Chapter 51

The two little girls made up, which also brought a sigh of relief to both Song Shi and Yang Shi.

This kind of grudge between children is indeed hard for adults to understand. For You Niang, Xi Zi's brother would always be her Xi Zi's brother, and the secret between her and Xi Zi's brother was firmly etched in her heart.

In this regard, You Niang felt a sense of superiority.

And what about Yang Qingnu?

Although she could be quite spoiled and even sometimes cruel, she was still a child.

When she realized that not everyone in the world revolved around her, and even her most beloved mother did not stand by her side in certain situations, Yang Qingnu felt fear. After Yang Shouwen took You Niang up the mountain yesterday, Yang Qingnu was a bit envious. Looking back, some things seemed to be the result of her jealousy.

For example, yesterday, You Niang did not provoke her at first.

She was just looking at the poem by herself, and Qingnu, out of curiosity, went over to see.

But when she found out that You Niang could read the words on the paper, and that the paper was a gift from Yang Shouwen to You Niang, Qingnu became jealous.

In her view, it should have been her gift.

Yang Shouwen was her brother, even if they were half-siblings, he should have given the gift to her, not You Niang.

When a child's jealousy flares up, it can be quite terrifying! Qingnu tore the paper to shreds, which enraged You Niang, and they ended up fighting. But before that, the two girls actually got along quite well.

Coming to a strange place and facing a brother she feared, You Niang extended a hand of friendship, which made Qingnu feel a bit warm.

Soon, the two little girls were playing and laughing together as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Song Shi and Yang Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yang Shouwen squatted down next to the lame horse, observed for a while, and then suddenly shouted, "Yang Molili, why haven't you put horseshoes on it?"

Yang Molili was fetching water from the well. Hearing Yang Shouwen call him, he dropped the bucket and ran over.

"What are horseshoes?"

"Horseshoes are... the iron plates on the horse's hooves."

"Why put iron on the horse's hooves?"

Yang Molili looked puzzled, clearly not understanding Yang Shouwen's question.

Putting iron on a horse's hooves? The horse would surely be in pain.

But Yang Shouwen suddenly realized that perhaps horseshoes had not yet been invented in this era.

It was his habitual thinking; seeing the saddle and stirrups, he assumed horseshoes were already in use, so he hadn't paid attention.

But now, looking at Yang Molili's expression, it was likely that horseshoes had not yet appeared.

Yang Shouwen reached out and gently touched the injured part of the horse's hoof. His eyes twinkled, and he immediately had an idea.

Horseshoes, it seemed, wouldn't be too difficult to make.

"Alright, it's fine. Go back to work."

Yang Shouwen waved his hand, sending Yang Molili back to work, while he walked to the square in front of the main hall and surveyed the entire temple.

With the sudden increase in people, the temple came to life.

The matter of the horseshoes could be put aside for now; the key was to quickly solve the mystery of the 'Long-Eyebrowed Arhat.'

But what exactly was the Long-Eyebrowed Arhat?

Yang Shouwen walked around the temple again and again, but by dinner time, he still hadn't found the answer.

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After dinner, Yang Shi and Song Shi tidied up the rooms.

Yang Shouwen sat cross-legged on the square, motionless like a meditating monk.

"Xi Zi's brother, come tell us a story."

You Niang, pulling Qingnu, ran in from outside the temple, panting, and came to Yang Shouwen.

It was already completely dark, with a bright moon in the sky. The moonlight was soft, casting a white frost over the temple.

Yang Shouwen suddenly woke up, his eyes still a bit dazed.

"What story?"

"The monkey story... Xi Zi's brother said he would tell me a story, but I fell asleep yesterday and didn't hear it."

"Oh, oh, oh!"

Yang Shouwen finally fully woke up, patted his forehead, and a smile appeared on his face.

Qingnu, instinctively took a step back, looking at Yang Shouwen timidly.

But Yang Shouwen, as if not noticing her movement, just waved her over, indicating that Yang Qingnu should sit down beside him.

Perhaps it was because the story of "Journey to the West" was so captivating that when he was about to start, Bodhi brought four puppies over and sat in front of Yang Shouwen.

"Last time, we talked about Sun Wukong being pressed under the Five-Finger Mountain..."

"Woof woof woof woof!"

The puppy named Wukong barked when it heard its name.

"Wukong, be quiet."

You Niang picked it up and then looked at Yang Shouwen, listening quietly as he told the story. You Niang had already introduced the plot of "Journey to the West" to Qingnu, albeit in a general way, but it still captivated Qingnu. Now, hearing Yang Shouwen retell it, she perked up and subconsciously moved closer to him.

Five hundred years later, Jiang Liu'er was born, avenging his father.

Guanyin came from the East, seeking a pilgrim, and discovered Jiang Liu'er, who had become Tang Sanzang.

The epic "Journey to the West" finally began...

At the Two-Boundary Mountain, the Tiger Protector appeared, and under the Five-Finger Mountain, Wukong and Sanzang met for the first time.

Yang Shouwen told the story vividly, and You Niang and Qingnu listened with rapt attention, not even noticing that Yang Shi and Song Shi had come over and were sitting there listening. Unconsciously, the story progressed to Gao Laozhuang. When Qingnu heard the description of Pigsy, she couldn't help but giggle, which made the little Pigsy bark.

"So, you're Pigsy."

Qingnu picked up the puppy and laughed.

"Xi Zi, will there be Sha Wujing and Bai Longma later?"

Song Shi asked from the side, and Yang Shouwen nodded lightly.

"No wonder you gave them such good names."

Song Shi stood up, stretched, and looked at the sky.

"Alright, it's not early. Go to bed early.

Your Xi Zi's brother has been busy all day. Let him rest early; there's a lot to do tomorrow."

You Niang and Qingnu looked reluctant but didn't dare to disobey Song Shi's order. They exchanged a glance, and Qingnu suddenly said, "Mother, can I sleep with You Niang tonight?"

Song Shi understood You Niang's position in Yang Shouwen's heart and was happy to see the two girls getting along. She glanced at Yang Shouwen and, seeing that he didn't mind, nodded and agreed to Qingnu's request.

"Alright, go to bed."

You Niang pulled Qingnu to the room, with Wukong and Pigsy following and barking. Sha Wujing and Bai Longma, on the other hand, obediently followed Bodhi and stayed by Yang Shouwen's side.

"These two children, they were fighting yesterday, but today they're as close as one person."

Song Shi said, looking at Yang Shouwen.

Yang Shouwen stood up and said, "Mother, I was too impulsive yesterday. Seeing Qingnu and You Niang become friends, I'm very happy. I won't act like that again. Let the children handle their own affairs."

This was Yang Shouwen admitting his mistake, and Song Shi quickly waved her hand, finally putting her mind at ease.

"By the way, what were you thinking about after dinner?"

Yang Shouwen didn't know how to answer, just saying he was considering some issues, and Song Shi didn't press further.

Song Shi and Yang Shi went back to their rooms to rest.

The two little girls stayed in the front Zen room, becoming Yang Shouwen's neighbors. Laughter and the barking of puppies could be heard from the Zen room. Yang Shouwen still stood on the square. After a while, he said to Yang Molili, who was already drowsy, "Yang Molili, go to bed early."

"Alright, I'll go to sleep. Good night, Master."

Yang Molili lived in a room next to the mountain gate, not far from the Zen room.

Yang Shouwen watched him enter the room, then went to the entrance of the Great Hall, closed the door, and returned to his room with Bodhi and the two puppies.

Long-Eyebrowed Arhat, Long-Eyebrowed Arhat... what the hell is it?

That night, Yang Shouwen tossed and turned on the Zen bed, unable to sleep, with the image of the Long-Eyebrowed Arhat constantly appearing in his mind.

It wasn't until around the third watch that he finally fell into a drowsy sleep.