“All right, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.” Xiao Ran glanced at the sky. “It’s getting late. Head back early!”
Xiao Ran bent down, picked up the knives from the ground, and handed the knife handles to Zhang Dalang.
Zhang Dalang hurriedly took the woodcutting knife and sickle. “Young master...”
Xiao Ran interrupted Zhang Dalang. “We’re all grown men, so don’t make such a fuss. What happened before is over. Don’t bring it up again!”
It was clear from Xiao Ran’s relaxed tone that he was teasing as well.
Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erya also understood that Xiao Ran had not taken it to heart.
“Young master, I’ll prepare the morning meal tomorrow.” Zhang Erya wiped her eyes.
“Ah, don’t! Absolutely not!” Xiao Ran truly could not stomach their cooking.
They had prepared a very sumptuous meal before, and Xiao Ran knew that the three siblings had meant well, but the taste was genuinely hard to describe!
However, he did not want to hurt the three siblings’ pride, so he made an excuse. “I don’t eat in the morning. You can eat without me.”
“All right!” Zhang Dalang nodded. “Young master, we’ll head back first!”
“Mm, go on!” Xiao Ran nodded and watched the three siblings walk away, slowly disappearing into the night.
Zhang Dalang picked up Third Lady and felt extremely happy when he thought of Xiao Ran agreeing to take care of his two younger sisters.
Although he had acted somewhat impulsively earlier, the outcome was good.
“Elder brother, are you all right?” Zhang Erya asked softly.
When Zhang Erya had seen him, Zhang Dalang had been pinned to the ground by Xiao Ran.
“I’m fine. The young master showed mercy. His skills are extraordinary. Even if I had been holding two knives, I could not have hurt him in the slightest.”
He had deliberately said the second half for Zhang Erya to hear, telling his younger sister that Xiao Ran had not been injured.
“From now on, the young master has agreed to take care of you. You won’t be bullied anymore.”
“Elder brother, didn’t the young master say that nothing would happen to you?” Although she had no real basis for it, Zhang Erya was willing to believe what Xiao Ran had said.
This was the outcome Zhang Erya wanted most.
“Second Lady, a life must be paid for with a life. How could I possibly avoid death? Although father was also at fault, I am ultimately unfilial. Beating father to death is beyond pardon for the ten abominations. If it weren’t for the village neighbors proving that father started it...” Zhang Dalang held Zhang Erya’s hand. “It’s fine. Father couldn’t help the family with anything while he was alive. He only beat you and Third Lady. Things are better now.”
“But elder brother, you’re leaving too. What will Third Lady and I do?” Zhang Erya’s voice was choked with sobs.
They had had their father and elder brother before. Although the family had been a complete mess, at least they had elders and someone to support them. Now their father and elder brother were both going to leave them forever.
A sense of despair arose spontaneously, along with the feeling of being helpless and without support.
“Second Lady, don’t cry. The young master said things will get better. I still have another year!”
After returning to the motorhome, Xiao Ran found a bucket of instant noodles. He had not eaten much earlier and was indeed somewhat hungry.
He could not go to bed early tonight. He still had to conduct an experiment to see whether leaving Xiao Hei, cat, and the other things outside would cause Xiao Hei and cat to refresh again inside the motorhome.
Tomorrow, he also had to go to the village to arrange his household registration affiliation. Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.
Xiao Ran had not taken Zhang Dalang’s matter to heart. Although he had been somewhat rash, there had been a reason for it.
More importantly, Zhang Dalang’s few moves could not threaten Xiao Ran.
He was also a pitiful person toyed with by fate.
Bearing the crime of killing his father, the pressure on him must have been immense.
Speaking of the ‘cheap father’ who had been killed, neither Zhang Dalang nor Zhang Erya seemed to have much affection for him. That ‘cheap father’ had probably not been a good person either.
Zhang Dalang was not the type to start a conflict for no reason. Xiao Ran muttered to himself, “Domestic violence?”
People who drank, gambled, did no proper work, and went home to beat their wives and children existed in every era. They were the worst of the worst.
And yet, such people could still find wives.
Xiao Ran had only doggie and cat for company. He sighed. “Sigh!”
In Lizheng Palace, the lamplight swayed.
The hall was quiet, with only the occasional sound of a page turning.
Empress Zhangsun glanced at the little princess sleeping in her arms and gently set down the book.
The little princess was still clutching a tomato.
After returning earlier, she had eaten one belonging to Little Princess Chengyang, but she had been reluctant to eat the remaining one.
Empress Zhangsun gently took the tomato from the little princess’s hands and placed it on the medical table.
“I wonder whether Xiao Ran has any more. Sizi likes them. Buy some more.” Li Shimin lowered his voice, afraid of disturbing the sleeping little princess.
“Have Lizhi ask him tomorrow.”
“Mm. I’m becoming more and more interested in this fellow as well. He truly has so many good things.”
Li Lizhi had also told Empress Zhangsun about the refined salt and seasonings.
Although Empress Zhangsun had never seen them, she had been greatly shocked as well.
The imperial palace used the finest salt of this era, but it was completely incomparable to Xiao Ran’s.
“We saw Lizhi’s drawing before, and Sizi’s beloved dog, which we had never seen before. Xiao Ran’s attire is not from Great Tang, and even the hu people in the western regions do not have this style.”
Li Shimin nodded. “Mm, that’s true. Everything is unfamiliar. I’ve lived through most of my life, yet being around him makes me feel ignorant.”
Li Shimin had not discovered any other talents, but Xiao Ran’s possessions truly made people envious.
They were enough to make even the emperor, Li Shimin, want them.
Li Shimin also picked up the tomato and examined it. “Anan, have someone investigate this. Focus on the hu people and hu merchants from the western regions and see whether anyone knows about tomatoes.”
“Yes, your majesty. This servant will remember.”
“Has the Ministry of Justice still found no information on Xiao Ran?”
“In response to your majesty, there are no records at all. This servant even investigated the Lanling Xiao Clan, but found nothing.”
“Mm, I understand.”
Inside the mountain cave, Xiao Ran took out the flashlight and moved many things from the vehicle onto the ground.
He planned to wait for them to refresh tomorrow, especially the food.
Rice, flour, and all kinds of seasonings were not easy to spoil, so having more refreshes would do no harm.
There was also a treasured sword Xiao Ran had bought online. He did not know how good its quality was, but it looked very attractive.
There was also a local specialty he had bought while passing through Pakistan: a ‘truth.’
The things Xiao Ran liked and the things he considered precious were basically all in the vehicle. This was everything he had.
After preparing everything, Xiao Ran also placed doggie and cat below.
Although Xiao Hei did not quite understand, he obediently lay down on the mat Xiao Ran had prepared.
“It’ll be over soon. It won’t take long.”
“Woof, woof, woof!”
Afraid that the lights would be too bright at night and attract attention from outside, Xiao Ran sealed the cave entrance tightly.
Only then did he return to the motorhome and lie down. Holding his mobile phone, he found it extremely boring without an internet connection.
He could only put on his earphones and listen to music. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
When he woke again and checked the time, it was already one in the morning.
Xiao Ran rubbed his eyes and rose from the sofa.
He opened the refrigerator to take a look. The food inside had refreshed.
However, Xiao Hei and cat had not refreshed. It seemed that living animals did not work.
The meat Xiao Ran had prepared had refreshed.
This meant he no longer had to worry about another version of himself refreshing inside the vehicle while he was away.
Xiao Ran opened the vehicle door. “Xiao Hei, come home!”
Xiao Hei wagged his tail, bit down on his mat, and returned to the motorhome.
Cat was lying on the box beside them and showed no intention of moving. Xiao Ran could only carry cat back to the motorhome. “You’re really lazy!”