Today was the happiest day Wang Tiezhu had experienced since being reborn six months ago.
Before his rebirth, he had been the master of an entire sect, with countless disciples serving him. His life had been carefree and comfortable.
Who could have imagined that heavenly lightning would send him back to the 1970s, turning him into a lonely old bachelor with only a single set of clothes to his name?
Without his disciples, his life had become a complete mess.
Forget luxurious food and fine clothing—even filling his stomach was difficult.
If he hadn’t calculated with his fingers that one of his disciples would soon arrive by his side, he wouldn’t have been able to endure another day.
Day after day, Wang Tiezhu had eagerly waited.
At last, his disciple had arrived.
And it was his youngest disciple—the sixth one—the most obedient and well-behaved of them all.
Unlike the second, third, fourth, and fifth disciples, who were always causing trouble.
Just thinking about it made him happy.
As for the eldest…
That one was his nemesis.
Best not to mention them.
Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Tiezhu immediately decided to latch onto his youngest disciple and enjoy the good life.
From now on, he, Wang Tiezhu, was someone with a disciple to look after him!
With a huge basket of freshly cut pig grass towering over her head, Ye Qingyun arrived at the production team’s pig farm.
Under the stunned gazes of the two young educated youths, she effortlessly finished all of her work for the day.
Only after the mountain of pig grass had been unloaded did they realize someone was standing behind her.
Looking closer…
Wasn’t that Wang Tiezhu—the village’s most notorious lazybones?
Remembering his reputation, the two educated youths instinctively took half a step backward.
Just as Wang Tiezhu was about to greet them, he deliberately pulled a funny face.
The two girls turned pale with fright and nearly screamed.
Ye Qingyun expressionlessly turned around and warned her master to behave himself.
Then she smiled reassuringly at the frightened young women before grabbing her master and dragging him home.
Mo Qiuyu and Qi Xue watched the pair leave in astonishment.
No matter how hard they thought about it, they couldn’t understand why the younger sister of Team Two’s captain, who had just arrived from the city, was walking around with Team One’s infamous old bachelor.
Judging from their little interactions just now…
It almost seemed as though they had known each other for years.
The master and disciple, who had left the two educated youths so puzzled, paid no attention whatsoever to the surprised stares they received along the way.
Ye Qingyun reminded him,
“The children have only recently come from the city. They’re still adjusting to life in the countryside and are rather timid. Master, please restrain yourself. Don’t go scaring them.”
Wang Tiezhu nodded enthusiastically.
“I know, I know.”
As they talked, they crossed a vast stretch of newly planted terraced rice fields and arrived at the little earthen house halfway up the mountain.
Fu Min had been exhausted these past few days.
With their mother leaving early and returning late for work, she had been left at home to look after her younger siblings.
Fortunately, the twins were obedient and did whatever she asked.
Only her little brother was a crybaby.
Without tasty food or treats to distract him, he kept crying and demanding to see their mother.
Today, after listening to him cry for so long, Fu Min had finally lost her patience.
She gave him a good spanking.
Now the little fellow was squatting alone outside the front door, sulking.
The instant he heard footsteps, his ears perked up.
He immediately looked toward the path.
Ye Qingyun smiled.
“I’m back!”
Hearing her voice, Fu Min, who had been playing inside with the twins, happily ran outside.
“Mom, I’m going to play with Cousin and the others! I’ll be back before dinner!”
Before she even finished speaking, she had already dashed away.
She couldn’t wait to find her cousins and make up for all the playtime she’d missed while babysitting her younger siblings.
Ye Qingyun had been expecting an enthusiastic welcome from her eldest daughter.
Instead, she could only shake her head helplessly.
Poor girl had been cooped up all day.
After reminding her to be careful, she let her go.
Ever since arriving in Qiling Village, the girl had quickly found a group of children willing to run wild with her.
The lively nature that had once been confined within the apartment buildings back in the city had finally been set free.
“Mom!”
Fu Xiangdong rushed over and hugged his mother’s leg.
Before saying a word, tears streamed down his face.
Pointing toward his eldest sister, who had already run off into the distance, he complained,
“Big Sister hit me.”
Xinyu walked over holding Xinyang’s hand.
She was the first to notice Wang Tiezhu.
After tilting her head to glance at him, she looked back at her mother.
“Little Brother cried… wasn’t obedient.”
That was why Big Sister had hit him.
Xinyang immediately nodded in agreement.
“Little Brother wasn’t obedient. Wanted Mommy.”
In other words…
She herself had obediently listened to Big Sister and hadn’t cried for Mommy at all.
Looking at the two adorable little faces eagerly waiting for praise, Ye Qingyun couldn’t resist kissing each of them on the cheek.
The twins looked at each other in delight.
Their bright eyes sparkled like black grapes.
Wang Tiezhu couldn’t help recalling the little disciple he had first brought back to the sect all those years ago.
The playful grin disappeared from his face.
Squatting down, he gently patted the twins’ heads with grandfatherly affection.
The three little ones immediately huddled closer to their mother.
They stared suspiciously at the unfamiliar beggar before them.
Wang Tiezhu was speechless.
Ye Qingyun introduced him.
“This is Grandpa Wang. Say hello.”
Still upset that his complaint hadn’t achieved anything, Fu Xiangdong stubbornly refused to greet him.
Xinyu and Xinyang also shrank behind their mother.
“It’s polite to greet people,” Ye Qingyun said more firmly.
Only then did the three children softly say,
“Hello, Grandpa Wang.”
They really were timid.
Wang Tiezhu simply smiled and paid it no mind.
Standing up, he strode into the house and began looking around.
Seeing the stranger enter their home, the twins anxiously looked at their mother.
Ye Qingyun explained,
“Grandpa Wang isn’t a bad person. He’s having dinner with us today. Don’t be afraid.”
Only then did the three children dare follow him, carefully keeping more than a meter away as they secretly observed him.
Ye Qingyun rolled up her sleeves and began preparing dinner.
Soon the stove was lit, and the comforting aroma of food filled the little house.
Patting his growling stomach, Wang Tiezhu grinned at the three little shadows trailing behind him.
He found himself a stool and sat down at the table.
He had already inspected the place.
Though his youngest disciple’s mud house was small and low, it contained everything a household needed.
Compared to the rest of the production brigade, these living conditions were actually among the better ones.
Looks like tonight I’ll be eating well!
In an excellent mood, Wang Tiezhu dug up the patience he used to have when teaching disciples and entertained the three children with all sorts of tricks.
Before long, Xinyu, Xinyang, and Xiangdong had completely let down their guard.
One old man and three little children sat around the low square table, resting their chins in their hands as they eagerly awaited dinner.
“Mom! I’m back!”
Fu Min arrived home at just the right moment.
Ye Qingyun had just placed the pot of porridge on the table.
“Wash your hands and face, then get the bowls,” Ye Qingyun instructed.
“Okay.”
Fu Min scooped some water, washed up, and only after turning around did she notice there was an extra person in the house today.
Swinging her ponytail that had become messy from playing, she walked over to Wang Tiezhu.
“Who are you?”
Ye Qingyun reminded her,
“This is Grandpa Wang from Team One. He’s joining us for dinner today.”
Fu Min nodded like a little grown-up.
“Hello, Grandpa Wang!”
Then she turned to the cupboard, took out the bowls and chopsticks, and neatly set them on the table one by one.
Seeing her little brother glaring at her with puffed-up cheeks, she reached out and pinched his face.
Fu Xiangdong immediately opened his mouth to bite her.
Fu Min nimbly dodged him, and the brother and sister began fooling around again.
Wang Tiezhu had no time to pay attention to the children.
His heart was set entirely on the feast he was expecting.
Ye Qingyun made two trips from the kitchen.
One large pot of white rice porridge with chunks of sweet potato.
One plate of stir-fried salted vegetables.
The pickled vegetables had been a gift from her sister-in-law.
Half a jar’s worth.
Whether eaten by themselves or cooked into soup, they went perfectly with rice.
Wang Tiezhu waited…
and waited…
expecting Ye Qingyun to make a third trip.
Instead, all he heard was—
“Dinner’s ready!”
The hopeful expression on his face instantly crumbled.