Chapter Thirty Ask You

  The old man walked slowly down from the mountain, took over the handkerchief handed by the old servant to wipe his sweat, and looked at the Xuanmiao Temple not far away.

  People keep coming in and out of the Xuanmiao Temple.

  "Master, but you've helped them a great deal." The old servant couldn't help but say.

  If it weren't for the old master's gift to everyone in the city, who would know about this mysterious tower? Even if they knew, no one would give it a second glance.

  "A good wind can only borrow power." The old man wiped his sweat and said, "How far you can go still depends on your own real ability."

  This mysterious view is indeed exquisite in making pastries, and also exquisite in doing things. I suppose with this good luck, one can rise to great heights.

  Opportunity is mysterious and subtle.

  "Master, we should head back to Beijing. Shall we also pick up some mooncakes and the like to bring back?" asked the old servant.

  "I'm afraid it's not available now." The old man said with a smile, pointing at those who came out of the Mysterious Temple, "You see, they are all very disappointed. Obviously, Sun Xiangu is devoted to her practice and is not moved by worldly things."

  The old servant also looked back and smiled along with them.

  "This fairy maiden is indeed clever," he said, "However, if there isn't anyone else's, then there won't be ours either."

  The old man did not say yes or no, and the two of them slowly walked down the mountain. When they arrived at the donkey cart, they saw someone standing beside it, and both were stunned for a moment.

  "Ban Jin?" The old servant shouted, "You...?"

  Haven't you left?

  "Great Grandfather." The young girl paid her respects, her eyes red and puffy, but a smile on her face.

  The old man's expression was also slightly surprised.

  "This is going to be thousands of miles away," he said.

  "Yes, I've already told the young lady just now, and she's delighted too." Yingtai said, "At that time, I left home directly without saying a word to the young lady. My heart was really worried and couldn't put it down, but I didn't dare say anything, fearing that Master would misunderstand me as being unwilling to come. Unexpectedly, Master is wise and sent me to see the young lady, I'm extremely grateful."

  The old man looked at her with a profound smile.

  "So it seems I was wrong, you're not pining for your old master, but rather uneasy about meeting someone new?" He said with a smile, as he sat down in the carriage.

  The girl's expression flashed with a hint of melancholy.

  "I am a slave, I followed the young lady previously, did cleaning and washing, whatever the master's family asked me to do, I did it with all my heart. She said, looking up at the old man with a smile, "The master asked me to serve the young lady, I served the young lady wholeheartedly, the master asked me to serve the old master, of course, I also want to serve the old master wholeheartedly, although it's hard to part with, but can't forget my duty."

  The old man smiled but did not speak.

  "The young lady was also delighted, and she said that the most delightful thing in the world is to know how to use people well. If I were to stay at home, I would be a servant girl for my whole life. The master likes my skills, so I will definitely become more skilled. In the future, when I have improved, this old master of mine will also enjoy good fortune. The young lady asked me to thank the master on her behalf first, and when the time comes, don't be stingy and not give us food."

  The old man burst out laughing.

  "Alright, alright," he said, "Together we'll be blessed, together we'll be blessed."

  The old servant was delighted and took over the whip.

  "In that case, Master, there's no need to go find Sun Xiangu and ask for some dried fruits and pastries." He smiled and said, "We have a stash at home that we can't finish eating."

  The old man laughed, and the young girl also laughed.

  "Oh, and there's one more thing." She thought of something and hurriedly said again, taking another look at the Taiping Palace, "It was a servant's boldness to invite herself uninvited."

  The old man looked at her and nodded.

  "Master must know that my mistress is ill and cannot move around easily. She likes to listen to people telling stories, so I was wondering if Master could find a maid who can read and write for her." The maid said with some anxiety, not waiting for the old man to speak, she quickly added, "These words should have been told to Master by me, but I'm afraid Master would think that I'm intentionally causing trouble. In the end, not only would we not be able to find such a maid, but also Mistress would be unfairly blamed."

  The old man laughed again.

  "Then you're not afraid I think you're deliberately causing trouble?" He smiled and said.

  "Master is not that kind of person." The servant girl said immediately, "Master saw me being heartbroken, not only did he not scold or drive me away, but instead brought me here to see the young mistress. Thank you, Master, you are a good person, it's my fortune to follow you."

  The old man looked at her with some sighs.

  "He said, 'Your family has a daughter like you, and that's considered good fortune.'"

  No matter how thorough he was, this matter would be unsolvable. If he didn't take the girl away, Old Master Cheng would definitely become furious and humiliated. Although he had instructed himself that for the time being, he wouldn't do anything to the girl, but eventually, he would have to leave, and even if he could protect the girl for a while, he couldn't protect her forever.

  Unexpectedly, this girl actually changed her mind. Could it be that I really misjudged her? She wasn't reluctant to part with her old master, but rather truly wanted to bid farewell in person as she said?

  Or was this something she was taught by others?

  The old man looked towards the Temple of Heaven.

  Interesting, interesting.

  Jiangniang gazed down at the mountain, motionless for a long time.

  "Daughter, don't be sad." Sun Guan said, unable to bear it, "The weather is cooling down, let's head back."

  "I'm not sad," said Jingniang, turning her head to look at her with a slight curve of the corner of her mouth. "This is pretty good."

  Sun Guanzhu's expression was dismal as he looked at her with a bitter smile.

  This child must have gotten used to finding joy in hardship.

  "For her, with me by her side, that's all she needs. Go to that family, those people will be shocked, delighted and hold her in high esteem." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Even a mediocre orange crab that hasn't even reached the basic taste can be eaten as if it's an extraordinary delicacy, it's clear that they haven't seen much of the world and are easily satisfied.

  Sun Guan seemed to understand and yet not understand.

  "Besides, I've said it before, eating, dressing, living and traveling, eating is the simplest, anyone can serve me, let alone now that I can take care of myself." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Sun Guanzhu responded with a loud "Ah", first saying congratulations.

  "The young lady's body is a bit better," she said. "However, how can we let the young lady take action herself, us people."

  Jiang Nang nodded.

  "Now I just want a girl who can read and write." She said, looking at the mountain below. "I want to read books and write words now, it's just right that the old man wants to enjoy his life, so let's exchange them, isn't this a good thing for everyone?"

  She looked at Sun Guan after she finished speaking.

  Sun Guan's expression was somewhat complex.

  So it was, well, it's really not a sad thing.

  The two of them turned around and walked towards the mountain gate, with a sudden burst of laughter behind them.

  "Wait a moment."

  The two turned back and looked at the old man who was approaching with a somewhat surprised expression, of course, only one person was surprised.

  Sun Guan personally handed over the water and then knelt down beside him.

  From start to finish, Sun Guan never said a word more, and when serving tea or pouring water, he also treated the woman with respect.

  Old Man Zhang made up his mind.

  "Look at this cleverness earlier, now it's even more ingenious." Old Master Zhang said with a smile, withdrawing his gaze and focusing on Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "That's Old Master Huiyan." said Cheng Jiaoniang, slightly bowing her head in thanks.

  "This is a shameful thing to say." Old Master Zhang shook his head with deep meaning, "I was blind, I was blind. Just now I told Banqin that a gentleman does not take away what others love. When I said that, I thought taking care of the young lady was Banqin's good deed, but now I realize it was actually the young lady who took care of Banqin."

  Sun Guan nodded slightly.

  Finally someone understands, here, who is really in charge.

  "It's just human nature, Old Master is being too modest." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Old Zhang nodded.

  Everyone thought he was a fool, who would have thought that this foolish child could regain his intelligence.

  "Thank you, madam," he said, turning the bowl of water in his hand and slightly furrowing his brow. "But I'm not sure, is this move of yours out of helplessness or ruthlessness?"

  This sentence suddenly emerged, like a stone thrown into the water, splashing water flowers and breaking the originally calm and peaceful lake surface.

  A helpless person invites sympathy, an unfeeling person invites dislike.

  Who are you?