Chapter 933 – Extras, A Dream Unfurled
August 15.
The moonlight was soft and shimmering, like water and a mirror.
Jiang Zhao, Bianzhou.
Bianzhou was a place like ink and paintings, with small bridges, flowing water, and houses that seemed to whisper poetic sentiments at every corner.
A thin veil of distant smoke hung over the small town, as shadows danced in the white-walled, black-tiled buildings, with pavilions and terraces arranged in an orderly fashion.
This was a town where scholars often lingered, where the Common People lived in peace, and where not a single lost item was to be found on the streets.
Most of the townspeople had endured unimaginable hardships in chaotic times, cherishing their current lives, always wearing a smile.
One day, a family of three arrived in this small town.
The man, though older, still had traces of youthful charm in his eyes, his demeanor refined and gentlemanly.
The woman, not much younger than the man, stood with an aura that stretched eight meters wide, exuding heroism and stylish grace.
As for the handsome young boy inheriting his parents’ good looks, his features were exquisite, almost divinely gifted.
This family’s looks were beyond heavenly.
The townsfolk were all Common People; seeing anyone with decent features was like witnessing a miracle, let alone someone truly magnificent.
This family settled in the town.
The man opened a bookstore on the street, selling brushes, ink, paper, and other little trinkets. The woman, with nothing much to do, would either ride through the streets or stand in the bookstore, her eyes fixed on the man until he would awkwardly look away.
While this couple was a bit peculiar, it didn’t stop the town’s residents from eyeing their son.
In the east of the town, Mr. Lu had only one daughter, who was strong and stocky, with an appearance that wasn’t too appealing, and a fiery, unruly disposition that had even muscular men steering clear of her.
Mr. Lu was losing his hair over his daughter’s marriage prospects, but she didn’t care at all, continuing to live her life as she pleased.
As he watched his daughter nearing twenty, Mr. Lu steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and decided to find a son-in-law!
With a son-in-law in his grasp, what was there to fear about a few quirks or complaints about his daughter?
But Mr. Lu’s reputation wasn’t the best, and his daughter was like a shake that frightens ghosts away.
Even a beggar wouldn’t consider becoming their son-in-law.
Just when Mr. Lu was about to turn his attention to nearby towns, that family of three entered his sights.
“Father, I absolutely will marry him!”
Mr. Lu’s daughter had taste, instantly fixating on the striking young man who was just eighteen.
“Alright! Father will go ask for your hand today!”
Mr. Lu thumped his chest, resolutely agreeing.
August 15 was a day for nationwide reunion, when most townsfolk had already closed their shops early, except for that bookstore still open on the street.
“Where has Fushou wandered off to again today?”
As Mr. Lu and the Ice Person approached the bookstore to propose, they overheard the woman boldly sitting at the counter, turning to ask the man inside.
The man replied with a smile, “Isn’t it to avoid you?”
This man, though over fifty years old, looked like he hadn’t even turned forty.
“Why would he avoid me?” The woman carelessly lifted a leg onto the counter, oblivious to the outside world, saying, “I was too busy before to pay attention to him. He’s been sulking since then. But now, he’s avoiding me faster than a rabbit.”
“Maybe it’s the beauty of distance,” the man said with a smirk. “He doesn’t like training, and you keep pestering him. Why wouldn’t he run?”
The woman raised her brows, “Fushou is already eighteen and can’t draw a stone bow! How embarrassing! His sister could knock down ten of you with just one finger—can you believe it? It’s ridiculous! He actually dares to avoid me! He should be tossed to his sister for some serious training!”
The man countered, “What’s the difference? Escaping from one tiger den only to enter another wolf’s lair?”
“You spoil him too much. A whack when he’s disobedient is just fine; if one doesn’t work, hit him again. Nothing can’t be solved with a fist.”
The man replied quietly, “If you’re willing to hit him, why are you still here bothering me?”
“Are you saying I’m bothering you now?”
The woman quickly switched the topic, flawlessly demonstrating how to change a conversation with the weather.
“Ahem—Lan Ting, don’t let others see you making a fool of yourself.”
“What did you call me?”
“Okay—Pengpeng, stop causing trouble.”
“No way, I want to cause trouble!”
The man: “…”
When the man saw Mr. Lu, it was like spotting a savior.
Mr. Lu puffed out his chest, about to step into the bookstore when that domineering woman brandished an abacus in his way.
“Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m handling family matters?”
She shot a look filled with fierce intent at him, and Mr. Lu stepped back in fright.
After a moment, Mr. Lu felt something was off; he was here to propose.
He gestured for the Ice Person to step forward and state their intentions.
In his mind, this family of three were merely outsiders, with no local relatives, so there was no way they could contend with a local authority like him.
The Ice Person smiled cheerfully and explained their purpose, causing the expressions of the elderly couple to shift dramatically.
The man looked up at them, smiling as he asked, “A marriage proposal?”
But the woman laughed, saying, “Proposing? For whom?”
Mr. Lu replied, “Of course for your son.”
The woman chuckled, “Look at your face! Even if you marry a heavenly beauty, whatever daughter you have will still not be pretty! Who gave you the courage to come here proposing to my son? I’ve been working on being patient and not wanting to get angry, so if you’re wise, just scram.”
Mr. Lu couldn’t help but hear the mockery directed at his looks.
His face twitched with anger.
“Are you two tired of living here?”
“Hey, is that a threat? Huh, Aci, how long has it been since anyone dared talk to me like that?”
The man named responded, “It seems like a long time.”
Mr. Lu warned, “You two better not reject a toast and ask for a beating!”
“Good! I’d like to see how you make me drink this beating,” the woman said, laughing as she jumped down from the counter, ready to roll up her sleeves. The man quickly raised his hand, blocking her and pushing her behind him.
“You’ve had enough! Your body’s barely recovered, and you want to stir trouble again? You’re fifty-one, not fifteen!”
The woman shot back, “Wasn’t it you who set the rules back then?”
The man countered, “And who was it that had to follow those rules?”
Unable to retort, the woman murmured, her gaze carrying a hint of grievance.
“Zixiao, you’ve changed.”
The man replied, “If I didn’t change, you would have flown to the sky after leaving Beijing, wouldn’t you?”
Having narrowly escaped the King of Hell’s grasp, why would he tempt fate again?
Mr. Lu, completely ignored by the couple, felt his expression shift like an artist’s palette.
Before leaving, he angrily declared, “My brother-in-law is the county magistrate; you’ll regret this!”
“Oh?” The woman raised an eyebrow, “Is that so? Then thank you.”
Mr. Lu stood there in confusion, wondering what she meant by thanking him.
Days later, after having become a commoner, Mr. Lu slapped his brother-in-law hard.
“Useless guy, you can’t even achieve anything!”
The bookstore changed ownership.
In the outskirts.
The woman rode a donkey backward, the man sat in a cart, and their child walked with his legs.
“Dad~~~ I want to ride in the cart.”
“Calling your mom won’t help,” the man said.
“Mom—son is wrong!”
“Calling your dad won’t do either,” the woman replied.
The slanting sun shone softly, and bells jingled lightly.
The family of three gradually moved further away.
…
The scene twisted, and hazy figures blurred before my eyes, with voices ringing like echoes from the heavens.
Blood sprayed, soaking his surroundings, and none of the officials could intercept his action in time.
He spent his last strength, his gaze painfully shifting toward a certain direction, his body growing colder and heavier until his eyes slowly closed.
Peng—
Wait for me.
