Chapter 147: Ideal Dream

Looking at his old friend’s weathered face, the traveling merchant couldn’t help but feel a pang in his chest. He sniffed and forced a smile. “If you’re afraid of waking up, then don’t. At least there’s a wish to hold onto for a lifetime.”

“Goodbye.”

With those two words, the merchant turned and walked away briskly, not looking back.

Han Yong stood still, lost in thought for a long while.

“A wish to hold onto, huh? …But do I just let the answer right before my eyes slip away?”

“Even someone like Hero Jiang doesn’t want to wake up. How can I make a choice…”

…

As the sky began to brighten, the streets and alleys of the city filled with vendors carrying baskets and poles.

Once the vendors found a good spot, they quickly set up shop, shouting and advertising their goods. At a pork stall, the vendor welcomed his first customers of the day.

A young couple approached. The man was tall and strong, a typical tough guy.

The woman was also of considerable height, reaching about his neck, and her features had a graceful yet somewhat spirited charm.

“Husband, do you think we should get lean meat or fatty meat?”

“Fatty meat is good for cooking stir-fried pork, and lean meat can be used for braised pork.”

The woman picked up two pieces of meat and smiled, asking the man beside her.

“Only kids make choices. Why don’t we take both?”

She gave him a playful glare. “Don’t waste food.”

“What’s there to waste? We’ve got more than just the two of us at home now. Two pieces of meat aren’t much.”

“You make a good point.” The woman nodded, handing the two pieces of meat to the vendor. “Please weigh them for us.”

“Sure thing!” The vendor quickly took up the scales, hanging the meat and pushing the weight. He smiled, “It’s a total of five catty and three taels¹. Thirty copper coins per jin, so that’s a total of one hundred and fifty copper coins… I’ll throw in the three taels as a gift for your little one.”

As she paid, the woman smiled and said, “Thank you. When the baby’s born, we’ll be sure to invite you to the full moon feast.”

The vendor laughed as he handed the meat to the sturdy man and took the copper coins. “I’ll hold you to that!”

The strong man laughed and replied, “It’s a promise.”

“Alright, you two take care!”

After leaving the meat stall, the woman gently stroked her belly and said, “Wanzhou, when the baby’s born, do you think it’ll look more like you or more like me?”

The strong man responded with a smile, “It’ll probably look more like you. After all, my wife is beautiful, so the baby will be beautiful too.”

“You charmer…” The woman teased him, then suddenly pointed to the side of the street. “Look, there’s a fortune-teller’s stall. Let’s go see.”

The strong man let out an “Eh” but was too late to stop her. His wife had already sat down at the stall, so he could only follow.

At the fortune-teller’s stall, a man in a green robe leaned back against his chair, casually observing the young couple. Gu Ning’an smiled and said, “What would you two like to ask about?”

The woman smiled and said, “Sir, you don’t seem like a Daoist, more like a scholar… I wonder if your fortune-telling is accurate?”

“Honey, you’re making him shy…” The strong man bowed toward Gu Ning’an and said, “Sir, please forgive my wife; she speaks without thinking.”

“It’s no trouble, no trouble…” Smiling and waving his hand, Gu Ning’an picked up a brush and began writing.

“Jiang Wanzhou, Qiu Lianyi… With names like these, you are truly well-matched,” Gu Ning’an said as he finished writing.

Qiu Lianyi immediately showed a hint of surprise. “You really are skilled, Sir!”

Beside her, Jiang Wanzhou’s expression darkened. He looked at the writing and a shadow seemed to cloud his brow.

“Sir, could you help us predict whether the child in my womb will be a boy or a girl?” Qiu Lianyi asked with a smile.

Gu Ning’an responded with a question of his own. “Do you prefer a boy or a girl?”

“We’ll love either,” they both answered in unison.

Gu Ning’an smiled. “Then it will be twins, a boy and a girl.”

“Huh?” Qiu Lianyi frowned. “Sir, you didn’t even perform any calculations. How can you be so sure it’s twins?”

“You can’t just say such nice things to fool us!”

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “It’s what the heart desires, and what the dream shows. You bought both lean and fatty meat… you both like boys and girls. Perhaps, when the time comes, it really will be twins.”

“Eh?” Qiu Lianyi laughed. “Did you just see us buy meat?”

Gu Ning’an nodded. “I saw. But it’s also the way your hearts think. Perhaps it will be twins.”

Qiu Lianyi chuckled, handing over ten copper coins. “Thank you, Sir. If we really do have twins, we’ll come back and give you an extra silver tael!”

“That’s very kind of you,” Gu Ning’an waved as he said, “Take care, and I hope to see you again next year.”

As the couple walked off, Jiang Wanzhou and Qiu Lianyi linked arms and disappeared at the end of the street.

Watching them go, Gu Ning’an murmured, “An ideal dream, and it’s only natural they would not wish to wake.”

…

“Sir! You’re truly amazing!”

“I really am carrying twins!”

Qiu Lianyi and Jiang Wanzhou stood before Gu Ning’an, each holding a swaddled baby and smiling.

Gu Ning’an bowed slightly. “Congratulations to both of you.”

With a clink, Qiu Lianyi placed a silver ingot on the table. “Sir Gu, this is the silver I promised you.”

Gu Ning’an took the silver ingot and tucked it into his sleeve. He nodded. “Thank you. Would you like me to do another reading for you today? I can offer you a free one.”

“Not today, but I do have a question for you, Sir…” Qiu Lianyi said. “My daughter will study literature, and my son will study martial arts.”

“For literature, a teacher will suffice. But for martial arts, there are many styles. Do you have any recommendations?”

As she spoke, Jiang Wanzhou looked nervously at Gu Ning’an.

Gu Ning’an glanced at the couple and calmly said, “Perhaps you’d like them to learn the blade?”

Shua!

Jiang Wanzhou’s face turned pale, and he immediately shouted, “No, they can’t learn the blade!”

“Wanzhou, what’s wrong with you?”

“If you don’t want them to learn the blade, just say so. Why shout at Sir?”

Qiu Lianyi was confused, not understanding why her husband reacted so strongly to the idea of learning swordsmanship.

Waaah~ Waaah~ Waaah!

It seemed like a chain reaction—the baby Jiang Wanzhou was holding started crying, which immediately woke the other child, who also began crying.

Jiang Wanzhou, flustered, rocked the child in his arms while muttering, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, Daddy’s here.”

“I’m so sorry, Sir,” Jiang Wanzhou threw a guilty glance at Gu Ning’an, and Qiu Lianyi quickly took the child from his arms. “Look at you, so reckless. I’ll hold him.”

“Ah, alright, alright!” Jiang Wanzhou chuckled awkwardly, carefully protecting his wife, who was holding the two children. His gaze often flickered toward Gu Ning’an.