Chapter Fifty-Five: Changing Fate

  Songshan Temple is a very famous temple in Jiyang County, located on a high mountain north of the county town. It is said that the Bodhisattva is very spiritual, and there are many high monks on the mountain, with incense burning vigorously.

  This carefree master is a famous master in the Songshan Temple, who has a great reputation for fortune-telling and face-reading. Many people from surrounding villages come to him to calculate their birth date and eight characters.

  From Yushu Village to Songshan Temple, you have to go through the north of Jiyang County. Fortunately, Qi Zhen'er is going to the North District, so Ye Lao Yezi made an appointment with her at a tea stall in Wulipu outside the North Gate.

  As soon as they left the North District, the lively sound of firecrackers could be heard from afar, very lively and festive. Qizhen murmured: "Someone is getting married again." And then continued on their way.

  All the way, Qizhen'er was afraid of walking in the wrong direction, and asked passersby every step of the way. Until her eyes reflected a banner with big tea characters on it, she finally put down her worries and rushed over, fearing that Ye Laoyezi and others would wait for too long.

  The teahouse was very simple, with three thatched cottages, the middle one had a big open door, inside were two tables, and outside some more thatch was added to build a shed, in which there were three or four tables. Two people sat under the shed drinking tea.

  Zhen'er took a glance around the house and didn't see Old Man Ye's figure, which made her puzzled. They shouldn't be late at this hour, should they?

  "Little girl, are you here to drink tea or look for someone?" The owner of the teahouse, who looked quite old with some grey hair, asked as he saw Zhen'er constantly glancing towards the house.

  Zhen'er was afraid that she had gone the wrong way again, and hastily asked: "Grandfather, is this the tea stall at Wulipu?"

  The owner of the teahouse also saw that Zhen'er didn't seem to be drinking tea anymore, and added some water for the person next to him, saying: "What you said is right here."

  That's strange, she didn't go far, why hasn't Old Ye and Hu Zi arrived yet? They shouldn't have gone the wrong way, should they?

  At this moment, two peddlers came in to have tea, the teahouse owner was busy attending to them and had no time to bother with Zijin.

  Zhen'er was anxious in her heart, but she also knew that for now, she could only wait. Afraid of disturbing the voice of the tea shop owner, she walked to a big tree beside the shop and sat down, patiently waiting for Ye Lao Yezi and the others to come.

  This five-li-pu should be a major thoroughfare, and in just a short while, three horse-drawn carriages, two ox carts, as well as pedestrians pushing wheelbarrows or carrying bundles on their backs, came and went, bustling with activity.

  People in teahouses were also chatting about the latest news in town.

  "Hey, have you heard? The fifth daughter of the Liao family is getting married today." one of them said.

  "Liao family's fifth sister, who is it?" Someone might still be unclear about the situation and asked doubtfully.

  "You don't even know who Liao's fifth sister is? Isn't she the biological younger sister of Liao's family head, married to a jinshi old master, and just divorced from that one not long ago?" The first person to speak kindly explained.

  "Isn't she of questionable character? And yet someone is still willing to marry her?" The people at the table behind them also knew about Liao's fifth sister's glorious deeds and asked.

  The onlookers were drawn in, and the first person to speak up became even more enthusiastic. "You guys don't know this, but the Liao family is really wealthy! They'll definitely find someone who's struggling to make ends meet to take their money. When they started looking for a husband for their fifth sister, they said that as long as the guy was willing to marry her and move in with them, and if the fifth sister liked him, they would buy him a three-story mansion to use after getting married, and even give him an allowance every month! Who wouldn't want such a great deal?"

  Zhen'er was listening intently when a horse carriage stopped in front of the teahouse. There were many carriages coming and going, and at first Zhen'er didn't notice, but when Tiger's little head popped out and he called out "Sister" in a happy voice, she knew who it was.

  As soon as they got on the horse carriage, she lifted the curtain and Zhen Er was stunned. How did she come too?

  Ye Baiji was delighted to see Qi Zhener, and pulled her along, saying: "How did you walk so fast? We strolled around the north district for a long time without seeing you, so we had to take a horse carriage all the way to chase after you. Who knew you'd arrive here so quickly?"

  "Who made you get up late and still want to join in the fun?" Ye Lao said with a smile.

  Ye Baiqi stuck out her tongue playfully.

  The chatter in the teahouse hadn't subsided when a voice came from afar, "At first someone went to the Liao family to propose marriage, saying they were willing to marry into the family and take Eldest Sister as their wife. But they were driven out by the Liao family, who didn't acknowledge the rumor and thought that person was just causing trouble. Later, more and more people came, and only then did the Liao family re-examine this matter... Ha! They really did pick a good one from among them..."

  "Aren't you also moved? Why haven't you gone to Liao's family to propose early?" The people around heard a burst of laughter.

  "Get out! I'd rather not remarry than take a wife like that!"

  The words behind were no longer audible to Qizhen and the others, but just hearing these was enough for them to be amused for a long time.

  Zhen Er saw Ye Bai's eyebrows and eyes filled with uncontrollable smile, and understood what lively scene she had just joined.

  The little boy was unusually affectionate to his sister, pulling on Zhen'er's hand and talking non-stop about how he rode in a big horse carriage, how fast the horses ran, etc. Zhen'er listened with a smile, occasionally asking a question or two, which made the little boy's mood extremely high.

  They arrived at the foot of Mount Songshan Temple in no time. The coachman reined in the horses, and Ye Baiqi and Hu Zi jumped down from the carriage. Zhen'er saw Old Master Ye swaying unsteadily as he prepared to get off the carriage, so she quickly found a stone nearby to support his feet and carefully helped him down.

  Ye Baiji paid the carriage fare and happily ran to Qizhen's side. Just now in the carriage, Zhen'er had pulled her back from discussing the Liao family's affairs, but this time she was going to share everything with her.

  Mount Song Temple is indeed majestic, standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up, you can only see the high eaves shrouded in a patch of sunlight, as if radiating light, making people feel solemn and respectful.

  Ye Lao and Hu Zi, one old and one young, couldn't walk fast. Zhen Er and Bai Zhi coordinated their pace with them, walking slowly up the mountain.

  Even such difficulties cannot stop Ye Baiji's enthusiasm for Bagua.

  “……The Liao family really attaches great importance to the fifth sister of the Liao family. The dowry was carried for 36 lifts, each one was solid and substantial. It is said that there are silk, satin, antiques, jade utensils, and so on. There are also speculations that the money at the bottom of the box must be a lot, I think it should be around one or two thousand taels of silver……” Ye Bai Zhi chattered on, this time it really seemed like she was joining in someone else's wedding celebration, without any unusual emotions. In fact, they were just strangers who didn't know each other, if not for her father having the intention to take the other party as a concubine, I estimate that they would never have known of each other's existence in this lifetime.

  Zhen'er listened quietly, with Bai Zhi supporting Ye Lao's two sides, slowly walking up the mountain. According to Bai Zhi's account and timing, the suona sound she heard when she just left the North District might have been the wedding procession of Liao Wu Jie passing by, and they really did miss each other.

  Entering the grand hall, Old Master Ye led Ye Baiqi and Qi Zhen'er to kneel down and pay their respects to the Buddha. They lit incense and donated money for oil, then found a young monk to take them to meet Master Wuyou.

  Worry-free Master has a reputation outside, but he is also easy-going and down-to-earth. Unlike those high-ranking monks who require an appointment to see them, with lower-ranking individuals not even getting a chance, Qi Zhen'er detests people like that the most.

  Summer is over, and the villagers are all busy. Moreover, today is not a holiday, so there aren't many people coming to burn incense. Qizhen and her group entered the side room, where only two women were inside, seemingly matching eight characters. Upon hearing Wuyou Master say that the matched eight characters were extremely compatible, a heavenly gifted good match, everyone's face lit up with joy, and they donated some incense oil money before leaving with smiles.

  After that person left, Old Man Ye took them over. Unexpectedly, the Carefree Master actually knew Old Man Ye.

  "Amitabha Buddha, Elder Ye is well, I presume?" Master Worry-Free recited a Buddhist phrase and greeted Old Man Ye.

  "Master, long time no see, this time I'm here to trouble you again." Old Ye didn't show much courtesy either, it was clear that they were very familiar with each other.

  Worry-free Master smiled, "Being able to make you come find me, hmm, let me think, could it be to calculate the eight characters for this little granddaughter of yours?" As soon as he said this, Ye Bai Zhi's face turned red, but in a Buddhist place, she didn't dare say anything.

  Ye Lao Ye shook his head, "She's still young, no need to bother the master for now, but in the future, she'll definitely come to trouble the master." He then told him about Qi Zhen'er's situation.

  The master held Qi Zhen'er's birth eight characters and calculated them. He looked up at Zhen'er.

  Zhen'er felt uneasy under his gaze, could she really be a jinx?

  Ye Lao said: "Master, just say what you have to say, this little girl can take it."

  "Hmm, this fate I've seen, it's not some inauspicious fate." Master Worry-Free seemed to intentionally leave them hanging, saying only half of what he meant.

  Zhen'er was anxious in her heart but couldn't do anything about it. However, she finally understood why Ye Lao Ye Zi and he were good friends - they both loved to take advantage of others' hospitality.

  Master Worry-free saw that the timing was about right, and said: "I think you're still a rich and noble fate, little girl. If this fate isn't changed, maybe you can become an official's wife in the future. If it is changed, at most it will be the fate of a wealthy family's wife. Do you want to change it?"

  As soon as this was said, except for the old Ye Lao who had a lot of experience and didn't show any unusual expression, Hu Zi was confused, and Ye Bai Zhi and Qi Zhen Er were both startled.

  Ye Baiji didn't expect Qi Zhen'er to have such a good fate, but she was genuinely happy for her. However, this fate is about to change - the world is truly unpredictable.

  Everyone in the house was staring at Qizhen, but she remained calm. She had never been too convinced of ghostly affairs, and even more so when it came to past lives where she had died an unjust death.

  "Zhen Er, if you don't want to change it, then don't change it. When we get back to the village, we'll just say that this is a revised fate. Anyway, no one else knows your birth chart, and I think Master Wu You has a compassionate heart and won't casually tell others about this matter, right?" Ye Lao Yezi said, looking at Master Wu You.

  Master Wuyou joined his palms together, recited a Buddhist phrase, "Amitabha Buddha, monks do not speak deceitfully and do not discuss right or wrong about others." This was a disguised guarantee that he would not tell anyone about this matter.

  Zhen Er knew they were kind-hearted, but she didn't want to make things difficult for them either. These two people looked like honest folks, and since they were being good to her, how could she bear to let them do something that went against their conscience?

  "Grandfather, Master, I'll change."

  This time, Wu You Da Shi was surprised. It is said that the glory and wealth of the world are empty, but how many people can see through it? Can this young girl really treat wealth as nothing?

  "Little girl, have you thought it through? If this is changed, it can't be changed back!" Master Worryfree asked.

  Qī Zhēn ér nodded firmly, "I've thought it through. They say wealth and nobility, but first comes wealth, then nobility. Maybe heaven thinks I'm not worthy of that nobility because my blessings are too thin, so they pitied me and gave me a wealthy life instead?"

  Worry-free Master smiled, this is a clear and straightforward mind. Since the little girl can see through it, he doesn't need to persuade her anymore, so he'll just change her fate for her.

  Holding the newly calculated birth eight characters, Qizhen'er was overjoyed. It's great to have someone in this temple who can get things done easily. If it were someone unfamiliar with Master Wuyou, I reckon they'd have to go through a lot more trouble to get these characters changed. After all, Buddhists think that calculating one's birth eight characters is like peeking at the heavens' secrets, which would shorten their good fortune and lifespan. **Thanks Xixi... for the peaceful amulet~~~