Chen Xiao and Auntie only sat for a short while before Auntie went out to do chores. Something as significant as taking on a formal name wasn’t a decision she could make; they’d have to wait for her husband to come home that evening.

Chen Xiao’s belongings were temporarily placed in Auntie and Uncle’s bedroom. When he peeked inside, he found it was just as modest as the rest of the house, with barely any furniture, leaving the room feeling quite empty.

Before long, Hanwa’s younger cousin, Ershun, returned home. She was startled to see Chen Xiao, likely because of how much he had changed, and, feeling shy, she ducked behind a straw curtain into her room. Only then did Chen Xiao realize that the room with the straw curtain belonged to her.

A little while later, perhaps feeling it was rude to hide, Ershun came out. She went to the kitchen outside and brought back a bowl of tea, offering it to Chen Xiao with a soft voice, “This year’s harvest wasn’t good. The tea is last year’s stock. Brother Hanwa, please don’t mind.”

Chen Xiao shook his head. “It’s fine, how could I mind?” He took the bowl and sipped slowly. While the tea itself was old, the water brought out its flavor, sweet and refreshing. It also hinted at the excellent quality of the local environment. Feeling curious, Chen Xiao stood up and said to Ershun, “I’m going to take a stroll around the village.”

Chen Xiao stepped out of the farmhouse and walked down the path toward the village. Following the main road, he wandered around, taking in the sights.

The village, known as Fancun, was more prosperous than most, rivaling even a small town. It had over seven hundred households and a population exceeding five thousand. Chen Xiao observed that many families here were well-off. Some were wealthy merchants, while others had family members working as clerks in the county or district offices.

The village boasted its own small market where residents could purchase most daily necessities. Despite its size, it was a self-contained community. As Chen Xiao walked, he came across a school-like building, from which the sound of children reciting lessons could be faintly heard.

The building was indeed a school, but enrollment was based on whether the children had potential for cultivating immortality. For families like Hanwa’s uncle, whose children lacked such potential, attending this school was out of the question. This world was harsh in that regard. Children without the aptitude for cultivation were denied even the chance at formal education.

Inside the school, students not only learned to read and write but were also given a basic cultivation manual to practice. Those who showed promise might be sponsored by wealthy families in the village. However, those without talent or progress were eventually dismissed to find their own paths in life—whether in business, as guards like Zhou Wushi, or by seeking minor governmental roles in the city.

It was likely that the upcoming recruitment by the immortal sect would select candidates from this school.

Reflecting on this, Chen Xiao grew thoughtful. None of Hanwa’s uncle’s family had the potential for cultivation, yet they had called him back in such a hurry. Clearly, there was another reason.

After wandering for a while, Chen Xiao returned to the Chen family’s modest courtyard, satisfied with his brief exploration. Along the way, many villagers glanced at him, impressed by his striking appearance. When he arrived home, his uncle, Chen Changen, had already returned.

The uncle and nephew exchanged greetings. Though Chen Changen was surprised by Chen Xiao’s transformation, he quickly set it aside, preoccupied with his own concerns.

“Hanwa, the reason we called you back this time is for Ershun,” Chen Changen began, frowning with worry. “Earlier this year, Ershun was engaged to the youngest son of the Wu family in the village. But now that the immortal sect is recruiting, there’s a chance he’ll be chosen. Their family is worried about delays, and they’re considering breaking off the engagement. Ershun doesn’t agree. She said she’s willing to wait.”

Chen Xiao hadn’t expected Ershun to be the reason for his summons. That afternoon, she hadn’t mentioned a word of this, which showed her resolve. He asked solemnly, “Uncle, what do you want me to do?”

Chen Changen clenched his jaw and said, “I just think a girl’s youth can’t be wasted. If he really gets taken away, who knows when he’ll come back? Ershun might end up as an old maid, mocked by the village. I was hoping you could talk to her, persuade her to change her mind.”

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Chen Xiao hesitated. After all, he wasn’t truly Hanwa. It was hard for him to see things entirely from the family’s perspective or make strongly biased suggestions. Moreover, if he did persuade her and things didn’t go well in the future, he’d bear some responsibility for the outcome.

After mulling it over, Chen Xiao chuckled bitterly at his own caution. He realized he was being overly wary, avoiding risks out of fear. Whether he acted or not, simply being in Hanwa’s place meant he was already entangled in the family’s affairs.

With that thought, he stood up and said firmly, “Uncle, you’re right to be concerned. I’ll go talk to her.”

Ershun was in the courtyard feeding the chickens. Before Chen Xiao could speak, she turned to him and said, “Brother Hanwa, I know what you’re going to say. You don’t need to persuade me.”

Her tone was resolute, and her stance unwavering. Faced with someone so determined, Chen Xiao didn’t want to waste his breath, but he still needed to address the issue. “If you already know what I’m going to say, then you should understand how much your father worries about you. He’s older and has seen more of the world. His concerns aren’t without reason.”

Ershun turned her face away, her soft black hair cascading down. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear and smiled faintly. “I know. Father and Mother have both told me their fears—that he might not come back, and I’ll have wasted my youth.”

Chen Xiao asked seriously, “Since you’re aware of everything, why won’t you change your mind?”

Ershun looked at Chen Xiao earnestly and replied, “For one, there are so many students in the academy, and a few of them are just as exceptional as him. Whether he gets selected or not is still uncertain. If we call off the engagement now and he doesn’t end up leaving, both families will face embarrassment. And even if he is chosen and doesn’t return in the future, it would be the Wu family’s fault, not ours. The Wu family is well-off and wouldn’t want to tarnish their reputation, so they wouldn’t treat us poorly. With their support, Sanshuan and Sibao can establish themselves sooner, and Father and Mother could enjoy a better life earlier.”

Chen Xiao had assumed her decision was driven by affection, but her explanation left him momentarily stunned. Mixed emotions swirled in his heart. She was essentially betting her future—if she won, she’d marry well and live a prosperous life. If she lost, her sacrifice would still secure aid for her family, helping her brothers grow and easing her parents’ burdens.

It’s said that children from poor families grow up fast, and Ershun was a shining example. Likely because her older brother had passed away early, her younger brothers were still kids, and her cousin was distant and unreliable. As the eldest, she had no choice but to think this far ahead. In the past, Chen Xiao would’ve disliked someone calculating their life so coldly, but Ershun’s selflessness for her family left him unable to feel any dislike for her.

Ershun noticed Chen Xiao’s silence. With a shy smile, she pressed her lips together, dimples forming on her cheeks. She had inherited the Chen family’s fine features—arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, rosy cheeks, and cherry-red lips. A proper little beauty, her youthful face hinted at the stunning woman she’d become.

She said softly, “The Wu family’s thoughts are probably just his parents’ idea. Maybe they’re looking for an excuse to cut ties now that they’ve found a better opportunity. But he personally promised me that he wouldn’t delay his return.”

Her cheeks flushed red as she lowered her head, her ears and neck tinged with pink, betraying her embarrassment.

So, she is a lovestruck girl. Chen Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Her earlier rational, calculated demeanor had almost startled him. A girl her age shouldn’t have such a hard heart unless her feelings gave her the courage to take such risks.

Ershun’s intelligence impressed Chen Xiao. Despite her naive and somewhat immature reasoning, he couldn’t bring himself to outright tell her she was wrong. With no way to convince her to change her mind, he could only hope her future turned out as she wished.

When Chen Xiao explained the situation to her father, Chen Changgen could only let out a heavy sigh.

Under these circumstances, dinner that evening was uncomfortably subdued, despite Auntie killing a laying hen to welcome Chen Xiao home. At the table, only Sanshuan and Sibao seemed carefree, their focus solely on devouring the meat. Chen Xiao and the others merely picked at their food, their minds elsewhere.

That night, Chen Xiao was assigned to sleep in Sanshuan and Sibao’s room. The two boys shared the left wing, which had a heated brick bed rather than a brazier. To his surprise, it wasn’t as cold as he’d expected. With a hand warmer tucked in beside him, he slept soundly until morning better than he had in the county town.

The next morning, Chen Changgen urged Chen Xiao to eat quickly. He had taken the day off from work to accompany Chen Xiao in updating his official name.

The process of changing a nameplate was cumbersome. First, they had to find the village chief to write a note, which was then submitted to the county office. There, Chen Xiao’s identity would be verified to ensure he wasn’t impersonating someone else. Once the information was confirmed, the application would be processed, and after some time, the new nameplate could be retrieved.

Of course, Chen Xiao couldn’t wait around for weeks. Instead, he paid for expedited service, which cost two silver coins and made Chen Changgen’s heart ache.

Since Chen Changgen was the head of their household registry, he needed to handle the initial steps personally. Once that was done, the remaining procedures were left to Chen Xiao to complete on his own.

On the fourth day after Chen Xiao’s return to Fancun, the long-awaited selection by the Immortal Sect finally began. It was also then that Chen Xiao met the Wu family’s youngest son, who Ershun had been waiting for.