Modern Line 3
As the morning sun began to shine into the alley, the morning market was already bustling with activity. Fang Li led her family's particularly eye-catching "purchasing team" through the stalls with practiced ease.
"Sister Sun, the vegetables are so fresh today, give me two pounds." Fang Li greeted the vegetable vendor she knew with a smile.
As Aunt Sun deftly weighed the vegetables, she smiled and sized up the several distinct "family members" behind Fang Li, her voice booming, "Little Fang's here! Wow, the whole group's here today, all the cousins' out!" Her gaze fell on Ye Wuyang, who was meticulously selecting tomatoes, and she teased, "Oh my, this handsome young man really knows how to manage his household! Look at the tomatoes he's picked, each one round, plump, and the perfect color!"
Holding a perfectly red tomato, Ye Wuyang focused intently. Upon hearing this, she gave a curt "Mmm" without any expression, replying briefly, "It has to be red." Only then did she gently place the perfect tomato into the basket that Fang Li was carrying.
On the other side, Aunt Wang, who sells fruit, greeted the tall and burly Ji Qianqiu warmly: "Young man, want to see a watermelon? It's sandy and sweet, guaranteed!"
Ji Qianqiu stretched out his large, fan-like hand and patted each of the watermelons a few times: "Good watermelons! The sound is crisp and clear! Give me five!" After saying that, he easily lifted the five heavy watermelons with one hand after Aunt Wang packed them into a bag, without changing his expression or skipping a beat.
Aunt Wang and several other customers buying groceries nearby stared in disbelief, and after a long while, they exclaimed in astonishment, "Young man...you...you must have been born with this strength, right?"
Ji Qianqiu chuckled sheepishly and scratched his head: "Hehe, I don't have any other skills, I just have a lot of strength!"
Standing at the butcher's stall, Shen Yunzhou's eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the pork on the cutting board, pointing precisely to one piece: "I want this one." The pork belly was perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, the layers distinct, the muscle and tendons distributed just right. The stall owner, an experienced chef, gave him a thumbs-up, marveling, "A true expert! You picked the best piece at a glance!"
Xie Chen carefully selected notebooks and pens for Ling'er at the stationery stall. He calculated quickly in his mind, and when the owner quoted the total price, he smiled gently, his tone as warm as a spring breeze: "Sir, how about I round it down and throw in a stack of sticky notes? We'll definitely come back to patronize your business next time." The owner, slightly bewildered by his gentle aura, inexplicably agreed: "Sure...sure! Here you go!"
This group of people attracted a lot of attention, drawing many kind glances and laughter wherever they went.
The groceries they bought quickly filled several huge eco-friendly bags, which were then easily carried by Ji Qianqiu alone.
then.
Ling'er's high school is about to have a parent-teacher conference.
A silent "battle" ensued within the family regarding who should attend. Ye Wuyang's aura was too cold, and Ji Qianqiu, fearing she might say the wrong thing, ultimately decided to use the fairest method of drawing lots, choosing Shen Yunzhou and Xie Chen, the "literary and martial" duo, to attend.
In the classroom, the young homeroom teacher, Ms. Li, was visibly taken aback when she saw the two "parents" walk in.
Shen Yunzhou was tall and upright with a cold and stern face, exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay; Xie Chen, on the other hand, was gentle and refined, with a smile on his lips, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.
"Excuse me... are you two Shen Ling's classmates...?" Teacher Li asked cautiously.
Shen Yunzhou sat upright in the plastic chair prepared for the parents, his posture still ramrod straight. He spoke concisely and clearly: "Uncle." The two words were spoken with a firm and resounding tone, and his powerful aura made the parents in the front row unconsciously shrink back.
Xie Chen immediately smiled and calmly added, "Hello, Teacher Li, we are Ling'er's uncles. Her parents had something come up and asked us to come. Please go ahead." He successfully diffused the slight awkwardness.
Teacher Li praised Ling'er, saying that she had extensive historical knowledge like a little professor and that her physical education grades were amazing, but she also pointed out that her foundation in modern subjects such as physics and chemistry was relatively weak.
Shen Yunzhou listened intently, taking out his notebook and pen to record every word. When he heard "weak foundation," his brows furrowed slightly, and he muttered to himself, "The foundation is not solid... it needs to be strengthened."
Xie Chen then asked gently, "Teacher Li, are there any extracurricular tutoring materials recommended by the school or on the market for Ling'er's situation? We can explain them to her at home to help her catch up as soon as possible."
Other parents nearby whispered among themselves: "This family's genes are amazing... the child is outstanding, even the uncle is so remarkable..." "That uncle has such a good presence, is he a university professor?" "The other one looks like a retired military officer, so serious..."
After the parent-teacher meeting, the two returned home with detailed notes and a stack of Ling'er's test papers. They immediately convened a family meeting to seriously discuss the important issue of how to "tutor" Ling'er.
On this day, the community square was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
The annual neighborhood festival party is underway.
Aunt Liu from the neighborhood committee, tonight's host, was wearing a festive red dress and had a loud voice. She spotted Fang Li's family at a glance and greeted them warmly: "Little Fang! Your family has to put on a show! Your cousins are all very talented, you can't keep them hidden!"
Unable to refuse the warm invitation, Ji Qianqiu was the first to go on stage and perform his signature "special skill".
He broke a large rock on his chest, channeling his inner energy, and slammed his palm down. With a loud "bang," the plasterboard shattered, but he himself was unharmed. He patted his chest, winning cheers from the crowd and screams of admiration from the children.
Next up was Shen Yunzhou, who borrowed an unsharpened decorative longsword used in the party performance and performed a sword dance.
Although he lacked spiritual power, his movements were fluid and graceful, each move possessing a unique rhythm and beauty. Sometimes he moved like a dragon soaring through the air, and sometimes like petals falling in profusion, captivating the audience and eliciting gasps and a flurry of camera flashes.
Ye Wuyang did not go on stage. He sat quietly in a chair in the corner, holding a pomelo in his hand. He was carefully peeling the pomelo and then dividing the flesh into segments, handing them to Fang Li and Ling'er, whose little face was flushed with excitement.
Xie Chen was pulled in by Aunt Liu to be her partner and host the lucky draw segment. He was witty and quick-witted, and he was able to control the atmosphere of the party well, pushing it to a climax time and time again.
Fang Li sat with her neighbors, including Sister Li and Grandma Wang, chatting and laughing, fully integrating into the community.
Little Liuli disguised herself as a beautiful "seven-colored puppy," happily weaving through the crowd, accepting the children's petting and feeding. From time to time, she would use her mind to transmit a message to Fang Li, with a hint of pride: "Host! Did you see that? Isn't this Liuli the most dazzling star here? My popularity is soaring!"
At the climax of the evening, Aunt Liu excitedly invited the entire Fang family to the stage and solemnly presented them with a banner that read "Most Beautiful Family." Aunt Liu's voice choked with emotion: "Thank you, Fang Li's family! Their presence makes our community more loving, more lively, and more vibrant!" Prolonged applause erupted from the audience.
Fang Li looked at her smiling family members and her warm and friendly neighbors below the stage, and her eyes welled up with tears.
This kind of ordinary yet sincere warmth was something she had rarely experienced during her long years in the cultivation world.
As the party ended and I walked home, the moonlight shone like water on the quiet streets.
After the hustle and bustle, the tranquility is exceptionally profound.
Ling'er held Fang Li's hand and walked for a while. Suddenly, she asked softly, "Mom, we are here. There is Grandma Liu, Teacher Li, classmates... Everyone is very nice."
"Wouldn't it be better if we... didn't go back?"
When this question was raised, the men fell silent for a moment, their gazes all turning to Fang Li.
Fang Li stopped and looked at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar street under the moonlight.
This is the hometown she remembers, and looking at her family members whose fates are closely intertwined with hers, she is filled with mixed emotions.
She gently squeezed Ye Wuyang and Ling'er's hands, her tone complex: "This place... used to be my hometown. But now, home is where you are."
Shen Yunzhou said in a deep voice, "Where my heart finds peace is my home. However, matters that have not yet been resolved must eventually be settled." He remained clear-headed throughout.
Ji Qianqiu laughed heartily, put his arm around Xie Chen and Shen Yunzhou's shoulders, and said optimistically, "Life is just like anywhere! With you guys around, it's lively everywhere! I think this place is just fine!"
Xie Chen waved the small plastic fan he had received at the party earlier and chuckled, "This joy is truly a wonderful encounter. Letting things take their natural course is the right way."
Ye Wuyang didn't speak, but simply held Fang Li's hand tighter, expressing his choice through his actions.
Just then, little Liuli, who was pretending to sleep in Ling'er's arms, suddenly raised her head. Her two glass-like eyes sparkled in the moonlight, filled with barely suppressed excitement:
"Host! Major discovery! I just captured the residual spatial fluctuation signal that brought us here while I was online... uh, I mean, making a friendly visit to the municipal geographic information system! The source of the signal is most likely near... the ancient book restoration center underground at the city museum! There seems to be an ancient spiritual vein node there!"
Fang Li's heart stirred. She looked at the faces of her family members under the moonlight. The way home seemed to finally have a glimmer of light.
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