Chapter 754 Junior Brother, Thank You
After drinking a bowl of tea before bed, Song Chunxue woke up early and went to the outhouse.
As she came out of the outhouse, she heard two old women chatting in the kitchen.
"Do you and the Taoist priest sleep in the same room?"
"Otherwise what? They didn't come back that night and went to the inn. It's obvious they've gotten together. Do you still want them to sleep in separate rooms?"
"It's good that it's done, but it's not official or recognized, and it's not dignified if word gets out."
"What does dignity matter? We adults and Taoist priests are not ordinary people. Why should we care what others say? As long as we know our own feelings, that's enough."
"But people care about their reputation, just as trees care about their bark. If you go into crowds, you're bound to be gossiped about. The Taoist priest has three sons, don't they care?"
"You worry too much. Other people don't mind, so why do you?"
"I just feel it's a pity. Such a good official as you, if only you had a son, he would surely pass the imperial examinations in the future. It's a pity that the Taoist priest was unwilling to have children and even made Chunshu cook contraceptive soup. What a tragedy."
"If you don't have children when you're young, and you want to have them now, even if I were Master Song, I wouldn't be willing. Others already have five children; it would be terrible to have more."
"But since she cares about you, she should bear you children. Isn't that how a woman lives with a man?"
"Pah! You've given birth to so many children for your man, and he didn't appreciate it at all? He still took a concubine who wouldn't even look at you twice, and he's spending your money to raise the concubine's children. How shameless!"
"Zhao Xiao'e, don't go too far. I offended you and you're bringing up my shortcomings. Is Master Song your mother? Why are you protecting her like this?"
"She's capable in both the living room and the kitchen, and can even appear and disappear like a ghost, practicing swordsmanship and cultivating Taoism. She could be my grandmother. You're just a good-for-nothing who only knows how to have children and keep concubines for your husband. It's one thing to be a good-for-nothing yourself, but you also want others to be good-for-nothings with you. You just love to suffer and can't stand seeing others better than you, right?" The woman called Zhao Xiao'e said sarcastically. "You took that contraceptive soup, didn't you? If I see you being indecent next time, I'll tell the adults."
Hearing this, Song Chunxue raised her eyebrows. Did she not like her contraceptive soup?
Damn it, if anyone gets her pregnant, I'll chop off their arm!
"I didn't touch you..."
Upon seeing Song Chunxue step into the kitchen, the two old women who had been speaking earlier suddenly stood up.
Song Chunxue glanced at the person who was looking down and dared not look at her, and knew that the other person must be Zhao Xiao'e.
"Sister Zhao, if you see anyone taking my contraceptive soup without permission next time, just tell me." She glanced at another woman, vaguely remembering that her surname was Fan, "Go on with your work."
"Yes, Master Song."
She went to her room and sewed the edges of the quilt, which was not yet finished, and stitched it twice with thick thread to prevent it from shrinking together when she used it.
During breakfast, Liu Chunshu came in, whispered something in Xie Zheng's ear, and then quietly left.
Xie Zheng looked at Song Chunxue, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.
"What's wrong?"
Xie Zheng placed a bottle on the table. "This was given to me by that venerable master. I've already taken the medicine, so you won't need to drink the contraceptive soup anymore."
Song Chunxue joked, "Just to be on the safe side, I'll have a little too."
“I don’t care about having children, and I won’t let you suffer at this age. No matter what others say, my intentions will not change.”
"I know, I know, don't worry, I didn't take it to heart," Song Chunxue picked up a small steamed bun and handed it to him, "Eat this."
"I'll deal with that old woman Fan. Tomorrow, pick two women who can keep their mouths shut."
Song Chunxue was surprised; she hadn't expected him to be so decisive.
"No need. I think she won't say anything more after today. If we send her away, she might have trouble finding work in the future."
Song Chunxue didn't take the matter to heart. She was still thinking about helping out at her second son's house in the next couple of days, as getting a wife was the most important thing.
Xie Zheng's concern was that the people in the courtyard would gossip, and gradually she would not want to stay in the courtyard anymore.
Absolutely not.
This matter should be handled by Liu Chunshu, so that Granny Fan will stay away from Chunxue in the future.
If you can't control your mouth, that's your own problem, and you can't blame others.
*
Upon arriving at the mountain, Song Chunxue found her senior brother, who was teaching Tu Dan'er how to draw talismans.
"Uncle-Master!" Tu Dan'er ran over enthusiastically and took Song Chunxue's arm. "Uncle-Master, it's so hard to see you these days. Changfeng and Changyun often think of you. Please come to the mountain more often in the future."
Song Chunxue took out a packet of candy from her bosom. "Okay, I'll come to the mountain often in a few days."
Tu Dan'er happily stuffed the candy into his pocket, grinned, and leaned close to her, whispering, "I heard you and Lord Xie got married. How is it? Is Lord Xie treating you well?"
Song Chunxue tapped his forehead. "That's good. Cultivate well and learn skills as soon as possible so that you can find a Daoist partner in the future."
"Huh?" Tu Dan'er rubbed his forehead, looked at Zhang Daozhang and then at Song Chunxue, a look of joy appearing on his face. "I can find a Daoist partner too?"
Song Chunxue looked at Master Zhang, "He didn't learn your cultivation methods, did he?"
“No,” Master Zhang put down his brush and looked at her seriously, “Haven’t you grown up? What are you doing back here?”
"Is Senior Brother still angry? Anyway, there's no escaping this. That Huoxiang guy is a good person, not as treacherous and cunning as the rumors say. He's genuine, just like Tudan and the others, quite childish. How about we drink together next time?"
Master Zhang didn't speak. He lifted his robe, sat down, turned around, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained silent.
Tu Dan looked at Song Chunxue and asked in a low voice, "Did you talk back to my master?"
"You go ahead and do your work. I have something to discuss with your master." Song Chunxue was worried that her senior brother's anger would frighten her junior brother.
Despite his seemingly good-tempered demeanor, Song Chunxue sensed from the way he yelled at people yesterday that he could be quite fierce when he got angry.
"Oh, okay." Tu Dan'er walked away, turning back every few steps, as if afraid they would start fighting.
Song Chunxue looked at the brand-new table. The talismans on the table were all in good condition, but Tu Dan'er's drawings looked like scribbles.
Song Chunxue touched her nose; her senior brother was rather frightening when he wasn't talking.
She placed the medicine bottle on the table. "Senior brother, say something. It's strangely quiet. I'm getting anxious."
After a long while, the Taoist priest sighed.
"What's the panic? Do you think I'd hit you?" the Taoist priest said irritably. "You're not some country bumpkin. You're my junior brother whom I took in halfway through life. It's normal for you to be disobedient."
"..." These words were even more painful to hear than being insulted.
“Senior brother, I think that Lord Huo is quite trustworthy. You should drink your medicine first and go into seclusion as soon as possible. Once you've recovered, you'll be able to handle any situation. I'm doing this for my own sake. If we encounter an unreasonable person who challenges us, I'll need you to be the one to handle it.”
The Taoist priest took the golden spoon off his neck. "Keep it. I'll take the medicine. I'll find a place to go into seclusion."
"Where are you going? Who will bring you food?"
“I will bring Tudan’er with me. I will return in forty-nine days,” Master Zhang said in a deep voice. “You are right. I cannot fall. I must recover as soon as possible.”
"Junior brother, thank you so much." His eyes welled up with emotion, a sense of relief washing over him. "Thank you for enlightening me, and for insisting on saving me. Actually..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
