betting
The reason why the promotion order didn't come was because others also coveted it. Old and new grudges were settled together and exploded here. Gu Sidu was very unlucky to run into this place, but he also glimpsed a lot of the dirty side of human nature.
Jiang Yufan's task for Gu Sidu was simple: she asked Gu Sidu to wait at the entrance of the Jiang residence for the next few days to see if any familiar people came in or out.
Gu Sidu had thought that a great responsibility was about to be bestowed upon him, but he didn't expect that Jiang Yufan only asked him to spy. He pointed to himself and said, "Is this what you want me to do?"
“Bodhisattva, these are not things a gentleman should do, I don’t want to go.”
"Are you really not going?" Jiang Yufan had anticipated that Gu Sidu would resist. "In that case, I take back what I said. I won't help you anymore. You can fend for yourself."
"No, no, no, I'll do whatever the Bodhisattva asks me to do. But Bodhisattva, what are you doing guarding Lord Jiang's residence? Isn't that a matter for the Hanlin Academy?"
Jiang Yufan smiled but remained silent.
She guessed that Gu Sidu had unknowingly made enemies before, and his actions at the banquet must have been seen by someone, causing his dissatisfaction. Jiang Yufan also guessed that Gu Sidu's words and deeds must have offended the person in charge before, and the person in charge would not let it go easily.
The person in charge will not let him off the hook; they will definitely make things difficult for Gu Sidu.
But amidst all this, Jiang Yufan believed even more strongly that this hatred stemmed from envy, and that someone would inevitably be unable to resist wanting such an opportunity. Jiang Yufan also understood that Jiang Yaoguang's waiting wasn't about being busy, but rather like Jiang Taigong fishing—waiting for someone willing to take the bait.
It's not just Gu Sidu.
However, Gu Sidu would only believe it if he saw it with his own eyes. Jiang Yufan could only tell Gu Sidu at this moment that heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, and that he would understand in time.
-
Because of the unspoken rule that "heavenly secrets cannot be revealed," Gu Sidu sat down in the teahouse opposite the Jiang family's residence. The autumn chill was perfect for drinking tea, but finishing a whole cup wasn't very interesting. The waiter came over and filled Gu Sidu's cup with tea, thoughtfully asking if he wanted to order anything else.
"Never mind, just add some tea." Gu Sidu shook his head. He couldn't drink anything. He had been waiting all day, and it was almost evening, but no one from the Jiang family's door had come. How was he going to explain this to the Buddha when he got home? He was really worried.
"I say, Lord Gu, you weren't such a stingy person before. What's wrong with you today? You've been wasting the whole day here with just a cup of tea."
Gu Sidu understood that this was the waiter's complaint. He took out some loose change from his purse and gave it to the waiter: "Then you can prepare some tea and snacks for me. Consider the rest as your fee for your trouble."
"Alright, I'll get you some more of the best tea." The waiter's expression brightened, and he immediately brought out some tea snacks from the kitchen and placed them in front of Gu Sidu, no longer bothering him.
As dusk approached, the clouds on the horizon painted half the sky crimson, yet could not conceal the impending darkness. Those who had toiled all day returned home, ready to close their doors, enjoy a good meal, and rest, awaiting the busyness of tomorrow.
This was the least noticeable time, and it was precisely when Gu Sidu was feeling weary and wanted to return home that a furtive person appeared at the Jiang family's door, looking around furtively.
Gu Sidu focused his attention on the person.
The person looked somewhat familiar. Gu Sidu opened his eyes wide and pressed his body against the window and doorway. Finally, when the door opened and the person turned around, he saw the person's face clearly.
It was none other than the person who had replaced him on the original list, the one in charge of the scientific expedition, and the one who had also given gifts to the person in charge.
His colleague, the one who had tried to persuade him to send a gift to the official but failed.
Why did he come to Lord Jiang's residence? Why was he patting his chest from time to time, as if protecting something, before slipping into the Jiang residence?
Gu Sidu drank more tea and listlessly broke open the tea snacks. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the man came out. He looked relaxed and was no longer patting his chest. He strode into the restaurant, as if he were celebrating a great achievement and was about to feast to his heart's content.
Gu Sidu returned home with suspicion. It wasn't a completely fruitless day; he could still report back to the Bodhisattva and ask for answers to his doubts.
He told Jiang Yufan everything, thinking he wouldn't have to keep watch the next day, but Jiang Yufan smiled and said to him, "Continue tomorrow."
"Bodhisattva, why do we still need to go? Haven't we already obtained a clue?" Gu Sidu felt nauseous at the sight of tea. He found the incense next to the Bodhisattva and smelled it. Only the incense on the Bodhisattva's body, this familiar scent, made Gu Sidu feel that the trip was worthwhile and put him in a good mood.
Jiang Yufan looked at her usual small incense burner and came to Gu Sidu. Gu Sidu held it in his hands, and she was speechless. She tried to pull the incense burner back, but Gu Sidu wouldn't let go.
Gu Sidu was protective of food and possessions.
Jiang Yufan had no choice but to say, "Gu Sidu, you can smell my incense burner if you want. Go to the Jiang residence tomorrow."
"Buddha......"
Before Gu Sidu could even speak, before he could soften his tone, Dao Yun's sword was already at Gu Sidu's neck.
“Speak properly and show respect to the Buddhist nun.”
Gu Sidu's crooked and twisted body slowly straightened up and regained its shape.
"Gu Sidu, have you thought about what your colleague is doing at the Jiang family?" Jiang Yufan asked.
"Perhaps they're going to speak ill of me, to stop Lord Jiang from considering my promotion?" Gu Sidu replied. He and this colleague didn't have any real grudges; he was probably just jealous and wanted the same opportunity.
"He also wants the promotion order?"
"Then let me ask you, what would someone who wants a promotion bring to Jiang Yaoguang, someone who would give gifts to the person in charge?"
“Then it’s naturally gold and silver…” Gu Sidu finished speaking and understood Jiang Yufan’s meaning. He paused, “You mean he went to deliver a gift to Lord Jiang today?”
Jiang Yufan neither agreed nor disagreed.
"That's not right. He's already given a gift to the head steward. If he gives a gift to Lord Jiang as well, wouldn't that be going over the head steward's head? If the head steward finds out, he'll probably be angry."
"Besides, he wasn't carrying anything with him when he went there."
Jiang Yufan said, "If you take something and someone sees you, that would be terrible. If he's doing this openly and honestly just to talk bad about you, why can't he do it during the day instead of at dusk?"
"Does giving a gift only count as bringing something? Gold, silver, and money are more convenient to carry around in your pocket."
Every word Jiang Yufan uttered was enough to leave Gu Sidu speechless.
Gu Sidu pondered this carefully. He recalled his colleague repeatedly touching his chest, as if worried that something might fall from his chest. The Bodhisattva hadn't gone with him and hadn't witnessed the man entering the Jiang residence, yet the Bodhisattva's words were so insightful.
The more he thought about it, the more shocked he became. It turned out that the human heart could never be satisfied. If Gu Sidu could leave the Hanlin Academy and be promoted, why couldn't he?
Since you're leaving the Hanlin Academy, why can't someone else do it?
Now that he had left the Hanlin Academy, whether the person in charge was angry or not became unimportant.
When faced with personal gain, one can easily switch between giving gifts and currying favor with anyone. However, Gu Sidu shook his head: "Impossible. Lord Jiang is not that kind of person. It's others who have ulterior motives, but Lord Jiang values character. Everyone in the court praises Lord Jiang's reputation."
"Whether he's that kind of person or not, only time will tell," Jiang Yufan said, not wanting to argue with Gu Sidu. "Gu Sidu, do you want to make a bet with me?"
"What are we betting on?" Gu Sidu stopped thinking and became extremely interested in this question.
If he loses the bet, he can make some unreasonable demands, which the Bodhisattva will not want to agree to but has no choice but to.
"What if I win the bet, and what if I lose?" Gu Sidu was already thinking about the prize. "If the Bodhisattva wins, I will apologize to the Bodhisattva and grant the Bodhisattva one wish. If the Bodhisattva loses, the Bodhisattva will grant me one wish, how about that?"
Gu Sidu thought that if he won, he would ask the Bodhisattva to accompany him to enjoy the autumn scenery and watch the red leaves flutter. He would secretly hold the Bodhisattva's hand amidst such beautiful scenery.
“Go to the Jiang residence tomorrow. I bet the head of the Hanlin Academy will be there,” Jiang Yufan said. She was certain she wouldn’t lose. She knew exactly what kind of person her father was and what his character was like.
She could only use such a provocative method to arouse Gu Sidu's competitive spirit and coax him to wait at the gate of the Jiang residence again the next day.
The provocation worked; Gu Sidu indeed sat in the teahouse again the next day.
Same seat, same tea, same waiter.
Today, Gu Sidu was smarter. He selected the tea and snacks in advance. With his experience, he could prevent the waiter from complaining that he was going to spend the whole day there.
Today is another long wait.
After Gu Sidu sat down, he prayed sincerely in his heart, hoping that the head of the Hanlin Academy would not come today. If the head of the Hanlin Academy did not come today, he could travel with the Bodhisattva and stand beside the Bodhisattva in a legitimate way, secretly smelling the Bodhisattva's scent.
Bodhisattva, his Bodhisattva.
With sincere prayer, time passes easily, but visiting a teahouse for two consecutive days is too strange and will inevitably arouse suspicion and make people suspicious, and they can't help but ask questions.
The waiter, who was full and had nothing better to do, was carrying a tray in his hand. After serving tea to others, he slowly strolled over to Gu Sidu's side.
"Lord Gu has been enjoying his tea lately, coming here every day."
Are you coming tomorrow?
The prayer was interrupted. Gu Sidu opened his eyes, looked at the waiter, and couldn't help but get angry. He said to the waiter, "Don't bother me. I have important things to do."
The waiter just came by; this is a bad omen. Interrupting his prayers will make the gods and Buddhas think he's not sincere, and his wish won't come true.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Sidu looked out the window, and then his expression changed drastically.
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