LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 3: Free Meal
"Yes, yes." Zhouzhou opened the bundle and took out a Peace Talisman. "Take this, sister. It can protect you from danger once."
"Thank you!" The girl took it and handed her two hundred yuan while smiling at her. "Thank you, little master."
After saying that, she left.
Mingtong stared at the two red banknotes in her palm, his eyes widened, and he gnashed his teeth. "Ah, so you came here to snatch business!"
Zhouzhou, curious, looked at the things in her hand and didn't understand why the girl gave her two pieces of paper. Upon hearing Mingtong's words, she turned her head to look at him. She saw him glaring at her as if she had done something wrong.
She shrank her neck and immediately put on a soft smile on her face, trying to please him. "Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong."
"Don't try to flatter me. I'm not your senior martial uncle." Mingtong waved his hand impatiently and then remembered something, becoming cautious. "How do you know my name is Mingtong?"
Did she come prepared?
Zhouzhou leaned closer, resting her face on her hands in front of him. "It's me, Zhouzhou. Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong, don't you recognize me?"
"Zhouzhou?" Mingtong pondered for a moment, and his gaze fell on her smooth forehead, suddenly realizing. "You're the little disciple that Li Yuanming brought back from the temple?"
"Yes, it's me!" Seeing that he remembered, Zhouzhou smiled at him. Her round and chubby face with arched eyebrows and eyes made her look adorable. Mingtong's anger dissipated.
He didn't expect it to be her.
Mingtong glanced at her, considering their same Mystery Sect status, and didn't dwell on her earlier attempt to snatch customers. "Your master told me to take care of you for a while. Don't worry, it's a small matter."
Taking care of a child, all she needed was a meal to fill her up. It couldn't be that difficult. He wondered why Li Yuanming let her go out and experience the world at such a young age.
"Thank you, Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong!" Zhouzhou said cheerfully, looking at him gratefully.
"You're welcome." Saying that, he glanced at the money in her hand.
Zhouzhou understood and immediately handed it to him, obediently saying, "This is my food allowance. Thank you for taking care of me, Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong."
"Alright, alright." Mingtong didn't refuse and took it, looking at her approvingly. She was a well-behaved child despite her young age.
He looked at her and his eyes flickered. "Your master told me that you also learned fortune-telling?"
Zhouzhou nodded. "Master taught me."
Just by observing her earlier performance, he knew she was quite proficient.
Mingtong cleared his throat. "Someone will come for fortune-telling later. You can handle it. You haven't had a chance to practice on the mountain, so it's a good opportunity for you. The things you learn from books can only truly be useful after practical experience."
This little girl looked pretty, and she definitely attracted people. Her skills seemed decent as well, and it would give him a chance to rest. Reading people's minds couldce quite exhausting.
Zhouzhou didn't know what he was thinking. She replied with an "Oh" and imitated his posture, sitting cross-legged. She rested her chin on her hands and watched the passersby. After a while, she asked, "Senior Martial Uncle Mingtong, did you ask me to come because you can't do fortune-telling?"
"Nonsense." Mingtong's face stiffened. "I'm your senior martial uncle. How could I not know fortune-telling?"
Zhouzhou pouted, but he clearly couldn't tell fortunes just now.
Guessing her thoughts, Mingtong cleared his throat and glanced at her. "Do you think it's easy to make a living down the mountain? Everything, from food, clothing, and shelter, requires money. Not to mention, if they don't take it seriously, who would spend money? Making money requires tricks, and you still have a lot to learn."
Her master said the same thing, crying to her every day about how difficult it is for her senior brothers to earn money.
But she still disagreed with him deceiving people.
Well, as long as she accurately tells fortunes and doesn't let the clients suffer losses, it's fine.
Sure enough, with her there, it didn't take long for many people to be attracted to come and have their fortunes told. Initially, they just found her cute and wanted to tickle her, but later they discovered that her predictions were really accurate, and they willingly paid money.
Zhouzhou swiftly waved the turtle shell in her hand, eagerly interpreting the fortunes. Meanwhile, Mingtong happily counted the money, laughing with his teeth showing.
Eight hundred and five, nine hundred, one thousand!
Surprisingly, it amounted to 1,092 yuan! This was the most money he had earned since he set up the stall!
Unable to resist, he counted it again, and it was correct.
Zhouzhou swallowed a mouthful of saliva and turned her head, tugging at Mingtong's sleeve. "Senior martial uncle, I want to drink water."
The little girl had been talking all night and had a dry mouth. She looked pitiful.
After all, she was a lucky child, and Mingtong couldn't be too strict. He immediately said, "Come, I will take you to drink water. Are you hungry?"
"Yes!" Zhouzhou vigorously nodded her head. She hadn't eaten for several hours, and now she could eat a whole cow!
"Come, I will take you to eat noodles. There's a place that serves delicious vegetarian noodles. The noodles are chewy, and the soup is fragrant. It's filling and refreshing, just right." As Mingtong spoke, he packed up the stall and conveniently took her bundle, but he couldn't lift it.
He didn't believe it and tried again, but as soon as he lifted it, it fell to the ground. "Wow, it's so heavy. What did you put in here?"
"Not much." Zhouzhou counted on her fingers. "Just some prepared medicine, turtle shell, compass, Qiankun mirror, small medicine cauldron, peach wood sword, oh, and the bowl Senior Brother Jingkong from next door gave me."
Saying that, she took out a copper bowl from it. "Senior Brother Jingkong said it's for begging. He gave it to me, and I can use it as a bowl for meals. If I’m not able to afford to eat, I can take this and beg. He said as long as I have this, I can definitely get a lot of food!"
Saying that, she happily touched the copper bowl, looking at it as if it were a precious treasure, blinking her eyes at Mingtong.
Mingtong's mouth twitched. Looking at her as if she had been hungry for eight hundred lifetimes, dressed in tattered clothes, and looking adorable with the copper bowl in her hands and watery eyes staring at him, who could bear to refuse her?
Oh no, "Can't this Jingkong guy wish you well? What does it mean to not be able to afford to eat? With me here, how could you go hungry?"
Who does he think he's looking down on!
No, that's not it.
Zhouzhou touched her head, about to say that it's because she has a fate of poverty, her master said she's best suited to be a little beggar.
Before she could speak, she saw Mingtong wave his hand grandly. "Let's go! Senior martial uncle will take you to eat delicious food. Eat as much as you want! Eat until you're full!"
What a joke. Their Sanqing Temple couldn't even afford to raise a child. If they said it out loud, people would burst into laughter.
Tsk.
Hearing his words, Zhouzhou's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Of course," Mingtong affirmed. "Senior martial uncle has plenty of money."
Saying that, he walked forward, and Zhouzhou hurriedly slung the bundle on her shoulder and followed behind him, saying, "Senior martial uncle, you're really nice," making Mingtong's mouth nearly split to his ears.
When they arrived at a noodle shop, he took a menu and ordered several vegetarian stir-fried dishes that he usually wouldn't eat. He asked Zhouzhou what else she wanted to eat, but she shook her head. "Just noodles for me."
"Alright." Mingtong handed the menu to the waiter. "Three bowls of noodles, please."
He ate two bowls, and the little girl ate one bowl. It was just right.
The dishes were served quickly at this restaurant. Before long, the dishes and noodles were brought to the table. Just as Mingtong was about to eat, he suddenly saw an acquaintance and said, "You go ahead and eat. I'll step out for a moment and come back soon. Eat whatever you want, no need to hold back. If you want more, just ask someone to make it for you. I guarantee that I can make sure you're fully satisfied."
Zhouzhou looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes, filled with joy.
It had been a long time since someone told her to eat until she was full!
Senior martial uncle is really kind!
Seeing her admiring gaze, Mingtong walked out in a lofty manner to catch up with his old friend.
Zhouzhou skillfully held the chopsticks and started eating eagerly, making happy sounds as she ate. As soon as she took a bite of the noodles, her eyes squinted with delight.
So fragrant!
She slurped and ate even faster, burying her head in the bowl and finishing all the soup. It was really delicious.
After finishing her meal, she glanced at the extra bowl on the table and without hesitation, started eating from it. That's how it was when she was on the mountain. Her master and senior martial uncles would only allow her to eat two bowls.
But this time was different. Mingtong said she could eat as much as she wanted, until she was full. And even after finishing, she could ask for more!