plumnovel Chapter 60 Fate is Wonderful
Chapter 60 Fate is Wonderful
Xu Changqing raised his palm and replied with a smile, "Amitabha, this humble monk is pleased. I am but a wandering monk with no fixed abode, and I hope Steward Mei will forgive my ignorance."
"Master Huanxi," Mei Qianqian readily addressed him.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, she produced a palm-sized, exquisitely embroidered brocade pouch from who-knows-where.
The bag was dark blue with silver thread embroidered with surging waves and a miniature pavilion, which was the logo of Sihai Pavilion.
"Master, this is your reward." Mei Qianqian said as she handed the brocade bag to Qi Qinzi with practiced ease.
Qi Qinzi's eyes lit up, and he took the bag without hesitation. He weighed it in his hand, and immediately beamed with joy, his wrinkles smoothing out.
"Haha, good, good, Manager Mei is efficient." He chuckled and stuffed the brocade pouch into the chest of his faded Taoist robe, patting it as if afraid it would fly away. "Now I'll have money to buy more good wine."
Xu Changqing, who was watching from the side, understood everything and felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
It turns out that this man also works as a middleman. Judging from how familiar he is with the business, he has obviously been doing this job for quite some time.
He was secretly grumbling to himself when he looked up and Qi Qinzi had vanished. Only a fleeting voice transmission remained in his ear: "Monk, you can wander around by yourself first. I'll be right back."
Xu Changqing was taken aback, staring at the bustling crowd before him, speechless for a moment. This guy really does do as he pleases, coming and going as he pleases.
Mei Qianqian seemed quite used to Yang Huai's behavior, her smile undiminished as she turned to Xu Changqing, her tone still gentle and polite: "Master Huanxi, the True Man is indeed so straightforward. Since the True Man has invited you to take a look around first, why don't I show you the way?"
As she spoke, her gaze swept over Xu Changqing again, and she gestured with her hand, a gesture that was pleasing to the eye.
"Then I'll have to trouble Steward Mei." Xu Changqing readily agreed and returned the greeting with one hand raised in a gesture of respect.
"You're too kind, Master. Please follow me."
Mei Qianqian walked sideways to Xu Changqing's left front, yet she was able to keep pace with him as she walked.
Upon noticing this detail, Xu Changqing was somewhat surprised.
"This Qianjinfang is indeed impressive. A mere dispatched steward has such demeanor and skill. No wonder it can become a giant in the unorthodox path, with businesses all over the world." Xu Changqing sighed inwardly, his opinion of Sihaige's foundation rose even higher.
Just as he was pondering this, he heard Mei Qianqian's soft voice beside him.
"The presence of a True Person here is somewhat of an anomaly. However, many fellow practitioners privately believe that the True Person might be some kind of mysterious manifestation."
Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing's heart stirred, and a hint of doubt appeared on his face as he turned his head to look at Mei Qianqian's profile.
Noticing his gaze, Mei Qianqian continued.
"Some irrational fellow practitioners, either coveting the things on the real person or simply thinking that he is crazy and easy to bully, will make a move on him."
She paused, but didn't stop walking.
"But these fellow practitioners all met with unfortunate ends. Some disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead; others were inexplicably corrupted or degenerated. Still others died suddenly in the street without warning, their deaths varied and bizarre."
"And so, over time, the Taoist's reputation spread. Most of the fellow Taoists who heard these legends in the vicinity would choose to keep their distance and avoid him. Just like that noblewoman from the 'Tianpeng' lineage just now, she seemed domineering, but in fact she was well-informed. She probably recognized the real person, which is why she ran away so quickly."
Xu Changqing chimed in at the opportune moment: "Oh? Is that so? This humble monk and the Daoist priest have been traveling together without noticing anything unusual; I simply thought he was a free-spirited senior. But why do you, Steward Mei, seem so unfazed?"
"Hehe," Mei Qianqian chuckled lightly, "Due to my duties, I often travel to various places in Ningzhou for trade, and have seen all sorts of people and things. In addition, being under the command of the Sihai Pavilion, my information channels are always more efficient than those of ordinary rogue cultivators. As for beings like you, Master, I have met a few."
She continued speaking as she walked.
"Over time, I figured out some tricks of the trade. Generally speaking, as long as you don't actively harbor evil thoughts or greed, and don't deliberately violate their 'rules of obsession,' and satisfy some of their harmless requests, such as if the Master loves wine and money, giving him some conveniences will ensure that you can live in peace. Sometimes, you might even receive some unexpected benefits, such as when the Master introduces you to a great master."
As she spoke, Mei Qianqian suddenly stopped. At this moment, the two had passed through the magnificent front hall of Ruyi Building, and a huge, expanded central courtyard market opened up before them.
Her gaze lingered on Xu Changqing for a moment, then she smiled.
"Fellow Daoist Huanxi," she changed to a more intimate form of address, "truly a lucky Daoist."
Xu Changqing felt a slight alarm bell ring in his heart, but his face remained calm, still wearing that smug smile that was both honest and shrewd. He asked, "Oh? What do you mean by that, Steward Mei? This humble monk is dull-witted and would appreciate your guidance."
Mei Qianqian raised her hand, her slender index finger gently tapping her smooth forehead, and shook her head with a smile: "The real person's memory... seems to be not very good. He always thinks he has brought many people to my market and exchanged a lot of money. Every time he comes, it's as if it's the first time. But as the manager, my memory must be good."
She lowered her voice slightly: "Since I was assigned to manage this temporary gathering place at the junction of Qinghe, Minghai, and Yuangang counties, the Master has brought several people to me to exchange money. But most of them are Taoists, and then there are Confucian scholars, but never a monk."
Mei Qianqian's gaze fell on Xu Changqing again.
"The only one is you, Fellow Daoist Huanxi."
"I see..." Xu Changqing slowly exhaled, his smile unchanged, even brighter, as if he had just heard an interesting anecdote. "It seems that this humble monk and the Taoist priest are truly destined for each other. Perhaps it's a blessing from a past life, haha."
Mei Qianqian smiled, no longer pursuing the matter, and turned to point to the bustling market: "Fate is truly wondrous. Fellow Daoist Huanxi, we've arrived at the market. I wonder if you'd like to stroll around casually, looking for anything that catches your eye, or if you have any specific needs? I may be able to keep an eye out for you."
Xu Changqing looked in the direction she was pointing, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of stalls. Many thoughts churned in his mind, but eventually calmed down.
Since we're here, let's make the best of it. Let's put aside the matter of Qi Qinzi for now; the real opportunity lies in this gathering at Qianjinfang.
He shook his monk's robe and put his palms together in a gesture of respect to Mei Qianqian, saying:
"Thank you for your trouble, steward. I am new here, so I will take my time to look around. If there is anything I do not understand, I will ask you for guidance."