silence
Jiang Yufan was stunned by the surprise Gu Sidu had prepared for her birthday. She stood there motionless for a long time, still in a state of shock, not knowing where she was or what day it was.
Gu Sidu thought he had done something wrong, so he quickly tossed the cannon barrel to the servant next to him and waved to Jiang Yufan: "Bodhisattva, why are you stunned? Don't you like me preparing your birthday like this?"
“We Buddhist nuns don’t celebrate birthdays,” Dao Yun said from the side. She knew that ever since Jiang Yu Fan became homeless, her least favorite thing was celebrating her birthday. This Gu Si Du was really strange; he always managed to find something Jiang Yu Fan didn’t like and deliberately made her unhappy.
“Ah, if that’s the case, it seems I have overstepped my bounds,” Gu Sidu lowered his head. Just when Daoyun thought he was going to give up, Gu Sidu raised his head again, smiling, and said, “Then from today onwards, I will celebrate the Bodhisattva’s birthday every year.”
That makes sense, but who are you?
Daoyun said irritably, "We Buddhist nuns have no family. We are born into the Buddhist community, and we only observe these worldly birthday celebrations."
"But the Bodhisattva also said that she is not a real Bodhisattva, but a fake Bodhisattva."
At this moment, Gu Sidu suddenly realized what was going on and started listening to Jiang Yufan's words. Daoyun felt that Gu Sidu was really incompatible with her, and she wanted to argue a bit more, but Jiang Yufan spoke first, so she remained silent.
Jiang Yufan asked, "How did you find out my birth date?"
“It’s fate, I calculated it,” Gu Sidu said, not wanting to tell the Bodhisattva how much effort he had put into finding the birth date and time. He stretched out his hand to Jiang Yufan, “In any case, the banquet is all prepared. If the Bodhisattva doesn’t come, it will be a waste of all that good food.”
"The food was prepared perfectly, thank you for your hospitality."
Gu Sidu was very thoughtful. He gave Jiang Yufan a salute that shook her memory and made a good start. Gu Sidu also knew that Jiang Yufan did not like crowds and preferred quiet, so he specially prepared a fine banquet for Jiang Yufan in a high pavilion in the Gu family and specially instructed others not to disturb her.
Incense was burned and food was served, and everywhere there was the purity of Buddhist incense, as well as the fragrance of the mundane world. Gu Sidu knew that what could win Jiang Yufan's heart the most was not a grand display, but simply having someone sit opposite her and talk to her.
This was also Gu Sidu's personal motive.
He rarely had the chance to spend time alone with the Bodhisattva.
He mustered his courage and reached out his hand to the Bodhisattva. If the Bodhisattva actually gave him his hand, he would be willing to go through fire and water for the Bodhisattva.
Jiang Yufan glanced at Gu Sidu, but didn't offer him her hand. She simply walked forward, casually tossing Gu Sidu the words, "Lead the way."
Well, he hadn't fooled the Bodhisattva. Gu Sidu withdrew his hand, took a few steps to Jiang Yufan's side, and walked side by side with her to sit down.
Jiang Yufan agreed to let Daoyun sit with her, but Daoyun frowned slightly when she saw the food on the table: "Buddha, I won't eat any of this. I'll wait for you outside."
Daoyun grew up in Chenxiang Temple. From a young age, she aspired to have martial arts skills to protect the women of the world. Therefore, the abbot allowed her to learn martial arts and swordsmanship. Daoyun did not enter the Buddhist order, but over the years her eating habits have become the same as those of the monks in the temple. She has a pure and desireless attitude towards food and does not like to touch any meat. She is not used to eating these kinds of foods.
"I also instructed people to prepare food for Daoyun, all of which are Daoyun's favorite foods. Daoyun can enjoy them directly in the side hall."
“But here…” Dao Yun looked at Jiang Yu Fan, she couldn’t bear to leave Jiang Yu Fan for even a moment.
“You are not needed here. I will take over your mission and protect the Bodhisattva well.” Gu Sidu had anticipated that Daoyun would say this, so he spoke first, cutting off any further words Daoyun might say.
Gu Sidu looked at Daoyun with clear eyes.
Dao Yun had no choice but to grit her teeth and laugh angrily. She could only say to Jiang Yu Fan, "Buddha, I'll be right here. If anything happens, just call someone to fetch me."
"Don't worry," Jiang Yufan smiled at Daoyun.
Gu Sidu isn't some monster; he won't eat her up.
After Daoyun left, Gu Sidu peeked out to make sure that only the two of them were in the room. Then, Gu Sidu took out an exquisite box from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Yufan.
"Since it's your birthday, we can't forget to give a gift to the Bodhisattva. Please accept it, Bodhisattva."
Jiang Yufan refused to take it, but Gu Sidu insisted on offering it with both hands, refusing to withdraw. Jiang Yufan looked at the box and had no choice but to accept it.
"Gu Sidu, there's no need for you to spend money on me."
"It's no trouble at all. This is the Bodhisattva's birthday, how can we just casually brush it off?" Gu Sidu was happy that Jiang Yufan accepted his gift. He was overjoyed and waited for Jiang Yufan to open and play with it.
It wasn't anything particularly valuable, but it was a sandalwood bracelet with thirty-six beads. Gu Sidu said, "Knowing that the Bodhisattva has been troubled lately, I specially went to find this, hoping to dispel the Bodhisattva's worries and bring peace of mind to the Bodhisattva so that everything goes smoothly and without worry."
"Thank you for your kindness," Jiang Yufan said to Gu Sidu as she closed the box. "I will wear it carefully. Thank you, Lord Gu."
"Also, since you said it's permissible to break the precepts, I've specially prepared some meat dishes. In the depths of autumn, I saw crabs during a banquet in the palace, so I've also specially sent someone to buy several baskets of them. What others can eat, the Bodhisattva should also eat."
"I'll peel and remove the flesh for the Bodhisattva. Would the Bodhisattva like some? Dipping it in this fragrant vinegar would be the best taste."
Jiang Yufan nodded, which was taken as tacit approval.
Once upon a time, on the same day, her loved ones who still loved her peeled crab shells for her and presented her with all the tender white crab meat.
The voices of blessing were noisy, yet warm. Her relatives said, "My daughter, you must grow up carefree like this."
But a blessing is just a blessing; it cannot be taken seriously or made real.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yufan felt a tightness in her chest. She took a sip of wine, trying to suppress her distress. Today was her birthday; she shouldn't be suffering like this, shouldn't be piecing together those fragments.
"Why doesn't the Bodhisattva celebrate his birthday?" Gu Sidu asked, peeling a shell while observing Jiang Yufan. "Didn't anyone prepare longevity noodles for you at Chenxiang Temple?"
“It’s my own fault for not wanting to celebrate. I was abandoned by the parents who gave me life. Celebrating my birthday feels like an insult to me.” As soon as Jiang Yufan finished speaking, she saw Gu Sidu’s hand pause.
Jiang Yufan smiled, wanting to see how Gu Sidu would react.
Gu Sidu changed the subject and said to Jiang Yufan, "Let's not talk about the past. Today is your first birthday since you came to my house. Whether you celebrated your birthday before or not, I will celebrate it for you from now on. Birthdays are for making yourself happy and to know that you are worth remembering in this world."
A plate of crab meat was handed to me.
Gu Sidu then added, "Whether you are a true or false Bodhisattva, we have already been through so much together. From now on, let's cultivate together in this mortal world and keep each other company. It would be quite interesting to live our lives like this."
Jiang Yufan looked at the plate of crab meat and the crab roe that was set aside, and placed them next to the rice, bringing them to her side.
Jiang Yufan understood what Gu Sidu meant. He wanted to take her in because he was afraid she would leave. Gu Sidu had a bright future ahead of him, but Jiang Yufan still had her own concerns and couldn't openly discuss such a life with Gu Sidu.
Jiang Yufan simply asked, "You went to see Jiang Yaoguang. How did he try to win you over?"
Here we go again. Gu Sidu sighed. He didn't want to bring up other people at this moment, but since the Bodhisattva had spoken, he couldn't refuse to answer.
“He was a good person. He thought I had potential and accepted the jade pendant that the Bodhisattva gave me.”
"Is that all?" Jiang Yufan asked.
"What else could there be besides these?" Gu Sidu asked rhetorically.
This isn't right. Jiang Yufan didn't try to win over Gu Sidu with money, nor did she get Gu Sidu to give her any silver. This isn't like Jiang Yaoguang's style. Jiang Yufan wasn't giving up. She continued to ask, "He's also an official. If you have to give gifts to a mere clerk, how could a Grand Secretary give you any hints to give him some benefits?"
“Bodhisattva,” Gu Sidu stopped what he was doing, “not everyone is like that. There are people in officialdom who want to do real work. I am one, and there are others who are the same.”
"All beings are equal, so please don't look at people with prejudice."
Jiang Yufan didn't ask any more questions. She was certain that Jiang Yaoguang hadn't asked Gu Sidu for these things; that wasn't right, that wasn't Jiang Yaoguang's character. Jiang Yufan clearly remembered someone coming to her house and handing over valuable items to Jiang Yaoguang.
If Jiang Yufan was just a child and didn't understand, that's possible. But at Chenxiang Temple, Jiang Yufan clearly heard Jiang Yaoguang make a vow before the Bodhisattva. He wanted to get promoted and become rich. He had taken a lot of money and jewelry from others. Jiang Yaoguang wished to the Bodhisattva that he could live a peaceful and wealthy life without being discovered.
Fate loves to play tricks. Jiang Yaoguang abandoned Jiang Yufan, but in Chenxiang Temple, he devoutly prayed to the Bodhisattva played by Jiang Yufan for peace.
At that moment, Jiang Yufan secretly made up her mind that she would not let Jiang Yaoguang get away with it and she would not let Jiang Yaoguang get what he wanted.
The silence surrounding the birthday celebration was not what Gu Sidu had hoped for. Jiang Yufan was lost in her own thoughts, contemplating how to bring down Jiang Yaoguang and how to exact revenge. Gu Sidu, however, was unaware of these thoughts. Gu Sidu believed that she had offended the Bodhisattva and angered her once again.
His words were a bit harsh.
Bodhisattvas naturally have their own considerations.
He should apologize, for the sake of the Bodhisattva and to take responsibility for his recklessness.
Jiang Yufan's thoughts were pulled back by the crisp sound of plates clinking together. She glanced to the side and saw Gu Sidu holding a plate in both hands, looking at her expectantly.
The plate was filled with crab meat that Gu Sidu had prepared.
Gu Sidu asked, "Bodhisattva, please don't be angry with me. I was wrong."
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