Starting with Xingyi Quan, it swept across the chaotic world.

Chapter 66 Regret

Hearing what Master Liu said, Lu Li also remembered this matter.

Last year, Master Liu wanted to buy all the shops in this area to build a bigger shop, and Zhou Quan was one of his lackeys who helped him get things done.

"The old man always buys shops for twenty taels apiece. I really don't know that bastard Zhou Quan managed to haggle it down to five taels of silver!"

Seeing that Lu Li remained silent, he became somewhat anxious.

Zhou Quan had some connection with his family's steward, and since the steward was also a member of a local gang, he wouldn't agree to the job.

I never imagined that bastard would drive the price down so ruthlessly! He's clearly trying to ruin people's lives!

He too suffered an undeserved misfortune!

Just then, Lu Li spoke up:

"Since it's a misunderstanding, it's good to clear it up."

Upon hearing this, Master Liu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Scholar Lu is truly a magnanimous person; I admire him greatly!"

A huge weight was finally lifted from Mr. Liu's heart, and he was finally at ease.

He rushed here from the west of the city after receiving news of Lu Li High School today and has been waiting here for a long time.

He knew that it was best to clarify the misunderstanding between his family and the Lu family face to face, and even in public.

This is good for your safety and reputation.

However, he was quite surprised that Lu Li was able to pass the martial arts exam.

He knew all too well what Wu Xiucai represented.

That's a powerful internal force.

Old Liu has lived his whole life, and he's not afraid of anything else except death.

I really don't want to lose my life because of this undeserved disaster. It's just a matter of losing money to avoid disaster, right? It's better than dying with money still unspent.

……

the other side.

Anlefang, the Dong residence.

After finishing his business today, Dong Gui, while drinking tea, asked his daughter:

"Ah Hui, is there really no chance for you and Sun Yi?"

"Father... he's really gone..." Dong Hui said, her head bowed, finding it difficult to speak.

"Sigh... if it doesn't work, it doesn't work," Dong Gui said helplessly.

Sun Yi was a talent he had carefully selected.

These days he has been busy with business, so he sent Dong Hui to cultivate a relationship with Sun Yi and, incidentally, to check on Wu Ke.

Unexpectedly, when Wu Ke returned home that day, his daughter was sullen. When he pressed her for details, he learned that the two of them had broken up.

However, matters of the heart cannot be forced.

Let's just assume... we weren't meant to be...

With this thought in mind, Dong Gui asked again:

"Zhou Mo from the Zhou family and Lin Yu from the Lin family are also quite good; they might have the potential to develop hidden strength in the future. Should we make contact with them now?"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the name, Dong Hui simply shook her head:

"Father, I don't want to see them..."

"You won't see this, you won't see that? Then who do you want to see?" Dong Gui was getting annoyed.

My daughter has been sullen for days, and I can't cheer her up no matter what I do.

Even a clay figure has three different temperaments, let alone him.

Upon hearing this, Dong Hui buried her head even deeper:

"Father...I want to see Lu Li..."

"Who? Lu Li?" Dong Gui thought he had misheard. "How could it be him? Didn't you refuse in the first place? What, you still can't bear to part with your childhood sweetheart?"

"But we already turned it down back then, so how can we talk to them again now?"

"Besides, that child... doesn't have much potential, he's not a good match..."

Upon hearing this, Dong Hui spoke with a hint of grievance:

"Father, the results of the martial arts examination have been posted today."

"Oh? Today?" Dong Gui was somewhat surprised that the list was posted today. He hadn't been back to Lin'an City for several years, only returning last year. He had been quite busy lately, so naturally he wasn't very clear about these things.

Dong Gui frowned and asked again:

"But what does this have to do with Lu Li?"

"Li Ge'er got 20th place in the second class of martial arts in high school..." Dong Hui felt even more aggrieved.

boom!

Dong Gui's mind suddenly went blank.

His mind went blank for a moment.

"What did you say? He got into a martial arts program in high school?" Dong Gui exclaimed incredulously. "Ah Hui, you know this is no joke!"

"Father... I went to watch the martial arts competition that day. Li-ge'er lifted a nine-stone boulder, and the next day he won three consecutive matches in actual combat..."

Upon hearing this, Dong Hui felt even more bitter and recounted everything she had seen and heard that day.

"The news of Lu Li High School has now spread throughout Ping An Fang..."

Hearing Dong Hui's words, Dong Gui seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he slumped helplessly into the chair.

It's done... Lu Li actually succeeded.

Dong Gui felt it was almost like a dream that a child he had watched grow up had become a martial arts scholar.

Just then, Dong Hui spoke again, her voice trembling with tears and anticipation:

"Father, could you talk to Uncle Lu? I'm willing... I can always take the initiative to go find Brother Li..."

Upon hearing this, Dong Gui felt quite uncomfortable.

In this day and age, it's already somewhat "shameful" for a woman to take the initiative to come to someone's door or for a woman to actively pursue someone, especially since they had already rejected Lu Li's family before.

Although the words were tactful and wouldn't significantly affect the relationship between the two families, a refusal is a refusal.

How could the other person not feel any distance in their heart?

Now you're coming to apologize and propose marriage? Don't they know you're just after power and influence?

Moreover, he is currently studying martial arts in high school, and there must be many women around him who want to propose marriage. There are probably many women with a better family background than the Dong family, so why would they look at you?

"Sigh...daughter..."

Dong Gui sighed heavily:

"Let's not think about this anymore..."

He opened his mouth, then his expression softened with helplessness:

"If I hadn't refused back then, considering the friendship you two had shared when you were young, perhaps this could have happened, but now..."

"If we have to blame someone, we can only blame ourselves for not having the eye to judge people."

Upon hearing this, Dong Hui's voice became even more aggrieved:

"Back then, it was all those fake rumors that said Brother Li was neglecting his duties, fooling around everywhere, and that his potential was exhausted... We were wrong to believe those rumors!"

"Dad, could you please go and talk to Uncle Lu and tell him that we were wrong to believe the slander of a villain... or at least clear up the misunderstanding?"

Dong Gui felt a mix of emotions as he listened to these words.

One of the reasons their family rejected Lu Li was because of the rumors that he was idle and dissolute.

But now it seems that those messages were completely fake news.

Seeing his daughter's life-or-death state, Dong Gui sighed heavily.

"Alright, I'll bring a generous gift tomorrow to congratulate them, clear up the misunderstanding, and see if there's any chance things will turn out that way for you..."

His main purpose for this trip was to offer his congratulations. As a good friend, it wouldn't be right not to go. Secondly, he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding from back then. As for his daughter's matter... the chances of success were slim.

But... what if?

What if Xiao Li really does remember their childhood friendship?

A glimmer of hope flashed in Dong Gui's eyes.

……

the other side.

It was nearing dusk, and the sun was setting in the west.

Lu Li was walking on the main road leading from Lin'an City to the City Defense Division.

Now that I'm in high school, I absolutely have to go and report the good news to Commander Wang.

Moreover, after high school martial arts majors are admitted, their families are exempt from corvée labor. He was completely clueless about how to proceed with this process, but Commander Wang might know something about it. Asking him would be much better than trying to figure it out on his own.

Another reason is to repay a debt of gratitude.