Chapter 115: Chapter 0115: In the End, It Was Huo Tingxiao Who Compromised
“Before, I had reserved a double-sided embroidery with your assistant, but yesterday I was told that you had co to the mountains to fast…”
Mu Lan’s explanation quickly led Master Yao to guess her identity.
“You are Mrs. Huo.”
“Yes.”
“There are many other excellent embroiderers in Minghui Hall, Mrs. Huo, so why must it specifically be ?”
It wasn’t that she couldn’t understand the subtle refusal in Master Yao’s words, but Mu Lan still didn’t want to give up.
...
“Although other masters are also excellent, I still wish for you, Master Yao, to personally embroider this design.
Honestly, this is a birthday gift for an elder in the family, and I want to do my best.”
Master Yao fell silent for a while, then shook his head.
“That might disappoint you, Mrs. Huo, but I will be fasting and ditating in the mountains for the next half month, so…”
“Master Yao, please don’t be in a hurry to reject . I can assure you that I won’t interfere with your ditation; rather, it will earn you more rit.”
“What do you an by that, Mrs. Huo?”
Mu Lan smiled and explained:
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“Your fasting and ditation is to cultivate yourself, but Buddha said to universally deliver all beings and guide people to Buddhism, which is a great rit.
Thus, I will join you in fasting and ditating on this mountain as a demonstration of my sincerity.”
“Fasting and ditating together?”
Master Yao looked at Mu Lan, a delicate young girl, clearly skeptical of her ability to endure such hardship.
“Why must you be so persistent, Mrs. Huo?”
Seeing so softening in his attitude, Mu Lan pressed on but kept it tactfully gentle to not seem too aggressive.
“I am just another worldly person among the masses. A bit of ditation won’t hurt. Of course, Master Yao, feel no pressure; I am not doing this to force you to embroider this design specifically. Buddhism talks about ‘fate,’ everything happens as it is ant to.”
Now that the conversation had co to this point, Master Yao could only respond.
“Then, Mrs. Huo, please do as you please.”
“I will appreciate your guidance in the coming days, then.”
Mu Lan wore a bright smile on her face, while Master Yao sighed inwardly, his expression becoming sowhat complicated as if rembering sothing.
Having finished breakfast, Tingxiao’s frown deepened upon hearing that Mu Lan was planning to stay for the fasting.
“You’ve seen the conditions here, are you sure you want to stay?”
Compared to Tingxiao’s response, Mu Lan seed quite nonchalant.
“The conditions aren’t that bad, right? There’s food and drink, and at worst, so labor. What’s so bad about that?”
Tingxiao was not as optimistic; while he, a grown man, might endure so hardship and fatigue, why should such a delicate woman have to suffer here?
“Let’s think of another way for the birthday present, otherwise—”
“Stop! I’ve said I’ll handle this myself. Even if Master Yao refuses to embroider the design, I have a plan B. But we need to exhaust all options before resorting to alternatives.
Just go back to work without worries. Besides, Yun Xi is there, what is there to worry about?”
Mu Lan spoke lightly, but Tingxiao felt conflicted. He didn’t want to see her suffer by staying, but also felt it awkward to express this openly.
Previously he hadn’t noticed her stubborn streak; though young, she was incredibly obstinate. ‘Banging one’s head against the wall’ described Mu Lan precisely.
Seeing that he was about to say sothing else, Mu Lan quickly spoke first.
“Alright, if you keep going, you’ll turn into my dad.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, a hint of sadness swept through Mu Lan’s eyes; she almost forgot that she no longer had a father.
In the end, Huo Tingxiao was the one who compromised.
“Call if you need anything.”
“Got it, got it, you’re so naggy.”
Mu Lan verbally disparaged him, but deep down, she was a bit happy.
Yun Xi also descended the mountain. On the way back to the city, Huo Tingxiao offered a few more words of advice, truly resembling an old father.
Upon returning to Maple Forest Garden, Auntie Li, seeing only Yun Xi, asked:
“Miss Yun, is the young madam…?”
“Could you please prepare so luggage? Mrs. Huo will be fasting at Jingxin Hermitage in the mountains for half a month.”
Fasting at Jingxin Hermitage? Auntie Li was a bit confused. Why would she go to the mountains for a fast all of a sudden? Could it be that the young couple’s spat had escalated?
However, she didn’t ask further and sighed as she went to pack the bags.
After picking up the luggage, Yun Xi also collected the tools Mu Lan needed as well as the already tailored garnts and drove to Jingxin Hermitage.
With a young girl coming to the hermitage to fast, she inevitably drew attention. Fortunately, Jingxin Hermitage was small., The Mage, along with the novice monks and visiting fasters, totaled only twenty or thirty people, so Mu Lan went about her business as if nothing was the matter.
Jingxin Hermitage’s backyard had several vegetable plots. In the mornings, the main task was to clear the weeds. Mu Lan, having never fard before, could only imitate the others., It was tough work and she was unaccustod to it initially, soon developing small blisters on her hands that itched and burned painfully.
“You’ve never done this kind of work. You should at least wear gloves.”
Looking up, she hadn’t expected it to be Master Yao. Mu Lan smiled.
“Thank you for the reminder, Master Yao, but I feel that since I am here, I should have a real experience., This way my devotion is sincere.”
Mu Lan was indeed smart and quickly got the hang of it; she cleaned all the weeds in an acre of land. However, her hands, used to holding paintbrushes, hurt terribly.
After the work in the morning, the monks and fasters headed to the dining hall for a lecture given by the abbot. She had expected it to be utterly dull, but Mu Lan actually found it quite engaging.
Just before lunch, Yun Xi returned to the hermitage, and their life in the temple on the mountain officially began.
———–
Sheng Xueqin heard that Mu Lan had invited Master Yao from Minghui Hall to prepare a birthday gift for Old Master Huo and imdiately had her secretary schedule a eting with Master Yao’s assistant.
The young assistant was quite flattered to et the heir of the Sheng Family, feeling incredibly fortunate.
“Miss Sheng, did you ask here to discuss business with Minghui Hall or… is there sothing else?”
Sheng Xueqin scrutinized the young, seemingly inexperienced assistant.
“I heard that Master Yao has recently gone to fast at Jingxin Hermitage, so does that an you won’t be producing embroidered goods for a while?”
“It seems you’re well-inford, Miss Sheng. Indeed, Master Yao has gone up the mountain to fast. If you have any needs, we have many other highly skilled masters.
The quality of embroidery, rest assured, will certainly not disappoint.”
The assistant was eagerly promoting their services, aware that he was dealing with the wealthy Sheng Family.
“Is Master Yao too busy, or… is he unwilling to co down from the mountain?”
The question startled the assistant, who quickly shook his head.
“You misunderstand, Miss Sheng. Master Yao isn’t making excuses to avoid creating new pieces for you. He even turned down an order from the Huo Family recently.”
The Huo Family’s order… Sheng Xueqin’s lips slightly curled.
“Oh? Master Yao turned down an order from the Huo Family? The Huo Family also commissioned Master Yao for embroidery? Strange, why haven’t I heard about this?”
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