Chapter 266 - I Found the Missus’s Phone in the Stairwell (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Guan Liya drew a fortune lot for Qi Chenglin’s love life. The lot turned out to be of good fortune. Guan Liya exchanged the lot for a fortune slip so that she could interpret the lot herself instead of visiting the monk.
The fortune said, ‘Love is near you. Take the chance and all will be well’.
Song Yu looked at her belly. She did not wish her child to grow up ambitious and successful, but being born in the Qi family, the opposite was hard to imagine. She just wanted her child to grow up healthy and happy.
Song Yu shook the fortune lots holder and a lot fell out. She drew a below-average fortune lot.
Her hands trembled and her heart sank. While she had a certain degree of respect for the Goddess of Mercy, she was not particularly pious or superstitious. However, this did not mean that she was above getting upset over a bad draw of luck.
“What’s wrong? What fortune did you get?” Grandmother Qi asked curiously.
Guan Liya was in a happy mood since she managed to get a good fortune lot for Qi Chenglin. She figured that Song Yu would undoubtedly get a good fortune too.
Qi Chengzhi noted the pallor on Song Yu’s face and took the fortune lot from her hand. His eyebrow quirked after seeing the fortune.
He threw the fortune lot away without a second glance and helped Song Yu up. “This is just random luck. These fortunes are just to trick people—if they were actually accurate, people would just live their lives according to this.”
Song Yu remained silent, evidently still affected.
“Pei! Pei! Pei! Don’t run your mouth in front of Buddha.” Grandmother Qi was worried that Qi Chengzhi’s disrespect would upset the deity.
Grandmother Qi had always been a pious woman who led a kind and honest living preached in Buddhism.
She retrieved the fortune lot that Qi Chengzhi discarded. Once she saw the below-average fortune, her heart sank. She looked at Song Yu worriedly.
The look from Grandmother Qi made Song Yu even paler.
“Song Yu, what did you wish for?” Grandmother Qi asked.
Song Yu’s lips trembled and the words came out weakly. “I wished for Chengzhi and the baby to be safe and healthy.”
Grandmother Qi was shocked. She quickly exchanged the lot for a fortune slip. The omen was too profound for Grandmother Qi to grasp so she pulled Song Yu away to find the monk for an explanation.
After a brief perusal, the monk asked, “What did you wish for?”
“I wished for the health and safety of my husband and the baby in me,” Song Yu answered and gulped nervously.
The monk was inexplicably calm as he looked at the fortune. “Based on this, there will be some emerging complications. Since the child is still in you, the two of you are linked. This complication may befall your husband or you.”
“This… Master, will this be dangerous?” Grandmother Qi questioned in an agitated tone.
“This, I cannot say. You may cross this and come out on the safe side or–” The monk shook his head and kept silent.
“What… What should we do?” Grandmother Qi’s face was pale with fear.
Today was supposed to be a happy day for the family to pay their respects and return the gratitude. It was only a wish for their family’s health, nothing greedy, yet they ended up with a bad omen.
“How about this, head down and ask for two Buddha talismans. My master will bless the talismans for this lady and her husband to wear. While they cannot guarantee a safe passage, they can stave off some ill omens.” The monk clasped his hands in prayer.
“We finally get to the point. You guys must be earning a lot from all these merchandise.” Qi Chengzhi appeared behind Song Yu with a sardonic smile on his face.
“Chengzhi! Watch your tongue!” Grandmother Qi warned. She did not want the Buddha to be offended by his disrespectful remarks. After entering the temple, one should be humble. She did not know what went wrong with the Qi family boys. From the eldest to Qi Chengji, none of them paid heed to the religious traditions.
Being an unbeliever was one thing, but badmouthing the religion while being inside the temple was unacceptable. Grandmother Qi was also worried that Qi Youxuan would be negatively influenced.
“You’ve become too entrenched in the business,” Grandmother said in an annoyed tone and quickly apologized to the monk. “Master, I’m sorry. My grandson does not know much.”
The monk clasped his hand and without a temper, said, “Amitabha, those who believe will gain while those who do not, won’t. Perhaps, my words were misunderstood.”
Grandmother Qi returned the gesture. Then, with one hand holding Song Yu and the other holding Qi Chengzhi, she dragged them out. “Let’s go get the talismans.”
Qi Chengzhi was a non-believer and hence, was not happy with the suggestion.
Song Yu tugged on Qi Chengzhi’s arm. “I drew a below-average fortune. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, we should get the talismans just to be on the safe side. Else, it’ll keep nagging me and make me upset.”
Qi Chengzhi could that Song Yu’s face was a bit pale. The worried expression melted his defiance and he nodded in agreement.
Grandmother Qi found the situation amusing. Qi Chengzhi never had Buddha in his heart and usually would not even enter the temple and yet, here he was with Song Yu. Qi Chengzhi truly doted on his wife and did not want to upset her. Was this the advantages of a marriage between an older man and a younger woman?
Grandmother Qi pulled the couple to get the Buddha talismans and visit the master for his blessings. She made them wear the talismans immediately. “Best if nothing happens. But if something does, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Qi Chengzhi picked at the talisman with an irritated look on his face.
“Wear it, at least until the child is born,” Song Yu said as she took the talisman from his hand and put it around his neck. She tucked the necklace underneath his collar and straightened his shirt. The talisman was secured against his chest. “Maybe it’s because of that fortune lot but I’ve been feeling odd these days. At least this talisman will soothe my mind.”
Song Yu put on her talisman and tucked it inside her shirt. She patted the talisman and breathed out. “As Grandma said, best if nothing happens.”
Qi Chengzhi was a non-believer and did not care about the implications of the fortune lot. He took Song Yu’s hand and said, “Let’s avoid coming next time so you won’t be so down.”
Grandmother Qi felt a bit of regret for bringing Song Yu. She should have just brought Xia Wenna and Guan Liya.
“It’s alright, this is just a precaution. There’s nothing bad about being careful,” Song Yu replied. Perhaps it was a placebo effect, but she felt better with the talisman around her neck.
Grandfather Qi and the others were waiting outside. When they walked out, Xia Wenna quickly came over and asked, “How did it go?”
“We got the talismans,” Grandmother Qi spoke. “Song child, be careful when you’re out okay?”
Song Yu nodded. It might just be her paranoia.
Due to this incident, Grandmother Qi was no longer in high spirits. She prayed reverently. “Buddha ah, Buddha, if my eldest grandson, his wife, and their child, Qi Youjin, can have a healthy and peaceful life, I will give alms thrice a day. Please guard their safety and health.”
Grandmother Qi lit the incense stick and prayed to Buddha’s altar. Then, she joined the rest of the family and went back to the manor.
…
…
That night, Song Yu did not remove the talisman even when she was showering. When she got out of the bathroom, she saw Qi Chengzhi toying with his talisman.
“Why did you take it off again?” Song Yu sat on the bed and snatched the talisman from his hand. She placed it around his neck and said, “Keep it on you and don’t take it off. Grandma said that things that have been blessed shouldn’t be exposed. I know you don’t believe in this sort of stuff but it’s better to believe. Just take it as giving me peace of mind.”
Qi Chengzhi did not retaliate. With the talisman resting on his chest, he pulled Song Yu into his embrace and studied her face. There was a soft blush on her face from the hot water in the showers but the paleness was still present.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen that made you this worried?” Qi Chengzhi laid his palm on her cheek and caressed it gently. The color gradually returned to Song Yu’s face and she looked more stable than before.
She could feel the warmth spreading across her face as she shook her head in response to his question. “It may be the pregnancy making me a bit paranoid. Let me search online if pregnancy makes someone more sensitive.”
The corners of Qi Chengzhi’s lips twitched and he placed a kiss on her forehead.
…