Chu Youning had barely taken two steps after disembarking when a somewhat elderly nun came over to greet her.
The nun glanced at Qian Miao behind Chu Youning, then said slowly, "Honored guest, please follow me. The abbess wishes to see you alone."
"All right."
Chu Youning turned and gave Qian Miao a look. He immediately replied, "I'll wait for you on the boat."
There were few vendors selling their wares along the bluestone path.
The common folk who lived amid the bustling streets had fairly sharp instincts for danger.
Thus, as Chu Youning followed the nun toward the convent hidden in the busy neighborhood, she saw that nearly every household had its doors tightly shut.
After several turns, Chu Youning and the nun arrived at a small convent.
"Please, honored guest."
The nun pushed open the little convent's door.
Chu Youning followed her inside, step by step.
There was a large courtyard within, with little planted in it. Chu Youning spotted the two persimmon trees at a glance.
The weather in Jiangnan was different from that of the Capital, after all, and so was the size of the young fruit hanging from the persimmon trees.
"Were those two persimmon trees planted by Abbess Hui'an?"
Chu Youning spoke slowly.
The nun gently shook her head. "They were planted by two children who used to come here to play."
"Now that these trees bear fruit, do those children come back every year to pick some to eat?"
Chu Youning's questions were all inconsequential, so the nun concealed nothing.
"The abbess found them too boisterous, so she arranged for them to attend school. Both did her proud, passing the imperial examinations and becoming officials. They've since moved elsewhere with their families.
They visit the abbess at the end of every year, but