Chapter 276: Li Yuehua's Grievance

After seeing Chen Hu and his son off, Wang Changsheng returned to his residence and recounted the events to Wang Ruyan.

"Just one bottle of True Fiend Qi would have been enough, but he also has two Tier 2 pill formulas and two Tier 2 Yellow-grade cultivation techniques. He's a rogue cultivator; where did he get these Tier 2 pill formulas and Yellow-grade cultivation techniques?" Wang Ruyan asked, puzzled.

What they didn't know was that when the Five Sects of Wei fought against the Four Sects of Medicine King Valley, Chen Hu followed the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Spirit Control Sect and destroyed several small families. Most of the wealth was taken by the Spirit Control Sect disciples, but Chen Hu copied the cultivation techniques. It was precisely because he had these techniques that Chen Hu was able to establish a family.

"He most likely acquired them by killing others and seizing their treasures. The fact that he's willing to offer Tier 2 pill formulas and Yellow-grade cultivation techniques shows he's very keen on forming a marital alliance with our Wang family. We just don't know what kind of person Chen Yunshan is."

"First, let's call over Seventh Sister and her family to ask about the situation. There are many female clan members; why did Chen Yunshan specifically take a liking to Yuehua?"

Not long after, Wang Changyu, Li Qiwen, and Li Yuehua arrived at Wang Changsheng's residence. Li Yuehua looked a bit nervous, her head bowed.

Wang Changsheng recounted the events. He noticed that upon hearing about Chen Yunshan's marriage proposal, Li Yuehua showed a bashful expression.

"Seventh Sister, do you know anything about this Chen Yunshan?"

Wang Changyu thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head and said, "If you hadn't mentioned him, Ninth Brother, I wouldn't even know he existed. Yuehua, do you know this person?"

Li Yuehua nodded, blushing, and said, "Yes, I know him. I've met him a few times. Fellow Daoist Chen is the owner of a pastry shop."

"Yuehua, your uncle intends to marry you to this Chen Yunshan. What do you think?"

Wang Changsheng fixed his gaze on Li Yuehua.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuehua's face was flushed with red, and she whispered, "I'll leave it entirely up to Uncle, Mother, and Father."

Girls grow up and can't be kept at home forever! It seems Li Yuehua has already secretly given her heart to him. Wang Changyu's willow-like brows furrowed, and she cast a reproachful look at Li Qiwen.

"Alright, you can go now! I'll discuss this with your parents. And by the way, you're not allowed to contact Chen Yunshan these next few days, understand?"

Li Yuehua nodded obediently in agreement and turned to leave.

"Ninth Brother, is Yuehua really going to marry Chen Yunshan?" Li Qiwen asked, his expression a bit tense and concerned.

"Brother-in-law, the betrothal gifts from the Chen family are too generous, as you've seen. And Yuehua's reaction just now clearly shows she likes this Chen Yunshan. I'll send someone to investigate Chen Yunshan's background. If his character proves to be fine, then this marriage will be settled. How does that sound?"

Wang Changsheng was consulting them, but his prestige within the Wang family was high, and coupled with Li Yuehua's obvious affection for Chen Yunshan, they found it difficult to object.

Li Qiwen was a bit reluctant. He had originally wanted to find an in-marrying son-in-law for Li Yuehua to continue the Li family's bloodline, but now it seemed his plan had fallen through.

"Girls grow up and can't be kept at home forever! If Chen Yunshan's character is fine, Ninth Brother, you can decide on Yuehua's marriage!"

After Wang Changyu and Li Qiwen left, Wang Changsheng sent Wang Qingze to investigate Chen Yunshan's background and, at the same time, had someone fetch Wang Qingyun. Wang Qingyun was Li Yuehua's younger sister, an Upper-grade Tier 1 Talisman Master, lively and active, and much liked by Wang Ruyan.

"Uncle Ninth, Aunt Ninth," Wang Qingyun greeted with a sweet smile. Wang Changsheng secretly nodded; the two sisters had completely different personalities. Li Yuehua was more introverted and spoke little, while Wang Qingyun was more lively.

"Qingyun, tell your Aunt Ninth honestly, have you heard of this Chen Yunshan?"

"Yes, I have. My sister has been talking about him a lot lately. Every time she mentions Chen Yunshan, she becomes very happy and more talkative. If she doesn't mention him, she barely says ten words to me all day."

As Wang Changsheng had expected, Li Yuehua had indeed given her heart to him.

"Do you remember when Yuehua met Chen Yunshan?"

Wang Qingyun thought carefully, then said uncertainly, "It seems like about half a year ago, it should be half a year ago. My sister was always quiet and said little, but since about half a year ago, she's smiled a lot more. Uncle Ninth, Aunt Ninth, is there something wrong with this Chen Yunshan?"

"No, Chen Yunshan came to propose marriage, and we don't know much about him, so we just asked you a few questions. Alright, you can go now and attend to your duties!"

Wang Qingyun hesitated slightly, then carefully said, "Uncle Ninth, Aunt Ninth, if there's nothing wrong with this Chen Yunshan, I think it would be best to marry my sister to him! I can see that my sister really likes him, and he's been very good to her, always giving her pastries or jewelry."

"I understand. You can go now and attend to your duties!"

Li Yuehua sat in front of her dressing table, her face full of worry.

Her aptitude wasn't good; she had no interest or talent for talisman arts. Her father was busy all day refining talismanic soldiers, and her mother's attention was entirely on her younger sister, Wang Qingyun. Her parents rarely paid attention to her. During meals, her father, mother, and sister would always discuss talisman arts, leaving her no room to contribute.

Over time, she became silent and withdrawn, always feeling like an outsider.

Wang Qingyun, not yet fifteen, could already refine several Tier 1 talismans, while Li Yuehua only knew how to cook for her family. Whenever Wang Qingyun learned to refine a new talisman, her parents would praise her. No matter how delicious the food Li Yuehua cooked, her parents never offered a single word of praise.

She always felt redundant, as if no one truly cared about her.

By a stroke of chance, she met Chen Yunshan.

Chen Yunshan was humorous, charming, gentle, and considerate. He often gave her small gifts: a few pastries, a jade hairpin, a spiritual fruit.

Though the gifts were modest, they struck a chord with Li Yuehua. She lacked for nothing in terms of food and drink, but she craved affection. Soon, she fell in love.

Of course, she also knew that Chen Yunshan was so kind to her partly because of her appearance, and partly because she came from the Wang family. Many smaller families wanted to marry into the Wang family, and Chen Yunshan came from a small family.

As long as Chen Yunshan continued to treat her well, that would be enough.

"Yuehua, what are you thinking about?"

Wang Changyu walked in, looking at Li Yuehua with a hint of guilt.

If Wang Changsheng hadn't called her over, she wouldn't have known that her daughter had already fallen in love.

On the way back, she and Li Qiwen carefully recalled their interactions and realized they had paid too little attention to their eldest daughter.

Li Yuehua's aptitude was poor, and she had no special skills. Wang Qingyun's aptitude was relatively better, and she had some talent in talisman arts. Initially, they tried to be fair to both, but as they grew older, Wang Qingyun became increasingly outstanding while Li Yuehua grew more mediocre, and their attention became entirely focused on Wang Qingyun.

Even Wang Changyu had forgotten when she last visited Li Yuehua's room.

The thought filled Wang Changyu with self-reproach.

Seeing Wang Changyu, Li Yuehua quickly stood up and said, "Mother, you and Father must be hungry! I'll go cook right away." With that, she started to walk out.

Hearing this, Wang Changyu felt even more guilty. She took Li Yuehua's hands and said with concern, "Your father and I aren't hungry yet. Mother just wants to talk with you."

"Talk?" Li Yuehua was puzzled. Her first thought upon hearing this was about Chen Yunshan.

"Mother, Fellow Daoist Chen and I have only had normal interactions; we haven't done anything inappropriate."

Li Yuehua assumed Wang Changyu was there to admonish her. This was understandable; with her mediocre aptitude and lack of special skills, her mother wouldn't be there to praise her. If not praise, it must be reproach.