Many people gave tips.

Chen Changsheng saw this and also took out some silver to tip.

The strong man clasped his hands to thank everyone.

When he came near Chen Changsheng, Chen Changsheng said: “Brother, with such skills, why are you performing at the temple fair?”

The strong man said: “I just have this ability, with nowhere to use it.”

Chen Changsheng said: “Martial artists are rare, especially one like you. Such martial prowess has countless uses; it seems wasted here.”

Hearing this, the strong man paused, then laughed: “There are two moons in the sky; I don’t want to look anymore.”

Ping An heard this and guessed right away.

“Bored?” Ping An said.

Chen Changsheng quickly pulled him behind.

Chen Changsheng smiled: “The child is young and doesn’t understand these things. Please don’t mind.”

The strong man didn’t fuss about it, waved his hand: “It’s fine.”

Then they didn’t talk much more, and the strong man went on.

Chen Changsheng also took Ruyi and Ping An away.

After leaving the crowd, Ping An asked: “Uncle Chen, did I say the wrong thing?”

“Sort of,” Chen Changsheng said: “When that man said it that way, he didn’t want others to figure it out. Next time, just know it in your head, don’t say it out loud.”

Ping An asked: “Why didn’t he want others to know?”

Chen Changsheng said: “Because what he did before might not be honest.”

Ping An blinked, still not really getting it.

What was not honest?

But by comparison, Ruyi was quicker.

She knocked Ping An on the head and asked: “Understand now?”

Ping An rubbed his head and said: “No.”

Ruyi knocked again.

“Now?”

“…”

Ping An sighed and answered: “Understood.”

He was really scared of her.

Chen Changsheng smiled, then took them both and walked off.

About half an hour later, they saw many new and strange things.

Chen Changsheng looked left and right, but didn’t find anything useful. They didn’t lack anything, and in the end didn’t spend most of the money.

As they walked, they reached the place where they played the lantern riddle game before.

“I wonder if anyone guessed it right,” Ping An muttered.

“Let’s go ask.”

Chen Changsheng took them forward to ask the owner.

“Did anyone get it right?”

The owner nodded and said: “A young lady got it. That lady got three wrong first, then solved this one.”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng smiled awkwardly and said sheepishly: “Maybe the riddle I made was too easy. The nine coppers, I…”

“Ah, don’t say that.”

The owner waved his hand: “Young master’s riddle was very good, harder than the others here. That lady probably just got lucky.”

“What was the answer?” Ping An asked curiously.

The owner smiled: “Young Master didn’t guess?”

“No, Uncle Chen didn’t say.”

Chen Changsheng said: “The poem meant the nine-leaf lotus, also called the evergreen plant, forming the saying for eternal life. Though simple, it was a bit hard to guess.”

“Oh, I see!” Ping An suddenly understood.

The owner said: “That lady also left a riddle. Young Master, want to try another?”

Ping An said: “Let me look first.”

The owner pointed to a lantern.

Ping An looked up and saw the writing on it.

[“A one-stem plant stands up three or four inches tall,

Pick flowers in February, roots in March,

Controls three yellows.”

Guess one saying.]

“This… I don’t get it…”

Ping An couldn’t solve it. Ruyi glanced at it and didn’t understand either.

The owner looked at Chen Changsheng and asked: “Young brother, can you guess it?”

Chen Changsheng said: “I have an idea, but this riddle should stay for you to earn money.”

The owner clasped his hands: “Thank you for being easy.”

Chen Changsheng gave a polite nod, then took the two little ones away.

Ruyi and Ping An whispered again.

“Elder Sister, did Uncle Chen really guess it?”

“He definitely didn’t! Uncle Chen is a great liar!”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Then ask Uncle Chen.”

“No, you go.”

“You go.”

“I…”

“Go or not?”

Ruyi clenched her fist, looking fierce.

Ping An pursed his lips, then went to Chen Changsheng and asked for the answer.

“The answer…”

Chen Changsheng mumbled: “Is fated yet not destined.”

“Why this saying?” Ruyi asked.

Chen Changsheng explained: “The riddle spoke of yellow flower seedling, and its deep meaning is fated yet not destined.”

“What is yellow flower seedling?” Ruyi asked curiously.

Chen Changsheng paused and said: “In Abyss River, it’s also called mother-in-law nail.” 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

In the previous life, its scientific name was dandelion.

“Ruyi knows! Is it that white flower that blows away?”

“It is. Ruyi is smart indeed.”

Ruyi snorted twice and said, “Of course.”

Ping An smacked his lips and asked, “But Uncle Chen, why does Yellow Flower Seedling mean ‘meant to meet but not meant to be’?”

“The Yellow Flower Seedling drifts with the wind, always wandering without a home. It seems nothing can ever keep it permanently. This implies that fate is always fleeting. So yes, ‘meant to meet but not meant to be.’”

“Oh…”

Ping An seemed to understand.

Meanwhile, Ruyi grew ever more curious about what that saying actually meant.

She hadn’t read as many books as Ping An.

As they prepared to leave the Temple Fair, Ruyi suddenly paused, eyes fixed on the Candied Hawthorn skewered on a straw stick nearby.

But after only a moment’s hesitation, she turned her head away.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Ruyi wants some?”

“Huh?” Ruyi shook her head. “Ruyi doesn’t want it.”

“Hmm?” Chen Changsheng found this odd. Ruyi never acted like this.

“Let’s go, Uncle Chen.”

But Chen Changsheng declared, “Your Uncle Chen wants some.”

Ping An blinked. “So Uncle Chen likes candy too…”

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “Does being grown mean no candy?”

Ping An scratched his head and followed.

Chen Changsheng asked again, “Ping An, want some?”

Before Ping An could answer, someone pinched his waist. He turned and saw his Elder Sister.

“Ah, Ping An doesn’t want any,” Ping An announced.

“Alright then…”

Chen Changsheng approached the Candied Hawthorn vendor. At first he planned to buy two sticks, but reconsidered. Ruyi and Ping An were older now and harder to fool.

One stick cost only two pennies — not expensive.

Both Ruyi and Ping An eyed the Candied Hawthorn intently. Clearly, both craved one.

Chen Changsheng bit into it, chewed awhile… then frowned.

“Uncle Chen, what’s wrong?” Ping An asked.

“Well…”

Chen Changsheng grumbled, “Tastes bad. Too sweet. Share the rest with Ruyi.”

“But… isn’t that rude, Uncle Chen?”

“Take it.”

Ping An accepted it and promptly shared with his Elder Sister.

Eight Candied Hawthorns remained — each getting four.

“So sweet.”

“Delicious…”

Ruyi broke into a smile too.

Ping An whispered, “Elder Sister, why pinch me earlier?”

Ruyi murmured, “We mustn’t spend Uncle Chen’s money.”

“But during the Lantern Riddles before—”

“Ping An, don’t say another word.”

“……”

Ping An probably guessed:

His Elder Sister had forgotten earlier.

“Candied Hawthorn tasty?” Chen Changsheng inquired.

Ruyi nodded brightly, “Delicious!”

She had always loved sweets — Candied Hawthorn, Preserved Fruit, anything sugary.

She figured her luck wouldn’t be sour later, either.