Chapter 27: Journey to Western Hills

  Ye Qingli, although over forty years old, still has a elegant and refined air about her, with a subtle beauty that is hard to ignore. This kind of natural elegance, reminiscent of the phrase "poetry and books in one's belly, fragrance overflowing", paired with Zhang Nianyue's pure and unadorned beauty, like a lotus blooming in clear water, left Ye Zhen deeply impressed, and also inadvertently added a layer of pressure.

  Listening to the conversation between Nian Yue and her brother, Ye Qingli also had some thoughts at this time, and asked Ye Zhenran: "Where is Little Ye from?"

  Ye Ziran replied respectfully: "From Jinshan County, Guangzhou City."

  Ye Qingli's expression remained unchanged as she continued to ask: "Oh, it's not very far from here. Are there any other people in your household?"

  Ye Ziran knew the intention behind her question and answered frankly: "My parents are still alive, I have an older brother and a younger sister who are both married. My family is poor, they have high expectations for me."

  Ye Qingli smiled and said, "A noble son comes from a humble door, you don't have to be discouraged. However, since you've just started working, put your main energy into work and achieve results. Don't disappoint your parents' expectations."

  Ye Ziran naturally understood her implied meaning. Ye Qingli didn't have strong objections to him, but she wasn't satisfied with his current situation and had high expectations for his future development. Her words subtly expressed the hope that he would focus on work at this stage and not overly affect Zhang Nianyue's life. Upon reflection, it made sense - given how much they doted on and cherished Nianyue, their precious daughter, they naturally wanted to consider her long-term future; Qingli's demands were reasonable and showed favoritism towards him, or else she wouldn't have spoken like that. He hastily nodded and said: "Auntie is right, I also want to achieve something first before considering other things."

  Ye Lao listened to the conversation between the two and was also relieved by Ye Zhen's attitude. He said, "Little Ye, after lunch, you accompany Nianyue and her family to Xishan for a stroll. The scenery at Xishan is not bad. I'm old now, so I won't go up the mountain."

  This is creating an opportunity for Ye Ziran to get close to Nian Yue's mother.

  Ye Ziran heard the string song and knew the elegant meaning, busy saying: "It should be, Ye Lao rest assured, after dinner I will accompany Auntie up the mountain."

  Ye Qingli smiled and neither approved nor disapproved, but only instructed Jiang Sao, who came in to clean up the mess, "Cook more rice at noon, we have guests."

  Ye Lao added: "Jiang Sao, Xiao Ye comes to eat dinner every night, and Sunday lunch is usually eaten here too. From now on, don't bother about me."

  Jiang Shu glanced at Ye Zhen Ran, although she didn't understand his identity, but immediately smiled and nodded to indicate that she knew. She then went next door to prepare food. Taking advantage of the three people talking, Nian Yue gave Ye Zhen Ran a signal with her eyes, saying: "Wooden head, little brother wants to read 'The Book and Sword' volume 2, do you know where it is? Tang Kang seemed to have read it a few days ago, come help find it." After finishing speaking, she walked towards the backyard.

  Ye Ziran understood in his heart that Nian Yue didn't want to give his mother too much time to "interrogate" him, so he stood up with the trend and said, "Okay, I'll help you find it." He smiled at Ye Lao and Nian Yue's mother and followed them in. Zhang Nianheng scanned Ye Ziran and Nian Yue back and forth with vigilant eyes, full of doubts, but this time he didn't say anything, just followed them in.

  Yue Qingli was slightly stunned, and after a moment, she came back to her senses. She looked at Old Ye with an inquiring gaze and asked, "Uncle, has Nianyue been okay lately?"

  "Hey, don't worry about it. Xiao Ye is a sensible and considerate person, and Nian Yue is a clever kid, nothing will happen."

  Ye Qingli hesitated for a moment and said with some concern: "But I think Nian Yue seems to be taking this matter to heart this time."

  Ye looked at her with a loving gaze and said: "As children grow up, they will inevitably come into contact with the opposite sex. At your age, I also interacted with Heng Liang."

  Ye Qing's face turned slightly red as she said, "That's different, I'm under your eyelids, and besides, Heng Liang is also a honest person."

  Ye Lao burst out laughing and said: "Now Nian Yue is also under my eyelids, and Xiao Ye's prospects are not necessarily worse than Heng Liang's."

  Ye Qingli looked up at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "Uncle, you think so highly of him? He doesn't seem to have any background, and it's likely to be a thorny path for him to advance in his official career."

  Ye Lao said: "Although Xiao Ye is not from a red family background, he coincided with the central government's vigorous promotion of leadership cadres' knowledgeization and youthization. He is a person with good luck. With good opportunities, ability, and conduct are not bad, at the initial stage, he met with noble people to help him. He is not a person who is willing to sink. If someone pushes him from behind at critical moments, his official career will be very promising."

  Ye Qingli asked seriously: "Uncle, has Xiao Ye really entered your line of sight? Will you support him a bit?"

  Ye Lao smiled and changed the subject: "Qing Li, did Hong Liang get to where he is today because of his own abilities or because of my support?"

  Yè Qīnglì thought for a moment and said, "Although he has the ability and military achievements to be promoted step by step, in the end, without your support at critical moments, he wouldn't have made it so far, so steadily. Moreover, his position in the army is not comparable to that of local officials."

  Ye Lao nodded and saw that she still had some lingering concerns, thinking that if he didn't speak clearly, she wouldn't be able to let go. After a moment of thought, he said: "Jinlin is not an ordinary thing in the pool, once it encounters wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon. Xiao Ye's ability is already above Heng Liang's, and if he encounters wind and clouds, he will become a dragon in an instant, I have high hopes for him."

  Ye Qingli didn't expect Ye Lao to say such a thing, and she stared at Ye Lao's somewhat serious face in surprise, her heart involuntarily looking up to Ye Zhenran.

  "Qingli, let things take their natural course. Nianyue is grown up now and everything depends on her own heart's desire. As the saying goes, 'a forced melon is not sweet', we shouldn't interfere too much. As long as they don't overstep any boundaries and have a proper relationship, let it develop slowly and naturally. We can just be optimistic about it."

  Ye Qingli didn't respond and was still shocked by Ye Lao's words earlier, really couldn't think of why Ye Zhenran made Ye Lao value him so much.

  After lunch, the four of them set off towards Xishan.

  Zhang Nianyue sensitively perceived that the relationship between her mother and Ye Zhenran was gradually becoming harmonious, and she felt much more at ease. After all, a girl couldn't hide her thoughts, and all the way up the mountain were her happy voices and laughter. Ye Zhenran didn't dare to reveal his actions too much, keeping a distance from Nianyue, walking not far behind Ye Qingli.

  The scenery of Xishan is beautiful, but it has not been developed into a scenic area, so there are few tourists. The roads on both sides of the mountain are lined with walnut trees and lush golden pines, birds fly over and then land on the treetops, and you can hear the rustling of leaves. Zhang Nian was infected with the scenery, and suddenly felt happy, and recited: "The mountains and forests are deep, the wind whistles through the valley. Few people pass by, and occasionally hear the sound of falling leaves."

  Zhang Nianheng took a photo of her and said: "Sister, I've taken all your silly photos. Let's go down the mountain to develop them and see how ugly you look."

  Nian Yue glanced at him with a hint of disdain, let out a deliberate "hmmph", then turned to Ye Zhen Ran and said: "Wooden head, why are you walking so slowly?"

  Yè zhī rán smiled and said: "I'm chatting with Auntie."

  "Really?" Nian Yue skipped back and forth a few steps, holding her mother's arm, and asked: "Mom, what are you talking about?"

  Ye Qingli looked at her daughter with a loving gaze, and said in a low voice: "Xiao Ye is introducing me to the scenery of Xishan."

  Nian Yue heard this and couldn't help but burst out laughing, and said to Ye Ran: "You're really a blockhead! Your mother was born in Changsha, you're an old native of the land. You're extremely familiar with these mountains and rivers. Aren't you just showing off your three-character scripture in front of Confucius?"

  Listening to her daughter teasing Ye Zhenran, Ye Qingli felt a bit more relaxed. She thought: Her daughter calling him "wooden" was probably referring to the emotional aspect of their relationship, and in this regard, being "wooden" was more reliable. Otherwise, her daughter had always been reserved and never showed excessive enthusiasm towards men. Now, she suddenly had a strong affection for a strange boy, like a long-locked floodgate that had found an outlet and was bursting forth with emotions, which could easily destroy the dam of reason and lead to mistakes. So at this time, the boy must be more steady.

  Ye Ziran patted his own head and said, "Look at me being muddled. Ye Lao is here to retire because he was born in Changsha, I've only been here for over two years, yet I'm acting as a guide for Auntie, making her laugh."

  Ye Qingli shook her head and said: "Although I am a native of Changsha, I have been working outside for many years and am not familiar with the changes here. Xiao Ye's introduction is still useful."

  Zhang Nianyue turned her head to look at Ye Zhenran and said, "Wooden head, do you know? When I was a child, my mother often told me and my brother stories about Xishan and Donglin Temple. The abbot of Donglin Temple, Sude Monk, is a wonderful person. My mother said he's an accomplished monk who can predict major events in the world. You must go see him."

  Zhang Nianheng interrupted, "This is indeed true, I reckon your brother Ye doesn't know the truth, and I'm also here to pay my respects, just to catch a glimpse of his true appearance." Zhang Nianheng used "your brother Ye" to indicate that he had yet to acknowledge Ye Zhenran's identity.

  Donglin Temple, located on the west mountain, has a history of hundreds of years. According to county records, it was built during the Yuan Dynasty's Huangqing period and was one of the three major temples in Jiangnan. However, it had suffered several major fires throughout history, and despite multiple repairs, it gradually showed signs of decline. In people's minds, it also lost its former revered status. These are all known facts, but what is not known is that the abbot, Sude Master, was actually a great Buddhist master.

  Ye Zhenran asked Ye Qingli in surprise: "Auntie, really? This bitter monk is also a prophecy master?"

  Ye Qingli said seriously: "Suffering De Master has been meditating for decades, the Buddha's teachings are profound, and he has helped countless people. It is absolutely not allowed to blaspheme him as a secular person."

  Ye Ziran couldn't help but look up at the dilapidated Donglin Temple on the mountain, this once-famous temple had now declined, with few incense offerings and only three or four monks in the entire temple. Unexpectedly, the abbot, Sude Monk, had a great reputation outside, which made Ye Ziran somewhat expectant.