Chapter 88: Li Hongguang Pays a Visit

Getting off at Qiantang East Station, Li Hongguang stretched lazily. In the end, he hadn’t brought any gifts; he planned to express his thanks first and repay the favor another time.

He took a deep breath.

Turning to Sun Zi, Lu Hanlin, and Lu Zhiyou beside him, he said, “Everyone says the air in the capital is terrible. I used to think that was an exaggeration, but now that I’ve breathed in Qiantang’s air, I can finally sense the difference.”

Lu Zhiyou interjected with a smile, “I’ve been in Qiantang for a few years now; honestly, the air here isn’t much better than in the capital. There’s less smog in winter, but it’s not entirely free of it. Of course, there are no sandstorms here.”

“Still, lately the air quality around Qiantang rarely drops below excellent. Maybe it has something to do with the city’s recent ecological development goals.”

Everyone just chuckled, chatting as they walked out of the station and got into the car that had been waiting for them.

They had plenty of time to spare.

Li Hongguang didn’t rush to Wu You’s house. Instead, he stopped at several scenic spots around Qiantang along the way. He didn’t explore deeply, just got out at each place to take a few steps and admire the view before moving on.

There wasn’t enough time for real sightseeing.

Lu Zhiyou and Li Youbo found it hard to understand Li Hongguang’s actions.

Only Lu Hanlin knew some of the story.

Back in the days of the Korean battlefield, Li Hongguang hadn’t yet become a general. In those meat-grinder battles for the high ground, countless comrades fell on the front lines. Many of their remains couldn’t be returned home even decades after the war.

Back then, when Li Hongguang was still young, he and his company had made a pact: if any of them made it home alive, they’d walk the land of the motherland on behalf of the rest, to see its beauty for them.

As his rank grew, Li Hongguang found himself with less and less free time, but whenever he visited a new place, he’d always try to walk a few steps if he could.

By now, this habit was ingrained deep in his bones.

...

In the afternoon, the sun still blazed fiercely with the lingering heat of late summer.

A Passat was driving along a provincial road on the outskirts of Qiantang.

After a while, they turned onto a road winding near the mountains.

Inside the car, they gazed out at the distant, verdant hills.

Looking at the lush greenery, they felt the air grow even fresher, and the temperature seemed to drop.

“Qiantang’s ecological greening effort is quite remarkable!” Lu Hanlin praised.

Li Hongguang and his grandson Li Youbo hadn’t visited Qiantang much and didn’t know the backstory, but Lu Hanlin had been here often enough—after all, his own son lived and worked here.

Everyone knew what the mountains in the XS region looked like just a few years ago.

“They’re busy bidding for the World Expo lately, so of course they’re paying attention,” Lu Zhiyou remarked.

Li Youbo muttered, “Let’s hope they’re not just building showy projects again.”

“You rascal, ecological work benefits future generations. Even if it’s for appearances now, it’s better than those so-called novel architectural wonders,” Li Hongguang chided his grandson with a laugh.

...

Wu You checked the text message notification on his phone—Lu Zhiyou said they’d arrive in ten minutes.

But he had already “seen” them.

The sensory range of the mountain tree’s natural canopy had long since covered that provincial road. Wu You knew the moment Lu Zhiyou’s Passat was approaching, even before it turned onto the mountain road.

The Revitalizing Balm had been prepared by Bai Yanxi. Since General Li wanted to express his gratitude, Bai had to be present.

So, Old Bai was missing his afternoon nap today.

The Passat stopped outside the garden gate. Li Youbo took a few extra glances at Wu You’s Maybach Zeppelin.

Though he was the son of a government official and his family was well-off, the car he drove in the capital was just a Passat, the same as Lu Zhiyou’s.

Then, like the others, he was drawn to the vine-covered walls and the rose-thorn archway.

Even Lu Zhiyou, though he’d seen it before, was no exception.

He noticed the vines were now taller and denser, reaching over four meters high, and the view behind the wall was almost entirely blocked. He remembered that last time there had been holes you could peek through.

Yet the rose thorns still bloomed brilliantly, as if the concept of a flowering season didn’t apply.

As they stepped into the garden, Wu You stood up from a small bench near the door and tucked his phone into his pocket.

He called inside, “Mom, the guests are here. Brew some of the tea I brought last time, and use the teapot I brought as well.”

Then Wu You stepped forward to greet the four visitors.

He had expected a bigger entourage, but it was just two elders and two younger men—no bodyguards, no security detail, nothing of the sort.

“Hello, welcome to Xugou Village. I’m Wu You. Dr. Lu, if you would, please introduce everyone.”

Lu Zhiyou stepped forward to introduce them one by one. “The one with the strongest presence is, of course, General Li. This is my father, Lu Hanlin, who has been the General’s aide for decades. This is Li Youbo, the General’s grandson.”

When he finished, Li Hongguang spoke in a resonant voice.

“Young man, this old man owes you his life this time. I’m deeply grateful.”

Wu You had immense respect for these veteran revolutionaries.

“Sir, it’s nothing. If we can live in peace today, it’s all thanks to people like you who fought through bullets and blood.”

“Please, come inside.”

Inside the house, Bai Yanxi was still lounging on a recliner. He only stood up when the guests arrived.

Li Hongguang took the initiative to extend his hand.

“You must be Doctor Bai, thank you for preparing the medicine.”

Bai Yanxi awkwardly left his chair and shook hands with Li Hongguang.

“I don’t deserve such praise—the credit goes to the excellent herbs.”

Wu You smiled to himself; the old man was a good sort, just a bit childish, especially since he hadn’t gotten his nap today.

At that moment, Zhang Guihua emerged with a tea tray, alleviating Bai Yanxi’s embarrassment.

Wu You helped set a teacup before each guest.

“Here, try this tea a friend sent me. It’s called ‘Clear Skies After Rain.’ Not famous, but every bit as good as the finest Dragon Well.”

Catching the aroma, Bai Yanxi’s eyes lit up.

“Wu, you sly dog, you never brought this out before.”

Wu Jianguo came down carrying two mountain chickens, still planning to fetch some fish and shrimp from the river traps. They fully intended to have the guests stay for dinner.

Wu Jianguo and Zhang Guihua only knew the guests were Dr. Lu’s relatives and hoped to be good hosts.

Wu You had thought General Li’s group might refuse, but to his surprise, Li Hongguang accepted at once.

He wasn’t worried about any secrets being exposed.

It was just that Wu You really disliked formal banquets and the like.

Still, he knew that getting close to someone as influential as General Li was never a bad thing.

...

Meanwhile, Hu Lei and his roommates were up in the branches of the mountain tree, using a total station to measure and mark lines.

Knowing they’d be responsible for building a real treehouse estate, they couldn’t wait to get started.

They got right to work. For their safety, Wu You had even created a few second-level alchemical flying insects.

They looked a bit like mantises, but with far quicker reflexes—at the very least, if anyone fell from the tree, the insects would swoop in and catch them before they hit the ground.