Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 446: Different Paths for Immortals and Mortals

She was a little girl just over two years old, two tiny topknots tied on her head, her cheeks round and chubby like a ripe red apple. She was clutching Su Yang’s neck tightly, clearly frightened by the chaotic atmosphere in the main room.

Su Yang chuckled proudly, his dark face full of showmanship. “Third Son, look, your biological niece. Her name is Su Tian. Tian-niu, quick, call uncle.”

The little girl buried her face deep in her father’s neck, only one shiny black eye peeking out as she stole a glance at Su Ming, then in a baby voice barely louder than a mosquito whispered, “Uncle…”

Su Ming laughed outright.

This blood-tied affection was something he could never feel amid the cold scheming of the Cloud Hidden Sect.

He took another jade pendant of the same material from his pocket and handed it to Su Yang. “Second Brother, for the child.”

Su Yang didn’t bother with formalities like Eldest Brother. He grabbed it, weighed it in his hand, and scolded with mock reproach, “You brat, you come back and bring such expensive things! Life out there hasn’t been easy on you either.”

“Just a trinket, not valuable,” Su Ming dismissed lightly.

Su Yang pulled the young woman beside him forward and introduced her with a smile, “Third Son, this is your sister-in-law, surname Wang, given name Cuihua. She’s the daughter of Old Wang from the east of the village, steady and capable. These years our family’s been lucky to have her.”

The woman’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded to Su Ming, offering a proper greeting.Su Ming inclined his head in return and called her Second Sister-in-Law, acknowledging this woman he had never met before.

Su Yang sighed and his tone turned reflective. “Third Son, you wouldn’t know how hard it was here after you left. You disappeared with no word, Mother and Father kept worrying, Mother often wiped away tears late at night. Luckily Teacher Zhou looked after things, so we managed to live steadily in town. I figured staying in town wasn’t forever, so I took charge and brought everyone back.”

He paused, then laughed and pointed outside the door. “Our paper mill has been growing and growing. Half the village works at the mill now. Even that old rascal Village Chief Zhao Dequan has to be polite when he sees me. Parents are still fairly healthy, but Mother keeps thinking about you. Whenever she has a spare moment, she sits by the doorway and watches.”

Su Ming listened quietly, a tangle of feelings churning inside.

Su Yang continued, “Our family’s doing better, I married and we have Tian now. What about you? Over the years out there, did you find a suitable girl?”

By then Mother had recovered from her excitement and was gripping Su Ming’s hand as if afraid he’d run off. She kept barking orders, “Second Brother’s wife, go kill that old hen in my room! Eldest Brother, pull some fresh radishes from the garden! Third Son, you don’t do anything today, Mother’s cooking herself, I’ll make your favorite braised pork!”

Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-Law hurried forward to help, but Mother pushed them away firmly. “Don’t! You two stay and keep Third Son company. I’ll handle the kitchen!”

She turned and, with slightly unsteady steps, made her way to the stove.

down. He quietly moved to

his

mother’s back looked more hunched than in his memory. Her movements when adding fuel were still practiced, but her wrist wasn’t as nimble when chopping, and the

did not forget to turn and give Su Ming, standing at the doorway, a radiant, wrinkle-lined smile. “Third

of sauce

household life, the human warmth and daily bustle that in the cultivation

his mother’s graying hair and slowed movements, a sting of sorrow rose and pricked at

could last three to

cultivator, five years was a blink. For mortals, five years could change

words, at this moment, were the sharpest blade, mercilessly

…

extravagantly plentiful, possibly the most lavish

dishes into Su

westward, stretching the shadows across

out and sat around

his expression, but his cloudy eyes drifted to Su Ming from time to time.

straightforward man. He rubbed his hands and asked about Su Ming’s five years away

and then vanished.

at Blackwater Camp, the eerie Wailing Woman

Eldest Brother. I met a reclusive master out there,” Su Ming wove the lie in an easy tone. “He saw some potential in me and took me as a disciple, teaching me ways to strengthen the body and avoid misfortune. I’ve been in the deep mountains in seclusion with him, which is

“That’s great! Learn a skill

to

into a short silence, punctuated only by the tapping of Father’s pipe and the rustle of wind through the

was quiet for

gulped down a mouthful of cold tea, his Adam’s apple

Ming, his voice tightening, and

come back in the

the previously

Su Feng, who had been teasing Little Tiger, froze; Mother’s smile stiffened at the corner of her mouth; even Father, squatting on the

eyes focused

stop