Back at the Anzhi Hall, it was nearly midnight. Jin Shanyao, wide awake, stepped barefoot beside the ginkgo tree and said irritably, "Move me a little..."
The ginkgo tree silently rolled its eyes... If I could move, would I still be standing here listening to your bossy pronouncements? Humph... So what if you can transform into human form? Sooner or later, it will be able to transform into human form too.
Jin Shanyao's gaze sharpened slightly. She reached back and grabbed a branch of the ginkgo tree. With a snap, the branch broke off, and the ginkgo tree squeaked in pain.
"Ancestor, I was wrong... I shouldn't have spoken so arrogantly," it forgot that they were standing in a tree pit, and that its ancestors knew exactly what it was thinking.
The Jin Shanyao its icy voice, "If I hear you slander me again, I'll chop you up and burn you for firewood."
The ginkgo tree trembled slightly in fright, regretting its momentary carelessness and loss of reverence... Now it only hoped that its ancestor would fall asleep and forget everything that had just happened.
Early in the morning, Meng Anci open the door and saw his aunt leaning against the ginkgo tree with her eyes closed. "Auntie, what are you doing standing here?"
Jin Shanyao slowly opened his eyes, "Contemplating Tree Life..."
Meng Anci glanced at the ginkgo tree, scratched her arm with her little hand, and asked, "Have you figured it out yet?"
Jin Shanyao her shoes and walked to Meng Anci's side. "Shusheng, you should bask in the sun when it's time to bask, wait for the rain when it's time to wait for the rain, and sway when the wind comes. Don't be too kind-hearted, or you'll be easily fooled."
If she hadn't been soft-hearted and let Ghost Two go home, thus fulfilling Old Man Shen's longing for his daughter, the two ghosts wouldn't have turned into four.
If Ghost One and Ghost Two hadn't had Merit, how would she have made a choice in last night's situation?
Helping involves cause and effect.
Not helping?... Fine, at least I'll have four more men.
Jin Shanyao stroked her chin... thinking to herself, "I've been too hasty!"
Meng Anci frowned slightly, then suddenly realized, "Isn't this just about eating and drinking as usual, and not taking things to heart?"
"Auntie, you have great wisdom..." After saying that, she pulled up her pants and ran into the outhouse in a flash.
Jin Shanyao was completely bewildered; what profound wisdom was this?
Before long, people came out of each room, some boiling water, some cooking, everyone busy with their own tasks.
Inside the Anzhi Hall, Jin Shanyao sat behind the desk, gazing at the gloomy sky outside the window, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the Lin family grandfather and grandson across the street.
After observing him for the past few days, she had come to a conclusion: Lin Mo was a filial son, clear-headed, and quick-witted. It was a pity that fate had played a cruel trick on him, leaving him to beg on the streets.
Just as she was lost in thought, Jiang Jinshu came running in from across the street, holding up her small purse and saying happily, "Auntie, my purse is full!"
The dirty purse has been cleaned, revealing the delicate embroidery on the outside. The purse's opening was stuffed so full that it was almost impossible to tie it shut.
Jin Shanyao's gaze fell on Jiang Jinshu's fingers, her fingertips slightly red. She wondered how long it had taken to embroider the purse, and she looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Did you earn this money yourself?"
Jiang Jinshu nodded obediently, her little face flushed and her eyes full of pride, "I embroider handkerchiefs, three coins each..."
Holding up the purse, she saw that Jin Shanyao was hesitant to take it, and the smile on her face gradually faded. "Auntie, it's really full, there's no more room."
Fearing that Jin Shanyao not believe her, she simply turned the purse towards her, revealing the copper coins inside, which were sticking out haphazardly and bulging as if they would be squeezed out with the slightest force.
Jin Shanyao didn't want to take it, but she was afraid of making the little one cry, so after hesitating for a long time, she finally reached out and took it.
Seeing Jiang Jinshu staring intently at him with her round eyes, his heart skipped a beat. Was this little girl going to make a wish again?
"Is there anything else?"
Jiang Jinshu's gaze was fixed on the purse, her tone pleading, "Auntie, please keep the coins, but can I have my purse back? It's a birthday gift from my father, and I can't bear to lose it."
Upon hearing this, Jin Shanyao poured out the copper coins, condensed a faint layer of Spiritual Power at her fingertips, and gently brushed it across the purse. This both reinforced the stitching and prevented future wear and tear.
"I've repaid your kindness; you don't need to send me money anymore."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jinshu's face instantly lit up with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents. Finally, the debt was paid off! This way, Mother won't have to worry about doing things for Shopkeeper Jin every day. How wonderful...
Jin Shanyao watched Jiang Jinshu run back to the shop. Outside, it had started raining sometime earlier. The rain fell steadily, a light drizzle that lasted all day.
The rain didn't stop until dinner time in the evening; instead, it intensified, with thunder rumbling outside and a torrential downpour starting in the blink of an eye.
Meng Anzhi thought of the Lin family across the street, put down her chopsticks, and said, "Auntie, the rain is too heavy outside, and there's nowhere to take shelter on the street. How about... we let the Lin family come in and take shelter from the rain?"
Jin Shanyao thought of Lin Mo and nodded, saying, "Remember to bring rain gear when you go out, don't get wet."
Meng Anzhi nodded, took the oil-paper umbrella, and walked straight through the front hall. As soon as she removed a door panel, a cold wind mixed with dampness rushed towards her.
Lin Mo sheltered his grandmother and sister under the awning that Anzhi Hall had extended. When the door suddenly opened, he was startled at first, then looked embarrassed.
He hurriedly lowered his head and apologized, "I'm sorry... we'll find another place right away."
Seeing that he was about to leave with his grandmother and sister, Meng Anzhi said gently, "This rain isn't going to stop anytime soon, come in quickly."
Lin Mo paused, turned back to look at his shivering sister and his soaking wet grandmother, and finally stopped refusing, saying gratefully to Meng Anzhi, "Thank you, young lady, I'm sorry to have bothered you."
"It's alright..." Meng Anzhi led the three to an empty room, asked Nanny Zhao to find some old clothes, and boiled a pot of hot water for them to bathe in, so they wouldn't get wet in the rain and catch a cold.
The three of them came out wearing ill-fitting clothes and found that a meal had already been laid out inside: round white steamed buns, half a bowl of cabbage soup, and some green vegetables and pickled vegetables.
Lin Yue couldn't help but swallow hard; she hadn't had a decent meal in a long time.
She looked at Lin Mo uncertainly, "Brother, is this for us to eat?"
"I think so," Lin Mo looked around. It was obvious that no one had lived here before, so the food must have been for them.
"Eat."
Hearing this, Lin Yue was delighted. She helped her grandmother sit down, put the steamed bun in her hand, and then ladled a bowl of cabbage soup and placed it beside her.
The hot bowl made Old Madam Lin tremble slightly, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Don't worry about me, you all eat quickly."
Although Old Madam Lin was blind, her mind was sharp. A family that could run a free clinic year-round must be a kind and benevolent family. Her judgment was indeed correct.
She simply didn't know how to repay this kindness!
After dinner, Lin Mo brought out his bowl of food. Just when he thought he could finally get a good night's sleep at the Anzhi Hall, the rain outside stopped.
He thought of the wet ground, then looked at his dry clothes and felt a pang of reluctance to leave.
Is there enough food?
The sudden sound startled Lin Mo awake; a little boy was now standing in front of him.
His eyes were bright, and his features were delicate; he bore an eight-tenths resemblance to Miss Meng.