Chapter 161: I know you mean well, but please don't be kind yet

Half a string of cash?

Turns out they came to ask for reward money.

But after that person left, they also went out and early on learned where the Celestial Master was headed!

Ciyun Daoist Temple, Purification Dharma Assembly.

Outside this door, almost everyone is talking about this; nowadays, it seems no one in the whole city is unaware.

Even earlier, the two of them had almost reached the assembly's gate, but were driven away for not knowing the rules, so they turned back to the inn, letting Chinu hurriedly write a petition......

Du Shanü previously hardly ever worshipped deities, and only now learned——

As long as one is human, going to the temple to attend the assembly isn't enough to go empty-handed; one must write a petition.

The so-called petition, also called a memorial or document, is a 'prayer letter' written to the deities on yellow paper, stating name, birthdate, address, and the reason for the request, such as blessings, disaster relief, or salvation, so the deities know the wish.

The requirements are so strict, yet the crowd is enormous.

Surely the Celestial Master isn't absent from the assembly today, right?!

Du Shanü raised her eyebrows and spoke first:

"Are you referring to the Purification Dharma Assembly at Ciyun Daoist Temple?"

Chen Er came rushing in, hoping to use the news he'd heard from passersby earlier, and then get some reward money from this young couple who could afford good lodging and were interested in the Celestial Master.

One tael of silver is too much; they might not give it.

But if they were willing to give half a string of cash, to him that would be a great fortune.

Half a string of silver cash is a full five hundred wen; a decoction for Mother costs thirty wen, and boiling the dregs back and forth could keep us from worrying about money for a long time.

Perhaps then the illness will gradually improve.

If it improves, we could save a few coins to buy rice.

Mother would have medicine to drink and rice to eat.

He wouldn't have to grit his teeth and stubbornly work as a pawnshop assistant, occasionally getting beaten and scolded, and being sent out to steal things.

He... he still wants to learn a trade, so he won't be bullied, nor will Mother be bullied.

Life will get better.

Life, will gradually get better.

When he arrived, he had believed that life would surely gradually get better.

But......

But, they already knew all along.

Ciyun Daoist Temple, Purification Dharma Assembly, the Celestial Master's whereabouts......

They had long known already.

The reward money is gone, there's no hope for medicine, and of course no hope for rice.

After thinking it over, he still has to return to that pawnshop, kneel before the proprietor, and explain why he didn't steal the jade and why he didn't go to work today......

Perhaps he'll still get a beating.

Perhaps that beating will be like that snowstorm years ago.

Snowflakes weighed on his shoulders; his father initially felt his body was still sturdy, able to endure it.

But those two words 'fate' behind the snow, no one has ever been able to resist.

Inside and outside the house all was quiet, only occasionally could one hear a faint commotion from downstairs.

That was the sound of guests staying at the inn calling for tea, alcohol, and dishes.

This inn is quite large; in the city it counts as expensive.

A bowl of braised pork with xiangcai costs 120 wen.

Those likely staying here have fairly ample pockets, and there are still many diners......

The greasy meat aroma differs greatly from the filthy stench of that dirty lane.

Those who order food and drink, and the people in that dirty lane......

Naturally, they are also different.

Chen Er slowly lowered his head, revealing a neck almost skin-and-bones thin.

In Du Shanü's view, she could only see that disheveled man lower his head, seeming dazed for a few breaths, then raise his head again, forcing a smile at the corners of his mouth and say:

"Yes, yes, I misunderstood."

"I'm really sorry, both of you...... I'm leaving now, right now."

Indeed, he had misunderstood.

Five hundred wen would certainly be good; he had indeed figured out how to use it.

But he could only use it once the money was in hand.

No matter how well he planned, doesn't he lack the fate for it?

Chen Er tried to close the door before him, but when he reached out he found his hands and feet were very stiff.

Du Shanü watched the man fumble with the door for a long time, still unable to shut it; she tilted her head to look at the petition Chinu had written, then thoughtfully looked at the man, and finally called out to him:

"Wait, I just thought of something: my wife and I still need to stay a few days in Zhoufu, but since we've just arrived, we don't really know the city's roads......"

"If you have free time, why not come work a few days for us? We won't let your labor go to waste—I'll pay eighty wen per day."

In the dark, that voice sounded like heavenly music.

Chen Er's hands and feet were already ice-cold; hearing this, he stared blankly for a good while before realizing what he had heard——

Work.

The beautiful young woman before him actually wanted to hire him for work!

In Zhoufu there are originally more people than jobs; after the earlier flood, displaced families from the outskirts moved into the city to make a living, making wages even lower.

He had also barely managed to stay on as a helper in the pawnshop, but now he dare not return there, and his elderly mother at home is anxiously waiting for money to buy medicine......

Eighty wen a day—for someone like him who has no skills and no connections—this is an extremely good job!

Although he hasn't suddenly gotten rich, he did receive a reward of five hundred wen.

But as long as he does honest work and is a bit diligent, before long he'll surely be able to save up five hundred wen!

Chen Er could be described as overjoyed, nodding repeatedly.

He was overjoyed, wanting to keep smiling at the two people inside and say some pleasant words, but as soon as he opened his mouth, salty tears streamed down his cheeks into his mouth......

Bitter and astringent.

It made him unable to utter a word.

Du Shanü's gaze never left Chen Er; seeing him burst into tears, she unconsciously blinked once, feeling a sigh in her heart.

His sudden return to ask for a reward was somewhat opportunistic, and she actually didn't like it.

However, after testing him, his utterly lost gaze could not deceive anyone.

So she spoke again, saying she wanted him to work as a laborer.

If he were a lazy person with thievish intentions, he would surely not be willing to work.

But he, contrary to expectation, gladly agreed.

But he, contrary to expectation, started crying.

This world......

How is it that everyone suffers?

This principle, Du Shanü doesn't understand; no one can understand it—perhaps even Heaven itself doesn't.

Du Shanü barely managed to suppress her sigh, preparing to speak and tell them to get up and wipe their faces.

But before she could speak, she heard Chen Er suddenly kneel with a thud outside the door, continuously kowtowing and saying:

"Miss, you are truly a kind-hearted person!"

"To speak frankly, I actually didn't want to come steal chickens and dogs before, but I truly had no other choice......"

"You are good people, your husband is a good person; from now on, even if you two rock the bed all night, I will surely guard your door well—I, I want to guard your door for a lifetime!"

Chinu: "......"

Du Shanü: "......"

Other guests idly walking by, pushing the door to go downstairs: "......."

Oh oh oh, so last night's noise was from this room!

The guest came, the guest glanced several times, the guest left.

Du Shanü's face turned dark as iron, and she spoke in pain:

"Check out, I want to check out."

"Never mind the nonsense, let's check out first."

"Otherwise, this bed-rocking matter will truly never end!!!"

?? Actually, these two people, for a long time afterward, also couldn't manage to get a soundproof...... In the era with the worst soundproofing, they encountered the most flourishing Chinu and Shasha...... (cough cough, I feel like I'm inventing weird settings again)