As the words fell, the room fell silent.
Zhouzhou cautiously observed their expressions and thought about how Senior martial uncle Mingtong charged two yuan for a fortune-telling, while she charged five yuan for a medicine that cost her nothing. It seemed a bit excessive, especially since Grandma had treated her to so many delicious dishes. It was unfair for her to charge that much.
Thinking this, she held up her plump hand and retracted three fingers, leaving only her index finger and middle finger forming the shape of "two" near her ear. Softly, she said, "Grandma, if you think it's expensive, just give me two yuan."
She even scratched her head with embarrassment, looking like a cunning merchant.
Mingtong facepalmed, speechless.
Expensive? Two yuan wouldn't even buy cabbage!
The little girl was so ignorant.
He clearly said five million yuan!
Looking at their attire, even the watch on their wrists was worth more than that.
Five yuan? It's unbelievable that she came up with that!
Mingtong was frustrated and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Madam Qin glanced at him and took out a card with a smile. She handed it to Zhouzhou. "This one is for you, as thanks for saving my life."
What's this?
Zhouzhou held the black card in her hand, curiously examining it. It had a golden border around it, giving it a powerful appearance.
She didn't recognize it, but Mingtong immediately recognized it—it was a limited-edition black card!
Even though it was a supplementary card, it was more than enough to buy planes and cruises.
She had stumbled upon a gold mine!
Zhouzhou was young and had just come down from the mountain. Being young and inexperienced, she couldn't figure out the significance of the card even after studying it for a while. She remembered that the money given by the worshippers who came to Sanqing Temple didn't look like this. So she returned the card, saying, "Grandma, please exchange it for steamed buns for me."
Upon hearing this, Mingtong choked, almost fainting. Before Madam Qin could say anything, he quickly snatched the card back with a smile and said, "When it comes to saving a life, it's a big deal. It definitely needs proper repayment. Otherwise, if the karmic debts cannot be resolved, it won't be good for this benefactor."
That also made sense.
Zhouzhou tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Then, thank you, Grandma."
Although she still wanted steamed buns more.
A child's thoughts were shallow, and whatever she was thinking would immediately show on her face. Madam Qin couldn't help but hold back her laughter, her eyes filled with love as she looked at Zhouzhou.
If only she were her granddaughter, that would be wonderful. The little girl was truly adorable.
The more she looked at her, the more she liked her. She couldn't get enough and couldn't help but keep talking to her.
Zhouzhou was quick to respond to any questions and had a clever tongue despite her young age. Her ability to express herself was excellent, and her voice was soft and sweet, which made Madam Qin like her even more.
Taking advantage of their conversation, Mingtong quietly slipped out and found the nearest ATM to check the balance on the card. He was planning to deceive the little girl into buying a multi-story mansion when he saw the number displayed.
His hand, which had reached out to count the digits, suddenly froze, and the smile on his lips completely disappeared. He widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at the "2" displayed in the balance column, utterly dumbfounded.
How was that possible!
He reluctantly took out the card, examined it left and right, and confirmed that it was indeed the limited-edition black card. The anti-counterfeiting marks on the back were all clear, exactly the same as the genuine one. There was no possibility of a mistake.
But what was up with the balance?
A limited-edition black card with only two yuan inside? Was there something wrong?
With these thoughts, his face darkened as well.
In the private room, a dazzling golden light flashed, catching Zhouzhou's attention. She suddenly turned her head to look in a certain direction.
"What's wrong?" Madam Qin noticed her movement and curiously asked.
Zhouzhou didn't answer. She swiftly jumped off her chair and ran to the corner, opening the bundle placed there and taking out the statue of Ancestral Master statue.
To her surprise, one of the statue's fingers, which had been covered in dust, had turned golden!
It was shining and almost dazzled her eyes.
Zhouzhou rubbed her eyes and looked at this scene in disbelief.
Yes, it was this color!
Exactly the same as Ancestral Master statue she had seen initially!
But back then, the entire figure was shining with golden light, and now only one finger was golden.
But wasn't it just gray a moment ago? How did it suddenly change like this?
Zhouzhou tilted her head, showing confusion in her eyes.
Coincidentally, Mingtong walked in with a drooping head at that moment. When he saw the statue of Ancestral Master statue in her hand, his brows furrowed suddenly, and he remembered something, his face changing drastically.
He quickly walked up, lifted Zhouzhou in his arms, and hurriedly carried her outside to a corner. Only then did he put her down and looked at Ancestral Master statue in her arms, shocked. "How did Ancestral Master statue turn into this?"
This miniature statue represented Ancestral Master statue of their Sanqing Temple. The golden light on it was not made of real gold but transformed from the offerings and merits of the worshippers.
He knew that the number of worshippers had decreased in the past year, but it shouldn't have deteriorated to this extent.
"I don't know either," Zhouzhou was even more clueless than him. She blinked her eyes, looking at him with a puzzled expression. "When we descended the mountain, Ancestral Master statue was still covered in dirt. I don't know why, but suddenly his finger turned golden."
Speaking, she became somewhat excited. "Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong, could it be that Ancestral Master statue can transform? Will he become that golden, radiant Ancestral Master statue in the future?"
She liked that kind of Ancestral Master statue!
It looked prosperous!
No, that's not right.
However, Mingtong furrowed his brow deeply. Ancestral Master statue did not have the ability to transform, and he didn't know where the golden light on him had gone. But from what she said, it was completely gray before, and just now the finger turned golden.
Wait, just now?
A flash of realization crossed his mind. He lowered his head and looked at the black card in his hand, then glanced at the soft and gentle girl. A thought suddenly ignited in his heart, and he exclaimed in shock, "What curse do you suffer from?"
"Lack of money," Zhouzhou spoke up with a clear and crisp voice, mixed with a childish tone. However, it struck Mingtong's head like a thunderbolt. His fingertips trembled, and he kept muttering "No wonder."
No wonder the golden light on Ancestral Master statue disappeared.
No wonder the temple declined this year.
No wonder Li Yuanming wanted to send her down the mountain.
All of this, clearly, was because of this little girl!
She turned out to be cursed with a lack of money!
With her around, anyone who wanted to be a worshipper on the mountain was out of luck!
But evidently, Zhouzhou had exceptional metaphysical talents, arguably the best he had ever seen. However, in contrast, her curse of poverty was particularly severe.
It even affected the people close to her, making it impossible for them to hold on to money.
The money in the black card was not because the Qin family was stingy, only depositing two yuan. Instead, it was because they gave it to Zhouzhou, and the money was transferred to Ancestral Master statue as offerings!
Mingtong felt like crying but had no tears. He never expected it to be like this.
This wasn't a wealth-attracting deity; it was clearly a money-shredding machine!
He couldn't dare to keep her any longer.
"Well, Zhouzhou, you see, you're already four years old, and you can be self-reliant now. You can even beg for food. Your future life will definitely be fine. So how about we part ways here and live our own lives?"
Zhouzhou looked at him but remained silent. Her little mouth pouted, remembering the delighted expression of the Taoist Abbot when he sent her away and the resolute look on Li Yuanming's face when he drove her down the mountain. Suddenly, her heart ached. She opened her mouth and burst into tears.
"Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong, don't you want me anymore?"
"I knew it, all of you despise me."
"The Taoist Abbot doesn't want me, Master Yuanming doesn't want me, and now even Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong doesn't want me anymore."
"Don't worry, I won't drag you down." As she spoke, she wiped her eyes with one hand and hugged Ancestral Master statue with the other, crying heart-wrenchingly. "I'll go beg for food and be a beggar!"
Madam Qin arrived and witnessed this scene. The little girl was crying miserably, recounting her experiences of being abandoned repeatedly, which tugged at Madam Qin's heartstrings.
Without thinking, she blurted out, "If they don't want you, I want you!"
After speaking, she herself was taken aback, but she didn't regret it.
Taking a deep breath, she approached Zhouzhou step by step, squatting in front of her, and tenderly embraced the little girl in her arms, gently patting her back. Her voice was gentle as she said, "Don't be afraid, Zhouzhou. Grandma wants you. Come home with me."
Huh?
As Zhouzhou's crying stopped, she stared blankly at the woman. Her voice was very gentle, and her embrace was warm. The big hands that caressed her back carried a comforting meaning. Whether it was in the temple or the Taoist temple, she had always been surrounded by a group of men. This was the first time a woman had embraced her.
It was fragrant, soft, and warm.
Unconsciously, she grew a bit attached to it.
She had originally planned to fake cry to soften Mingtong's heart, so he wouldn't abandon her. But she didn't expect that the first person to be softened would be the old lady.
The gentle voice echoed in her ears, and Zhouzhou's nose felt a bit sour. Now, she really felt like crying.
She was the first person who didn't despise her.
Thinking of something, Zhouzhou's eyes dimmed again. She withdrew from the embrace, reluctantly grabbing the woman's clothes at the hem with her fingertips. But in the end, she let go, hanging her head and despondently saying, "Thank you, Grandma, but it's not necessary."
She wiped her eyes and felt a bit of dampness. "I am cursed with a lack of money. It will bring bankruptcy to your family, and we will become very poor, unable to afford food. We will have only a few grains of rice, and even our bowls will be broken."
As she spoke, she grew sadder. Finally, she took a deep breath and smiled at the woman, looking up. Her little dimples appeared on her face, making her look both well-behaved and adorable.
Madam Qin's heart grew even softer.
She held Zhouzhou's hand, gestured with grandeur, and said, "What's the big deal? Grandma's family has plenty of money. If you can really spend it all, that's talent. I would like a granddaughter who can spend money."
As these words came out, something stirred in her heart.
Perhaps, making her the granddaughter wouldn't be a bad idea.
She had asked Zhouzhou just now and learned that she had grown up in the mountains since she was a child. She had been a monk and later became a Taoist. In short, her master, who was the abbot, had picked her up when she was still swaddling in clothes.
She was an orphan.
Now that her master had asked her to leave the mountain and Mingtong refused to take her, perhaps adopting her would be a good choice.
What's there to fear about spending money? The Qin family had plenty of it.
Thinking this, she held Zhouzhou's hand and gently said, "Zhouzhou, you just said that you are cursed with a lack of money, right?"
Zhouzhou nodded.
Madam Qin's voice became even gentler. "What a coincidence. Grandma's house happens to have money, and there's a son who is the richest person in the world. So, aren't we a perfect match?"
One cursed with a lack of money, the other with no shortage of it.
She was destined to come to their family!
Old Master Qin, seeing her look like the big bad wolf trying to coax Little Red Riding Hood, couldn't bear to look directly at her. His gaze fell on Zhouzhou, and he lightly nodded.
He also quite liked Zhouzhou.
Raising such a gentle granddaughter seemed quite nice. She was much better than those stinky boys in the family.
As for the talk of being cursed with a lack of money, what a joke! Was the Qin family afraid of that?
And also, what kind of saying is that?
Zhouzhou tilted her head and pondered for a moment. She hesitated a bit, clutching the corner of her clothes, and whispered, "But I caused the temple and Taoist temple to go bankrupt."
She wasn't foolish. She knew the reasons behind the bankruptcy of the temple and Taoist temple. So when her master wanted her to leave the mountain, she only pretended to cry to ask for some gifts. She had no intention of really clinging and not leaving.
She didn't want to burden everyone anymore.
Upon hearing this, Madam Qin patted her head. It felt smooth and had a great texture. She smiled and said, "Although fate is predetermined, different people can lead to different outcomes. For example, some people have tough luck and bring bad luck to their husbands. But if they meet someone with the same tough luck, they might actually be a perfect match, right?"
Her voice was soft and carried a hint of coaxing.
Today, she had made up her mind. She must lure Zhouzhou back home!
With that in mind, she exchanged a glance with Old Master Qin.
Seeing this, Old Master Qin cleared his throat and struggled to put on a gentle expression. His mouth twitched awkwardly, but his voice still sounded a bit stiff, "The Qin family is not short of money. Spend as much as you want!"
Madam Qin looked at his stiff mouth and couldn't help but glare at him, laughing in a somewhat scary manner. She was careful not to scare Zhouzhou.
Old Master Qin also looked helpless. He didn't know how to smile.
Ignoring him, Madam Qin turned her head and continued talking to Zhouzhou, "Grandpa is right. Our family is big, with hundreds of companies everywhere. We have money that can't be spent for dozens of lifetimes. If Zhouzhou can help us spend some of it, she will truly be a great benefactor to our family."
"And Grandma's house has a lot of money and delicious food. We have Stewed Vegetable, Five-Colored Ruyi (roastedean sprouts, black fungus, celery, mushrooms, carrots), Strawberry Yam, Jinyumantang (boiled bean curd skin, vegetarian minced meat, red dates, radish, enoki mushroom, wolfberry, leek), Treasure at the Door (cashews, walnuts, diced carrots, diced celery, sweet corn kernels and fresh lilies are wrapped in bean skins and fried), and Vegetarian Buddha Jumps Over the Wall... They are all exceptionally delicious."
Just listening to it made her mouth water.
Hearing her words, Zhouzhou couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
She really wanted to eat.
Seeing her wavering, Mingtong's eyes turned, and he also approached, saying, "That's right, Zhouzhou. There's a lot of delicious food down the mountain. I'm not doing well, and if you follow me, we can only eat free meals and work off our debts by washing dishes. It's too hard. It's better to go home with this grandma and give it a try. Your destinies complement each other naturally. Who knows, this might be the fate that Heaven has destined for you. How would you know if you don't give it a try?"
Madam Qin glanced at him, knowing that he was afraid Zhouzhou would continue following him. But at least he was helping to push Zhouzhou toward her side, so she didn't say anything.
Seeing that Zhouzhou was still hesitating, she held her hand, covering her heart, and said, "Grandma has always wanted a granddaughter in her lifetime. Zhouzhou, just pity me and fulfill my wish, alright?"
As she spoke, she wiped her eyes.
Seeing her like this, Zhouzhou felt a sense of familiarity. She was the same when she pretended to cry.
She wanted to say something but hesitated. However, she couldn't bring herself to expose her act.
Seeing her looking at her with anticipation, her heart softened, and she instinctively nodded, "Okay."
An instant smile bloomed on Madam Qin's face. In the moment Zhouzhou nodded, she immediately lifted her up and stuffed her into the car. She held onto her tightly and urged the driver to start the car quickly, as if she was afraid Zhouzhou would change her mind and run away.
Old Master Qin and the butler understood and quickly got into the car as well. The car door closed with a "click," and the car immediately started, disappearing from the spot in less than three seconds.
Watching the speeding car, Mingtong couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. He lowered his head and calculated with his fingers, raising an eyebrow involuntarily. He looked in the direction they had left, revealing a meaningful smile on his face.
It's fate, after all.
On the other side, Madam Qin hurriedly brought Zhouzhou back home and immediately took out all the vegetarian food she could eat, filling up a coffee table with a variety of dishes.
Zhouzhou's eyes widened even more at the sight of these diverse delicacies, and she couldn't help but salivate incessantly.
Seeing her reaction, Madam Qin burst into laughter and opened a package of biscuits, handing it to her. "Here, Zhouzhou, eat."
Zhouzhou peered at the dark and round objects inside with some hesitation. But finally, looking at the expectant gaze of Madam Qin, she tentatively took a bite. As soon as it entered her mouth, her eyes lit up. "Yummy!"
Madam Qin loved seeing her like this and wished she could bring all the delicious food in the world to her. "Then eat more, try everything. If you like something, tell Grandma, and Grandma will buy more for you."
"Mm!"
With a good start, Zhouzhou became more open to these new things and happily ate, puffing out her cheeks and making munching sounds.
Madam Qin watched her from the side, her smile never fading from her face.
So adorable.
From now on, she would be her granddaughter!
Thinking of this, her smile grew even bigger.
However, just in case, she still needed to find a way to keep Zhouzhou in their family permanently.
At the very least, getting her registered in their household was a priority.
But whose household should she register under?
Since they were not directly related, the little girl probably couldn't be registered under her and the old man's household. Their four sons were all married and had their own families, leaving only...
Got it!
Her eyes lit up, and she took out her phone, taking a photo of Zhouzhou and sending it to a person in her contacts. Then she lowered her head to edit the message.
[Look, your daughter!]
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC