Chapter 344 - 342: Warning

Chapter 344: Chapter 342: Warning

"That’s not necessary, Grand-aunt. I can protect myself," Gu Nuan Nuan said, shaking her head.

Seeing Chen Shulan’s worried and hesitant expression, Wen Xiu spoke up, "Don’t worry. Have you forgotten what I told you before about how incredibly strong she is? In the past two years, she’s also learned some Martial Arts with Zhang Su and Zhang Kai. Now, an average grown man is no match for her. Dazhuang and I stopped worrying about her going into the mountains alone a long time ago. She’ll be fine."

The truth, of course, was far more than that.

In fact, Zhang Wei Qiang had personally sparred with Gu Nuan Nuan once. They fought for a long time, and in the end, Gu Nuan Nuan had to subtly let up for Zhang Wei Qiang to claim a narrow victory. Later, after Gu Nuan Nuan demonstrated some of a Cultivator’s techniques for them, no one ever objected to her going up the mountain alone to pick herbs again.

"...Really?" Chen Shulan looked at Gu Nuan Nuan in astonishment, hearing even Wen Xiu say such a thing.

Gu Nuan Nuan smiled and nodded, while Zhang Dazhuang and Wen Xiu chimed in with their own assurances.

"This is perfect, then. The best of both worlds." Zhang Damei chuckled from the side, then grew impatient. "Hey, what’s taking Wei Quan so long? This ointment needs to be consumed within ten minutes. How long has it been already?"

"We’re here. What ten minutes?" Just as Zhang Damei finished speaking, Zhang Weiquan and his wife walked in.

"Enough nonsense. Hurry up and bring the spoon over. You take forever just to get one thing," Zhang Damei said, rolling his eyes at Zhang Weiquan in his impatience. "Don’t you know good things are only safe once they’re in your own stomach?" This left Zhang Weiquan exasperated and feeling wronged. "I didn’t delay! The whole trip there and back took less than five minutes!"

"Still talking back?" Zhang Damei’s eyes widened in a glare.

"Fine, fine, you’re the boss. I’ll shut up, alright?" Zhang Weiquan ducked his head and offered a placating smile. ’So this is what it’s like trying to reason with a bull,’ he thought. ’Utterly pointless.’

"Don’t act like I’m bullying you," Zhang Damei shot back with another glare.

"What do you mean ’act like’? You are," Zhang Weiquan muttered under his breath.

The sight made the others want to laugh.

After they finished the Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment, everyone wore a look of contentment. Each of them could distinctly feel the changes in their bodies. If they had to describe the sensation, the phrase "as light as a swallow" would be the most fitting.

"Even if I don’t say anything, you all have a pretty good idea just how precious this is. But just in case, I have to lay down the law: it’s enough that you know about this treasure yourselves. Not only can you not go around blabbing about it, you can’t even mention it again to the people closest to you."

After closing his eyes to savor a feeling of complete relaxation he hadn’t experienced in a long, long time, Zhang Damei’s gaze swept over everyone, his expression unprecedentedly stern. "The biggest mistake a person can make is having a loose tongue. Someone decides it’s fine to tell a fairly secret matter to a loved one. Then that loved one feels the same way and tells someone they’re close to... and on and on it goes, passed from one person to the next until the secret is something everyone knows. If it’s not a life-or-death matter, maybe that’s fine. But if it is, who ends up getting hurt in the end? You, or your entire family."

As he spoke, Zhang Damei’s gaze landed squarely on Zhang Weiquan and his wife, Xie Xuehua, without any attempt to be subtle. He warned them with a smirk, "This is especially true for you young people. You’re inexperienced and often think things are no big deal, but you always end up regretting it when it’s too late. I saw countless examples of this back in my day. A lot of problems can’t be solved with a simple apology. The price you pay for a loose tongue is usually more than an ordinary person can handle."

"Don’t worry. We aren’t fools; we know what can and can’t be said."

Zhang Weiquan knew Zhang Damei’s words were aimed at him and his wife, but he didn’t get angry. He gave his assurance and then gently nudged Xie Xuehua with his shoulder. "Right, honey?"

"That’s right. I swear I won’t say a word of this to anyone—not even my own parents or siblings," Xie Xuehua said. She figured she was the one Zhang Damei was actually worried about. Being good-natured, she wasn’t offended. In fact, she felt a sense of relief after being called out directly and making her promise.

’Wei Quan’s wife knows what’s good for her.’

Taking in Xie Xuehua’s expression, Zhang Damei nodded in satisfaction and grinned. "Good, as long as you understand. I know I can be a pain. But that’s just how I am. Whether something should be said or not, if I think it needs saying, I’ll say it."

"I think your kind of honesty is what’s truly valuable," Zhang Da’an added from the side. Chen Shulan also smiled and said, "The children are young and don’t know much. You’re truly doing this for their own good, so how could anyone find you disagreeable? Only someone who doesn’t know what’s good for them would think that. I’ll make sure to give Wei Shuang the same warning."

Zhang Dazhuang and Wen Xiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They, too, had been taken aback when Gu Nuan Nuan rashly pulled out the Hundred Herbs Rejuvenation Pills and, like a magic trick, transformed them into Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment right in front of everyone. But what was done was done. There was no point in scolding the girl now, and they didn’t have the heart for it anyway.

Besides, they were happy to share such a treasure with the people in this room.

But now that the ointment was gone, there were things that needed to be said—things they found awkward to bring up themselves. Zhang Damei taking the initiative was a godsend. Naturally, they chimed in with a few words of agreement—

"We have a way to deal with Xu Banxian now," Zhang Dazhuang said to Wen Xiu. "So, what’s your plan for Wei Min’s wife?"

"No more beating around the bush. We’re telling them to get a divorce, straight up," Wen Xiu said, her voice filled with resentment. "She’s been that kind of mother—what’s the point of keeping her? Is it because she hasn’t caused enough harm to Laidi and Tianci yet? In any case, Guo Xiuying has to go this time. I would rather spend the money to find a new wife for Third than let her stay."

"You should have done that a long time ago!" Zhang Damei slammed his hand on the table in approval. "If it were me, I’d have run a menace like her out ages ago. It’s a miracle you all put up with her for so long. Now that you’ve decided, things will be simple. We’re all free right now, we could just go... Hmm, or maybe I should deal with Xu Banxian tonight, and we can go see them tomorrow?"

"Let’s deal with Xu Banxian first. The Guo Xiuying matter isn’t as pressing," Zhang Dazhuang said with a sigh, glancing at Wen Xiu. "Sigh. It wasn’t that we wanted to tolerate her, it’s just... there was so much to consider. The children’s situation alone was a huge headache."