Chapter 71

In the afternoon, Qian Jianing returned home with a pile of gifts. The entire Li family highly approved of her. Old Master Li and Li Jianguo were deeply impressed by her skills and insisted on watching her spar with Li Yujun ten rounds before finally wrapping themselves in coats and heading home, satisfied. Even though Li Yujing and a few of his cousins had been thoroughly beaten by her, seeing top student Li Yujun also unable to escape a beating lifted their spirits immensely—they figured getting knocked down once a minute wasn’t a big deal after all! It would be best if she often came to the military compound for sparring sessions—they were more than willing to be beaten, and even more so to be loyal spectators.

After Qian Jianing and Li Yujun publicly announced their relationship, they interacted more openly. Every afternoon, Li Yujun would run over to his girlfriend’s house. Once Qian Jianing’s home-style restaurant closed, the two would cozy up in the warm living room, snacking and watching TV. It wasn’t exactly romantic, but both loved the comfortable, homely vibe.

Though love was important, for Qian Jianing, making money was the top priority. As the red-circled date on the calendar approached, she bought tickets to Magic City, intending to purchase stock subscription certificates. Since Li Yujun’s leave was meant to spend more time with her, he proposed accompanying her.

Each stock certificate cost thirty yuan. Qian Jianing used her only three million yuan in cash to buy one hundred thousand of them. Since she bought early and the bank had sales quotas, all the paperwork was handled swiftly.

With only this one business matter to handle in Magic City, Qian Jianing didn’t forget to enjoy herself afterward. She and Li Yujun roamed the streets and alleys in search of local delicacies and even toured a few nearby water towns. Spending every day together, their relationship progressed rapidly. Kissing had already become routine—everything but taking their clothes off.

By mid-December, Qian Guosheng delivered New Year gifts to his mother and mother-in-law as usual, then took his wife and son on the train to the Imperial Capital. Now, his youngest brother Qian Guocheng was back to his old idle ways—loafing around, stealing chickens, and causing trouble. No one tricked him into gambling anymore, because everyone in town knew the Qian family wouldn’t give him a cent. If someone wanted to scam money, they might as well go find another target.

There was no family atmosphere in Qian Guocheng’s home. Li Jie and her son stayed in the two rooms on the east side, while the west side was left to the ungrateful mother-son duo. Other than providing three meals a day, she didn’t bother with them. During the day, Li Jie would drop her son at school on the way to work, give him money for lunch, and pick him up in the evening to keep him locked up doing homework, forbidding any contact with his father or grandmother—afraid they’d corrupt him.

Old Madam Qian washed and cleaned after herself daily. Once the commanding matriarch on the heated brick bed, she had now become her youngest son’s housemaid. Yet she still called him the most filial and considerate, while calling the other two sons and one daughter who sent her money each month “ungrateful wolves”—not a single good one among them.

Over the past two years, watching Old Madam Qian become more unreasonable, Qian Guosheng became increasingly clear-minded. Other than delivering monthly allowance and braised meat, he completely ignored requests like buying her a city apartment or funding a store for Qian Guocheng—those didn’t even register in his ears.

Qian Guosheng’s outward compliance but inner defiance infuriated the old lady to the point that she wanted to hurl her shoe at him every time she saw him. But with Qian Jiafeng standing nearby, fly swatter in hand, eyeing her closely, she didn’t dare. The memory of Qian Jianing slapping a shoe with a fly swatter had become a nightmare she could never forget.

The rumbling train traveled through mountains and fields. Li Wanzhen had brought along thinly sliced crystal pork, fragrant sausages, jelly-laced roast chicken, and thick cuts of braised beef. These delicacies made the two-day journey anything but dull. As the three of them watched the scenery outside the window and savored their homemade food, they found train travel surprisingly enjoyable.

But the others in the carriage didn’t feel the same. Looking at their dry biscuits or cold steamed buns, their appetites vanished. Even those who had brought instant noodles thought they were doing well—until they saw the family happily munching sausages, suddenly finding their noodles bland and joyless.

Qian Jiafeng was in a growth spurt, having grown ten centimeters in a year. His once chubby, round face had gained angles, showing the beginnings of manhood. Though he was now a tall guy instead of a chubby kid, his appetite hadn’t shrunk—in fact, he ate even more. By the time they got off the train, Li Wanzhen’s sack of meat was completely polished off by him, leaving her feeling significantly lighter.

Carrying bags and following the flow of people, the three exited the station and immediately spotted Qian Jianing in a light blue wool coat. Among the sea of black and gray down jackets and thick cotton coats, she was the brightest presence by far.

“Jianing!” Li Wanzhen called out excitedly and quickened her pace, tugging the bag on her back. But when she saw the man next to her daughter, her steps faltered. “Guosheng, doesn’t that guy beside Jianing look familiar?”

Qian Guosheng squinted and stared for a moment before remembering. “Isn’t that the young man who fainted at our restaurant last year? What was his name again?”

“Li Yujun!” Qian Jiafeng chimed in. “I knew something was off about the way he looked at Sis back then—must’ve had his eye on her from the start.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Li Wanzhen whispered. “If your sister brought him along, it means she’s serious. Don’t go running your mouth, got it?”

Qian Jiafeng saw Qian Jianing and Li Yujun striding toward them and could only nod glumly. “Got it.”

“Dad, Mom, Jiafeng!” Qian Jianing stepped up and gave her mother a warm hug, affectionately linking arms with her before formally introducing Li Yujun. “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Li Yujun. You’ve met him before.”

“Hello, Uncle, Auntie!” Li Yujun looked nothing like his usual stoic self—his face was full of cheerful enthusiasm. “You’ve had a long journey. Let me carry those bags for you.”

The more Li Wanzhen looked at him, the more satisfied she was. Tall, strong build, handsome features, and a real military officer who’d graduated from a proper academy—he gave her peace of mind. Thinking of her daughter’s ex from high school, that Chen Kai fellow, who had bad grades, ran wild, dropped out, ended up moving bricks in the provincial capital, and even got involved in a brawl that broke his leg and landed him in jail—his life was ruined.

She recalled running into Elder Wang, Jianing’s old homeroom teacher, before leaving. Wang had sighed, saying thank goodness they broke up back then, or Qian Jianing would never have achieved what she had now—even making it on national news. Li Wanzhen was grateful too, thankful her daughter had come to her senses in time, because no amount of outside advice would have worked otherwise.

Thinking of that delinquent from before and comparing him to this dashing officer in front of her, Li Wanzhen couldn’t stop grinning. “So it’s Yujun! Long time no see.”

Li Yujun grabbed all five large bags and confidently led his future in-laws to his car. Qian Jianing reached into his pocket for the keys and opened the trunk. Once the luggage was loaded, Li Yujun quickly opened the car door. “Uncle, Auntie, I’ll drive you home.”

Sitting in the backseat, Li Wanzhen looked at his back and gently squeezed her daughter’s hand, whispering in her ear, “You picked a good one this time.”

The car stopped at the entrance of an alley. Qian Jianing went to unlock the door while Li Yujun carried the bags. Only after everyone had showered and changed did he realize his daily cozy alone time with Qian Jianing was completely gone.

As noon approached, Qian Jianing washed up and went to the kitchen to cook, and Li Yujun followed to help. In cold weather, hotpot was lively and convenient. The Qian family loved spicy food, and so did Li Yujun. Qian Jianing used beef tallow to make the broth, soon serving up a bubbling, oily, red pot.

Slices of tender lamb, fatty beef, and chuck roll were thrown in one after another. As the pot boiled, five pairs of chopsticks reached in together, fishing out trembling, tender meat, dipping them into sauce, and popping them into mouths—fragrant and satisfying.

After a sip of his daughter’s homemade wine, Qian Guosheng began asking about Li Yujun. “We heard you’re a soldier, but we don’t know much else. Tell me more, so I can rest easy.”

Last year, Li Yujun fainted here, and when the Li family came to pick him up, they brought along numerous lavish gifts. Qian Guosheng assumed that Li Yujun’s family must be quite well-off, though he didn’t know the specifics.

Li Yujun put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and seriously reported to Qian Guosheng, “My name is Li Yujun. I’m twenty-six years old and a major in the military. I have two younger brothers. One is also in the army, the other is in business.” It was the first time Li Yujun formally introduced himself, and since he hadn’t prepared in advance, he found himself at a bit of a loss after finishing.

“Do your family members know about our Jianing?” Qian Guosheng picked up a piece of tender beef and put it in his mouth, grimacing from the spiciness.

“They do.” Li Yujun smiled. “My grandparents and my parents all like Jianing very much. She also gets along very well with my cousins.”

Qian Guosheng let out a breath of relief. “That’s good. Since we’re all here, let’s find a time for both families to meet.”

“My father told me the same thing,” Li Yujun replied immediately. “He wants to pay a visit in a couple of days.”

“Good.” Qian Guosheng nodded, then turned to Qian Jianing. “What day works for you?”

Qian Jianing placed a freshly cooked slice of meat into Li Yujun’s bowl. “Any day is fine. My restaurant is closed for the holiday until the Lantern Festival. You can arrange it however you like.”

After thinking for a moment, Qian Guosheng said, “Then let’s do it tomorrow. Once we’ve met your parents, we should also pay a visit to your grandfather.”

Hearing Qian Guosheng’s arrangement, Li Yujun couldn’t help but smile secretly to himself. It felt like his wedding was approaching quickly—should he propose ahead of time?

The next morning, Li Jianguo and Chang Xiaoyuan brought their three sons to visit the Qian family. Li Wanzhen looked at Chang Xiaoyuan’s three handsome sons with envy, praising her for her good fortune. Chang Xiaoyuan smiled and held Qian Jianing’s hand, saying, “I should be the one envying you. If I had a daughter as wonderful as yours, I’d be smiling in my sleep.”

Both families approved of the relationship, so they got along very well. Li Jianguo, Qian Guosheng, Li Yujun, and Li Yujing sat in the living room watching a military program. Meanwhile, Li Wanzhen, Chang Xiaoyuan, and Qian Jianing prepared lunch in the kitchen. Li Yufeng took out the gaming console he had brought for Qian Jiafeng, and the two of them holed up in the guest room, connecting the console to the TV to play Contra. Qian Jianing could hear their excited shouts from the kitchen from time to time.

“We have three sons, but we’ve already prepared houses for all of them,” Chang Xiaoyuan said while making dumplings. “If they want a courtyard house, that’s fine. If they want a fully renovated apartment, that’s fine too—whatever the kids prefer.” She was eager to show the Qian family their sincerity, afraid they might have second thoughts.

Li Wanzhen wasn’t too concerned about such matters. Her daughter earned well, and she herself had saved up a good amount over the years. Whether the other side provided a house or not didn’t really matter. Anyway, she figured that even after marriage, Qian Jianing probably wouldn’t move out of their little courtyard. What mattered most was the couple’s relationship.

The three women worked all morning and produced a large spread of dishes. According to hometown custom, Qian Guosheng brought wine, and after just three or four drinks, he and Li Jianguo were already calling each other brothers. Li Yujun smiled at the sight, reached under the table, and gently held Qian Jianing’s hand.

The parents on both sides got along well. Two days later, when Qian Guosheng’s family visited the Li household with gifts, they finally realized that Li Yujun was the eldest grandson of the famed General Li. Qian Guosheng was momentarily overwhelmed—he had never met such a high-ranking official in his life. Fortunately, the old General Li had no airs about him and came across as a kind elder, which helped Qian Guosheng relax.

Even though both families had met and approved the relationship, as open-minded parents, they agreed to let Li Yujun and Qian Jianing develop their relationship freely. When they felt the time was right to get married, they would hold a wedding. But they must notify the family in advance—there was much to prepare.

After the Spring Festival, Qian Jianing saw her parents and brother off at the train station, then saw Li Yujun off as well. She resumed her busy life. By mid-May, she hung up a sign saying she would be on break for half a month. Alone, she took all the savings from the past few months, plus a large sum borrowed from Dong Bocheng, and went to Magic City.

A few days later, Magic City held a lottery to issue stocks. Fifty stocks were to be listed, and the lottery for certified numbers had a winning rate of 50%. Using a Fortune Talisman exchanged from the Treasure Bowl, Qian Jianing’s winning rate reached 75%. She bought all the winning stocks with her funds, and when she returned to the Imperial Capital half a month later, her net worth had soared past 100 million.

To make a hundred million so easily—it was truly a golden age for getting rich!

Looking at the numbers in her passbook, Qian Jianing’s heart raced with excitement. For the first time, she felt her goal was actually within reach. The Treasure Bowl was also delighted and generously gave her all the remaining spatial beads as a reward, along with many excellent items added to the Virtual Currency exchange catalog.

Now Qian Jianing’s pockets were bulging—she was not only wealthy in the real world but also a little tycoon in the Treasure Bowl. Now that she had money, she directly exchanged for thirty Safety Talismans from the Treasure Bowl to give to her family and friends. Although she could draw them herself, those drawn by deities were in another league. Each had a validity of one hundred years and came with fire-and-water-proof sachets.

She also exchanged for all the skill books listed in the catalog—some she already knew, some she didn’t. Whether for self-study or for future generations, they were all valuable. With her remaining Virtual Currency, she bought permanent access to Xiantao.com. After eating food from Xiantao.com for so many years, ordinary fruits and vegetables no longer suited her palate. Better to buy the rights early, in case the Treasure Bowl returned to the Immortal Realm and she couldn’t get their food anymore.

After spending all her Virtual Currency, Qian Jianing was still in high spirits. Virtual Currency sitting idle was just a string of numbers. Only by exchanging it for items did it truly become her own. She wasn’t going to foolishly hoard it like the Treasure Bowl.

Meanwhile, due to his outstanding performance in recent missions, Li Yujun was promoted again. Qian Jianing never asked about the details of his work. All she cared about was that he could now come home more often.

In the blink of an eye, it was July again. Qian Jianing sat on the swing in her courtyard, looking at the lush vegetable patch. Today was her twenty-third birthday—five full years since her rebirth. In that time, she had grown from a heartbroken high schooler into a wealthy young woman worth hundreds of millions. Although she had worked hard, the help from the Treasure Bowl had been even more crucial.

“Thank you, Treasure Bowl,” she whispered.

The Treasure Bowl was happily rolling in Wealth Energy. “If you want to thank me, work harder and make more money. Be smart with your investments. Don’t you dare lose money.”

Qian Jianing’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Don’t worry. Don’t I already know which companies will make money in the future? Just watch.”

“Jianing, why are you sitting out here? Come blow out the candles!” Li Yujun stepped out, picked her up from the swing, and said, “Everyone’s waiting for the birthday girl to cut the cake.”

Qian Jianing wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him on the lips, then interlaced their fingers as they walked back inside together, intimately close.

A large, beautiful cake held two number candles. Wang Chenchen, Li Yufeng, and others stood around it excitedly, eager either for the candle-blowing or the cake itself.

With a gentle wish, Qian Jianing blew out the candles in one breath. Wang Chenchen grinned and winked at her. “Jianing, you have to cut the cake yourself and serve us!”

“You’re so demanding.” Qian Jianing playfully pinched her, pulled out the candles, and picked up the metallic crown on top of the cake.

It seemed to trigger a mechanism. As she removed the crown, a beautiful box slowly rose from within the cake and popped open with a click under her gaze—inside was a dazzling ring.

“Jianing, I want to marry you. Will you marry me?” Li Yujun knelt before her with the ring, his lips trembling with nerves.

Qian Jianing never expected such a romantic proposal from Li Yujun. She’d always thought he would one day just say, “The request got approved. Let’s go get the marriage certificate.”

Qian Jianing smiled as she reached out to pull Li Yujun up, then jumped into his arms in front of everyone and kissed him hard on the lips. “What took you so long to propose?”

Li Yujun held her tightly around the waist. “Because starting today, I can come home from the army every day. I didn’t want you to be alone after we got married.”

Qian Jianing laughed and stretched out her fair hand. “What are you waiting for? Let’s put on the rings and go get our marriage certificate! Did you bring the household registration book and the approval report?”

“I carry them with me every day!”

Still holding an unopened bottle of champagne, Li Yufeng stared blankly as the two of them vanished like a gust of wind before everyone’s eyes. After a long moment, he muttered, “Why do I feel like my sister-in-law’s kind of impatient?”

That night, the impatient Qian Jianing finally and openly pinned Li Yujun down on the bed, her hands roaming over his firm abs, a look of pure delight on her face. “Now I finally know what eight-pack abs feel like. They’re amazing to touch, aren’t they?”

Li Yujun, aroused by her touch, flipped over and pinned Qian Jianing beneath him, his lips gently brushing her ear. “Is that so? Then let me check how many abs our Jianing has?”