Lin Yuchan was about to examine those ancient artifacts in detail when the limping old monk Lejing hurried over and stood at the entrance of the ruined Buddhist hall, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Female benefactor, eh… please come out. This is a Buddhist hall, and women with their five impure bodies are usually not permitted inside.”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

Even in such ruins, they still insisted on such strict formalities.

However, it was also this same group of fastidious old monks who guarded cultural heritage, whose value they didn’t fully understand, willing to face off against foreigners and use their flesh and blood to block swords, guns, and cannons.

Since she didn’t understand archaeology anyway, she politely withdrew and asked Lejing, “With Zhenjiang opening as a port, there will only be more and more foreigners coming to visit. These temple treasures…”

How long could they be protected?

On the vast land of China today, how many of these cultural treasures scattered in the hands of weak citizens were about to be taken from their homeland, crossing oceans to exhaust their ancient vitality in some strange museum or private study in a foreign land, never able to return to their roots?

Lejing smiled bitterly. They hadn’t been unwavering either. When occasionally starving beyond endurance, they would take some less precious sutras and scrolls to “form good karma” with benefactors and pilgrims.

It was just that while the abbot remained, that proud spirit hadn’t been broken. Those artifacts of hundreds or thousands of years—they were unwilling to let them be lost in their generation.

But he didn’t want to appear desperate, so he tapped his lame leg and smiled slightly: “If someone tries to rob us again, we’d rather perish together than…”

Lin Yuchan hastily said: “That absolutely must not happen!”

“What must not happen?”

Su Minguan finally hurried up the mountain. After glancing at the old monk in front of the Buddhist hall, he used his eyes to point toward the foot of the mountain and said contemptuously: “That Smith fellow hasn’t left. He’s been pacing around the foot of the mountain for half a circle, still not giving up.”

He smiled again: “A’Mei, I didn’t realize you also studied antiques.”

He was grateful in his heart that he had come up in time. Otherwise, this girl would probably have been fooled again into donating money to this temple.

Lin Yuchan blushed slightly. Actually, in the eyes of ancient people, these Song and Ming Dynasty items were just valuable “antiques.”

When Chinese people’s possessions were robbed by foreigners, of course, they would be angry. That’s why Lejing would say things like “perish together”: our things would rather be destroyed than fall into the hands of demons and monsters.

That was quite spirited. But it would also be a sin!

Lin Yuchan knew nothing about epigraphy or archaeology, and in her urgency, couldn’t explain the proper reasoning. She only knew these things had to be well preserved. To future generations, they would all be priceless treasures.

She had a sudden inspiration and whispered: “You should dig a pit and hide these treasures. After… um, after a hundred and fifty years, when the seas are calm and rivers clear, with no more wars, no one will rob these things anymore.”

Lejing couldn’t help but laugh. This female bodhisattva had such great aspirational vows, but was too naive. A hundred and fifty years—so precise!

Even more optimistic than their abbot.

Even if Buddha’s wheel turns for forty-eight thousand years, it hasn’t been able to save all the suffering in the world.

Twenty years ago, during Jinshan Temple’s prosperous period when it was thriving like oil in a hot pan, these monks wouldn’t have deigned to talk with female pilgrims. But now, fallen to such a state, sometimes not seeing outsiders for entire days, the loneliness and hardship were indescribable. This girl had just helped him greatly, so Lejing couldn’t help but say a few more words to her.

“We’d like to. Female benefactor, there are only three old bones here in total, and we barely have the strength to carry water.”

Lin Yuchan: “You could hire a construction crew…”

A clear cough came from beside her. Su Minguan glared at her warningly.

She smiled at him and stubbornly whispered, “I understand market prices. Hiring three day laborers for four or five days, naturally avoiding prying eyes, three silver dollars would be enough. I can donate this money. Then you persist for another year or two. After the Taiping rebellion ends and the court sends new local officials, for the sake of political achievement and to show the emperor’s grace, they’ll allocate funds for reconstruction. Then your hard days will be over.”

Old monk Lejing had a brain full of wisdom, but his last meal was still yesterday’s. Now, with an empty stomach, being bombarded by this female benefactor’s wild words, he felt his head spinning a bit.

Lin Yuchan smiled sweetly: “You discuss it among yourselves.”

Then she quickly ran away, stepping over rubble and weeds, treading on ruined pagoda foundations, catching up to Su Minguan.

“Young master, why aren’t you talking to me?”

She shamelessly grinned at him.

Su Minguan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the scenery. Jinshan Temple had excellent feng shui—from the mountaintop, one could see layers of moored ships at the dock.

He focused on watching the water and said indifferently: “After all, it’s not my own money being burned.”

This girl was indiscriminate in her charity. She donated to Western churches, she donated to temples and Buddhist halls—next time, he shouldn’t take her to Taoist temples.

However, being flesh and blood humans and not steam engines running day and night, everyone had to have some hobbies. Didn’t he spend money on bathhouses, buy sweets for treats, purchase beautiful Western picture books, and pour large amounts of profit into Hongmen society affairs?

This last point wasn’t called a hobby—it was a responsibility. But in any case, these were all things that wouldn’t trouble his conscience after doing them.

As long as she was happy.

He wouldn’t spoil the mood by reminding her: what if the monks changed their minds halfway and dug up the treasures to exchange for money? What if foreigners attacked again and turned the temple upside down like they did the Old Summer Palace? What if among the hired day laborers there were those with ill intentions who secretly stole things?

Man proposes, Heaven disposes—she had already done her best.

Seeing his long silence, Lin Yuchan thought he still had objections. She moved to his other side, about to explain further, when he pulled her into his embrace.

“A’Mei, look—that’s Yangzhou over there. That direction is Jiangning, now also called Tianjing.”

She looked in the direction he pointed. Rolling snow-white waves, billowing mists, the scenic land between Chu and Wu—truly a vast and magnificent landscape.

Who wouldn’t love such rivers and mountains?

“Tomorrow the steamship sets sail, passing through Jiangning without stopping. A hundred thousand Hunan Army troops are blockading there, so the river surface will be quite spectacular.” Su Minguan slowly told her, “The steamship will also dock for several hours to accept inspection by government troops. I’ve already greased the necessary palms, so it should just be going through the motions. But you, a single young widow traveling far alone, might face more questioning. So…”

Lin Yuchan became nervous and asked: “Can money solve it?”

Su Minguan glanced at her sideways and smiled somewhat bashfully: “There’s also a stingy method, like…”

He didn’t continue, but the hint in his eyes seemed familiar.

Lin Yuchan rolled her eyes slightly, casually pulled off the small white flower from her head, raised her face, and, imitating the tone of a Kunqu opera actress, sang softly:

“Husband—”

Su Minguan couldn’t withstand that affectionate gaze and couldn’t help laughing heartily, quickly turning his face away.

As sickenly sweet as it could be—she was doing it on purpose!

While laughing, he said: “It’s not that I want to take advantage of you, but as a respectable ship owner, bringing a family member is very normal. Only my identity documents would be needed…”

Lin Yuchan’s smile bloomed as she struck while the iron was hot to brainwash him: “So you see, men don’t necessarily have to marry wives. Look at us now—married or not married makes no difference…”

Su Minguan wasn’t hearing this girl’s nonsense for the first time and thought he had long adapted, but this time he was a step too slow. His mental defenses didn’t have time to go up, and she caught him off guard. Blush crept up his face with an expression of strong disagreement.

He gritted his teeth lightly: “The difference is huge.”

His voice was too quiet, and Lin Yuchan didn’t hear clearly: “What?”

Su Minguan adjusted his expression and nonchalantly changed the subject: “Also, you should know the Hunan Army has been besieging the city for months. The Taiping Army is now trapped like beasts in the city, with limited time left. Outside the city, there are starving corpses, bodies of war dead, execution grounds—desolate and bleak everywhere, very unpleasant to see. A’Mei, the Taiping Army, and our Hongmen Heaven and Earth Society aren’t brothers—we can barely be considered fellow travelers. All of the Qing’s elite forces are there watching like tigers, so we must prioritize self-preservation. We’d rather go against our conscience and refuse to save them than act on impulse and pointlessly lose our heads.”

Swords and blades have no eyes, water and fire show no mercy—he feared that when she saw the carnage, she wouldn’t be able to resist showing compassion. So he used the sternest tone to warn her.

Lin Yuchan still understood these stakes clearly and nodded repeatedly to reassure him: “I’ll stay in the cabin the whole time.”

Though she said this, following his words and imagining tomorrow’s “scenery” on both banks still made her feel depressed.

Human lives are like grass and weeds. For Qing residents, this might be daily life. She had tried to adapt but never managed to accustom herself to these values.

Su Minguan patiently waited for her to think it through. Seeing her clearly suffering inside but still forcing a carefree smile to agree with his words about “going against conscience to refuse rescue”—fine wrinkles appeared between her delicate brows, her small mouth pressed slightly downward, her whole body seeming tense as if something was holding her back, even her posture appearing stiff.

Guilt arose in his heart involuntarily. He bent down and kissed that troubled little brow.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she closed her eyes.

Human hearts are insatiably greedy, always wanting to possess everything in the world. But ordinary mortals all have their flaws, thus evolving the instinct to “supplement what’s lacking.”

The little girl’s heart was soft and pure. He knew he could never become like that, so he treasured it all the more.

“A’Mei,” Su Minguan suddenly asked softly, “why do you fancy me?”

Lin Yuchan opened her eyes, her cheeks suddenly tinged with pale pink, looking a bit flustered as she said quietly: “Not accepting interviews right now…”

Her gaze looked behind him. Su Minguan turned around, his face also stiffening.

A short old monk stood three feet behind him, trembling as he leaned on a walking stick, quietly watching these two audaciously presumptuous young pilgrims.

This must be the third monk guarding Jinshan Temple—Lezhen.

“I, we…”

Su Minguan cursed his eighteen generations of ancestors, challenging Buddha for the first time. Not knowing what posture to use for explanation, he simply asked shamelessly: “Why didn’t you announce yourself?”

Lin Yuchan quickly pulled out several silver dollars and offered them to old monk Lezhen: “I just agreed with your junior brother—this is charity. Please hire some porters to dig a deep pit and bury those temple treasures. Also, eat a few full meals so people won’t come to bully you, and the abbot won’t have to sit at the door guarding every day—sitting too long hurts the lumbar spine.”

Her tone was very concerned, obviously trying to cover up their embarrassment.

Then she gave Su Minguan a meaningful look, meaning they should leave quickly.

These two were so audacious—who secretly showed affection in temples? Even legitimate married couples shouldn’t do this!

They only hoped the old monk wouldn’t get so angry he’d have a stroke—that would make their sin too great.

But old monk Lezhen didn’t take her money. He looked at one, then the other, suddenly opened his cracked lips into an amiable smile, and said in heavy dialect: “Want fortune told?”

Both were startled. Lin Yuchan held the money, feeling like a feudal superstition pioneer.

She explained: “Not fortune telling—this money is for you…”

“Now the country is peaceful and prosperous, Buddhist fortune flourishing, our temple’s incense burns bright with wealthy patrons supporting us. We don’t compete with common people for rice,” Lezhen stubbornly waved his hand. “Unless it’s paid fortune telling, keep that small money to buy candy for children!”

Lin Yuchan and Su Minguan looked at each other.

This Jinshan Temple was truly beyond help. Of the remaining three old monks, one was lame, one could only sit in meditation, and one had dementia…

The descendants of the great monk Fahai had fallen to such a state that even the White Snake would probably feel too sorry to flood them again.

She went with the flow and smiled: “Then let’s have our fortunes told.”

Rather than give it for free, she’d preserve the old monk’s dignity.

Old monk Lezhen beamed with joy, gestured for them to follow, then walked skillfully along the broken stone path to another small house. Inside was a large wooden table. Lezhen skillfully felt around in a cabinet at the table’s base and pulled out a broken fortune stick container.

Inside were incomplete bamboo sticks—only a sparse dozen or so.

“Shake one. Which of you will go?”

Old monk Lezhen cordially invited them.

Su Minguan didn’t move at all.

Lin Yuchan smiled at him and picked up the container.

She wouldn’t be superstitious—just for fun.

Old monk Lezhen seriously directed her: “Keep your hands steady while shaking, think of one thing in your heart. Sincerity brings results—don’t be greedy or make improper wishes…”

Click—an old bamboo stick fell in front of her.

Old monk Lezhen picked it up, squinted at it for a long while, then examined the young man and woman before him and smiled: “Everything will be as you wish, just don’t be hasty. What’s meant to be will naturally come…”

Lin Yuchan listened to this ambiguous fortune reading, secretly nodding, feeling that though trite, the principle wasn’t false.

Who knew old monk Lezhen would suddenly change direction, earnestly telling her: “Just be sincere in worshipping Buddha, stay home quietly to rest and recover. Don’t go out and about too much, and fortune will naturally come. Previous births of boys will yield girls, and previous births of girls will yield boys. First births will be boys. Female benefactor, rest assured…”

Lin Yuchan was still nodding along when she heard this and nearly choked on her breath.

She quickly glanced at the troublemaker beside her; however, she heard it, the old monk seemed to be fitting green hats on his head one by one.

“Master, I… I’m not seeking children.”

Old monk Lezhen was a bit hard of hearing and took two tries to understand. He looked at her in confusion.

Of the couples who came to temples to burn incense together, nine out of ten were newlyweds seeking children. The remaining pair were older couples who had been seeking children for years.

Why weren’t these two interested?

After thinking, he squinted at the girl’s age again and suddenly changed his tune: “Oh, seeking marriage, right? This poor monk was hasty, haha. Benefactor, listen well: if you want success, you must act early, or you’ll wait in vain through cold years. Don’t covet wealth, status, or family background, don’t let your lute face another boat…”

Lin Yuchan thought this old monk must have been a fortune teller before becoming a monk, and the kind who was a friend to women and understanding big brother.

Twenty years ago, at Jinshan Temple, monk Lezhen’s fortune-telling booth must have been the temple’s star income generator.

“No, no, not seeking marriage either… Let me think…”

She wondered: What should I seek?

The old monk was even more puzzled. A young woman who wanted neither marriage nor children—what else could she be interested in?

Suddenly, enlightenment dawned. He smiled at Su Minguan: “Official position naturally brings wealth and salary, peaceful residence brings celebration year after year. One day, when you soar into the blue sky, you’ll know your ambitions are high! Young man, study hard. In the future, you’ll honor your wife and benefit your descendants. Don’t wrong the one who shares hardships with you…”

Su Minguan politely nodded and tugged Lin Yuchan’s sleeve to leave.

She quickly gripped his fingers, braced her hands on the table, and said to the old monk, “Seeking career success.”

Old monk Lezhen held his forehead—for the first time in his life, he felt that this money was really hard to earn.

Just a young maiden—what “career” could she have?

However, his cultivation was profound, so he couldn’t ask more. After thinking, he shook his head and began to improvise: “Amitabha Buddha. The crane is caged within, and the fish swims in the cauldron. When autumn wind and moon rise, move the ridge past the front charge—Female benefactor, remember: proper paths rarely lead to success, while side paths may bring lucky triumph…”

Lin Yuchan heard a bunch of nonsense, quickly agreed repeatedly, finally coaxing old monk Lezhen into a satisfied smile as he accepted those silver dollars.

Old monk Lezhen squinted and smiled, seeing in his eyes connected pavilions, undulating palace halls, and golden walls throughout the mountain. In melodious sutra chanting, young men and women whispered and laughed, while young monks with wandering hearts hurried away with palms pressed together…

The old monk looked down and saw a container of worn, messy bamboo sticks. The stick the little girl had drawn was blackened by smoke and fire. The fortune poem he had seen moments ago suddenly had not a single word remaining. The fortune interpretation he had just improvised was also suddenly completely forgotten.

—

Lin Yuchan successfully donated five silver dollars and felt refreshed. She found the limping monk Lejing—the only one among Jinshan Temple’s old monks who was still relatively lucid—and carefully explained precautions for hiring day laborers.

Monk Lejing thought quietly. To preserve the temple’s ancient artifacts, they probably could only follow this female benefactor’s suggestion. He repeatedly pressed his palms together and promised to hide the treasures as quickly as possible.

Lin Yuchan had another inspiration. She asked for paper and a brush and wrote several lines in English:

“Your donation helps the Buddhist temple repair quickly,” “Fortune telling very accurate,” “Bell ringing brings good luck, one silver dollar for three strikes”…

She instructed the old monk to post these near the merit box, fortune stick container, and broken bell.

“Use these at your discretion. When more foreigners visit, you can’t let them play for free.”

Though this somewhat lowered Jinshan Temple’s tone, turning a thousand-year monastery into a money-grabbing tourist attraction, based on her experience, many foreigners looked down on others and understood Chinese culture only at this shallow, mercenary level. They should find this quite appealing. If they encountered some rich, naive foreigner, it could bring considerable income to the temple.

Compared to life-saving silver, what harm was there in letting foreigners misunderstand a little?

She fantasized again: if these English guide signs were preserved for a hundred and fifty years, would they become internet-famous cultural relics, becoming early evidence of Zhenjiang Buddhism’s international integration…

—

On the way down the mountain, clear frost and moss covered the broken stone steps, making it even more difficult than going up. The two walked silently, focusing on watching their footing.

When carrying her down a small cliff section, Su Minguan suddenly said quietly: “A’Mei…”

Lin Yuchan knew he was still bothered by the old monk’s fortune reading and smiled gently: “Don’t take it to heart.”

The old monk speculated based on common sense, discussing the topics ordinary people cared most about. He never expected these so-called major life events to be things he had long thrown into life’s trash bin.

Why was going against the current so difficult? Because not only was there no one to help, but people constantly reminded you how strange you were.

Su Minguan bit his lip lightly, smoothed several unruly strands of her hair, and changed his words: “Thank you.”

What he wanted to say was “I’m sorry. I’ve delayed you.”

One person having quirks wasn’t scary. There would always be people enthusiastically correcting you, selflessly pushing you back to normal life tracks.

The fear was two people banding together in rebellion, drawing energy from each other, going further and further down the wrong path.

He gently stroked her braids under her hat brim. The little girl was quite appealing to men. Without him, she could have long ago found herself a stable life, becoming someone’s wife with peace of mind, not having to be so constrained even when traveling by ship.

But based on past experience, Su Minguan also knew that saying “I’m sorry” would inevitably get back a string of light responses from her—he didn’t know if it was real magnanimity or false generosity, but she seemed very accommodating to him.

He couldn’t help wondering: was she so infatuated with love that her head was muddled? That didn’t seem right either.

Perhaps she was waiting for him to break the agreement and ask to marry her?

He didn’t dare ask. He feared that one more question would break this fragile understanding.

So he could only say thank you.

Lin Yuchan found this thank you somewhat abrupt. Nearly a year had passed—she thought he had long since let go of his burdens.

She didn’t mind continuing as boyfriend and girlfriend! Why wouldn’t he believe her?

After thinking, she gave him a small hug.

The two little donkeys were still obediently tied in the distance. Smith had finally given up his thieving thoughts and returned to the ship.

However, the river water had risen, making the mudflat road increasingly muddy and slippery. The originally barely visible plank walkway had been kicked over by someone, with wooden boards scattered in the water.

Lin Yuchan said indignantly: “It must have been Smith who kicked it. Making us walk through mud.”

There was no help for it. Su Minguan simply bent down and lifted her horizontally—a light, soft little bundle—as he walked steadily among the stones and mud flats.

Lin Yuchan felt shy and protested quietly: “I’m not lame.”

Su Minguan acted as if he hadn’t heard, chuckling softly and instead pulling her closer to his chest.

The little girl followed him without any prestigious status or recognition—this small benefit shouldn’t be denied her.

After just a few steps, his shoes were about to get soaked. Lin Yuchan turned her head and suggested: “Go that way! There’s a path at the cave entrance under that cliff, look.”

Su Minguan walked over accordingly, looked up to survey it, and smiled: “That’s Fahai Cave. Legend says a white snake once coiled in the cave. Fahai drove away the white snake, occupied this cave to cultivate, and that’s how Jinshan Temple came to be.”

Lin Yuchan argued with him: “That’s completely different from what they sing in the opera.”

Su Minguan looked down and explained: “Everyone likes the white snake but doesn’t like Fahai.”

She asked with a smile: “Why?”

“Hmm…” This was a difficult question. He thought before saying, “The white snake is a beautiful woman. Fahai is an old monk.”

“Wrong.” Lin Yuchan pointed at his nose. “Because the white snake pursues love and freedom, while Fahai represents brutal, autocratic, anti-people feudal moralists.”

Su Minguan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “Why do I feel like this is a standard answer from some exam?”

Lin Yuchan covered her face and laughed, jumped out of his arms, and ran toward Fahai Cave.

There was indeed a broken stone path at the cave entrance. By taking a detour of half a li, they could return to where the donkeys were tied.

“‘Proper paths rarely succeed, side paths may bring lucky triumph’—See, that old monk does have some skill. He knew we’d take a detour.” Lin Yuchan smiled as she explored inside, muttering to herself: “So small—Fahai must have been a shut-in back then…”

Su Minguan picked up a leaf and wiped his shoes on the spot, chuckling as he repeated her tongue twister: “Brutal autocratic anti-people… um, feudal moralists.”

She gave a small cry from inside the cave: “Su…”

Not knowing what interesting thing she had discovered.

Su Minguan was about to respond when his face suddenly changed, hearing a muffled thud from inside the cave, like something crashing to the ground.

He dropped the leaf and ran in, freezing three steps from the cave entrance, his face turning pale.

Inside the small cave was not just one person. A burly man covered in filth with wild lion-like hair held the thin girl in front of him, gasping as he gripped her throat.

Inside the cave, stone slabs and incense tables lay shattered, with several old copper coins embedded in the stone cracks.