The sun had already set beyond the mountaintop, yet the evening sunlight was still dazzling.

Zhou Li looked up at the tree they had just planted.

The Small Ye Rong was characteristically lush, remaining so throughout winter and summer. It was so dense that even light or moderate rain couldn't permeate it, nor could light penetrate its canopy. This particular tree was especially thriving, casting a large shadow over the bluestone path and enveloping them completely.

Zhou Li then lifted his chin and scanned his surroundings, noticing there was still plenty of unused land in the village, all of which could be utilized.

He mulled it over. Then he said, "I remember you all enjoy fruit. What kinds do you like? I'll go back, buy some saplings and seeds, and have Huai Xu bring them to you. Then you can find places to plant them. If there isn't enough room in the village, planting them on the mountain is fine too. You can eat the fruit once they've grown."

"I've planted peaches and loquats," Zheng Zhilan said softly, "plums, apricots, and pears too."

"Plant more," Zhou Li said.

"Oh."

"We actually aren't picky," Xiao Yuan said coyly.

"Don't be so formal."

"Oh..." Xiao Yuan looked down, pondering adorably. After a long while, he still couldn't come up with an answer and had to look up again, his expression troubled. "Actually, we like a bit of everything."

"Got it." He's so cute, Zhou Li thought, an involuntary smile touching his lips. "I'll also buy some flower seeds for you to plant around."

"Thank you," Xiao Yuan said.

"I won't overdo the thanks," Lao Hui said solemnly. "If you ever need anything in the future, I definitely won't hold back."

"You're welcome."

Surveying this somewhat desolate little mountain village, Zhou Li could already imagine its appearance in a few years. He'd buy many fruit trees and flower seeds. Come spring, the little mountain village would be awash with blooming mountain flowers, filling every nook and cranny and spilling onto the hillsides. The ground, too, would be carpeted with flowers for every season.

By then, this place would truly become a paradise.

Right, plant more peaches.

Peach blossoms are very beautiful.

Besides, it wasn't like he had to do the planting himself.

Zhou Li glanced at the two little demons, then quickly withdrew his gaze, acting nonchalant as he checked the time.

"It's getting late; we should head down the mountain."

"Are you not staying today?" Zheng Zhilan looked at him, surprised.

"Not today."

Zhou Li's expression was somewhat helpless. "School is starting in just over ten days, and I promised my younger brother and sister I'd take them to Caiyun. I need to go back tonight to pack, and we leave tomorrow."

Zheng Zhilan didn't say much, only nodded.

Zhou Li then said to the two little demons, "Get used to the new environment for now. If you need anything, you can tell Zheng Zhilan. She'll help you sort it out, or you can message me on WeChat. Don't be shy."

The two little demons also nodded.

Zhou Li's gaze returned to Zheng Zhilan.

She was standing next to Brother Nan, her gaze tilted upward toward the top of Brother Nan's head, where a fallen leaf had landed.

Zhou Li saw curiosity mixed with hesitation on her face.

She couldn't see the leaf clearly.

She could only see a greenish blob on Brother Nan's head, shaped like a leaf, but she wasn't sure.

It might also be some kind of hair accessory.

After hesitating for a long moment, she finally reached out tentatively, first lightly touching it with her fingertips. Upon feeling the cool, damp texture and confirming it was a leaf, she then picked it off Brother Nan's head.

During this process, Brother Nan stood quietly, even blinking her eyes, which made Zhou Li feel somewhat jealous.

Usually, when he touched Brother Nan's head, she would definitely dodge and might even hit him.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

"We won't be back until the New Year," Zhou Li said to Zheng Zhilan. "But if you're free in autumn and winter, you can also come to Chunming to visit us. It'd be a good way to escape the cold."

"Hmm."

Zheng Zhilan gave a slight smile and said to him, "You also need to be good to Brother Nan, don't always..."

She hesitated, then said, "...get hit."

Zhou Li pursed his lips tightly.

Facing the setting sun, they embarked on their journey back.

Brother Nan was still driving on the return journey. Zhou Li sat in the passenger seat, holding Lord Dumpling, while Huai Xu lay alone in the back seat, humming a song.

"Brother Nan, Aunt Jiang invited you to our house for dinner tonight," Zhou Li said.

"Do you want me to come?" Brother Nan asked casually.

"Yeah."

"What does 'yeah' mean?"

"I want you to."

"Hmm... I don't want to go!"

"..."

Zhou Li knew Brother Nan's intentions like the back of his hand, but it was completely useless.

He had only just received the Obedience Card at noon and it hadn't even warmed his pocket yet; there was no way he'd give it up so easily.

So, after a moment's thought, as if indulging Brother Nan, he said, "If you don't want to go, I won't force you. Let's just forget it then... The main thing is, Aunt Jiang knows I went to your hometown these past couple of days to help out. She even told me to make sure I worked hard. Now she's inviting you over for dinner, and if you don't go, I'm afraid she'll be disappointed."

After a brief pause, he added thoughtfully, "I'll have to think of a good excuse for you..."

"Ah, just kidding! I'll go!"

"'I'll go'... as an exclamation?"

"I said, I'll go!"

"I heard you, so..."

"Don't make me hit you!"

"Got it..."

A smile touched Zhou Li's lips.

Suddenly, his phone chimed. He picked it up and saw a money transfer from a stranger with the note: 'For Deity Statue'.

"That was fast."

"We're only doing sixty-something."

"I mean, that friend of Boss Xiong from this afternoon has already transferred the money."

"What? Let me see!" Huai Xu instantly sat up straight, craning his neck forward to stare at Zhou Li's phone. "Not bad! Very sincere!"

"How much?" Brother Nan asked.

"Seven figures."

"That much?" Although Brother Nan had anticipated it, she was still surprised. "This thing really is valuable!"

"I'm surprised too," Zhou Li responded.

"These rich folks really do have more money than they know what to do with!" Brother Nan sounded a bit sour. "You guys make money so easily. I'd have to sacrifice a week's worth of good luck to win such a big prize!"

"..."

After checking the amount, Huai Xu lay back down and started calculating the total in his own little treasury.

He hadn't realized just how much it was until he started counting; the total gave him quite a shock.

Then the Great Devil King couldn't help but exclaim with feeling, "These rich people really know how to spend!"

Changing his tone, he offered another perspective, "You humans are really strange—some things you dislike when you're young, you grow to like as you get older. And some things you adored when young, you end up disliking completely when you're older."

"What do you mean?" Zhou Li asked, puzzled.

"Like what?" Brother Nan also asked.

"Like wives, for example," Huai Xu said, crossing his legs. "You love them dearly when you're young, but as you get older, you spend so much money to buy a tranquility statue..."

"COUGH, COUGH!"

Zhou Li was extremely embarrassed.

Brother Nan, on the other hand, burst into laughter.

「They arrived in Yan City just in time for dinner.」

Brother Nan flipped down the vanity mirror and tidied herself up a bit before getting out of the car and following Zhou Li into the residential complex.

She saw many elderly people sitting in the pavilion, cooling off. One of them was complaining about a new hole in the complex that had become an eyesore. Her mischievous streak got the better of her; she deliberately went over to chat with them for a bit and even joined in complaining about the developers. It was only when several old ladies started asking which building she lived in, how much compensation her family had received, how old she was, and if she had a boyfriend that she finally made up an excuse to leave. She walked into the building with Zhou Li, chuckling to herself.

She looked happier than if she'd found money.

Truly brainless.

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