As time slowly passed, the Yin Yang Qi within Zhang Chen’s body automatically absorbed the external spiritual mechanism, strengthening and healing Zhang Chen’s physique, cleansing his body.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Zhang Chen was already able to move slowly, and his injuries, under the refining of the Yin Yang Qi, had mostly healed; as long as he avoided intense movements.
The little girl sat in the corner, carefully counting her copper plates. After three days, she had three fewer copper plates.
"Zhang Chen, to repay you for going to Qingcheng Mountain with me, today I’m taking you to a banquet!" The little girl, after counting her copper plates, carefully placed them in a jar, then sneakily buried it, and shouted to Zhang Chen.
"You’re taking me to a banquet? Those copper plates of yours are just enough for pancakes, what kind of banquet are we having? Are you planning to treat me to two pancakes today?" Zhang Chen joked.
"Look down on me, huh? Today, outside the city, Wealth Master Jiang is hosting a birthday feast. I’m taking you to sneak some food." Xu Erniu said with a smile, drooling as she spoke.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen was startled: "Just the two of us beggars going to sneak food? Aren’t you afraid of being kicked out?"
Zhang Chen thought that the two of them sneaking food would most likely end up being chased away.
"What do you know, Wealth Master Jiang is a very nice person, he won’t mind." Xu Erniu said to Zhang Chen: "Come, follow me to the mountain to pick some flowers."
Then Xu Erniu dragged Zhang Chen, heading towards the mountain.
Zhang Chen’s body was about that of a seven or eight-year-old child, looking about the same size as the skinny Xu Erniu.
It was midsummer, and outside the temple gate was the Great Qing Mountain, with babbling streams and various blooming flowers by the creek.
Xu Erniu dragged Zhang Chen to the creek, stepped in directly to start washing and bathing.
The creek water reached her waist. After a few splashes, she noticed Zhang Chen still standing on the bank and shouted, "What are you doing standing there? Come down quickly, we’re going to a feast. How can we not wash up first?"
"You’re quite particular." Zhang Chen followed and stepped into the water.
Having grasped the Water Control Technique before, he was very familiar with water, so he wasn’t afraid of drowning.
"Little brother, sister will teach you a trick today. Sneaking food also requires technique. Since we’re going to sneak food, taking advantage of the host, we shouldn’t cause trouble. If we’re clean and don’t smell, we won’t disgust the host’s guests, right?" Xu Erniu said.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen looked at Xu Erniu in amazement, not expecting this girl to be so articulate.
The two soaked in the water for a while, allowing the dirt on their bodies to soften and then began scrubbing.
But without modern detergents, scrubbing off the hardened grime on their bodies wasn’t easy. Their skin turned red with scrubbing, yet only a part was cleaned; the remaining grime was stuck on their skin and hard to remove.
Looking at the old grime on his body, Zhang Chen knew that scrubbing like this wouldn’t work. So he turned his attention to his Yin Yang Qi, though he wondered if he could use it to remove the grime. Unfortunately, he was disappointed; the Yin Yang Qi didn’t have that effect.
With no other solution, they continued soaking in the creek until their entire outer skin had softened enough to scrub away the clumped dirt.
They climbed out of the water and began scrubbing their dirty clothes. Without detergent, scrubbing them clean was difficult.
After scrubbing for a while without success, Zhang Chen’s eyes scanned the mountainside and found an herb commonly used by the Material Realm folks for washing. He gathered a bunch and started washing his clothes.
This worked well, as large swathes of black water seeped out of his clothes. Seeing this, Xu Erniu was overjoyed and gathered a bunch herself. After washing their clothes clean by the creek, Xu Erniu jumped back into the water and used the herb to scrub her body and hair.
Zhang Chen did the same, and after another wash, they were finally clean.
They climbed onto the bank, baring themselves to each other, waiting for their clothes to dry.
Xu Erniu was only five or six years old and had no concern for gender differences; after washing up, they finally looked a bit human.
Zhang Chen looked at Xu Erniu, seeing her emaciated frame and her face devoid of chubbiness, like a big skeleton, looking both funny and pitiable.
But Zhang Chen didn’t laugh, as he couldn’t—since he was the same.
Xu Erniu tied her hair at the back with a grass rope, then instructed Zhang Chen to pick wildflowers while she began weaving a flower basket. In just an hour, the basket was ready, and Zhang Chen had gathered a big bunch of flowers, their clothes were dry, and Xu Erniu exclaimed with anticipation: "Mission accomplished."
Then she dragged Zhang Chen towards the foot of the mountain, arriving at the outskirts of Yangzhou City at a manor. At this time, the manor was bustling with people and carriage traffic, looking very lively.
"This Wealth Master Jiang is quite something." Zhang Chen observed the manor’s bustling entrance where the noble-clad people gathered, and then looked at the flower basket holding Xu Erniu. Despite her freshly washed clothes, they seemed ragged and out of place with the grandeur before them.
"Won’t we get beaten up if we go?" Zhang Chen voiced his concerns to Xu Erniu.
"With me around, what are you afraid of? I’ll protect you." Xu Erniu patted her chest, dragged Zhang Chen, and walked towards the manor. From afar, they saw people coming and going at the door, along with a group of beggars clustered outside, receiving distributed pastries.
Xu Erniu dragged Zhang Chen, avoiding the beggar crowd, and joined the line of people waiting to give gifts. Though others gave them strange looks, no face-slapping incidents occurred, unlike in novels.
In reality, such exaggerated scenes only happen in novels. Everyone was there to give gifts; no one would take it upon themselves to shoo them away for the host.
At this time, a steward continuously recorded the gifts, announcing their arrival, while Wealth Master Jiang stood at the door, welcoming guests.
Zhang Chen carefully observed Wealth Master Jiang, a man of about fifty, with a kind appearance and a somewhat plump body, chatting amiably with the guests.
When it was Xu Erniu’s turn, she placed the flower basket on the table and loudly proclaimed, "Xu Erniu wishes Master Jiang good health and a long life."
The steward recording the gifts looked at the vibrant basket of flowers, his expression confused. He glanced at the raggedly dressed Zhang Chen and Xu Erniu, then turned to his master.
Upon hearing the commotion, Master Jiang came over, looked at the basket of flowers, and then at Xu Erniu: "So it’s you, little girl."
Turning to a servant, he said, "Hang the flower basket in my bedroom."
He then instructed the steward: "Take these two children to the kitchen and treat them according to the third-class standard."
The steward quickly bowed and then said to Xu Erniu and Zhang Chen: "Please, come inside."
Xu Erniu thanked Master Jiang with a raised hand, then led Zhang Chen to the backyard.
Upon arriving at the backyard, the steward instructed the staff to serve six dishes and a soup, all rich and plentiful with fish and meat, then retreated.
"You know Master Jiang?" Zhang Chen asked.
Xu Erniu grabbed a roast chicken leg and started gnawing on it: "I’ve been surviving in Yangzhou City for three years. I know which households will give food and who are kind. This Master Jiang is indeed a great benefactor!"
Zhang Chen went for the pork hock, and the only sounds left in the room were of their ravenous eating.
After the two finished a satisfying meal, their stomachs were bulging, and they couldn’t move from their chairs.
At this point, the steward came in with a smile, took out some parchment, and said: "The master has instructed that if the two guests couldn’t finish their meal, they may take it with them."
As he spoke, he began packing their leftovers.
Inwardly, Zhang Chen praised: "This Master Jiang truly is a kind soul, and Xu Erniu is quite the character too."