Admiration
Upon learning that Jiang Yufan had arrived, Xu Zhian immediately sat up.
This person is a true bodhisattva; we can't be negligent. What would it look like to leave him waiting at the entrance of the county government? Xu Zhian was very considerate, but wasn't this kind of consideration just a way of luring him into a trap?
Jiang Yufan stepped into the county government office and stood beside Gu Sidu. Gu Sidu was very nervous: "Why did you come? This place is in deep trouble, you can't get involved."
"Don't worry, we'll all be fine," Jiang Yufan gave Gu Sidu a reassuring smile. "Don't you believe me?"
Jiang Yufan wouldn't be the one needing protection; she had her own methods. She hoped to stand shoulder to shoulder with Gu Sidu and solve the current problem together. But in Xu Zhian's eyes, their laughter side-by-side was a complete waste of time.
"What are you doing?" Xu Zhian slammed his hand on the table. "There are still people here."
Jiang Yufan turned to Xu Zhian and asked, "Lord Xu, why are you detaining my husband?"
The word "husband" immediately made Gu Sidu turn to look at Jiang Yufan, as did Xu Zhian. Only Jiang Yufan remained calm, but a closer look revealed her reddened ears. Right now, the important thing was to help Gu Sidu through this difficult time. They were husband and wife in name, so her words weren't problematic.
Xu Zhian was surprised that Jiang Yufan had actually come in person. What use could a mere woman be? He didn't take her seriously at all. He said to Jiang Yufan, "Even if you are the bodhisattva that everyone praises, Gu Sidu himself accepted bribes, and you also benefited. What else do you have to say?"
Can you prove that Gu Sidu did not accept bribes?
"Can Lord Xu prove that he accepted bribes?" Jiang Yufan remained calm, raising his head to look at Xu Zhian, his cold eyes flashing with light that intimidated Xu Zhian.
“Madam Gu, we can see for ourselves whether or not you are accepting bribes. Some things don’t even need evidence. Just bring out your family’s account books and let me see all the details. We can then discern the discrepancies clearly.” The advisor offered advice from the side, preventing a conflict between Jiang Yufan and Xu Zhian.
"If you really hand over my family's account books, then you'll all be considered part of my family, and you'll be allowed into my residence?" Gu Sidu refused, which is why he had been detained in the county government office. He was initially saddened that he might not see the Bodhisattva tonight, but he never expected the Bodhisattva to come looking for him.
Bodhisattva, his Bodhisattva, just now his Bodhisattva called his husband.
He now has a formal status.
Gu Sidu felt a warmth in his heart, but the situation remained deadlocked and unresolved. Gu Sidu wanted to end it and take the Bodhisattva home. He was about to reveal that his family was already wealthy, but Jiang Yufan stopped him from speaking.
Jiang Yufan stood in front of him and said to Xu Zhian, "Lord Xu, is it enough for you to just prove why our family is so rich?"
"Of course. As long as it can be proven that the money, apart from his salary, has a source, I will naturally let Lord Gu go home. You must understand that this is not me making things difficult for Lord Gu, but rather that Lord Gu, in order to win the hearts of the people, should pay more attention to his own character. Otherwise, if he rises too high, he will fall even deeper. At that time, Lord Gu will not be able to take care of himself, and he may even endanger his wife."
Every word was well-intentioned, yet every sentence was like a barb aimed at Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu.
Gu Sidu tugged at Jiang Yufan's sleeve, trying to calm her down and prevent her from falling into the bad guy's trap. If Jiang Yufan agreed to what was said, it would be dangerous if she couldn't keep her word.
Jiang Yufan said, "Okay!"
"It's all over," Gu Sidu thought. Even bodhisattvas are human and have moments of confusion. Gu Sidu himself was worried. He had lingered in the county government office for so long because he didn't want to involve Jiang Yufan. He himself didn't understand where the money in his mansion came from.
Before meeting Jiang Yufan, Gu Sidu's household finances were managed by servants; he could simply ask for money whenever he wanted. After arriving in Chang Le City, Jiang Yufan took over managing the money, and he didn't concern himself with it at all. He believed in the Bodhisattva, but he had absolutely no clue what to do.
At this moment, he also became curious. The Bodhisattva spoke so decisively, so did the Bodhisattva really obtain that money from a place that could not be spoken of?
Gu Sidu was also curious and waiting.
Jiang Yufan was confident. She clapped her hands and had the boxes brought in. The boxes should have been heavy, but they wobbled as they were brought in, as if the contents had been moved out and emptied.
Gu Sidu recognized the box; it was a box full of scriptures he had collected from various places, a gift for Jiang Yufan. At that time, he didn't know much about Jiang Yufan; he simply showered her with all the good things he could find.
These scriptures are quite rare; it took him a lot of money to fill a whole box. If a Bodhisattva loves reading scriptures, he would surely cherish them and treasure them like precious gems.
However, Jiang Yufan didn't like reading scriptures, so these were just goods that took up space.
Gu Sidu didn't expect that Jiang Yufan would bring this to Chang Le City as well.
"What are these?" Xu Zhian frowned. "A single box can bring you a lot of money?"
"Lord Xu must be crazy. How can a box generate money?" Jiang Yufan chuckled softly at the absurdity of Xu Zhian's words. She had someone open the box, and half of the scriptures inside remained.
Xu Zhian was ridiculed and embarrassed, so he stopped talking and pursed his lips.
"To be honest, it's a little embarrassing to talk about this, and I'm sorry that Lord Xu would have to laugh at me. These were scriptures that my husband found for me from all over the world in order to please me. Many of them were unique and only one copy was ever made. But he didn't know that I don't like reading scriptures, so these scriptures were left unused."
"When we arrived in Chang Le City, we were about to run out of food. If it weren't for Lord Xu's kind heart, who finally remembered that there was a dusty official residence for us to live in, I would have forgotten about this box of good things. So, I took out this scripture to pawn it, and naturally, I got a money steward."
“Lord Xu, those who understand this scripture regard it as a priceless treasure. You are knowledgeable and proficient in the Six Arts, so you should also know its value. I don’t need to elaborate.”
Having sold only half of the scriptures, he was already living such a good life. Then what was in this box must not be scriptures, but rather gleaming wealth. Xu Zhian looked at the scriptures inside, and sure enough, he saw a scripture that he hadn't been able to find. He involuntarily stepped forward, but was stopped by Daoyun after taking only one step.
"Daoyun, what are you doing!" The clerk was terrified, clutching his chest. "You're from the county government!"
“I belong to the Buddhist nun first, and then to the county government,” Daoyun said, understanding the situation. “The Buddhist nun and I grew up together, and I will not let anyone harm me in the slightest.”
"It's alright, Daoyun," Jiang Yufan said, but Daoyun stepped back. Following Xu Zhian's gaze, Jiang Yufan took out the scripture, walked up to Xu Zhian, and said, "If Lord Xu likes it, then this scripture is for you. These things are nothing of value to me."
"But Lord Xu, do you really have evidence to prove whether my husband has accepted bribes? Have you really investigated and found out if he is guilty of such a crime?" Jiang Yufan asked.
Xu Zhian understood Jiang Yufan's meaning; the scriptures were already in his hands, and the trouble was nowhere to be found. This was enough for Xu Zhian to let go, but Jiang Yufan wanted to add fuel to the fire.
“When I arrived, there were people at the gate who saw me. If I don’t take Gu Sidu out with me, who knows what the people will say tomorrow.”
A threat, that's a threat. A mere woman, yet she can threaten him.
"Fine," Xu Zhian waved his hand, signaling for them to let them pass.
Jiang Yufan had the boxes carried back, then turned to Gu Sidu and said, "Come with me."
This is simply amazing! Gu Sidu quickly followed, and only after leaving the county government office did Gu Sidu dare to speak and put his arm around Jiang Yufan's shoulder.
"Madam, you were amazing just now!"
"What did you call me?" Jiang Yufan frowned.
"If you, Bodhisattva, say I am your husband, then you are my wife. But we are still outside, so we have to keep up the act, right?" Gu Sidu said with a grin, trying to gain some benefits for himself and changing the subject.
"How did you come up with such a good idea, Madam? It's just a pity that those scriptures couldn't be preserved in the end."
Jiang Yufan smiled faintly: "Those books are just sitting at home anyway, and I never intended to touch them. But you once said that the more money you spend, the more you have. So if you want to have money, you have to spend your money and your things first to get a return."
As the old man said, "A loss may be a gain."
“These scriptures are given to those who love to read them. Learning their meaning can also help others, so these scriptures are being used in a meaningful way. As for me, having this money can help you support your family and also bring peace to the people. This is already a great merit.”
Jiang Yufan was intelligent, and Gu Sidu admitted he couldn't compare. Now, Jiang Yufan was Gu Sidu's savior, and in Gu Sidu's eyes, there was only Jiang Yufan. He slowly approached, gazing at Jiang Yufan; he could already smell the sandalwood scent he had given her.
It was a gift from him, given to Jiang Yufan.
He wanted Jiang Yufan to be his too.
Gu Sidu and Jiang Yufan were getting closer and closer. He only needed to raise his hand to touch Jiang Yufan's cheek. If he did that, he could lower his head and meet Jiang Yufan's lips, fulfilling all his fantasies.
Just then, a clear cough came from behind Jiang Yufan.
Gu Sidu, with his head down, veered off course, brushing past Jiang Yufan's cheek. He was so close, just a hair's breadth away.
Gu Sidu looked up at Daoyun behind Jiang Yufan; it was Daoyun who was coughing. Although Gu Sidu had an embarrassed smile on his face, he knew in his heart that he had involuntarily offended Jiang Yufan in public, and he was going to be in trouble when he got home.
"Bodhisattva." Gu Sidu still had a sliver of reason.
"Um?"
"With Miss Daoyun behind you, do you think I can survive tonight?"
Jiang Yufan smiled and said, "I think you should run first?"
That makes sense. Seeing an opportunity, Gu Sidu turned around and immediately fled home.
Following behind him, wielding a sword, was Dao Yun, who chased after Jiang Yufan and slashed at him.
"Amitabha," Jiang Yufan silently chanted in her heart.
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