I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 135 - 91: Golden House to Hide the Beauty

Baisha County, Zhang Family Mansion.

Zhang family’s eldest son-in-law stood at the corner of the wall, eyeing the comings and goings of Wu Zhiyuan with a sinister gaze.

"Top scholar, what a grand title! In the end, you’re just a poor scholar, a chicken that roams the ground. Now you’ve climbed to high places, pretending to be a phoenix."

Spitting on the ground, Yang Hong entered the room and caught sight of his wife playing with a purse given by her lover.

Seeing this, Yang Hong’s heart grew even more enraged, and he sneered:

"Zhang Yao, your name suits you well. Since you like your lover so much, why not give this grand family business to your sister and brother-in-law, and go live happily in the brothels? Wouldn’t that be more comfortable than living at home?"

Zhang Yao frowned at his words and laid her eyes on her husband: "Yang Hong, why are you so jealous? It’s not like you’ve never been to a brothel. I don’t interfere with you, and now you’re trying to control me!"

"It’s not that I want to control you, but my dear father-in-law favors your new brother-in-law. He’s given them half of the mansion to live in and hired a famous teacher to educate him, clearly grooming him to become the future head of the Zhang family."

"If this continues, what place will there be for us in this household?"

Zhang Yao was startled by his words and said, "You’ve certainly awakened me. A few days ago, I went to the accounting room to withdraw two hundred taels of silver, but the steward only gave me twenty taels, saying that father had ordered the funds be prioritized for my sister and her husband’s expenses..."

"She may be his biological daughter, but am I not also his biological daughter? Do I deserve this degradation?"

Yang Hong sighed: "A son of a mere paper mache shop owner, how can he be worthy of the Zhang family? It’s a shame my father-in-law didn’t listen to my advice back then. Now, this poor fellow has truly taken this place as his own home. You can’t see how he’s flourishing, as if he’s the true master of the Zhang family..."

Zhang Yao had never gotten along with her younger sister. Hearing these incendiary words, her jealousy grew ever more intense.

"Don’t worry about this matter, a poor scholar is easy enough for us to drive away."

"What brilliant plan does my wife have?"

Zhang Yao coldly smiled, her natural malice revealing itself as she quickly devised a sinister plan.

She motioned for Yang Hong to lean in, and after a whispered conversation, Yang Hong couldn’t help clapping his hands in praise.

"Wife, this is an excellent plan. If he can be blamed, it’s only because Wu Zhiyuan resents his poor life and refuses to accept mediocrity..."

...

When Xu Qing and Hu Baosong arrived in Baisha County, they just happened to catch Wu Zhiyuan and his new bride preparing to pay respects to their elders.

Wu Yaohua, a country bumpkin, had never seen such a spectacle!

He couldn’t even speak to the noble guests and merchants present.

Seeing familiar faces from the neighborhood, he couldn’t care less about the ceremony and ran over to greet them.

Seeing the spirited Hu Baosong, Wu Yaohua was overjoyed.

"Brother Hu, you’ve come at the right time. Though we’re not family, we’ve been neighbors for many years.

I don’t have many relatives and friends here, so your presence is better than anything else."

Hu Baosong, previously declining Wu Yaohua’s invitation due to poor health, was touched by their reunion.

Xu Qing, seeing the glowing face of old Hu, also smiled.

"Congratulations, Brother Wu. I don’t have much to give, but I have two Peace Talismans with me. I’ll give them to you and your son. As long as you wear them, they should bring you safety."

"These talismans?"

Xu Qing watched Wu Yaohua take the brocade pouch containing the yellow talismans and leave, feeling a subtle stirring in his heart.

He could clearly sense a unique aura lingering on the pouch, akin to the Galloping Immortal’s yet with a touch more clarity.

"Just some minor skills of observing qi and reading facial features, nothing much."

Nearby, the ceremonious bridal rites were in full swing. Hu Baosong, observing the atmosphere around Wu Zhiyuan and Wu Yaohua, commented: "Nations rise and fall, affairs succeed and fail, people encounter fortune and misfortune. There’s an ill-fated aura around the Wu father and son, which indicates impending trouble."

"Being treated as a friend is rare, so I took the opportunity to gift them two Spirit Talismans."

"Are these talismans so powerful? Old Hu, why don’t you show me one so I can see for myself."

"Don’t bother with my talismans. They aren’t very powerful. They might not protect anyone in case of real supernatural attacks."

"But I’m not worried," Hu Baosong laughed, "If real trouble arises, I trust you wouldn’t stand idly by."

"..."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow: "Old Hu, have you forgotten that tomorrow we journey to the Hu Yang Ancient Tomb? Who knows how long we’ll be gone. If something happens to them, I might not be able to help."

"That is true," Hu Baosong stroked his beard with a smile, "But it doesn’t matter. With my Spirit Talismans, they should be well protected."

"Didn’t you say your talismans aren’t powerful?"

"They’re not powerful for you, but for ordinary people, they’re very effective!" freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Are you implying that I’m not an ordinary person? Old Hu, won’t you consider drawing some talismans for me? I just happen to have some Vermillion talisman paper with me..."

"What kind of person brings Vermillion talisman paper when attending a banquet?"

"Old Hu, you’re mistaken again. As someone who runs a funeral business and regularly performs rituals, carrying some Vermillion talisman paper seems reasonable, doesn’t it?"

Hu Baosong glanced at Xu Qing, irritably: "Why don’t you carry a coffin around as well? If we run into business on the road, you can arrange the afterlife for them right away..."