Chapter 118

The old lady looked at Tonglin who came in from inside the room and hesitated to speak. She sighed and asked, "Are they quarreling again?"

Tonglin nodded awkwardly: "Miss Semanli went to see the master, and ran into the master chatting with Miss Gan Ying..."

The old lady sighed again and said, "I told her long ago that Yunkai didn't want to get married, but she refused to believe it. She came to live with Yunxiang for a long time, thinking that she could fall in love with Yunkai over time. Was it the first day she knew Yunkai? If she could fall in love, she would have done it long ago. How could this child be so stubborn, wasting her own blooming time in vain? Think about Yueming back then, who walked away when the marriage didn't go through. It was a bit cruel, but I have to say with admiration that this child is decisive and can stand up to things."

After saying that, he thought of another niece who had been very close to Yun Kai recently, and asked Tong Lin: "Yun Kai and Gan Ying seem to get along quite well. Do you think he will..."

Yun Kai, who stormed in, interrupted her unfinished words. Clearly furious, he didn't even bother to be polite. He turned to the old lady and said, "Mother, how long will Se Manli stay with us? Doesn't she have a home of her own?"

The old lady hadn't heard him talk like a child in such a quarrel for a long time. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Who has offended our master like this? Tonglin, go and pour him a cup of cold tea to cool him down."

Tonglin also smiled and said, "Master, please sit down first. I will go and pour you some tea."

Yun Kai sat down angrily and complained to the old lady, "You knew I was annoying her, but you still let her stay for such a long time."

"What are you saying in anger? Myanmar is now occupied by the Japanese. Your aunt sent Gan Ying here just in case. Can I send Semanli back to Qingdong at this time?" Speaking of her niece Gan Ying, the old lady was silent for a while and said, "It has been more than two years since you took the throne. You, a dignified chieftain, live worse than the slaves of Boguang Village. You don't even have anyone who understands you. I think you and Gan Ying get along quite well..."

Yunlai looked at her warily: "Don't be like Semanli and make wild guesses! Gan Ying and I were talking about her family's textile factory in the new city, nothing else. Besides, how old is Gan Ying? She's still a child!"

The old lady didn't care about Yunkai's denial. Since they had something in common, they would have other things in the future. 16 years old wasn't young anymore. She was two years older than Yueming back then!

After Yun Kai finished his complaint and returned to his study, Feng Xiaosai came in with a letter and reported, "Sixth Uncle Yang is back. Young Master Shi Yue asked him to bring you last quarter's dividends. They're still deposited in the bank owned by Second Young Master Luo. You can cash them in Kunming."

Yunkai opened the envelope, revealing a deposit receipt and a letter. Looking at the letter and receipt reminded him of Yueming. He had assumed that Lan Yingde, furious at the failed marriage, would tear up the contract they had signed for him. However, the partnership continued, with the military continuing to use their goods and even placing additional orders.

Thinking about the chaos in Myanmar and the precarious domestic situation, he picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Su Shiyue.

My brother Shi Yue:

I'm so grateful for your letter! The Japanese invaders have invaded our territory, and the patriotic men of Yunxiang have united to defend our homeland. The enemy's strength remains undiminished, and the future is uncertain. If we defeat the enemy, I will return alive to see my friends. If Yunxiang is defeated, I will die on the battlefield, my body buried in the wild. My heart is made up, but my heart is still with Yueming. After breaking off the engagement with my foolish brother, Yueming has disappeared, and I miss her deeply. If I ever meet her again, I beg Brother Shiyue to take care of her and protect her, to atone for my regret.

My foolish brother Yunkai pays homage to you.

He sealed the letter with wax, handed it to Feng Xiaosai, and instructed him, "Take it out as soon as possible."

Feng Xiaosai took the letter but did not leave. He stood in front of the table, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Yun Kai raised his eyes and asked, "Anything else?"

"I've received word that the officials in the government office are very unhappy about your plan to join forces with the garrison to fight the Japanese. They've already asked the Buddhist master at the official Buddhist temple to persuade you during tomorrow's meeting."

All the troubles were thrown together, and Yun Kai, already unhappy, was furious. With a sweep of his arm, he swiped the paper, pen, and inkstone from the table to the ground, and said angrily, "You short-sighted fellows! The Japanese are almost at your doorstep, and you're still trying to stay out of it. Tomorrow's meeting is cancelled. You come with me to the Guanfo Temple to inspect the renovation of the main hall. I want to see how the Guanfo Temple's Buddha Master will disobey me after consuming my family's offerings."

It had been a long time since Yun Kai had behaved in such a furious manner. Feng Xiaosai wanted to persuade him but didn't know where to start. He lowered his head and murmured "yes" in a low voice, then hurried out to ask someone to take the letter.

The Master of the Official Buddhist Temple was in a dilemma. He had already agreed to form a united front with the Lang Masters to oppose the Master's alliance with the garrison. Yun Kai had assumed that he had postponed today's meeting to come to the Official Buddhist Temple to gain his support, but Yun Kai didn't mention it at all. He simply glanced at the temple's main hall, nodded, and sighed, "The last time the temple was renovated was when I was four or five years old. It's been over twenty years, so it's time for a proper renovation. The Master doesn't have to go through the trouble of begging for alms from village to village. The Tusi Mansion will cover the costs of the renovation."

The Buddha had observed the mundane world for so long that he surely understood Yun Kai's intentions behind his generosity. He was troubled for a moment before finally letting it go.

He was originally a person from the outside world, and his only wish was to serve the Buddha. As for the rest, he should just turn a blind eye!

"Thank you for your generosity, sir. Your merits will benefit the people of Yunxiang."

Yun Kai was very satisfied with the Buddha's compromise, so he offered to take him on a tour of the temple and personally explain to him how the entire temple should be rebuilt, and Yun Kai readily agreed.

Walking to a side hall behind the main hall, he stared at the paint-peeled gate in amazement: "Does this also need renovations?"

The Buddha nodded and said, "This place has been empty, just piled with miscellaneous items. I'm thinking of turning it into a lecture hall to make it easier for believers to receive Buddhist teachings."

Yun Kai's brows darkened slightly, but returned to normal after a few breaths. He smiled at the Buddha and said, "I also studied in the Official Buddhist Temple and learned to read. I am very familiar with this place. The Buddha is busy with his affairs, so there is no need to accompany me."

The Buddha was surprised at how the master, who had just been so cheerful and cheerful, suddenly changed his expression. Turning his head, he saw Feng Xiaosai beside Yun Kai making a "Let's go!" gesture to him, so he tactfully said his goodbyes.

Yunkai climbed the steps, weeds growing in the cracks, and Feng Xiaosai stepped forward to help him open the door. The room was dark, but Yunkai immediately spotted a piece of turban, its color no longer discernible, thrown on the stone platform.

The girl's clear voice rang in my ears: "Hurry up and wipe it off. Your whole body is wet. Be careful not to catch a cold."

"I was a little scared, but I still wanted to touch it."

"It won't hurt you. If you don't believe me, touch its eyes."

Everything in front of him was blurry, but the girl's face, pale from the cold wind and full of confusion and shyness, was remarkably clear.

Yun Kai blinked his eyes, and two lines of tears slid down his face. He choked and said to the girl: "I miss you, do you miss me?"

The most despairing thing about love is that you can’t go back, but you can’t get out of it either.

If I had known it would be so heartbreaking, I would have never met you in the first place.