Chapter 22 Restraint
King Chen also knew that some things could not be pushed too hard, so he gave the Tang family three days to consider.

After he left, the third master of the Tang family was covered in cold sweat and sat down dejectedly.

"Prince Chen is definitely not a wise leader. If we follow him, we will undoubtedly be courting disaster. But if we refuse, I'm afraid the Tang family..." Lord Fu sighed.

Hai Gong was also very upset and said, "The Tang family has been really unlucky lately."

At this point, Nong Gong also said, "Yes, I don't know where the King City Commander learned this vicious trick. He opened the city gates and allowed those hungry victims outside the city to enter the city for relief. As a result, our Tang family is now suffering losses and can only sell the stored grain at a low price!"

Duke Fu asked hurriedly, "I haven't asked about this matter in detail. If the city magistrate does something foolish, will the people in the city be willing to do it?"

"Of course, the people of the city did not agree and went to the city magistrate's mansion to make trouble, but he already had a plan to deal with it. He said that the court had agreed to open the granaries to release grain and sent General Huo to supervise the matter, so there would be no chaos."

"So, we have a reason, but who would have thought that the city magistrate is a corrupt official. He feeds people with water and porridge every day, and he is just using the grain from the charity warehouse to keep the hungry people alive."

"You also know that once people are desperate, they will take risks. I just heard that the high-priced grains of the Liu family grain store were looted not long ago. The Liu family went around crying and describing their miserable situation. The whole city shouted to kill all the unscrupulous merchants, and all the rice shops were scared and threatened."

"What's hateful is that the city magistrate stayed indoors, and General Huo just said it was just a rumor. In the end, most of the merchants and shops in Jiangling City had to reduce the price of food to appease the people. In the words of the city magistrate, they were in the same boat and overcame the difficulties together."

"It's such an obvious calculation, can't they see it?" Lord Fu's face was gloomy.

Nong Gong said helplessly: "Everyone can understand it, but what does it matter if you understand it? Just like the current problem, should we give in to save our lives, or perish together? The hungry people are pariahs, and the barefoot are not the only ones who wear shoes, but what about us? Are we willing to risk it?"

For a moment, they fell silent again.

At this time, Lord Fu suddenly asked: "Do you remember what Xu Shanshan said before he left Shangqiu?"

Tang Gengnong recalled for a moment and said uncertainly, "A meteoric rise or ruin in one thought?"

Fu Gong sighed and said, "Yes, that's it."

Tang Gengnong seemed to be thinking about something.

Hai Gong thought it was ridiculous: "Brother, you are so foolish that you believed Xu Shanshan's lies so easily? She just learned some mysterious words by following the fortune teller, otherwise how could she have deceived so many people?"

Lord Fu was too lazy to argue with him about this. Although he also felt that he was "trying everything possible", Xu Shanshan was, after all, the last disciple of the divine fortune teller. She was just seeking fame, but there was no guarantee that the divine fortune teller had left her some hidden cards.

"By the way, where are the people from Jiashan?"

Lord Nong met Lord Fu's eyes and said, "Brother, you are planning to call him Jiashan..."

Lord Fu solemnly instructed, "Second brother, this bad luck may be the backlash of breaking off the engagement. In any case, you should ask Jiashan to take Xu Shanshan back to the Tang family first."

-

Tang Gengnong came to the Buddhist hall and saw through the window that Jiashan was concentrating on transcribing something with a stack of clean manuscripts beside him.

In the hazy light, the Buddhist incense curled up, forming a warm glow, while also outlining the bright lines around him.

"Jiashan."

Jiashan raised his eyes, put down his pen, raised his sleeves and stood up to greet.

"Mr. Nong."

Tang Gengnong patted his arm and asked caringly, "You have been staying indoors for the past two days. What have you been busy with?"

He walked to the table, leaned over, picked up a book, and flipped through a few pages: "Buddhist verses? The Platform Sutra?"

Jiashan nodded: "Mr. Nong, is there something wrong?"

Mr. Nong put it down and said, "Nothing, I just came to see you. How have you and Xu Shanshan progressed recently?"

"She said she would be very busy in the next two days and told Jiashan not to bother her." Jiashan said in a calm voice.

Mr. Nong laughed: "She told you not to go... so you really won't go?"

Jiashan was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

"You don't know...women always say one thing and mean another. What if she is just testing you?"

"She won't." He said calmly.

When Mr. Nong saw that Jiashan mentioned Xu Shanshan this time, he was not as disgusted as before, and his mood became much calmer and easy-going. Was this change due to his higher "cultivation" or because his relationship with Xu Shanshan had eased a little?

"Forget it, you two can solve your own problems. But you are engaged to her. Since she has come to Jiangling City, we should also fulfill our duties as hosts and not neglect her or be impolite."

"Well, don't mention us, just say that you want to invite her to the Tang family, understand?" Mr. Nong specifically reminded him.

Jiashan glanced at the manuscripts of famous Buddhist scriptures on the table and said, "This is not her first day in Jiangling City."

The implication is that if someone shows you kindness for no reason, he is either a traitor or a thief.

Jiashan raised his eyes and his silent gaze fell on Nong Gong. He suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if his pair of clear light brown eyes could reach deep into people's hearts.

Knowing that some things could not be hidden from him, Nong Gong sighed with a heavy face and said: "...In fact, our Tang family has encountered a great disaster."

Jiashan understood as soon as he heard it.

"Do you believe her?"

"Believe it or not, you only need to take a test to know."

-

The next day, Jiashan waited for Xu Shanshan at the agreed time and place.

But when she arrived, he was stunned for a moment. She was no longer wearing a plain, old, wide gown, but a plain silk skirt, with a small pet green-haired, red-eyed parrot on her shoulder.

The tailoring of this dress is exquisite and clever, and the smooth lines fit the woman's slim figure better. The neckline is embroidered with exquisite patterns, and the elegant pattern is outlined with silver threads, adding a sense of delicacy and luxury.

The large sleeves of the robe are tightened at the arms, wide in front and narrow in the back, perfectly showing a sense of elegance and solemnity.

Just two days and a change of clothes made him feel that the "Xu Shanshan" in front of him seemed a lot more unfamiliar.

"Good man."

Her familiar, gentle call inexplicably made his heart tighten.

"Why do you always call me a good person?"

Xu Shanshan raised a mischievous smile in his black eyes: "Because you said you would help me to be good. People who care about others and are willing to do good are good people, aren't they?"

He didn't care what she called him. After knowing the reason, he just let her go.

"What have you done these past two days?"

He observed that her aura was very strange and complex, with light air condensed and turbid air dissipating slowly. There was also a faint smell of blood on her body, but there was also a faint protective golden light wandering and lingering in the darkness.

She said calmly: "I killed some people and saved some people."

He looked at her with his eyes that were always deep and dark, and couldn't tell whether she was lying or serious.

"What about you?" she responded politely.

"I have been copying Buddhist scriptures for two days. The Buddhist scriptures contain the Buddha's supreme wisdom. The Buddha uses various methods to save sentient beings. Reciting and copying more will benefit your mind."

The content of their conversation was two extremes, but neither of them seemed to think there was anything wrong.

"So you're done with your work?"

"Almost, what's wrong?"

Jiashan pursed his lips slightly and said, "Then are you willing to follow me back to Shangqiu... to copy and recite Buddhist scriptures?"

Xu Shanshan: “…”

What a special invitation! Just listening to it makes me feel like my soul has been purified.

-

Jiashan brought Xu Shanshan back to Shangqiu and took her to the Buddhist temple as soon as possible, demonstrating to her with his own actions how serious he was about helping her to become a good person.

Looking at the pile of freshly written manuscripts on the desk, Xu Shanshan pretended to be embarrassed.

"Good man, I am very touched by your kindness, but I can't read."

She looked at him innocently.

Jiashan obviously hadn't considered this: "You can't read?"

She laughed: "Why? Do I look like someone who is well-read and knowledgeable?"

It does look like it, but Jiashan doesn’t want to answer such a meaningless question.

"In that case, I will read it to you word by word."

"Then I'm not very grateful."

He sat quietly with his eyes closed. The eternal lamp in front of the Buddha illuminated the steep and protruding nose bridge of his nose. He turned his rosary beads and calmed his mind.

Xu Shanshan came to his side and dragged over a cushion, imitating his way of worshiping Buddha.

He first said: "Everything is Dharma, everything is nature."

Xu Shanshan asked: "Then the law is nature?"

He was concentrating on reading, but when he saw that she was trying to understand, he could not help but open his eyes.

“Zen is like nature,” he explained.

After a moment's thought, she said, "All things are one, and freedom is like Zen. Isn't Zen in this colorful and ever-changing world?"

Jiashan was slightly stunned.

He originally thought that a cruel person like Xu Shanshan would have a very poor understanding of Buddhist verses, but unexpectedly, she could not only understand the content after hearing it for the first time, but also comprehend it thoroughly.

A strange light flashed in his brown eyes, and his lips could not help but bend into a gratified arc: "You have understood the Zen of life."

So it turns out that only she understood his heart, so he would smile like this?
Xu Shanshan's gaze was slightly aggressive.

He smelled so good that even a string of nine-purple phoenix eyes were marinated in the aroma.

"Shan, control yourself, don't do anything!" Maomao was so anxious that he fanned her with his wings.

Xu Shanshan looked down and realized that his "claws" were already half extended...

"It seems that there is no law in Jingguo that severely punishes the crime of molesting monks?"

Her eyes suddenly darkened, a hint of smile escaped from her eyes, and she turned evil.

(End of this chapter)