"Haha..."
Su Jinxiu was genuinely amused by Yang Ruoyun's actions.
"I'm serious. You must keep an eye on him." Yang Ruoyun's expression was extremely solemn.
"I understand. Thank you for the reminder."
Seeing her like this, Su Jinxiu stopped smiling and nodded seriously.
In fact, Liu Nanfeng had already told her about this matter before, but since Yang Ruoyun was being kind, Su Jinxiu didn't expose it.
"Here, this is for you. Consider it... consider it a thank you for healing me."
Yang Ruoyun took out an item and bashfully handed it to Su Jinxiu.
Su Jinxiu didn't stand on ceremony and took it directly.
"What is this?" Su Jinxiu brought the item closer for a careful look.
It looked like a marble, but much prettier, emitting a colorful sheen. Up close, it seemed to contain a tiny world within.
"This is the Buddha Country," Yang Ruoyun said.
"Huh? Buddha Country?" Even with Su Jinxiu's knowledge, she was greatly surprised to hear this.
"Yes, the Buddha Country. That's what Ah Run told me back then."
"But, but this is too precious. I can't accept it." Su Jinxiu quickly handed the "marble" back.
"It's fine. It's not of much use to me anyway. I haven't figured out anything from it all these years. Sister Su, you are intelligent, perhaps you can discover something. Just share your findings with me then." Yang Ruoyun pushed it back directly.
"But..."
"No buts. Besides, this was Ah Run's item. I'm merely giving it away out of goodwill. And considering your relationship with Ah Run, accepting this item is not out of place."
Hearing her say this, Su Jinxiu pondered for a moment before no longer refusing.
"If that's the case, then I shall accept it without reservation."
However, Su Jinxiu couldn't see how this item resembled a Buddha Country at all.
"Do you know its origin?" Su Jinxiu asked with some curiosity.
Yang Ruoyun nodded upon hearing this.
She hadn't expected her to actually know.
"Ah Run obtained this from the Tide Gathering. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a country called Yan. It was a country that believed in Buddhism. Within this Buddha Country, a Great Enlightenment Bodhi Tree grew. This tree protected the beings of the Buddha Country. After the citizens of the Buddha Country died, the Great Enlightenment Bodhi Tree would bear a Bodhi Fruit. Once the Bodhi Fruit ripened, a new life, a new Buddhist disciple, would be born."
"Is this the cycle of life and death?"
"Yes, it is reincarnation. The Great Enlightenment Bodhi Tree had lush branches and leaves, shaped like a giant umbrella, covering more than half of the Yan country. When sunlight shone on the leaves, myriad Buddhist wisdom teachings would appear on them. Such a divine object, however, was coveted by a giant bird named Li, who wanted to build its nest with it. The people of Yan naturally disagreed, enraging Li, who swallowed the entire Yan country in one gulp."
"The Great Enlightenment Bodhi Tree emitted divine light, protecting the people of Yan from harm. Li could not digest it, so it could only spit out the Yan country. However, it was unwilling, so it covered it with fat and condensed it with primal fire, completely trapping the people of Yan."
This story sounded fantastical, but many seemingly incredible things might actually be true, merely distorted through thousands of years of transmission. But since Feng Zhirun believed it was the Buddha Country, it was likely not false.
However, she couldn't discern anything special about it, apart from its beauty. It would make a good decoration.
Or perhaps she could show it to Liu Nanfeng. Maybe he could figure something out.
Thinking of Liu Nanfeng's analytical ability, Su Jinxiu felt it was highly probable.
...
"Everyone sit properly, we're departing now." Liu Nanfeng called back.
"Okay, hurry, hurry..." Little Carp was extremely excited.
"Gu gu... Gu gu..." Gu Gu looked out the car window, also filled with curiosity.
"Aba... Aba..."
Little Jinhua also joined the fun, waving her little hands and wiggling her little bottom as if powered by a spring.
Liu Nanfeng started the car, stepped on the accelerator, and headed into the distance.
Little Carp and Gu Gu huddled by the car window, watching the scenery recede.
Little Jinhua became anxious and quickly reached out to tug at the two of them, as if to say, "Hurry, move aside, let me see too."
"Where's our first stop?" Su Huamei, in the passenger seat, asked, taking out her phone.
"First to Hukou Town."
"It's not close, it'll take over two hours."
"Yes, this is the furthest. Once we reach Hukou Town, the next few towns won't be far, as they are all in the same county."
"Gu Gu, is this your home?" Little Carp asked Gu Gu beside her, looking out the car window.
"Gu gu... Gu gu..."
Gu Gu shook her head and nodded, leaving Little Carp unsure of her meaning.
In fact, Gu Gu herself didn't know. She felt a sense of familiarity, yet everything seemed strange.
"Sister Su, why don't you let me hold Jinhua for a while?"
Yang Ruoyun, sitting in the back seat, teased Liu Jinhua in Su Jinxiu's arms.
She liked this little baby more and more the longer she looked at her.
"Alright, but if you hold her upright, she just finished her milk, be careful she doesn't spit it up." Su Jinxiu carefully handed her daughter over.
Little Carp saw this and looked horrified, then she grabbed Little Jinhua's pant leg.
"No, she's a big bad cat, she'll eat Jinhua sister."
Everyone: ...
"Let go quickly, or I'll eat you first."
Yang Ruoyun said this, baring her teeth menacingly at Little Carp.
"I... I'm not afraid of you, I'll hit you..."
Little Carp felt around her waist, and her melon hammer appeared in her hand.
"Huh?"
Seeing the melon hammer, Yang Ruoyun looked surprised.
She was too familiar with this item.
"So this item is in your hands," Yang Ruoyun murmured.
Seeing Yang Ruoyun's gaze, Little Carp thought she wanted to snatch her hammer and quickly hid it behind her back, saying nervously, "My dad gave this to me."
"Heh heh... Besides this, what else did your dad give you?" Yang Ruoyun said dismissively.
In her heart, she was thinking, your father left me much more.
"And... and mud monsters." Little Carp's big eyes darted around.
As she spoke, a small gray snake crawled out from the collar of Little Carp's clothes. Gu Gu next to her was startled.
"Gu gu... Gu gu..."
Gu Gu quickly tugged at Su Jinxiu, urging her to help Little Carp.
"A pet?" Yang Ruoyun was also a little surprised.
But at this moment, the little snake crawled to the top of Little Carp's head, then coiled into a ball, turning into a lump of feces.
Everyone: ...
Seeing everyone's surprised expressions, Little Carp was extremely pleased.
Liu Nanfeng glanced at the noisy group in the back seat through the rearview mirror. The loudest among them was Little Carp, who had been babbling non-stop, with Gu Gu occasionally adding a "gu gu" in response.
Unknowingly, they arrived at the first town – Hukou Town.
He Chu Ke Tao reminds you: Remember to collect after reading.