Chapter 47

For three days, Yang Shouwen had been in contact with Yang Shouwen.

In Song's impression, Yang Shouwen was mostly gentle and refined, like a gentleman as pure as jade. Although he sometimes showed a silly side, and at other times exuded a fierce aura, he rarely truly got angry in front of his family.

But today...

Yang Qingnu didn't dare to cry anymore, as Yang Shouwen's cold and stern tone frightened her.

Yang Shouwen pulled You Niang out of the room, stood on the porch, took a deep breath, and suddenly shouted, "Yang Molili."

"Yang Molili is here, Yang Molili is here."

Yang Molili, holding half a giant Hu cake, stumbled over and stopped under the porch, looking at Yang Shouwen in surprise.

Yang Shouwen slapped his forehead: Forget it!

"For the next two days, you stay at home and protect my mother and Qingnu.

If anything happens, have someone take you to the small Maitreya Temple on the mountain to find me... You Niang, go pack your things and come with me up the mountain."

Up the mountain?

Yang Shouwen's sudden decision shocked Song.

However, Yang Shouwen was no longer in the mood to explain. He just instructed You Niang and then returned to his room, closing the door.

He took a few sets of clothes, then put away the drawings and other items he had previously drawn, wrapping them together.

He sheathed his sword, picked up the tiger-swallowing spear, and casually hung a leather pouch from his waist.

"Xizi, what are you doing?"

Song walked into the room, her face full of anger.

"I know you and You Niang have a deep bond, but Qingnu is also your sister.

When the two children argue, why do you... Listen to your mother, don't be stubborn, did you hear? Otherwise, I'll go back to the city and tell your father."

Yang Shouwen paused for a moment but still took the straw hat from the wall.

"Mother, if I stay here, can Qingnu be at ease?"

As he spoke, he stepped out of the room.

At the door, You Niang had already packed her things and stood timidly to one side.

"I can let her act as she pleases, even if she misbehaves, I won't get angry.

But I can't do that with You Niang... I am seventeen now, and before this month, who cared about me except for Grandfather? You Niang grew up with me, even when I was confused and called a fool, she never looked down on me. In her heart, I am her Xizi brother, and in my eyes, she is closer to me than my own sister.

When Qingnu truly regards me as her brother, we can talk about other things... Today's incident, regardless of who is right or wrong, is already over. In two days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I need to go up the mountain to discuss matters with the temple, so I need to prepare early.

By the way, the wine has already been put into the white porcelain jar by Aunt.

Tomorrow, have someone send three jars to the city for Father, and five jars to the mountain. The remaining six jars should be buried for now."

As Yang Shouwen spoke, he reached out and held You Niang's small hand.

"Bodhi!"

At his shout, Bodhi and the four puppies immediately ran over, circling around Yang Shouwen and You Niang.

"That's it, I'm going up the mountain."

Yang Shouwen seemed very tired and didn't want to argue anymore. He pulled You Niang's hand and walked out.

Yang Molili, with half a cake in her mouth, looked at Yang Shouwen, then at Song and Yang standing on the porch, and after a while, sat down and started eating voraciously.

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It was already dark, and the mountains were unusually quiet.

Bodhi led the four puppies ahead, while Yang Shouwen carried the spear, with You Niang and his belongings hanging on the wall, following behind, stepping on the silver frost covering the ground. You Niang, at this moment, was like a frightened little rabbit, one hand tightly gripping Yang Shouwen's shirt, not daring to stop, following him into the mountains, step by step.

The mountain path was rugged and uneven, making it somewhat difficult to walk.

After about half an hour, Yang Shouwen stopped.

"You Niang, are you tired?"

You Niang's small hand still clung tightly to Yang Shouwen's shirt, her face flushed, and sweat dripped from her forehead.

But she still stubbornly shook her head and said softly, "You Niang is not tired."

"You say you're not tired, but you're sweating."

Yang Shouwen put his finger in his mouth and whistled loudly.

Bodhi and the four puppies immediately turned around and ran back, circling around Yang Shouwen.

Yang Shouwen looked around and pointed to a stone by the roadside, "You Niang, let's rest here.

You probably haven't eaten dinner and must be hungry... Hehe, Aunt prepared some giant Hu cakes. Let's split one and eat it. After we're full, Xizi brother will take you up the mountain. We'll stay there for a few days, okay?"

You Niang nodded happily.

Actually, for You Niang, where they stayed and what they ate didn't matter.

What mattered was being with Xizi brother, listening to his stories about monkeys every day... Although she would miss her mother, she still felt that Xizi brother and the monkeys were more important, not to mention Bodhi.

She sat down on the stone obediently, took a piece of cake, and chewed it slowly.

Yang Shouwen took a towel, walked a few steps to a spring, wet the towel with the spring water, and then came back to squat in front of You Niang, helping her wipe away the tear marks on her face. Under the moonlight, You Niang's face had a red mark, and there were two blood streaks.

Suddenly, Yang Shouwen's anger intensified.

He felt that the punishment for Yang Qingnu was too light... This little girl wasn't just hitting You Niang; she was trying to disfigure her.

"You Niang, does it hurt?"

You Niang nodded, then shook her head.

"It's okay, it will be better in a couple of days... This is the medicine given to me by Tian Cunzheng. I'll apply it for you, don't move."

As he spoke, Yang Shouwen took a small bottle from his waist pouch, used his fingernail to pick out some ointment, and gently applied it to You Niang's face. The ointment, called Huichun Ointment, was quite effective, learned by Tian Cunzheng from his travels.

Since witnessing Tian Cunzheng's skills in making medicine, Yang Shouwen had asked for some and carried it with him.

The world is so chaotic, and the outside is so complex.

Carrying this ointment could provide an extra means of survival. But he didn't expect that its first use would be to reduce the swelling on You Niang's face.

After cleaning You Niang's face, Yang Shouwen sat down beside her.

The moonlight was clear.

A bright moon hung high in the night sky, with stars twinkling, forming a river of stars across the heavens.

The wind was gentle, making the body feel especially comfortable.

Yang Shouwen suddenly felt inspired, stood up, and picked two leaves from a tree by the roadside. After washing them clean, he sat down beside You Niang.

"You Niang, would you like me to play a tune for you?"

You Niang was taken aback, with a few sesame seeds still on her face, and looked at Yang Shouwen in confusion, "Does Xizi brother know how to play tunes?"

Yang Shouwen smiled slightly, put the leaves in his mouth, and tried a couple of times.

"Let's start!"

"Okay!"

You Niang leaned against Yang Shouwen, looking at his profile.

Yang Shouwen closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then suddenly blew into the leaves.

A melodious tune emerged from his mouth, and You Niang was immediately stunned. The tune was unfamiliar, different from the ones she had heard before, and it sounded... really beautiful.

The tune Yang Shouwen was playing was "Daughter's Love" from the TV series "Journey to the West."

Swallows and butterflies fly together, the garden's spring beauty intoxicates.

Quietly ask the holy monk, is the daughter beautiful, is the daughter beautiful...

The lyrics echoed in his mind, and the tune played from his mouth. The melody echoed in the mountains. Bodhi and the four puppies lay at Yang Shouwen's feet, seemingly enjoying the beautiful melody, while You Niang leaned against Yang Shouwen, gradually closing her eyes.

She didn't know the lyrics of the tune, but she could sense a different kind of daughter's sentiment.

When the tune ended, Yang Shouwen took the leaves out of his mouth.

He was about to speak when he noticed that You Niang had already fallen asleep on his lap. Her pretty little mouth was slightly upturned, and her face was filled with a happy smile, as if she was having a beautiful dream.

He took a deep breath, put the spear on his back, and then picked up You Niang, standing up.

Bodhi immediately stood up and woke the four puppies.

Under the moonlight, the two people and four dogs slowly walked on the mountain path, gradually disappearing into the mountains.

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That night, You Niang had a beautiful dream.

In her dream, she and Xizi brother were running on the mountain path, with Xizi brother in front and her following behind.

Later, when she couldn't run anymore, Xizi brother carried her and continued running.

Running and running...

You Niang suddenly opened her eyes and found herself in a strange room.

She was frightened and quickly sat up, about to scream, but then she saw four puppies sleeping soundly under the bed.

She turned the page to the AD.

She turned the page to the end of the AD.