Shi Guodong was suddenly summoned by his mother. She said that Lao Mu and Zheng Cha wanted to see him. He was to wait in the living room of the Zhang family's apartment in the small building. His mother and Mei's mother were looking after their grandson and granddaughter playing in the yard.
Although the outside temperature remained as unpredictable as a baby's face, fluctuating wildly, the temperature inside the Peach Blossom Abode courtyard gradually stabilized. Those jade ivy vines were truly a wonderful thing.
With the ample growth momentum supported by spiritual water and low-grade crystals in the early stages, the second small spirit-gathering array has now come in handy, and the spiritual energy has suddenly increased a hundredfold, accelerating the growth rate of the Jade Spring Vine once again.
"Wenwen, don't bully Erhei! Don't pluck its fur, it'll hurt!" Zhang Xiaowen giggled as her mother shouted from behind, which slightly eased Zhang Guodong's slightly uneasy heart.
He had no idea why his father and Zheng's father wanted to see him. Meanwhile, his wife, Zheng Le, was in Qin Lina's yard next door, asking Qingzhu for beauty secrets. (Sigh.)
Those who cultivate through cultivation, regardless of their appearance, will develop skin as delicate and smooth as jade as their cultivation level increases. Zheng Le has already consumed inferior "Body Strengthening Pills" and "Longevity Pills," resulting in skin far superior to that of ordinary people, as smooth and lustrous as jade, even better than Qin Lina's. However, compared to Qingzhu, it falls short.
As he listened, Zhang Guodong finally relaxed completely. Perhaps, maybe, it was someone who was looking for trouble? Otherwise, why would his wife be in a good mood?
Suddenly, Zhang Guodong, who was going upstairs, paused.
"Could it be that Qingzhu, that big mouth, mentioned it, or that Qin Lina unintentionally revealed that Li Yun is here?"
Thinking about this, Zhang Guodong became a little worried. He hadn't specifically told the two women not to mention Li Yun's existence, precisely because he was afraid they would look down on him. A man's pride, after all.
Besides, both of them knew Li Yun had gone into their bedroom to cultivate. For the past three days, his wife Zheng Le had also been spending time with him in their honeymoon bedroom, engaging in plenty of intimate activities, their spiritual and physical union making them even more alluring. Didn't she realize there was a third person present? Or was she inwardly cursing Zhang Guodong for his debauchery and shamelessness?
Just think of all the loopholes! Zhang Guodong was drenched in sweat, which he couldn't wipe away.
The door to the apartment where his parents lived was open, making it easy for them to come and go. When Zhang Guodong entered, he saw Zheng's father getting up to make tea. Upon seeing this, Zhang Guodong immediately took over the task from Zheng's father, saying solicitously, "Dad, let me do it. I recently received some wild royal jelly. Perhaps it will taste better brewed with tea!"
Mr. Zheng looked at him in surprise, then smiled as if he had no doubts.
“Royal jelly is a wonderful thing. You brought some honey home before, but we couldn’t bear to eat it and gave it all to Xiaowen and Xiaotong. Where did you get this? I heard that royal jelly is very hard to find, extremely rare! Not to mention wild royal jelly,” said Zheng’s father.
Zhang Guodong slapped his forehead. He was utterly ashamed. He had so many treasures in Taoyuan, yet he'd forgotten to let his son and daughter try them!
Zhang Guodong went to the kitchen. Ostensibly to get water, he came out carrying two jars, each capable of holding three jin (approximately 1.5 kg). They were filled with wild honey, produced in the Peach Blossom Spring space, and even the honey was comparable to royal jelly from the outside world.
I also have two small bottles with stoppers, each containing three ounces.
It contained even less royal jelly. There was too little of it. Even though the hive had multiplied considerably, they still dared not use it lavishly.
“Dad, Dad. These two big jars are full of wild honey, which can be given to Xiaotong and Xiaowen. These two small bottles don’t contain much, but they contain wild royal jelly, which is suitable for older people. These are things that money can’t buy, so keep them for yourselves!” Zhang Guodong said solemnly.
Although Zhang Zhengrong's father looked surprised, he was used to it these days. But Zheng's father exclaimed in surprise, "So many?"
"Hehe, Dad. Think about it, who am I? Things that ordinary people can't get are just a piece of cake for me, right? Of course, even Senior Sister and the others might not have these things! So we still have to keep it a secret," Zhang Guodong said with a smile, somewhat smugly.
"Yes, it should be kept a secret!" Mr. Zheng nodded. He carefully examined the jar and bottle. Once the stoppers were removed, a rich honey aroma, mixed with floral, medicinal, and refreshing scents, filled the air, instantly invigorating him. His mind cleared; it was indeed a good product!
Every so often, Zhang Guodong would send vegetables, seafood, fruit, and jars of fruit wine back home. These days, the Zhang and Zheng families hardly use ordinary produce for their food and drink. Prolonging life is no exaggeration.
I didn't see my dad and Zheng's dad, or my mom and Mei's mom, whose appearances seemed frozen in their thirties and forties, but the changes in their spirits were even greater, radiant and glowing. The internal changes in their bodies were even more important.
Even his wife Zheng Le and their two children have undergone significant changes.
"Alright, sit down. We're heading back to the city in a bit, and I'd like to talk to you before we leave," Dad said.
Zhang Guodong sat down.
“We know you’re not an ordinary person now. Even if you’re practicing martial arts, it takes a lot of time, but you still have to take care of your family. Lele works hard in the officialdom, it’s not easy! The officialdom is a mess, you, as a man, have to support her more!” said Zhang Zhengrong, the father.
"Dad, is someone making things difficult for Lele?" Zhang Guodong's expression changed immediately upon hearing this, and he asked again. "Li Jinbo is a vice minister, after all. Can't he even take care of Lele?"
"Li Jinbo? You know him?" Zheng's father asked in surprise. Zheng Le didn't seem to have explained this to his family in detail. The relationships and connections in officialdom can be very complicated. But Zheng's father did know Li Jinbo; someone of his status wouldn't be so familiar with his son-in-law.
The old man was about to speak, but was interrupted by Zheng's father, who had no idea who Li Jinbo was.
“Li Jinbo, the executive deputy director of the Provincial Party Committee’s Publicity Department, was introduced by Li Daolin. He said he was a good friend and classmate. This personnel transfer for Lele was done through his connections!” Zhang Guodong said truthfully. “It’s nothing special. Even without him, Fatty’s father is a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and the Municipal Party Secretary. Arranging a deputy-department-level position would be very easy for him!”
This kid has quite the nerve, but the two elders are very pleased.
"Dad, what did you just say about how someone was making things difficult for Lele? Let's see who's so bold!"
Zhang Guodong didn't want to say more about the matter. In his view, he was still quite powerful in the secular officialdom. Anyone who dared to make things difficult for his wife was simply asking for trouble!
This served as a wake-up call; sometimes he needed to accompany his wife. He knew the dark and complex nature of officialdom. He couldn't bear the thought of his beautiful wife having to accompany a high-ranking official for a drinking session. No, this matter had to be addressed quickly!
Dad glared at Zhang Guodong and said irritably, "You interrupted me before I could finish speaking."
"Tianfu, do you know Li Jinbo? What kind of leader is he?"
Father Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Speaking of Li Jinbo, I've known him for a long time, although our relationship isn't that great. He was actually the previous director of the provincial TV station, and also served as the deputy director of the provincial propaganda department. He only stepped down as director after being promoted to executive deputy director. He usually has a pretty good reputation."
"Oh, that's good!" Dad said.
For him, as long as his daughter-in-law doesn't suffer any losses, that's fine. His daughter-in-law is too beautiful; this officialdom is too corrupt. His father used to be the deputy village head, and he had a lot of dealings with township leaders before, so he knows a lot.
"Guodong, who is Fatty? Is he Wang Kang from a few days ago? The son of Secretary Wang of the Municipal Party Committee?" Zheng's father remembered what Zhang Guodong had just said, and his eyes lit up.
Li Daolin is the "Executive Vice Mayor of the City," and he has a good relationship with Zhang Guodong and Zheng Le. Li Jinbo is also the Executive Vice Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Xiqin Provincial Party Committee. Both are high-ranking officials at the provincial level. However, compared to the two, Wang Yunyi, the Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee (Fatty's father; there may have been a misspelling of his name in the previous text, and I couldn't find it. Now I'll use this name consistently), is an even bigger figure—a vice-ministerial level official!
I didn't expect my son-in-law to be so influential; he's connected with so many important people. That's perfect; I don't have to worry too much about my daughter's career in government.
After the conversation, Zhang Guodong's father and father-in-law were excited, while Zhang Guodong wiped his sweat and breathed a sigh of relief.
This was just a minor incident.
We need to get down to business!
However, the two elders wanted to know more about Zhang Guodong's current situation. Otherwise, they couldn't let go of the fact that Zhang Guodong was rarely home. The roles were immediately clear: Zhang Guodong needed to honestly explain his situation. (Sigh.)
Under the harsh policies of the two elders, Zhang Guodong had to confess.
Previously, Zhang Guodong had been somewhat reserved with the two elders, who naturally assumed they were from a martial arts sect. However, even if they were, they were still very mysterious to them.
After pondering for a long time, Zhang Guodong finally decided to reveal some of the truth. Technical training required an incredibly long time. And for ordinary people, a few decades is a very short time. How many decades does one have in a lifetime? How many more thirties does one's wife have in her prime? And then there are sons and daughters, parents, and so on.
With this understanding, Zhang Guodong felt refreshed and invigorated, as if a gentle frost had descended upon him. A slight heat emanated from the nine-tiered pagoda mark on his chest.
However, with his parents in front of him, Zhang Guodong dared not examine his chest for any changes or the Peach Blossom Spring space.
"What I told you two last time, that Xuan Qingji and Qingzhu come from a reclusive sect, is both true and false. In reality, their sect is far more powerful than any martial arts sect in the secular world. They can fly through the sky like immortals, destroy a mountain with a wave of their hand, and slaughter an entire city. Secular weapons and power are as fragile as infants before them."
The two elders listened, stunned and speechless. They had thought they knew quite a bit, but it seemed Zhang Guodong's earlier words were a preemptive warning. This was truly shocking!
There are actually such powerful people among these people?
Zhang Guodong gave a wry smile and continued, "But to achieve such great strength, one must have sufficient time to cultivate. Some masters have spent hundreds of years cultivating to gain greater power and a longer lifespan. However, nowadays, the spiritual energy in the outside world is too thin, requiring even more time. This is why I spend most of my time in seclusion."
He spoke, a fleeting impulse even crossing his mind to let the four elders begin cultivating as well. But then he thought, he was now far stronger than ordinary people, yet he felt increasingly powerless to protect himself. This was because the people he came into contact with were increasingly plant cultivators, the lowest being level 30 or higher. And plant cultivators were extremely sensitive to each other. Before he could protect them, letting them cultivate might be more of a curse than a blessing.
Ordinary practitioners of cultivation do not harm ordinary people; this is blatant contempt.
The thought flashed through his mind, but Zhang Guodong quickly suppressed it.
The two elders swallowed hard, their eyes filled with shock, followed by growing excitement.
"I see!"
"No wonder!"
"Dad, I've been thinking about it. I originally planned to have you four elders start cultivating as well, but my cultivation level isn't high enough to protect the family right now. And the competition in the plant cultivation world is extremely fierce. Relatively speaking, mortals are safer. So, you'll have to postpone your cultivation!"
"Haha. This temptation is too great, I almost got hooked! But you're right, the strong prey on the weak. It's definitely not suitable for us now! Speaking of which, now that I have your pills, I can already live a long life. What more could I ask for? Guodong, don't worry, but you still have to be careful. The world of plant cultivation is so cruel. Most of the time, everything depends on strength. Just focus on your cultivation and strive to become strong as soon as possible!" Father Zheng was the first to come to his senses, and said with a hint of self-deprecation.
Father Zhang Zhengrong nodded, but said, "Although your reason is very good, we won't hold you back. But don't be complacent. Even plant cultivators still need to live and have families!"
Zhang Guodong was shocked and nodded seriously: "Dad, I understand what you're saying!"
"Good that you understand!" Dad smiled. "Son, let us see the power of these so-called Plant Cultivators! Honestly, in my whole life, I've never dared to face such unimaginable challenges!"
Zhang Guodong broke out in a cold sweat, but immediately replied, "No problem!"
The mutated Silver Thread Grass King Vine hadn't come out for a while. Now that Zhang Guodong's Plant Cultivation was at level eighteen, it had grown to over twenty meters long, resembling a black abyss snake with countless tiny mouths—a rather impressive sight. It appeared and danced in the palm of his hand, circling several times in the living room.
It was like magic; even the usually composed elderly couple couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
This made my mother outside mutter, "You're not a child anymore, yet you act like one, making a fuss over nothing!"
Mui's mother smiled beside her.
On the contrary, Erhei and Erqing, who were playing with the two little ones, suddenly stood up, their hair standing on end as if facing a formidable enemy.
They clearly sensed the dangerous aura emanating from the demonic vines. But after a while, they seemed to sense the presence of their master, Zhang Guodong, and calmed down.
After a two-hour conversation at noon, Zhang Guodong and the two parents came out with smiles on their faces, clearly having a very pleasant talk.
But what happened next, nobody knows.
After resting for a while and greeting Zheng Le, the four elders prepared to take their grandchildren back to the city.
Just before getting into the car, Zheng Le pinched Zhang Guodong hard. Zhang Guodong looked at her pitifully, but she said resentfully, "Whose are those sexy panties on the balcony? Don't tell me they're yours, honey!"
What?
Zhang Guodong immediately put on an apologetic smile. This was a huge mistake; how could he have made such a basic error?
Just as he was wondering how to explain, Zheng Le said in a low voice, "Let us meet sometime. I'm not a tiger! Hmph, but you'd better think twice about who's in charge!"
"Hehe!" Zhang Guodong stood there dumbfounded, grinning foolishly as the car drove away.
His mother led the family team to investigate, which relieved a huge weight on Zhang Guodong's mind. However, Zhang Guodong could no longer continue his long-term meditation with a clear conscience. As his father said, even those who practice meditation are ultimately doing so for a living.
Therefore, what he needs to do is to become stronger as quickly as possible!
Once again in the Peach Blossom Spring, the ninety-nine steps in the middle of the mountain and river peaks disappeared into chaos, their end unknown. The burning sensation of the nine-story pagoda mark on his chest seemed to be a reminder of something.
When Zhang Guodong stood in front of Ranghe Peak again, he immediately understood!
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