"Alas!"
Ouyang Lei sighed, "I'm getting old. I didn't feel it before, especially when things were going so well in the south."
"After my brothers made such a fuss, only four people are willing to follow me. I have to admit to myself that I am old."
"The days of suppressing them by force are gone. Society's systems are getting better and better, and my martial arts are no longer an advantage."
"As for the child, I've thought a lot, and finally, I believe that if Yan Yan can get in, my child should be able to get in too."
"I plan to guide him on the right path. Otherwise, what's the use of learning the Ouyang family's martial arts? Will he have to regret it after living half his life like me?"
Li Zhengguo patted his shoulder, "Good, you've finally grown up."
"Get lost!"
Ouyang Lei slapped Li Zhengguo's hand away, "Quickly tell me about the Ouyang family's techniques. You're making me so anxious."
Just then, Tian Jing came out, and Li Zhengguo wouldn't let Ouyang Lei have his way so easily.
"Let's settle down first. Come, I'll show you what land we've acquired. I won't tell you about the techniques until your ambition returns."
"To prevent you from being restless and making mistakes, ending up paralyzed from practicing incorrectly. Who will be the general manager then?"
Ouyang Lei was annoyed, "You can't say anything good."
"Try saying something good."
Li Zhengguo retorted, "Let's go, life is the most important thing. Let's sort out our lives first."
Tian Jing waved to her husband who looked over, "You two go. I'll call Wang Huan over to help with dinner."
Liu Yuelian in the east room heard the commotion outside.
When she heard sounds from the kitchen, she coaxed her son to sleep by himself and went to help in the kitchen.
When Tian Jing saw her arrive, she pushed her out, "The child is young and scared in a new place. Go and stay with him."
Liu Yuelian simply carried her sleepless son along to help.
Tian Jing took her to help sort vegetables and peel scallions.
"How did you meet Ouyang Lei? You don't look that young?"
Liu Yuelian blushed, "To escape the persistent nuisance of a local scoundrel, I went to work in the south at the beginning of the reform and opening up."
"But in the south, I was harassed by a colleague again. He intercepted me after work, and Ouyang Lei happened to pass by and saved me. Seeing that he had many brothers, I clung to him."
"Then I was unknowingly attracted to him. He was just like the great heroes in wuxia novels, skilled in martial arts and righteous."
Another story of a hero saving a beauty.
Tian Jing pressed, "A righteous person would make his family gnash their teeth. Don't you regret it?"
Liu Yuelian shook her head, "No regrets. With him, I have no worries or fears in my life."
"I don't think I'm particularly beautiful, but there are always people harassing me."
"When my family found out that A Lei had martial arts, they all agreed that I should be with him. They said only a man like him could protect me."
Tian Jing felt a little envious, "Your family is good to you."
Liu Yuelian nodded, "Yes, for me, they have suffered a lot. Actually, I am not their biological daughter."
"I knew when I was sensible. But they treated me better than they treated my two older brothers."
Tian Jing looked up in surprise, "Then you are truly blessed."
Liu Yuelian smiled, "Yes, I am very lucky. I don't hate my biological parents; instead, I am grateful to them."
In the kitchen, Wang Huan was already stir-frying. Because they had been waiting for Ouyang Lei's arrival, they bought a lot of meat and fish every day. When he didn't come, they marinated the meat and fish.
So, there was no need to buy ingredients today; salted fish and cured meat would suffice, along with the vegetables Wang Huan grew. It was enough.
Liu Yuelian carried her son into the kitchen to help with the fire.
Tian Jing shrugged. With Liu Yuelian's personality, she wondered if she could win Ouyang Lei's heart.
However, Ouyang Lei was getting old, and he had a child. For the sake of their son, as long as no cunning woman pursued him, Liu Yuelian could still stand by Ouyang Lei's side.
Voices came from outside; it was the four people, including Xiao Hu, who had been tidying the yard.
"Sister Tian."
"Sister Tian."
Tian Jing waved her hand, "You can call me Boss Tian. After dinner, ask Li Zhengguo to take you to buy daily necessities."
"Thank you, Boss Tian."
"You're welcome."
Xiao Hu peeked into the kitchen and quickly carried Ouyang Renzhi out.
"Sister-in-law, Renzhi is young. Don't let him stay near the fire."
Tian Jing squatted down and asked the boy Xiao Hu was carrying, "Would you reach out and touch the fire?"
The boy shook his head, "No, Mom said fire burns and hurts a lot, and she hurts more."
Tian Jing looked up at Xiao Hu, "Which mother doesn't love her child? Why are you so nervous? If you're worried, why don't you light the fire?"
Xiao Hu shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, no, there are women inside."
What kind of logic is that?
"Is it that in this world, men are women? How do you plan to avoid them? Then the four of you can go cook."
Le Xiaodi kicked Xiao Hu, "Boss Tian, don't mind him. He has gynophobia. I'll light the fire."
Tian Jing couldn't help but roll her eyes. After following Ouyang Lei to the south, who knew what these people had been through; they were so strange.
When the food was ready, Ouyang Lei and Li Zhengguo returned, with another person behind them.
Tian Jing smiled and said, "As the saying goes, it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive too early. Boss Zeng, you've come at the perfect time. Join us for dinner."
Zeng Shenchun nodded, "I'm just here to catch the meal."
I wouldn't believe that!
Tian Jing nodded, "Please come in."
When Zeng Shenchun saw Liu Yuelian, his chopsticks almost dropped.
Tian Jing asked curiously, "You know Yue Lian?"
Liu Yuelian shook her head, "Tian Jing, I don't know this person."
"No, no, I don't know her."
Zeng Shenchun also shook his head repeatedly, "I was just a bit shocked by the age difference between her and Ouyang Lei."
Ouyang Lei didn't have a good impression of this Boss Zeng, whom he had only met that day.
"It's only a decade-plus age difference. No one talks when old men marry eighteen-year-old girls?"
"Are you implying I'm not old enough, and the mother of my child isn't young enough?"
Tian Jing looked at her husband. Were these two incompatible?
Li Zhengguo shook his head; he didn't know what was wrong with Ouyang Lei.
Boss Zeng had specifically come to meet Ouyang Lei and was polite and courteous.
He didn't know why Ouyang Lei was treating him like this.
"Let's eat, let's eat."
Tian Jing gestured. Men, after a couple of drinks, would become buddies.
As expected, after a few drinks, Ouyang Lei started talking more.
"Boss Zeng, I find you very displeasing. Do you know why?"
Zeng Shenchun shook his head, "No."
"Because the moment I smell you, I can detect the stench of money. You are a young master from a wealthy family."
Zeng Shenchun smiled slightly, "General Manager Ouyang has a very keen nose?"
Whether Ouyang Lei didn't hear or didn't care about Zeng Shenchun's remark, he continued.
"Of course. Otherwise, how could I have survived those years? I could guess who they were with just one look and one smell."
"Young masters like you, who have lived in affluent environments since childhood, have no understanding of life's hardships. You are what I dislike the most."
"If it weren't for Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo, I wouldn't even bother with you."
Zeng Shenchun raised his wine glass, "Come, another toast for Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo."
Ouyang Lei clinked glasses with him, "Cheers!"