece of azure sky can be seen.

  Lowering one's head, a fresh earthy smell hits you in the face, and occasionally you can still hear some insects rustling about.

  "It's about time we headed back." Hao Ren reminded her.

  "No! Let's go ahead and take a look!" Zhao Yanzi said with a stubborn tone, pulling Hao Ren's arm as they walked forward.

  She rarely gets to experience this kind of real rural pleasure, how can she easily return?

  They passed through the cornfield, which was neither big nor small, and came to a small river. The water was very clear, although no fish were seen, but the pebbles layered one by one were very beautiful.

  Raindrops hit the water surface, stirring up ripples, and in this rough and unadorned wilderness, there is also some elegant scenery.

  Hao Ren held up the umbrella, letting her appreciate the small river in detail. In fact, being able to experience this rustic charm in the mountains and forests not only excited Zhao Yanzi but also delighted Hao Ren.

  Zhaoyan Zi found a shallow spot and waded in wearing sandals for a while before reluctantly returning to Hao Ren's side.

  Seeing that she was half-soaked, Hao Ren was a bit worried that she would catch a cold and pulled her back. This time, Zhao Yanzi did not resist again.

  A small branch stretching out to the roadside, a grasshopper jumping over from in front of them, a broken and discarded bamboo basket... all sorts of little things entering his line of sight moved Hao Ren's heart.

  Zhao Yanzi walked all the way, taking deep breaths along the way, as if once she returned to the city, she would never smell such fresh air again.

  A kind of pleasant feeling is spreading in the fields.

  They went back outside the fence, and Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu were still eating. Zhao Hongyu saw that her daughter was covered in mud, but she didn't scold her. Instead, she gently picked up a paper towel and wiped away the rainwater from her forehead.

  "How was your play?" Zhao Guang asked Hao Ren. This casual question made it seem like he had known Hao Ren for a long time, as if they were old acquaintances.

  "It's pretty good, this kind of rural feeling is now rarely experienced." Hao Ren replied.

  "Uh, we'll be back in the city soon." Zhao Guang nodded and said.

  Hao Ren nodded and turned around to look at the lush mountains here, suddenly feeling a little lost.

  Zhao Yanzi, however, clung to her mother's bosom, as if she too was reluctant to leave this vast natural world.

  But they still had to go back. Half an hour later, Zhao Guang drove his black Chevrolet, taking them on the road back to the city.

  The patter of the rain continued, and after two days of crazy play, Zhao Yanzi finally couldn't resist the overwhelming fatigue, leaning against the car seat, dozing off in a daze.

  Hao Ren gazed at the monotonous scenery near the highway, feeling the quiet atmosphere in the car, and suddenly realized that after these two days of traveling, he seemed to have gotten closer to Zhao Yanzi's family.

  Not to mention whether Zhao Yanzi has an insufferable princess temperament, Zhao Hongyu and Zhao Guang are indeed not thin-skinned towards him, and cannot pick out any faults.

  "After returning to the city, let's go have a family dinner together again." Suddenly said Zhao Hongyu, who was sitting in front.

  "A family dinner?" Hao Ren gathered his disorganized thoughts and asked in confusion.

  "Ah, it's Ah Zi's third uncle and second uncle with their family, as well as our own family." Zhao Hongyu said.

  Zhao Hongyu has completely regarded me as one of her own family members... Hao Ren thought.

  But thinking of meeting relatives other than Zhao Yanzi's parents, Hao Ren felt a lot of pressure and shook his head, "No need for that..."

  To be honest, he didn't have a clear idea about whether to really marry Zhao Yanzi or not. If there was a new way to solve the current trouble in the future, it's possible that he wouldn't become Zhao Yanzi's "husband", and she wouldn't reluctantly marry him either.

  Of course, there is another reason why Hao Ren knows that Ah Zi's third uncle does not like him, so he is even less willing to join their family gatherings.

  "Alright then, I'll take you back to school directly." Zhao Hongyu said. She didn't force Hao Ren at all.

  "Is Zhao Yanzi's father one of three brothers?" asked Hao Ren again.

  "Yes, Ah Zi's third uncle, you met him last time. He is not married and has always been single. Ah Zi's second uncle does business abroad, but some of his family members are still in Donghai City, so we will still meet from time to time." Zhao Hongyu explained.

  As for what they were talking about, Zhao Guang did not participate at all and drove seriously.

  Hao Ren felt that their way of life was not much different from ordinary people, only possibly richer than ordinary people. Especially Ah Zi's second uncle, his business should be bigger than Ah Zi's father's.

  Zhao Yanzi's third uncle has a ferocious appearance and not-so-good personality, and his temperament doesn't give off the feeling of being a successful person. I reckon he's idle and doesn't have a stable job, no wonder he's still single and can't find a wife.

  It seemed as if Zhao Hongyu had guessed what Hao Ren was thinking, and she continued, "Ah Zi's third uncle is diligent in his cultivation and doesn't care about worldly affairs. He has never thought of starting a family or establishing a career, so don't look down on Ah Zi's third uncle just because he seems ordinary. In fact, he is the one with the highest cultivation among the three brothers."

  "Oh? How about Su Huan?" Hao Ren asked casually. He remembered that Zhao Hongyu had said before, Su Huan was already at the top level in their circle.

  Zhao Hongyu smiled and said, "Both Su Hans couldn't beat Ah Zi's third uncle."

  Her answer left Hao Ren slightly surprised. Two Lu Zhanglao couldn't beat one Su Heng, two Su Heng couldn't beat one San Shu, and according to Zhao Hongyu's words, Su Heng was already a top-notch master who was only one step away from entering the realm of flight, so the strength of this San Shu...

  For someone like me who is still wandering around the basics, Ah Zi's third uncle, with just one finger can pinch to death a hundred people like me...

  Hao Ren's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

  "Your third uncle has some prejudice against you, but don't worry, he's not a ruthless killer either." Zhao Hongyu said with another smile.

  This Third Uncle is extremely doting on Zi Ye, and no matter what, I am nominally Zi Ye's "fiancé". If during this time, I were to violate the "husband's way", wouldn't I die a terrible death...

  Hao Ren's forehead was suddenly covered with an even thicker layer of cold sweat.