Entangled Love GL - Chapter 6
The Buddhist shrine is on the second floor of the Pavilion of Wind. Underneath the Pavilion of Wind is a hall that goes straight through. Stairs on both sides lead up, sandwiching a large, open square hall. Inside, there are four prayer cushions, two perennial lamps, and one statue of Guanyin.
Yang Mei respectfully offered three incense sticks, knelt down close to the statue, and said, “Guanyin Bodhisattva above, your humble servant is here with no other request, only asking that one person not be harmed by my father, but be obtained by me.” After praying, she bowed solemnly three times, stood up, returned to Duan Min’s side, and put on a smiling face again.
“Min-jie, in this matter, your ability is much greater than the Bodhisattva’s.”
Duan Min stared at her for a moment and said, “Since Miss Yang is willing to be frank, why not speak more clearly?”
Yang Mei sighed, “Do you insist on calling me Miss Yang? I dislike that title the most.” She paused and continued, “My family matters are complicated and can’t be explained in a short time. You only need to know that my father deserves his punishment, and you don’t need to save him. This Pavilion will inevitably be taken over by me soon. With my second brother’s temperament, even if my father cultivates him for a few more years, he won’t be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility.”
Duan Min quietly watched her, waiting for her to continue.
Yang Mei was unconsciously wearing a serious expression. Realizing it, she smiled, “Min-jie and I have a connection. Originally, I was prepared to follow Advisor Xue’s advice and arrange for someone to kill you. But yesterday, when you left, you actually looked back at me, which momentarily moved me to compassion. Then, I thought that talent like yours is rare, and it wouldn’t be bad if I could use you.”
“So it was that dangerous.” Duan Min vaguely remembered turning her head to look back before leaving this place, but she hadn’t seen Yang Mei, nor had she noticed that someone was watching her in the light and shadow of the setting sun.
“It just so happens that I didn’t want to stay at home and listen to my father’s shouting, so I told him I would come and watch you for him.”
“And he believed you just like that and agreed?” Duan Min smiled, very coldly.
“Even if he didn’t believe me, he had to agree.” Yang Mei still spoke with a smile, “Most people in the Pavilion are mine. I just don’t want to tear up the relationship with him yet.”
“It would be best if he just died like this.”
Duan Min moved aside a little, as if unable to bear the gloomy aura in front of her, and slightly frowned, “Do you hate him that much?”
Yang Mei looked over sharply, “He killed my mother.”
Duan Min avoided her gaze. Every family has its own grievances, and she didn’t want to interfere. She only asked what was immediately relevant, “You want me not to save him… to be used by you?”
Yang Mei calmed her emotions and smiled again, “Yesterday I only valued your medical skills, so I only thought about using you. Now I also admire your character. It would naturally be good if you could be used by me. Even if you can’t, as long as you don’t help others, I won’t make things difficult for you.”
Duan Min looked at her without speaking.
Yang Mei then said, “I plan to stay here for a few days; you can consider it slowly. This Pavilion happens to be short of an honored guest. If you can come, I will certainly not mistreat you.”
Duan Min stood quietly. The flame in one of the perennial lamps suddenly made a ‘pop’ sound, and the light dimmed. Duan Min walked over and used a long needle to adjust the wick. Her figure appeared particularly frail under the lamp, giving off a graceful and delicate air.
Yang Mei stood where she was, watching Duan Min. Although she had spoken a lot without a response, she didn’t feel slighted. She just thought, with a personality like this, how many people must she offend?
Yang Mei followed and gently tugged on her arm, “I truly know that the world is unfair, and it is many times harder for women to achieve things than for men. I feel pained just thinking about you supporting a single clinic by yourself.”
Duan Min turned her head and looked back at her, smiled, and sighed, “You actually have the interest to cherish and pity a delicate woman like this!”
Yang Mei simply took another step closer, curved her eyebrows, and chuckled, “With a ‘fragrant jade’ in front of me, who can help but cherish it! Min-jie, if you could be understanding of my sentiments, Amitabha, my wish would be fulfilled!”
What is most different about the mountains compared to the city is the sound, especially in spring, where bird calls and insect chirps fill the air. Yang Mei woke up amidst the chirping and trilling, pushed open the window, and looked out. Dozens of birds had gathered in the courtyard, flying and hopping around, very lively.
Xiao Nian was holding a winnowing basket in her hand, scattering rice grains everywhere, which attracted many sparrows to chase and clamor.
By the well next door, Master Jing Ci was drawing water. Three empty buckets and four full buckets were lined up at her feet. Master Jing Hui was carrying the water bucket by bucket to water the vegetable garden outside.
In the corridor opposite, Reverend Yuan Chang was sweeping the floor with a large broom made of dried grass, one stroke at a time. The kitchen door on the side was wide open, with smoke faintly visible.
Seeing the scene before her, Yang Mei felt she had indeed woken up late. She quickly put on her clothes, simply combed her hair, and hurried out.
Xiao Nian was the first to see her and happily laughed and jumped, “Xiao Mei, come quickly and look! So many birds!”
Ping Ping had cooked a pot of porridge, set up seven sets of bowls and chopsticks on the square table in the hall that went straight through, and then turned back to the kitchen to get preserved vegetables.
Yang Mei couldn’t find Duan Min anywhere and was about to ask, when Ping Ping had already filled a plate with preserved vegetables and placed it on the table, calling loudly towards the Pavilion of Listening to the Dawn, “Min-jie, time to eat!” After a while, Duan Min came down from the second floor, holding dozens of rolls of bamboo slips.
Xiao Nian ran over to meet her, holding the empty winnowing basket, “Ah Min, put these here! Let’s wash them together!”
Duan Min put some down for her, “Okay, let’s eat first, and then we’ll wash them together later.”
Breakfast was plain porridge and pickled radishes cut into strips. Yang Mei’s stomach had long been empty, and eating the plain porridge made her feel completely refreshed. The crisp, fresh, and salty pickled radish also became an absolute delicacy.
After the meal, Ping Ping collected the bowls and chopsticks to wash them, and the masters all went to the Buddhist shrine. Master Jing Hui stopped Xiao Nian, “Today’s morning lesson is the Chan Xing Fa Xiang Sutra. Come and listen.”
Xiao Nian looked at Duan Min with longing eyes. Duan Min reached out and patted her hand, “Be good. The upstairs hasn’t been tidied up yet. I’ll wait for you to come back before washing.”
Hearing this, Xiao Nian nodded happily and followed Jing Hui.
Yang Mei followed Duan Min towards the Pavilion of Listening to the Dawn, asking with interest, “Min-jie, what are you tidying up? Let me help you, okay?”
“Good, I appreciate the help.” Duan Min led her to the second floor and pushed open the door of the second room on the right.
Inside the door was practically a world of its own, with spiderwebs everywhere and dust flying. The room was very deep, with a dozen or so bookshelves lined up vertically, stacked layer upon layer with bamboo slips. Some were neatly tied, others were casually spread out, and all were covered with thick dust.
“What are these?” Yang Mei was truly surprised. Paper had replaced bamboo slips for a thousand years. If these were ancient books, it was a considerable collection. However, would someone collect things this way?
“These are all books my father copied during his lifetime.” Duan Min walked in without changing her expression, her black hair immediately turning greyish-white, choking her and making her sneeze three times in a row.
Yang Mei was a little hesitant and followed only after a moment’s delay, “Min-jie, the bamboo slips you had this morning weren’t taken from here, were they?”
Duan Min walked straight inside, “Those were the ones sorted out during the previous few visits and are kept next door.”
“So you plan to tidy up here today?” Yang Mei felt a slight regret…
Duan Min turned around and smiled, her eyes teary and her face covered in dirt, “I wasn’t planning to originally, but since someone is willing to help, tidying it up is a good idea.”