Birthday celebration
Gu Sidu simply wanted to prepare a lively birthday banquet for Jiang Yufan. Last year's birthday banquet was just for the two of them. Back then, they weren't as deeply in love as they are now, and their desires for each other were more prominent. This year is different; they are closer now, and their goals are aligned.
Xu Zhian had arranged everything perfectly. To enhance his reputation, he set up banquets on every street in the city and prepared huge stages so that people could eat and watch the selection competition. If anyone got tired of watching or didn't want to watch anymore, they could simply eat and drink together in their own streets and alleys, just for the sake of having fun.
With such outstanding political achievements, Xu Zhian has already instructed his scribes to write poems and essays praising this prosperous and peaceful era in which the people share joy and the whole city is at peace.
Jiang Yufan wasn't interested in any of that. She sat beside Gu Sidu, listening to Xu Zhian finish his impassioned speech. After accepting the toasts and congratulations from everyone, she smiled and nodded, then drank a glass of wine before sitting down to watch the martial arts trial.
Gu Sidu sat down next to Jiang Yufan, her face flushed, and asked Jiang Yufan if she liked this kind of birthday celebration: "If the Bodhisattva likes such a lively celebration, then we can do the same when we get married."
Jiang Yufan silently rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to listen to Gu Sidu's sweet talk. She said, "Don't forget, you still have things to do."
"I won't forget. Once the results of this competition are out, I'll start doing the most important thing." Gu Sidu was confident. At this moment, he and Jiang Yufan watched the results of the competition together, and as the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted through the air, they drank their wine with satisfaction.
The martial arts arena doesn't involve real weapons, so there's no risk of death. The last person standing wins, and the duels are decided by drawing lots, making it quite a lively event. The spectators below the arena cheer loudly when they see a skilled fighter, and they jokingly jeer at those who are less capable, telling them to get off the stage.
When Daoyun stepped onto the competition stage as a woman, the people below were not optimistic. Some even shouted that Daoyun should go down quickly and not waste time, and let someone more capable take her place.
"Women can't compare to men after all; this won't do."
"But the sword she carries is quite expensive and powerful. It looks like a good sword. Could she also be skilled in some kind of combat?"
These words drifted lightly into Dao Yun's ears, and the way to silence them was through her own abilities. Dao Yun looked at her opponent, smiled, and the moment she made her move, gasps of surprise rose up, slowly drowning out the skepticism and doubt.
No one expected a woman to possess such formidable skills, parrying and deflecting every blow. Her opponent was drenched in sweat, furious and humiliated, but Daoyun remained calm and composed, not allowing her opponent to touch her in the slightest.
They didn't even have a chance to get close.
Dao Yun's moves were as sharp and powerful as a gust of wind, leaving the audience wide-eyed and speechless. After a long silence following her opponent's fall, thunderous applause erupted. People belatedly realized what was happening, and then a young boy in the crowd excitedly waved his hands and exclaimed, "Well done, Sister Dao Yun!"
"Do you know that when Lord Gu rescued me, he brought Madam Gu with him? Madam Gu calculated the location and found me. And the person who rescued me with martial arts was Sister Daoyun!"
"What? Madam Gu can even calculate directions? What kind of skill is that?" The crowd began to discuss.
“You don’t know this, do you?” Qin Zhiyi continued, “I think Madam Gu is like a Bodhisattva. When my family went to the Fuyin Temple to pray to the gods and Buddhas to save me, they met Madam Gu. At that time, my family felt that they were being illuminated by the Buddha’s light and blessed by the Bodhisattva, so I came back.”
"If you ask me, Madam Gu is a true bodhisattva who came to Chang Le City and brought us good fortune!"
"Let's all wish Madam Gu a happy birthday, and wish this Bodhisattva a blessed birthday!"
The stage was bustling with activity, and the discussions below were equally intense. Before long, the entire city of Chang Le knew about the story, and these words also reached Xu Zhian's ears.
Xu Zhian had expected that the people of the city would praise his good character today, but to his surprise, no one was grateful or talking about him. All the limelight was taken by Madam Gu, who was celebrating her birthday. At this moment, the voices of the people shouting "Happy Birthday Madam Gu" resounded through the sky and echoed throughout the entire city.
Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu hadn't expected things to turn out this way; it was better than they had imagined, and even more shocking. Jiang Yufan heard the grand celebration of blessings, her ears turned red, and she stood up shyly to drink and thank everyone. At that moment, Dao Yun, who had won a match on the competition stage, also bowed and wished Jiang Yufan a happy birthday from afar.
Gu Sidu said to Jiang Yufan beside him, "Bodhisattva, look at the surprise I prepared for you, isn't it good?"
"Did you prepare this? I think it was just a coincidence," Jiang Yufan said with a smile.
"You need to be lucky, and I am, so this is my luck, and it's also our luck."
Gu Sidu was always eloquent, and Jiang Yufan was ashamed of herself. She never expected that one day she would be blessed by the people of the city as a bodhisattva who brought good luck. It seemed that her fate was already destined to embark on a new journey when she became a fake bodhisattva, accompanied by this reputation.
She felt it was just empty fame, but those who believed in it would believe it no matter what, and this was another path in life that Jiang Yufan had taken.
Jiang Yufan's life was going even more smoothly and happily than she had imagined. She was riding high, and even better news came that Dao Yun had finally won the championship and was assigned to train the soldiers. Everyone in the competition was convinced and looked at Dao Yun with new respect.
Jiang Yufan looked at Gu Sidu: "Now is the best time."
Gu Sidu nodded, stood up, and brought the cheers and congratulations to a climax. He raised his glass, and the people below the stage fell silent, watching Gu Sidu. Gu Sidu then looked at Xu Zhian: "Lord Xu, do you have anything to say? If not, may I say a few words?"
A few perfunctory pleasantries were necessary, so Xu Zhian quickly said, "Today is Madam Gu's birthday, and I shouldn't overstep my bounds. It's better if Lord Gu speaks first, as we were originally going to have a welcoming banquet for him."
Xu Zhian was just waiting for Gu Sidu to exchange pleasantries with him one more time before he was about to speak, and he was about to raise his glass to continue talking when Gu Sidu spoke first.
Gu Sidu raised his glass and said to everyone, "Today, on my wife's birthday, it is a great joy that Lord Xu has hosted a banquet for me and shared the happiness with the people. I am new to Chang Le City and am not familiar with everything here. It is my honor that Lord Xu is willing to let me integrate into everyone's community."
Hearing this, Xu Zhian nodded in satisfaction, thinking that Gu Sidu was quite good at speaking.
Then Gu Sidu changed the subject: "You may not know this, but today's competition and the notice issued by Lord Xu earlier were both devised by my wife. She asked me to talk to Lord Xu about this and hoped that he would agree."
"Originally, this was a costly affair, and I had intended to help everyone by contributing my efforts. However, I simply do not have the funds. When I mentioned this idea to Lord Xu, he offered to allocate funds to organize the matter and agreed to my wife's suggestion. I am truly grateful. I will set an example by contributing all my savings to undertake this matter, and I hope to add to Lord Xu's enjoyment and prevent him from feeling lonely while allocating funds."
Xu Zhian's face slowly darkened. He understood the meaning behind Gu Sidu's words. Gu Sidu dispelled the misunderstanding that Xu Zhian had created by claiming that he had come up with the method in just a few words. The method was actually devised by Gu Sidu or even Jiang Yufan. Gu Sidu had paid for it. Not only that, Gu Sidu had put him in a difficult position, forcing him to spend even more money in order to protect his reputation.
At this moment, Gu Sidu said loudly, "This cup of wine is to Lord Xu. Without Lord Xu, there would be no peace in Chang Le City in the future."
"Lord Xu, you must finish this cup of wine."
How much silver would it cost for just one sentence? Xu Zhian gritted his teeth, raised his wine cup, and smiled stiffly. There were many people below the stage, and he couldn't lose his temper. He could only drink the wine in his cup and swallow his bitterness.
He also said, "For the peace and tranquility of all the people, this is what I should do."
He had truly shot himself in the foot; Xu Zhian was filled with regret, but all he could do was regret.
At this moment, new discussions arose again, and the people realized who was truly good to them: the newly arrived magistrate's family, Jiang Yufan, and the bodhisattva that Qin Zhiyi had spoken of.
Without a doubt, such a kind and virtuous act could only be attributed to a bodhisattva.
In an instant, the blessings of "Happy Birthday Bodhisattva" echoed throughout Chang Le City once again, shocking Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu, as well as Xu Zhian and his advisor.
It seems like things are about to change in Chang Le City.
Jiang Yufan was overwhelmed by the people's enthusiasm, but Gu Sidu was not finished yet. After completing his mission, he returned to sit beside Jiang Yufan and said, "Bodhisattva, I actually have a gift to give you."
A birthday celebration must include a gift.
Jiang Yufan covered her face and said, "Isn't that enough, Gu Sidu? I feel like I've already gotten so much."
“That’s not enough. Those are gifts from others to the Bodhisattva. I also have my own intentions.”
Gu Sidu took out a jade pendant from his sleeve and said, "I saw that the agarwood I gave to the Bodhisattva before has run out, so I have already had someone prepare to replenish it for the Bodhisattva. Although the Bodhisattva always says that you have no wisdom and do not want to be expected of anything, these habits cannot be changed. You can use it as you like in the future, and I will buy you more when you run out."
"Also, the Bodhisattva gave me a jade pendant before, and I have always worn it. Although the jade pendant has bad memories for the Bodhisattva, it is something that the Bodhisattva keeps close to me. Since it was given to me, I naturally cherish it."
“Now I have had a jade pendant made to match it and I am giving it to the Bodhisattva. I hope the Bodhisattva will not find it distasteful. Just think of it as having a new jade pendant and a new beginning.”
Gu Sidu presented the jade pendant, which Jiang Yufan accepted. It was an extremely beautiful and round jade pendant, with lotus flowers engraved on it to match. Jiang Yufan really liked it. This birthday was the happiest birthday she had ever had. She said to Gu Sidu, "Thank you for always thinking of me."
In Gu Sidu's eyes, this was what he should do.
Seeing that Jiang Yufan had accepted the jade pendant, Gu Sidu's eyes also showed joy. He leaned closer with a grin and whispered in Jiang Yufan's ear, "So the Bodhisattva accepted it, right?"
"Does the Bodhisattva know what the meaning is in accepting the jade pendant?" Gu Sidu looked at Jiang Yufan meaningfully, as if he wanted to see Jiang Yufan into his heart and his body.
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