Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“Come on, let’s drink!”
“This food is quite good, I especially love the braised pork.”
In the bustling tavern, Ye Lingling was staring blankly at the ledger, lost in thought.
Just then, a man entered, accompanied by seven or eight servants. He glanced around the tavern, walked up to one of the men, and said impatiently, “Get out of the way, this seat is mine.”
The man recognized the newcomer as Wei Changxing, the eldest son of the Wei family, and had no choice but to suppress his anger and immediately stand up to offer him a seat.
The servants quickly wiped the table and chairs aside, and Wei Changxing finally sat down.
Ye Lingling, realizing what had happened, and said to the man who had been ushered away, “Sorry, sir, this meal is free.” She then instructed the waiter to bring him two jugs of wine, and the man’s expression softened as he left.
In the business of a shop, the most important thing was to make the customers feel comfortable.
“Boss Ye,” Wei Changxing said, resting his chin on his hand and looking at her with a nonchalant air, “Come, sit down.”
Ye Lingling sat down opposite him without changing her expression. “What brings you to my humble shop today, Young Master Wei?”
The food and wine were served at this moment. Wei Changxing had drunk two cups of wine, and his face looked even more agitated. “It’s all because that charlatan Wen Shu ruined my plans. He went to my father and gossiped about me. Not only did I get a scolding, but I also lost my beauty. Fortunately, I had pretty much had my fill of her.”
Wei Changxing was notoriously womanizing, and Ye Lingling didn’t want to provoke him. She had seen countless suggestive glances, just like his at this moment.
Seeing that Ye Lingling didn’t speak, Wei Changxing wasn’t annoyed. After looking her over twice, he smiled frivolously and got up to sit next to her.
“Seeing how hard you work running your tavern,” Wei Changxing said, “why not come with me? I’ll guarantee you’ll live a life of luxury and wealth.”
He hadn’t dared touch her before because of Wen Shu, but now that it seemed Wen Shu had grown tired of her and found someone else, he couldn’t let the opportunity pass.
“Young Master Wei is joking,” Ye Lingling said stiffly, her face pale. “I’m of lowly birth and ill-fated; I’m afraid I’m not worthy of you.”
The Wei family was the richest in Jian’an City, with abundant resources and influence, far beyond what her small tavern could compare to. If Wei Changxing made a move, her tavern would be shut down in an instant.
She disliked Wei Changxing’s character; if she followed him, she would be discarded sooner or later, and she didn’t even need to think about what would happen then.
If she became Wen Shu’s wife, she would never have to live in such fear again.
Dodging Wei Changxing’s outstretched hand, Ye Lingling gritted her teeth and made her decision.
A strong wind whipped up dust and sand, causing branches and leaves to sway and flowers to droop. The air was thick with the earthy smell of dust, and dark clouds blanketed the sky, casting a gray gloom over everything.
“Boom—” A muffled clap of thunder echoed across the sky, followed by a torrential downpour.
Although You Xu often accompanied the elderly man living alone, Wen Shu, she didn’t visit him every day, rain or shine. Generally, she wouldn’t go when it rained; as the stone steps on the mountain were slippery and posed a safety hazard. You Xu had tripped and fallen once when she first arrived, leaving her with a psychological aversion.
Glancing at the misty world outside, You Xu closed the window and lay back in her rocking chair, cracking sunflower seeds.
Only a little over a month remained of their five-month agreement. You Xu could sense a change in his attitude towards her, but it wasn’t enough. She pondered how to deliver a powerful remedy.
She hadn’t yet come up with a good breakthrough. Well, quantity would lead to quality. From now on, she would cancel her days off on rainy days and work overtime to improve her sense of time.
Having made up her mind, You Xu got up and dressed, then said to He Xiang, “Prepare an umbrella.”
He Xiang asked in surprise, “Madam, you’re going out in such heavy rain?” She used to be too shy to ask too many questions, but lately she found Madam more and more agreeable, and as a maid, she felt much more relaxed.
“Well, only by braving the wind and rain can one see the rainbow,” You Xu said casually, “I’m going to see the rainbow now.”
He Xiang was amused by her serious demeanor, then said with concern, “Then be careful on the road, Madam.”
You Xu took the umbrella and went out. The downpour came quickly and went quickly; the rain had lessened considerably, and many small streams had accumulated on the road. Her light blue shoes were slightly wet.
“Drip, drip—” Raindrops fell in strings onto the oil paper, making a crisp sound.
A gust of wind blew, and the rain slanted in. You Xu lowered the umbrella, but half of her body was still quite wet.
When she arrived at Shanyuan Temple, You Xu closed the paper umbrella, and the rainwater on it gathered at the tip before disappearing into the ground.
“Benefactor You, you’ve arrived today.” The young monk at the gate greeted You Xu with a smile. You Xu was always polite and enthusiastic when she came, often handing out small trinkets. Many monks in the temple had changed their opinion of her and treated her quite kindly.
You Xu looked up and smiled, “Ranzhi, it’s your turn to stand guard at the gate today. May I ask if that Miss Ye has come?”
Ranzhi nodded, “Yes.”
You Xu wasn’t surprised. When it came to truly going through thick and thin, Ye Lingling was undoubtedly the best. There were always young ladies coming to see Master Wen Shu, but there were still some inappropriate things. Some monks consulted Master Xuanjing, who simply said, “Let the circumstances take their course.”
Since Master Xuanjing had said so, the monks naturally couldn’t say anything. Over time, everyone got used to it. Besides, without Wen Shu, Shanyuan Temple might not be so prosperous. Many people came and spent lavishly, improving the temple’s accommodations. More money was thus donated to the poor, accumulating merit and good deeds.
After exchanging a few words with Ranzhi, You Xu headed towards Guili Garden, greeting many monks along the way.
When she arrived, she knocked twice, but the door wouldn’t open. Usually, as long as Wen Shu was there, Guili Garden was unlocked, and she could enter directly after knocking twice.
You Xu knocked several more times, but still no one answered. It seemed Wen Shu wasn’t there, but wasn’t Ye Lingling here? Ranzhi said she hadn’t left yet, and she hadn’t seen her coming from the temple gate.
Ye Lingling should be in Guili Garden, but if Wen Shu was also there…
Oh no!
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