"Third Brother, is he giving you a hard time?" Yang Mengchen walked over to Yang Chengxuan's side.

Yang Chengxuan shook his head.

Honestly, the old man was indeed quite difficult to serve. At first, he complained that the water was too hot, and when he added some cold water, then the old man complained it was too cold. After adding more hot water, he again complained it was too hot. After several back and forths, once the water temperature was finally right, the elder had him scrub his back.

The result was either complaints about his hands being too heavy or that he hadn't eaten, and by the end, while the elder felt refreshed and invigorated, he was left gasping for air, drenched in sweat.

On the other side, Old Hai saw Weichi Kong and exclaimed in surprise, "Xiwen (Weichi Kong's style name)? It's really you!"

Weichi Kong glanced sidelong at Old Hai and strode toward the courtyard.

"Where have you been these years? Why didn't you get in touch with us? We thought..."

"You thought I was dead?" Weichi Kong didn't stop his steps, his voice neither warm nor cold, but laced with an inexplicable emotion, "Don't worry, if you're not dead, of course I'll be living well!"

Old Hai choked up, deeply aware that Weichi Kong had not let go of his grudges and understood that more words would be of no use. With a silent sigh, he headed towards the main house.

Everyone couldn't help but exchange glances.

Looking at the heavy back of Old Hai, then at the stern-faced Weichi Kong, Yang Mengchen frowned slightly.

At the table in the courtyard, looking at a table full of delicious dishes—crystal pork knuckles, five-spice chicken, steamed eight-treasure duck, ginger fish slices, crispy ginger century eggs, almond tofu, glutinous rice cakes, and so on—Weichi Kong's mouth watered, "Jiujiu, did you make all these?" His eyes lit up as he looked toward Yang Mengchen, reverting to the visage of a food lover in that moment.

"Of course Jiujiu made them!" Before Yang Mengchen could answer, Luo Jingyao said proudly, "Jiujiu can make many delicacies, I guarantee you've never tasted anything like it."

"Good, good, good!" Weichi Kong said 'good' three times in a row, then sat down, picked up the chopsticks, and began tasting the dishes, praising each one and seemingly enjoying himself.

Yang Mengchen ignored Weichi Kong and invited everyone to sit down and eat.

After the meal, everyone went about their separate tasks. Weichi Kong ordered Yang Chengxuan to return to their room and change his dressing. Yang Mengchen didn't stop him but instead discussed with Mi Mingfu the business of building a factory in Stone Village.

The next day, after breakfast, Yang Mengchen and Yang Chengrong took Mi Mingfu and other craftsmen, along with dozens of ox carts loaded with bricks and cement, to Stone Village.

The village head and the Lizheng, along with the villagers, were waiting early at the entrance of the village. Seeing the procession arrive, they all overflowed with enthusiasm. None of those who had caused trouble the day before were present, which pleased Yang Mengchen greatly.

After making arrangements, the village head handed several sheets of paper to Yang Mengchen, "Jiujiu, here's the list of those willing to plant fruit trees. Take a look."

Yang Mengchen looked through the list and saw that over ninety percent of the households had signed up.

Handing the list to Yang Chengrong, the siblings, guided by the village head and the Lizheng, went to inspect the area. Aside from a few towering mountains, the rest of the hilltops were not too high and the soil quality was decent, with more wastelands than in Yangliu Village.

"Over this period, Grandpa Dong and Grandpa Han had the villagers clear those low hilltops according to the requirements and reclaim the wasteland. Once the tree saplings arrive, I'll come teach everyone how to plant and manage them." Yang Mengchen handed the village head the blueprints; as for the ownership of those hills and wastelands, she did not intervene.

The village head and the Lizheng nodded assent, one after the other.

After having lunch at the Liu family, the siblings drove back home.

For five consecutive days, Weichi Kong had Yang Chengxuan running around in circles. Although the Yang family elders were distressed, with Yang Mengchen's persuasion, they had to turn a blind eye.

In the dead of night, Yang Mengchen slipped away from Mo Mei and Qing Qing, quietly making her way to the riverside.

Under the bright moonlight, Weichi Kong stood by the river's edge, hands behind his back, the night breeze lifting his white clothes and slightly graying hair. Especially the heartbreakingly faint melancholy in his eyes, amidst the blurry night, made him appear desolate and lonely, superbly forlorn.

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