A Farm Girl: Three Acres of Fertile Land Can Be Exchanged for a Country

Wenxin held the scripture thoughtfully and asked, "Senior brother, you knew Master wanted this scripture, didn't you? Did you specifically go looking for it just to give it to him?"

Shi Xin's movements froze for a moment, then she shook her head and feigned a laugh.

"I've already been expelled from the sect, it's already a miracle I don't hate him, how could I possibly help him find the scriptures? I just picked them up casually."

He refused to admit that he had found this rare scripture specifically for Xuyun, but Wenxin had already made up his mind and did not force him to admit it. He only said, "When we go back and see Master, I will tell him that you found the scripture."

A hint of unease flashed in Shi Xin's eyes, and she quickly put down her cup, saying, "No need, don't say anything."

"Why? Are you still worried that he'll blame you?"

"Of course I'm not worried, I just feel it's unnecessary..." Shi Xin said seemingly casually, but her eyes couldn't help but steal a glance at Wen Xin, and she asked cautiously, "Has he ever blamed me all these years?"

"No."

"Then he..." Shi Xin nervously licked the corner of her mouth, then asked, "Did he mention me?"

Wenxin shook her head: "No."

"...Heh, I knew it would be like this..."

Shi Xin laughed, but her smile was tinged with bitterness; anyone with eyes could see that it was a forced smile.

Wutong didn't know what conflict had occurred between him and Xuyun that led to him being driven down the mountain. She asked Wenxin, but Wenxin also said he didn't know; he was too busy when Shixin left and couldn't remember anything at all.

She observed Shixin and felt that he must have regrets about what happened back then. Because she wanted to repay him for giving her the book, she suggested, "Senior brother, if you're not too busy lately, why don't you come with us to Hanshan Temple?"

Wenxin's eyes lit up as she listened, and she said, "Yes, Master hasn't seen you for so many years, he must miss you terribly."

Shi Xin waved her hand with a wry smile: "Forget it, I'd better not go back and bother him..."

His attitude was firm, and the two of them did not try to persuade him further.

Wenxin flipped through the scriptures, still preoccupied with the unanswered question.

Wutong was just thinking that after they got the scriptures, they should be setting off soon, so why not get together and have a good meal?

But before she could speak, Shi Xin suddenly stood up and said to her, "I have something I'd like to talk to you about alone. Do you have a moment?"

Talk to her alone? What should we talk about?

Wutong nodded blankly.

Shi Xin then said to Wen Xin, "You should go back first."

Wenxin didn't leave. He sat down in the chair, raised his head, and said, "I'll wait for you here."

"……also."

Shi Xin pulled Wu Tong into another room, stood face to face with her, and asked in a low voice, "Could you do me a favor?"

Wutong, completely bewildered, asked, "What is it?"

Shi Xin glanced towards the door and, seeing that no one was passing by, secretly took out something and handed it to Wu Tong, saying, "Give this to Wen Xin, preferably after I leave."

Wutong felt something cool being placed in her palm. She picked it up and held it up to the light. It was a delicate and exquisite jade pendant, with intricate carvings on it. It wasn't priceless, but it was definitely not cheap either.

She couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Is this jade pendant yours? Why didn't you give it to him yourself?"

Shi Xin was a head taller than her. Standing in the shadows, she looked down at her, pursed her lips, and said, "This is his mother's keepsake. When you give it to him, just say so directly, but don't say that I gave it to you."

"His mother?" Wutong swallowed hard in surprise and asked in a low voice, "Who is his mother?"

Shi Xin shook his head, unsure whether he was unwilling to answer or simply didn't know.

"How did you get this jade pendant? Do you know his mother?"

Release your heart in silence.

Wutong didn't expect to get anything out of him, so she changed her approach and asked, "If you don't tell me anything, what if he asks me where the thing came from when I give it to him? How am I supposed to answer? I can't just say I picked it up from the ground, can I?"

Shi Xin remained silent for a long time, almost disappearing into the shadows, before finally letting out a soft sigh and saying indifferently, "Just tell him... it was his father who asked you to pass it on."

Wutong was initially taken aback, but after hearing those words, she was completely shocked and couldn't come to her senses for a long time.

The jade pendant, weighing at most half an ounce, felt as heavy as a thousand pounds in her hand.

His father… Could Shi Xin be Wen Xin's father?!

Shi Xin had no intention of explaining. After speaking, he turned and walked out, returning to the room where Wen Xin was. He saw Wen Xin still sitting in the chair, holding a scripture and lost in thought.

"You're back?" Wenxin stood up and looked at him after hearing footsteps.

Shi Xin hummed in agreement, said nothing, picked up the luggage she had packed earlier, slung it over her shoulder, and then turned to him:

"Since you are setting off, I should also go. We'll meet again someday, wherever we may be."

Wenxin was immersed in the pain of not knowing the truth about her origins and had no time to try to keep him. Knowing that she couldn't keep him, she nodded and saw him out.

As Shi Xin stepped out the door, Wu Tong, having already come to her senses, grabbed the jade pendant and chased after her to the door.

"Why are you carrying a bundle? Are you leaving? Before you go, could you..."

She stopped talking midway through her sentence when she saw Wenxin behind her, and quietly tucked the jade pendant behind her back.

Shi Xin glanced back, gave Wu Tong a forced smile, and then walked out of the mansion without looking back.

Wenxin intended to escort him out of Chuanzhou City, but he declined. Wenxin then led him a fast horse from the stable and gave him a dagger bearing the seal of the Eastern Qi army, telling him to keep watch on his journey.

Shi Xin had spoken a lot to him over the past three days, but today he was completely silent, only responding coldly before mounting his horse and disappearing from Wen Xin's sight.

Until the very end, he didn't utter a single word about the truth of his origins.

From north to south, we'll meet again someday... But how many such destinies are there in this world?

Looking at the scorching sunlight overhead, with her eyes hidden in the shadows cast by her brow bone, Wenxin felt like a lonely soul wandering the world.

There are people everywhere in the world, but no one knows him, no one remembers him, and he himself doesn't even know where he came from.

In that instant, he suddenly understood what Wutong had said to him.

His feelings for her were likely more than just love; they were also dependence. Only when he was with Wutong could he truly feel his own existence in this world.

Wutong was busy in the study all afternoon. After dinner that day, it was still dark, and the sky was covered with a beautiful sunset.

She stretched in the yard, deciding to take a break and do the thing Shi Xin asked her to do.

"The weather's nice today, how about we go for a walk?"

Wutong turned around and said to Wenxin, who was still eating.