Chapter 39

  Thirty-Nine

  Shen Shuxian smiled and pointed at the salt dish on the table to Xusai Lu, "This is to be added according to one's own taste."

  "Oh, thank you." Xu Saille was a bit embarrassed.

  After the three finished eating, Xu Saihan felt that they should also rest after a long and tiring journey. He paid the bill and went to the reception desk to book a room. Shen Shuxian was writing her name in the registration book when she heard the innkeeper say to the two people who had just entered, "There are no rooms available, not even one. They're all taken by hunters from the city. I don't have any rooms left, even if you offer me 100 taels of silver. The last room was booked by this young lady."

  Outside, the sky had already darkened, and nearby, there was no chance of finding a hotel to complain about. Xu Sahan felt a bit depressed, but Xu Sailu didn't care about anything else, only stretching her waist lazily. In her opinion, her brother could handle anything. Her father was heaven, her brother was earth, and she was the one being protected by heaven and earth.

  The little servant interrupted, "How about this? Miss Xu booked a large room with two rooms. If you don't mind, you can share it together. After all, the male and female rooms are separate. The bed is also big, and it's still cost-effective."

  Shen Shuxian also frankly said, "One person sleeping in two rooms is indeed a bit wasteful."

  "Great, great." Xu Sairen became excited, finally having a place to sleep. Hunting was fun, but the journey was really tiring, and what he wanted most was a bed to lie down comfortably.

  Three people entered the house together, but felt a bit awkward. After turning on the light, Shen Shuxian finally saw Xu Saihan's appearance clearly, with eyebrows like swords and eyes like stars, looking cold, but when he smiled, there was a hint of warmth. Probably her ideal man was like this, but what about Ning Xingguo? Suddenly, she felt that after separating, she didn't miss him that much anymore.

  People will never be satisfied. Shen Shuyan heard herself talking to herself.

  Xu Saihan handed the money to Shen Shuxian, but she didn't take it. She tidied up the room a bit, and there was a lot of dust. In the inner room, Xu Saihan slept with a man, while Shen Shuxian and Xu Sailu slept in the outer room. As they were packing their things, Xu Sailu asked, "I haven't even had a chance to ask your name yet, you've helped us so much."

  "Oh, I'm Shen Shuxian. I study in Yangzhou and have returned to my hometown of Yuntai Mountain for the holidays. A few days ago, I went to a relative's house in a nearby village to celebrate the New Year, but who knew that the river ice had melted, so we couldn't cross it and had to wait until tomorrow to figure out what to do."

  Xu Saihan heard Yun Tai Mountain and felt familiar. "My sister and I are going to Yun Tai Mountain for a hunt, this is great, tomorrow you can take our car with us."

  "Then thank you." Shen Shuxian felt unexpected and slightly tense in her heart, "So don't give me any housing money from now on."

  They received the luggage, Xu Sairen was clamoring to take a bath first, Xu Saihan helped her ask the servant to bring hot water over, a full bucket was placed in the inner room, and only two people were left speechless in the living room.

  "Which school in Yangzhou is Miss Shuxian attending?" Xu Saihan asked.

  "Oh, Xin Hui Girls' School." Shen Shuxian replied honestly, hoping that the other party would remember clearly, not ruling out the possibility of coming to school to find him in the future.

  As soon as the new school was mentioned, Xu Sailing from next door shouted, "Ah, ah, ah, my father also asked me to transfer to New Will Girls' School after the start of school..." She almost ran out naked to meet her senior sister, "He said not to study in Shanghai anymore, he can't see me."

  Xu Saihan smiled and shouted inside, "Take your bath."

  Shen Shuxian said, "It seems like we're also fated to be together."

  It was fate that brought them together, and they talked until late at night. Everyone felt tired and sleepy, but Xu Sairen continued to ask non-stop whether the Xin Hui Girls' School really had no boys, whether two people shared a showerhead when bathing, whether it was very strict, and whether they had to climb over walls to watch movies.

  She leaned against Shen Shuxian, wearing a soft woolen nightgown. Shen Shuxian suddenly felt embarrassed, she only had a white cotton robe wrapped around her. Listening to her words and looking at her attire, she should be from a wealthy family. Alas, as women, heaven gave some people too much, while others had nothing. How many people went to sleep with such regrets, woke up and continued to live in complaints of having nothing.

  Xu Saihan had a dream about Shen Shuxian, whom he met for the first time today.

  When setting out in the morning, he gave the little servant a big ocean and whispered, "Wash the quilt cleaner."

  The carriage ran much faster than the horse, and without waiting for any boat family, it naturally arrived at the foot of Yuntai Mountain. Its shape is like a covered cauldron when viewed from afar; its appearance is like a peak inserting into the clouds, just like a cloud platform, so one mountain has two names.

  Late in knowing the truth of quiet reason, I daily drift away from the crowd.

  The monk from afar, first sweeps the hermitage clean.

  Fruit comes from Cloud Peak, looking at my humble abode.

  Borrowing grass to cook rice, burning incense to read Taoist scriptures.

  The lamp burns until dawn is almost over, and the bell tolls when night has just begun.

  One enlightenment is joy, this life has spare time.

  Why must thoughts of returning home be so deep, when one's life is still empty and void?

  "The ancient poet's verse still exists, today coincides with the chaotic world, and tomorrow is unknown. Let us bid farewell here." Shen Shuxian bid farewell because she saw her own roof, her home was humble, and she didn't want to invite the noble young master and sisters into her house, also afraid that they would be surprised, oh, originally you lived in this place, even the New Year's clothes on your body were bought by others.

  Xu Saille said foolishly, "After hunting, I want to go play at Shen sister's house."

  Xu Saihan frowned, but in his heart he was secretly delighted. Originally, he had this intention, but it was his sister who spoke out, so he continued, "You're not afraid of disturbing others."

  Shen Shuxian couldn't decline anymore, pointing in the direction of her home, "You all just go and have fun, my house is just over there, come to my place for dinner tonight, I'll head back first."

  Xu Saihan stared blankly at her departing back, Xu Sailu nudged him, "Brother, can't bear to part with her?"