Chapter 57: The Fox Returns to the Mountain
Bai Wuchang said, "Nothing, I'm just glad you're not a pedantic scholar."
Ning Caichen's face felt a little hot, and he said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."
Bai Wuchang said, "I'm not talking about you. Half of the scholars in this world pursue power, and half pursue wealth. Those who quibble with words and quibbles are prevalent, while true gentlemen who seek truth and are pragmatic are few and far between."
Ning Caichen was silent, not knowing how to respond.
Bai Wuchang didn't take it seriously. He glanced at Ning Caichen and said, "Scholar, I see you have some literary talent, but if you want to pass the imperial examinations, I'm afraid you'll need a few more years of hard work."
"Ah?" Ning Caichen was surprised at first, then disappointed. He said, "After studying the scriptures so hard, you still need to practice more?"
He became worried. If he could pass high school, at least he could make a living. If he couldn't, continuing to study would be a heavy burden.
Bai Wuchang laughed and said, "I see you're worried about your livelihood. I have a job I can recommend for you, but I'm not sure if you're brave enough."
Having no money is worse than encountering a ghost. What is there to hesitate about?
Ning Caichen bowed and said, "Please give me some advice."
Bai Wuchang said, "Meng Bi of the Fox Fairy Palace in Wuning County wants to establish a fox school to teach foxes, but he hasn't found a teacher yet. If you have the courage, you can recommend yourself. I have a history with the fox fairy, so just say that I introduced you. It will definitely work out."
Ning Caichen only felt a gust of cold wind, and the image of fox demons surrounding him emerged in his mind, and he suddenly felt a little uneasy.
Bai Wuchang laughed and said, "Take your time to think about it. If you want to go, you can go to Fox Hill on the outskirts of the city to meet him in three months."
Before he finished speaking, Bai Wuchang had disappeared without a trace.
Ning Caichen picked up the candlestick that had fallen on the ground, slowly walked into the study, and sighed heavily.
This night's experience was truly the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced in my life.
The door closed, and a young man in red clothes appeared in the empty yard, with a yellow-bellied tit perched on his shoulder.
The yellow-bellied tit said, "Poor Scholar Ning, I'm afraid he won't be able to sleep tonight."
Gong Mengbi smiled and said, "If he is afraid, then he has no chance with me."
The yellow-bellied tit said, "You are quite good at it."
"Three tests for Mr. Ning. First, his character, to see if he's lustful. Next, his courage, to see how brave he is. Finally, his ambition, to see how talented he is. How's that? I see you seem very satisfied."
Gong Mengbi said, "I tested him not only to test him, but also to protect him. Now I am satisfied. It all depends on his decision."
The yellow-bellied tit laughed and said, "You want to set up a fox school and throw such a handsome scholar into a fox den. If he doesn't have some determination and ambition, he will probably drown in the land of gentleness."
"That's right, so we have to try." Gong Mengbi looked at the sky and said, "It's still early before dawn. Before I came here, I asked Chen Shan for a few names. It's just right for us to try them all tonight."
The yellow-bellied tit gave a gloating laugh.
I wonder how many scholars will have a sleepless night tonight.
At dawn.
When the Liu family's housekeeper came to collect the Buddhist scriptures, he saw Ning Caichen with dark circles under his eyes and couldn't help asking, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Ning Caichen gave a wry smile and said, "Maybe he's just become too attached to his bed."
He said goodbye, "The Buddhist scriptures have been copied. I will take my leave now."
"Don't be in a hurry." The housekeeper of the Liu Mansion asked him to wait for a moment and then sent the Buddhist scriptures to the old lady to read.
The old lady admired Ning Caichen's calligraphy and wanted to give him a Bodhi bracelet that she had obtained from the temple.
Seeing that his mother was happy, Mr. Liu asked the housekeeper to give more money and not just give her a bracelet.
The housekeeper paid the money for copying the books, but Ning Caichen refused to accept the extra part.
It’s not that he doesn’t want it, but he has something to hide and he is too embarrassed to do it.
This ghost is actually Liu's concubine.
He wanted to remind Master Liu that the concubine was behaving improperly, but he was afraid that if he said it out loud, it would cost the woman her life.
The housekeeper escorted him out and, noticing that he was still distracted, said, "It's my fault. Forcing Master Ning to rest has only made him less energetic."
Ning Caichen felt extremely guilty and finally couldn't help asking, "The housekeeper was kind enough to entertain me. How can I blame you?"
"Oh, by the way, I seem to have heard from your servants that besides the old lady being devoted to Buddhism, Master Liu's concubine also likes to chant Buddhist scriptures. If you still need to copy scriptures, you can come to me again."
The housekeeper looked at him in surprise and said, "You must have heard wrongly. My master and mistress have always been in perfect harmony and have never taken a concubine in their entire lives."
Ning Caichen stood there in a daze. Even though the sun was so warm, he felt cold under his feet.
He forced a smile and said, "Maybe I really heard it wrong."
The housekeeper smiled and said, "Don't worry, my old lady often goes to worship Buddha and borrow scriptures. She will come to you when she needs to copy the scriptures."
After Ning Caichen thanked him, he hurried home.
Ning Caichen was not the only one who was frightened last night. After visiting several scholars, Gong Mengbi found a scholar who caught his eye.
He has a straightforward character, so he is not doing well in life, but he is courageous, ambitious, and can keep his mind, so he can also be invited to be a teacher.
After finding two gentlemen, Gong Mengbi, who was sensitive to fate, felt that they should both come.
So he stopped staying in Wuning County and took Jiaying back to Longpan Mountain.
Jiaying wanted to go back to Meiren Ridge first, but it was broad daylight and neither Qiongfang nor Zhiruo would come out.
Moreover, she had now transformed into a yellow-bellied tit, and they could not understand her even if she tried to talk to them, so she had no choice but to live with Gong Mengbi in Wuhuan Peak for the time being.
At night, Gong Mengbi went to Meirenling and told Qiongfang and Zhiruo about Jiaying.
Qiongfang looked at Jiaying who was possessed by the yellow-bellied tit and reached out to tease her.
The yellow-bellied tit cried loudly, but because what it said was not a good thing, Gong Mengbi did not convey it.
Qiongfang understood without even listening, and said, "Now that your soul has returned to the world of the living, I'm afraid there's still a chance you might be alive, and you'll leave us soon."
The yellow-bellied tit was very disappointed and hung its head.
Qiongfang lifted her face, rubbed it gently with her index finger, and said, "I'm very happy."
Qiongfang glanced at Zhiruo, then at Jiaying, and said, "You are not old ghosts like me, so you don't understand what it feels like to drift like this. I never teach you the methods of ghost cultivation, because it is not a good path."
"I've been wondering for a long time when you can resolve your resentment and be reborn as a human being." Qiongfang said as she threw the yellow-bellied tit up and smiled when she saw her flying in the air.
"I'm glad you don't have to be stuck on this mountain like me."
Qiongfang looked at Zhiruo and said, "If you have the chance, you should leave too."
Zhiruo's face changed and she said, "We were talking about her business, how did it get to me? I won't leave. She's a living person, let her go. I'm already dead, I won't leave."
The yellow-bellied tit chirped for a while, then looked at Gong Mengbi.
Gong Mengbi helped her convey: "She won't leave either."
Qiongfang shook her head and disappeared into the lush green peach forest.
Soon after, Zhiruo also disappeared.
"Don't go!" Jiaying was so angry that she could only express her resistance by whimpering.
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