The sight of the disheveled old Daoist startled all three of them. How could this old fellow appear with them?
The disheveled old Daoist scrambled out of the water, looked at Lu Fan and the others, and then at his surroundings, also stunned.
"I... damn it! How did I get back here? Who brought me back?" the disheveled old Daoist suddenly roared.
"Old fellow! What are you yelling about? We want to ask you the same thing! How did you get back?" Lu Fan stared at the disheveled old Daoist and asked.
"I... I was strolling on the streets of Tai Ming Yu Kingdom, when someone behind me kicked me. I was kicked into a ditch. When I climbed out, I was here! I worked so hard to get to the Heavenly Realm, who the hell threw me back! Is it easy for me to go there once!" The disheveled old Daoist sat on the ground and burst into tears.
"Holy crap! Give it a rest! Do you believe what you're saying?" Lu Fan curled his lip and got up to leave.
"Kid... kid... what I'm saying is true! Why would I lie to you? Uh... when are you going to the Immortal Realm again? Take me with you! I don't want to just grow old and die in the mortal world! I don't want to die yet, I haven't even gotten married!" The disheveled old Daoist chased after him, muttering as he went.
"Is this old fellow telling the truth?" Zhan Tai Ruo Mei asked Li Jing Jing.
"I don't know. I can't see what this old fellow is thinking!" Li Jing Jing shook her head and said.
...
In Twelve Ravine Village, Wang Yan sat in the courtyard of the village branch with her swollen belly, basking in the sun. She stroked her belly with one hand, a look of happiness on her face. Now, the child in her womb was her everything, her hope.
"Village Chief Wang Yan! You... you're pregnant?" Zhang San, passing by the entrance of the village branch, stared at Wang Yan's belly with wide eyes and asked.
"None of your damn business!" Wang Yan rolled her eyes and paid no more attention to Zhang San.
Zhang San seemed unfazed by Wang Yan's attitude, and asked with a grin, "Village Chief Wang Yan, where did you borrow the seed from? It's amazing that even saline-alkali land can bloom and bear fruit. This seed is quite potent!"
"Scram! If you don't scram, I'll cripple you, and have your wife come out to pick a few green leaves for me." Wang Yan said with some anger.
"Tch! Lu Fan has been gone for more than half a year. Don't think anyone is backing you up anymore. Why are you acting tough with me?" Zhang San pouted at Wang Yan dismissively.
"Even if Lu Fan doesn't come back, you have no right to be so arrogant in front of me! If I want you to kneel, you'll kneel. If I want you to lie down, you'll lie down! Do you believe me?" Wang Yan was suddenly amused by anger. Did this bastard think that because Lu Fan was gone, he could bully a young widow as he pleased? Humph!
"This... this is some serious bragging! You yourself..." Zhang San looked disdainful, but before he could finish, *puff*... a small pebble suddenly hit his knee.
"Ah...!" Zhang San cried out and fell to his knees with a thud.
*Slap*... Before Zhang San's cry had even died down, he suddenly felt something hit the back of his head, and he fell face-first onto the ground with a thud.
"If there's a next time, I'll turn you into a eunuch." Wang Yan said angrily, stomping on Zhang San's backside with her heel before turning back. As she reached the entrance of the village branch house, her expression shifted slightly, and she suddenly looked towards the direction outside the village.
"Xiao Fan?" Wang Yan's face lit up with joy, and she vanished from the entrance of the village branch in an instant.
"Holy crap... where did she go?" Zhang San looked up and saw Wang Yan disappear in front of him, instantly startled. He scrambled to his feet and ran.
At Lu Fan's house, Zhao Rong Rong and Lu Chang Fu sat listlessly inside the villa. Lu Fan and Liu Ru Yan had been gone for several months, hadn't even returned for the New Year, and there had been no news. The two suddenly realized that something might have happened to their son. But... they didn't know who to ask! Everyone said Xiao Fan might have important matters to attend to... they didn't know what kind of matters could be so important that he wouldn't even return home.
*Beep beep... beep beep...* Suddenly, the sound of a car horn blared urgently at the main gate. Zhao Rong Rong and Lu Chang Fu immediately stood up and looked out the window. It had been a long time since they had heard a car horn. Their own luxury cars were gathering dust in the garage.
"Xiao Fan! It's... it's Xiao Fan!" Zhao Rong Rong's tears immediately started to flow. She turned and ran outside.
At the main gate, Mo Xiong had already opened the gate. Seeing Lu Fan, Mo Xiong also felt a sense of emotion. Without this young man, the entire villa seemed to have lost its vitality. Not just the villa, but the entire Twelve Ravine Village seemed to be the same.
"Lu Fan!" Suddenly, a voice came from behind.
Lu Fan turned his head and saw it was Wang Yan!
"Sister-in-law Wang Yan... you... you're pregnant!? You..." Lu Fan suddenly didn't know what to say.
Wang Yan, who had been about to rush forward with a look of surprise, suddenly stopped. She touched her belly and smiled sweetly, "Yes! Sister-in-law is pregnant! Congratulate me!"
"Sister-in-law Wang Yan! You're really pregnant!?" Li Jing Jing, who had gotten out of the car, saw that Wang Yan was indeed pregnant and excitedly ran over to give Wang Yan a hug. She even reached out and touched Wang Yan's belly, as if it were very amusing.
"Jing Jing! You're back. Your dad has been missing you terribly! Remember to go back and see your mom and dad! No, I'll call them to come over!" Wang Yan took out her phone and called Li Man Tang.
"Xiao Fan..." Zhao Rong Rong and Lu Chang Fu ran out of the villa. One, with tears streaming down her face, rushed into Lu Fan's arms, while the other just chuckled foolishly beside them.
"Tch!" Zhan Tai Ruo Mei pouted from the side. It seemed like she was the only orphan? She should have brought her sister over first to avoid such awkwardness.
Lu Fan's villa suddenly became lively again.
Wang Yan made a phone call, and someone immediately came to help with the cooking. This was the power of being both village chief and general manager; a phone call was all it took. She had taken on all the responsibilities herself before, and she never realized how powerful being a general manager was.
Wang Yan went to the small fish pond in the villa and caught two king crabs as big as basins. There was also a carp weighing ten pounds. Lu Fan had been away for months, and the fish and crabs in the small fish pond had already become plentiful.
Sigh... It felt so good to be home! Lu Fan stood in the villa's courtyard, looking at everything around him with a sense of familiarity. He suddenly saw Wang Yan catching fish and hesitated for a moment before walking over.
"Sister-in-law Wang Yan! Did you get married again?" Lu Fan asked.
"None of your damn business!" Wang Yan immediately turned around and glared at Lu Fan.