My Lady Always Lacks Ambition
Chapter 328 - 326: Who Has It Worse

Chapter 328: Chapter 326: Who Has It Worse

Qin Liuxi led Miss Si and the others into the main hall, first offering incense and kowtowing to the Grandmaster. Miss Si generously added a thousand taels of incense oil, while Ms. Gao and her daughter, having little money, added only half a coin of broken silver, but their sincerity was profound.

Ms. Gao felt slightly embarrassed and said, "I will add more incense oil when I come next time."

Qin Liuxi smiled and said, "The Grandmaster knows your sincerity. There’s no need to force yourself with the incense money; just coming to offer incense and pay respects is enough."

Ms. Gao nodded and said, "I would also like to ask for a divine statue to worship at home."

"That is possible," Qin Liuxi summoned Wuwei and said, "Explain to her the process of requesting a divine statue."

Wuwei, smiling warmly, said, "Good people, follow me."

However, Ms. Gao did not move, looking at Qin Liuxi with hesitation and anticipation, and asked, "I wonder if the master has a smaller statue, I would like to request one too."

Qin Liuxi was startled.

Wuwei was also somewhat surprised.

Ms. Gao explained, "Our lives were saved by the master, and I have nothing to repay you with, except to offer a longevity tablet with your small statue if possible."

Wuwei looked at Qin Liuxi with some envy.

Offering a small statue, though not as significant as a divine statue, still meant that Qin Liuxi himself was the recipient of the offerings, gaining the power of belief from the believers, which was greatly beneficial for his cultivation.

Qin Liuxi shook his head and smiled, "I don’t have a small statue, but your intention is enough, offering this longevity tablet is enough, thank you."

Ms. Gao looked somewhat disappointed but still wore a bright smile, "I should be the one thanking you."

Qin Liuxi asked Wuwei to show her the small divine statues, while she and Miss Si went to sit down in the back Daoist School for tea.

Miss Si looked at Teng Zhaohe and Wang Chuan, the two ’little tails’, and asked, "Who are these two?"

"Oh, these are the disciples I just accepted yesterday. They are the fifth generation direct disciples of Qingping Temple. This is Xuan Yi, and this is Xuanxin," Qin Liuxi introduced her two disciples and instructed them, "This is Miss Si from the Qingzhou Prefecture, an acquaintance of your master. Please greet her."

Teng Zhaohe and Wang Chuan stepped forward and performed a Taoist ceremony.

Miss Si returned the gesture halfway and, feeling a bit awkward, said, "I didn’t realize you had already taken disciples, and didn’t bring any gifts. I’ll make it up when I return to the city."

"It’s alright. Cultivators don’t fuss over such formalities," Qin Liuxi said to her disciples, "Go find the Grandmaster, listen to his teachings and take the introductory lessons."

The two obediently bowed and left.

Miss Si sighed, "At your age, starting to take disciples already, isn’t it a bit early?"

"I think it’s rather late. I’ve taken them since they were fated to be, and once they become established, I’ll have an easier time," said Qin Liuxi, squinting.

Miss Si thought this was because Qingping Temple lacked a Daoist and direct disciples, and thus needed more effort to develop temple disciples, unaware that Qin Liuxi actually thought of relaxing once her disciples were established.

"Why have you come to Li City?"

Miss Si said, "The Si Family has a business, Rongxiu, and I plan to open a branch in Li City, letting Ms. Gao manage it, fulfilling a previous agreement. It protects her and her daughter from being uprooted and avoids dealing with petty people."

"They’re still being harassed by her husband’s family?"

"That didn’t happen, but since they left, the Gao Family’s days have been downhill, quite unlucky. People with dark minds hate seeing others prosper, so who knows what the Gao Family might scheme if they see Ms. Gao thriving here in the same city? What if they threaten to take Yan’er?"

Qin Liuxi smiled, "If it came to that, you could protect them."

"That’s true, but I thought it better to avoid trouble. Li City is good; having you here makes them feel safer," Miss Si said with a light smile.

Qin Liuxi said lazily, "If you had come earlier, I wouldn’t have had such a headache planning this business."

"Oh?"

Qin Liuxi didn’t hide it and briefly mentioned her plan to open a shop, concluding with, "By the way, you might not know my secular identity."

"The Taoist code is to ask about no personal affairs; I know my limits."

Qin Liuxi waved her hand, "My family name is Qin. My grandfather, the former Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Qin Yuanshan, got into trouble and was exiled, and the women and children were sent back to the old house in Li City."

Miss Si was somewhat surprised, "Qin Yuanshan is your grandfather? I heard there was a big mistake at this year’s national sacrifice."

Qin Liuxi raised an eyebrow, "You’ve heard?"

"The Si Family has businesses in Shengjing, and some gazette news is sent back through channels; I saw this piece of news," Miss Si didn’t hide her information sources.

"It seems your role as head of the family isn’t just about doing business."

Miss Si smiled bitterly, "You know what I first learned: abacus, arithmetic. At two years old, I was already held by my mother, looking at account books, listening to the steward report. I started doing accounting alone from the age of five, and at six, my mother had handed over the entire family’s channels to me, including the whole Si Family, because she had passed away."

Thus, she was forced to mature early, fortunately without veering off course.

Qin Liuxi reached out and patted the back of her hand, "I also left home at five, following the old Taoist to learn skills, day in and day out. You were somewhat stronger, having a father who wholeheartedly loved you."

"But you also had a master who was both a teacher and a father to you. You’ve grown up so well, carefree and comfortable." And as warm as the sun.

Qin Liuxi stared, "What, comparing hardships? I was sent up the mountains to meditate in the cold, toughening my sinews and bones; that’s harsh considering he wasn’t my real father!"

Master Chi Yuan sneezed twice, telling his two disciples, "Cultivation is not easy. Never be lazy, and don’t be like your master, who can’t get out of bed when the sun hits his butt. Morning practices to strengthen muscles are extremely important; otherwise, where will the strength to expel evil and hunt ghosts come from?"

Meanwhile, Miss Si said, "That’s still better than me. Piles of account books can make one sick."

"I feel the same when drawing talismans."

The two of them reminisced about their tough childhoods, ending with a smile at each other.

Each had different challenges, different hardships, and different fortunes; such are the unique paths of everyone.

Miss Si returned to the topic, "So, it seems your household has grown quite a bit by now."

"Indeed."

"Are you planning to run this shop as your old profession, as personal property of your main branch?"

Qin Liuxi nodded, "That’s all I can think of. I am most proficient in medical skills, Mystical Technique, expelling evil, hunting ghosts, drawing and selling talisman. It’s what I’m familiar with."

As for others, she couldn’t think of anything else and didn’t want to bother. She disliked dealing with troublesome matters. Practicing medicine, saving people, hunting ghosts—all came naturally and effortlessly, truly benevolent.

Miss Si fell silent, wanting to say more but hesitant.

Qin Liuxi noticed and said, "Speak freely, you’re more skilled in business, I can also learn from you."

"Liuxi," Miss Si tentatively called out, "May I call you that?"

"Hmm."

"Liuxi, doing business in areas you’re skilled at is beyond reproach, but why is what ought to be your personal property being discussed alongside Qin family’s main branch?"