In a teahouse on the street, the old collector was listening to a storyteller when he suddenly heard a noisy sound coming from the street. He frowned, but found that it was a team coming to announce good news. He couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

The attendant obeyed the order, walked out of the teahouse quickly, and went to inquire in the rain.

In less than half a cup of tea, the attendant ran back, wiped the rain off his clothes, and then approached the old leader and whispered in his ear,

"He is Li Xian's eldest son, Li Qinglin. After returning from military service, he became a martial arts master. It is said that he was lucky and swallowed a strange herb. It seems that his martial arts skills are extremely superb..."

"What!"

Upon hearing this, the old captain fell into a daze for an instant, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.

Martial artist?

Li Qinglin, who sold himself into slavery, actually became a martial artist? Not good. What if Li Qinglin finds out that I have troubled his mother and confiscates my stall? What should I do?

The old captain came back to his senses after a moment, feeling a little panicked subconsciously.

But as soon as he touched the stick beside the table and saw the respectful expressions of the tea drinkers nearby, he immediately reacted.

"What am I afraid of?"

"I am the leader! I am also half a royal employee. So what if Li Qinglin has become a martial artist? Does he dare to kill me?"

The old leader calmed down, thought for a moment, and said to the follower in front of him, "Not bad, not bad. Huabu Street under my jurisdiction has one more martial artist!"

"Please prepare two large roosters, fruits and cakes as gifts and send them to Li Xian's home.

And said that three days later, I will host a banquet at the Jixian Restaurant in the outer city and invite Li Qinglin to join us! "

In the eyes of the old head of the village, although he had confiscated Li Xian's stall for "official business", he was the old head of the village. Who in the surrounding area would not give him some face? At this moment, he took the initiative to show weakness and treated Li Qinglin, a young man who had just become a martial arts master, with courtesy and respect. It was also reasonable and reasonable. If it was spread out, no one would gossip about it.

Upon hearing this, the attendant did not dare to question and immediately left to take care of the gift delivery.

…

"What's going on? Why are there so many people here? Coming towards our house?"

Li Qingqing stood at the door, looking at the large crowd of people coming in, and subconsciously took a step back.

The team announcing the good news walked all the way to the outside of the fence, but did not go in. Instead, they stood on the muddy path and bowed towards the house, saying, "I guess you are the family of Lord Li Qinglin, right?

Congratulations everyone, Lord Li has returned from military service and has become a martial arts master. He has returned to the palace first, and he sent us here to announce the good news!"

Returning from military service?

Martial Master?! Li Xianshi, Li Qingjing, and Li Qingqing were all stunned in their places. This scene seemed like a dream.

Li Xian suddenly reacted, and with trembling lips, she confirmed, "Are you saying that Brother Lin is back?"

The happy person nodded and said, "That's right."

"And you became a martial artist?"

"That's right."

Li Xian's old and gloomy face suddenly brightened up. She subconsciously wanted to take out her purse to give rewards, but she saw that these people refused with a smile, and left after scattering the last piece of red paper.

"Hey, Sister Li, your house is a little messy after being busy all day. Let us help you clean it up."

"Yes, yes, this fence is rotten. I will go get a new one."

"Haha, I've been writing calligraphy for a few years, why not let me add a couplet to my sister-in-law's house!"

Many neighbors who came to watch the fun squeezed into the yard, hugging each other. Several women even held Li Xian's hands in a slightly flattering manner, chatting about family matters, and saying polite words.

"Sister-in-law! You have taught me well. Lin'er has become a talented person! If Old Li knew about this, he would rest in peace!"

The big man with a face full of flesh pushed away the crowd blocking his way and walked straight to Li Xianshi.

This big man was called Li Guangfu. According to seniority, Li Qinglin had to call him uncle! He was a famous idler in Huabu Street. He looked down on the lowly business of selling cloth. He was arrogant and thought about big business every day. He did all kinds of things like brokering, cheating, and speculation.

"Well, I'll prepare a banquet for Lin'er and invite everyone to come and have a feast! Don't worry, I'll pay for the banquet!"

Li Xian knew that the man in front of her definitely had no good intentions in his mind, and was about to refuse immediately, but she saw several women running quickly from the side of the road, some with children, and an old man in his seventies or eighties leaning on a cane.

They are Li Qinglin’s second aunt, third aunt and clan elders whom he hasn’t seen for more than ten years.

He immediately blocked Li Xian's words.

It doesn't take a moment.

More than ten banquets were set up, and the neighbors toasted each other and enjoyed the food.

Especially when the head of the group sent someone to deliver gifts, the lively atmosphere reached a climax.

Li Guangfu seemed to be happier than the three Li Xianshi. He told everyone he met, "My nephew has become a martial arts master!" and never put down the wine glass in his hand.

The sound of gongs and drums was deafening.

And in the neighbor's house next door, Mrs. Gou was wearing an apron but kept the door closed tightly.

"mother."

A somewhat weak voice was heard, and a lame man walked out of the room holding the edge of the table.

"Brother Lin has become a martial artist, why don't you go and congratulate him?"

Hearing this, Sister Gou shook her head and said, "Da Hu, if a poor relative tries to get close to a rich relative, it will break his spine. Li Guangfu is so enthusiastic, he must want to get some benefits from Brother Lin.

If we go to congratulate them now, not only will we be suspected of being freeloaders, but we might also give Li Guangfu what he wants and make him the overlord! So let’s not cause any more trouble for Lin’er’s family!”

Hu Zi heard this, seemingly understanding but not quite, and nodded silently.

…

After Li Qinglin returned the horse to the post station, he hurried home without stopping.

It was getting dark when Li Qinglin arrived at Huabu Street and saw red paper and sugar coating scattered all over the street. There were also a few children looking for unlit firecrackers in a pile of firecracker skins.

These traces spread all the way to the Li family.

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Li Qinglin was dumbfounded when he saw this.

I just want you to share the good news, why is there such a big fuss?!

Isn't this known to everyone? It was indeed a festive and neat event! Before Li Qinglin even got home, he saw from afar that in the yard surrounded by the fence, there were crowded wine tables, many of which were even placed in the middle of the road.

Li Qinglin frowned slightly and walked into the courtyard. Drunkards and diners passed by on the roadside from time to time, but no one recognized him.

Li Qinglin saw Li Xianshi surrounded by a group of people, sitting in the middle of the main room feeling somewhat uneasy.

Li Qingqing and Li Qingjing stood on one side, along with a few cousins ​​of about the same age.

Li Qinglin strode into the hall, his sturdy body almost filling the entire door, blocking the light from the sky, making the hall suddenly dark! Everyone turned around subconsciously and saw a figure with an unclear face and a vague body outline standing at the door.

Like a solid wall of steel, he exudes an overwhelming aura of oppression.

"Brother?"

“Brother!”

Although they hadn't seen each other for half a year, Li Qingjing and Li Qingqing recognized Li Qinglin at a glance and ran over in surprise and joy.

Li Qingqing threw herself into Li Qinglin's arms and refused to get down no matter what.

"Brother Lin, you're back."

Li Xian just smiled lightly, with redness in the corners of her eyes.

"Is this Qinglin? What a strong young man!"

"I used to tease him when I was a kid, and in the blink of an eye, he's become a martial artist!"

"That's right! I've long seen that Qinglin is not an ordinary person. What do you think? My vision is not bad, right?"

Li Qinglin had no impression of the group of aunts and uncles in front of him, whom he had never seen before. They immediately started talking in soft voices and reminiscing about the past.

Li Qinglin didn't say much, but quietly went into the house and put down his luggage.

After a while, the wine was gone and the people dispersed, leaving the ground in a mess.

A waning moon hangs faintly in the sky.

An oil lamp was lit in the room, swaying in the wind with a slightly dim light.

But Li Qinglin's relatives did not leave. Instead, they squeezed into the small main room and sat there.

"Qinglin!"

Li Guangfu stood up drunkenly and said with a smile, "You have become a martial artist, and you are from the inner city royal palace. So, I will add your name back to the family tree tomorrow."

An octogenarian nodded: "That's right, that's right, it should be so."

The Li family is not a large family. They have been farmers for three generations, so naturally they have no money to build a clan temple. They only have a family tree that records the information of the side branches.

After Li Qinglin sold himself into slavery, he crossed out his name on the family tree.

Li Guangfu's words seemed to open everyone's chatterbox.

The third aunt held Li Xian's hand and cried about her difficult life, and her words showed that she wanted to borrow some money.

The second aunt pulled Li Qingqing forward and praised the young girl for being very decent. Then she changed the subject and asked Li Qinglin if he could find a job for her eldest son in the palace.

It’s best to have more money and less work.

Li Guangfu had been busy all day, preparing the banquet and greeting guests, and finally expressed his true intention, hoping that Li Qinglin could come forward and help him "warn" a few enemies.

(End of this chapter)