Immortal Clan: I have a Tree of Creation

"Send firewood to the Ye family?"

Zhou Chengnan paused for a moment, his eyes somewhat dazed as he looked at his son.

Time flies! My son has grown up so quickly, yet he still vaguely remembers the image of Shan'er holding him in his arms...

He had also heard his wife, Wang Shuzhen, mention that girl, Ye Juan.

The Ye family of Dongxi Village is a well-known wealthy family. Old Master Ye worked as a doctor in the county town in his early years and accumulated a considerable fortune.

As they grew older, they retired to the countryside, and their family gradually multiplied, eventually forming the Ye family lineage we know today.

The Ye family has two children in this generation. Ye Juan is the second daughter, who is also the granddaughter of the old man Ye.

According to Shuzhen, Ye's daughter is very close to Shan'er.

Zhou Chengnan neither opposed nor approved of this matter.

The Ye family was an extremely wealthy family, while the Zhou family was at best a hunter family with slightly better conditions.

The two children may be genuinely in love.

However, the two families are not well-matched, making it difficult for them to achieve a happy ending.

The Zhou family has produced a cultivator, but Qing'er has just entered the sect, and everything is just beginning. It's far from the time to give back to the family.

Zhou Chengnan felt that the Ye family would most likely not support the marriage.

After all, for the Ye family, marrying their daughter into the Zhou family was indeed a loss of face.

"Never mind, my Zhou family is no worse than theirs..." Zhou Chengnan suddenly laughed.

The Zhou family is no longer what it used to be, not to mention that Qing'er has gone to the Qingchi Sect.

Even he, as the father, has become a true cultivator.

Shan'er is such a good child, he's more than a match for the Ye family!

"Shan'er, you can send it if you want."

Zhou Yuanshan touched his ears, wondering if he had misheard.

"Don't just stand there. Since you're going, there's no reason to just bring firewood." Zhou Chengnan patted his son and laughed.

"Take a pig's foot and two pig's ears, and pick two big fish. Dad will go with you."

This kid is really something... It's his first time visiting his father-in-law's house, who brings firewood?

If word gets out, the whole village will laugh at us.

"Father..." Zhou Yuanshan came back to his senses and became somewhat excited.

"Father, I'll go prepare right away!"

Now that the decision has been made, we must put it into practice.

Bring enough gifts and be polite, at least let the Ye family see this enthusiasm.

......

Snowflakes the size of goose feathers continued to fall.

The Zhou father and son wrapped themselves in five layers of clothing and slowly made their way through the snow.

Both father and son were martial artists, and despite the heavy snowfall, they were still able to move freely.

Zhou Yuanshan's concerns are not unfounded.

The autumn harvest has just ended, and many households have not yet sold their grain.

Food was not a problem, but firewood for cooking became a major issue.

The amount of firewood distributed by the government was too small, and not every family could stockpile enough firewood like the Zhou family.

Although the Ye family was a large and wealthy household, they were ultimately outsiders who had moved from the county seat to Anshan and had no roots there.

The Zhao family in Jinyang Village was able to get the news in advance, but the Ye family might not.

In addition, the Ye family is small, with only two children in this generation.

If the blizzard continues like this, the Ye family may not have enough firewood.

In the snow, two long lines are drawn on the country road.

The father and son walked briskly and quickly arrived at Dongxi Village.

Zhou Yuanshan often drove Ye Juan home, so he was quite familiar with the area.

"Father, we've arrived..." Zhou Yuanshan said somewhat nervously.

The biting wind and snow did not make him tremble, but when he arrived at the Ye family's gate, the young man became somewhat timid.

As Zhou Chengnan and his son carried bundles of firewood, stepping into the Ye family's courtyard, the thick snow was already up to their calves.

The icicles hanging from the eaves resembled inverted fangs, and the door knockers were covered with frost.

"What are you doing...?"

"Zhou Chengnan, a hunter from Jinyang Village, has come to pay his respects with his son."

"Oh dear, in this heavy snow! Please come in! Please come in!"

Ye Juan's father, Ye Zhenbang, came out to greet her, rubbing his hands together. He was wrapped tightly in a cotton robe, his face was red from the cold, and his eyes showed genuine surprise and gratitude.

Following closely behind, Ye's mother, Sun, lifted the heavy windproof cotton curtain.

While busily helping Zhou Yuanshan unload the heavy bundle of firewood from his shoulders, she repeatedly called out, "Come inside and warm up! Juan'er, quickly pour some hot tea!"

The Zhou family in Jinyang Village, Mr. and Mrs. Ye, had also heard their eldest son mention it.

Although the two families had no prior relationship, it was unreasonable to turn them away when they came to visit at this time.

Before she finished speaking, the curtain on the side door of the main room moved, and Ye Juan peeked out, her face slightly flushed from the heat inside.

When she saw Zhou Yuanshan and the tall Zhou Chengnan beside him, her almond-shaped eyes widened suddenly, filled with a mixture of astonishment, overwhelming joy, and almost tearful shyness.

She exclaimed "Ah!" and instinctively tried to pull back, but her mother grabbed her wrist and pulled her out.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and greet Uncle Zhou," Sun scolded.

Ye Juan could only lower her head, her fingers nervously twisting her sash, her voice barely audible: "Uncle Zhou... Brother Yuanshan... please have a seat."

Her ears were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and her fleeting glance at Zhou Yuanshan was filled with tears.

"Thank you for your help, Brother Ye and Sister-in-law Ye." Zhou Chengnan cupped his hands, his voice steady and powerful, carrying the unique cheerfulness of a mountain dweller, yet still polite.

He took off his snow-covered outer robe, revealing a clean and tidy short jacket underneath, and sat down with an air of composure.

Zhou Yuanshan followed his father somewhat awkwardly, unloading the pig's feet, pig's ears, and two large, frozen fish he had brought, and greeted him with a simple and honest voice, "Uncle Ye, Aunt Ye."

His gaze couldn't help but drift towards Ye Juan, and seeing her shy appearance, his own ears quietly turned red.

At this moment, a young man with a face somewhat similar to Ye Juan slowly strolled out of the inner room with his arms crossed. He was Ye Juan's older brother, Ye Feng.

Ye Feng's gaze was like a scale, as if he were weighing something.

He paused for a moment at Zhou Yuanshan's robust physique, then glanced at the rather heavy gifts on the ground.

Finally, the gaze fell on Zhou Yuanshan's slightly flushed face, and a smile, or something else, appeared on his lips: "Tsk, the blizzard has blocked the roads, it must have been hard for Brother Zhou to make this trip."

"This firewood... has arrived just in time. We're almost out of wood to heat the kang (heated brick bed) at home." Ye Feng's tone was very polite.

But that "Brother Zhou" carried the elder brother's instinctive scrutiny and evaluation of his "brother-in-law".

"Feng'er!" Ye Zhenbang coughed lightly, his tone carrying a hint of reminder, then turned to Zhou Chengnan with a beaming smile: "Brother Chengnan, you're very kind. My Ye family will remember this timely help!"

Madam Sun quickly chimed in, "Exactly! Bringing so many nice things in this freezing weather is such a waste!"

Ye Feng snorted softly, said nothing more, but did not leave. He leaned against the door frame, his gaze still lingering on the Zhou father and son.

Zhou Chengnan seemed oblivious to the silent scrutiny, picked up the hot tea Ye Juan offered, and blew away the foam: "Brother Ye, you're too kind."

"It's only right for neighbors to look out for each other. This heavy snow came so suddenly; everyone has their difficulties."

"Shan'er mentioned when he came back the other day that he was worried that your family might run out of firewood. Luckily, we had some extra at home, so it's just a convenient thing to share some with you."

"As for these wild game, they were hunted by ourselves, so they're not worth much." His voice was calm, and his demeanor was composed.

His speech lacked the rudeness of ordinary mountain people, yet it conveyed a dignified and unyielding demeanor, making him quite different from ordinary hunters.

Ye Zhenbang and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise and approval in each other's eyes.

This week, Cheng Nan's words and actions revealed a surprising level of insight.

"That's what they say, but firewood and meat are real things..." Ye Feng suddenly said.

He reached for the bulging money pouch at his waist, thinking, "I can't let the Zhou brothers work for nothing; they deserve a share..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Chengnan smiled and raised his hand to gently block him.

"Nephew Ye," Zhou Chengnan said calmly, looking at Ye Feng, "we are fellow countrymen in this snowy landscape, supporting each other. To discuss money would only create distance and diminish the warmth in this freezing weather. Perhaps you think this small token of our Zhou family's hospitality is only worth a few taels of silver?"

His tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority.

They cleverly used "friendship" to block the path of money.

If we accept the money, then today's trip will have been for nothing.

Ye Feng's hand froze in mid-air, speechless for a moment.

Ye Zhenbang immediately chimed in, laughing heartily, "Brother Chengnan is right! It was Feng'er who was being immature. The Ye family appreciates this sentiment!"

"Juan'er's mother, quickly go and fetch that jar of fine pre-rain tea that was sent from the county town a few days ago!" Madam Sun responded and went to fetch it.

The charcoal fire crackled in the main room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, which gradually became harmonious amidst the aroma of tea.

Ye Zhenbang and Zhou Chengnan chatted about this year's snowfall and the situation in the mountains, finding themselves quite compatible.

Sun then pulled Zhou Yuanshan aside to ask him some everyday questions. Zhou Yuanshan answered them all earnestly, and his honest and simple manner made Sun like him more and more.

No one noticed that Ye Juan quietly stopped wiping the frost flowers on the window frame next to the carved partition between the main room and the kitchen.

She turned to the side, her gaze passing through the gap in the lattice screen and landing on Zhou Yuanshan.

Zhou Yuanshan, on the other hand, seemed to be on the same wavelength.

A few steps apart, amidst the rising steam of tea, their gazes met silently in the air.

Two even brighter blushes instantly rose on Ye Juan's cheeks, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

Zhou Yuanshan was also somewhat mesmerized, grinning foolishly to reveal a set of white teeth.

He only snapped out of his daze when he heard his father cough softly. He scratched his head sheepishly and quickly looked away.