Chapter 12: Daughter Turns One, Dragon-Elephant Vajra
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After work, Old Chen held Xixi and braved the wind and snow to head home with Li Che and Zhang Ya.
To prevent Xixi from being hit by the wind and snow, Old Chen even used his Internal Energy to melt the ice and snow around her, ensuring not a single flake touched her.
Upon returning to their humble mud house, Zhang Ya and Li Che got busy. They naturally had to treat Old Chen well since he was staying to guard their home.
They prepared a fine meal and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner together.
"Zhang Ya's cooking is great, really great. From now on, I'll be a regular here, and I'll have a lot to look forward to," Old Chen said, savoring the food and wine with a contented look on his face.
Xixi sat in the wooden baby chair that Li Che had made for her, waving her hands as if she wanted to taste the wine in Old Chen's gourd.
Li Che drank a few cups with Old Chen but didn't drink much more. After all, he had to stay alert in case the Spirit Child Sect made a move that night.
After dinner, Old Chen played with Xixi while Li Che sat by the oil lamp, practicing his carving and trying to make mechanisms as usual.
Perhaps because they had become closer, Old Chen mentioned during a break in his drinking that he wouldn't charge Li Che for the borrowed Tang Family Mechanism Records.
Although Li Che wasn't short of the fifty coins since he had become a certified wood carver, he still showed his gratitude by toasting Old Chen.
The Sleeve Crossbow was completed, but Li Che didn't stop there. He planned to make two more, one to hide in his other sleeve and another for Zhang Ya, just in case.
As expected, after making the Sleeve Crossbow once, the Dao Fruit's maturity had peaked, and no further growth could be gained. To mature the Dao Fruit further, he would have to make other mechanisms.
The wind and snow raged outside, howling fiercely.
Inside, the oil lamp flickered, casting long shadows.
In the middle of the night, Old Chen, who was watching over Xixi as she slept, suddenly narrowed his eyes and silently left the house, leaping onto the roof in one step.
His powerful blood qi roared like an angry dragon in the wind and snow.
Several approaching dark figures, sensing Old Chen's aura, didn't hesitate to turn and flee.
Old Chen's face was grim. These followers of the Spirit Child Sect were truly desperate, daring to attack in the middle of the night.
"One Tendon Opening, four Skin Grinding. This lineup... If I hadn't been here tonight, Li Che might not have been able to protect Xixi..."
Old Chen uncorked his gourd and took a swig of wine.
His eyes were filled with intense determination.
Spirit Child Sect...
They had indeed caused chaos in Feilei City.
Returning to the house, Old Chen nodded at Li Che and then returned to Xixi's side.
Li Che's hand, gripping the carving knife, was covered in prominent veins. After a long while, he exhaled slowly, calmed his mind, and continued carving.
He would remember Old Chen's kindness today.
...
...
The next day, the weather cleared up, and the wind and snow ceased.
Zhang Ya got up early to start packing, preparing to move.
Although her husband hadn't said much, she was perceptive enough to understand that there was danger threatening their family, given that Master Chen had been invited to stay and guard their home.
So, she felt no sadness about moving, only the desire to move into the courtyard of the Xu Family Wood Carving Shop as soon as possible.
The items in the mud house were not many, just some household items stacked together. They called for a donkey cart to transport everything to the Xu Family Wood Carving Shop.
The neighbors, seeing this, came out one by one, looking at them with surprise and envy.
"They're moving... This family is going to rise, flying out of this corner."
"I heard that Brother Che went from a laborer to a certified wood carver at the Xu Family Wood Carving Shop... He's going to make a lot of money!"
"Just looking at Brother Che, you can tell he's destined for success! He's become a wood carver, and I hear that a piece of wood carving can sell for ten taels of silver!"
"They're in a different league now, not in the same world as us anymore."
...
The neighbors gossiped, envious and resentful, watching the donkey cart crush the snow and disappear around the corner.
Upon arriving at the Wood Carving Shop, they went straight inside.
Li Che didn't see Third Manager but met an old man dressed in fine clothes, who looked like a steward, holding a set of keys.
"Master Li, the shop owner asked me to wait for you and help you choose a courtyard," the steward said with a smile, then looked at Chen Dabao, who was holding Xixi.
"Oh, Master Chen is here too?"
Old Chen smiled. "Old Sun, just take Brother Che to the two-story courtyard opposite my place. We'll be neighbors from now on!"
The steward, Old Sun, grinned. "That's great, this way please."
The group walked through the narrow alleys between the high walls of the courtyard, quickly reaching the residential area, where they saw several courtyards lining both sides of the alley.
The Xu Family Wood Carving Shop was vast, occupying a large area!
After all, the Xu Family was wealthy and powerful, practiced martial arts, and possessed Internal Energy. They had been developing in Feilei City for over two hundred years, with deep roots.
They were even wealthier than the largest landowners, having accumulated a significant amount of land.
Old Sun, the steward, used the keys to unlock the door, pushing it open. The snow piled on the roof fell, revealing a spacious courtyard covered in thick snow.
"Master Li, take a look. If you're not satisfied, we can look at other courtyards," Old Sun said, his attitude towards Li Che being very gentle and respectful.
To rise from a laborer to a certified wood carver, one must have exceptional talent in wood carving. As a steward of the Xu Family Wood Carving Shop, he had the discernment to recognize this and wouldn't easily offend such a person.
Li Che held Zhang Ya's hand and entered the courtyard, carefully inspecting it. After a long while, his tense mood finally relaxed.
He smiled. "Good, very good."
Zhang Ya looked at the bright and luxurious courtyard with a mixture of amazement and disbelief. Compared to their small mud house, this was truly a vast improvement!
"Let's invite Uncle's family over for a housewarming dinner in a few days. We'll finally be settled down."
Zhang Ya, having finished looking at the house, leaned into Li Che's arms, her eyes gleaming.
Her husband had promised her a good life, and now... it had finally come true.
Life was getting better!
"You two clean up the courtyard and move in properly. I'll take Xixi to my place to play. When you're done, come over for dinner. I'll have a table set up at the Spring Wind Tower, right next to your courtyard."
Chen Dabao, holding Xixi, shouted a few words and then returned to his own courtyard.
They could even hear Xixi's giggles as she played with Chen Dabao.
Li Che smiled. "I didn't expect Old Chen to get along so well with Xixi..."
"Master Chen is really nice. Xixi will be safe with him, and we can focus on moving in," Zhang Ya smiled.
The couple looked at each other and then started cleaning the courtyard with enthusiasm.
...
...
Time flies, and seasons change.
Time, like the wood shavings from a carving knife, scattered unnoticed.
Xixi turned one year old.
In the courtyard, The autumn chill had just passed, and the heavy winter snow was already falling, piling up like white cotton in the courtyard.
Li Che and Old Chen sat around a stove, warming a pot of old yellow wine. The table was set with sliced beef and pig's ears, seasoned with cilantro and garlic, emitting a fragrant aroma.
In the courtyard, one-year-old Xixi was running around in a wooden walker that Li Che had made for her, chasing the falling snowflakes.
Old Chen watched Xixi with affection, his eyes never leaving her. "Oh, little stinky Xixi, it's snowing outside. It's cold, come back inside and play."
"Uncle Chen, it's fine. Let her play. When she gets tired, it'll be easier to put her to bed. Otherwise, her energy will be too high, and she'll be wide awake all night," Zhang Ya said, bringing out a plate of hot stir-fried soybeans from the kitchen with a smile.
"Hey, Xixi is one year old, and you didn't even think about throwing a party? I want Xixi to have a grand celebration and receive lots of gifts... I've already invited a few old friends, so you have to set up a few tables!"
Old Chen grabbed a handful of soybeans, eating and laughing.
Li Che hadn't wanted to throw a first birthday party. Although the Spirit Child Sect had been quiet since they moved into the courtyard, he still remained vigilant deep down.
The closer it got to Xixi's first birthday, the more cautious Li Che became.
After all, Lei Chunlan had specifically targeted one-year-old infants!
However, after discussing it with his wife, they decided to throw a first birthday party. The courtyard was spacious enough, and hosting it at home would be safer.
He warmed the old yellow wine and poured a cup for Old Chen.
Li Che poured himself a cup and took a sip, the wine's fragrance warming his throat and dispelling the winter chill.
Suddenly, Li Che's heart trembled.
A scene appeared before his eyes.
On a vast, desolate land, a towering treasure tree stood, its branches lush and full. On one of its branches, a seven-colored fruit slowly formed, glowing with a radiant light, reflecting Xixi's growth over the past year.
Li Che's eyes lit up.
Long-awaited anticipation finally blossomed.
Xixi is one year old, the second Dao Fruit...
Has arrived.
...
[Your daughter is one year old, safe and sound. You have obtained a Dao Fruit: Dragon-Elephant Vajra]
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(End of Chapter)