The villagers' perception of Yan Shouyi had drastically changed after Ye Chengfu smashed his car yesterday.
Having watched Yan Shouyi grow up, they all felt a sense of familiarity, seeing him as just a talented neighbor kid. However, Yan Shouyi's demonstration of his formidable power and background inevitably created a slight distance, not out of deliberate estrangement, but due to the villagers' concern that Yan Shouyi might look down upon them.
That morning, Chen Family Village was quiet and deserted. The gossiping aunties and grandmothers who usually gathered at the village entrance were nowhere to be seen.
After waking up and sensing the tranquility of Chen Family Village, Yan Shouyi called for Lin Zitong and Long Feicheng.
The three of them packed a bundle of things from their home, leaving Ye Chengfu behind, and began knocking on doors one by one.
The first to open was the village chief's house. The old village chief's adorable grandson ran out to open the door. Upon seeing Yan Shouyi and his companions, he immediately shrunk his head back, calling out "Grandpa" repeatedly.
When the old village chief came out, Yan Shouyi took out an exquisite walking stick from the items they had brought and handed it to him.
"Village Chief Grandpa, we are about to return to Rongcheng. We don't know when we'll be back. We've been greatly taken care of by everyone during this time. This is a walking stick I made especially for you. Please try it and see how it feels?"
The old village chief, being advanced in years, was a seasoned individual. Unlike the other villagers, he harbored no unfounded worries.
He took the walking stick with a smile, walked a few steps, and felt no discomfort whatsoever. In fact, it was much easier to use than his old one.
"Shouyi, you are a good child," the old village chief said, holding Yan Shouyi's hand. "Come, I'll go with you to thank the villagers!"
He saw through Yan Shouyi's intentions. The large pile of handcrafted gifts they were carrying were actually things Yan Shouyi had been making for a long time, intending to give them to the villagers. However, due to yesterday's events, Yan Shouyi was eager to present the gifts, dispelling the villagers' worries.
Frankly speaking, even if Yan Shouyi achieved great success, he still cherished the villagers' kindness and did not want to sever ties with them.
This was unlike Wang Dazhi and Chen Lao Ba, who, after getting rich, only thought of returning to the village to show off, offering no help and only causing annoyance.
That was why the old village chief wanted to accompany Yan Shouyi, knocking on doors and delivering gifts, letting everyone know that Yan Shouyi was still the same Yan Shouyi.
"Aunt Wang, I heard your lower back isn't great. This chair can help with your back pain!"
"Uncle Chen Liu, this is a rattan mat I specially wove. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, and lying on it is good for your health!"
"Elder Zhou, you love drinking tea. I specially made a tea tray for you. Please take good care of it!"
Upon receiving Yan Shouyi's gifts, the villagers were all relieved, their faces beaming with joy.
These gifts were all handmade by Yan Shouyi, and they were things the villagers desperately needed. This showed Yan Shouyi's genuine care for each and every one of them!
Learning that Yan Shouyi was returning to Rongcheng, the villagers were reluctant to see him go and followed behind them.
Thus, with every household Yan Shouyi visited, a few more people joined their procession until, in the end, the entire village was following behind him.
Reaching the village entrance, Yan Shouyi looked at the villagers, feeling a sense of reluctance himself. "Villagers, I will return. Please go back!"
"Shouyi, don't forget us when you go to Rongcheng!"
"Wear more clothes when it's cold, and don't run around when it's hot!"
"Auntie has some free-range eggs. Take them to the city! You can't get the taste of home in the city!"
The villagers might not have been able to give Yan Shouyi wealth, but they gave him the best things they had.
Yan Shouyi did not want to disappoint their good intentions, so he had Ye Chengfu's subordinates collect all the gifts.
As a result, the trunk of the million-dollar Maybach was filled with local specialties, especially the freshly dug winter bamboo shoots, still covered in soil, but it was the soil of their hometown.
Witnessing how beloved Yan Shouyi was by the villagers, Ye Chengfu was filled with gratification.
He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world!
Ye Chengfu believed that given a chance, his son-in-law would surely become someone respected, cherished, and above all others!
"Shouyi is truly becoming more remarkable," Ye Chengfu mused.
After bidding farewell to the villagers, Yan Shouyi and his companions finally got into the cars.
Under the reluctant gazes of the villagers, the convoy left Chen Family Village and drove mightily along the road.
Yan Shouyi retracted his head, closed the car window, and let out a long sigh.
"The days in Chen Family Village are over."
"Life in Chen Family Village was truly pleasant," Lin Zitong laughed. "Next time, I should bring my dad here to experience it."
Long Feicheng chuckled, "Why don't we just set up a rural guesthouse in Chen Family Village in the future?"
Lin Zitong asked Yan Shouyi, "I think it's feasible. What do you think?"
"I don't object," Yan Shouyi said, spreading his hands. "But we still have one person we haven't said goodbye to."
"Who?"
Yan Shouyi pointed out the window.
In the fields at the foot of the mountain outside Chen Family Village, the Mountain God Yan Ze was riding a green ox, watching Yan Shouyi's convoy from afar.
Mountain gods have their duties, and they cannot casually interact with ordinary people unless it is absolutely necessary.
Therefore, since Yan Shouyi defeated Jiang Wusheng, Yan Ze had not appeared, deliberately avoiding contact with Yan Shouyi and his companions.
But now that Yan Shouyi was leaving, the Mountain God could not help but appear, as if to bid farewell to the child he had secretly protected for many years.
Long Feicheng directly stuck his head out of the window and shouted to the Mountain God, "Lord Mountain God, when we return next time, we will definitely bring you gifts! ... Your bellyband is too ugly, I'll buy you some children's clothes!!"
Yan Shouyi's expression changed, and he quickly covered Long Feicheng's mouth, pulling him back into the car.
As expected, in the next second, a bulge appeared on the road ahead, jolting everyone in the car, causing their heads to hit the car roof.
Yan Shouyi chided, "You really speak without thinking!"
"I thought the Mountain God wouldn't hold it against me!" Long Feicheng chuckled sheepishly.
Yan Shouyi shook his head helplessly, then waved in the direction of the Mountain God and whispered his thanks.
Although his voice was very soft, he knew the Mountain God would definitely hear him.
The Mountain God contentedly waved his small braid, leisurely strolling through the fields on his green ox.
Watching the receding Chen Family Village, a smile emerged on Yan Shouyi's lips.
The people and things of his homeland should remain in his homeland.
Chen Family Village would forever be Yan Shouyi's sanctuary, undisturbed by the storms of the outside world.
...
Four hours later!
The convoy sent to pick up Yan Shouyi and his companions finally arrived in Rongcheng!
Since Yan Shouyi had resigned from his security guard position at Shanghang Art School, he no longer had a dormitory to live in.
However, his thoughtful father-in-law had arranged for them to stay in a villa near West Lake.
From the balcony of this villa, one could directly see the entire West Lake. The price of this single villa alone exceeded one hundred million, and it was not something one could buy with just money; it required a certain level of influence.
Since the decline of the three great ghost king families, the Lin family of Licheng had partnered with the Lushang Sect, becoming a newly rising top-tier family.
Although they did not have a ghost king to preside over them, with the backing of the Lushang Sect, they were enough to dominate all of Rongcheng.
The convoy arrived at the villa and stopped at the entrance. Yan Shouyi was led inside by Ye Chengfu, while other subordinates began unloading the local specialties brought from Chen Family Village.
"The family head said that until the new house at West Lake is built, you will temporarily stay here. The scenery is beautiful, it's also quiet, and it's close to West Lake. You won't find a more suitable place in Rongcheng than this house," Ye Chengfu explained.
Yan Shouyi surveyed the surroundings and found the house to be extremely meticulous, its location and design both conforming to the standards of Feng Shui.
Therefore, he was very satisfied with it.
Lin Zitong asked, "Grandpa Ye, where is my dad?"
"He's waiting for you inside!" Ye Chengfu said with a smile.
Lin Zitong became happy and pulled Yan Shouyi inside, with Long Feicheng following closely behind.
However, upon pushing open the living room door, they discovered that it wasn't just their father-in-law, Lin Ruofu, who was sitting there.
Besides Lin Ruofu, there was also someone Yan Shouyi had met before, who looked very similar to Lin Ruofu but was much younger.
This person was Lin Fan, Lin Zitong's paternal uncle, meaning Lin Ruofu's younger brother.
He was significantly younger than Lin Ruofu, having been born to Lin Zitong's grandfather in his old age. He had been doted upon since childhood, which made his personality completely different from Lin Ruofu's. He was arrogant and a person who would resort to any means to achieve his goals.
Lin Zitong had always known that her uncle wished for her death!
The last time Lin Zitong was nearly killed in a car accident by Liu Quan, the company's deputy general manager, and her long-time assistant, Jiang Yun Ning, Lin Fan had a hand in it.
Yan Shouyi had warned Lin Fan, but since then, Lin Fan seemed to have stopped making moves against Lin Zitong.
However, this did not mean Yan Shouyi held Lin Fan in high regard.
Now that Lin Fan was here, was there a special circumstance?