The gala’s finale had one more surprise. The drones changed formation, creating a "big screen"—a Rural Revitalization Talent Map that highlighted the inheritors of unique skills from all the surrounding villages.

There were blacksmiths, carpenters, bamboo weavers, drum makers, instrument makers, Peking and Sichuan Opera performers, masons, and more.

Many of these people were the masters who had performed that evening. Their families were also in the audience, and seeing this, they were all deeply moved. Some couldn’t help but wipe the tears from their eyes.

When the gala ended, organizers like Li Xiang, Jiang Cai’Er, Yao Yao, Zhao Xueqing, and Lei Xiaohui saw everyone off, saying their goodbyes one by one.

A director from the Culture and Tourism Bureau gripped Li Xiang’s hand, his palm surprisingly warm. "Major Li, how can you call this a village gala? This was an audiovisual nuke! Like putting *National Treasure* into a sci-fi film!"

He was quite worked up, pointing to the drone map still lingering in the sky. "Next year, our funding from the provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Center will definitely double, all thanks to this talent pool you’ve built!"

These people had always been here, but they were hidden away in the countryside. It was Li Xiang’s platform that gave them a chance to shine. Starting tonight, many of them would become famous.

Li Xiang’s village gala made local people famous, rather than just inviting a bunch of celebrities to perform.

Li Xiang replied humbly, "You’re too kind. I’m deeply honored to be able to contribute in my own small way to the county."

The director replied, "For our county to have produced a talent like Major Li, who excels in so many areas, it is we who should feel honored and proud."

The other leaders also came over one after another to shake Li Xiang’s hand and say their goodbyes.

Li Xiang was busy seeing off relatives and friends until well past eleven at night, when the crowds finally dispersed.

The next day, many of the performances topped the trending lists.

It was just a small village gala with only a little over thirty acts, yet eighteen of them became legendary, exploding across the internet and garnering countless views.

It was rumored that the peak concurrent viewership on Li Xiang’s livestream had broken two million, even surpassing the official CCTV Online Spring Festival Gala. Countless other streamers were green with envy, but there was simply no comparison.

Due to the many elements of intangible cultural heritage, the county leaders held a meeting and decided to designate the Li Family Village "Apocalypse-Themed Village Gala" as a demonstration project for innovative heritage preservation.

The people of Li Family Village were proud and excited. Their good name spread throughout the surrounding area—no, throughout the entire country.

"Xiang Ya has really brought honor to our Li Family Village," many villagers praised. They made sure to mention it whenever they came over to chat with Granny Li Xiang.

Granny Li Xiang, of course, was beaming all day long and felt incredibly gratified. Ever since her grandson returned, her life had undergone a dramatic change, and she was hardly ever unhappy.

Then there were people like Chen Huanhuan, and Li Xiang’s former classmates and colleagues. Many had watched the Li Family Village gala, and even those who hadn’t were flooded with clips of it on their social media. It would inevitably pop up while they scrolled through short videos.

After all, it was a traffic king, and every platform was promoting it heavily. It was impossible to avoid.

Chen Huanhuan was overjoyed. She reposted and liked a video of the Li Family Village gala with the caption: "Brother Xiang’s moves are absolutely insane! The GOAT!"

Luo Feifei also reposted it and interacted with Li Xiang online, making Jiang Cai’Er’s stomach churn with jealousy.

In Japan, at a hot spring inn on Mount Fuji, Chiba Yuki had also been paying close attention to Li Xiang. Last night, holding her two doll-like daughters, she had watched the entire gala, her heart filled with emotion.

"Godfather is amazing," Asatsuyu and Yukigiri said in unison, their eyes shining brightly. Their Chinese wasn’t very good, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the show. The two little girls were especially mesmerized when the cute pets performed.

"Yes, your godfather is truly an outstanding man," Chiba Yuki said, a trace of worry in her heart. ’No wonder Master didn’t devour me,’ she thought. ’It turns out he’s surrounded by so many beautiful women.’

She, on the other hand, was no longer a virgin and had already borne children. She couldn’t help but feel insecure.

Chiba Yuki silently mulled it over. ’My only path to gaining an advantage is through my endless gentleness. Also, as a mature Japanese woman, I’m more experienced in this area. I know all sorts of techniques and I’m far less inhibited. I can do many things that Chinese girls wouldn’t. That has to give me a competitive edge, right?’

"Your godfather is Sichuanese. Come, Mommy will teach you a Sichuanese word: ’bāshì’."

"What does ’bāshì’ mean?" Chiba Asatsuyu and Yukigiri asked.

Chiba Yuki smiled faintly and explained, "It’s the equivalent of ’saikō no shiawase’—supreme happiness—in Japanese."

Chiba Yuki felt that learning some Chinese, especially the Sichuan dialect, would be beneficial for the future.

...

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was clear and pleasant. Li Xiang and Jiang Cai’Er were in the backyard making candied fruit.

This wasn’t ordinary candied fruit, but "Nourishing Yuan Candied Fruit" made with gentle Spirit Grass.

He and Jiang Cai’Er didn’t need it, of course, but his grandmother, his maternal grandparents, and Jiang Cai’Er’s parents were all getting older. They had no chance of stepping into the Extraordinary realm, and they couldn’t "digest" High Tier Spiritual Medicine; in fact, too much would be harmful to them.

So Li Xiang decided to create a gentler, better-tasting "health food"—this Nourishing Yuan Candied Fruit. Eaten as a daily snack, it would prolong life and ensure good health.

He selected some gentle Spirit Grass and Spirit Fruits from his system’s warehouse, avoiding anything with even a hint of bitterness or harshness. He then paired them with ordinary nourishing ingredients like jujubes, goji berries, and honey to balance the properties of the Spirit Grass and enhance the flavor.

The Spirit Grass was first soaked in warm salt water to remove impurities and soften its fibers. Then, Li Xiang used his own Spiritual Power to gently refine the grass, reducing the intensity of its medicinal properties to make it suitable for ordinary people to absorb.

The processed Spirit Grass was then simmered over low heat with honey and rock sugar, using the sweetness to neutralize any lingering aftertaste from the grass.

The most crucial step was Spiritual Power permeation. By infusing a suitable amount of his Spiritual Power, he ensured the medicinal effects of the Spirit Grass were evenly distributed throughout the candied fruit.

Next came shaping and packaging. Once the candied fruit cooled, it was cut into pieces and wrapped in traditional edible rice paper.

After they finished making the Nourishing Yuan Candied Fruit, Li Xiang and Jiang Cai’Er tried some. They had to admit that after being refined with Spiritual Power and simmered in honey, it was much more palatable and incredibly delicious. Its nourishing effects were, of course, top-notch—something you couldn’t buy for any price.

Li Xiang and Jiang Cai’Er made a full eight large boxes of it, and before the New Year, they went out to deliver them as gifts. They gave some to Jiang Cai’Er’s family and his maternal grandparents, and his Little Aunt also received a share.

His Little Aunt and her family had been staying at Li Xiang’s house but returned to the county seat after the village gala.

His Little Aunt was a local, after all, so after getting a boost from Li Xiang’s success, she bought a pre-owned apartment in the county seat and was now busy moving in. She still had her home back in Ruili, but now she could split her time between the two. Owning a home in her hometown had always been her dream, and she planned to retire there one day.

Before they left, Li Xiang gave his cousin’s girlfriend and his Little Aunt’s stepdaughter each a red envelope containing 2,000 yuan. It was the first time the two girls had visited his home, after all; how could he not make a gesture of welcome?

The two girls were overjoyed to receive the thick red envelopes and said repeatedly, "Thank you, cousin! Thank you, cousin!"

With the New Year approaching, Shen Wenqian and Shen Zimo had also returned home. During their stay at his house, Li Xiang had given them Spiritual Medicine and taught them the Breathing Technique. How far they could progress was up to them. After all, a master can open the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. Such things were highly dependent on one’s innate talent.

Of course, whenever Li Xiang had free time, he would still guide them carefully. They were his own cousins, after all.

Besides the Nourishing Yuan Candied Fruit, Li Xiang also gave other gifts, such as boxed sets of Australian lobster and tuna sashimi. The ingredients, of course, came from his warehouse collection, but he bought the gift boxes himself to make the presents look nicer. He included ice packs as well.

For Jiang Cai’Er’s family, he added a Spirit Grass Eight Treasures Cake, presented in a woven bamboo food box tied with a ginger-yellow tassel. For his maternal grandparents, the gift box included a special Ginseng and Deer Antler Honey Wine in a white porcelain jar painted with pines and cranes, a symbol of longevity.

He hadn’t given his Little Aunt’s family venison before, so this time he also gave them an extra thirty kilograms of venison and forty kilograms of wagyu beef. That way, they wouldn’t need to buy any meat for the New Year festivities.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, it was time to retrieve the wine.

Li Xiang didn’t go into town to get it. Instead, he headed for the National Style Tavern. The cellar there was storing the persimmon wine and Spirit Wine he had brewed earlier.