Chapter 535 - 535: My Trump Card
The Master Abbot affectionately looked at his young disciple and said, “Yes, it’s time to travel to other places.”
The young monk puffed out his cheeks, showing his displeasure. “Master, I don’t want to leave.”
The abbot asked patiently, “Why don’t you want to leave?”
Pouting, the young monk shared his thoughts. “It’s nice here. There’s delicious food, fun things to do, and kids my age. I’m so happy I’ve forgotten about home.”
The abbot couldn’t help but smile at his disciple’s use of the phrase ‘so happy I’ve forgotten about home.’ “Who taught you that phrase?”
The young monk, holding chopsticks in one hand and a bowl in the other, took a bite of rice before answering, “Benefactor Qingyan taught me.”
The disciple seemed to get along well with everyone. The abbot, calm and composed, suggested, “How about we come back here again in the future?”
“No, that’s not good,” the young monk disagreed, his little face showing his discontent and his eyebrows furrowing. “Why do we have to leave now?”
The abbot remained silent, looking softly at his disciple.
“Master, aren’t you here for a charity medical service? Are you going to leave before it’s finished?”
“Master, you taught me that a task should be completed before moving on to the next one. You can’t give up halfway.”
“Master…”
For the rest of the time, the second-floor hall was filled with the young monk’s convincing arguments for the abbot to stay, his voice childish yet logical.
The abbot was eventually swayed by his disciple’s persistence, gently patting the young monk’s head. “Alright, 1’11 stay until the charity medical service is over. You can play in the village for a few more days. Is that okay?”
The young monk smiled happily. “Master, you’re so kind.”
“Good, now eat your meal.” The abbot thought to himself that raising a child was indeed both physically and mentally exhausting, but worth it when the child was as adorable, well-behaved, and reasonable as his own.
Chu Qingzhi walked towards the swing pavilion, apologizing with a hint of regret. “Young Master Xing, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Xing Jindong didn’t mind, understanding that with guests at home, meals could take longer. “It’s okay.” He handed a stack of paintings to Chu Qingzhi. “Miss Chu, these are my paintings. Could you please take a look at them?”
Chu Qingzhi took the paintings, examining each one closely. “Each one is better than the last…”
She took a brush and commented on each painting, then returned them to Xing Jindong, offering some words of encouragement.
Hearing Chu Qingzhi’s comments, Xing Jindong felt a surge of confidence. “Thank you, Miss Chu.”
“You’re welcome. Let’s start the lesson.”
“Okay.”
Fan Yuru and Rong Shiyu, upon seeing this, came to the swing pavilion. Without speaking, they quietly sat on the swing and watched the lesson.
After a while, finding it interesting, they also began to draw on their papers, doodling to pass the time.
Halfway through the lesson, Chu Qingyue returned. “Fifth Sister, I’ve brought back the clothes. Come and see.”
Chu Qingzhi asked Xing Jindong to study on his own, and called Shen Ruyue to look at the clothes together.
Chu Qingyue had brought back two large trunks. She opened them one by one. “Fifth Sister, Sister-in-law, 1 think the clothes are quite nice.”
Chu Qingzhi and Shen Ruyue each picked up a garment from the trunks. The clothes were white, with a texture that was neither too soft nor too hard, durable, and the style was simple. Both were very satisfied.
“Second Sister, the clothes are not bad. Thank you.”
“We’re sisters. You’re welcome.”
Chu Qingzhi put the clothes back into the trunk and then instructed Chu Qingyue to transport the trunks to the factory area and place them in the office building, to be distributed to everyone after work in the afternoon.
The office building was already constructed, with plaster applied on the walls, only needing tables, chairs, cabinets, and other furnishings to be added.
Chu Qingzhi had ordered these furniture pieces from a carpentry shop in the county, which would be delivered later. Once set up, Shen Ruyue could move the accounts department over to this new location.
Shen Ruyue commented, “Qingzhi, with the increase in staff, two hundred sets of clothes won’t be enough.”
“Let Second sister make some more,” Chu Qingzhi said as she walked towards Chu Qingyue. “Second sister, please make another hundred sets of the white clothes. For the junior managers, make forty sets each for men and women. Now that we’ve added a senior manager position, make twenty sets in blue or indigo for men and twenty sets in green for women.”
Chu Qingyue noted down Chu Qingzhi’s request. “I’ll have the clothes ready in ten days.”
“Okay.”
After saying goodbye to her family, Chu Qingyue hurried back to the county.
Now, she not only had to learn embroidery and manage the shop but also had to take care of the weaving workshop, keeping her extremely busy.
As the sun gradually set, it was time for Yunfei School to finish for the day.
Yan Yixian had been so tormented by rumors lately that he was becoming almost reclusive, visibly losing weight and feeling a recurring pain in his leg, his body still not fully recovered.
Sitting in the courtyard, Blue Glaze, sensing his master’s unhappiness, jumped onto Yan Yixian’s lap to keep him company.
Yan Yixian stroked the cat’s round head. “Being a cat must be nice. Eat, sleep, and no worries at all.”
Blue Glaze meowed in response. Who said cats have no worries? Recently, it had taken a liking to a female cat, but she was snatched away by another cat the next day. Blue Glaze had tried to challenge the rival but lost, losing both its mate and its dignity.
Yan Yixian petted Blue Glaze again. “Are you hungry? I’ll get you something to eat.”
There were still a lot of dried fish left from the food festival. Yan Yixian fetched some and put them in the cat’s bowl.
“It’s better to be a cat. 1’11 be one in my next life.”
Yan Yixian watched Blue Glaze eat the dried fish with relish, feeling a bit envious. He was struggling with a lack of appetite and feeling miserable.
“Teacher.” Chu Xuyao’s voice came from outside the courtyard.
Yan Yixian looked up to see Chu Xuyao and Chu Xuyuan walking into the courtyard, one after the other, standing upright in front of him as if they were awaiting reprimand for some mistake.
“Teacher, I will find the person spreading the rumors. Don’t worry,” Chu Xuyao promised firmly.
Seeing their serious expressions, Yan Yixian couldn’t help but smile. “How will you find them?”
“Anyway, just believe in us. We can definitely do it,” Chu Xuyao said, his voice lacking confidence, but he spoke as if he had a solid plan.
Yan Yixian reached out and patted Chu Xuyao’s shoulder. He thought for a moment and said, “Do you have a plan?”
He felt a bit ashamed that he, an adult, was less proactive than the two children. It was time for a change in mindset.
“Actually, I don’t have a plan.” Chu Xuyao thought for a moment and said, “Seventh Brother and i plan to look for He Shaozhi and Su Wenji to test them. If it doesn’t work, I’ll go back and look for my Fifth Sister.”
His fifth sister was their trump card; in the minds of the two young boys, there was nothing Chu Qingzhi couldn’t solve..