New Residence

Are you referring to a cooking stove?" 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's question, Man Jun was momentarily taken aback. In the city, cooking was long done using natural gas; who still used a stove? If it weren't for the fact that Man Jun's family had burned firewood during his childhood, he might not even have known what the term "stove" meant.

"Xiao Fang, in the city, we no longer use stoves for cooking..." 

Man Jun chuckled wryly and continued, "We have natural gas and a cooking range at home, but I don't cook here, so we don't have any pots, pans, or utensils. If you want to cook, we can buy a complete set at the supermarket later..."

"Then let's buy a set..." Fang Yi nodded thoughtfully. He could manage the occasional meal out, but eating such greasy food daily would be intolerable for him.

"I didn't expect you to know how to cook, Xiao Fang. I might have to shamelessly mooch off you!" 

Man Jun regarded Fang Yi with newfound respect. He was aware that many young people these days had high aspirations but lacked practical skills. His son, who was only a few years younger than Fang Yi, had never washed a single dish in his life.

"Hehe, Brother Man, you're in for a treat. Yi Ge's culinary skills are exceptional..." The chubby boy interjected, chuckling. Although he had worked as a cook in the army for a few years, he would undoubtedly be outclassed by Fang Yi's expertise.

"Really?" Man Jun perked up at the chubby boy's words, exclaiming, "Then make sure you all don't compete with me for the ingredients; everything we buy will be on me..."

To be honest, Man Jun had grown weary of eating out every day. His wife was busy taking care of their high school-aged child in the city, and with his own hectic schedule, he rarely had the energy to cook when he returned home. The prospect of Fang Yi preparing meals was certainly appealing.

Despite his intimidating bald appearance, Man Jun was quite perceptive. He understood that Fang Yi and the others were living modestly on the twenty thousand he had given them, so upon entering the supermarket, he said, "Fang Yi, feel free to grab whatever you need. Today, it's on me..."

"Thank you, Brother Man..." Fang Yi replied, his gaze fixed intently on the expansive supermarket before him.

The supermarket adjacent to their neighborhood was a well-known chain in the country, offering everything from small goods to large appliances. It could be said that anything one might need for their home could be found within its aisles.

Upon entering the supermarket, Fang Yi felt like Liu Laolao stepping into the Grand View Garden, dazzled by the myriad of products. Eventually, San Pao helped Fang Yi select some fresh underwear, while the chubby boy, after choosing pots and pans, slyly picked up a couple of packs of cigarettes for himself.

"Chubby, you shouldn't spend money that isn't yours like that..." As Man Jun proceeded to the checkout, Fang Yi couldn't help but tap the chubby boy on the head. Although the cigarettes weren't particularly expensive, they gave off the impression of someone who liked to take advantage of small opportunities.

"Fang Yi, Brother Man told me to take them, and besides, they're his favorite brand..." The chubby boy protested, rubbing his head in mock indignation. Yesterday, when they were heading home, Man Jun had run out of cigarettes and borrowed half a pack from the chubby boy, asking him to buy a few packs to keep at home.

"Well, in the future, when it comes to groceries, don't let Brother Man bear all the expenses..." 

Fang Yi nodded in agreement. To be honest, while they were currently quite broke, he didn't place much value on money. If he chose to follow the path his master had taken years ago, making money wouldn't be particularly difficult.

Fang Yi had not only learned the way of the Dao from his master but also various techniques, such as divination, feng shui, talismans to ward off evil, disaster relief, and even intimate arts. He had acquired a fair bit of knowledge in these areas and was nearly as skilled in divination as his master.

He often listened to his master recount tales of his travels, where he would provide divination services to high-ranking officials and offer feng shui consultations to wealthy families. In those days, he was a guest of honor among many prominent figures in Jinling.

However, the old Taoist had also cautioned Fang Yi that possessing great abilities without a corresponding disposition would lead one to become lost in their own power, resulting in a tragic end despite their talents.

Thus, the old Taoist instructed Fang Yi not to use his skills for financial gain after descending the mountain. This didn't mean he couldn't offer divination or feng shui services, but he must not charge any fees, as that would betray his master and ancestral teachings.

Fang Yi didn't find anything wrong with his master's advice. His nature was inherently Taoist—simple and serene—rendering him oblivious to the class distinctions prevalent in everyday life. If not for the chubby boy's adamant refusal, Fang Yi would have even considered taking a job as a security guard after descending the mountain.

As for money, while Fang Yi was currently short on funds, one must consider that a person capable of resisting the allure of millions is unlikely to place much importance on money. Sun Lianda had recognized this quality in Fang Yi, which sparked his desire to take him on as a disciple.

"I understand; we may be poor, but our ambitions remain unyielding, and we will not be looked down upon..." 

Hearing Fang Yi's words, the chubby boy nodded earnestly. Though he often presented himself as a bit of a slacker, his pride was formidable; otherwise, he wouldn't have resigned from his security job due to the disdain of others.

"We may be temporarily impoverished, but we won't remain so forever!" 

Fang Yi patted the chubby boy on the shoulder. Although divination typically does not account for one's own circumstances, he could discern from simple observations that both the chubby boy and San Pao had promising futures ahead of them. They had prominent foreheads, well-defined features, and an aura of affluence that suggested they might not achieve great fame but would certainly attain wealth.

"Indeed, aren't we essentially becoming our own bosses now?" 

After witnessing the sale of a broken fan for sixty to seventy thousand, the chubby boy was filled with aspirations for their future. He even dreamt the previous night of indulging in roasted chicken, buying two at once—one for himself and one for his pet dog, Da Huang.

"Alright, chubby, let's focus on establishing our stall first..." 

San Pao doused the chubby boy's enthusiasm with a dose of reality. Having lived in the city longer, he was aware that urban life was not as easy as it seemed. In the countryside, at least one had land to cultivate, but losing a job in the city could lead to a very difficult existence.

"Hmph, I'm merely envisioning our bright future..." The chubby boy retorted playfully as they walked toward Man Jun's home, carrying their purchases.

Chao Tian Gong was located near the Qinhuai River, in an older district of Jinling. Due to high population density and the challenges of redevelopment, many private residences remained intact, including the three-story house that Man Jun had rebuilt on the foundation of his family's old home.

"Brother Man, your yard is quite spacious; it seems a pity not to grow anything..." 

Upon Man Jun opening the gate to the yard, Fang Yi discovered a sizable area enclosed within the walls and gate. However, aside from a trellis in the center where grapevines grew, the land on either side lay fallow.

"My father used to cultivate flowers and plants, but it has become neglected since then..." Man Jun explained, as he spent most of his time either at the restaurant or traveling across the country, leaving him little opportunity to tend to a garden. He hadn't even watered the thriving grapevines, relying solely on nature to sustain them.

"Brother Man, how about we plant some vegetables ourselves? Homegrown produce is far more reassuring..." 

Fang Yi suggested, recalling the slight toxins he had detected in the greens he had eaten at the restaurant. While they posed no immediate harm, over time, they could be detrimental to one's health.

During his time in the mountains, Fang Yi had cultivated nearly an acre of land beside his temple, where he and his master grew their own vegetables. Having grown accustomed to eating naturally grown, untainted produce, he found it difficult to adjust to the greenhouse vegetables available in the city.

"That sounds wonderful! What vegetables do you want to plant? But I really have no idea where to find seeds..." 

In recent years, as the living standards of the common people improved, Man Jun had often heard his wife mention the presence of pesticides in store-bought vegetables. If Fang Yi was willing to grow vegetables in his yard, that would be ideal. However, considering that even Man Jun's grandfather had never farmed, he found himself at a loss when it came to gardening.

"This is easy; I can bring some seeds back with me in a few days..." The chubby boy chuckled at the thought. They were genuine farmers; it would indeed be a joke if they couldn't even procure vegetable seeds.

"Alright, I'll count on you guys..." 

Man Jun nodded happily and opened the door to the first floor, saying, "I only stay here four to five days a week, and I don't often go up to the second or third floors since they're quite dirty. Let's all pitch in to clean up..."

This small building had originally belonged to Man Jun's parents. After their passing, he moved in for the convenience of his business. However, as a single man, he had little motivation to maintain the space. Aside from the first floor, which was livable, the second and third floors were cluttered with debris and covered in dust.

"Brother Man, I think I understand why you bought three mops..." 

The previous night, the chubby boy and San Pao had spent the night on the sofa in the first-floor living room and hadn't ventured upstairs. Upon ascending, the chubby boy's expression turned sour; the dust on the floor was so thick that their footprints were clearly visible. He wondered just how long it had been since Man Jun had last cleaned.

"Isn't there a saying that many hands make light work?" Man Jun said, scratching his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I live on the first floor, and there are two rooms on the second floor and one room on the third; as long as you all clean up well, everyone can have their own room..."

"One room each? That sounds wonderful..." Upon hearing Man Jun's words, San Pao felt invigorated. Although his family owned a house in Jinling, they were cramped together in a small space with several people, and he had long considered moving out.

"Huh? This house feels a bit gloomy..." 

Once they reached the second floor with brooms and dustpans, Fang Yi frowned slightly. He noticed that after pulling back the curtains, the windows were blocked from sunlight by the wall of the adjacent building, leaving the rooms dim even during the day.

As soon as Man Jun turned on the lights, several mice and centipedes scurried from the corners and beneath the cabinets, quickly disappearing into the shadows.

"Oh, I should have bought some mouse traps and insect repellent..." Man Jun's embarrassment deepened upon seeing the rodents. He rarely ventured to the second or third floors and hadn't realized they had nearly become a mouse nest.

"Brother Man, there's no need for traps or sprays; just leave this to Yi Ge..." The chubby boy chuckled in response to Man Jun's comment.