Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to the Secular World Chapter Seventy: From One Dead End to Another (Part One)

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The August sun was still scorching, and even Qin Xuanxuan, seated in the carriage, had beads of sweat forming on her forehead. The carriage was heading directly toward Xiao Yan’s residence.

At this moment, she was hesitating and torn. Was it too forward to seek out Xiao Yan like this? After all, nearly every encounter with that monk ended in an argument. To show up suddenly and pay him a visit...

But she had seen him crying yesterday while distributing rice bran. The little girl's death must have hit him hard, hadn't it?

Perhaps she should go and offer some comfort? And there was the matter of the booklet—should she ask him about it?

“Miss, we’ve arrived!” The maid’s voice broke Qin Xuanxuan’s train of thought.

“Mm.” Qin Xuanxuan stepped down from the carriage.

The maid quickly handed her an oil-paper umbrella to shield her from the sun.

She took the umbrella and said to the maid, “It’s all right, I’ll go in by myself.”

Today, Qin Xuanxuan had taken special care with her appearance. Her clothes fluttered gracefully, her movements light and elegant.

Fresh and refined, incomparably beautiful, she looked about seventeen or eighteen, her skin fair as jade, eyes bright with spirit, brows elegant, nose straight, and dimples faintly visible on her cheeks—a beauty without compare.

In the sunlight, she looked almost like a celestial being.

Her beauty was different from Chen Shuwan’s; not only was she lovely, but she also had a... well, considerable presence...

“Hmm? Miss Qin? What brings you here?”

Elder Huiren, busy with his work, saw the figure entering the camp and asked in puzzlement.

“I... I’m looking for Xiao Yan... Is he here?” Qin Xuanxuan’s cheeks reddened as she spoke.

“He lives over there, probably still sleeping... That fellow burns candles at night and sleeps through the day,” Elder Huiren grumbled.

“Thank you.” Qin Xuanxuan replied softly and walked on.

After a short while, she arrived at the hut.

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Sure enough, through the window, she saw a bald head sprawled on the table, fast asleep. Bathed in sunlight, his head shone brilliantly.

“Xiao Yan!” Qin Xuanxuan stood by the window and called softly.

Xiao Yan didn’t respond at all.

With a frown, Qin Xuanxuan had no choice but to extend a delicate finger and poke the shining bald head a few times.

“What is it... Don’t bother me...” mumbled Xiao Yan impatiently. He wiped the drool from his mouth and opened his eyes.

Unfortunately, his gaze landed directly on Qin Xuanxuan’s chest...

Instinctively, he estimated the size, and upon arriving at a number, his eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, “G! My god! Definitely a G!”

As soon as he spoke, fresh drool began to trickle from his mouth.

Startled, Qin Xuanxuan took several steps back.

She didn’t understand what Xiao Yan meant, but when she noticed the young monk’s gaze and the fresh nosebleed, she immediately grasped the situation. Scowling, she scolded, “You... you lecher!”

“Ah... good morning...” Xiao Yan wiped his nosebleed, stretched lazily, and greeted her as though nothing had happened.

“Xiao Yan... Actually, my name is Qin Xuanxuan...” she said quietly.

After all, the young monk still didn’t know she was his fiancée...

She wasn’t sure if he would catch on from the hint; even as she finished speaking, she felt she’d been too impulsive...

This little monk was certainly not an ordinary person—he was capable of just about anything.

“Oh, hello, my name is Xiao Yan...” To her surprise, Xiao Yan replied calmly.

Qin Xuanxuan frowned in confusion. Did he not know the name of his own fiancée?

“Did you come for something?” Xiao Yan didn’t look at her, but bent his head and continued writing.

“I... Please accept my condolences about Little Yue’er...” Qin Xuanxuan said softly.

“It’s all right.”

At the mention of Little Yue’er, Xiao Yan’s brush suddenly paused. After a brief silence, he resumed writing.

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“Actually, I came to tell you not to worry. My father has already sent Hero Chen to negotiate with the great families about the grain prices,” Qin Xuanxuan continued. “Everything will get better.”

“Oh?” At this, Xiao Yan’s interest was piqued. His eyes brightened as he put down his brush, smiled, and asked, “What method is he using?”

“Well, um...” Qin Xuanxuan thought for a moment, then decided there was no harm in sharing. She said, “Hero Chen is taking the authorities with him to call on the great families one by one, demanding they redraft the grain prices and sell their grain. That way, the prices won’t rise any further...”

“Hah...” Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh, shook his head, and said, “Your father really isn’t afraid of dying, is he?”

“What did you say?” Before coming here, Qin Xuanxuan had told herself she mustn’t quarrel with him again, but the man’s words were infuriating.

Then again, perhaps only someone with such a temperament could write a poem like ‘Bring in the Wine’...

“I’m saying your father is digging his own grave... Has he learned nothing?” Xiao Yan shook his head and sighed.

“You!” Qin Xuanxuan bit her lip, her small fists clenched beneath her sleeves as she forced herself to endure. “What do you know? That’s the only way to resolve the grain price issue...”

“Have you all forgotten Chen Bufan’s coercion for grain? How is your father’s method any different? This is courting disaster! You underestimate those great families...” Xiao Yan sneered, sitting back down and aimlessly scribbling on the paper. “They’re all in the same boat! Do you really think they’d let the boat sink? If you dare to move against them, they’ll bite back for sure!”

“That’s where you’re wrong! This time the authorities are involved. If they make a move, it’s treason!” Qin Xuanxuan shook her head in rebuttal.

“So what? What about the authorities? Are you really that naïve? Do you think men of the martial world only know how to fight and kill? Brains are a wonderful thing—you should try having one...”

Xiao Yan’s words were as blunt and inconsiderate as ever.

“You! Stop talking nonsense. I already heard news this morning—apparently the Huang family has started selling rice, and at twenty taels a load...” Qin Xuanxuan could no longer restrain her anger.

“Hah... I’ve said all I can...” Xiao Yan frowned, then suddenly looked up at Qin Xuanxuan and said, “If you’re so sure there’s no problem... I’d love it if it could be solved so simply... but... heh...”

He shook his head and fell silent.

Just then, a maid came running in, panic-stricken and shouting, “Something’s wrong... something’s happened...!”

...