The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 17 Stars Within Reach

Watching Zhang Sanchun hurriedly run away, the servants sitting at the door exchanged glances and then sneered.

That idiot, I wonder what foolish thing he's done again.

Many people in the town saw Zhang Sanchun running wildly through the streets.

Furthermore, he kept looking up at the sky, completely oblivious to everything in front of him.

Even when he bumped into tables or walls, he never lowered his head.

From the town to the outskirts, the bright moon hanging in the sky casts wisps of its radiant light.

It reflects on that tiny figure who runs relentlessly, disregarding everything.

Everyone said he was an idiot, a fool.

Even her deceased father, Zhang Shigen, never entrusted Zhang Anxiu to anyone because of this.

Zhang Sanchun may look simple-minded, but he understands everything in his heart.

In this world, only two people respect him.

One is Chu Xun, whom he desperately wants to be his brother-in-law, and the smartest person in Songguo Village!

So no matter what Chu Xun asked him to do, Zhang Sanchun would do it.

Because he knew that Chu Xun was definitely right!

The other one is Miss Lin Qiaoxi, who is beautiful and kind, and will buy him candy triangles to eat.

Therefore, he would do whatever Lin Qiaoxi asked him to do without hesitation.

Because he knew it was his duty.

Lin Qiaoxi wanted the stars in the sky, but that was just a joke.

Unless one is an immortal who can reach for the moon in the heavens, who can pluck the stars from the sky?

Zhang Sanchun had gained a glimmer of hope from Chu Xun, and now that it was within reach, he would not stop no matter what.

He crossed fields and waded through ditches; even the densest forests could only tear his clothes and leave fine scars on his body.

Bloodstains covered his body, yet he did not stop.

Despite being in a sorry state, their belief remained firm.

The hot air he kept inhaling made his chest feel like a blazing furnace.

Her whole body turned bright red as a result.

I don't know how far we ran, maybe twenty miles, maybe fifty miles, maybe more than a hundred miles.

He ran until he was delirious, moving only by his belief.

Ahead, a new field appeared, and Zhang Sanchun saw a large pit there.

In the pit, a palm-sized, dark rock, radiating billowing heat, lay quietly.

He stopped beside the pit, then knelt down and bent over.

With his calloused hands, he lifted the stone with all his might.

It's very heavy, at least several tens of kilograms.

The stone was so hot it was smoking from his palms, but Zhang Sanchun held it tightly in his arms and wouldn't let go.

He grinned and laughed silently.

This must be the star that Chu Xun was talking about.

He got it!

The honest-looking man, carrying the heavy meteorite from outer space, turned around and walked towards Pingshui Town.

The bright moon lowered its gaze, and a dark cloud was blown in by the wind, as if to block its view.

But it was blown away in an instant.

The moonlight suddenly became even brighter, illuminating the way home.

Take it one step at a time.

He's not a fool.

He's just an honest man.

The next day.

Lin Qiaoxi, who had been crying all night, was summoned to the main hall by Lin Guiwan.

The matchmaker came again this morning, saying that Lord Liang would personally propose marriage within three days at the earliest, and that he should be prepared.

Although it was a daughter's wedding, when the prefect came to visit, all sorts of formalities had to be prepared.

Lin Guiwan was extremely excited. Being able to climb the social ladder by associating with the prefect meant his status in the Lin family would rise dramatically in the future.

Even the tailor was called in to order a wedding dress for Lin Qiaoxi as soon as possible; this was something that could not be taken lightly.

Lin Qiaoxi's eyes were swollen like walnuts from crying, and she refused to say anything.

Lin Guiwan tried everything to persuade him, but to no avail. Frustrated, he stepped forward, raised his hand, and slapped him hard across the face.

"Do you know how long our family has waited for this opportunity! If you marry into this family, you'll be someone important, and our whole family will benefit! How can we disregard the entire family for your own personal preference!"

Lin Guiwan was furious; he couldn't understand how his daughter could be so selfish.

Is your happiness more important than that of your whole family?

If you won't marry the prefect's son, who else do you want to marry!

Lin Qiaoxi's cheek swelled up quickly. Having been pampered since childhood, this was the first time she had ever been hit.

That slap, and Lin Guiwan's angry expression, made her suddenly understand.

She was favored not because of anything else, but simply because she was good-looking.

Marrying a high-ranking official or nobleman can bring great benefits to one's family.

At that moment, she thought of Zhang Sanchun again.

In the whole world, only Zhang Sanchun would do something for her without expecting anything in return, willingly boiling stones for her.

Even knowing it's impossible, he's still willing to do it.

But where are the others now?

Where did he go when I needed him most?

At this moment, Zhang Sanchun walked wearily towards the entrance of the Lin residence.

He had been running all night, traveling countless miles back and forth, and now he had no strength left.

The stone he was holding was incredibly heavy, and his arms and legs were trembling.

When the gatekeeper saw him return, he was covered in tattered clothes, dried scabs, and mud, looking like a beggar.

He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Zhang Hanzi, what foolish thing have you done this time to get yourself into this state?"

Zhang Sanchun ignored his joke and instead grinned, gesturing to the stone in his arms: "I'm going to pluck stars for the young lady."

The gatekeeper was taken aback, then looked at the black stone he had brought back, and then burst out laughing.

He really is an idiot, that's for sure!

Zhang Sanchun stepped into the Lin residence. Along the way, the servants and maids all laughed at his appearance.

No one cared about his feelings; after all, Zhang Sanchun had never been angry no matter what he said or did in the past.

Zhang Sanchun got used to it, and so did they.

Before long, Zhang Sanchun arrived outside the hall and heard Lin Qiaoxi crying. He quickly went over.

Lin Guiwan raised his hand again, angrily scolding, "So selfish and self-serving! I'll teach you a lesson today!"

Zhang Sanchun mustered some strength in his legs and rushed forward to block her way: "Master, if you want to hit someone, hit me instead. Miss is precious; you absolutely mustn't hit her!"

Lin Guiwan was furious and slapped Zhang Sanchun across the face.

"Mind your own business! You're acting like a beggar, and what are you carrying? It's filthy!"

Zhang Sanchun neither resisted nor dodged, and took the slap head-on.

Then he said hesitantly, "This is a star I picked for you, Miss."

Lin Guiwan got even angrier when he heard this and kicked him directly.

What bullshit about stars? You're an idiot, and you think I'm an idiot too?

Zhang Sanchun was kicked backwards repeatedly, and having little strength left, he fell to the ground with a thud.

The stone rolled out of her arms, spun around on the ground a few times, and came to Lin Qiaoxi's feet.

Lin Qiaoxi looked down at the stone at her feet, then looked at Zhang Sanchun, who was covered in wounds.

Although she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she could imagine how much suffering this fool had endured.

Wanting the stars in the sky is just a joke; no one takes it seriously.

Just like boiling a stone into an egg, only Zhang Sanchun believed it and then did it.

Does it matter whether this stone is a star or not?

unimportant.

Whatever it is, it's a star that Zhang Sanchun plucked and gave to her.

Lin Qiaoxi bent down, picked up the heavy stone, and walked to Zhang Sanchun with tears in her eyes, saying something that surprised everyone inside and outside the house.

"If I had to marry, I would marry Zhang Sanchun."

"If you, Father, are unwilling, I will go to the county government to petition for a severance of ties!"

"Even if I'm beaten to death on the spot, I'll have no regrets!"

According to the laws of Jing State, if there is a feud between relatives, they can report it to the government to sever their ties.

If an elder reports a crime and it is found to be the younger person's fault, the younger person will be fined one hundred taels of silver and given thirty strokes of the cane.

If a junior reports this, regardless of the reason, he shall be punished with one hundred strokes of the cane!

Demoted to the lowest social class!