Chapter 871: You Are a Fairy

Editor: Henyee Translations

Thinking of his two grandsons’ preferences, Gu Qizhong selected a small wooden sword and a spear.

Seeing Gu Qizhong buying toys, Grandfather Ning became even more excited about the birth of his great-grandson, planning to bring him to buy toys in the future.

Li Qingyu, having picked out items in the grocery store, asked Li He and Mei to keep track of her purchases for later calculation. Then, she prepared to take the goods to Wen Shaoyuan’s house.

At that moment, Li Xiangxiu, who had previously borrowed money from her, approached with several women. These were friends from her childhood, with whom she had lost touch after getting married.

“Qingyu.”

“Qingyu.”

Everyone greeted Li Qingyu warmly.

Li Qingyu set down her items and welcomed them, “Glad to see you all here right before New Year’s Eve. The store offers goods at fair prices, feel free to browse.”

However, the group was not there to shop.

Recalling her husband’s words, Li Xiangxiu’s eyes welled up with tears, and she broke down, “Qingyu, could you please help me again?”

Seeing her cry, Li Qingyu quickly asked, “Is there another problem at home?”

Li Xiangxiu nodded, “Zhao Changliang’s condition has worsened. I spent all the taels you lent me on his treatment. Now, with the New Year upon us, we don’t even have a grain of rice at home. I wouldn’t have come to you if I wasn’t desperate. Please, help me.”

Li Qingyu hesitated. Given the ten taels and the medicine from Xiao Wu, Zhao Changliang’s condition should have improved, not deteriorated.

When Li Xiangxiu first came to borrow money, Li Qingyu had informed Chu Qingzhi, who, knowing how much Li Qingyu valued this friendship, provided a set of medicines.

Li Qingyu immediately had someone deliver the medicine to Li Xiangxiu.

“Xiangxiu, didn’t you give Zhao Changliang the medicine I sent?”

Li Xiangxiu hesitated guiltily before answering, “He did, but there was no improvement.”

In reality, Zhao Changliang had shown signs of improvement the day after taking the medicine and was able to get out of bed after half a month. His daily life was no longer affected, contradicting the claim of his condition worsening.

Li Qingyu grew more suspicious. The effectiveness of Xiao Wu’s medicine was indisputable; it could not have exacerbated the illness.

Li Xiangxiu was lying!

Disappointed, Li Qingyu realized Li Xiangxiu must have lied to borrow more money. Li Qingyu had lent money out of kindness, not expecting repayment, and even found work for Zhao Changliang, yet Li Xiangxiu showed no gratitude.

“Xiangxiu, I’ll ask you one more time, did Zhao Changliang’s condition really worsen?” Li Qingyu’s smile vanished, “People from your village work in the workshop. I can verify your claims immediately!”

Caught in her lie, Li Xiangxiu panicked, “Qingyu, I was truly desperate. Please don’t be mad at me.”

Zhao Changliang, having benefited once, brainwashed Li Xiangxiu daily, seeking to gain without effort, leading to the current situation.

Wishing to avoid further embarrassment, Li Qingyu said, “Leave now, and we can pretend this never happened. And about the money you owe me, when will you return it? Tell Zhao Changliang to find work and repay me as soon as possible.”

Li Xiangxiu was stunned. She came to borrow money but was instead asked to repay her debt. Struggling to accept this reversal, she found Li Qingyu unyielding.

“Qingyu…”

“There’s no room for negotiation!” After speaking, Li Qingyu left with her items.

The women who accompanied Li Xiangxiu exchanged glances. They too had come to borrow money, but hadn’t even had the chance to speak.

Li Xiangxiu’s successful loan from Li Qingyu had spread, prompting others to try their luck. Now, their hopes were dashed, not only failing to borrow money but also leaving with diminished respect.

They looked at Li Xiangxiu with blame; had she not lied, Li Qingyu might have lent them money. Now, they left her behind and walked away together.

Abandoned, Li Xiangxiu could only leave in disgrace. Only those people would still approach the Chu family for loans. Other relatives and friends wouldn’t dare, knowing the Chu family required a written agreement for loans, specifying repayment terms. Fear of repercussions for the workshop employees discouraged most from borrowing.

Listening to the conversation outside, Chu Qingzhi and Chu Qingyue shared a look and smiled, appreciating their mother’s growing wisdom.

…

That night, Tang Jinghong meticulously prepared a table of late-night snacks.

Yes, a table of snacks, including mung bean noodles, sugared tofu, cold sweet dumplings, crystal dumplings, and ten other varieties, each delicately appetizing.

Invited over, Chu Qingzhi smiled at the spread, “Did you prepare all this for me?”

Tang Jinghong pulled out a chair, “Let’s sit and talk.”

After seating herself, Chu Qingzhi, amused, inquired, “Such formality. Do you have good news to share?”

Sitting beside Chu Qingzhi, Tang Jinghong took her hand, his gaze filled with tenderness, concern, wonder, and a hint of disbelief.

After a pause, he spoke softly, “Qingzhi, the book you showed me about Chu Zixi, that’s you, right?”

He had believed the unconventional tale, now seeing it come to life.

Chu Qingzhi met his deep gaze, her smile fading as she contemplated his reaction to the book. Suppressing her thoughts, she confirmed, “Yes, it’s me.”

In that moment, Tang Jinghong’s eyes overflowed with compassion…

The book’s Chu Zixi had faced abandonment, bullying in an orphanage due to her frailty, and later, a master consumed by vengeance, leading her into danger multiple times. After achieving higher cultivation and avenging her master, she found herself alone again. Despite her powers, she barely survived numerous life-threatening encounters and betrayals.

The brutal realities of the cultivation world filled the narrative, leaving Tang Jinghong in awe and fear.

Now, he viewed Chu Qingzhi as an ethereal being, unreachable and sublime, feeling powerless at the distance between them, “I never imagined you’re a fairy.”

Chu Qingzhi softly touched his face, “I haven’t ascended to immortality yet; I can’t be considered a fairy.”

“As long as you return to the heavens,” Tang Jinghong mused, marveling at the existence of celestial beings and his fortune in meeting a fairy. This encounter left him without regrets in life.