In the courtyard.
Jiang Ning held Little Doubao's hand as they walked toward the main hall in the front yard.
Today, an unexpected guest had arrived at his home.
Liu Wanwan's younger brother had come.
In other words, someone from Liu Wanwan's maiden family had arrived.
From what Jiang Ning knew, his sister-in-law Liu Wanwan had a somewhat mysterious background.
In all these years, he had no memory of Liu Wanwan ever returning to her family to visit.
But he also knew that Liu Wanwan was not an orphan.
From the bits of information he had gathered, he knew that when his elder brother Jiang Li was young, Liu Wanwan had eloped with him after they secretly pledged their love.
Now that someone from Liu Wanwan's maiden family had come, it was clear that this visit was not a friendly one.
In this era, parental authority and matchmakers' words carried immense weight.
Strictly speaking, this matter had little to do with Jiang Ning.
However, from the perspective of his elder brother Jiang Li, this matter was indeed related to him.
Jiang Li had always treated him extremely well. How could Jiang Ning turn a blind eye?
No matter what, he had to go to the main hall and stand by Jiang Li's side.
With his current strength, he had the confidence to do so.
As long as the visitor wasn't a top-tier seventh-rank expert, he had nothing to fear.
After all, his strength of 3,700 pounds was a terrifying figure.
Even among eighth-rank Divine Strength experts, this level of strength was one in ten thousand.
Such strength was not inferior to that of an ordinary seventh-rank expert.
Only a peak seventh-rank expert, with fully tempered tendons, could easily concentrate their entire body's strength into a single point.
A thousand pounds of force, amplified by fully tempered tendons, could rival the effect of three to four thousand pounds of force from an eighth-rank Divine Strength expert.
This was the power of a seventh-rank expert.
Thus, for Jiang Ning at this stage, aside from such peak seventh-rank experts, he feared no one.
After all, besides his 3,700 pounds of strength, he had many other tricks up his sleeve.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the front yard.
Liu Wanwan looked at the imposing middle-aged man before her, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
In the blink of an eye, it had been ten years since she last saw her younger brother.
"San Sheng, how are Mom and Dad?" Liu Wanwan asked.
Liu San Sheng nodded. "They're still quite healthy."
As he spoke, he ruffled Jiang Yiming's head.
"Yiming has grown so tall. When do you plan to go back and see Mom and Dad?"
Hearing this, Liu Wanwan's gaze involuntarily shifted to Jiang Li, lingering for a moment on his right arm.
She then shook her head. "Not for now."
"No!" Before Liu San Sheng could respond, Jiang Li interjected, shaking his head.
His eyes were filled with guilt as he looked at Liu Wanwan.
Because of him, Liu Wanwan had been away from her family for over a decade.
It had been ten years since she last saw her relatives.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with remorse and self-loathing.
He felt guilty for failing to live up to Liu Wanwan's expectations, for not being able to let her return to her family with pride and declare that her choice had been the right one.
He hated his right arm, which was now useless, and with it, his martial path was ruined.
He would never be able to let Liu Wanwan hold her head high again.
Jiang Li's words immediately drew Liu San Sheng's attention.
He frowned slightly as he looked at Jiang Li.
In his heart, he had never held any goodwill toward his brother-in-law.
After all, in his eyes, his sister's marriage to Jiang Li was a step-down.
Moreover, because of Jiang Li, his sister had been unable to return home for over ten years.
How could he feel any goodwill toward him?
The next moment.
His gaze sharpened.
"Brother-in-law, what happened to your arm?"
Liu San Sheng had just noticed Jiang Li's limp right arm and couldn't help but ask.
Although he had no fondness for Jiang Li, he respected his sister's choice.
He knew that if he treated Jiang Li the way others in the family did, it would only make his sister more miserable.
Caught in the middle, she would find it even harder to cope.
Jiang Li patted his right arm and said, "It's useless now."
"What happened?" Liu San Sheng asked.
Jiang Li replied, "I was injured while leading a mission to suppress the Worship God Sect. There was an accident, and this was the result."
Liu San Sheng's brows furrowed deeply.
"I came here today hoping to recommend you for a position in the Inspection Bureau. I didn't expect something like this to have happened."
At that moment.
Jiang Ning, holding Little Doubao's hand, appeared at the entrance of the main hall.
With his heightened senses, he had heard the entire conversation from afar.
Now, Jiang Ning understood that his elder brother's brother-in-law seemed to be quite decent.
There was none of the hostility he had initially imagined!
Hearing the commotion, everyone turned to look.
Seeing Jiang Ning, Jiang Li's face lit up with a smile.
"San Sheng, I'm done for. But if possible, could you recommend my younger brother for a position in the Inspection Bureau?"
Hearing this, Liu San Sheng's gaze shifted from Little Doubao to Jiang Ning.
"You are... Jiang Ning?" Liu San Sheng asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Jiang Ning nodded.
Liu San Sheng said, "I held you when you were a baby."
Jiang Ning: "..."
Liu San Sheng's words caught Jiang Ning off guard.
Liu San Sheng looked at Jiang Ning and asked, "Have you been practicing martial arts?"
"Yes," Jiang Ning replied.
Liu San Sheng continued, "Have you reached the peak of bloodline energy, with it circulating through your limbs?"
Jiang Ning: "..."
Then he nodded.
"Not bad!" Liu San Sheng nodded.
He then turned to Jiang Li. "Since your younger brother has achieved peak bloodline energy at this age, once I pass the Inspection Bureau's exam tomorrow and become a captain, I'll use my authority to recommend him for a position in the bureau."
"Thank you," Jiang Li said gratefully.
Liu San Sheng looked at Jiang Ning. "I'm your sister-in-law's younger brother, but I'm older than you. You should call me 'brother.'"
Jiang Ning: "..."
He glanced at Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan.
This was awkward.
"Brother."
Liu San Sheng nodded in satisfaction.
Then he beckoned to Little Doubao. "Come here, call me Uncle!"
Little Doubao looked up at Jiang Ning.
"Uncle."
Jiang Ning smiled and patted her head.
"Go on! Let your uncle hold you!"
"Uncle!" Little Doubao finally let go of Jiang Ning's clothes and toddled over to Liu San Sheng.
Liu San Sheng immediately crouched down and picked her up.
"Tell me, what's your name?"
"I'm Little Doubao!"
Liu San Sheng: "..."
He looked at his niece with a bemused expression.
Seeing this, Liu Wanwan couldn't help but laugh.
"Little brother, her name is Jiang Yuanyuan."
"Jiang Yuanyuan..." Liu San Sheng murmured, then nodded in approval. "A good name!"
At this point, Jiang Ning found a seat and sat down.
He realized that his presence wasn't needed here.
His sister-in-law's younger brother meant well.
This was completely different from what he had initially imagined.
At the same time, he recalled what Liu San Sheng had said earlier.
Once he secured the captain's position tomorrow, he would use his authority to recommend Jiang Ning for a position in the Inspection Bureau.
"That's quite kind of him," Jiang Ning thought to himself.
From these words, he could roughly gauge Liu San Sheng's strength.
Ninth-rank peak, with skin as tough as bronze, or perhaps just entering the eighth-rank Divine Strength realm.
A moment later.
After playing with Little Doubao for a while, Liu San Sheng turned to Liu Wanwan.
"Sister, Dad, and Mom don't know I came to see you today. I know you're not ready to go back and face them yet."
"But I still want to tell you that at their age, they've come to accept the reality. What Dad said back then about cutting off all ties was just anger talking."
"If you and your Brother-in-law take Little Doubao and Yiming back, they will eventually forgive you."
"As for the attitudes of the uncles and aunts, you don't need to pay too much attention to them."
"The head of the Liu family will eventually be me."
Hearing this, Liu Wanwan said, "I'll think about it."
"Alright," Liu San Sheng nodded. "You and Brother-in-law think it over. Returning to the Liu family would be good for both Yiming and Yuanyuan."
"The resources of the Liu family are far better than what you have here. Whether Yiming chooses to pursue literature or martial arts in the future, his prospects will be much brighter."
"And in a few years, when I become the head of the Liu family, Yiming and Yuanyuan won't be bullied, even within the Liu family."
At this point, Liu San Sheng glanced at Jiang Li.
"As for Brother-in-law's arm injury, it might not be untreatable."
"When I become the head of the Liu family, I'll visit the Medicine King Valley. With the Valley Master's medical skills and the miraculous medicines of the valley, Brother-in-law's arm might be restored to its original state."
Liu San Sheng spoke at length, outlining his plans for Jiang Li's family.
Listening to this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
It seems I misjudged Liu San Sheng.
From Liu San Sheng's words, Jiang Ning could tell that Liu San Sheng only cared about his sister, Liu Wanwan.
And about Yiming and Yuanyuan.
Everything he said was aimed at persuading Liu Wanwan to return home.
This showed that Liu San Sheng truly valued family ties and cared deeply for Liu Wanwan.
But that was all.
Any sensible person would know that if Jiang Li accompanied Liu Wanwan back to the Liu family, living under someone else's roof, no matter how good the treatment, life would not be easy.
From Liu San Sheng's words, it was clear that the Liu family was a large and influential clan.
In such a large family, there would inevitably be all sorts of petty conflicts and power struggles.
For Jiang Li to live in the Liu family would be no different from being a live-in son-in-law.
Given the history between Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan, it was easy to imagine that returning to the Liu family, despite the material comforts, would be mentally and emotionally taxing.
And Liu San Sheng's words targeted their weak points.
Liu Wanwan's parents, the debt of birth and upbringing.
No matter what had happened in the past, this was Liu Wanwan's weak point, and Jiang Li's as well.
Because Jiang Li loved Liu Wanwan deeply, he would naturally want her to reconcile with her parents.
Then there was Jiang Li's right arm, the hope of recovery, which was also a weak point for both Liu Wanwan and Jiang Li.
And then there was the future of Yiming and Little Doubao.
The future of their children was the ultimate weak point for any parent.
Liu San Sheng's carefully crafted words struck all these weak points, a tactic Jiang Ning found highly effective.
It was clear that no matter how much pain Jiang Li would feel knowing that he had brought Liu Wanwan back to the Liu family, he would still strongly urge her to reconcile.
Because, as Liu San Sheng had said, it would indeed be good for Liu Wanwan, Yiming, and Yuanyuan.
The only one who would suffer in this situation would be Jiang Li himself.
At this moment, Jiang Ning truly understood what kind of person Liu San Sheng was.
He then thought to himself.
What kind of situation is this?
My family, I will protect them.
With me here, how could Yiming and Little Doubao's future be any less bright than if they were in the Liu family?
As for my elder brother's injury, now that I know the Medicine King Valley's master might have a solution, it's not a difficult problem.
In a year or two, when I'm strong enough, I'll visit the Medicine King Valley myself.
I'm sure the Valley Master will see reason!
Jiang Ning had made up his mind.
He was very fond of Yiming and Little Doubao.
And they bore the Jiang surname, carrying half of the Jiang family's bloodline.
By both sentiment and logic, it was his and Jiang Li's responsibility to raise them.
If Jiang Li had been the pillar of the family in the past, now that Jiang Ning had grown stronger, the future should be in his hands.
Jiang Ning was utterly confident in this.
The changes in his strength over the past three months had given him ample confidence.
At that moment.
Liu San Sheng stood up.
"Sister, Brother-in-law, I've seen you now, and I should head back to prepare for tomorrow's Inspection Bureau exam. As a student of the Martial Academy, I can't afford any mistakes in tomorrow's exam."
"Also, I must secure the captain's position tomorrow to have the authority to recommend Brother-in-law's younger brother for a position in the Inspection Bureau."
After saying this, Liu San Sheng prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Jiang Li also stood up. "San Sheng, it's rare for you to visit your sister. Stay for a meal before you go."
Liu Wanwan also said, "Little brother, stay for a meal. It's almost dinnertime anyway."
"Alright," Liu San Sheng nodded. "It has been many years since I last saw you."
An hour later.
At the dining table in the main hall.
"Brother-in-law's family eats quite well!" Liu San Sheng remarked, looking at the eight dishes on the table, all of which contained meat.
"Try some," Liu Wanwan said as everyone sat down.
Hearing this, Liu San Sheng picked up a piece of chicken and popped it into his mouth.
After chewing a couple of times, his eyes lit up.
"It's been over ten years, and Sister's cooking has become so good!"
Then he sighed softly.
"I remember back home, Sister never lifted a finger in the kitchen. Now her cooking skills are on par with professional chefs."
Hearing this, the light in Jiang Li's eyes dimmed, and his expression turned somber.
"Can't you just eat without talking?" Liu Wanwan glared at Liu San Sheng.
Seeing this, even at thirty years old, Liu San Sheng couldn't help but chuckle.
As siblings from the same parents, he and Liu Wanwan had been very close in the past.
At this moment, Jiang Ning also stood up.
"Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, you go ahead and eat. I'll go prepare a plate of White Dragon Fish slices."
With that, Jiang Ning walked out of the main hall.
After two days of consumption, there were still about twenty pounds of White Dragon Fish left.
He didn't plan to take out much, just a pound to give his elder brother some face.
Listening to Liu San Sheng's words, Jiang Ning felt a bit annoyed.
Between the lines, Liu San Sheng was subtly implying that Liu Wanwan had made a mistake in marrying his elder brother.
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