Chapter 126: My Junior Brother Is Getting Married

Chen Liang didn't take the money. Instead, he eyed the old man up and down, then said with dissatisfaction, "Tell me, Old Man Zhang, are you trying to stir up trouble in this courtyard on purpose?"

The old man couldn't take that blame and grew indignant. "Listen here, kid, what do you mean by that? What trouble am I stirring up? If you can’t explain yourself, I’m going to go have a word with Chen Dashan!"

"Ugh, I can't talk to you. Hey, Big Brother Zhang, are you a coward? Why don't you hurry up and drag your father away? Do you really want me to lose my temper and tear down his birdcage?" Chen Liang shouted toward the Zhang residence before turning to leave.

The eldest Zhang son, singled out by Chen Liang, emerged from the house looking embarrassed. He nodded apologetically at Chen Liang and quickly dragged his father back inside.

"Dad, what are you doing? Is that any way to act toward the neighbors?" the son grumbled after pulling his father into the house.

"Hmph, so it’s wrong of me to offer money now?" the old man muttered, confused.

"You’re deliberately causing friction! Nobody else is giving money, but you do—are you just trying to show off?" The elder Zhang's wife chimed in, unable to hold back her annoyance.

"If Chen Liang had taken your money, do you think the other families in the courtyard would be able to pay or not? Aren't you just trying to ruin our neighborly relations?" the son added.

"Alright, alright, your father just gets more muddled with age. Take your teacup and go play your chess," she dismissed him.

By then, Chen Liang had finished photographing the last family. He went home, hopped onto his beloved bicycle, and took Xiaoyu out for a ride.

Damn it, going for a ride on a bicycle—that’s hardcore! It’s the kind of wild move most people wouldn't even dream of.

Racing like the wind, Chen Liang pedaled so hard the chain practically smoked, reaching the area near the park in a third of the usual time.

Dragging his shy rose—no, Xiaoyu—along, Chen Liang headed straight for the grove as soon as they entered the park.

Lu Bu started by using his second skill to gain a shield, and while Diaochan was slowed, he struck with his first skill to trigger the enchantment. Then, Lu Bu jumped with his ultimate... alas, it was a pity. His ultimate landed slightly off-target, and Diaochan dodged it using the invincibility frames of her second skill.

Now it was Diaochan’s turn to counterattack. She unleashed her ultimate and used her second skill to dodge Lu Bu’s enchantment again, though she failed to avoid his shield-draining strike. Both were now at low health, but who would emerge victorious?

The battle was intense. Both sides were clearly determined to win. Wow! Lu Bu actually used Flash combined with his first skill—he hit her! He hit her! Lu Bu took down the low-health Diaochan. Wait, Diaochan’s first skill returned—ah! Lu Bu is gone too.

The battle was so fierce that it ended in a draw, which was truly unexpected! Both players respawned!

Xiaoyu helped a slightly shaky-legged Chen Liang out of the grove. Looking a bit bashful, she whispered, "Brother, next time we come here, bring a mat. This grass is really scratchy and hurts!"

Time is a cruel blade. To think how shy she used to be—and now? She’s even making demands!

Sigh, as expected, there’s no such thing as a "natural-born siren" in this world; it’s all cultivated step by step.

Once you’ve experienced the grove, there’s no way you won’t love it.

Back home, Chen Liang took a quick rinse by the water basin and then carried water to wash Xiaoyu. It took several back-and-forth trips to fill the large wooden tub halfway.

After pouring in a few kettles of hot water to get the temperature just right, a sleepy-eyed Xiaoyu soaked. Once she was clean, Chen Liang held her close. For once, he didn't continue their "efforts" and simply went to bed early.

They had exhausted themselves in the grove, but it was just too much fun.

Days passed by. Chen Liang found time to return to the Red Star Rolling Mill to collect his commendation from his master's uncle. The results of the payroll theft case were finally out.

The three masterminds—Lei San, Zhang Zhiming, and the "Little Fox"—had no chance. With the evidence being ironclad, they were sentenced to death and executed immediately.

The accomplices received various sentences, ranging from life imprisonment to fifteen or three years.

Chen Liang’s written report had been effective; since "Skinny Stick" turned state's evidence, he only got three years.

The four men who had harassed Xiaoyu were also sentenced to three to five years. In this era, the charge of "hooliganism" was quite serious; one could easily end up facing a firing squad.

Oh, and Lei Tiger, the security chief of the West City Bureau, who had been implicated by Lei San, was also thrown in. He was corrupt anyway. Chen Liang only heard a bit about it and didn't give it much thought.

Hmph, back when he was the security chief, Chen Liang hadn't even taken him seriously. Now? He’d been stripped of that intimidating uniform, so Chen Liang cared about him even less.

He had been dragged from the clouds to the valley floor; if Chen Liang were to go after him now, it would be beneath his own dignity.

Happily holding his commendation, Chen Liang hadn't even had a chance to admire it twice before his master's uncle interrupted him.

"If you've got nothing else to do, get out of here. Maybe then I can have some peace and live a couple more years!"

Well, the old man wasn't exactly welcoming.

Chen Liang didn't want to overstay his welcome, so he scurried off. As soon as he stepped out of the office, he saw his junior fellow apprentice, Boerba, carrying a large bag of sunflower seeds, peanuts, and candies, shoving a handful to everyone he passed.

As Chen Liang walked by, he grabbed a handful of seeds. "Yo! What’s the happy occasion? You look so pleased, like you’ve eaten two pounds of honey!"

"Hehehe, Senior Brother, it’s good news. I’m getting married," Boerba said with a shy smile, revealing both his upper and lower teeth. He looked exactly like the dim-witted son of a wealthy landlord.

"Whoa! Your mother finally agreed?"

Chen Liang looked astonished. Damn, this domestic drama from his junior brother’s family—or rather, this "Three Kingdoms" style war between mother and daughter-in-law—was finally coming to an end. Not easy!

Ever since Chen Liang accompanied his junior brother to Xiajia Village and brought back the cunning Yue Hehua, his junior brother’s house hadn't known a day of peace for half a year.

It was like watching a TV show every day. It got to the point where Chen Liang didn't even dare walk past their house, fearing that Boerba's mother might be lying in wait with a kitchen knife.

"Yeah! Senior Brother, my mother even wants me to thank you. She said you found her such a good daughter-in-law, and she wants you to have a few drinks with us on the wedding day to show her gratitude!"

Chen Liang scratched the back of his head, unsure. Was his mother-in-law being sincere, or was it sarcasm?

If she were sincere, it would be a happy family reunion. But if it were sarcasm, the joke would be on him. She might even have the kitchen knife sharpened and ready, just waiting for him to walk right into the trap. What a "wonderful" opportunity!