Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1246 The Matter Subsides
Li Daniu saw this and laughed heartily. "In your family, only that stupid ox is smart."

Kournikova thought for a moment and then turned back. Whether that was foolish or clever, who knows?

If he doesn't want to go out, he doesn't want to go out. He tidied up the yard, and Grandma was happy. She had seen what happened last night. Her grandson was smart, so she shut up.

Kournikova was busy running around, and after her initial surprise, Ugly Girl was conflicted. If she went to help, she would have to put the mirror down, but she couldn't bear to part with it, and she also wanted to stay by her brother's side.

Grandma came over with a pair of white cloth shoes and handed them to Kova, saying, "Wear these when you go to the city. If there's anything dirty, you'll know, and I'll know too."

Kournikova hugged her grandmother and said, "Don't worry, I still have to take you to see the mountains and the sea."

Grandma smiled; she believed in Kournikova. Ugly Girl smiled because Grandma and her brother were smiling too.

The town government of Baishan Town is located on the eastern hillside.
The town hall gate was large, but it was just a courtyard with three tiled houses in front and two thatched houses on each side, which looked quite shabby.

At this moment, a middle-aged man and a young girl in a blue outfit were waiting in the main hall.

Bai Nanshan arrived late, clasped his hands and bowed, "Brother Nangong, please forgive me, I overslept today and did not know you and Miss Nangong were coming. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly."

“Brother Bai, what are you saying? I just arrived. I’m asking you for a favor. How can I ask you for help if you’re like this?” the middle-aged man said.

Bai Nanshan led the two to sit down and said, "Brother Nangong, you're joking. Your business is my business. Just tell me and I'll take care of it."

“Brother Bai, it’s my daughter. Yesterday she encountered a strange ox that seemed to be sentient. She told me about it when she got back. You know my ancestor was fond of spiritual objects. So today she caused quite a commotion in Baishan Town, and I apologize for any offense caused,” the middle-aged man said.

Bai Nanshan was also curious, so he asked how they met. Miss Nangong didn't hide anything. Well, she didn't talk about the crying and sobbing, but just told him about what happened yesterday.

Bai Nanshan understood perfectly, but said calmly, "Has Liu Yu been caught?"

Brother Nangong replied, "Of the three named Liu Yu, one of them is indeed a cattle farmer with over a thousand cattle. My daughter still can't tell them apart by herself. That's why I've come here for help."

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone arrived at the door, and a guard announced that Liu, the wealthy man from West Mountain, had arrived.

Bai Nanshan asked in confusion, "Which Liu the rich man?"

The guard looked at the middle-aged man, then turned to Bai Nanshan and said, "That's Liu Yu's father."

Bai Nanshan suddenly realized and said to the middle-aged man, "Let's meet together, so we can see how to distinguish them."

The middle-aged man said, "That's fine too. When Liu Yu was arrested, he denied everything, but my daughter says he is the one. I'm in a dilemma."

Bai Nanshan thought to himself, "How face-blind is your daughter?"

A short while later, Liu the rich man arrived.

Liu, the wealthy man, was dressed simply and did not look like a wealthy man at all. After seeing Bai Nanshan, he said, "Greetings, Mayor. I am sorry to have troubled you with my family's affairs. I will not say much more. I have already given my cattle to the Nangong family in Nanzhou. I only ask that you spare my son."

Bai Nanshan looked at Brother Nangong and said, "What do you think of this matter?"

Brother Nangong hesitated for a moment, and before he could reply, Miss Nangong jumped over, "No, he framed me for poisoning, he's despicable, he's shameless."

Liu, the wealthy man, bowed slightly to Miss Nangong and said, "Yesterday, my son did not leave the house all day. He suffers from hemorrhoids and cannot get out of bed or go out. I hope Miss will investigate this matter."

Brother Nangong was stunned, Bai Nanshan was trying hard to suppress his laughter, and Miss Nangong was confused. Suddenly she asked, "Father, what are hemorrhoids?"

Bai Nanshan said, "Brother Nangong, you should check it yourself. If it is as Liu the rich man said, you can take the ox with you."

Brother Nangong agreed, knowing that Mayor Bai was offering him a way out, and he had no choice but to accept.

Nangong left with his daughter. Bai Nanshan looked at Liu the rich man and said, "Alright, he's a man of character. Make a quick decision and go find your son. Someone, come here."

A guard came and took Liu the rich man away.

In the main hall, Bai Nanshan laughed heartily, so much so that he sat down on a stool.

Baishan Town, on the western mountain.

Kournikova was gathering firewood with Ugly Girl when Mercedes pulled up in a car.

Kournikova was genuinely gathering firewood, while Ugly Girl was looking for ants.

The firewood from the Western Hills is the best, Kournikova said, because it doesn't need to be chopped with an axe; the silver-twig trees on the Western Hills shed their branches on their own every winter.

Whether it burns well or not is another matter, but it's definitely easy to pick up.

The ugly girl found an ant hole, but she couldn't see it clearly. So, this clever girl took out a mirror and held it up to the sun in the sky, using the reflection to shine on the ant hole.

With a loud "boom," Kournikova was startled and rushed to where the ugly girl was. When she arrived, she was stunned. A little black girl was squatting next to a huge pit, her hair standing on end, with wisps of white smoke rising from it.

A pair of bright, big eyes blinked and when they saw Kournikova, they burst into tears and threw themselves into Kournikova's arms.

Kournikova wanted to laugh, but didn't dare, and kept reassuring the girl, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's all alright."

Kournikova asked what was going on.

Ugly Girl sobbed as she said, "I just wanted to see the ant hole, so I looked in the mirror, and that's how it is."

Kournikova realized that the mirror was the culprit, and after a short while, she finally managed to calm her down.

Kournikova said, "Look in the mirror again."

Ugly Girl didn't understand what was going on. She took out a mirror, looked at herself, then threw it away and asked, "Who is that little black person in the mirror?"

Kournikova slapped her forehead and said, "Who else could it be but yourself? Come on, let's go wash up by the river."

Ugly Girl started crying again, crying for her lost beauty.

Kournikova said, "The face is still there, but I'm surrounded."

Kournikova ignored it this time, and the two rode in an oxcart to a stream. When Ugly Girl saw herself in the river, she burst out laughing.

Kournikova was amused and quickly washed the ugly girl clean. The two of them then frolicked by the stream.

Afternoon
Two people and an oxcart were heading out.

Ugly Girl was being restless in the car and took the mirror out again.

Pointing the camera towards the sun, the reflected light shone on an ancient tree, and with a "boom," the ancient tree disappeared.

The two looked at each other, and after a moment, Ugly Girl became extremely excited, as if she had found a fun toy.

Kournikova solemnly told Ugly Girl, "This has to be kept a secret. If people find out, they'll all come and steal your mirror."

The ugly girl was terrified, kicked the mirror into her arms, and never took it out again.

The car arrived at Xishitiao, turned into the alley, and went to Aunt Ba's house. They unloaded several bundles of firewood to block Aunt Ba's door and knocked on the door from the outside.

"Grandma, hurry up and get your son and grandson to bring firewood. I've put it at the door," Kournikova shouted.

Then he drove the oxcart home, and not long after he got home, he vaguely heard cursing from next door.

The mornings in Baishan Town are solemn and serene.

Kournikova went to school today because there was no rice at home.

As soon as we arrived at the entrance to the town market, we saw Blind Zhang.

Blind Zhang was still trying to fool the chubby boy at the steamed bun shop. The chubby boy had been fooled so many times, yet he still kept sticking close to Blind Zhang.

Kournikova didn't go over, but he knew that Blind Zhang had glanced at him.

Kournikova had almost reached the east side of town when she stopped and turned back.

He walked over to Blind Zhang, squatted down, looked at the divination stick container on the ground, picked it up, shook it, and drew out a stick.

He handed it to Blind Zhang, who said, "No need to touch it, I already know you are in trouble."

"You should still touch it, just to be safe," Kournikova said, without lowering her hand.

Blind Zhang took the slip, touched it, and looked at Kournikova with a puzzled expression.

Kournikova laughed, turned and walked away, saying as she left, "I knew something would happen to the sword case."

Blind Zhang watched Kournikova's retreating figure and muttered, "Where would you find such a lucky draw in the divination tube?"

Baishan Town School

Kournikova still went to the school and did odd jobs all day, working diligently and conscientiously.

The professors felt too embarrassed to give him orders, so they eventually had him help in the kitchen.

(End of this chapter)