Reply to Keats - Chap 18
The cruise ship sailed along the new route for two days and one night, and docked at Bei Island on the return journey.
Due to its unique geographical conditions and policy support, Bei Island has been continuously reclaiming land to expand its area in recent years and has become a new shopping paradise.
Chen Wan has always had low material desires. She is not particularly particular about her food, clothing and daily necessities, and does not have any high expenses on a daily basis. She just picked out a jade watch and a set of gold jewelry for Song Qingmiao at the duty-free shop.
Seeing the large amount of money spent on the secondary card over the past few days, Chen Wan knew that Song Qingmiao had gone to the casino again and sighed in his heart.
He took the card that the salesgirl had swiped and suddenly saw a pair of cufflinks placed right in the middle of the counter. They were not the main style of the season, but the workmanship was very detailed and they were very heavy.
Chen Wan asked the salesgirl to take it out and take a look. After just one glance, he decided to buy it: “Please wrap it for me, thank you.”
The salesgirl’s introduction was hanging in the air, for in fact she wanted to say that this pair of cufflinks was not suitable for Chen Wan. She wanted to recommend some enamel or pearl cufflinks for this handsome customer.
But Chen Wan’s attitude was very decisive, so she just smiled and said okay, please wait a moment.
Qin Zhaoting saw it, walked over and asked, “Do you like heavy industry?”
Is the Changsheng Wuji model in the tile end series too domineering and serious?
Chen Wan is young, has a fresh-looking face and a gentle temperament, so she might be a little overwhelmed.
“No,” Chen Wan took the ticket from the salesgirl and signed it, “It’s for a friend.”
Qin Zhaoting knew that Chen Wan was very good at being nice to people, as if she was born to love people, but he was still a little surprised. Even in the duty-free island, such a set of clothes was not cheap. He smiled enviously and said, “Then it’s so lucky to be your friend. I don’t know who is so lucky.”
Chen Wan smiled but didn’t answer.
He doesn’t have any friends. His only friend is Zhuo Zhixuan, and Zhuo Zhixuan never lacks these things.
I’m afraid even the salesgirl could see that this pair of cufflinks was not suitable for him, because they were bought by Chen Wan for Zhao Shengge.
Maybe if you like someone, you will want to buy him anything suitable if you see it.
Chen Wan has a separate cabinet at home where he stores items that he sees and thinks are suitable for Zhao Shengge.
The handmade tie he bought on a business trip to Northern Europe, the silk scarf he bought at the market when he went to the mainland to attend a forum… ties, watches, lighters, he had already dressed up Zhao Shengge thousands of times in his imagination.
The gifts became more and more like ornaments, but Chen Wan never planned to give them away. Their function was limited to Chen Wan’s imagination of what they would look like when worn on Zhao Shengge. They were Chen Wan’s personal stamp collecting diary and the secret material for Chen Wan’s dreams one night…
Chen Wan happily took the gift box wrapped by the salesgirl. When he raised his eyes, he saw the real but unspeakable owner of the cufflinks.
Zhao Shengge was nearby and was not surprised to hear their conversation. Chen Wan seemed to be a person with many friends and good popularity. He was considerate and meticulous to people he didn’t know well, and he must be even more meticulous and attentive to his friends, giving them whatever they asked.
That pair of cufflinks, that style, that design, it doesn’t seem difficult to guess what type of person they are given to.
Unexpectedly, he has such a friend, Zhao Shengge thought quietly with his hands in his pockets.
Chen Wan noticed that the other person’s eyes were on his cufflinks. He felt a little guilty and subconsciously retracted his hand holding the gift bag into his arms. He might not realize that this made it look like he was afraid that Zhao Shengge would also like the cufflinks.
“……”
Zhao Shengge just looked at him, and Chen Wan nodded to him politely, smiled, and walked towards another counter.
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Whale Ship No. 17 docked at the Little Star Ferry Pier. Chen Wan picked a day to call Song Qingmiao and ask her out to give her a gift. He would not take the initiative to go to Chen’s house unless he had no other choice.
They haven’t seen each other since Chen Wan returned to the Chen family’s old house during the last Ghost Festival. Chen Wan is busy, and Song Qingmiao is even busier – shopping, playing cards, buying bags, and drinking tea. Every day is exciting.
Chen Wan would call her regularly to say hello. When the call came, Song Qingmiao said that she had been unwell recently. The family doctor said that it was due to qi stagnation damaging the liver and excessive dampness. She asked him to accompany her to the Tianhou Temple to burn incense and say hello to Mazu after he came ashore this time.
Chen Wan agreed and did not ask about the large sums of money she had swiped on the secondary card a few days ago.
Chen Wan tried her best to satisfy Song Qingmiao’s needs for money and affection.
The Tianhou Temple is very popular. People in Haishi do not believe in Guanyin or Buddha, but in Mazu. Men, women, young and old, must say hello to Mazu when they are sick, take exams, or do business.
Song Qingmiao has long black hair and a plain cheongsam. She has an ageless face and a naive temperament like a young girl. When she and Chen Wan walk together, they look like siblings, so it’s no surprise that they are a couple.
Song Qingmiao said that she wanted to go into the inner courtyard to worship the Dragon Lady. Today was an auspicious day that she had someone calculate. It was the 24th day of the last day of the month, when the goddess would make her report to the heavens, and people should pray and make wishes.
Chen Wan looked back at the temple gate, paused for a moment, and whispered, “I’ll wait for you outside?”
“no.”
Song Qingmiao insisted on going with them, saying that if they didn’t worship, the Queen Mother would blame her.
Chen Wan thought of the Maybach she had seen when she parked the car just now, and tactfully advised her, “I’ve heard people say that the Heavenly Concubine appears once every three months at most. If you see her more often, people will think that Mazu is greedy.”
There are five statues of Mazu. Chen Wan only recognizes the eldest Mazu, Lin Mo Niang, the third Mazu, Zhuang Jing Yun, and the two that Song Qing Miao worships most often, one is in charge of good fortune and peace, and the other is in charge of wisdom and virtue.
“You just paid homage to Lin Mo Niang last month. This time you can have a good talk with Jingyun Mazu.”
The statue of Jingyun Mazu is located in the west hall, so you probably won’t bump into it.
Song Qingmiao felt that what Chen Wan said made sense, but she was still not very happy. It seemed that if she couldn’t meet Lin Mo’s mother Mazu today, her luck would be bad in the future.
Chen Wan had no choice but to coax her by saying that he would also buy her a statue of the goddess at home, made of mutton-fat jade.
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In the inner courtyard, the abbot asked the young monk to add tea to Zhao Shengge. The person in front of him was more real than the gilded God of Wealth in their temple.
There are many wealthy businessmen in Hai City, but not all of them are so generous. With such a huge amount of incense money every year, who else would the Buddha protect if not him?
Zhao Shengge came here today to calculate an auspicious day and light incense for the start of the new dock project. He does not believe in ghosts and gods, he only believes in himself.
But Zhao Maozheng insisted that he come this time.
It’s not that he is pedantic and stubborn, he just wants to temper the temperament of his heir. Zhao Shengge looks calm and decisive, but in fact he is too arrogant and aggressive by nature. He doesn’t know how to empathize, has no humanity, and can’t accomplish bigger things.
Today, Zhao Maozheng finally had to admit that the way he trained his eldest grandson in the past was a bit too extreme. It was indeed too harsh and strict for a young child.
Zhao Shengge doesn’t have normal human emotions, and even towards him, he probably doesn’t have much family affection.
He burned Zhao Shengge’s books and models when Zhao Shengge was very young, using brutal and cruel methods. He also ordered someone to shoot a stray dog that Zhao Shengge picked up.
Young Zhao Shengge just watched it all without shedding a single tear.
In short, there are countless examples like this. In short, the anxiety, worry and anger about the eldest son’s inability to achieve success were all vented on the eldest grandson.
Zhao Maozheng only realized it belatedly when Zhao Shengge was almost grown up. It seemed that he had brought up the person, but also seemed to have ruined him.
But now he couldn’t control Zhao Shengge, so he could only say: “Both the wharf and the new route need Buddha’s blessing.”
Zhao Shengge said in a businesslike manner: “From 4:30 to 5:00, I can only spare half an hour to go over.”
He is very busy. It is not him going to see the Bodhisattva, but the Bodhisattva has to wait for him to finish the meeting.
“……”
Zhao Shengge regretted entering the temple less than five minutes after he stepped into it. With that much time, the drawings of his new project could have been approved.
The abbot spoke like chanting a sutra, and he didn’t listen carefully to a word he said, but they were able to communicate with each other in a friendly manner for several minutes.
Zhao Shengge remained the same in front of the statue, calm, steady, and polite. Even the gods and Buddhas had no idea what he was thinking.
Occasionally he nodded to the abbot’s words, but his mind had already drifted through the hollow diamond-shaped windows to the people in the outer courtyard.
The hands on the watch pointed to half past five, and he didn’t believe that the man who kept his eyes and ears open didn’t see his car.
The other person was wearing a very soft cotton and linen lining today, which looked very gentle.
This was once a temple built by immigrants from Southeast Asia, and was later transformed into a Mazu Temple by locals. Some places still retain golden statues and carved eaves. When Chen Wan passed by, it was like the purple water lily in the water tank in the courtyard.
Also, because of the gold-plated and colored glaze architecture, there is an indescribable meaning in the purity.
He held the bag for the woman next to him with a patient expression.
Zhao Shengge raised his eyebrows in a mocking manner. Chen Wan looked innocent and had no desires, but she went to the holy place in front of Buddha for a tryst. This kind of habit was really not commendable.
Seeing that Zhao Shengge’s expression was a little cold, the abbot didn’t dare to say too much, but just asked him to say hello to Mr. Zhao and wish him good health.
Zhao Shengge raised his chin towards the west hall and asked him, “What are you worshipping over there?”
The abbot saw that he was interested, so he explained in detail: “The West Hall is for Jingyun Mazu, the left assistant of the Heavenly Palace, who is in charge of wisdom.”
“oh.”
Chen Wan still wants wisdom? Is there anyone who is more thoughtful than him?
Zhao Shengge asked as if he was attending a meeting: “When was the statue of the goddess built?”
The abbot rolled his eyes and knew how to seize the opportunity: “It has been several decades, and the gold and gilded colors have faded a little. We are currently raising funds for repairs. If Mr. Zhao is interested, you can go with me to burn some incense. It will be a good omen.”
Zhao Shengge, who threatened to leave in half an hour, turned his watch and said, “That’s fine.”
