Chapter 626: Birthday (Part 1)
As he spoke, he gestured for Li Yuan, who was sitting on his right, to report the situation.
Li Yuan stood up and opened the booklet: "Lord, the total population that has moved into the Blood Abyss Plane is over 24.53 million. The resettlement work has been basically completed."
"They are mainly settled north of the Great Wall, and their current main tasks are building roads and reclaiming farmland."
He turned a page and continued, "Among them, 2.64 million young people aged thirteen to eighteen were all given leave of absence to practice the 'Bone-Breaking Staff Technique'."
"In the past four months, more than 50,000 people have reached the Great Perfection of their cultivation. With the addition of the acquired disciples of the Demonic Sect who have surrendered, the total number of Qingyang acquired martial artists trained in the Blood Soldier Gathering Camp has reached 460,000."
Lin Feng nodded and asked, "Are you having any difficulties with supplies?"
"No." Li Yuan closed the booklet, his tone firm.
"The Beacon Guard brought back a large amount of supplies from the Blood Abyss Plane. With the full support from the Beacon Territory, the supply reserves are quite sufficient to support the consumption for the next two years."
"Okay." Lin Feng gestured for him to sit down.
He looked around and slowly said, "For the next six months, the territory will remain in a period of stable development. This is a rare period of relaxation for all countries of Blue Star since the Nightmare World's invasion."
Therefore, I've decided to add an extra month of leave in the next six months, in addition to the regular holidays, so everyone can take some time to rest.
After the words were spoken, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in an irrepressible burst of joy.
Feng Qingyan was the first to jump up, excitedly shouting, "Long live the Lord! Finally, a long vacation! I'm going to visit every country on Blue Star. I've heard that Pearl Island in the East Sea is absolutely gorgeous, and the Flaming Mountains in the Western Regions..."
Wang Wu rarely chimed in, saying, "I'm planning to go to the south to find a quiet place to fish, so don't bother me."
Arroweye glanced at him: "You're fishing? Can you sit still?"
"I have to sit, whether I like it or not," Wang Wu said seriously. "The lord told everyone to relax, so I have to give it a try."
Tie Dun grinned foolishly: "Great! I can finally go back to my hometown and get a good night's sleep. I'll also turn over my few acres of land and plant some cabbages."
A nearby general immediately retorted, "Don't you usually sleep all the time?"
“That’s different. Normally I sleep while on duty, but now I get paid to sleep. It’s completely different.”
Lin Feng and the others chatted and laughed for a while before standing up: "Alright, that's the point of today's meeting. Everyone, please get some rest."
Six months from now, there will be another war. After that, there shouldn't be any major trouble for the next nine years.
"Yes!" the crowd answered in unison, their voices carrying a rare hint of ease.
Lin Feng waved his hand: "Meeting adjourned."
...
March 31, 3231, evening.
Lin Jianguo was busy in the living room, putting several folding tables together and then covering them with tablecloths.
He bent down, carefully examining the corner of the table, muttering, "This table looks quite big normally, but it's not big enough when there are many people."
In the kitchen, Wang Xiulan and Su Yurou had been busy all afternoon.
Steam rose from the stove, and the ribs simmered in the pot, their aroma wafting out through the crack in the door.
Wang Xiulan placed a plate of braised pork on the table, then turned to get bowls and chopsticks, urging Su Yurou, "Yurou, wash that vegetable again, Xiaofeng and the others will be here soon."
Su Yurou responded, her hands never stopping.
She was dressed casually today, wearing a light blue apron, her hair tied back with a hair tie, and a few stray hairs hanging down beside her ears.
The doorbell rang.
Lin Jianguo wiped his hands and went to open the door with Wang Xiulan.
A large group of people stood outside the door, with Jiang Zhaoyue and Jiang Yelan at the front, one looking heroic and upright, the other aloof and calm.
Behind them were Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Jian Yan, Feng Qingyan, Wang Wu, and others, all carrying things in their hands, including wine, fruit baskets, and wrapped gift boxes.
"Uncle Lin! Aunt Wang!" Jiang Zhaoyue and Jiang Yelan spoke almost at the same time, one with a clear voice and the other with a cold one, but both with the respect of juniors meeting their elders.
Wang Xiulan was stunned for a moment.
She had heard her son mention these two names before and knew that they were the legion commanders of Fenghuo Territory, with thousands of troops under their command.
But when she actually saw them, her first reaction was, "These two girls are really beautiful."
"Oh dear, Miss Yelan, Miss Zhaoyue, come in quickly, come in quickly!"
Wang Xiulan quickly stepped aside, "And everyone, come in, don't stand outside."
Lin Jianguo nodded repeatedly, gesturing for them to come in and sit down: "Come in and sit down."
The group filed in and placed their gifts beside the coffee table.
Gift boxes, wine jars, fruit baskets, and several potted plants quickly piled up into a small mountain.
When Tiedun was putting something down, his hand slipped and he almost knocked over a box next to him, but Jianyan caught it with quick reflexes.
"Take it easy," Arrow Eye said.
"I didn't do it on purpose," Tie Dun explained in a low voice.
Feng Qingyan had already moved closer to the dining table, taking a deep breath: "Wow, Auntie, this smells so good!"
"These are just some simple home-style dishes, please don't mind them," Wang Xiulan said with a smile and a wave of her hand.
Everyone quickly responded, "Auntie, you're too kind!"
Home-cooked dishes taste the best!
"I haven't had such authentic home-style cooking in ages!"
Everyone sat down around the long table that had been put together. Since there weren't enough chairs, they brought a few more from the study.
Just then, outside the villa, a figure descended from the sky and landed on the lawn.
Lin Feng withdrew the faint light around him and looked up at his own window.
Inside, the lights were on, shadows were moving about, and laughter could be faintly heard.
He was a little puzzled. What day was it today? He was having a great time outside when his parents suddenly called and told him to come home. They sounded quite anxious.
He went around to the front door and saw Lin Jianguo standing on a ladder, hanging a colorful ribbon on the wall.
The old man held double-sided tape in his hand, sticking it on crookedly, with one end of the ribbon drooping down.
"Dad, what's wrong today?" Lin Feng asked from below.
Lin Jianguo glanced down at him, his hands still moving: "What's wrong? It's your birthday today."
Lin Feng was taken aback.