How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Chapter 179

When Xia Chu heard that she was going to Duobao Pavilion to pick out gifts, she went there happily.

Not only did she choose gifts for her friends, she also picked out gifts for everyone in her family back in Lin'an. She calculated the price and found that one hundred taels was about enough. Unfortunately, Jia Qingwu didn't give her a chance to pay, saying that it was her family's shop and that there was no need to pay for these things.

When the shopkeeper learned that this was the long-lost daughter of the eldest lady, he naturally did not dare to accept the money. The money was recorded on Jia Qingwu's account, and then Aunt Xu came to pay.

Winter came quietly, and Jia Qingwu made seven or eight sets of clothes for Xia Chu, all of which were the latest styles that little girls liked.

Xia Chu wasn't particular about material things; she wore whatever she was given, and wasn't picky. She attended school every day, occasionally asking Jia Qingwu to go on outings. They'd explored every famous spot in Huizhou. Perhaps thanks to her stable life, Xia Chu's peaceful attitude, and the freedom to relax, Jia Qingwu hadn't been ill for a long time.

Moreover, she seemed to be getting healthier day by day, and the Jia family was very happy, and their attitude towards Xia Chu became closer and kinder. From time to time, they would send some gifts, especially the two uncles. When they returned from other places, they would always bring back some small things, and everyone in the family would have a share.

Even Mrs. Jia, after practicing the Five Animal Exercises, felt much healthier and no longer felt tired when she went out to play occasionally.

The happiest ones were Jia Wanlin and Jia Wanqing. At home, they would only take them to temples and not to other places because they were very busy. But with my aunt and cousin, we could go out and play more often.

That day, Jia Qingwu actually took the initiative to mention that she wanted to go fishing in the lake, but was persuaded by Madam Xu, "It's getting colder today. I don't dare go to the lake to enjoy the breeze anymore."

"Yes, Mom, let's go fishing again next spring." Xia Chu thought of what Jia Wanlin had said that day and said, "I heard that there's a high monk giving a lecture at the lower spire recently. How about we go and take a look?"

Jia Qingwu felt a little disappointed, but she also knew that the weather was cold and she might catch a cold going to the lake. It was worth listening to the monks' lectures. She had spent a lot of time in temples in recent years and had learned some Buddhist scriptures. She nodded and agreed, "Okay."

"I'm not taking Wanlin and Wanqing with me this time. They're young, so they don't need to hear about this." Xia Chu thought of Jia Wanlin's expectant face and could only apologize. After all, they were still young and their minds were still undecided. If they were persuaded to become nuns, she couldn't bear the responsibility.

"That's right, Miss Xia really knows a lot," Aunt Xu praised, but she was actually laughing in her heart. The age difference between them wasn't that big. But Miss Xia acted like an adult, and these words, coupled with her still childish face, seemed a bit funny.

The Lower Spire Tower, or Lower Spire Tower, isn't actually a tower with a pointed bottom. Like all towers, it's thick at the bottom and pointed at the top. There's a mythical story about the origin of this name, but it's a bit far-fetched. It tells of an eel that became a spirit beneath the tower and was later destroyed by the god Erlang.

Xia Chu just listened to it and didn't think about it any further.

A high-ranking monk came, along with many believers, both men and women. Many monks even came in groups, but the scene was not noisy; everyone spoke in low voices.

Xia Chu and his friends arrived early, but still couldn't get a seat.

The area around the lower spire was tightly surrounded, and they couldn't get close at all, let alone listen to the sermon.

Xia Chu stood on tiptoe and took a look. "I didn't think it through. I didn't expect there would be so many people."

"It's okay. How about..." Jia Qingwu pointed to a village awkwardly, "I see there's a lake there. How about we go fishing?"

Xia Chu was stunned when she heard this. She had never thought that Jia Qingwu actually fell in love with fishing. But if she was like Jia Qingwu, never missing a single line, she would also love fishing. "But we don't have a fishing rod or bait."

"Ah, that's right." Jia Qingwu was visibly disappointed.

Seeing that she really enjoyed it, Xia Chu suggested, "Why don't we bring it with us next time and find a place to fish?"

Jia Qingwu pursed her lips and nodded with a smile on her face.

They wandered around and unexpectedly ran into Li Xuemu. Besides her maids and servants, she was also followed by a boy of fifteen or sixteen, who looked like her son.

"Xue Mu." Jia Qingwu shouted in surprise.

"Qingwu?" Li Xuemu turned around and walked over. "You guys are here to listen to the sutra too? Don't you have a seat?"

You Shaofeng followed behind his mother and, upon hearing the name Qingwu, he briefly wondered who she was. But upon seeing the smiling young woman across from him, his mind suddenly went blank.

"Yeah, it seems you are too." Jia Qingwu responded with a smile.

"Aunt Xuemu." Xia Chu bowed and noticed that the gaze behind Li Xuemu was fixed directly on her. There was no ill intention in it, but it was a bit rude, wasn't it?

Li Xuemu smiled and praised Xia Chu a few times, then suddenly thought of her son. Turning around, she saw him staring at another girl with a red face. At first, she was happy because her son, like her, had taken a liking to Xia Chu at first sight.

Then she slapped him on the back and said, "Shaofeng! This is mother's good friend from her youth. I told you about this. You haven't met your aunt Jia and your sister Jia yet." She almost gritted her teeth when she said the last few words. You little bastard is like a fool. If you make others unhappy, I'll see what you can do!

You Shaofeng shuddered in pain, then immediately straightened his expression and bowed to Jia Qingwu, "Aunt Jia." His eyes turned to Xia Chu, his ears slightly red, "Sister Jia."

Jia Qingwu seemed to step forward unintentionally and looked at You Shaofeng. "This is your second-born Shaofeng. He is indeed a handsome man."

You Shaofeng felt a little disappointed that he couldn't see the Jia sister, but he still smiled and thanked Aunt Jia for her compliment.

"Sister Jia..." Xia Chu's scalp tingled. Was she going to call him Brother You? Ugh! That was so corny. She perfunctorily bowed her knees behind him, treating it as a formality.

Since we've met, we have to get together. There are too many people around here, so we can only go downstairs. The maids are fully prepared, with thin blankets spread out on the ground to sit on.

We also brought a small table and put tea and snacks on it, which made it feel a bit like a picnic.

It was inconvenient for You Shaofeng to sit with the female family members, so he found a place to sit on the ground not far away.

Having just been scolded by his mother, he didn't dare to look at her openly and could only glance at her secretly.

She had a slender figure, neat eyebrows, and a pair of bright, clear eyes. Her nose was small and straight, and her cheeks were as white as snow. She always had a smile on her face, making her seem approachable and lovable.

Isn't this the woman I've been looking for? It's easy to get her! You Shaofeng was secretly delighted. Fortunately, he didn't refuse his mother's request today and came here with her. Otherwise, how could he have met such a woman who was so appealing to him?

Judging from the mother's appearance, she should be very familiar, but please don't get married.