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The old man gave Zuo Dao a strange feeling, almost secretive, as he seemed completely uninterested in his own situation and was solely focused on promoting his granddaughter. This made Zuo Dao maliciously wonder just how "extraordinary" the old man's granddaughter must be to warrant such attention.
The two chatted like old friends over tea, but the old man never strayed far from the topic of his granddaughter, endlessly extolling her virtues while Zuo Dao could only respond with a bitter smile. The old man seemed oblivious to Zuo Dao's increasingly tangled expression, as if he were about to drag Zuo Dao to the altar.
Zuo Dao began to change the subject, but the old man continued talking to himself. If an outsider had seen them, they would have thought they were having a delightful conversation, completely unaware that they were worlds apart in their thoughts.
As dusk approached, Zuo Dao finally found an excuse to leave. This old White-Haired Elder was too much; even someone as good-natured as him felt an urge to lash out. Was this what it felt like to be a monk reborn?
"Old man, it's getting late, so I won't disturb you any longer. I must take my leave," Zuo Dao said, preparing to rise.
However, just as he turned around, the old man called out to him.
"Brother, don't go! Meeting is fate. My granddaughter should be back soon; let's have dinner together before you leave!" The White-Haired Elder insisted unexpectedly, ignoring whether Zuo Dao wanted to stay or not and directly pulling him into the house.
Zuo Dao was utterly speechless. He tried to break free from the old man's grip but found that he couldn't escape the elder's hold despite his own strength. At that moment, he couldn't help but regard the seemingly frail yet mischievous old man with newfound respect.
"Powerful" was an understatement. Although he wasn't using much force, there was a hint of technique involved; even so, Zuo Dao realized that the old man's single hand felt like a net tightly ensnaring him.
With his back to Zuo Dao, the White-Haired Elder's eyes glinted with a cunning light.
Just as Zuo Dao was about to take further action, a melodious voice rang out from outside.
"Grandpa, I'm back! Look what I brought you to eat!"
The voice was so pure and clear that just listening to it gave Zuo Dao a sense of tranquility. What kind of family were these people? He couldn't help but feel astonished.
As soon as the words fell, a young girl walked in through the door.
With every step she took, she exuded grace and charm; her glance could captivate anyone, and her gentle smile was enchanting. Among the women Zuo Dao knew—Tai Shu Yun was like the morning sun, Huang Xishi resembled flowing clouds, and Feng Miaomiao was akin to the bright moon—this girl who had just entered was like a beautiful landscape painting.
Even with Zuo Dao's composure, he couldn't help but be momentarily distracted upon seeing the young girl.
The old man smiled as he looked at Zuo Dao, then turned to the girl who had just entered.
"Wu Er, what good things did you bring for Grandpa?"
"Ah! Grandpa, you're so naughty! You didn't even say anything when there are guests at home." The girl exclaimed as she entered the room, noticing her grandfather holding onto a strange young man.
"This isn't just any guest," the old man said mischievously, his pride evident. "This is my grandson-in-law that I managed to trick into coming here."
Zuo Dao froze at the old man's words; the bright atmosphere that had filled the room moments ago suddenly turned dark.
Trick.
Zuo Dao never expected the old man to use such a word.
"Ah, Grandpa!" The girl's flustered expression flashed across her face upon hearing him. "You’re not having another episode, are you?"
She turned to Zuo Dao with a hint of apology. "I'm sorry, young sir. My grandpa...," she pointed to her head, "is a bit... you know."
Hearing this made Zuo Dao feel somewhat relieved. So that's how it is; no wonder someone wouldn't casually bring a stranger home as a grandson-in-law!
"You little brat, how dare you talk to Grandpa like that!" The White-Haired Elder was visibly irritated by the girl's words.
Zuo Dao discreetly pulled his hand from the old man's grasp, and this time it was remarkably smooth—perhaps due to the girl's presence. However, Zuo Dao didn't want to stay any longer.
"Over there, over there! I see that the old man is quite spirited; he’s just overly hospitable." Although the girl mentioned her grandfather's mental state was a bit off, Zuo Dao had no choice but to respond casually.
"Forget it, since you're already here, it doesn't matter if I add another pair of chopsticks. Seeing how happy Grandpa is with you, just finish your meal before you leave." With that, the girl walked directly into another room without waiting for Zuo Dao to respond.
It seemed that this family was anything but normal. How could he be considered a stranger? The old man didn't even ask about his background and had taken him in as a grandson-in-law without a care. At that moment, Zuo Dao felt an immense pressure.
From the looks of it, if he didn't eat this meal tonight, there was no way he would be allowed to leave. After the girl finished speaking, the old man watched him like a hawk, and Zuo Dao could guarantee that any hint of leaving would result in a devastating blow from the elder. For the sake of his own life, he reluctantly sat down.
The girl's movements were quick; it didn't take long for her to prepare the meal. Zuo Dao really didn't want to eat, but when he glanced at the dishes on the table, he decided to change his mind.
"Alright, alright, stop looking. I've told you before, my granddaughter's cooking is excellent. Come on, sit down and give it a try," the White-Haired Elder said warmly as he urged Zuo Dao to take a seat.
"Wu Er, go get the jar of wine from under the locust tree in the backyard for Grandpa; it's rare to have a guest tonight," the old man said with a smile while stroking his beard.
"I knew it! You've been eyeing that jar of wine for a long time, haven't you? You were hoping Uncle Huai would bring someone over for dinner," the girl said, sitting still as if she understood her grandfather's intentions very well.
"Cough, cough, cough." The old man was caught out by his granddaughter but maintained his composure, only managing a few dry laughs. "This time is different; this person is your husband. We can't neglect him."
"If you want it so badly, go get it yourself; I'm not going," she said, turning her head away and ignoring him.
"If I could get it myself, would I need to call you?" His voice was clearly lacking confidence, almost like a whisper; if Zuo Dao hadn't been sitting close to him, he might not have heard it at all.
At that moment, Zuo Dao seemed to uncover some truths about the situation.
"Old man, why not try my wine? Although it's not top quality, it's still a local specialty." Zuo Dao took out a jar of fine wine he had brought from Northern Crossing Star. From what Northern Crossing Qing had said, it seemed to be personally brewed by Northern Crossing Immortal.
The jar wasn't large; it contained only about half a pound of wine. Zuo Dao casually opened the seal, releasing a burst of fragrant aroma.
"What pure wine!" The old man's eyes sparkled when Zuo Dao presented the jar. Then they turned dreamy. "It's been ages since I've had my old buddy's wine."
"Do you know the Northern Crossing Immortal well?" Zuo Dao asked casually.
"The Northern Crossing Immortal? Who is that? If I knew an immortal, I would have flown away long ago instead of staying here," the old man replied. Although Zuo Dao suspected the elder wouldn't admit to knowing anyone of such stature, he felt a twinge of disappointment. However, it was clear that this old man's identity was far from ordinary.
He poured a full cup for the elder and then thought for a moment before filling the girl's cup as well.
"Thank you both for your hospitality. I don't have much to offer, so let me toast you two with this wine," Zuo Dao said, downing his drink in one go.
The girl had already been restless since Zuo Dao brought out the wine jar. Her delicate nose twitched as she eagerly awaited her turn. As soon as Zuo Dao filled her cup, she wasted no time in raising it and drinking it all in one gulp.
The White-Haired Elder watched the girl's actions with a heavy heart.
"What a waste, what a waste," he lamented. He then lifted his own cup, bringing it to his nose to savor the aroma before sipping it slowly.
"Indeed, it still has that same flavor!" he sighed deeply, reflecting on the relentless passage of time and the countless memories tied to love and beauty. Zuo Dao silently concluded that this elder was undoubtedly someone with a rich history.
The girl, however, was entirely different. She snatched the wine jar from Zuo Dao's hands.
"You can't handle your liquor, so drink less and eat more," she said before tilting her head back and downing the entire jar in one go. Even after finishing, she seemed unsatisfied, licking her lips to catch every drop.
Zuo Dao was left speechless; this was too outrageous! While he couldn't allow his grandfather to drink, she had just polished off an entire jar herself.
Though there wasn't much wine, Zuo Dao knew that this "Drunken Immortal" brew was potent enough that even he could only manage one cup at a time. The first time he had been lured by its fragrance and ended up drinking an entire jar of "Drunken Immortal," resulting in nearly half a month of drunkenness. Yet here she was, finishing off a whole jar without breaking a sweat.
"Ah! I knew it! This girl drank it all just to keep me from having more," the elder exclaimed in frustration as he saw the girl finish every last drop, pounding his chest in regret.
"Show me!" The girl wiped her mouth in a manner that seemed inappropriate for her age, yet Zuo Dao found that this gesture only added to her charm.
The girl looked at Zuo Dao without any reaction, causing her fair face to flush.
"Have you never seen a beauty drink? How much of that wine do you have left? Bring it all out. From now on in Yue Wang Village, I’ll take care of you. My word is my bond," Zhao Yanwu declared.
Zuo Dao thought to herself, so this is the girl's name.
"You shouldn't drink too much of this wine," she quickly realized that the girl was asking for more. Shaking her head, she replied, "It has quite a kick."
"What a ridiculous excuse! Just tell me if you're going to give it or not." The boldness needed no explanation. Zuo Dao felt as if her worldview had shattered into countless pieces.
When three jars of wine appeared on the table again, she realized how foolish her actions had been.
"Zhao Yanwu, you little brat! How dare you steal your grandfather's wine?" a booming voice nearly deafened her.
"In front of the wine, even if it's you and me from the Ancient Ancestor clan, there's no room for sentiment," the girl Zhao Yanwu retorted fiercely.
Zuo Dao rubbed her forehead and thought, God, please come and save me!
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