The disciple looked perplexed. "A circle, you say..."

The Taoist didn't ponder Xu Lai's origins for long, for he firmly believed they would meet again.

Sometimes the world is vast, yet sometimes it's incredibly small.

He glanced back at the Taoist Temple before hunching his back and continuing to work the field with his hoe. His figure was dazzling in the glow of the setting sun.

***

Leaving the unnamed valley, Xu Lai returned to the campsite with his daughter in his arms.

Apart from Mao Gaoshan, the other families hadn't gone far. After all, the place was unfamiliar and somewhat dangerous. Xu Lai's family of three lay down in their tent for a short rest.

Ruan Tang was gently fanning the air to keep mosquitoes away from the sleeping Xu Yiyi when she suddenly paused.

Wait a minute.

If each family only has one tent, doesn't that mean I have to sleep with Xu Lai?

"Do you think I'm going to eat you? Look at that wary expression," Xu Lai said dejectedly.

"Heh."

Ruan Tang curled her lip. "Haven't I been 'eaten' by you before? Eaten clean and then abandoned. You left without a word and disappeared for five years."

"Then how about we try again? This time I promise not to run," he teased.

"Here? Our daughter is still here," Ruan Tang said, dumbfounded.

"Then it's settled. We'll try again when we get home."

"Shut up!"

Ruan Tang lightly punched Xu Lai with her small fist, her pretty face flushed with annoyance.

This damned man is always digging traps for me.

"Hahaha."

Xu Lai laughed heartily. My 'cheap' wife is so naive in some ways. What an interesting woman.

「At six o'clock in the evening.」

All the parents and children gathered, and after a roll call, they lit the bonfire.

The kids took to the open space to showcase their talents. Some sang songs, some danced, and some recited poetry, much to the delight of the parents.

Qian Xiao, with slyness written all over his face, sidled up to Xu Lai and chuckled, "Uncle Xu, I've got a plan. Do you want to hear it?"

Xu Lai glanced at him and turned his head forward. "No."

Wow, what's with this guy? I'm a big shot at Galaxy Kindergarten... well, Xu Yiyi's little brother. The former overlord of East Sea! Can't he show me some respect?

Thick-skinned as ever, Qian Xiao whispered, "Uncle Xu, I'm going to perform a magic trick on stage later, the one where you make cloud candy. Can you teach me how?"

"No."

"Uncle, I'm begging you!" Qian Xiao pleaded. "I don't lack anything except a talent that can keep my followers in line. Just think, if the thirty kids from Galaxy Kindergarten eat the cloud candy, who could resist that flavor, sweet as a first love?

"Wouldn't they all have to listen to me then? At that point, a cloud will turn to candy, and a thousand armies will answer my call! Dominating all the kindergartens in East Sea won't be just a dream!

"Then, we'll get bigger and stronger, conquer East Sea, advance into Hua Country, and eventually go international, letting the whole world know—

"When kindergartens are strong, Hua Country is strong!" Qian Xiao proclaimed, flushed with excitement over his plan. "I plan to achieve this small goal before I start elementary school! So, Uncle Xu, you have to help me! It's not just for me..."

As he spoke, all his bravado vanished. With tears welling in his eyes, he hugged Xu Lai's leg, looking as if he'd burst into tears the moment Xu Lai refused.

Xu Lai pictured the scene: a bunch of little brats holding cloud candies, looking down their noses at everyone, and strutting around as if they owned the place. And Xu Yiyi, as the big boss, would be ordering her minions to attack other kindergartens. Eventually, they'd be subdued by school security, the police would be called, and then the parents would be summoned. He or Ruan Tang would have to take Xu Yiyi to apologize to every single family...

Xu Lai's face instantly darkened. "Go play somewhere else, or there'll be no more candy for you, ever!"

"Ah, okay then."

Qian Xiao's *mature* plan was shattered just like that.

He sat down beside Teacher Miao Momo, looked up at the sky, and murmured, "Uncle Xu, you don't understand me, but I don't blame you."

The more Xu Lai looked at the kid, the more he felt Qian Xiao deserved a good spanking. Where did he get all those ridiculous ideas?

"Everyone, we need to get up early tomorrow to watch the sunrise at the peak of Jiuye Mountain and then collect specimens," Miao Momo announced, bringing the bonfire party to a close at nine o'clock.

At that moment, Liu Chengyin called out to everyone, "Please register your names with me. We'll be staying overnight at the Jiang Family's hot spring resort tomorrow. I need to let the manager know so he can arrange the rooms."

"Thank you for all your hard work, President Liu!"

"We really appreciate it, President Liu."

The parents thanked him one after another.

Originally, the kindergarten had planned for two nights of camping. Going to the hot spring resort was Liu Chengyin's suggestion. Moreover, it was a resort owned by the Eighth Master of Liu City, which was never open to the public!

Xu Lai also went to register his family's names. Liu Chengyin said with a grin, "I'll make sure every family gets a great room."

Amidst a chorus of thanks, everyone returned to their tents to sleep.

Liu Chengyin, however, took a photo of the list and sent it to the resort manager. He then specifically called the manager to arrange for Xu Lai and Mao Gaoshan to be given the worst rooms. Only then did he go to sleep, completely satisfied.

That's what you get for stealing my thunder. That's what you get for insulting my wife...

***

Watching the sunrise.

Playing in the mountain stream.

Collecting and making specimens of plants and animals.

The fulfilling morning passed in a wave of laughter and joy.

They cooked lunch at the campsite.

This time, Xu Lai simply boiled some noodles, but the fragrance wafted throughout the entire camp. Liu Chengyin, Mao Gaoshan, and the others felt that just one whiff was enough to relax their entire bodies, as if they were receiving the most top-notch massage.

If we took just one bite of that... wouldn't we ascend to immortality?

GULP.

Many people swallowed hard.

Xu Yiyi, however, pouted. "Dad, there's no meat," she said, disappointed. "I want meat."

"Alright, alright."

Xu Lai added a generous amount of sliced meat to the noodle soup, making the aroma even more irresistible.

But apart from Qian Xiao, no one else had the cheek to shamelessly ask for a meal. By comparison, their own food now tasted like cardboard and was impossible to swallow. Under their children's resentful gazes, the parents felt a pang of guilt, secretly vowing to improve their cooking skills when they got home.

Next time, we absolutely cannot let Xu Lai outshine us again!

After lunch, the thirty families packed up all the trash they had generated over the past two days and took it down the mountain. They then boarded a luxurious bus sent by the resort and headed toward the Jiang Family Resort.

To everyone's surprise, a red carpet was laid on the asphalt road starting a full mile away. The trees on both sides of the road were decorated with balloons and banners.

The banners were even more exaggerated, with phrases like 'Welcome, Mr. Liu!' and 'Welcome, Galaxy Kindergarten!'

"Honey, who is this Mr. Liu?" Liu Chengyin's wife asked loudly, feigning ignorance. "It couldn't be you, could it?"

"That would be me, I suppose," Liu Chengyin chuckled. "Jiang Bai just loves this sort of pomp and circumstance. I hope you'll all excuse him."

HISS.

The parents gasped. The Jiang Family was showing an incredible amount of respect. Their expressions when looking at Liu Chengyin immediately became more reverent.

"I always heard President Liu and Jiang Bai were close. It turns out to be true!"

"President Liu, my wife's family is from Liu City. We might need to rely on your help in the future."

"..."

Flattery and ingratiating remarks followed one after another.

Liu Chengyin's smile was radiant. "Of course, of course."

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