The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 752: Forgive You (7)_1

Chapter 752: Chapter 752: Forgive You (7)_1

Pei Qian’s face grew tense with displeasure, "Aside from those lowlifes saying I have no manners..."

Pei Qin interrupted her, "No matter who’s right or wrong, if there’s a mistake, you can point it out tactfully, but speaking harshly to your elders will only confirm the belief that you lack manners, even if they don’t say it outright, they’ll think it!"

Pei Qian’s face turned pale as she looked at her with a stern expression and cold eyes, biting her lip without a word.

"Do you believe, if you stood beside Bai Jinyan, people would only berate you?" Pei Qin said gravely, her voice rising.

Mentioning Bai Jinyan made Pei Qian’s face even more unsightly.

"This is not good. Even if you do better, you won’t earn any favor! Go hand-copy ’The Book of Rites’ for me!" Pei Qin commanded with a calm demeanor.

This time, Pei Qian obediently started hand-copying "The Book of Rites," without the previous defiance. She would not let anyone pick at her manners again, especially not be outdone by Bai Jinyan!

Soon, rumors spread that Fang Hui had broken the Jade Cabbage Sculpture in Pei Qin’s home, and that five hundred taels of silver were demanded as compensation for the one thousand taels of silver piece.

The news quickly spread throughout Taiping Town on market day.

When they went to the workshop to work, people asked Pei Qian and Pei Qin if it was true—the Jade Cabbage was a symbol of financial fortune, not to be broken. A broken one presaged bad luck and financial loss.

A Wandering Daoist Priest arrived in Taiping Town and, upon hearing about the broken Jade Cabbage sculpture at Pei Qin’s residence, came to offer his services. With a mysterious and saintly appearance, he prophesied that Pei Qin’s family was about to suffer a great financial loss, coming from both the south and the north.

Pei Qin’s business consisted of northern expeditions and canal shipments to the south.

Seeing his celestial demeanor and hearing such words, even Pei Qian couldn’t help wondering if it could be true. Although the Jade Cabbage sculpture was a fake, it carried a symbolic meaning, and she felt uneasy about having broken it.

Priest He also said that there was an extraordinary person in their home and that the Talent of Literature and Arts was still in the womb. With just a little effort on his part, he could avert the financial doom facing their household.

Pei Qin couldn’t help but roll her eyes. The Talent of Literature and Arts still in the womb, an extraordinary person—did they take her for Bai Suzhen? But could it be that some powerful person who had gained the Dao might be able to see through her origins?

Mo Heng prohibited her from going out to see the Taoist, "A charlatan from the streets! Give him some silver and send him on his way!" Borrow the Dead to Resurrect the Soul, or being a person from another world, was too shocking for the common folk. He would not allow anyone to reveal Qinqin’s identity and origins, the consequences of which he was unwilling to face!

But Pei Qian was quite intrigued now. "Are you saying my family has the Talent of Literature and Arts in the womb?" Her elder sister was indeed pregnant! Could it be that the Talent of Literature and Arts had descended?

Yet Priest He’s demeanor turned grave, "However, this lady’s status is extraordinary, her fate includes a calamity. If she cannot overcome it, she will have a life of fleeting beauty."

Pei Qian was about to take offense, wondering who dared to speak of a cursed fate! But recalling "The Book of Rites," she frowned and asked, "What kind of calamity is this? Can it be averted?"

"This calamity is quite peculiar. To avert it, one must find another extraordinary person," Priest He replied, stroking his gray beard.

Pei Qian, half-doubting, looked at him, and then sent someone to call for Pei Qin and Mo Heng.

When Priest He spoke to Pei Qin, she couldn’t help but exclaim, "Damn! There really are such people?"

"I’ll have a look," Mo Heng frowned, instructing her to stay in the inner courtyard and not come out as he followed the servant to the front yard.

"Brother-in-law!" Pei Qian looked back, not seeing her sister and wondered. Her sister should have woken up by now! Turning to Mo Heng, she noticed his gaze, dark and piercing, and caught her breath. She followed his gaze towards Priest He.

Mo Heng had seen his share of charlatans who wandered the land claiming to avert fortune-telling calamities and had even witnessed them fool the shrewdest of high-ranking individuals, who would readily part with their wealth. Even those who were not afraid of death feared a doomed fate, and the more they desired, the more anxious they became, eagerly spending money on fortune-telling.

"You can read my fortune first!" he said coldly, taking the seat of honor.

Priest He returned to his senses upon hearing him speak. Having seen countless people, he had never encountered a man of such extraordinary beauty, resembling a Celestial God. Examining his facial features and calculating, he came up with four words, "... A short-lived destiny."

Pei Qian’s complexion truly soured then. Flattering praise like bearing the Talent of Literature and Arts for her sister brought out a smile. But to hear her sister faced a calamity of fleeting beauty and now to have Priest He declare her husband poised for a short life—the accursed old Taoist!

Mo Heng sneered, "I once had someone tell me I faced a calamity. Can you figure out how to avert it?"

"Ah..." Priest He calculated again, "Indeed, as a young man, you faced a deadly calamity that could not be averted. Surely, you must have met a master who resolved your destined death."

"Now, calculate for another person. This person is in Capital Jingcheng, and her name is Liang Jinhua," Mo Heng demanded coldly.

Seeing his sharp and cold gaze almost materialize, Pei Qian barely contained her breath, not daring to interrupt, as the name ’Liang San’ floated in her mind.

Under his intimidating stare, Priest He felt a chill and declined to read Liang Jinhua’s fortune, "My lord! This person has no relation to you, yes? As a wandering Daoist, I dispel evil spirits and provide fortune-telling, discover fates, and assist those meant to cross my path. I avoid wicked deeds!"

"How do you know whether I’m conducting wicked deeds or eliminating a nuisance for the people?" Mo Heng was already fairly certain that the Taoist’s arrival and his immediate mention of Pei Qin’s matter indicated he might be Liang Jinhua’s agent. He had handed over the gold mine to Xiao Guangbi—was she now plotting against them?