“What do you mean by ‘devilish idea’?” Mei Qing, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with Bi Zhen’s belittlement, replied, “Isn’t this me trying to share your burden? According to what you said, this young Master Guo needs a place where the work isn’t tiring and someone can keep an eye on him, right?”
Bi Zhen nodded, “Exactly. Can you find such a place?”
Mei Qing chuckled, “What’s so difficult about that? As the saying goes, what seems far away might actually be right under our nose. Don’t you think of a certain place in this Dongyue Temple that seems specially prepared for him? Look in the direction I’m pointing…”
Following Mei Qing’s finger, Bi Zhen exclaimed, “You mean… the Sutra Pavilion?”
“Precisely!” Mei Qing nodded. “That place is as quiet and idle as it gets. I’d guess ten or twenty years might pass without any studious old Daoist ever coming to look for a book. The venerable Yu Zhen who watches over the pavilion will ensure young Master Guo behaves himself and won’t deviate in the slightest.”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, “I wonder how you ever thought of that.” Then she frowned, “Still, it’s quite quiet there, but having a grown man around a female Daoist like Yu Zhen doesn’t seem quite appropriate.”
“Oh, come on,” Mei Qing exclaimed, placing his hand on his forehead. “With Yu Zhen’s formidable presence, she’s more manly than most men. Especially when compared to our young Master Guo, it’s hard to say who’s more of a ‘real man.'”
Bi Zhen laughed until she bent over, “You really are a bad-mouthed fellow, never sparing anyone with your words. Well, since there’s nowhere else to put him, I’ll go along with your idea. Since Yu Zhen listens to you the most, you might as well see this Buddha all the way to the West. Do me a favor and send him over there.”
As Mei Qing unhappily led the bewildered young Lord Guo up the stairs to the Sutra Pavilion, he couldn’t help but recall the minor embarrassment he had encountered when he first arrived here. It had already been over half a year since he last came to this place. He wondered how Yu Zhen was doing now.
Turning a corner and reaching the upper floor, Mei Qing immediately spotted Yu Zhen sitting cross-legged on the floor, moving a small cushion with one hand while holding a scroll in the other, completely absorbed in her reading.
So engrossed was she that Yu Zhen didn’t notice anyone coming upstairs. It wasn’t until Mei Qing coughed twice that she was startled back to awareness.
“What book do you want to read, can’t you just— ah!” Yu Zhen began to speak, lifting her head. Suddenly, she saw Mei Qing standing there, the very person who had once terrified her half to death. She dropped her book with a startled “clap” and let out a piercing scream.
“Stop screaming!” Mei Qing hissed.
At his words, Yu Zhen immediately shut her mouth and, with lightning speed, picked up the fallen book. She stood obediently in front of Mei Qing like a little kitten.
“Listen,” Mei Qing gestured toward the young Lord Guo behind him, “Bi Zhen said he’ll be helping you work here from now on. You can give him any tasks, but you must keep a close eye on him and not let him run around. Got it?”
Yu Zhen nodded vigorously.
“Good. If he ever misbehaves and you can’t handle him, just let me know and I’ll deal with him.” Mei Qing said casually before leaving the young Lord Guo behind and heading downstairs.
After Mei Qing’s footsteps faded at the foot of the stairs, Yu Zhen’s expression suddenly became lively. She furrowed her brows and glared fiercely at the young Lord Guo with her large eyes, speaking in a harsh tone, “Kid, what’s your name— I’m talking to you, are you dead or something? Why won’t you answer?”
The young Lord Guo, somewhat timidly, replied, “I… I’m surnamed Guo…”
“You, surnamed Guo, why would you, a decent person, provoke this evil spirit and get yourself brought here? If it weren’t for you, I was peacefully reading my book, and now my mood is completely ruined. So, what do you have to say for yourself?” Yu Zhen tapped the rolled-up book in her palm as she spoke.
“What do you mean by a ‘ghostly idea’?” Mei Qing was somewhat dissatisfied with Bi Zhen’s belittling of her. “Isn’t this me trying to share the burden for you? According to you, this young master Guo can only find a place where the work isn’t tiring and someone is in charge, right?”
Bi Zhen nodded, “Exactly. Can you find such a place?”
Mei Qing chuckled, “What’s so difficult about that? As the saying goes, what you seek is far in the distance, yet it’s right before your eyes. Can’t you think of a place in the Dongyue Temple that seems tailor-made for him? Follow my hand…”
Bi Zhen followed the direction of Mei Qing’s finger and then exclaimed, “Ah! You mean… the Scripture Depository?”
“Exactly!” Mei Qing nodded, “That place is as leisurely as it gets. I doubt any diligent Taoist would go there to find a book in ten or eight years. The lady Yuzhen, who oversees the Scripture Depository, will surely keep young master Guo in line, ensuring no mishaps.”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, “How did you come up with that?” Then she frowned, “Although that place is quite leisurely, it’s not quite appropriate to have a man around Yuzhen, a female Taoist.”
“Please spare me,” Mei Qing said, placing her hand on her forehead, “Yuzhen, with her stunning beauty, is more manly than most men. Especially our young master Guo, standing in front of her, it’s hard to say who is more of a man.”
Bi Zhen laughed so hard she bent over, “You really have a wicked tongue, not leaving any room for kindness. Fine, since there’s no other place to arrange for him, let’s go with your plan. Your sister Yuzhen listens to you the most, so you might as well send him there.”
When Mei Qing, with a displeased face, led the bewildered young master Guo up the stairs to the Scripture Depository, she couldn’t help but recall a minor joke she had made when she first arrived here. It had been over half a year since she last visited. She wondered what Yuzhen looked like now.
As she turned the corner and reached the upper floor, Mei Qing immediately saw Yuzhen sitting cross-legged on the floor with a small cushion, engrossed in a book.
Perhaps too absorbed in her reading, Yuzhen didn’t notice anyone coming upstairs until Mei Qing coughed twice, startling her.
“Want to read a book, can’t you—Ah!” Yuzhen spoke as she looked up, suddenly seeing Mei Qing standing before her, the same person who had once frightened her out of her wits. Her book slipped from her hand, “Thud!” falling to the floor, and she let out a piercing scream.
“Stop screaming!” Mei Qing whispered sharply.
Hearing Mei Qing’s voice, Yuzhen immediately stopped, quickly picking up the fallen book and standing obediently in front of Mei Qing like a kitten.
“It’s like this,” Mei Qing pointed to young master Guo behind her, “Bi Zhen said he will be helping you here from now on. Feel free to assign him tasks, but make sure he doesn’t wander off. Got it?”
Yuzhen nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
“Good, if he ever disobeys and you can’t handle it, just come to me to deal with him,” Mei Qing said indifferently. Then she left young master Guo there and went downstairs.
As Mei Qing’s footsteps faded away at the stairwell, Yuzhen’s expression suddenly became lively. She frowned fiercely, her big eyes glaring at young master Guo, and said harshly, “Kid, what’s your name—I’m talking to you, are you dead? Why aren’t you answering?”
Young master Guo timidly replied, “I… I’m surnamed Guo…”
“Guo, you’re a decent person, why did you provoke that demon and get brought here? If it weren’t for you, I would have been reading peacefully, and now all the good mood is ruined. What do you have to say for yourself?” Yuzhen said, tapping the rolled-up book in her other hand.
Seeing the fierce expression of this dark Taoist nun, young master Guo was at a loss and could only stammer, “I… I will listen to whatever the immortal lady says.”
“Good, you’re sensible. Listen up, from now on, I’m in charge here. If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west; if I tell you to hit a dog, you don’t chase a chicken. If you dare to disobey even half a word, I’ll break you in half! Now go wash up in the pond at the back garden, did you crawl out of a dung heap? Why do you stink so much, it’s nauseating!” Yuzhen’s voice grew louder, almost roaring by the end.
Young master Guo was so scared he was trembling, “Immortal lady, have mercy, it’s freezing cold…”
“Look at you, scared to death! Hurry up and wash, if you dawdle, my fists won’t recognize you!”
Young master Guo was driven downstairs by Yuzhen’s fierce glare, trembling uncontrollably, scrambling down the stairs. After much hesitation, he finally washed and wiped himself by the pond, roughly cleaning up. He wiped his face, ensuring no grime was left, then shivered and walked back like a zombie.
When he returned upstairs, he found that Yuzhen had gone to the back and fetched a set of clothes for him. The old Taoist robe, though not new, was thick and unbroken. Yuzhen forced him to take the clothes and change in the corner room, then brought out a food box.
Although Yuzhen’s appearance was intimidating, being a nun and a woman, she naturally had a soft heart. After scolding young master Guo for a while and seeing him as scared as a chick, she felt somewhat sorry for him. So, under the pretext of Bi Zhen, she fetched him clothes and also found some food. However, seeing his timid demeanor, she couldn’t help but get angry again. She threw the food box at him, “Take it to the corner and eat by yourself. Really, do you think you’re a young master, expecting me to fetch food for you!”
Although the food was cold, it was still a meal. Young master Guo was initially hesitant, but under Yuzhen’s continuous scolding and his own extreme hunger, he couldn’t care less. He took the box, squatted in the corner, took out a bowl, and started shoveling food into his mouth without regard for manners.
In no time, he had finished the small amount of food, though it wasn’t enough, he didn’t dare to ask for more. With some food in his stomach and feeling warmer, young master Guo sat there dazedly, staring at the food box in front of him. He thought about how, in the past few days, only this meal had been satisfying. He recalled his frequent visits to the Dongyue Temple, pursuing Bi Zhen, never imagining he would end up like this. Looking at his worn-out cotton clothes and the cold buns he had just eaten, things he wouldn’t have glanced at before.
In the past, even if he wore gold and silver, dined on delicacies, now it seemed less significant than this old robe and half a box of cold rice. Thinking back to his former life of indulgence and extravagance, it now felt like a fleeting dream.
Yuzhen, seeing that young master Guo was not pleased, didn’t pay him any attention and continued reading her book. When she looked up, she found young master Guo sitting in the corner, head bowed, motionless. She called him twice, but he didn’t respond, making her worry that he might have choked to death there.
At this thought, Yuzhen couldn’t sit still anymore and quickly got up to check. As she approached, she saw that he was leaning his head against the wall, tears streaming down his face, lost in thought. Seeing this, Yuzhen felt tricked by this wretched fellow, and anger surged within her. She stepped forward, kicked him onto the floor, and roared, “Why are you pretending to be dead! You almost scared me to death!”
Unexpectedly, despite her scolding and kicking, young master Guo didn’t feel any pain but instead felt a warmth in his heart. Having endured much hardship in prison, Yuzhen, being a woman, didn’t kick him hard, so the physical pain didn’t bother him. But hearing her say she was scared he might die, he felt that this rough Taoist nun was the only person in the world who cared for him. Thinking about how she had fetched him clothes and food, and was concerned about him, compared to the days he spent wandering the streets, ignored by his former friends, he felt even more grateful.
Yuzhen, seeing him like a block of wood, not even dodging her kicks, and instead looking as if he enjoyed it, grew even angrier. She scolded him and stomped on him a couple more times. But seeing that he didn’t seem to be in pain but rather looked pleased, she started to worry, “Did I hit him too hard, driving him mad?” She quickly withdrew her foot and asked, “Are you okay?”
Young master Guo mumbled a couple of times, not daring to look at her, but nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Yuzhen felt that although this guy was detestable, he was also somewhat pitiful, so she softened her voice, “Don’t be afraid. As long as you obey, I naturally won’t hit you.”
Young master Guo, hearing her gentle inquiry, was even more moved, tears streaming down his face, and he nodded vigorously.
From then on, young master Guo settled down in the Scripture Depository. Every morning, he would naturally fetch water and sweep the floor, keeping everything spotless, waiting for Yuzhen to bring him food. He took care of all the chores. If he did anything wrong, Yuzhen would scold him and hit him, but he accepted it willingly. Over time, if Yuzhen was lazy for a few days and didn’t scold or hit him, he would feel itchy and uncomfortable. He would deliberately make mistakes to provoke Yuzhen into scolding and hitting him, only then feeling relieved.
Thus, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit, they each found their own joy in life. Over time, when Yuzhen was bored, she would tell young master Guo some stories she had read from books. This attracted young master Guo to start reading as well. They searched high and low for various books on chivalry, martial arts, fantasy, history, military, etc., not seeking elegance but just for the fun of it. They exchanged ideas daily, promoting each other, and eventually became a pair of reading buddies.
For the next several decades, they lived together in the Scripture Depository, scolding and hitting each other, reading and writing, spending the rest of their lives together. They passed away together in the late years of the Wanli era. Because they had been reading for so long and their reading range was so broad, seeking only the joy of reading without regard for anything else, they truly grasped the essence of reading. They were later referred to as “the happiest readers in history,” marking a unique bond.
“Good, at least you understand. Listen well, from now on in this place, I’m the one in charge. If I tell you to go east, you don’t dare go west; if I tell you to chase the dog, you don’t dare chase the chicken. If you dare say no, I’ll beat you half to death on the spot! Now go wash yourself in the pond at the back garden. Did you crawl out of a dung heap? You’re so stinky it’s making me dizzy!” Yu Zhen’s voice grew louder and louder until she was practically shouting at the end.
“What do you mean by ‘ghostly idea’?” Mei Qing was somewhat dissatisfied with Bi Zhen’s belittlement of his suggestion. “Isn’t this me trying to share the burden for you? According to what you said, this young master Guo needs a place where the work isn’t too hard and someone can keep an eye on him, right?”
Bi Zhen nodded, “Exactly. Can you find such a place?”
Mei Qing chuckled, “What’s so difficult about that? As the saying goes, what you seek is far in the distance yet close at hand. Can’t you think of a place in the Dongyue Temple that seems tailor-made for him? Look where I’m pointing…”
Bi Zhen followed the direction of Mei Qing’s finger and suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! You mean… the Scripture Depository?”
“Exactly!” Mei Qing nodded. “That place is as leisurely as it gets. I bet not even a diligent Taoist would go there to find a book in ten or eight years. And the custodian of the Scripture Depository, Sister Yu Zhen, will surely keep young master Guo in line, ensuring nothing goes wrong.”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, “How on earth did you come up with that?” Then she frowned, “Although that place is quite leisurely, having a man around Sister Yu Zhen, a female Taoist, doesn’t seem quite appropriate.”
“Please spare me,” Mei Qing said, placing his hand on his forehead. “With Yu Zhen’s stunning beauty, she’s more manly than most men. Especially compared to our young master Guo, standing in front of her, it’s hard to say who’s the real man.”
Bi Zhen laughed so hard she bent over, “You really have a wicked tongue, not leaving any virtue in your words. Fine, since there’s no other place to arrange for him, let’s go with your plan. Your sister Yu Zhen listens to you the most, so you might as well send him there.”
As Mei Qing reluctantly led the bewildered young master Guo up the stairs to the Scripture Depository, he couldn’t help but recall a minor embarrassment he had experienced when he first arrived here. It had been over half a year since he last visited. He wondered what Yu Zhen looked like now.
As they turned the corner and reached the upper floor, Mei Qing immediately saw Yu Zhen sitting cross-legged on the floor with a small cushion, engrossed in a book.
Perhaps too absorbed in her reading, Yu Zhen didn’t notice anyone coming upstairs until Mei Qing coughed a couple of times, startling her.
“Looking for a book, can’t you— Ah!” Yu Zhen was speaking as she looked up, only to see Mei Qing standing before her, the very person who had once terrified her. The book slipped from her hand, falling to the floor with a thud, and she let out a piercing scream.
“Stop screaming!” Mei Qing whispered sharply.
At his command, Yu Zhen immediately stopped, quickly picking up the fallen book and standing obediently in front of Mei Qing like a little kitten.
“Here’s the deal,” Mei Qing pointed to young master Guo behind him. “Bi Zhen says he’ll be helping you out here from now on. Feel free to assign him tasks, but make sure he doesn’t wander off. Got it?”
Yu Zhen nodded eagerly like a chicken pecking at rice.
“Good. If he ever disobeys and you can’t handle him, just come to me to sort him out,” Mei Qing said indifferently. Then he left young master Guo there and went downstairs.
As Mei Qing’s footsteps faded away at the stairwell, Yu Zhen’s expression suddenly became lively. She furrowed her brows and glared fiercely at young master Guo, growling, “Kid, what’s your name— I’m talking to you, are you deaf? Why aren’t you answering?”
Young master Guo timidly replied, “I… my surname is Guo…”
“Guo, you’re a decent person, why did you provoke that demon and get brought here? If it weren’t for you, I would have been enjoying my book peacefully. Now my mood is ruined, what do you have to say for yourself?” Yu Zhen said, tapping the rolled-up book in her other hand.
Faced with the fierce expression of this female Taoist, young master Guo was at a loss, only managing to stammer, “I… I’ll just follow the fairy’s instructions.”
“Good, you’re sensible. Listen up, from now on, I’m in charge here. If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west; if I tell you to hit a dog, you don’t chase a chicken. If you dare to disobey even slightly, I’ll break you in half! Now go wash up in the pond in the backyard. Did you crawl out of a dung heap? You stink so bad it’s nauseating!” Yu Zhen’s voice grew louder, almost roaring by the end.
Young master Guo was trembling with fear, “Fairy, have mercy, it’s freezing cold…”
“Look at you, scared to death! Hurry up and wash, or else my fists won’t recognize you!” Yu Zhen shouted, glaring at him.
Young master Guo, terrified, stumbled downstairs, shivering uncontrollably. He gritted his teeth and washed himself by the pond, roughly cleaning up. After wiping his face, ensuring it wasn’t caked with grime, he shivered like a zombie as he made his way back.
Upon returning upstairs, he found that Yu Zhen had gone to fetch him a set of clothes. The old Taoist robe, though not new, was thick and unbroken. Yu Zhen forced him to take the clothes and change in the corner room. She then brought out a food box.
Despite her fearsome appearance, Yu Zhen, being a nun and a woman, had a naturally soft heart. After scolding young master Guo and seeing him scared like a little chick, she felt somewhat sorry for him. Using Bi Zhen’s name, she got him clothes and found some food. However, seeing him cower made her angry again. She threw the food box at him, saying, “Take it to the corner and eat by yourself. Really, do you think you’re a young master that I have to fetch food for you?”
Although the food was cold, it was still a meal. Initially hesitant, young master Guo, driven by hunger and Yu Zhen’s scolding, didn’t care much and squatted in the corner, wolfing down the food.
Soon, he had finished the meager meal, though still feeling unsatisfied, he dared not ask for more. With some food in his stomach and warmth returning to his body, young master Guo sat there blankly, staring at the food box. He reflected on how, in recent days, only this meal had been satisfying. He thought about his past visits to Dongyue Temple, pursuing Bi Zhen, never imagining he would end up like this. Looking at his tattered robe and the cold bread he had just eaten, things he would have once ignored, he felt a profound change.
Even in his past life of luxury and indulgence, he now found more value in this tattered robe and half a box of cold food than in all the gold and delicacies he once enjoyed. His previous life of debauchery and extravagance now seemed like a fleeting dream.
Yu Zhen, seeing young master Guo’s unhappiness, didn’t pay him much attention and continued reading. When she looked up, she noticed him sitting in the corner, head bowed, motionless. Calling out to him twice with no response, she began to worry, thinking he might have choked to death.
Alarmed, Yu Zhen quickly got up and approached him. Upon closer inspection, she found him leaning against the wall, tears streaming down his face, lost in thought. Realizing she had been tricked by this wretched fellow, anger surged within her. She stepped forward, kicked him to the floor, and roared, “Why are you pretending to be dead! You almost scared me to death!”
To her surprise, despite her scolding and kicking, young master Guo felt no pain but instead a warmth in his heart. Having endured much hardship in prison, Yu Zhen’s kick, being a woman, wasn’t very forceful, so the physical pain didn’t bother him. Hearing her say she was scared he might die, he felt that this rough female Taoist was the only person in the world who cared for him. Reflecting on how she had found him clothes and food, and even worried about him, compared to the days he spent wandering the streets ignored by his former friends, he felt deeply moved.
Yu Zhen, seeing him like a block of wood, not even dodging her blows, and even looking somewhat pleased, grew more furious. She cursed and stomped on him a couple more times. But seeing him not only unbothered but seemingly enjoying it, she began to fear, “Did I hit him too hard and drive him mad?” She quickly withdrew her foot and asked, “Are you okay?”
Young master Guo mumbled, not daring to look at her, and nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Yu Zhen felt that although he was detestable, he was also somewhat pitiable. She softened her voice, “Don’t be afraid. As long as you obey, I won’t hit you.”
Hearing her gentle words, young master Guo was even more moved, tears streaming down his face as he nodded vigorously.
From then on, young master Guo settled into the Scripture Depository. Every morning, he would fetch water, sweep the floors, and keep everything spotless, waiting for Yu Zhen to bring him food. He took care of all tasks, and whenever he made a mistake, Yu Zhen would scold and hit him, which he accepted willingly. Over time, if Yu Zhen was lazy for a few days and didn’t scold or hit him, he would feel uneasy and deliberately make mistakes to provoke her, finding comfort in her reprimands.
Thus, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit, they found their own happiness. Over time, Yu Zhen, when bored, would tell young master Guo stories from the books she read. This piqued his interest in reading, and together they explored various genres—martial arts, fantasy, history, military—seeking not sophistication but enjoyment. They exchanged ideas and grew together, becoming a pair of avid readers.
For decades, they lived together in the Scripture Depository, scolding, reading, and spending their lives together until their deaths in the late years of the Wanli era. Because of their extensive and diverse reading, focusing solely on enjoyment, they were later referred to as “the happiest readers in history,” marking a unique bond.
“Look at how cowardly you are!” Yu Zhen shouted loudly, “Are you scared to death already? Hurry up and wash, if you dawdle any longer, I won’t hold back my fists!”
The young Lord Guo was driven away by Yu Zhen’s fierce glare, trembling all over, tumbling down the stairs. After biting his lip for a while, he washed and wiped himself roughly by the pond, using his hands to rub his face until it was no longer covered in grime. Then he returned, trembling like a walking corpse.
When he got back upstairs, he found that Yu Zhen had actually gone to the back and fetched him some clothes. The old Taoist robe had belonged to a fire-handling Taoist, and although it wasn’t new, it was a thick cotton robe without any holes. Yu Zhen forced him to take the clothes and change in a room at the corner, then she brought out a lunch box.
Though Yu Zhen’s appearance was intimidating, deep down she was still a kind-hearted nun and woman by nature. After scolding the young Lord Guo for so long and seeing how frightened he was, she couldn’t help but feel a little pity. Thus, under the pretense of Bi Zhen’s authority, she had gone to fetch him clothes and also brought some food. However, seeing his timid demeanor again, she couldn’t help but get angry. Therefore, she threw the lunch box at him and said, “Go eat it in the corner. As if you’re still a young master, expecting me to bring you food!”
Though the food was somewhat cold, it still had rice and dishes. At first, the young Lord Guo was a bit hesitant, but after hearing Yu Zhen scold him a few times and feeling extremely hungry, he finally couldn’t hold back anymore. He grabbed the box, squatted in the corner, took out a bowl, and started stuffing the food into his mouth desperately.
“What do you mean by a ‘ghost idea’?” Mei Qing was somewhat dissatisfied with Bi Zhen’s belittlement of her own plan. “Isn’t this me trying to share the burden for you? According to you, this young master Guo can only find a place where the work isn’t tiring and someone is in charge, right?”
Bi Zhen nodded, “Exactly. Can you find such a place?”
Mei Qing chuckled, “What’s so difficult about that? As the saying goes, what you seek is far in the horizon, yet it’s right before your eyes. Can’t you think of a place in the Dongyue Temple that seems tailor-made for him? Look where I’m pointing…”
Bi Zhen followed Mei Qing’s finger and gasped, “You mean… the Scripture Repository?”
“Exactly!” Mei Qing nodded. “That place is as leisurely as it gets. It’s likely that not even a single studious monk would go there to find a book in ten or eight years. The nun Yuzhen, who oversees the repository, will surely keep young master Guo in line, ensuring there are no deviations.”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, “How did you come up with that?” Then she frowned, “Although that place is quite leisurely, it’s not quite appropriate to have a man around Yuzhen, a nun.”
“Please spare me,” Mei Qing placed her hand on her forehead, “With Yuzhen’s stunning beauty, she’s more manly than most men. Especially our young master Guo, standing in front of her, it’s hard to say who’s more of a man.”
Bi Zhen laughed so hard she bent over, “You’re really bad, not leaving any room for kindness. Fine, since there’s nowhere else to place him, we’ll go with your plan. Your sister Yuzhen listens to you the most, so you might as well send him to her. Please take the trouble to send him over.”
When Mei Qing, with a reluctant expression, led the bewildered young master Guo up the stairs to the Scripture Repository, she couldn’t help but recall the minor joke she had made when she first arrived here. It had been over half a year since she last visited. She wondered what Yuzhen looked like now.
As she turned the corner and reached the upper floor, Mei Qing immediately saw Yuzhen sitting cross-legged on the floor with a small cushion, engrossed in a book.
Perhaps too engrossed, Yuzhen didn’t notice anyone coming upstairs until Mei Qing coughed twice, startling her.
“Looking for a book, can’t you— Ah!” Yuzhen spoke as she looked up, suddenly seeing Mei Qing standing before her, the very person who had once frightened her out of her wits. The book in her hand slipped and fell to the ground with a thud, and she let out a piercing scream.
“Stop screaming!” Mei Qing hissed.
Hearing Mei Qing’s voice, Yuzhen immediately stopped, quickly picking up the fallen book and standing obediently in front of Mei Qing like a kitten.
“It’s like this,” Mei Qing pointed to young master Guo behind her, “Bi Zhen said he’ll be helping you with work here from now on. Feel free to assign him tasks, but make sure he doesn’t wander off. Got it?”
Yuzhen nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
“Good, if he ever disobeys and you can’t handle it, just come to me to deal with him,” Mei Qing said indifferently, then left young master Guo there and went downstairs.
As Mei Qing’s footsteps faded away at the stairwell, Yuzhen’s expression suddenly became lively. She furrowed her brows and glared fiercely at young master Guo, growling, “Kid, what’s your name— I’m talking to you, are you dead? Why aren’t you answering?”
Young master Guo timidly replied, “I… I’m surnamed Guo…”
“Guo, you’re a decent person, why did you provoke that demon and get brought here? If it weren’t for you, I would have been enjoying my book in peace. Now, tell me, what are you going to do about it?” Yuzhen said, tapping the rolled-up book in her other hand.
Seeing the fierce expression of this nun, young master Guo was at a loss and could only stammer, “I… I’ll do as the nun commands.”
“Good, you’re sensible. Listen up, from now on, I’m in charge here. If I tell you to go east, you don’t go west; if I tell you to hit a dog, you don’t chase a chicken. If you dare to disobey, I’ll cut you in half! Now go wash up in the pond in the backyard. Did you crawl out of a dung heap? You stink so bad, it’s nauseating!” Yuzhen’s voice grew louder, almost roaring by the end.
Young master Guo trembled with fear, “Nun, have mercy, it’s freezing cold…”
“Look at you, scared to death! Hurry up and wash, or else my fists won’t recognize you!” Yuzhen scolded.
Young master Guo, driven by Yuzhen’s fierce glare, shivered uncontrollably, stumbled down the stairs, and after much hesitation, washed and scrubbed by the pond. He wiped his face, ensuring no grime remained, then shivered back like a walking corpse.
Upon returning upstairs, he found that Yuzhen had fetched him a set of clothes from the back. The old robe, worn by a laborer monk, though not new, was thick and unbroken. Yuzhen forced him to take the clothes and change in the corner room, then brought out a food box.
Despite her terrifying appearance, Yuzhen, being a nun and a woman, had a soft heart. After scolding young master Guo and seeing him scared like a chick, she felt some pity. Using Bi Zhen’s name, she fetched him clothes and food. Yet, seeing his timid demeanor, she couldn’t help but get angry again. She threw the food box at him, “Take it and eat in the corner. Really, do you think you’re a young master, expecting me to serve you?”
Though the food was cold, it was still a meal. Initially hesitant, young master Guo, driven by hunger and Yuzhen’s scolding, grabbed the box, squatted in the corner, and wolfed down the food.
Soon, the food was gone. Though still hungry, he dared not ask for more. With some food in his belly and warmth returning, young master Guo sat there, staring at the food box, reflecting on how this simple meal was the most satisfying he’d had in days. He thought of his past visits to Dongyue Temple, pursuing Bi Zhen, never imagining he’d end up like this. Looking at his tattered robe and the cold bun he just ate, things he would have once ignored, he realized how much he had changed.
Once adorned in gold and silver, feasting on delicacies, now he found more value in a tattered robe and a half-eaten cold meal. His past life of indulgence and luxury now seemed like a fleeting dream.
Yuzhen, seeing young master Guo’s unhappiness, ignored him and read her book. When she looked up, she found him sitting in the corner, head bowed, motionless. Calling out to him twice with no response, she grew worried, fearing he might have choked to death.
Unable to sit still, Yuzhen quickly got up and approached. Up close, she saw him leaning against the wall, tears streaming down his face, lost in thought. Feeling tricked by this wretched man, she stepped forward, kicked him to the floor, and roared, “Why are you pretending to be dead? You scared me half to death!”
To her surprise, her scolding and kicking didn’t seem to hurt him; instead, he felt a warmth in his heart. Having endured much hardship in prison, Yuzhen’s kick, being a woman, didn’t hurt much. But hearing her say she was scared he might die, he felt she was the only one who cared for him in the world. Thinking of how she fetched him clothes and food, and worried about him, compared to his recent days on the streets ignored by former friends, he felt even more grateful.
Yuzhen, seeing him like a log, not dodging her blows but instead making her hand hurt, grew angrier, scolding and stomping on him twice. But seeing him not in pain but seemingly enjoying it, she got scared, thinking, “Did I hit him too hard, driving him mad?” She quickly withdrew her foot and asked, “Are you okay?”
Young master Guo mumbled, not daring to look at her, just nodding slightly.
Seeing this, Yuzhen felt some pity for the wretched man and softened her voice, “Don’t be afraid. As long as you obey, I won’t hit you.”
Hearing her gentle tone, young master Guo was deeply moved, tears streaming down his face, nodding vigorously.
From then on, young master Guo settled in the Scripture Repository. Every morning, he would fetch water, sweep, and clean until the place was spotless, waiting for Yuzhen to bring him food. He took care of all tasks, and if he made any mistakes, Yuzhen would scold and hit him, which he accepted willingly. Over time, if Yuzhen was lazy and didn’t scold or hit him for a few days, he would feel itchy and uneasy, deliberately making mistakes to provoke her into scolding and hitting him, which made him feel comfortable.
Thus, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit, they found their own joy in life. Over time, when bored, Yuzhen would tell young master Guo stories from the books she read, which attracted him to start reading too. They searched high and low for various genres of books—martial arts, fantasy, history, military—not seeking elegance but for the fun of it. They exchanged and promoted each other’s reading, becoming good reading buddies.
For decades, they lived together in the Scripture Repository, scolding, reading, and spending their remaining years. They passed away in the late years of the Wanli era. Because they had read extensively and widely, seeking only the joy of reading, they were later referred to as “the happiest readers in history,” a remarkable tale.
Even though he used to wear gold and silk and indulge in delicacies, looking back now, none of it seemed as valuable as this tattered robe and half a box of cold rice. Thinking back to his former life of luxury and excess, it now felt like nothing more than a fleeting spring dream.
Since Yu Zhen noticed that the young Lord Guo was not happy, she didn’t look at him and continued reading her book. When she looked up, she found him sitting in the corner with his head bowed, motionless. She called him a couple of times, but he didn’t respond. This made her a little scared, thinking that perhaps this fellow had accidentally choked to death there.
At this thought, Yu Zhen could no longer sit still and quickly got up to check. As she approached, she found that the fellow was actually leaning against the wall with tears streaming down his face, lost in thought. Seeing this, Yu Zhen immediately felt tricked by this annoying guy. Her anger flared up, and she stepped forward, kicking him onto the floor and roaring angrily, “What are you pretending to be dead for! You almost scared me to death!”
To her surprise, despite her scolding and kicking, the young Lord Guo didn’t seem to feel any pain at all. Having endured various hardships in prison, Yu Zhen was, after all, a woman, and her kick wasn’t that hard, so the physical pain was nothing to him. But when he heard her say something like “I was scared to death seeing you like that,” he felt that this rough female Taoist was the only one who truly cared about him in the world. Thinking about how she had found him clothes, brought him food, and was still so concerned about him, compared to the days when he was wandering the streets and none of his former friends even cared to ask about him, he felt even more grateful towards Yu Zhen.
Seeing him like a piece of wood, not dodging even when she hit him, and instead making her hand hurt a bit, Yu Zhen became even more angry. She scolded him verbally and stomped on him a couple more times. But when she saw that he not only didn’t seem to mind, but even had a look of enjoyment on his face, she started to get scared, thinking, “Could it be that I hit him too hard and he’s gone mad?” She quickly stopped and asked, “Are you okay?”
The young Lord Guo grunted twice, too afraid to look at her, just nodding slightly.
Seeing this, Yu Zhen felt that although this guy was annoying, he was also somewhat pitiful, so she softened her tone and said, “Don’t be afraid. As long as you obey me, I won’t hit you.”
Seeing her speak to him gently, the young Lord Guo was deeply moved, tears streaming from his eyes as he nodded vigorously.
From then on, the young Master Guo settled down in the Sutra Pavilion. Every morning, he would fetch water and sweep the floor, keeping everything spotless, waiting for Yu Zhen to bring him meals. He took care of all the chores, and if he made any mistakes, Yu Zhen would scold and hit him, which he accepted gladly. Over time, if Yu Zhen happened to be lazy for a few days and didn’t scold or hit him, he would feel uncomfortable and itchy all over. He would go out of his way to make some mistakes to provoke Yu Zhen into scolding and hitting him again, which would make him feel relaxed and happy.
Thus, one was willing to hit, and the other was willing to be hit, and they both found their own happiness in this arrangement. As time went by, Yu Zhen would read stories and tell tales to young Master Guo when she was bored, all of which she had learned from her books. This sparked young Master Guo’s interest in reading as well. The two of them searched high and low for all kinds of books on martial arts, fantasy, history, military, and more, not caring about elegance, just seeking excitement. They exchanged books every day, learned from each other, and eventually became reading companions.
In the following decades, the two of them lived in the Sutra Pavilion, scolding and hitting each other while reading books, spending the rest of their lives together. They passed away together in the late Wanli period. Because the two of them had read for a long time and covered a wide range of genres, only seeking excitement and not caring about anything else, they fully experienced the true joy of reading. Thus, they were later called “the happiest readers in history,” a truly unique and wondrous bond.
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