Liancheng New Village seemed to be exactly like the rural countryside from Jiang Ling’s childhood memories, not nearly as prosperous as she had imagined.
Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised.
After all, the Lu family, a literal tycoon family, had come from this small village.
She had assumed the village would have benefited more from their success, but it turned out to be just an ordinary little hamlet.
The meaning behind the name “Lotus City” was well-reflected in the New Village.
From the moment they entered and began walking along the road, Jiang Ling saw many ponds of various sizes.
The tender green lotus leaves and pink lotus flowers complemented each other beautifully, creating a very eye-catching sight.
A long-lost, pleasant scent filled the air.
Jiang Ling took a deep breath, feeling a wave of refreshment.
Even though it was an unfamiliar environment, Jiang Ling felt a sense of nostalgia.
she had also come from the countryside, but after going to University and working hard in the city, she rarely went home.
Naturally, she rarely saw such sights anymore.
Lu Yuyao seemed to know everyone in the village.
The two of them crossed the main road, which was currently under construction, and turned a corner.
A massive Stone Tablet stood before them — New Village.
Beyond this Stone Tablet lay Lu Yuyao’s ancestral home.
Several tables and stools were set up next to the Stone Tablet.
A few elderly men were playing chess there, while some older women and others who looked to be of the grandmother generation sat chatting.
As the two girls approached, they caught the group’s attention, and gazes shifted toward them one after another.
Jiang Ling felt inexplicably nervous, her pace slowing down.
However, Lu Yuyao wore a bright smile and took a step forward to greet the elders, looking very much at home.
“Grandma Jiang, are you sitting here and resting?”
The woman Lu Yuyao addressed as Grandma Jiang was a kind-looking elder who seemed to have poor eyesight.
Grandma Jiang squinted at the approaching Lu Yuyao.
The voice sounded familiar, and she suddenly clapped her hands in excitement.
“Is the Lu family girl back?”
Lu Yuyao nodded with a smile and greeted the others sitting nearby as well.
They all seemed to know Lu Yuyao… which made sense given the Lu family’s status in the New Village.
It would be hard not to know them.
Yet, the surprise and tenderness in their eyes when they saw Lu Yuyao couldn’t be faked.
It was clear that she had a very good relationship with the villagers.
“You’re back to see your grandmother for National Day, I assume? It’s a shame your parents didn’t come back with you,” Grandma Jiang said with a smile.
She looked behind Lu Yuyao but didn’t see her parents; instead, she saw Jiang Ling standing behind her, hands behind her back, nervously picking at her palms.
Grandma Jiang squinted again, seemingly having no impression of Jiang Ling, and asked,
“And this is?”
“This is my sister. My parents are busy, so the two of us came back to see Grandma together,” Lu Yuyao explained.
The fact that the Lu family had adopted a daughter wasn’t new information in the New Village.
Lu Yuyao’s parents donated a lot of money to charity every year.
Everyone in the village knew about it and praised them for not forgetting their roots and being compassionate after becoming wealthy.
However, while they had heard about it, they had never seen what the adopted daughter looked like.
Today was their first glimpse.
In an instant, Jiang Ling felt the eyes of everyone around her fall upon her.
Overcoming her tension, Jiang Ling offered a reserved smile and imitated Lu Yuyao by greeting the group.
“Hello, Grandma Jiang. Hello, everyone. My name is Jiang Ling.”
“Good, good, good.”
Grandma Jiang clearly knew about the situation.
Once Lu Yuyao mentioned it, she understood immediately.
She looked at Jiang Ling with a smile.
“Good, good. She’s a beautiful girl too. Sister Huier is truly blessed to have two such beautiful granddaughters.”
The group didn’t ask excessive questions out of curiosity just because Jiang Ling was adopted.
Instead, they treated her like Lu Yuyao — a junior to be looked after.
After chatting for a while longer, Lu Yuyao suggested they leave.
“The two of us will head back to see Grandma first. I’ll come chat with you when I have time.”
“Alright, go on then. Head back now,” Grandma Jiang said with a smile, waving them off.
Jiang Ling felt that Grandma Jiang was a truly kind-hearted person and couldn’t help but be curious about her relationship with the Lu family.
As they continued walking, Jiang Ling asked Lu Yuyao about it.
Lu Yuyao chuckled.
“Grandma Jiang is an old friend of my grandmother. They both believe in Buddhism and always go to the Small Temple in the village to burn incense and pray, so they see each other quite often. Grandma Jiang used to look after me when I was little, so we’re very close.”
“I see,” Jiang Ling nodded.
‘It’s good to learn more about the details that weren’t mentioned in the Original Book.’
***
Past the Stone Tablet, the two of them walked a bit further, passing a park.
They then walked straight for about 500 meters before turning right.
An ordinary farmhouse courtyard abruptly appeared before them.
Lu Yuyao stopped, and Jiang Ling looked at the courtyard, sizing it up.
Such a courtyard was considered grand in the village.
Finally, something that somewhat matched the Lu family’s status had appeared.
“We’re here,” Lu Yuyao said, but she didn’t knock.
She winked at Jiang Ling, turned around, and stood in front of the left wall.
She counted silently.
From top to bottom, the fourth brick.
“This is the one,” Lu Yuyao muttered softly.
She then pulled out the brick and reached her arm into the hole, rummaging around.
“Heh!”
Lu Yuyao withdrew her arm, holding a Silver Key in her hand.
She brandished it in front of Jiang Ling with a beaming smile.
“How about that? Am I smart or what?”
Clearly, this was the way she had always used to open the door in the past.
Jiang Ling gave a dry laugh and clapped along, but her eyes drifted toward the gate.
She took two steps forward and gave it a gentle push.
The gate made a creaking sound — and it opened.
A hint of smugness flickered in Jiang Ling’s eyes.
She had seen it just now; the door was already unlatched.
There was no need for a key at all.
Lu Yuyao froze.
She felt like a total clown.
A flush of peach-pink colored her cheeks, and she glared at Jiang Ling.
“You like watching me make a fool of myself, don’t you? You’re mean.”
With a huff, Lu Yuyao was the first to step through the gate.
In a fit of mischief, she kicked the door shut behind her.
Jiang Ling picked up the fruit and pastries she had set on the ground.
“Hey, don’t close the door! I’m still carrying all this stuff!”
She managed to slip into the courtyard just as the door was about to slam shut.