Chapter 50

On the mountain, there were only Yang Shouwen and Youniang. If Yang Shi came again, it wouldn't be a problem.

Yang Shouwen thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

It seemed quite good to live with Yang Shi and her daughter as before.

"By the way, what about Mother..."

"Madam was a bit unhappy yesterday, but her mood has calmed down a lot today.

It's Qingnu... Nizi, not to criticize you, but Qingnu is still a young lady. Younian doesn't understand the rules, and arguing with her is like children's play. Your involvement is a bit excessive. The young lady has been hiding in her room, afraid to go out."

Yang Shouwen's cheeks twitched a couple of times, and after a long while, he sighed softly.

"Go back and discuss with Mother, and have Qingnu come up too.

The little girl is too spoiled, which makes her a bit arrogant. In Changping County, it's fine with Father's protection, but outside Changping, there are many ruthless people. If she doesn't change her ways, she will eventually suffer a great loss."

Yang Shi thought for a moment, "I'll talk to Madam, but I can't be sure if she will agree."

"Whether she agrees or not, I don't care."

"Alright!"

After Yang Shi clarified the situation, she and Yang Molili left with Gai Jiayun.

"Nizi, what should we do this afternoon?"

In the temple, only Yang Shouwen and Youniang were left. Seeing Yang Shouwen sitting on the threshold of the main hall, Youniang ran over to ask.

Yang Shouwen smiled, "Youniang, play with Bodhi. Nizi has some things to think about."

"Uh!"

Youniang was clearly disappointed, but she was very sensible. Seeing that Yang Shouwen was deep in thought, she didn't disturb him and took Bodhi and the four puppies to play in the temple. The temple wasn't very large, but it was spacious compared to the Yang family's home at the foot of Hugu Mountain. Yang Shi would come in the evening, and she could be with Nizi. To Youniang, life seemed to have returned to the way it was before Song Shi and her daughter came.

That was her happiest time!

In the quiet temple, Youniang's silver-bell-like laughter echoed.

Youniang's laughter, Bodhi's barking, and the puppies' whining added vitality to the temple.

Yang Shouwen sat on the threshold, watching Youniang play in the courtyard.

His mind pondered the questions Gai Jiayun had answered, and one by one, the mysteries seemed to unravel.

Lu Yongcheng discovered a mysterious person!

Then he didn't want the mysterious person in Changping... Yes, that's how it should be. So, he had Lu Qing contact Kou Bin to try to drive away the mysterious person. At this time, Yang Rui went to ask Gai Jiayun for information, and Kou Bin, upon learning this, casually revealed the information about the mysterious person. Then Gai Jiayun, wanting some money, told Yang Rui.

It should be this line!

But the question is, who is the mysterious person? Why does Lu Yongcheng want to drive away the mysterious person?

In the past, Yang Shouwen didn't include Lu Yongcheng on the list. Now he realized that Lu Yongcheng was no ordinary person, capable of using others to do his dirty work. If Yang Chenglie went after the mysterious person, he might offend the other party, and his position would be shaken; if the mysterious person was dealt with by Yang Chenglie, it would suit Lu Yongcheng's intentions.

No matter how you look at it, Lu Yongcheng wouldn't lose.

Whether the mysterious person or Yang Chenglie succeeded, Lu Yongcheng would benefit.

A person with such thoughts is not simple... Yang Shouwen suddenly remembered that he had suspected Wang He yesterday, but Lu Yongcheng was also a suspect. In fact, Lu Yongcheng's familiarity with the county office and his influence in Changping County seemed to make him more likely than Wang He. In this case, what role did Lu Yongcheng play in the attack on the county office?

All the questions ultimately led back to the starting point.

Yang Shouwen realized that to unravel these mysteries, he needed to determine the identity of the person who died in the mountains.

And what clues did he leave that made the assassins attack the county office?

Thinking about this, Yang Shouwen stood up and walked back into the main hall.

That person couldn't have stayed in the main hall for no reason, and the long-browed arhat he mentioned must be problematic.

Yang Shouwen stood in front of the arhat mural again.

To be honest, the mural wasn't very well-drawn, even a bit rough.

Yang Shouwen had looked at it more than once but hadn't noticed anything unusual. What did that person want to say?

"Nizi, Nizi, come quickly!"

Yang Shouwen was deep in thought when Youniang's shout came from outside the main hall.

He quickly ran out of the main hall, following Youniang's shouts to the viewing platform at the back of the temple.

"Youniang, what's wrong?"

Bodhi and the four puppies were there, and so was Youniang.

One person and five dogs were sitting on the platform. Youniang, hugging her knees, turned and smiled at Yang Shouwen, "Nizi, look quickly."

The sunset's afterglow spread over the mountains, as if draping Hugu Mountain in a golden-red cloak.

Youniang pointed to a nearby peak and said with a smile, "Nizi, look at that mountain. Doesn't it look like an old man with long eyebrows?"

Following Youniang's finger, Yang Shouwen saw a mountain ridge beyond Que'er Gorge.

The mountain ridge undulated, resembling a pair of long eyebrows. The entire mountain, as Youniang said, looked like an old man with long eyebrows... or perhaps a long-browed arhat?

Yang Shouwen shivered, as if he had just realized something.

Long-browed arhat, long-browed arhat!

This long-browed arhat might not be a person or a place, but something that looked like a long-browed arhat. As for the long-browed mountain ridge Youniang saw, Yang Shouwen had already ruled it out! The deceased was unfamiliar with the area and didn't even know the location of the Little Maitreya Temple. How could he have known about the long-browed mountain ridge that could only be seen from the Little Maitreya Temple?

The long-browed arhat he mentioned might have been a spur-of-the-moment thought.

That is, he hadn't been cautious until the assassin chased him, and then he hastily hid the item.

That means the item must be hidden in the temple.

Yang Shouwen's mood immediately improved, and he picked up Youniang, spinning her around.

Youniang screamed in surprise but then felt Yang Shouwen's joy and couldn't help but giggle.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

With a clue, the next step was to search.

The temple wasn't large, and there weren't many items, so the search shouldn't be difficult.

However, before Yang Shouwen could start searching, guests arrived at the temple. In the evening, Yang Shi brought Yang Qingnu up the mountain. Not only Yang Qingnu, but also Song Shi and Yang Molili, along with a horse and many items.

"You... what happened?"

Yang Qingnu was unwilling to come, so her sullen face was understandable.

After all, Yang Shouwen hadn't been kind to her yesterday and had almost killed her. How could she be in a good mood?

On the contrary, Song Shi, Yang Shi, and Yang Molili all had gloomy faces, as if someone owed them a lot of money.

"Nizi, the horse is lame."

"Huh?"

Yang Shi said with distress, "I thought the horse could carry more things, but the mountain path was difficult. It got lame at Yang Wei. It's such a pity. If we sold it at the horse market in Changping, it would fetch six or seven hundred guan. Now that it's lame, it would be lucky to get a hundred guan... a loss of four or five hundred guan."

Yang Chenglie was the county officer of Changping, but he wasn't wealthy.

Song Shi, after marrying into the Yang family, had severed ties with her family and received no inheritance.

Four or five hundred guan was a huge sum, even for the Yang family, and even during the peak of the Song family.

Yang Molili loved horses, and seeing the horse injured, she became very depressed.

Yang Shouwen stepped forward and grabbed the reins.

"Mother, why did you come up too?"

"What else could I do? Yang Sister is coming to take care of you, and Qingnu is coming too. If I stayed home, it would be too lonely.

What, Nizi, you don't welcome me?"

Hearing this, Yang Shouwen quickly waved his hands and smiled, "Mother, what are you saying? How could I not welcome you?

It's perfect. The monks have all left, so the temple is very spacious, even more so than at home. I and Molili can stay in the front courtyard, and you, Aunt, and Qingnu can stay in the back. The temple can easily accommodate twenty people."

"Qingnu, what do you think?"

Since entering the temple, Yang Qingnu had been hiding behind Song Shi, not daring to speak.

Hearing Yang Shouwen's question, she shuddered and then timidly agreed, her face filled with fear.

Yang Shouwen sighed, feeling a bit regretful.

After all, Yang Qingnu was his sister. He had disciplined her, but he shouldn't have lost his temper like he did yesterday.

Thinking of this, Yang Shouwen smiled.

"Qingnu, although the mountain is quiet, there are many fun places to explore. Younian can take you around."

"Yes, yes, Lady Qingnu, the mountain is very fun."

Youniang, seemingly having forgotten yesterday's incident, ran to Yang Qingnu with a smile, "And Nizi is very good at telling stories. We can ask Nizi to tell us stories at night, like the monkey story, which is very interesting."

Yang Qingnu looked at Youniang and softly nodded.