It was a small red pill, like a jelly bean, resembling a chocolate bean coated in sugar.
The members of the Qi family looked at the red pill in the old family patriarch's hand with increasingly strange expressions. Before anyone else could speak, the old patriarch shouted, "Thank you, little ancestor, for the pill!"
With great excitement, he popped the pill into his mouth.
It tasted like a jelly bean too, with a sweet candy coating on the outside, but it was extremely bitter once it dissolved, a bitterness accompanied by a hint of coolness.
The pill transformed into pure medicinal energy, flowing down his throat, nourishing his aging cells and depleted body.
Visibly, the old patriarch's withered, wrinkled skin regained its elasticity, and his white hair fell out, replaced by newly grown black and white strands.
Rejuvenation!
This scene, completely outside the realm of science and common sense, stunned all the Qi family members. They looked at the tiny figure standing before the old patriarch with disbelief and uncertainty.
Seeing the old patriarch finish the pill, Jian Sheng, still holding his large hand, asked expectantly, "Pingnan, Pingnan, how did the pill taste?"
The old patriarch gave a wry smile. The taste was truly indescribable; even boiled traditional Chinese medicine wasn't that bitter. He had almost spat it out the moment he swallowed it.
But he dared not say this. The recovery of his bodily functions made him even more reverent of the little ancestor. He quickly replied, "As expected of an immortal pill that can extend one's lifespan. It is sweet and carries a refreshing coolness."
"Really?" Jian Sheng's eyes lit up, and she quickly took another one from her space and popped it into her mouth like a jelly bean.
The old patriarch was stunned but couldn't stop her in time.
As the pill dissolved, Jian Sheng let out a "wow," spitting it out, her entire face contorted. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked at the old patriarch with accusation.
The old patriarch had never expected the little ancestor was simply asking about the pill's taste and felt immense guilt and self-reproach.
A bottle of mineral water was handed over by Qi Sui Bai, who had been quietly lowering his presence.
The bottle cap had been thoughtfully unscrewed. Jian Sheng quickly drank the water to rinse her mouth, but the bitter taste lingered. Her little face remained scrunched up.
"Do you... do you want some candy?" a clear voice tentatively asked. It was a child about eight or nine years old, holding a few White Rabbit candies, seemingly hesitating whether to give them to Jian Sheng.
Jian Sheng's eyes lit up. She quickly ran to the boy and took a White Rabbit candy from him, peeled it, and popped it into her mouth. The sweet, milky flavor dissolved in her mouth, chasing away the bitterness. Jian Sheng quickly peeled another one and put it in her mouth.
With two candies, the little girl's cheeks bulged out. The sweet feeling went straight to her heart, making her smile happily.
The old patriarch glanced at the child and smiled affectionately.
Qi family's third son's child. He understood the situation and had a bright future.
Jian Sheng picked up the last candy from the boy's hand and asked wistfully, "This candy is delicious, do you have more?"
The boy looked troubled. "I was saving these to coax my sister. I have a few more, but I need to save them for her."
Let alone the old patriarch, even the Qi family's third son and his wife, watching from the side, were anxious for him. This was a golden opportunity! Why worry about his sister?
The old patriarch had already said that whoever gained the little ancestor's approval could immediately become the family patriarch!
Jian Sheng said without hesitation, "I can be your sister too. Can you give me the rest of the candies?"
The little dumpling, dressed in a light blue princess dress, stood before him like a finely carved porcelain doll, her eyes full of anticipation. The little boy blinked, and "Okay" was about to slip from his lips.
But before it could, the old patriarch, walking over quickly, covered his mouth and dragged him back.
What would it look like if their Qi family's little ancestor became the sister of a junior member of the Qi family?
What about the faces of the older generation?
The Qi family's third son also broke out in a cold sweat. Witnessing the old patriarch visibly become over twenty years younger after taking the pill, their mindset had completely changed. With such a magically capable little ancestor, no amount of pampering would be too much!
Moreover, with the old patriarch's guarantee, if they pleased the little ancestor, they would not only benefit from her but also have a chance to become the family patriarch upon their return. Such a good thing was impossible to find even with a lantern.
They had already been envious and jealous of Qi Sui Bai, who had taken the lead. Now that their son also had a chance, wouldn't they be secretly delighted?
However, what was their son trying to do?
The person whom the old patriarch and everyone else had to respectfully call "little ancestor"—you wanted to be his brother? Did you think they didn't exist, or that the old patriarch didn't exist?
If they actually let the little boy agree, he could be said to be speaking innocently, but they, as parents, would surely be drowned by the spitting of the entire Qi family.
One little ancestor was enough. Who wanted another ancestor above them?
Seeing his son stopped by the old patriarch, the Qi family's third son breathed a sigh of relief. He was determined to teach his son about respecting seniority when they got back!
"For over twenty years, Qi Pingnan, on behalf of the entire Qi family, welcomes the little ancestor's return." The old patriarch suddenly took two steps back, creating distance from Jian Sheng, and solemnly bowed to her.
All the members of the Qi family also shouted in unison, "Welcome the little ancestor's return!"
The momentum was earth-shattering.
Jian Sheng, who had been engrossed in online novels for the past two days: ... So I'm the Dragon King?
Her sense of shame instantly exploded.
Jian Sheng glared fiercely at the old patriarch, "Old man, we agreed not to reveal my identity!"
The old patriarch looked a bit embarrassed and shouted at the crowd behind him, "The little ancestor dislikes this sort of formalism, do you hear me!"
The Qi family members instantly understood, "Understood!"
Jian Sheng: ... I have a feeling they misunderstood something.
"Just consider the title 'little ancestor' as an adjective. After all, no one in modern society will take it seriously," the old patriarch chuckled, clearing the passage to the Qi family's main gate. "Little ancestor, welcome home."
After he finished, he glared at the boy who had shrunk back timidly, "Where are the candies? Haven't you offered them to the little ancestor yet?"
His underdeveloped understanding clearly couldn't grasp the current situation, but he knew that the Qi family's old patriarch was the most powerful, and everyone in the Qi family had to obey him. Now that the old patriarch was angry, the boy quickly took out the remaining White Rabbit candies from his pocket and shoved them all into Jian Sheng's hands.
His eyes also held more curiosity and fear as he looked at Jian Sheng.
Jian Sheng's arms were filled with a pile of candies, but she didn't want them to be given to her under duress. Although her eyes were full of reluctance, Jian Sheng returned all the candies, "Since these are candies for your sister, I don't want them."
The little girl, as cute as an angel, held the candies that were about to fall from her hands, her heart full of longing. She turned her head, trying hard not to see the scene of her beloved candies slipping away, which was enough to melt anyone's heart.