Zhang Xinwu, who had been boasting with great fanfare, sobered up instantly the moment the woman finished speaking. He then stood up and said somewhat subserviently, "Why have you come over today?"
Zhan Dundun looked up and saw a charming woman walk in from outside. She was a strikingly beautiful woman, her allure not stemming from delicate features, but from the harmonious proportions of her form.
Her height was perfectly balanced with her voluptuous figure, and her fair skin, combined with every graceful movement, exuded the elegance refined by the passage of time.
Such a refined woman seemed out of place at this barbecue stall, thus drawing many curious glances.
However, the woman showed no disdain. She walked to the table and was about to sit down when Zhang Xinwu quickly bent over to wipe the chair for her.
The woman smiled faintly, not refusing. After Zhang Xinwu finished wiping, she sat down gracefully.
She then turned to Zhan Dundun beside her and said, "Hello, my name is Lin Lanzhi. What's yours?"
"Ah..."
Zhan Dundun finally reacted and quickly stood up, saying, "Hello, my name is Zhan Zhongxiao."
"From the Zhan family in Rongcheng?"
"Zhan Guoliang's son," Zhang Xinwu added from the side.
"Guoliang's son? Then you should call me Aunt Lin." Lin Lanzhi's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and her expression became even more enthusiastic.
"Aunt Lin," Zhan Dundun complied readily.
"Good boy. I see you've sustained some injuries. This is for you, a small token of my acquaintance." Lin Lanzhi took a white jade bottle from her bag and handed it to Zhan Dundun.
Zhan Dundun did not reach out to take it immediately but looked at Zhang Xinwu.
"Take it. Lanzhi also knows your father. Accept it as a gift from an elder; it can help heal your injuries," Zhang Xinwu said.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Dundun reached out and took it.
He then tilted it curiously, and the pills inside clinked against the bottle wall.
"Take it now. It will help your recovery," Zhang Xinwu instructed.
Zhan Dundun heard this and opened the bottle. Had Zhang Xinwu not said anything, Zhan Dundun opening it rashly would have been impolite.
Zhan Dundun poured out a perfectly round pill. The exterior was crystal clear, while the inside was a dark red. It resembled a bodhi seed and was quite beautiful.
Zhan Dundun popped it directly into his mouth. He didn't believe they had any ill intentions. If they truly wanted to harm him, he currently had little power to resist, so there was no need for such underhanded tactics.
Besides, his panda clan had a unique physique. In ancient times, they were known as "iron-eating beasts." Modern people might think ancient people were less knowledgeable, but in reality, pandas after transforming into demons could indeed consume metal and iron, absorbing their properties to strengthen themselves. It just took them a long time to digest.
Therefore, Zhan Dundun harbored a wish to someday consume some titanium alloy and evolve into a Titanium Panda.
"Wait." Just then, Zhang Xinwu grabbed his wrist.
"What's wrong?" Zhan Dundun asked, looking confused.
"You child, why are you so reckless? This outer layer is wax, and you're eating it without removing it?" Zhang Xinwu said speechlessly.
Zhan Dundun suddenly realized that the shiny outer layer was indeed wax, primarily used to seal the medicinal properties.
Zhan Dundun somewhat sheepishly crushed the wax coating. Instantly, a delicate fragrance wafted into his nostrils. He felt invigorated, and even his injuries seemed to have eased considerably.
He wasted no more time, swallowed it in one gulp, and immediately felt a warmth rise from his abdomen, spreading to his chest. His injuries immediately felt much lighter.
"Truly a good medicine," Zhan Dundun couldn't help but praise.
"Of course. Linzhi's alchemy skills are among the best in the demon race," Zhang Xinwu said with a sense of shared pride.
"Thank you, Aunt Lin. Thank you, Brother Zhang," Zhan Dundun said quickly.
"You're welcome. Sit down and continue eating," Lin Lanzhi said with a smile.
"You child, you really don't understand propriety. Your father and I are of the same generation. You should call me Uncle Zhang, not Brother Zhang."
Zhan Dundun: ...
You were the one who suggested it.
Zhan Dundun roared inwardly.
However, he wasn't foolish and now understood what was happening.
He quickly changed his address to "Uncle Zhang."
"Ah," Zhang Xinwu replied happily, but his gaze was fixed on Lin Lanzhi beside him.
Meeting Lin Lanzhi's gaze, his expression tightened. He scratched his head and asked, "Would you like to have some?"
Lin Lanzhi shook her head and stood up. "I saw you and young Zhan knowing each other from a distance earlier, so I came to meet young Zhan. Truly a young hero."
"Not at all, not at all..." Zhan Dundun scratched his head sheepishly.
Lin Lanzhi sighed, "In the past hundred years, our demon race has seen a decline in talent. It's rare for the younger generation to possess such strength. If you ever need anything, you can find Big Monkey, or you can find me."
Lin Lanzhi pulled out a business card, which Zhan Dundun quickly took.
The "Big Monkey" she mentioned was clearly referring to Zhang Xinwu.
"Yes, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me," Zhang Xinwu said, patting his chest vigorously.
Zhan Dundun quickly expressed his gratitude, thinking why he wasn't as forthright earlier.
He was even more curious about the woman's identity.
Seeing Zhan Dundun accept the card, Lin Lanzhi turned to Zhang Xinwu and said, "Big Monkey, I'll be heading back now. You two go ahead and eat."
"Ah..." Zhang Xinwu opened his mouth, wanting to ask her to stay, but no words came out.
In the end, he simply said, "I'll see you out."
Saying this, he helped pull out her chair.
Lin Lanzhi smiled slightly at him, picked up her bag, waved gently to Zhan Dundun, and turned to leave elegantly.
Her mature and charming allure made Zhan Dundun stare blankly for a moment, waving back foolishly.
Zhang Xinwu stood at the stall, lost in thought, until he could no longer see Lin Lanzhi's retreating figure before turning back.
"Aunt Lin and you are...?" Seeing Zhang Xinwu's demeanor, Zhan Dundun became even more curious.
"Drinking." Zhang Xinwu plopped down, picked up the wine bottle on the table, and downed it in one go.
That wasn't the end of it. He drank three bottles in a row, his cheeks turning flushed. Then, with blurry, drunken eyes, he slurred, "It's all that stupid cow's fault... What's so good about humans? Weak as chickens, short lifespans... Why like one person... Isn't a monkey good?"
Zhang Xinwu spoke intermittently and unclearly.
However, Zhan Dundun could still piece together some of the events.
Lin Lanzhi was likely someone Zhang Xinwu admired. Unfortunately, she had married a human back then, and a certain bull demon was involved in this, which made Zhang Xinwu resent the bull demon.
Lin Lanzhi's husband had also passed away long ago, not from old age, but from sacrificing himself on the battlefield. However, he died without ever knowing his wife's true identity.
There must be a complex and touching love story behind it, but Zhang Xinwu's drunken, muddled speech only made Zhan Dundun more curious.
"He can't even sort out his own affairs, and he still wants to introduce me to someone?" Zhan Dundun said helplessly, looking at Zhang Xinwu, who had passed out on the table.
But then he suddenly realized that with Zhang Xinwu passed out, what about the stall?
Moreover, just then, customers arrived.
"Boss, five people. Please bring us the menu."
Zhan Dundun: ...