Insufficient balance

  A night on Mount Wu, clouds and rain.

  The next morning, under the red mosquito net, Xiang Ling was nestled in Mu Sheng's arms. Seeing that Xiang Ling had woken up, Mu Sheng asked: "Ling'er, does it still hurt?"

  Xiang Ling said shyly, "It doesn't hurt much, husband. We should get up." Mu Sheng responded with a sound, then Xiang Ling helped Mu Sheng put on his clothes and poured some water for him to wash up. Mu Sheng was not used to being served by others, but when he saw Xiang Ling's tearful eyes, he couldn't help but agree.

  Xiang Ling helped Mu Sheng wash and dress, then she washed and dressed herself. Xiang Ling was wearing a purple skirt today, although it was a bit old, but it couldn't hide her slender figure. In front of the dressing table, Xiang Ling was combing her hair, while Mu Sheng sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at Xiang Ling.

  It seemed that she felt Mu Sheng's gaze, Xiang Ling said shyly: "Husband", Mu Sheng saw Xiang Ling's appearance and smiled: "Ling'er, we are husband and wife, what's there to be shy about!", However, Xiang Ling didn't respond to Mu Sheng, as if expressing her small dissatisfaction in her heart.

  After a while, Xiangling finished dressing up and turned around to say to Mosheng: "Husband, we should go pay our respects to Grandfather now."

  Then the two of them walked hand in hand to the main hall, with Mu Sheng holding Xiang Ling's soft little hand, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart. Xiang Ling's heart was also filled with sweetness.

  In the main hall, the old man was already seated there. Xiangling and Mosheng walked into the main hall together. When Xiangling saw the old man, she rushed over, crying out "Grandpa Zhang". Then Xiangling wept in the old man's arms, as if trying to cry out all her grievances.

  Musheng stared at the scene in front of him with wide eyes, then walked up to the old man and asked, "Grandfather, do you know each other?"

  The old man responded with a murmur and then slowly began to talk about what happened back then.

  It was a cold winter, and Zhang Lao Han was carrying a bundle of firewood to the city's wealthy households to sell. Due to catching a cold, Zhang Lao Han's body was very weak, and when he passed by the Li family's backyard, he finally couldn't hold on and fell down. The snow outside was still falling, and Zhang Lao Han's body temperature was also dropping. Suddenly, a little girl came out of the Li family's backyard, saw that it was snowing outside, and was delighted. However, when she pushed open the door, she saw someone lying at the entrance, and the little girl was frightened, running back and shouting: "Dad, Dad, there's someone lying at the door!" After a while, a middle-aged man came out with the little girl, who was Xiang Ling's father.

  The Li family was a scholarly family, and when Xiangling's father saw that Old Zhang still had some life in him, he ordered someone to carry him inside. Under the care of Xiangling's father, Old Zhang recovered after a few days. From then on, Old Zhang became familiar with the Li family, often selling firewood to them, and every time he came to sell firewood, he would bring some small gifts from the mountains for Xiangling. The old man and young girl would laugh and chat together in the backyard garden.

  Later, Xiangling's father married a concubine named Dongshi. Within a year of Dongshi's arrival, Xiangling's mother fell ill and passed away. At the same time, dark spots began to appear on Xiangling's young face. The following year, Xiangling's father also fell ill and passed away. Having lost both parents in succession, coupled with the dark spots on her face, Xiangling had given up all hope of living. However, when she attempted to throw herself into a well, she was stopped by an old man named Zhang who had come to sell firewood. Under Zhang's careful guidance, Xiangling began to see hope in living again. Thereafter, Xiangling would often wait for Zhang in the backyard whenever he came to sell firewood, and each time, she would confide her grievances to him.

  Listening to the old man talk about the past, Muxi was very moved and couldn't believe that Ling'er's life had been so pitiful.

  At this time, the old man looked at Muzi seriously and said: "Grandson, you can't despise Xiangling, or I won't forgive you."

  "Grandfather, how could that be? I'm still not done pampering Ling'er, how could I possibly dislike her?" Xiang Ling also said at this time: "Grandfather, my husband is very good to me and has never disliked Ling'er."

  The old man laughed and said, "So quickly helping this young master speak! It's really having a young master and not wanting grandpa anymore." Xiang Ling heard the old man's words and coquettishly said, "Grandpa", and also secretly glanced at Mu Sheng.

  At this time, Mu Sheng didn't care about these things anymore. He said to the old man, "Grandpa, I'm going to cook." After finishing speaking, he walked towards the kitchen. When he arrived at the kitchen, he saw Xiao Lu cutting vegetables. Then he said to Xiao Lu, "Xiao Lu, you go accompany Grandpa, I'll do the cooking."

  "Master, this kitchen is a place for women, you'd better get out! I, Xiaolu, can handle it."

  Mo Sheng heard Xiao Lü's words and smiled, then added some firewood to the stove. Xiao Lü found that Young Master hadn't gone out, but instead sat at the stove door, so he said in surprise: "Young Master, don't sit there, it's very dirty."

  "It doesn't matter," said Musheng with a smile.

  At this time, Xiangling came in from outside and said to Xiaolu: "Lu'er, go and chat with Grandpa, I'll take care of this." Xiaolu was about to say something, but seeing Xiangling's gaze, she responded and went out.

  Xiang Ling saw Mu Sheng sitting at the kitchen door and said: "Sir, why are you sitting there? Hurry up and get out. This kitchen is not a place for men to come."

  "Can't I help you? Besides, before we got married, this meal was often cooked by me."

  Xiang Ling didn't say anything, so she just didn't say it. However, Shu Sheng's words still made some sense. The two of them were busy in the kitchen, Xiang Ling cooking and stir-frying, while Shu Sheng was adding firewood and handing her things. Xiang Ling looked at Shu Sheng sitting by the stove, occasionally adding firewood, and felt a little happy in her heart. She didn't expect that her husband wouldn't have any airs about him, and his words were also very gentle. In her heart, she felt that heaven was still quite fair to her, sending him to her side at her lowest point. It seemed that she would have time to go to the Huayuan Temple to burn some incense.

  After the meal was ready, Muzhen and Xiangling brought the dishes to the table. Xiaolu also came down to eat with them after Xiangling's persuasion, and the four of them had a warm and cozy meal together.

  After dinner, Muzhen said to the old man: "Grandpa, I want to take Ling'er out for a walk today. What do you think?"

  "It's good to go out and clear your mind," said the old man.

  Since the old man agreed, Muzhen said to Xiangling: "Now that Grandpa has agreed, let's go!"

  "Alright! But husband, wait for me." After finishing speaking, she hastily ran back to the room, and Mu Sheng's heart was filled with a thread of doubt.

  After a while, Xiangling came out, but at this time Xiangling was wearing a white veil. Seeing Musheng, she said: "Master, let's go!" Musheng didn't say anything, he just thought silently in his heart that when he had the chance, he would definitely ask around to see if Xiangling's scar could be cured, no matter what the cost, he was willing to pay it. So he put his arm around Xiangling and left. Watching the young couple leave, the old man was left with a warm smile.

  Musheng and Xiangling arrived at the lakeside of Swan Lake, found a patch of grass, and sat down together, enjoying the gentle breeze. Xiangling leaned into Musheng's arms, "It's been a long time since I've felt this warmth," she thought to herself quietly.

  At this time, Mu Sheng asked in a soft voice: "Ling'er, do you like listening to music?" Xiang Ling asked in surprise: "Can the master play the flute?"

  "A little," Murong Sheng said with a smile.

  "Come on, husband! Hurry up and blow it! I'm waiting to hear!" Xiangling said anxiously.

  Musheng took out a yellowed bamboo leaf from his bosom, remembering that this leaf was still picked from the small bamboo forest outside Xufu last time. Musheng gently placed the bamboo leaf to his lips, and a melodious tune came out from his lips.

  In the distance, on a painted barge, the zither player standing at the bow of the boat suddenly heard a melody coming from afar. The tune was faint and seemed to be coming from the opposite bank. So the zither player called out to the boatman, telling him to steer the boat closer to the other shore. As the boat moved forward, the view of the opposite bank became clearer and clearer.

  When she saw Shuoye sitting on the grass, Qingshu lost her voice and said, "It's him." In fact, she should have thought of it earlier. Who else could play such a beautiful melody except for him? The woman in his arms must be his wife now. Yesterday, when she heard that he was getting married, she felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, so today she came out to play with some students from the academy, hoping to improve her mood. However, she was very disgusted with those rich family's students, so she got off the boat alone. She originally wanted to go to the bow of the boat to enjoy the wind, but unexpectedly ran into him again. Qingshu was very confused in her heart.

  Feeling that the view was almost there, Qingshen asked the boatman to stop rowing. At this time, Bao Yue came out of the cabin and saw Qingshen standing alone at the bow, so she went forward and asked: "Qingshen sister, why are you alone here?"

  Huayue saw Qingqing and didn't respond, so she pulled on Qingqing's sleeve and said: "Qingqing jie, Qingqing jie."

  At this time, Qing Jing suddenly came back to her senses and said: "Bao Yue, what did you call me for?" Bao Yue didn't know why Qing Jing was lost in thought, so she said: "Sister Qing Jing, I asked you why are you standing here alone."

  "Oh, I see you're asking about this. The cabin is a bit stuffy, so I came out to get some fresh air." Qian Jing said slowly.

  At this time, Bao Yue noticed Mu Sheng on the opposite bank and said to Qing Si: "Qing Si sister, isn't that person over there Mu Gongzi?"

  "It must be him!"

  "Who is the woman in his arms? Do you know, Qingqing?"

  "I don't know, let's go in with Bao Yue!"

  "Oh" The two of them went in, but at the moment they entered the cabin, Qiang looked at Mosheng opposite him. No one knew what this glance meant, perhaps even Qiang himself didn't understand it at that time.

  The boat slowly sailed away into the distance.