Chapter 334: Chapter 312, Not Qualified?_1
Xiao Yeyang walked out of Taohua Temple in a daze, turning his head to Daohua, “Did I offend your master somewhere?” Having him repair a road by himself, that must be a trick, right?
Daohua was also somewhat puzzled, “My master… he probably just values sincerity, I guess?”
Xiao Yeyang, “I had people come to fix the road, isn’t that for their convenience? Isn’t that enough of a gesture? Must I personally repair it to show sincerity?”
Saying so, he paused.
“Could it be, they really have a grudge against my father? Unable to torment my imperial father, they’ve decided to torment me instead?”
Daohua immediately countered, “That can’t be right, if there was really a grudge, would they have taught you the ultimate swordsmanship? Although my master has always kept a stern face towards you, Granny Gu has been very kind to you, hasn’t she?”
Xiao Yeyang showed a puzzled expression, “Then why does your master treat me with such disdain?”
Daohua was also very perplexed, her foster father indeed seemed different towards Xiao Yeyang. To say he disdains him doesn’t quite fit, yet to say he likes him would also be incorrect.
Several times she had seen her foster father looking at Xiao Yeyang with a complex expression in his eyes.
It felt like Granny Gu and the master’s relationship with Xiao Yeyang’s family was not that simple.
Daohua’s eyes narrowed slightly, she had to find an opportunity to ask.
The two of them continued to talk as they walked down the mountain.
“Be careful.”
As they passed a slope, Xiao Yeyang attempted to support Daohua, only to find her leap agilely down and then hop to the front, even turning back to give him a smug eyebrow raise.
Seeing this, all Xiao Yeyang felt was helplessness.
He now understood why people always expect girls to be gentle and demure, too formidable, and men can’t even play a role.
Behind them, Wang Manman and De Fu saw Xiao Yeyang’s sheepishly retracted hand hanging in mid-air and both thought it was quite amusing.
After walking down the mountain, Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang, “Have you decided? Will you repair the road?”
Before Xiao Yeyang could answer, De Fu spoke up, “Of course not, the master has never done such rough work.” Saying so, he looked around Taohua Mountain.
“Although the mountain is not high, to build a road from scratch, relying on a single person, it would certainly be exhausting.”
Xiao Yeyang’s face also showed hesitation, not from the fear of getting tired, but because all his life, even when the imperial uncle, or the imperial grandmother had a birthday celebration, to express his sentiment, he would at most personally seek out some rare antiques as gifts. He had never personally done any manual labor.
Now to repair a road for two outsiders… honestly, he wasn’t really willing to do it.
Seeing Xiao Yeyang’s changing expressions, Daohua thought for a moment and said, “Do you feel that with your status, repairing the road for my master and Granny Gu is beneath them?”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression froze, and he looked at Daohua somewhat surprised.
This fellow seemed to understand his thoughts quite well.
Xiao Yeyang didn’t deny it and said, “I have never done such a thing before.”
Daohua remained silent for a moment; she understood Xiao Yeyang’s thoughts. Descendants of the imperial family all carry pride in their bones. Even with the gift of swordsmanship from her foster father, that wouldn’t be enough for him to let go of his pride.
“It’s up to you.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, “You’re not angry, are you?”
Daohua shrugged her shoulders, “Why would I be angry? If you don’t repair the road, I’ll do it instead.”
Xiao Yeyang moved his lips and after a moment of silence, he said, “What if your master also makes you repair it alone, what will you do?”
Daohua hesitated, “That shouldn’t happen, my master wouldn’t torture me like that, I am a delicate young lady.”
Xiao Yeyang immediately seized on her words, “So you admit your master is tormenting me?”
Daohua gave a sheepish smile, “My master is a few years older than my grandmother, old people have their quirks, us younger ones shouldn’t fuss over it that much.”
Xiao Yeyang sighed, “Your master really has some peculiar ideas. Just listen to what he says. If I were sincere, I would go fix the roads myself. It feels like if I don’t fix the roads personally, I’m being insincere.”
“Also, he only appreciates the gesture if I fix the roads myself. How come it feels like he’s even harder to please than my Imperial Uncle?”
Daohua didn’t join in the conversation but simply said, “Alright, it’s getting late. You should leave now, or it’ll be too late by the time you get back to the Academy.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, “Then I’ll be going. I’ll come to see you again after some time.”
Daohua quickly said, “My estate will be finished in over half a month. Once the estate is completed and arranged, I’ll be going home, so you shouldn’t come over anymore.”
Xiao Yeyang replied, “Alright then, I’ll just go to your house.” After saying that, he left, laughing, with De Fu.
Daohua watched the two of them board the boat. Only after the boat had sailed away did she return to the mountain.
…
Taohua Temple.
Grandma Gu leaned against the headboard, sighing as she looked at her brother sitting silently beside her, “Why do you have to do this?”
Gu Jian said gloomily, “Without a sister, where would they be? Without my sister’s silent sacrifices and a life of loneliness, where would their wealth and honor come from? What’s wrong with making that young man repair a road? I don’t find it excessive at all.”
Grandma Gu spoke softly, “You’re with her, so your sister isn’t suffering.”
Gu Jian looked up at his sister’s face, which had been burned, and his eyes flickered with intense hatred.
Seeing her brother like this, Grandma Gu smiled bitterly, “Xiaojian, we are already of such age. There are some things that we should let go of. These are our fates, and fates are not for us to decide.”
Gu Jian showed unwillingness, “Why? The person sitting in that position should be your…”
“Shut up!”
Grandma Gu sternly scolded Gu Jian, and due to the surge of emotions, she began to cough violently.
Gu Jian was startled and hurried over to pat her back.
The old lady Yan tending the flowers in the courtyard heard the noise and quickly entered the room, “What’s wrong? Why such a severe cough?”
Gu Jian looked guilty, “Grandmother Yan, please tend to my sister; I’ll go make some pear syrup.”
Old lady Yan promptly stopped him, “You know medical skills; you should stay with her. I’ll go make the syrup.” Saying this, she quickly left the room.
“Sister, are you alright?”
After coughing for a full quarter of an hour, Grandma Gu finally calmed down. She closed her eyes in pain, took a few breaths, and then slowly spoke.
“Xiaojian, stop talking like that. The day we escaped from Beijing, they ceased to have any relation to us.”
“I’m very content with life as it is now.”
“Look, in my final days, Heaven has allowed us to see Xiaojiu’s son, and you have taken on such a clever disciple as Daohua. Clearly, Heaven has not been unfair to us.”
Gu Jian’s eyes filled with tears.
Unfair? Maybe!
“Sister, I will listen to you and never mention the past again.”
Grandma Gu nodded, “That girl Daohua is clever; I have seen her. A few times when you were looking at Yangyang, she was quietly watching.”
Having a disciple who was too clever and fond of conspiracy theories also gave Gu Jian quite the headache, “Sister, rest assured, I’ll find a reason to fob that girl off.”
Grandma Gu nodded and, unable to hold on any longer, let Gu Jian help her onto the bed.