Zhang Fei, plump like a balloon, rushed towards Zhang Chen, who pressed his round face with one hand: "How did you get so fat like a ball?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes immediately turned red, but he didn't say anything, just looked at Zhang Chen with an aggrieved expression.
Zhang Chen couldn't bear to continue scolding him and only reprimanded, "From now on, you cannot indulge in binge eating. Starting tomorrow, you must begin martial arts training to shed this excess weight."
Then he grabbed Zhang Fei's hand: "Where's mother?"
The Little Fatty led the way, sprinting madly towards a cabin, shouting loudly: "Mother! Look who has come back!!!"
Zhang Chen and Xie Lingyun followed briskly behind him, arriving at a certain room, and they saw the cabin door already pushed open by the Little Fatty, with Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Tuowei inside embroidering.
Upon hearing the Little Fatty's shout, Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Tuowei shifted their gazes. They looked at the loudly shouting Little Fatty bursting through the door, their eyes revealing a trace of surprise.
"Why are you shouting like a madman!" Zhang Tuowei glared angrily, fixing her eyes on Zhang Fei.
"Brother... Brother is back... Eldest brother is back..." Zhang Fei panted heavily, his voice filled with joy.
"What?"
Both Zhang Tuowei and Mrs. Zhang immediately stood up and rushed towards the door. Sure enough, they saw Zhang Chen standing at the entrance.
In that instant, their eyes met, and waves of emotion surged in Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Tuowei's eyes as Mrs. Zhang took a deep breath, saying with relief: "It's good you're back! It's good you're back!"
Zhang Tuowei, with tears in her eyes, rushed towards Zhang Chen: "Big brother!!!"
This was her own brother, her greatest support!
Zhang Chen lifted Zhang Tuowei up, and the young girl had reddened eyes, sobbing uncontrollably, with tears and snot flowing, staining Zhang Chen all over.
"Big brother, where have you been these past two years? Why didn't you come back to see us?" Zhang Tuowei's voice was choked with tears.
Zhang Chen stroked the young girl's head; she was now seven years old and precociously mature due to growing up in poverty, yet she was still a child, and her sobbing tugged at the heartstrings.
"Don't cry. From now on, wherever we go, our family will be together, never to be separated again," Zhang Chen comforted her, while his gaze swept over Mrs. Zhang. He noticed that his family members had smooth and fair skin and seemed well-fed, evidently not having suffered. The Inspection and Supervision Department had truly cared for his family.
"Mother!" Zhang Chen called out to Mrs. Zhang.
Mrs. Zhang, her eyes filled with tears, said: "It's good you're back!"
She repeatedly said this sentence, her voice filled with excitement, unable to express anything else.
Zhang Chen glanced around the room within the cabin, noticing its lavish furnishings, with six maids, aged seventeen or eighteen, inside attending to them. Clearly, Xie Lingyun had been attentive to his family matters.
Xie Lingyun sensibly stepped out, leaving Zhang Chen and his family of four in the cabin entrance to catch up.
"Quickly come in and talk," Mrs. Zhang composed herself, addressing Zhang Chen who stood at the door.
Zhang Chen nodded and carried Zhang Tuowei into the room. Once they were seated, Zhang Chen sent the waiting maidens away, and Mrs. Zhang scrutinized Zhang Chen up and down, seeing he had grown fair and tender, finally smiling: "It seems you've been living quite well these years; now, I can be relieved."
Not wanting his family to worry, Zhang Chen followed Mrs. Zhang's words and said, "I've indeed lived well these years, but I've been tied up with some things outside, so I haven't had the time to return."
And then Zhang Chen's gaze fell on Zhang Fei: "Mother, how did you let little brother get so big?"
His tone carried a hint of blame and reproach, fearing that if the Little Fatty didn't shed his excess weight, it could become a problem.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Mrs. Zhang smiled wryly, "Don't blame him. We suddenly found ourselves at the Inspection and Supervision Department, living with uncertainty and fear, feeling like hostages, worried that one day we might disappear. So I indulged him somewhat, thinking that if we had to go someday, we would leave without regrets. Besides, we have endured so much hardship before..."
Mrs. Zhang stopped there, and from these few words, Zhang Chen perceived the unspoken weight and pressure.
Back then, Zhang Chen left in haste, with his mother and sister taken without any warning—how could they not feel anxious inside? How could they not overthink?
Zhang Chen was just an ordinary civilian; why would the Inspection and Supervision Department value him? Why would he warrant such treatment?
Afterward, with Zhang Chen gone, leaving no news, Mrs. Zhang and her two children were under the Department's protection, yet their hearts were still uneasy.
"It's my fault." Zhang Chen, hearing Mrs. Zhang's words, softly said.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Mrs. Zhang shook her head and said, "It's not your fault. You went to fight for a future for our family. Under your hard-won protection, we've been living a life of luxury. We owe our good fortune to you and your efforts, so how could we blame you?"
"What did you do for the Inspection and Supervision Department? Why would they have something for you to do?" Mrs. Zhang asked with curiosity.
Hearing Mrs. Zhang's question, Zhang Chen smiled slightly and said, "I'm not working for the Inspection and Supervision Department. I'm just securing a future for myself. From today on, our family will never lack money again. I've earned a fortune that could last us several lifetimes."
Zhang Chen had gathered quite a bit of wealth back then, all of which he stored in a cavern outside the city, guarded by hornets.
"If you're not working for the Inspection and Supervision Department, why would they protect us?" Mrs. Zhang was puzzled.
Hearing Mrs. Zhang's question, Zhang Chen said with a smile, "I'm merely cooperating with the Inspection and Supervision Department."
Zhang Chen's true gain was mastering countless techniques, not the vulgar wealth. With the skills Zhang Chen had now, money would never be an issue no matter where he was.
However, there was no need to tell Mrs. Zhang about these matters, lest she become worried.
He then turned his head to look at Zhang Tuowei: "How is your Martial Dao cultivation progressing?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei shrank his head. If he had practiced the Martial Dao diligently, he wouldn't be so overweight. On the contrary, Zhang Tuowei, due to his early maturity, had already developed some momentum in his Martial Dao cultivation. He said to Zhang Chen, "I have been following the martial artist of the Inspection and Supervision Department to practice the True Dragon Form for half a year, and lately, I feel healthier and free from illness."
Zhang Chen looked at Zhang Tuowei: "Show me your practice."
Zhang Tuowei stood up and began to practice the True Dragon Form, his movements methodical, showing some skill.
Although Zhang Chen didn't understand the Martial Dao, he could tell that Zhang Tuowei was only proficient in the True Dragon Form. To master it to an exquisite level and grasp the technique of emitting force would be difficult.
Without three to five years of honing and diligent practice, it would be impossible to grasp the essence of the True Dragon Form, achieving the effect of washing marrow and strengthening bones.
However, even just learning the form could stimulate blood circulation and support health, maintaining a state free from illness.
"Big Brother, how am I doing?" Zhang Tuowei looked at Zhang Chen with anticipation.
After all, the boy was just seven years old, so there couldn't be too many demands on him. Zhang Chen clapped and praised, "Not bad, not bad. Little sister can already perform the True Dragon Form's figure. Truly a genius. In the future, by carefully understanding the direction of muscles and bones, you will certainly be able to master the method of emitting force smoothly."
Zhang Chen did not hold back his praise, generously offering his words of commendation. Then he turned to look at Zhang Fei: "Little brother, from today, stand in stake posture for three hours each day and control your diet. First, shed this body of fat before considering other things."
Zhang Fei's face fell, his smile vanished, but he obediently nodded.
Zhang Fei was too fat and unsuited for strenuous exercise, or his joints and knees might get worn. Standing in stake posture was just right for weight loss.
Pile skill is the foundation of physical health. If one can grasp the essence of pile skill, it is akin to sharpening the axe before cutting wood.
"Are you going to stay at the Inspection and Supervision Department in the future?" Mrs. Zhang, seeing Zhang Chen finish admonishing her treasured son, spoke up. She knew what was good for them and understood that Zhang Chen meant well for his brother, so she wasn't displeased.
"Although the Inspection and Supervision Department is good, it's not suitable for me," Zhang Chen said. "I plan to head south and settle in the fertile land of Jiangnan."
"We are criminals, and leaving the Northern Land without permission is a capital offense. If the court discovers us, our whole family will suffer," Mrs. Zhang's eyes were filled with worry.
"The Northern Land is chaotic now. First, there were floods causing countless deaths, then Prince Pingbian's rebellion, and hordes of the Demon Race invaded. Who knows how much trouble the Northern Land will stir up? With all these disasters, countless people will die, so who would pay attention to us? Even if the court wants to investigate later, the Northern Land has already fallen out of their control, so how will they have the power to pursue us? As long as we settle in Jiangnan quietly and avoid causing big trouble, who will notice us?" Zhang Chen said with confidence, his voice full of assurance.
The chaos in the Northern Land was also an opportunity for their family!
"To go south, we will need a travel permit," Mrs. Zhang raised another issue.
Zhang Chen shook his head: "By then, it won't be just our family heading south, but tens of millions of refugees from the North. The travel permit won't be an issue. As long as we carefully avoid the court's soldiers, they won't be able to track us down."
At this point, Zhang Chen paused and said, "I am considering where in the south to settle, as I'm not familiar with the South and don't know where would be suitable to live."
"Jinling!" Mrs. Zhang, after some hesitation, said a place name.
"Jinling?" Zhang Chen curiously inquired.
"Jinling was the capital of the former dynasty and has been the capital of countless dynasties in the past. Its prosperity is no less than that of Shangjing," Mrs. Zhang said, hesitating slightly before continuing, "Most importantly, your mother's grave is in Jinling. I think you should pay your respects there. Your mother's family is also a top-notch family in Jinling City; we can seek refuge with them."