My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 194 Homecoming Ceremony

Not far from the prison, a carriage stopped, its roof already covered with a thin layer of snow.

Lin Ziping walked straight past without looking to the side.

"Shaoying".

A familiar voice came from inside the carriage.

Lin Ziping didn't stop, pretending not to hear.

"Lin Ziping!"

The carriage curtain was lifted.

Ji Xun and Zhang Mo were inside the carriage.

The two sat upright, wearing cloaks, jade crowns, and holding hand warmers.

The wind and snow became their backdrop.

He is truly a peerless gentleman.

And what about myself?

Lin Ziping stood in the wind and snow, the heavy bundle on his back weighing down his shoulders.

Lin Ziping lowered his head slightly, his toes curling slightly.

A strong smell of sweat lingered in the air.

Disheveled, unkempt, and reeking of stench...

It seems that all the derogatory terms related to image can be applied to Lin Ziping now.

A horse-drawn carriage separates two different worlds.

Lin Ziping clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Brother Ji, Brother Zhang."

"Ziping, get in the carriage quickly, it's cold outside," said Ji Xun. "We'll take you back."

Lin Ziping pursed his lips and forced a smile, saying, "No need, I don't want to go because I smell like that. Besides, I haven't stepped over the fire pit yet, it's bad luck to be near you guys."

"What do you mean by auspicious or inauspicious? Come on up." Ji Xun said.

"No, no, that's alright." Lin Ziping took a step back. "I'll head back now. Let's get together another day."

Without waiting for their reply, Lin Ziping tightly wrapped his bundle and quickly left.

When he reached the corner and saw that the two hadn't arrived, Lin Ziping breathed a sigh of relief.

"hold head high--"

Lin Ziping looked toward the sound, a surge of joy welling up inside him—it was a "Wuling Hongguang".

I don't know where this "Wuling Hongguang" came from; its fur was a little damp, and the seat cushion on its back was covered with a thin layer of snow.

They took the bundle off their backs, tied it to the back of the Wuling Hongguang van, and led it home.

The usually quiet alley was unusually lively today, and Lin Ziping met many neighbors he had never seen before.

Several children around ten years old were being held in their parents' arms, curiously looking at Lin Ziping.

Zhu Zi prepared a brazier at the entrance of the alley, and with the neighbors' encouragement, Lin Ziping stepped over it.

A middle-aged man, holding a pine tree he had found somewhere, patted Lin Ziping on the body after he stepped over the brazier.

He was muttering to himself.

Lin Ziping recognized the voice from the old man who had spoken next door that day.

Looking around at the people, Lin Ziping could hardly remember any of their names, and mechanically followed their commands.

Zhu Zi stepped forward and led the "Wuling Hongguang" away.

Lin Ziping quickly took the package off the donkey's back and held it in his arms.

"Alright, Ziping just got back, don't scare him. Everyone, go back home," said an auntie in the crowd.

Although he didn't know who she was, it didn't diminish Lin Ziping's gratitude for her words that had saved him from the crowd.

Lin Ziping made a fist-and-palm gesture: "Thank you all, neighbors. I will go back and freshen up before I visit each of you to express my gratitude."

The people surrounding the area waved their hands, saying they didn't need it.

I watched Lin Ziping return to the courtyard.

Unexpectedly, the neighbors were so enthusiastic. Lin Ziping closed the door, blocking the scorching gazes from outside.

Place the package in the room.

A pot of water had already been boiled in the kitchen.

Zhu Zi hadn't returned yet, so Lin Ziping brought hot water into the house and took a comfortable hot bath.

I ate my fill.

Meimei went to sleep.

I didn't take anything to heart.

After a good night's sleep, Lin Ziping is back to his beautiful and handsome self.

The next day, Lin Ziping looked at himself in the mirror.

She's lost weight.

The prison food allowance was reduced from size M to size S after just one month.

His complexion was yellowish, indicating malnutrition.

Dry hair indicates hormonal imbalance.

Lin Ziping stroked his chin and examined it carefully.

Suddenly, his hand stopped.

No beard!

How come you don't have a beard?

Is it normal for a 17 or 18-year-old boy in puberty to not grow a beard if he hasn't washed his face for a month?

And yesterday, I actually ignored this point and had close contact with so many people.

A sense of relief welled up inside her; thankfully, she hadn't boarded Ji Xun's carriage.

Lin Ziping then applied makeup to his face, trying to create the look of a dark, bluish-black beard that had just grown out.

"Young Master." Zhu Zi's voice came from outside.

Lin Ziping got up and opened the door. Zhu Zi stood respectfully outside the door.

"What is it?" Lin Ziping asked.

"Lord Ji has come to ask you some questions and would like to invite you to dinner," Zhu Zi said.

Lin Ziping thought for a moment and said, "Let's decline. Just say I haven't rested enough."

"What do you mean you didn't get enough rest? You look perfectly fine."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Xun walked out of the main room and looked at Lin Ziping with a mocking expression.

Zhang Mo followed behind him, smiling as he looked at Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping felt as if he were back in the scene of his first meeting with Ji Xun.

Zhang Mo, just like now, stayed by Ji Xun's side.

It's just that He Jinbao and Fang Zhili are not around.

Lin Ziping snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "Why are you here?"

“If we don’t come, how will we know that Lord Lin is no longer willing to have a meal with his old friends?” Ji Xun said, feigning distress.

"Heh, not at all." Lin Ziping smirked. "I haven't even congratulated Lord Ji yet."

Lin Ziping cupped his hands in greeting: "Congratulations, Lord Ji, on taking office."

"Haha, Zhang Mo, look at Lin Ziping. No matter how much time passes, he's still the same Lin Shaoying who was never forgiving and always held a grudge." Ji Xun pointed at Lin Ziping and Zhang Mo and laughed.

Lin Ziping chuckled twice in agreement.

"Sigh, being an adult isn't easy. There are so many things beyond our control. It's nothing like the carefree days we had at Moshan Academy in Qingyang," Ji Xun sighed.

"Stop being sentimental. Didn't you invite me to dinner? The kitchen is over there, you can cook there," Lin Ziping said, pointing to the kitchen.

"A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen, Lin Ziping, do you even know that?" Ji Xun looked somewhat exasperated and turned to Zhang Mo, saying, "This kid is so stingy, making me cook. He's probably holding a grudge because we didn't visit him in prison."

Lin Ziping shrugged: "I think this kind of invitation is more sincere. Zhang Mo, you're not allowed to help him."

“Zhang Mo, you’re my advisor now, you have to help me,” Ji Xun said to Zhang Mo.

"Lord Ji, you'd better leave quickly. I, Lin, can't afford this meal," Lin Ziping said, shaking his head.

"Don't drag me into your squabble," Zhang Mo said with a smile. "Ji Xun, how much can Lin Shaoying eat with her tiny appetite? You can easily fool her, why do you need my help?"

After a playful fight, the three of them seemed to have rekindled their relationship from when they were students at Moshan Academy.

Finally, the meal was generously sponsored by Zhu Zi, Ji Er, and Fu Chun Lou.

"It's a pity that He Jinbao, Zhao Xiancheng, and Fang Youli aren't here, otherwise we could all be together," Ji Xun said with emotion as the food was served.

"It's alright, let's just offer them a toast with this small amount of wine." Lin Ziping picked up the wine glass and poured it on the ground.

The scene was somewhat quiet.

Then Ji Xun laughed and scolded, "As expected, it has to be you, Lin Ziping. They would beat you up if they knew."

"If you know, you're not going to beat me up, you're going to beat us up. Hurry up and it's your turn to offer your toasts," Lin Ziping urged.

Ji Xun and Zhang Mo looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lin Ziping stared at them relentlessly.

Finally, the two of them each poured a glass of wine on the ground.