Chapter 39: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
Chapter 39: Suisui, Be Happy
When Suisui was getting ready to sleep, the system gently asked, "Do you want to hear a story now?"
"Yes," Suisui responded.
With her reply, the system began selecting a storyteller.
To everyone's surprise, today's choice was Zhuangzi!
In the new environment, Zhuangzi pondered for a while and felt he would have new insights to write about upon returning.
Zhuangzi, now realizing what was happening, greeted Suisui with a warm smile.
"Good evening, Suisui, I am Uncle Zhuang Zhou."
Suisui called out obediently and then cautiously asked, "Uncle Zhuang Zhou, could you help me solve the Nine-linked Ring?"
Zhuang Zhou: ?
After asking, Suisui seemed a bit embarrassed. "My brother’s Nine-linked Ring has been unsolved for a long time, and I want to help him, but I don’t know how."
Zhuang Zhou: ??
Before Zhuangzi could begin his bedtime story, he was presented with a challenge.
The Nine-linked Ring is quite similar to the jade ring Zhuangzi had dealt with before, with a similar principle.
Zhuangzi thought the challenge was interesting and agreed with a smile.
However, solving the Nine-linked Ring did not interfere with his storytelling.
So, Suisui soon heard Zhuangzi’s gentle yet powerful voice, “Adapt to the situation and follow the course, so sorrow and joy will not enter.”
……
At first, Suisui tried to stay awake.
But she was too tired.
Uncle Zhuang Zhou’s voice was very soothing, with a hypnotic quality.
Suisui quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Zhuangzi spent the entire night solving the Nine-linked Ring.
He solved it, restored it, solved it again, and restored it again.
In the past, Zhuangzi had never found such small things particularly intriguing.
But today, he seemed to gain significant insight from it.
It wasn’t until dawn approached that he reluctantly left.
Looking at the cute sleeping Suisui, Zhuangzi gently placed the Nine-linked Ring down and lightly patted the little girl’s head.
“Carry the blue sky, and be unyielding. Only then can you plan for the south.”
“Suisui, be happy~”
The next day was gloomy.
Due to the poor road conditions, they rested in the town for another day.
In the morning, the heavy moisture outside meant that Physician Liu did not allow them to go out to play.
By the afternoon, Feng Xuanrui insisted on going out to play.
As for the Nine-linked Ring?
Feng Xuanrui had long forgotten about it, and Suisui, who still didn’t know how to solve it, was too shy to bring it up.
The siblings, tacitly, did not mention it.
The two children, eager to go out and play, led Physician Liu to ask Prince Qing for arrangements.
Physician Liu sent the servant to inquire and learned that tonight, the town would have river lanterns and fireworks.
It was reportedly a celebration for a wealthy merchant's son’s birthday. The daytime festivities had been celebrated, and the evening was for continued celebration.
The town wasn’t very bustling, so such events were rare, and many people came out to join the fun.
Before leaving, Physician Liu carefully instructed everyone: “Be sure to keep a close watch, don’t let your eyes wander, and don’t cause a commotion.”
“When it gets crowded, hold onto the children’s hands!”
……
Qing Shan and Qing Shui were specifically reminded.
After having previously made a mistake and almost losing the young master, they nodded seriously.
They left around dusk.
They walked slowly, taking in the sights, and as the sky darkened, the town seemed very lively.
Perhaps because of the evening activities, the town looked extremely vibrant.
Shops didn’t rush to close, and colorful red lanterns were hung everywhere.
Many people, hearing the commotion, also came out to see the excitement.
Looking at the river lanterns being released not far away, Feng Xuanrui pouted. “What’s the point of releasing them, as if no one has ever done it before.”
The river lanterns he had made before had been ruined, and he didn’t have time to prepare new ones today.
Therefore, he had none to release.
The town did sell ready-made lanterns, but Feng Xuanrui refused to buy them.
He thought that only handmade lanterns were worthy for his sister.
However, as more people released river lanterns, Feng Xuanrui couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter. “Actually, ready-made ones aren’t that bad.”
Suisui obediently nodded. “Brother is right!”
Encouraged by his sister’s response and support, Feng Xuanrui felt even more spirited. “Actually, I’m not that picky of a person.”
“Handmade or store-bought, there’s not much difference.”
“Sometimes, you have to make do.”
……
While saying this, the young man subtly glanced at Prince Qing.
Receiving his nephew’s subtle hint, Prince Qing felt both amused and exasperated. He shook his head helplessly and took Zhan Gao to check out the river lanterns.
They didn’t bring many people along, and those who were injured were resting at the inn.
With Physician Liu present, Prince Qing felt more at ease.
Shortly after Prince Qing left, a large crowd of young men, women, and children surged in, creating a lively scene.
But this also quickly filled the narrow street.
Physician Liu and his three apprentices were pushed to the side.
When they finally managed to find some space from the crowded crowd, Di Jiao exclaimed, “Where are the Sixth Young Master and the young lady?”
Hearing this, Physician Liu instinctively looked around.
There were many people around, both young and old.
But he couldn’t see the two children anywhere.
Were they lost in the crowd?
Thinking of the possibility of them being lost, Physician Liu’s face turned pale, and his legs went weak. Di Jiao supported him.
Meanwhile, the children’s group who had been pushed to another side encountered a problem.
They had found a child.
A little girl who was crying very sadly.
Feng Xuanrui’s obsession with his sister had eased somewhat since Suisui’s arrival.
However, seeing the pitiful little girl, he told himself not to get involved, that it wasn’t their concern.
But his eyes couldn’t help but keep looking.
Qing Shan, being the oldest among them, quickly said, “That child probably got separated from her family in the crowd, she looks so pitiful. Let’s go and check.”
Qing Shan even offered a ladder, and Feng Xuanrui, pretending to be nonchalant, accepted it. “Fine, she does look pitiful. Let’s just say I’m kind-hearted.”
The little girl looked about the same age as Suisui.
When Feng Xuanrui approached her, he didn’t speak immediately but signaled Qing Shui to talk.
Qing Shui, being younger and good at comforting people with his baby face, approached the girl with a warm smile.
The little girl, seeing four strangers, was initially scared and backed away.
Finding no place to retreat, surrounded by strangers, she was terrified and sat down on the ground.
In the end, it was Qing Shui’s gentle coaxing that finally made the little girl speak, “I got separated from my older sister and can’t find her, woo woo!”
Seeing the child cry, Qing Shui hurriedly comforted her.
Finally, he said softly, “Shall we take you back?”
Fearing the little girl wouldn’t believe him, Qing Shui pointed to Suisui. “Look, we also have a little sister like you. We’re not bad people.”
(End of Chapter)
