Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 777 What did I do to offend him?

When I got back, I saw Aunt Rong beating her husband. It was so funny. I don't know how long she beat him, but he was already crying and bruised.

Having been neighbors for many years, Chen Xuan was very familiar with the family. Aunt Rong had a fiery temper. Although she had never practiced martial arts, she was strong and powerful. She would beat up her husband every few days. However, they had been together for so many years. I guess this is what they mean by "a beating is a sign of affection"—the more they fought, the deeper their feelings became.

Her husband, on the other hand, was thin and small, not a bad person, but he lacked ambition and was somewhat weak-willed. He was practically a layabout, only lacking money. With such a hot-tempered wife, it was no wonder he got beaten up.

Of course, Aunt Rong wouldn't beat him so badly that he would suffer serious injuries; after all, they still had to make a living. But in those years, Chen Xuan never saw her husband without injuries on his face for more than a few days. He was either covered in scratches or had a bruised and swollen face. He lived such a miserable life that it would bring tears to anyone's eyes.

That guy was really thick-skinned. Anyone else would have been too ashamed to show their face in the face of misery, but he seemed to be enjoying it. At first, he was a little embarrassed when people laughed at him, but as time went on, he became indifferent. When he got angry, he even yelled, "Believe me or not, I'll have my wife beat you up."

This couple is absolutely amazing together.

Hearing Chen Xuan's greeting, Aunt Rong, who was frantically beating her husband, was startled. She subconsciously looked in Chen Xuan's direction, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She quickly released her husband and pretended to be nonchalant and embarrassed, saying, "It's you, Brother Chen! When did you get back? You didn't even tell me beforehand. If I had known, the neighbors would have definitely given you a welcome-back party."

She was genuinely happy to see Chen Xuan again. Although she hadn't received much direct help, she had indirectly benefited from being neighbors with Chen Xuan and his family for many years. Just because she was neighbors with Chen Xuan and his family, when the news of Gao Jingming becoming the top scholar spread, even the students of the academy treated her with great respect. She had once been a cook at Bai Xiang Ge, and now she had benefited from that and become the head of the kitchen, which was quite lucrative.

Now that her family is not short of money, they could have moved to a better place long ago, but they still can't bear to leave. It's not that they want anything, but many people come to admire the former residence of the top scholar. Just standing there makes her look good. She can even get a lot of benefits by occasionally telling people about Chen Xuan and the others. That's much better than working herself to death in the kitchen of Bai Xiang Ge.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "I've been away for a while. I was just passing through and thought I'd drop by. I won't disturb you any longer."

Making a living in a place like Bai Xiang Ge, Aunt Rong, despite her fiery temper, was still very sensible. Although she didn't understand Chen Xuan and his family's current status, she didn't dare to act rashly. Instead, she chuckled and said, "It's good that you've come back to visit. I've missed you all quite a bit. Seeing you safe and sound, and even more handsome than before, is very comforting. By the way, Brother Chen, you don't know, during the time you were gone, your courtyard house was sold and changed hands many times, with the price increasing each time. But thankfully, none of the buyers touched your living quarters. I secretly went to check on it during the gaps between the buyers, and they were quite sensible."

Aunt Rong was a talkative person by nature. Her husband, who couldn't utter a word for a long time, started talking non-stop once he opened his mouth.

Chen Xuan listened patiently with a smile, feeling quite pleased. Life isn't all about fighting and killing; it's mostly about everyday family matters and trivialities.

Perhaps realizing she had talked too much, and noticing the commotion coming from the courtyard behind Chen Xuan, she changed her tune and asked curiously, "Brother Chen didn't come alone, did Young Master Gao come too?"

"Since the young master is currently in charge of a region, he hasn't come over. It was my wife and the others who came," Chen Xuan said with a smile, glossing over the matter.

Aunt Rong felt a little regretful at first, as she also longed to see the top scholar's brilliance again. Then her eyes lit up, as if a gossip fire was burning within them, and she said with some regret, "Young Master Chen is already married? That's wonderful! I was just thinking that if I saw you again and you weren't married, I could introduce you to a few men. They're all from your families, so there's bound to be one you like. My sister's third daughter is especially beautiful."

Ever since she became neighbors with Chen Xuan, she had never heard him try to sell his relatives. Now, he came again as soon as they met. To be honest, she quite missed that feeling.

"Thank you for your kindness, Aunt Rong, but no need. I believe your sister's third daughter will definitely find someone better," Chen Xuan replied with a smile, showing no impatience whatsoever.

At this moment, her husband was still being held down in the large wooden tub. Seeing the two of them chatting endlessly, he said with a look of utter despair, "My dear wife, could you please let me go first?"

"Shut up, you shameful thing! Go back and clean yourself up. How can you go out looking like this?" Aunt Rong glanced at him sideways, but then let go of his foot.

"It's all because of you beating me up," his man said nonchalantly, getting up and waving somewhat comically at Chen Xuan, "Hey Chen, come over and have a chat sometime."

With that, he limped back into the house, his attitude towards Chen Xuan quite cold. He had been like this ever since he met Chen Xuan. At first, Chen Xuan wondered if he had offended him in some way. But as he gradually learned more, he found out, to his dismay, that Chen Xuan's cold attitude towards him was actually a way of keeping him from making a move on his wife. Chen Xuan wondered how Chen Xuan could have such a mentality. He told his brother that there was no need for that.

To be honest, aside from being a bit older, a bit overweight, and having a fiery temper, if Aunt Rong had been younger, slimmer, and had focused on her career, well, only her husband would have treasured her...

Although Chen Xuan enjoyed watching others have fun, he wouldn't make fun of or ridicule other people's affairs. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he decisively cupped his hands and said, "Well, Aunt Rong, you're busy. I still need to tidy up here. Come over and sit down when you have time."

"Okay, Brother Chen, go ahead and get busy. Just let me know if you need any help. I'm free right now. Bai Xiang Ge won't get busy until tonight," Aunt Rong said kindly.

After saying goodbye to Aunt Rong, Chen Xuan looked around and saw that nothing had changed since he left. He then returned to the front yard.

The accompanying palace maids and eunuchs were already busy tidying up and setting up, while the little princess and her companions, filled with curiosity and a desire to explore the place where Chen Xuan had once lived, looked around carefully from top to bottom and inside to outside, examining every place and every room with great care.

Seeing that there was nothing for him to do, Chen Xuan decisively started to slack off. He found the familiar and comfortable recliner and went to the pavilion to take a leisurely nap. Unexpectedly, the recliner was still there, and it was even made by Xiao Miao herself. The familiar feeling was really nice.

Chen Xuan broke through to the Innate Realm on the way to Mo City. He never hid his cultivation level from Gao Jingming. However, he spoke of it too casually. At first, Gao Jingming did not believe him at all. Later, when it was confirmed, their relationship remained unchanged. However, Chen Xuan became more and more unruly and started to slack off. He spent less time accompanying Gao Jingming to the academy and would lie down all day instead of sitting. Gao Jingming tried to persuade him countless times, but he could not persuade him and let him be.

It's not that Chen Xuan became arrogant as his cultivation improved. In those years, he still diligently fulfilled his duties as a page. It's just that with such martial arts talent, he really couldn't muster any interest in reading. No matter how hard he studied, could he ever surpass Xiao Gao?

In fact, Chen Xuan had long known that he wasn't cut out for studying and learning. He had discovered this back at Yushan Academy. When Gao Jingming and the others were young, he could keep up with their pace and even surpass them with his adult thinking and self-discipline. However, those bastards were truly inhuman. Not only were they clever, but they were also arrogant. As they grew older, they fell behind Chen Xuan in their studies and gradually surpassed him. Then, Chen Xuan's talent for studying stopped at the level of a child scholar. He couldn't compete with them, he simply couldn't.

Is it that he doesn't want to achieve higher academic honors? That's because his talent has its limits. He's already quite capable of passing the preliminary examination. It's not that he doesn't have room for improvement and to achieve higher academic honors, but it's better to forget about spending his whole life studying. That would be worse than death. Isn't it better to just relax and enjoy life?

The result was that the two studied together and received the same teacher's instruction. Xiao Gao achieved the highest achievement for a scholar, while Chen Xuan was only a junior student. Strictly speaking, being a junior student was not a proper academic title; at most, it meant that you had studied and passed the academy's graduation requirements.

A degree in officialdom is equivalent to a civil service exam, giving you one foot in the officialdom. A scholar who has passed the county-level exam is qualified to be an official, provided that you have the means to do so. However, a student who has passed the county-level exam is not qualified to be an official. Without a strong background, no matter how much you try, you can only become a minor official.

In the familiar surroundings, Chen Xuan felt extremely relaxed. He had only intended to take a nap, but instinctively drifted off to sleep.

When he groggily woke up, he opened his eyes to see the little princess and the others chatting quietly in a circle. When they saw that he was awake, all their eyes were on him. Dujuan said apologetically in a low voice, "Master, did we disturb you?"

As dusk settled in the west, Chen Xuan stretched and said with a feeling of complete comfort, "No, you've finished sightseeing?"

"Hmm, sir, after Madam bought this place in private, she tried her best to keep it as it was originally. I noticed that the decoration style here is very similar to our home in Yang County. Did you do it?" the little maid asked curiously.

Chen Xuan nodded and smiled, "Yes, it took several months to set it up. I lived in the academy dormitory during that time and often went back and forth." The little princess laughed and teased, "Husband, you really picked a good place. Baixiang Pavilion is not far in front, and flower boats pass by the small river behind every day. You opened the window so wide. Are you probably just waiting to see the beauties on the flower boats every day?"

"As expected of my wife, you understand me so well," Chen Xuan looked at the little princess with an expression of having found a kindred spirit. He didn't bother to hide it at all. It was a fact that he could sit at home and enjoy the laughter and graceful figures of the ragged young ladies on the pleasure boats.

Anyway, it's free, so why not watch it? Only Xiao Gao occasionally pretends to be serious and says that the passing pleasure boats are too noisy and disturb his studies. Chen Xuan usually gives him a disdainful look, as if to say, "You've been watching it all the time, haven't you?" Especially after he slept with Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye, he got hooked and would drag Chen Xuan to sit next to him whenever he had free time, claiming it was to relax from studying too much.

The little princess rolled her eyes at Chen Xuan, feeling both amused and exasperated. Everyone is just as unserious as you. Her husband is good in every way, but he never hides his true self. She wondered if he could change.

Not wanting to argue with him about these things, otherwise he might start flirting, the little princess turned to Xia Mei and said, "Aunt Mei, after dinner, go to Master Gao's residence and deliver a visiting card. My husband said he would visit him first thing tomorrow morning."

“Yes, madam,” Xia Mei nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Chen Xuan interrupted, "No need, we'll just go directly tomorrow. We're not outsiders, no need to be so formal, otherwise it'll seem like we're keeping to ourselves. If we go to Master Gao's place and send him a visiting card in advance, I'll definitely get a scolding from Madam Gao if she finds out. By the way, remember to bring back plenty of local specialties we bought along the way. I remember we've brought back several cartloads of them from all over the country on this trip."

Upon hearing this, Xia Mei glanced at the little princess first, and only after receiving a nod from her did she say, "Your subordinate understands."

Indeed, from Chen Xuan's perspective, sending a formal visiting card was too formal and inappropriate. Although it was somewhat against the rules, it would make them seem distant. If things were to escalate, the arrival of the little princess would likely cause a stir throughout the entire prefecture.

Dinner was eaten in the pavilion. Chen Xuan was happy to be back here and accidentally drank quite a bit of wine, becoming slightly tipsy. It was already late at night after dinner, and the little princess and the others went to rest. Chen Xuan and Du Juan disappeared without anyone noticing.

Under the cover of night, the two appeared at the dilapidated courtyard they had met before. Du Juan had secretly bought it long ago and kept it in its original state, but it was neglected and overgrown with weeds, making it even more dilapidated. Despite the long drought, the old locust tree in the courtyard was still there, and it was even more lush and leafy.

Back then, the cuckoo played tricks here, and with that old locust tree, many terrifying stories about stopping children from crying were passed down.

Standing on the rooftop, Chen Xuan held Du Juan's soft waist close to her ear. His slightly intoxicated breath made Du Juan's pretty face flush. He pointed to a certain spot and reminisced, "I remember the first time I saw Sister Juan, someone accidentally broke in here. You scared them with your superb lightness skills. I was watching from a foot behind you at the time, which was quite amusing. I thought you smelled so good back then."

As he spoke, he took a deep breath around Du Juan's neck and delivered a top-notch lung-like breath, which seemed to taste just like it did back then, only with even more charm.

Du Juan felt weak all over and leaned shyly against Chen Xuan's arms, saying, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sir. I felt something was wrong at the time, and I was paranoid and worried for a while. I couldn't figure it out, and I even thought about giving up and moving elsewhere. Luckily, I didn't, otherwise how could I have the honor of following you, sir?"

"There's no one else here, Sister Juan, stop calling me 'Master,' call me 'Husband' instead," Chen Xuan gently bit her smooth earlobe.

Her delicate body trembled, and her voice, now tinged with a seductive softness, said, "Husband," but as she spoke, she felt Chen Xuan's hands beginning to wander. Submissive yet pleading, she said, "Husband, not here, let's go underground, okay? I want to see the place where I used to live."

"Of course, no problem," Chen Xuan suddenly thought of something and joked, "Speaking of which, Sister Juan is really made of water. Back when she was only at the Acquired Realm cultivation level, she could freely enter and exit through a fist-sized hole. I'll have to experience that later. By the way, when I was healing you, I actually saw you naked, but I was still young then and my heart was as still as water, so I didn't touch you."

"My husband, please don't say anything more. I'll do whatever you say," Dujuan said softly.

Chen Xuan's eyes lit up, and he pinched her full, perky breasts, his gaze intense as he asked, "Really? Including here?"

"Hmm~"

The next moment, the two figures disappeared from the abandoned house, and their bodies seemed to turn into liquid and came to the underground 'boudoir' of Dujuan through a fist-sized hole.

Everything was there, just as it had been before. It had just been neglected for a long time and had accumulated a thin layer of dust. Chen Xuan used his True Essence to clean it up, making it even cleaner than if he had cleaned it thoroughly.

Upon arriving in familiar surroundings, Du Juan wanted to reminisce a bit, but Chen Xuan immediately carried her to the bed. She had no time to think about anything else and quickly succumbed to the mundane.

That night, Du Juan was thoroughly exhausted by Chen Xuan. Even with her innate cultivation level and physique, she couldn't handle the unusual experience and her walking became unnatural.

When everyone ate breakfast together in the morning, even though the two pretended to be nonchalant, the little princess, who guessed that they must have sneaked out to do something naughty last night, still noticed something. She couldn't help but glare at Chen Xuan and spit lightly, but she was too embarrassed to point it out.

She felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. Her husband was too fond of causing trouble and didn't know how to be considerate. Luckily, he loved women, or the sky would have fallen.

After finishing the last mouthful of porridge, Chen Xuan pretended not to notice the little princess's gaze, wiped his mouth seriously, and said, "We'll go to Master Gao's place later. If it's too late, he might miss us if he's at the government office handling official business. We'll just sit for a bit and not stay long. Tomorrow we'll visit Xiao Miao and her brother, and then we can happily go home."

He didn't plan to go back to the academy. Strictly speaking, he wasn't a student of the academy. He was just Xiao Gao's companion back then. The little princess and the others also mentioned going to the academy, worried that it would evoke memories of Chen Xuan being a pageboy. Although Chen Xuan didn't suffer any grievances in those years, it would be somewhat undignified for him given his current influence.

Xia Mei, who had already finished eating, stood up and said, "I'll go and make the arrangements right away; everything is ready."

At this moment, Guo Qingxue suddenly spoke up, "Brother Chen, Sister Qianning, I won't be going with you."

Under the questioning gazes of Chen Xuan and the others, Guo Qingxue quickly explained, "Brother Chen, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to take advantage of these next two days to go back to the sect and tell Father and Mother that I've found my home. That way, I can legitimately go back with you. If we set off now, we can be back by tomorrow afternoon."

With her cultivation level, she could indeed manage if she traveled at full speed. Hearing this, Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment but didn't discourage her. Instead, he said, "How about this, I'll see you off. It won't take up much time. But I'm not ready to meet my father-in-law and the others yet. I'll drop Xiaoxue off at the foot of the mountain and come back. Xiaoxue, don't mind. Let's arrange a time, and I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"Thank you, Brother Chen," Guo Qingxue smiled sweetly, secretly relieved. It was indeed inappropriate to rush Chen Xuan to meet her parents; she should at least give him a grand welcome.

Afterwards, everyone packed up and went their separate ways. Chen Xuan first took Guo Qingxue to the foot of Hanshan Sword Sect, where they parted with a tender and reluctant farewell. Then, he rushed back to Mo City to reunite with the little princess and the others.

They arrived at Master Gao's private residence. Before they even got close to the gate, Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and immediately chuckled, "Oh, Mr. Pei is here too. Could it be that he stayed here yesterday? He seems to be throwing a tantrum. What did Master Gao do to offend him? He's clearly determined to stay if things don't go his way..." (End of Chapter)