Chapter 143: Dream
Zhou Wangshu had a dream.
In the dream, he returned to the time when he was sold, but Su Yaoguang did not buy him; instead, she bought Xiao Yanci.
He was still lying in the horse-drawn carriage, but he was already on the verge of death, gasping his last breaths. That condition was exactly the same as before; the dream was too real. He even felt that excruciating, soul-wrenching pain.
After selling Xiao Yanci, Qian Yazai took the other few slaves to the brothel to sell them. The madam of the brothel was very dissatisfied with those few slaves, saying they were not good-looking. Qian Yazai then said there was a good-looking one in the horse-drawn carriage, but he was badly injured and needed good medicine to nurse him back to health to have a chance of survival. The madam lifted the curtain of the horse-drawn carriage and looked at him. Upon seeing his appearance, she immediately paid two taels of silver to buy him.
The madam indeed spent a fortune to have his injuries treated, and he was cured. But as soon as he was cured, she sold him at a high price to a perverted master. He stabbed that master and escaped, and he was just about to run out of that dark alley when he was caught back by the brothel’s thugs. In the last moment, he saw Su Yaoguang; the look in her eyes was full of sympathy and worry. Finally, he freed himself through death, ending his short life.
After his death, he did not disappear immediately. His soul returned to Anning Village and stayed by Su Yaoguang’s side. He also did not understand why he was following that village girl; perhaps it was because her final glance made him feel the only warmth in the world. He followed by her side, watching her pay out for that self-righteous man, working herself to death for him, fawning on him, serving him, humble and pitiful..
However, that man could also be considered accomplished, as he really passed the top scholar exam. After seeing him marry her as promised, making her the Top Scholar’s wife, he thought that stupid woman had finally gone from hardship to happiness. Thinking this way, her efforts over these years had not been in vain. Yet, she as the Top Scholar’s wife was not happy. Xiao Yanci despised her, never shared a bed with her, and even the servants in the mansion looked down on this madam from commoner origins. He watched her like a soft steamed bun, taking everything submissively, and was so angry that his soul almost took physical form.
Zhou Wangshu could only follow Su Yaoguang, so he couldn’t see what Xiao Yanci was doing over there. It wasn’t until Su Yaoguang died in bed that he saw Xiao Yanci and Jiang Yihuan, that despicable couple, as well as that child who looked like he needed a good beating, all from Su Yaoguang’s perspective.
Su Yaoguang died, and Zhou Wangshu’s soul was also about to disappear. As it disappeared, he looked at the foolish woman lying there and thought: If only she had bought him.
Perhaps he won’t fall in love with her, but at least he won’t hurt her.
This foolish woman is so silly; only a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged scoundrel would hurt her like this!
Zhou Wangshu suddenly sat up, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He looked at the sky outside the window; it was just dawn, and there were already sounds from next door. He didn’t need to think to know who got up first.
This dream…
Why would I have such an absurd dream?
He looked at the Buddha statue beside him. The statue was so compassionate, as if pitying the people of the world.
Xiao Yanci always says some inexplicable things to Su Yaoguang. Could it be related to the things in the dream? He could have such an absurd dream; could Xiao Yanci also dream of these?
Could it be because we’re in the temple, so we have some special ability?
During the meal, Zhou Wangshu kept spacing out.
Su Yaoguang touched his forehead.
Zhou Wangshu was stunned for a moment, looking at the face before him that was even younger and more delicate than in the dream.
“Are you too tired?” Su Yaoguang asked. “If you’re tired, then rest. There are plenty of monks in the temple anyway; they won’t miss you. You just had a serious illness, and your body hasn’t fully recovered yet!”
“Yaoguang…” Zhou Wangshu looked at her, “Why didn’t you buy Xiao Ci back then?”
Su Yaoguang: “……Do you care so much about this matter? Why do all of you think I should buy him? You’re better looking than him, and so cheap too. Why should I waste that silver buying him?”
Zhou Wangshu lowered his gaze: “If you hadn’t bought me, what would have happened to me?”
“Fine, so you’re resentful that I bought you! Is it that you’ve suffered hardships following me, endured torment, and now regret following me? Too bad, your regret is useless. You were meant to fall into my hands.” Su Yaoguang pinched his cheeks, “These are way too pinchable.”
“Yaoguang, although Wangshu is a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family, you still have to give him face in front of others. How can you pinch his face like that, as if teasing a child?” Zhang Zhaodi said irritably.
Su Yaoguang put down her hand, picked up the tofu from the bowl for him: “Go to the back mountain to eat meat again at noon, just make do with something in the morning.”
A young monk walked over and said to Su Yaoguang and the others, “That benefactor Xiao lay outside all night last night and has a fever again today. Doctor Jiang, please go take a look quickly!”
“We’ll go over after eating breakfast,” Su Yaoguang said. “Young Master, rest assured. He is strong and healthy, and there won’t be any problems.”
If it were anyone else, Su Yaoguang would have already taken Jiang Jing and rushed over. But since this is Xiao Yanci, there’s no need to hurry; after all, he has a very strong life force and won’t die.
Zhou Wangshu said, “I’ll go take a look later. He is a man, and it would be inconvenient for you women to go take care of him. Besides, didn’t Wang Fuzi entrust him to me? Of course I have to go take care of him.”
“If he acts crazy, you don’t need to pay him any mind. Just arrange for a young master to keep an eye on him.” Su Yaoguang said.
“Alright.”
Su Yaoguang was extremely busy and soon put that suicidal scumbag Xiao Yanci out of her mind. The boss of Jiang Family Restaurant, Jiang Ziqian, sent a large amount of supplies and mentioned that there were no new patients in the city now, so the epidemic should be under control.
“We have it under control here. According to the news my men gathered, several thousand people died in the neighboring city,” Jiang Ziqian said. “I heard many people want to sneak into our place. Now the County Magistrate is very worried. Out of consideration for human lives, of course he can’t ignore these people. But once they sneak in here, it will affect the people here.”
“Human life is precious. They want to survive, which is human nature. We can arrange for some people to guard all the entrances and exits. If any outsiders are found sneaking in, just send them to the temple to be kept under watch.”
“It’s just that in this case, your place here will become extremely busy.”
“Aren’t we doing this just to save more people’s lives? If not for saving people, what would be the point of spending both silver and effort? As long as one more person survives, we’ve saved one more family.”
“Amitabha.” The abbot didn’t know how long he had been listening, but from his appearance, it was clear he had heard everything he needed to. “Benefactors, by doing good deeds and accumulating merit, these merits will benefit yourselves and receive the protection of the Buddha.”
“Yaoguang, Wangshu was splashed with hot soup all over his body by Mr. Xiao, and he got scalded. Go take a look quickly.” Zhang Yingdi ran over and said anxiously.
