Chapter 61: Staying Home to Receive Guests

Hearing Xiao Ai's decision, the Zeng family and the villagers of Huayang couldn't help but cheer, as if they had won a great victory for their hometown's development.

"Yay, yay, yay..."

Nearby villagers, watching the commotion, looked enviously at Wu Xiane and said, "Sister, your son Zeng is really going places, knowing such a big benefactor like Miss Alice. Your family is going to do great things."

Listening to the remarks directed at his parents, Zeng Shen glanced over and could clearly see the faint smiles on their faces.

Soon, it was noon, and the ancestral ceremony began. The Yan family head and his son returned to host their ceremony, while on Zeng Shen's side, it was hosted by Zeng Youxin and his son.

However, the majority of people were not focused on the ceremony but rather on Zeng Shen and his family.

After the ceremony ended, a flowing banquet was held, lasting until five in the afternoon.

Zeng Shen refrained from drinking, citing the need to drive.

That evening, after driving his inebriated parents home, he and Xiao Ai went upstairs.

Once on the second floor, Zeng Shen smiled at Xiao Ai, "You really are my indispensable aide. I thought you'd spend money on me to make everyone look up to my parents, but you managed to achieve my goals in a way that doesn't make us look pretentious."

"Master, you underestimate Xiao Ai. Tomorrow is when your parents will truly shine," Xiao Ai replied with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"Choosing the site, demolition compensation, having your parents manage the prefabricated food factory, deciding how much money to give them each month—it's all up to you," Xiao Ai explained, holding up five slender fingers and lowering one with each point.

Hearing this, Zeng Shen gleefully picked Xiao Ai up and spun her around, "Brilliant, Xiao Ai! You truly deserve a reward tonight."

With that, Zeng Shen opened the portal to the divine realm and carried Xiao Ai inside.

...

The following morning, to avoid being woken up by his mother for breakfast, Zeng Shen and Xiao Ai exited the divine realm at dawn and returned to their rooms.

Sure enough, about half an hour later, Wu Xiane called them for breakfast. This time, however, she didn't come upstairs but sent a message, "Zeng, are you two up yet? If so, wash up and come down for breakfast."

Zeng Shen received the message and thought for a moment before replying, "Okay, Mom, I'll go get Xiao Ai."

Before long, Zeng Shen and Xiao Ai came downstairs for breakfast.

Xiao Ai, being part of the mechanical race, only needed a small amount of nutrient solution to sustain her living tissue. However, she could also derive some nutrients from food.

Wu Xiane and Zeng Youcai were waiting for them in the living room before heading to the dining table.

Breakfast consisted of Zeng Shen's favorite goji leaf and pork soup, along with the local specialty, Chaozhou beef kway teow.

"Xiao Ai, this goji leaf and pork soup is Zeng's favorite. Try it and see what you think," Wu Xiane said, serving Xiao Ai a bowl of soup.

Xiao Ai took a sip and immediately praised, "Mm, the soup is delicious, and the meat is very fresh."

"Great, drink up," Wu Xiane beamed, "Also try the beef balls, they're handmade."

"Okay, thank you, Auntie," Xiao Ai said, taking a bite of the beef ball, "Mm, delicious."

"Eat more if you like..."

Soon, the four of them were eating and chatting.

"Xiao Ai, last night many people asked me where you plan to set up the factory," Wu Xiane mentioned.

"Auntie, I'm not sure where would be best yet. I'll go out with Zeng today and look at a few places, then let you know what we decide," Xiao Ai replied, pausing briefly before continuing, "Or if you and Uncle see a suitable place, you can recommend it to me, and I won't need to look elsewhere."

Wu Xiane laughed, "Hehe, Xiao Ai, you say such nice things. But we don't know much about this, so you'd better go look around."

"No, I trust you both because you're locals and Zeng's parents. You'd know best," Xiao Ai said with a shy smile, "But since Auntie insists, I'll go out with Zeng and come back later."

"Yes, Zeng, show Xiao Ai around thoroughly," Zeng Youcai, who had been eating quietly, added.

Zeng Shen, wolfing down his food, mumbled through a mouthful of beef ball, "Mm, okay."

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take your food," Wu Xiane admonished.

"Got it. By the way, Dad, Mom, don't go to the fields after breakfast. Stay home to receive visitors."

Zeng Youcai looked puzzled but soon realized, "Oh, got it."

"What are you two up to?" Wu Xiane asked, looking between them.

"Hehe, you'll see, Mom," Zeng Shen chuckled.

After breakfast, Zeng Shen and Xiao Ai drove the RV around the village and then headed to the nearby towns they hadn't visited before to gather survival points.

Within minutes of their departure, Zeng Shen's uncle's family, who had never visited before, arrived with Zeng Jianming, carrying large gifts.

And within a few more minutes, numerous relatives and influential villagers arrived with gifts, making the house bustling with visitors.

Meanwhile, aboard the No. 1 Divine Energy Chariot, Zeng Shen napped for two hours. Thanks to the lingering effects of the stamina and energy potions, he quickly recovered.

He opened his eyes, lay on the soft bed in the rest area, and checked the system log.

In those two hours, he had only triggered two first-time survival point bonuses.

Gaining 2,000 survival points.

"Not much of a haul," Zeng Shen noted, closing the log and checking the home surveillance on his phone to see who had visited after they left. He then moved to the passenger seat and said to Xiao Ai, "Xiao Ai, let's head back for lunch and tell my parents we're preparing to return to Jinhai."

"Understood, Master," Xiao Ai nodded, instructing the chariot to head home.

Two and a half hours later, Zeng Shen and Xiao Ai returned home.

At the entrance and in the courtyard, numerous cars and motorcycles were parked.

"Master, it seems quite a few people have come," Xiao Ai observed.

"Indeed," Zeng Shen agreed, parking the RV. Instead of getting out immediately, he used the invisibility feature, leading Xiao Ai hand in hand as they walked towards the house.