"Mrs. Cai, this is the list of fortunes I’ve brought back with me from my return home." Zhao Xing handed a thick stack of inventory lists to Mrs. Cai.
Mrs. Cai wiped her hands and took it over with care.
"This, this is so much..."
"We don’t need this much at home."
Having not seen each other for four years, when they met again, Zhao Xing’s meteoric rise truly made Mrs. Cai’s heart flutter.
She had not spared Zhao Xing her disdain in the past, who knew if he would hold it against her?
Now, having received the list of gifts from Zhao Xing, Mrs. Cai felt somewhat at ease.
With so much wealth, even if Zhao Xing scolded her a few times in the future, it wouldn’t matter.
Mrs. Cai quickly took Zhao Zheng by the hand, "Zheng’er, haven’t you greeted your elder brother yet?"
The one who had changed the most among Zhao Xing’s family was not Zhao Ruide or Mrs. Cai, but Zhao Zheng.
At this time, Zhao Zheng was already thirteen years old.
Under the good care of Zong Shichang, he had been well-fed, and after practicing martial arts for four years, he had grown taller than one meter seventy-five.
His figure had also become sturdy, no longer the little rascal who couldn’t even shovel snow.
But having not seen each other for a few years, he seemed somewhat reserved, and there was a hint of awkwardness upon seeing Zhao Xing.
"I greet my elder brother!"
Zhao Xing, looking at Zhao Zheng who was performing the ritual greeting with precision, couldn’t help but feel sentimental; this wasn’t the same kid who used firecrackers to blow up someone’s outhouse anymore.
"Quick, get up." Zhao Xing said, supporting Zhao Zheng’s shoulders and patting them, "There’s no need for such formalities among family members."
"Speaking of which, didn’t you practice martial arts? How come you look even more delicate now?"
Zhao Zheng wiped his face and said, "Mom, see, I told you elder brother would say something! You insisted on putting powder on me."
"Hey, don’t wipe." Mrs. Cai slapped Zhao Zheng’s hand away and took out a handkerchief, "You child, you’ve smeared the makeup; how are you going to meet the guests now?"
But it was too late, with Zhao Zheng’s left and right wiping, lipstick and foundation mixed together, instantly turning him into a cat with a painted face.
"Hahaha..." Zhao Ruide and Zhao Xing, father and son, immediately laughed mercilessly.
"Mom, look at what to do now!" The pride of a half-grown child flared up, and he instantly became anxious.
"Don’t panic, let your elder brother fix you up."
With a gentle twist of Zhao Xing’s fingers, a stream of water swept over Zhao Zheng’s body.
It washed him over like a brush, cleaning his neck and face.
Then a gust of wind blew, drying the wetness in a breath.
It even styled Zhao Zheng’s hair.
Zhao Xing stretched out his right hand, and a water mirror appeared in his palm, presenting it in front of Zhao Zheng.
"Look, don’t you look much more handsome now?"
"I do indeed." Zhao Zheng touched his cheek subconsciously.
"Hahaha..." This vain gesture brought another round of laughter.
"I’m not playing with you guys! I’m going to eat!" Unable to save face, Zhao Zheng ran off to the side room to play with cats.
At Zhao Xing’s home in Anping Square, Gucheng.
"In the North Sea, there is an island, where the water begins to freeze on the Start of Winter, and after five days, the sea starts to freeze. Five days later, giant whales break through the ice and transform into Xuanque, and the green birds descend into the water to become Purple Snakes. Another five days, and Earth Fire erupts from the bottom of the sea."
Zhao Xing was in the study, looking at the Atlas of Nine Provinces.
Now, it was the Summer Solstice of the 20th year of Jingxin, and he had returned for a month already.
This month, it was all about social visits and networking.
It was only today that Zhao Xing finally had the chance to relax and read.
"The higher-ups want me to go to the East Sea, but I have no idea where in the East Sea it is, or what the official position is," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
His formal appointment had not yet arrived, and he was currently in the status of "official awaiting assignment."
He had a rank but no specific authorities or responsibilities.
"The East Sea is vast, far larger than Pinghai State; the place I’m going to had better be close to Princess You Ruo’s territory," Zhao Xing thought.
He was still thinking about the ten-thousand-year-old Mystic Turtle shell that the old witch promised to give him.
After reading for a while, Zhao Xing went to the Chen Mansion.
Zhao Xing landed at the Chen Mansion, where Chen Shijie and a woman were harvesting Tianyuan Pears in the orchard.
At this moment, Chen Shijie was dressed simply, picking pears with Gui Niang, looking like an ordinary fruit farmer.
"Mr. Zhao," Gui Niang said upon seeing Zhao Xing, immediately wiping her sweat, ready to greet him.
"Sister-in-law, no need for such formality," Zhao Xing said with a smile, "It’s not my first time here; I’m just here for a casual chat with Old Chen."
"Alright then, I’ll go make some tea for you," Gui Niang replied, putting down the fruit basket and turning to leave.
"What, can’t sit still?" Chen Shijie asked without turning his head, focused on picking pears.
Clearly having spells at his disposal, he did not use them, instead standing on tiptoe, snipping at the branches with long-handled shears.
"Huh~" Zhao Xing conjured a breeze to blow down the pears that were beyond Chen Shijie’s reach.
"Why bother yourself with these trivial matters," Chen Shijie said, tossing a pear at him, "Don’t I know how to use spells?"
"I have OCD," Zhao Xing said with a laugh, "You on your tiptoes, struggling for ages and still not reaching, it bothers me."
"Your state of mind is not there yet," Chen Shijie responded, "I haven’t used a spell for a month now."
"Since you’re on holiday, why not take a real break?"
"True," Zhao Xing decided to also seal his own energy and started picking pears with Chen Shijie.
"Where did Long Xiao go?"
"He’s out causing trouble with Zong Shichang," Chen Shijie replied, "Those two sure hit it off."
"Most likely because Long Xiao hadn’t seen much of the wider world before," said Zhao Xing, "Now he’s met Zong Shichang, a master of fun; it’s like opening the doors to a new world."
"You speak as if you’ve seen it yourself," Chen Shijie sneered, "You haven’t even touched a woman’s hand."
Zhao Xing had never even touched a hand, yet Zong Shichang was getting married.
In the 20th year of Jingxin, on the Summer Solstice, Zong Shichang and Liu Muqing got engaged.
After several years of pursuit, he finally succeeded.
Zhao Xing made a trip to East Lake, opened his Heavenly Eye for a quick scan, and found none of the wandering ghosts that had enabled him to obtain the Fourth-rank East Lake Pearl before.