A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 95 Marriage on the Third Day
Eight large trucks were parked in a row in front of the Li family's old house.

There were more than twenty strangers and many servants of the Li family moving boxes and baskets together, and a large flag was also stuck on the cart.

There seemed to be something written on it, but there was no wind, so I couldn't see it clearly...

Li Chang'an smiled at a burly man and said, "Old Guan, this is my third brother, Li Weizhou."

The burly man's face was scarred and his rough hair looked like it had been carelessly cut with a sword. His gaze had been fixed on Li Weizhou for some time, and upon hearing this, he clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Guan Cheng greets the son-in-law!"

Li Weizhou nodded and said politely, "You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Then he said to the steward of the Li family, "Old Qiu, take them to Zuixianglou for hot pot when you're done. It's freezing cold, a few cups of strong liquor will warm them up. By the way, Ximei and Li Huan like to hear stories from the outside world, so ask around and tell them to the children at home later."

Old Qiu was one of the people who went to die outside the fortress with Li Delong when Qian Jintang, the leader of the Heavenly Blade Sect, attacked last time.

He was also one of Li Delong's most trusted people.

With his experience in the martial arts world, he naturally understood the implication behind Li Weizhou's words.

Although somewhat surprised by his master's wariness, he still chuckled and said, "Of course, of course."

Li Weizhou and Li Chang'an entered and went straight to the main hall of the central courtyard.

Upon entering, one sees a very robust man with graying hair and beard sitting on the left, and a young woman next to him who is plain-looking, with no makeup, her black hair tied back in a ponytail, and dressed simply.

In fact, Li Weizhou has seen more beautiful women than most men in the world have seen in their entire lives.

From international socialites to village beauties, from middle-aged A8 models with their lingering charm to schoolgirls in their bright school uniforms dancing gracefully...

The short videos cover everything and have everything.

But this girl still impressed him somewhat...

Her winter clothes were worn out, and her ponytail was tied not with a silk ribbon, but with a piece of worn-out, slightly purplish-red cowhide leather belt. Instead of a gold hairpin with a beaded pendant, it was tied with a copper coin at the end...

The girl looked to be about nineteen or twenty years old, with sharply defined eyebrows and pale amber pupils, like cold jade soaked in pine resin. When her eyes moved, it seemed as if fragments of light were dancing around them.

Her attire exudes a heroic air, which seems fitting for the identity of a bodyguard.

Her long eyelashes, with their upward curve resembling a crescent moon at the corner of her eyes, still made it impossible for her to hide her youthful beauty.

The girl was not shy; as Li Weizhou sized her up, she was also looking back at him.

However, after the two looked at each other for a moment, the girl lowered her eyes first...

"Sanlang, this is Zhou Zhixian, the Golden Saber Dart King of Mingzhou Prefecture, who became a close friend of your parents and later arranged the marriage between your two children! This is his daughter, Zhou Yueniang."

Li Delong introduced it solemnly in a deep voice.

Li Weizhou did nothing unusual and stepped forward to pay his respects according to the usual etiquette, addressing him as "Uncle".

Zhou Zhixian's voice was deep and imposing, but it was also clear that he was not in good health and was somewhat weak. He stared intently at Li Weizhou and said in a low voice, "When the news of your parents' accident was sent to Mingzhou Prefecture, Yue Niang's mother and I originally planned to come here immediately, but we didn't expect that her mother was so heartbroken that she fell ill and never recovered. A year later, she passed away."

Yue Niang observed three years of mourning. After the mourning period ended last year, she originally planned to come over, but I had some things happen... This year, it's not good to wait any longer. Yue Niang is already three years older than you, and if we delay any longer, she will be too old, so we sent her over directly to get married.

Your uncle told me that you were quite dissolute a few years ago, but you only turned things around this year? It's like fate, saving me from having to worry about you again. Now you seem to be doing much better.”

Li Delong laughed loudly, "It's double happiness! Silang has just leaped over the Dragon Gate and become a Martial Grandmaster. After your wedding, the whole family will move to the capital! The capital is much closer to Mingzhou Prefecture! Silang made a wish before going to the horse market, but unexpectedly, he broke through before the horse market even ended! Hahaha! It's all fate, it's all fate!"

Madam Cao smiled and said, "Sanlang, is there anything you want to say?" She knew that her Sanlang looked aloof, but he was actually quite shrewd, especially good at coaxing girls.

Li Weizhou simply smiled and turned to the silent Zhou Yueniang, asking, "Is there anything you want to say?"

Zhou Yueniang glanced at him in surprise, somewhat taken aback, and gently shook her head.

What could she say, given the arrangement of her parents and the matchmaker's words...?

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "I see you have martial arts skills, would you like to stay at home and be a good wife and mother?"

Before Zhou Yueniang could speak, Zhou Zhixian said in a deep voice, "Young lady, how can you say whether you want to or not? Do you also want to be like me, spending your whole life on the edge of a knife?" His tone was somewhat dissatisfied.

Zhou Yueniang's eyes reddened slightly as she looked at her father and said softly, "After this, Father, what will you do all by yourself?"

Although his tone was soft, the deep affection between father and daughter in his words moved everyone in the room to look on with surprise.

Xi Mei, who had been sitting obediently beside Zhou Yue Niang, smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, let Uncle stay at our house! My brother is very capable; he's earned lots and lots of money, enough to support Uncle in his old age. You're so pretty, my brother likes you very much!"

The Li family was a large family, and they all burst into laughter.

Zhou Zhixian also laughed, seeing Ximei's happy smile. Since ancient times, the two things a girl fears most when she gets married are a wicked mother-in-law and a shrewish sister-in-law.

Xi Mei is immediately recognizable as kind and well-behaved, and is very likable.

Looking at the room full of festive people, Li Weizhou still felt a little uncomfortable.

This morning I was just joking and playing mind games with the courtesan, it seemed like my carefree days were endless...

How come you're getting married so soon?
After laughing, Li Delong said to Zhou Zhixian, "Hero Zhou, you are known throughout Qingzhou City for your generosity and willingness to help those in distress. Now that you are getting old, and you only have one daughter, Yueniang, if your daughter and son-in-law don't take care of you in your old age, who will you rely on to see you off in your final days?"

I know my nephew; he's loyal and devoted. If you treat him like family, he can stay home and enjoy his retirement. A harmonious family brings prosperity, and with you as his father-in-law, even I feel much more at ease. Xi Mei was right about one thing: her brother really knows how to make money; he's the savior of the North!

Madam Cao smiled and said, "We can look after each other when we go to the capital."

Zhou Zhixian was deeply moved, but still couldn't agree. He said sincerely, "The entire escort agency has been in Mingzhou for generations, especially some of the older ones who are reluctant to leave their homeland, and others who are disabled or bedridden. They all need me. They were injured while working for the agency, and I can't abandon them. This time, I also took on a shipment for the Wu Prince's Mansion, and considering the time, I can only stay for three days. So, if it's affordable, my in-laws would be best to choose an auspicious day within these three days for me to send my daughter off on her wedding day. I know it's a bit rushed, and I apologize to your family."

He was a huge, burly man, but his voice became a little hoarse towards the end.

As a respected figure in the martial arts world, he still had his pride and couldn't possibly retire in his son-in-law's house.

But his daughter is the softest part of his heart... He has to see her get married.

Zhou Yueniang noticed the unusual tone in her father's voice and burst into tears.

This parting may be for life.

Li Weizhou scratched his head, observing for a while but still couldn't figure it out... He comforted the girl, saying, "Don't worry, I'm a businessman, and I like to travel around. I'll go to Mingzhou Prefecture every year or two, staying for three to five months each time. I'll first visit my uncle's family in the capital, and then take a boat to Mingzhou Prefecture. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to master martial arts, otherwise I won't dare to go out."

He was handsome and dashing, with a pair of phoenix eyes that were already charming and amorous. Now, he was giving such gentle and considerate advice, and his words were so sweet. Although Zhou Yueniang had experienced many life-and-death situations in the martial world, she had never seen anyone so shameless as to say such things in front of her whole family and relatives. She immediately blushed.

Even Zhou Zhixian burst into laughter, praising her repeatedly, "Good, good! Your father is an honest man, but your mother is extremely clever. She and Yue Niang's mother hit it off immediately, and they're closer than sisters. I don't know how two people who have just met can be so compatible. Now it seems you're more like your mother. Very good, the two of you supporting each other and living a good life together makes me happier than if you came to see me a hundred times, cough cough cough..."

A series of violent coughs turned the burly man's face a purplish-gold color.

"father!"

Zhou Yueniang stood up worriedly and took a step forward. Zhou Zhixian frowned and suppressed his cough before gesturing for his daughter to sit down. Then he said apologetically to Li Delong, "Last year I was ambushed and suffered some minor injuries. It's nothing serious, but I'm sorry to have made you laugh, my in-laws. Time waits for no one."

Li Delong had met Zhou Zhixian before and remarked, "Master Zhou, you've had your time. It's time to retire from the martial arts world."

Zhou Zhixian smiled and said, "There's no such thing as truly washing your hands of the martial arts world... It's nothing."

Li Delong and Li Chang'an exchanged a glance. Li Chang'an went out for a short while and came back with a lacquer box in his hand, smiling and saying, "Uncle, you've come at the perfect time. The other day, Sanlang came back from the horse market with some good ginseng. No one in our family except Silang knows martial arts, and Silang doesn't need these. We were originally thinking of just leaving them in the storeroom, but it just so happens that Uncle is injured, so take them to help him recover."

Before Zhou Zhi could refuse, Li Delong said in a deep voice, "Master Zhou has helped at least eight hundred or a thousand fellow martial artists in his life. In-laws are family, so Master Zhou, please don't be so formal with our family. Besides, our family hasn't even given the betrothal gifts yet. These few century-old ginseng roots can be considered the betrothal gifts of the Li family. The daughter of the Golden Saber Dart King should be betrothed with a gift of ten thousand taels of gold. These ginseng roots are too meager. Please don't think they are too light."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhixian shook his head and looked at Li Delong sincerely, saying, "My dear in-law, it's not that I'm being polite or being presumptuous, but my injury is something that ginseng can't cure. I'll leave this ginseng to you..." He paused and then smiled, "It's fine for Yue Niang to use when she breaks through her cultivation barrier, since she'll be a member of your Li family from now on anyway."

Li Weizhou suddenly asked, "Uncle, could the injury you suffered be from the one inflicted by Wu Zong at the Six Passes?"

Zhou Zhixian didn't hide anything and nodded, saying, "Insightful. That's right. If you encounter a powerful person on the road and are struck by their palm, it's already lucky to survive. However, the Martial Grandmaster's strength is hard to remove, and the hidden injuries are difficult to heal."

Li Weizhou asked, "Does it require a Martial Master to remove it?"

Zhou Zhi shook his head and said, "I'm afraid even a Martial Grandmaster wouldn't be able to help. I've been wandering the martial world for decades, and although I don't have much skill, I do know a couple of Martial Grandmaster experts. But my injuries are to my heart and lung meridians, and I can't withstand the impact of a Martial Grandmaster's force. So... I'm afraid only a Martial Saint could possibly expel the foreign force from my body. However, even Martial Grandmaster experts are hard to find in the martial world, let alone Martial Saints. Even the true disciples of major sects rarely see such peerless masters, let alone someone like me who just wanders the martial world." He gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Li Weizhou fell silent again. Li Delong slowly said, "Let Silang think of a solution later?"

Li Weizhou shook his head and said, "Si Lang's master was also a Martial Grandmaster."

Li Delong said in a deep voice, "Then he must have more ideas than us!" He was somewhat dissatisfied with Li Weizhou's cold demeanor.

Before Li Weizhou could speak again, Zhou Zhixian said with a smile, "My dear in-law, the reason I agreed to Weizhou's mother's marriage proposal was not only because Weizhou's mother and Yueniang's mother got along well, but also because I thought the Li family was truly excellent. But let's not mention this matter again."

"There's no such thing as an easy request in this world. You ask your fourth son to beg for my help, and then that person might use that favor to blackmail him into doing dangerous work, possibly even endangering his life. That becomes karma. Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay, so you must be very clear about this."

Without giving Li Delong a chance to speak again, she waved her hand and said, "Let's not talk about these things anymore. I know what I'm doing. Ten or eight years is no big deal. I might as well be happy once the two children are married!"

Seeing his resolute determination and understanding the pride and dignity of such a powerful figure in the martial arts world, Li Delong stopped trying to persuade him and nodded with a smile, "Then let's proceed according to the rules: three letters and six rites, three rites a day, and the wedding in three days. Even if it's a bit rushed, Zhou Daxia's daughter will definitely have a grand wedding. My Li family will make sure Yue Niang enters the house in a magnificent eight-bearer sedan chair! Second brother, spread the word that starting tomorrow, my Li family will hold a continuous banquet at the intersection of Xiejie Street for seven days to celebrate the happy marriage of the third son of the Li family of Qingzhou and the beloved daughter of the Golden Knife Dart King of Mingzhou Prefecture!!"

The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly lively, and Xi Mei secretly gave the sad Zhou Yue Niang milk candy to eat... Li Weizhou sat there, but felt somewhat detached, as if these elders were laughing and discussing someone else's wedding.

Even though I already knew about the marriage agreement in Mingzhou Prefecture, and that it was common for people to get married at the age of sixteen or seventeen.

But when the moment came, it still felt sudden.

They got married in just three days?
They didn't discuss the bride price, the house, or the car, and they didn't even say whose surname the children would take...

Isn't this too hasty?
Hey.

Marriage? On the other side of the world, he had forgotten how many years it had been since he had thought about it.

When I was young and didn't understand things, I would occasionally think about these things, but as I grew older, I lost those thoughts.

Unexpectedly, the original owner of this body, who is nearly thirty years old, is still single, while in the Great Qian Dynasty, someone is getting married at only sixteen...

Turning to look at Zhou Yueniang, she was not dressed up in fancy clothes, nor did she wear heavy makeup or fine silks. She even used a leather strap to tie her hair...

His skin wasn't fair, and the wind and rain on his escort journey had given him a slightly weathered look.

It’s not bad…

But why did Li Weizhou feel that it was so sudden...?

However, looking at the two families chatting happily, Li Weizhou felt that there was no problem. Could it be that he was just paranoid and overthinking things?

With my uncle's extensive experience, he wouldn't miss the flaws that even he could see.

Never mind, I won't think about it anymore.

The city of Qingzhou is now teeming with powerful figures, so there are few safety concerns.

As dusk falls, the day is about to end.

A copper bell, lost by some child, fluttered in the evening breeze in the courtyard, producing a series of indistinct, fragmented sounds...

Li Weizhou shamelessly kept staring at the girl, and Zhou Yueniang seemed unable to bear it any longer, so she also looked up at him.

Li Weizhou smiled gently and nodded, while Zhou Yueniang pursed her thin lips and nodded slightly.

In those amber eyes, there seemed to be a hint of shyness, a hint of sadness, a hint of unease about the future, and a hint of longing.

The girl looks so beautiful in that moment.

……

"Were these all asked while you were drunk?"

Before returning home, Li Weizhou secretly met with Lao Qiu and received information that was similar to what he had heard in the main hall.

The escort team had been on their way for quite some time, traveling all the way from Mingzhou Prefecture to here. They described the local customs and culture along the way in great detail, making it seem authentic.

However, feeling he could be more cautious, he added, "Is he really drunk or just pretending?"

Old Qiu laughed, "Third Master, I don't think even a real god could handle the 'Immortal's Intoxication' from your restaurant. Mingzhou Prefecture is in the south, where people are used to drinking Shaoxing wine and yellow wine. They've never drunk such strong liquor before. If it weren't for the pressure to save face, they probably wouldn't have agreed to drink it. No problem, they set off four months ago. Back then, Third Master was still... well..."

"Duh!"

Li Weizhou finally felt a little relieved, laughed and scolded, and said, "Alright, then you go ahead and get busy. I'll treat you guys to drinks later."

Old Qiu chuckled and said, "We won't even consider Third Master's invitation. We'll be more than satisfied if we can just go to Zuixianlou to settle the bill once."

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "Is this even a big deal? Just put it on my tab whenever you go. I'm off."

Watching Li Weizhou's figure disappear into the distance, Old Qiu grinned for a long time.

The younger generation of the family has truly stood up.

It's remarkable that someone can be so cautious even with such beauty in front of them!

so good……

……

"Young master is back!"

As Li Weizhou entered Shiqiao Street, he saw Yanxue sweeping and cleaning in the front yard, indicating that the previous doorman had moved away.

The door to the back room opened, and Chu Mengjun, dressed simply in home attire and holding a rag in her hand, looked at Li Weizhou with a smile and said, "The bride has really arrived?"

Li Weizhou nodded and exclaimed, "How amazing! In the blink of an eye, you're about to get married and I'll be marrying you a mistress."

Yanxue: "..."

What kind of amazing thing is this?

Chu Mengjun chuckled and said, "Then, can I continue working as a doorman?"

Li Weizhou nodded and said, "With your martial arts skills, it would be a waste if you didn't become a disciple. But don't worry, you won't be wasting your talents forever."

When the ice and snow melt in early spring, the construction of the Dayuan Mountain plank road needs a leader.

Such large-scale projects, which take years to complete, require the largest materials.

Li Weizhou went inside, but stopped abruptly just before entering the second gate. He turned back to Chu Mengjun and said, "I have a question for you." His expression was rather serious.

Chu Mengjun asked, "What?"

Li Weizhou asked, "Does getting married and entering the bridal chamber have any impact on martial arts practitioners?"

Chu Mengjun chuckled upon hearing this, and Yan Xue also giggled.

Li Weizhou wasn't in a hurry; he waited for the two to finish laughing.

After a while, Chu Mengjun said, "It won't have much of an effect on men, just don't get addicted. As for women, as long as they don't rush to have children, it's not a big problem. The union of yin and yang can sometimes be a good thing. If you're worried, young master, you can try it beforehand."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes conveyed a meaningful flirtatious glance.

Yanxue blushed and lowered her head, drawing circles on her toes.

The young woman is determined to leap over the dragon gate; if she were to actually try, who would it be...?

Li Weizhou sneered, "Dream on! You think you can have my first taste?"

After saying that, he turned and left, and when he returned to the east wing, he locked the door from the inside.

After standing there for a long time, Chu Mengjun went from gritting her teeth to giggling, and finally laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up.

She was just testing the waters, of course, but she didn't expect to find out such a thing, and it was the first soup!

Oh dear, ever since I left the merchant guild, my feelings have been complicated and hard to describe. I've even felt a bit uneasy, wondering if this decision was right or wrong.

But now, she truly no longer regretted it.

Isn't the point of life to be happy?
She had forgotten how long it had been since she had laughed so freely and happily.

That’s great…

Yanxue chuckled along, but in her heart she was thinking: Hmm~ I wonder who will get to drink the young master's first soup...

But after a while, Li Weizhou came out again, and Chu Mengjun glanced at him and said, "What, regretting it?"

Li Weizhou spat and said, "It's dangerous for you to have your eye on me. I won't be back tonight. You all lock the door. See you tomorrow!"

He was going to the mansion left behind by Qi Erniang...

He had just heard his phone ring on Earth; there had been a response to some things he had arranged there...

……

P.S.: The next chapter is urban setting, just some background information, and then a whole lot of stories will unfold.

(End of this chapter)