After Descending the Mountain, Seven Big Brothers Spoil Me - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Mention My Name, Break a Bone
While Tao Lan was speaking, she suddenly felt something hairy on her leg, causing her to feel itchy. She instinctively lowered her head and saw a fat mouse crawling on her leg. She screamed in horror and tried to kick her leg to shake it off. However, the mouse seemed to stick to her leg and couldn’t be shaken off. It kept climbing up.

Tao Lan was scared and accidentally stepped on some water on the ground, causing her to fall down with a loud crash. It sounded painful, and she cried out in a piercing and hysterical manner, completely losing her composure. Seeing this, Zhouzhou couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh quietly. Let’s see if she dares to bully others in the future.

When someone approached, Zhouzhou beckoned, and the paper mouse instantly disappeared. The others arrived and saw Tao Lan lying on the ground, closing her eyes, flailing her limbs, and screaming incoherently like a maniac. Their gazes towards her also changed.

“Why did it take you so long?” When Zhouzhou returned, Wen Yao finally felt relieved and lifted Tao Lan onto a chair, asking gently. Zhouzhou didn’t say anything, she just smiled foolishly. Wen Yao didn’t pay much attention to it and pushed the dishes in front of her, saying, “Are you hungry? Eat something first.”

“Yes!” She had ordered all vegetarian dishes, even instructing the kitchen not to use any meat oil for frying. Zhouzhou ate happily and kept inviting Wen Yao to eat as well. Before long, Tao Lan also returned.

Seeing her, Wen Yao was startled. “Lanlan, what happened to you?” Why was she drenched all over, with messy hair, looking so disheveled? Speaking of which, Tao Lan’s expression also turned unpleasant. Just thinking about how many people had witnessed her embarrassment made her furious.

It was strange. How could such a big mouse suddenly disappear? It made everyone look at her with the eyes of a maniac, as if she was making trouble for no reason. Thinking about this, Tao Lan’s mood worsened, and she couldn’t help but blame Wen Yao for it. After all, it was her who chose this restaurant!

She gritted her teeth, didn’t mention what had just happened, and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, I just slipped accidentally.” She wiped her hands with a tissue and smiled again. “By the way, Yaoyao, I haven’t asked you yet. When is your husband coming back? It’s been a long time since you’ve seen each other, right?”

Mentioning her husband, Wen Yao also felt a sense of longing and loss. She replied, “Yeah, he’s still abroad, busy, and doesn’t have time to come back.”

“It can’t always be like this. Long separations are hard. Little Feng…” Tao Lan sighed and held her hand, advising earnestly, “You’re still young. Having another child would be nice.”

Wen Yao’s expression immediately turned sour. She retracted her hand, her tone became cold, and she said, “Let’s eat.”

Just as Tao Lan was about to say something, Zhouzhou suddenly picked up a bite of food with her chopsticks and said while holding Wen Yao’s hand, “Fourth Elder Aunt, don’t be sad. Seventh Elder Brother will get better.” She believed that she could cure him.

The little girl’s small, soft hand and gentle voice softened Wen Yao’s heart. She held her hand and nodded gently but firmly, “Yes, I also think so.” Even if he couldn’t be cured, she would always be there for him. She wouldn’t have another child, making him feel like they wanted to abandon him.

“Alright, alright, I know you don’t like to hear it. I just said it casually.” Tao Lan saw that she was angry, so she tried to smooth things over and took something out of her bag to hand to Wen Yao. “This is a Buddhist bead I got from the temple. It’s said to be spiritually effective. Give it to Little Feng to wear. It’s good for his health.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Yao smiled again, realizing that she had overreacted earlier. She was about to accept it when a small hand suddenly took the Buddhist bead before her. Zhouzhou said, “I like this. Can you give it to me?”

No manners! Tao Lan cursed silently in her heart but forced a smile and said, “Isn’t it inappropriate? This is meant for Little Feng.”

“Fourth Elder Aunt, I want it.” Zhouzhou immediately turned her head and looked at Wen Yao.

After thinking for a moment, Wen Yao said, “Then give it to Zhouzhou.”

She didn’t expect the Buddhist bead to cure Little Feng anyway. It was just a psychological comfort. She had said she would accept it earlier because she didn’t want to disappoint Tao Lan’s good intentions. She said, “Lanlan, since Zhouzhou likes it, give it to her. Thank you for caring about Little Feng.”

“No need to be polite.” Tao Lan was furious inside but suppressed her anger. She glanced at Zhouzhou and sneered in her heart. If she liked it so much, let her wear it all the time. She wondered if she had the fate for it.

Seemingly seeing through her thoughts, Zhouzhou looked at her meaningfully, lowered her head, and looked at the Buddhist bead in her hand with a cold gaze. A piece of evil wood nurtured by malevolence, worthy of being a Buddhist bead? Hmph, overestimating its own abilities.

She pursed her lips and put the Buddhist bead into her bag. The Exorcism Talisman sensed the malevolent aura and subconsciously wanted to stick to it, but she pushed it away. This was evidence, and it couldn’t be removed for the time being.

The table blocked their view, and they didn’t notice her actions.

One bad thing after another, and Tao Lan no longer had the intention to stay. She was afraid that Zhouzhou would suffocate her later. She decided to find an excuse and leave first.

On the way back, Zhouzhou glanced at Wen Yao and asked in a low voice, “Fourth Elder Aunt, do you think I was rude for what I did today?”

But she had no choice. If she didn’t snatch away the Buddhist bead, Seventh Elder Brother would be in danger again.

Upon hearing this, Wen Yao turned to look at her, seeing the conflicted expression on her face, and couldn’t help but smile. “Why would I think that? Fourth Elder Aunt doesn’t know why Zhouzhou has animosity towards Lanlan, but sometimes people’s auras are like that, inexplicably finding someone displeasing. It’s okay, but in the future, Zhouzhou might need to conceal her thoughts a bit. Being too straightforward will be disadvantageous.”

She wasn’t finding her displeasing for no reason; she had valid ones. But she didn’t say those words and obediently nodded, holding her hand and said, “Fourth Elder Aunt, don’t worry. When I came down the mountain, I also brought a string of Buddhist beads. The Master Abbot gave it to me. It has received a year of incense offerings in front of the Buddha and has been blessed. I will give it to Seventh Elder Brother when I go back. Buddha will definitely bless Seventh Elder Brother to recover soon.”

“Okay.” Seeing her sincere tone, Wen Yao didn’t refuse. She didn’t really believe it would be effective, but she regarded it as an ordinary string of Buddhist beads.

After returning home, Zhouzhou did as she said. Her little head was almost buried in the bundle as she searched for a long time, and finally found a string of Buddhist beads in a corner.

“I found it.” She let out a sigh of relief and was about to give it to Qin Feng when Grandpa Qin stopped her. “Zhouzhou, can Grandpa see the Buddhist beads in your hand?”

“Sure.” Without thinking, Zhouzhou handed it to him.

Grandpa Qin took it and carefully examined it. He said, “This is a top-grade old sandalwood Buddhist bead. The sandalwood has a long history and gives off a solemn and dignified aura. I see there are words engraved on it?”

The words were too small for him to see clearly.

“Yes.” Zhouzhou nodded. “It’s engraved with the ‘Heart Sutra.’ It can help concentrate the mind, repel evil, and Seventh Elder Brother is the most suitable to wear it.”

Grandpa Qin nodded and looked at it a few more times. He had a feeling of familiarity with the Buddhist beads, and a flash of realization crossed his mind. “This looks like the style of Master Yi Yun?”

At these words, Zhouzhou exclaimed, “Grandpa, do you know the Master Abbot?”

So, it really was him?

Grandpa Qin was somewhat excited and said, “Master Yi Yun not only has profound knowledge of Buddhism but also excels in art. His paintings are priceless treasures.”

Wen Yao also nodded. She didn’t expect Zhouzhou to have a connection with Master Yi Yun.

“My dad’s favorite is Master Yi Yun’s paintings. But since Master Yi Yun is a monk and has a pure character, he doesn’t want to be involved in worldly matters. His paintings are only gifted to those with fate. However, a few years ago, several paintings by Master Yi Yun suddenly appeared on the market. We thought they were stolen, but after my dad asked Master Yi Yun, he found out that he himself wanted to sell them. I don’t know what made him make that decision. Maybe something happened at the temple.”

Speaking of this, Zhouzhou felt a little guilty.

She whispered, “Nothing really happened, they just adopted me.”

The temple was poor, and the brothers there cried with empty stomachs. The Master Abbot had no choice but to sell his paintings. Later, she went to the Taoist temple, and the temple had incense offerings, so there was no need to sell paintings anymore.

Grandpa Qin knew the situation and chuckled, not saying anything.

Wen Yao, on the other hand, was a bit puzzled. She didn’t understand the meaning behind Zhouzhou’s words and didn’t dwell on it. She joked, “I didn’t expect Zhouzhou to have a teacher-disciple relationship with Master Yi Yun. My dad has always wanted to meet him. Maybe in the future, if I mention Zhouzhou’s name, the Master will be willing to meet him.”

Zhouzhou shook her head and said seriously, “Please don’t mention my name.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t even be allowed inside the temple. Since she went to the Taoist temple, the brothers at the temple were afraid of her. Even when she went to visit them during festivals, she could only talk to them through a closed door. They said she was no longer a follower of the Buddha and couldn’t enter. She knew that they were just afraid of her being a jinx.

Hmph.

In the first place, Wen Yao was just joking with her and didn’t delve into the meaning behind her words. Grandpa Qin returned the Buddhist bead to her, and Zhouzhou took it and ran to Qin Feng’s room.

In a short while, she came out again and saw Wen Yao helping in the kitchen. She quietly approached Grandpa Qin and whispered something in his ear.

Grandpa Qin’s expression changed instantly.

“What?!”