Chang Le
Gu Sidu was demoted to Chang Le City, a place that didn't sound like a place of lasting happiness. Far from the capital, the long journey brought illness, and many people died before even reaching the city. However, once they arrived, the city was a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters. Although it couldn't compare to the wealth of the capital, the people could live peacefully and contentedly, without great riches or honor, leading ordinary lives.
Therefore, everyone said that the place they arrived at after overcoming numerous difficulties was Chang Le, and that's why the place was renamed Chang Le City.
It took Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu several months to arrive here. The weather had turned cool in autumn, but the lingering heat of summer still remained, creating an unpleasant alternation between hot and cold. Despite the arduous journey, thanks to the one hundred taels of silver they had saved, they had not suffered any illness and had finally arrived safely.
Jiang Yufan wanted to return the remaining silver to Gu Sidu, but Gu Sidu refused. Gu Sidu mysteriously said that the money should have been returned to Jiang Yufan.
When did you owe me money?
“You bought Daoyun a new sword, which cost you your money. That’s not right. Your money is your money, and it should be kept safe. I should cover your expenses.” Gu Sidu raised his head high and raised an eyebrow at Jiang Yufan, seeking credit.
"If you really feel guilty, then stay with me. When we get to Chang Le City, we will get married."
No need for that. Jiang Yufan immediately put away the money and had Daoyun place it in her personal box. Jiang Yufan didn't want to get married right away. She wasn't ready yet, and Gu Sidu hadn't established himself in Chang Le City. Marriage was a matter for the future.
Jiang Yufan also had her own selfish motives. She had finally shed her false bodhisattva persona and wanted to live a few days as an ordinary unmarried woman before considering whether to get married or marry Gu Sidu.
She and Gu Sidu went through many hardships together, but only through hardship, and only when something else is added, can people truly know whether they are a match made in heaven.
Jiang Yufan recalculated her marriage prospects with Gu Sidu, and the result was much better than before, but she still needed to wait. Her actions were also a way of waiting for the opportune moment; since the time hadn't come, she would remain still.
Upon arriving in Chang Le City, aside from informing the county magistrate, the remaining task was to settle down and purchase property. Logically, these expenses shouldn't have been incurred by Gu Sidu, but the houses originally intended for government officials were already full, and since no one had mentioned the arrival of such a prominent figure from the capital, there were naturally no houses available.
Gu Sidu didn't bother with these theories; he simply spent his own money to buy a small courtyard.
This small courtyard cannot be compared to the Gu family mansion. It is truly small, with no multiple courtyards or entrances. It is barely enough for Jiang Yufan, Gu Sidu, Daoyun, and some of the servants from the Gu family mansion who came with them to live in.
Dao Yun looked around and said to Jiang Yu Fan, "Luckily, there is a small courtyard in this house. Otherwise, can it really be considered the residence of a county magistrate? People would laugh their heads off if they heard about it."
"As long as we can live here, it's fine," Gu Sidu said after hearing Daoyun's muttering. "Luckily, when we sold the Gu family's mansion, we arranged properties for the other servants and didn't let them come over. Otherwise, we wouldn't have enough room to live here."
Gu Sidu only brought a few servants who volunteered to come along, hoping for his well-being. He had arranged livelihoods for the rest, relieving them of any worries. Having lost everything, Gu Sidu couldn't remain constantly depressed. After months of turmoil, he understood that every day counted. Jiang Yufan had come with him; if he remained gloomy, even Jiang Yufan would suffer with him.
He didn't want to.
What do other people's jokes matter? Gu Sidu led Jiang Yufan to the largest house in the courtyard and said to her, "This is the best room. You can stay here."
"And what about you?" Jiang Yufan asked.
"I'll stay in the outer room and watch over you." It doesn't matter whether Gu Sidu stays in the biggest room or not; what matters is being able to be close to Jiang Yufan.
"What about me?" Daoyun complained. Gu Sidu's room should be hers. She was supposed to be guarding Jiang Yufan's room. How could someone else be taking it from her?
"Miss Daoyun lives nearby, and she also has her own room."
"As long as it's nearby," Dao Yun said no more, only letting out a few cold snorts. Jiang Yu Fan had initially liked the furnishings in the room; they must have been specially chosen for her by Gu Si Du. Gu Si Du had shown such thoughtfulness, and Jiang Yu Fan couldn't possibly let him down.
Of course, we'll move in.
With everything settled, Gu Sidu was about to go and hand over his duties to the county magistrate. As soon as Gu Sidu left, Jiang Yufan laid out all the fortune-telling tools, including those from various deities and lineages, to calculate the outcome.
At this moment, Jiang Yufan was no longer pretending at all. Not only were there Buddhist items, but also Taoist items, as well as some items from other schools of thought, including some that were not mainstream.
"Where did all these come from?" Dao Yun's jaw dropped as he watched Jiang Yu Fan keep pulling out new things.
"I picked it up along the way," Jiang Yufan said with a smile.
"What are you trying to calculate?"
"Let's see if Gu Sidu's trip goes smoothly, and whether the magistrate will tolerate him," Jiang Yufan said. These things might not be true, but they were good for passing the time when bored. Jiang Yufan also pulled Daoyun to place a bet, to see if Gu Sidu could settle down in Chang Le City.
Jiang Yufan chose "yes," and so did Daoyun. Seeing Gu Sidu doing well was exactly what they wanted to see; this time, the divination results were all positive. Gu Sidu could have a good outcome in Chang Le City, even better than in the capital.
This was an answer that satisfied both Jiang Yufan and Daoyun, but as evening approached, Gu Sidu still hadn't returned home. The servant sent to the county office had already returned, saying that Gu Sidu wasn't there; the people at the county office said that Gu Sidu had left long ago.
If not at the county government office, where could she be? Jiang Yufan grew anxious, pacing back and forth at home, worried that something might have gone wrong. Had the divination methods stopped working?
"Otherwise, I'll go out and look for him." Dao Yun brandished the sword in her hand. With a sword in her hand, no one would dare to bully her. If she found Gu Sidu, she could use the sword to rescue him.
"Wait a minute, I'll go with you." Jiang Yufan was still worried and wanted to go check on things herself.
Jiang Yufan and Daoyun went out together. They didn't search much, but they found Gu Sidu and a group of elderly men at a chess stall in the city.
Jiang Yufan fell silent, and Daoyun also fell silent.
Dao Yun said, "Buddha, what do you suggest we do?"
"Take your sword, it's time to draw it." Jiang Yufan took a deep breath and clenched her fist.
It's good that he's alright, but not only is he alright, he's also hanging out with some old men watching others play chess. Gu Sidu is watching with great interest, showing no signs of being a newly arrived magistrate, and is no different from an ordinary person at all.
It's as if they were born and raised in Chang Le City, and they even point fingers and tell others how to play the game.
Is this right? Is this something Gu Sidu should be doing?
Dao Yun couldn't bear to watch any longer. He stepped forward with his sword, grabbed the boy by the back of the neck, and pulled him out of the crowd. A gasp rippled through the chess stall as everyone watched the young man being dragged away. There were laughs and expressions of concern, but among the many voices, Gu Sidu's promise to play chess the next day stood out.
I remember making an appointment with the other person for tomorrow.
Gu Sidu was about to struggle a bit more, but when he turned around, he saw Jiang Yufan standing at the end of his path, and his eyes suddenly brightened.
Ignoring everything else, Gu Sidu rushed to Jiang Yufan, rubbed his hands together, and smiled at her: "Why are you here?"
"Lord Gu, aren't you going to the county government office? Is the county government office at the chess stall?" Jiang Yufan raised an eyebrow at Gu Sidu.
“I went there too, but I passed by this place on my way back and got attracted without paying attention to the time,” Gu Sidu said, looking up at the setting sun. “Oh dear, it’s already this late.”
Dao Yun coughed coldly a few times: "Lord Gu, stay away from us Buddhist nuns. We Buddhist nuns are angry. If there is a next time, I will point my sword at you."
"Okay, there won't be a next time!" Gu Sidu held up three fingers, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Yufan, wondering if she was angry.
Jiang Yufan's expression was calm, not angry, but also enigmatic. She looked at Gu Sidu, who had sworn an oath to her, and quietly said, "Let's go home first, Gu Sidu."
"Okay, it's good to go home. Let him go home." Gu Sidu nodded repeatedly and quickly stood side by side with Jiang Yufan. He observed Jiang Yufan's expression the whole way, staying by her side. He even secretly beckoned her hand, wanting to test whether Jiang Yufan would shake him off.
Jiang Yufan dodged without making a sound, and Gu Sidu failed, but he didn't shout either. Just as Gu Sidu returned home and breathed a sigh of relief, Jiang Yufan sat at the head of the table and coughed a few times, making Gu Sidu feel uneasy.
Gu Sidu looked up at Jiang Yufan and took out a treasured item from his pocket: "I have a gift for you. When I came back just now, I saw a very beautiful hairpin that would suit you perfectly."
Buying a gift to win his favor, Jiang Yufan smiled faintly at Gu Sidu. She accepted the gift, thanked Gu Sidu, and then called out again, "Daoyun, bring up the things I prepared."
There were other things prepared. Gu Sidu turned his head and saw Daoyun holding a washing board that ordinary people use. Daoyun placed the board in front of Gu Sidu and then went to Jiang Yufan's side.
Jiang Yufan, whose appearance was like that of a god, lowered his eyes and exuded a powerful aura as he said to Gu Sidu, "Tell me the truth, or I'll give you a washboard."
Jiang Yufan was more charming than she was in the capital, and she also looked more like the matriarch of the household. Gu Sidu was immediately captivated.
So beautiful!
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