TGA Chapter 48

A number of reporters wandered around Yinlong Village, even managing to interview the village head, Old Li. Everyone was eager to uncover the story about the ritual to summon rain—mystical tales from the mountains always drew the most attention.

Reporter: “Village head, I heard that recently someone successfully summoned rain. Is this true?”

Village Head Old Li: “It’s not village head, it’s director! Or just call me Old Li if you’d like…”

Reporter: “Director Li, did someone really perform a rain summoning ritual?”

Old Li: “Absolutely not. There’s no such thing. As a progressive and civilized village, we remain vigilant against the resurgence of superstitious practices in rural areas and strive to promote spiritual and cultural development in the countryside…”

Old Li continued with a serious tone, “Even the children in our village understand that green mountains and clean waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver. Protecting the environment is protecting our productivity!”

Reporter: “It seems Yinlong Village has done an excellent job with spiritual and cultural development.”

Old Li: “It’s all thanks to the concerted efforts of our villagers.”

The media went around Yinlong Village asking questions but found no answers. The villagers all insisted there was no superstitious activity, which was in stark contrast to the neighboring village’s statements.

Meanwhile, Kong Shuohua and his group were being interrogated by an investigation team. Naturally, they couldn’t include the incident involving the robed girl in their report—anyone reading it would think Kong Shuohua had lost his mind.

People from the neighboring village did mention the rumors of a “master,” but they couldn’t just walk over to Yinlong Village to identify anyone. Furthermore, Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing had changed into urban clothing, appearing more like visitors than locals. This ensured they didn’t attract suspicion.

At home, Wang Ping brought out a steamed fish dish, followed by several other dishes that filled the table. She mixed the steamed cured meat rice and served a bowl each to Chu Qianli and Tan Muxing before officially starting the meal.

Tan Muxing accepted the rice bowl with both hands and said softly, “Thank you.”

Chu Qianli looked at the spread of dishes, surprised. “Such a feast today?”

Wang Ping replied impatiently, “Isn’t it because of you? Since you showed up the other day, everyone knows you’re back in the village. They’ve been flooding the doorstep with gifts and even inviting you over for meals…”

Tan Muxing glanced at Chu Qianli, who looked intrigued. “Are you famous in the village?”

Tan Muxing still remembered the scene during the heavy rain. Chu Qianli was highly respected in the village, a stark contrast to how she was treated in the city.

Chu Qianli replied nonchalantly, “Our village is really small.”

Wang Ping cut in sarcastically, “Famous? Of course famous. Otherwise, how could she be spoiled like this? Have you ever seen offerings in a temple? She’s basically the one eating those offerings.”

Chu Qianli muttered, “It’s not offerings; it’s a transaction. I’m not some god or ghost—it’s essentially getting paid to do a job…”

“Fine, whatever you say. Anyway, the director also got you some kind of award for helping report the over-mining issue in the neighboring village. You two should pick it up when you have time,” Wang Ping said, frowning slightly. “But how could you summon rain? I’ve never seen you do that before.”

Tan Muxing’s gaze drifted. As someone who witnessed Chu Qianli’s last-minute preparations, he naturally knew the truth.

Chu Qianli blinked and answered candidly, “Of course I can’t.”

Wang Ping was surprised. “Then why did I hear people say you chanted spells?”

“Just theatrical exaggeration,” Chu Qianli replied helplessly. “Pingping, I believe in Marxism and don’t practice Taoism. It wouldn’t make sense for Taoist spells to work on me.”

“Tsk, fooled again?” Wang Ping was puzzled. “Then how did you know there’d be rain and falling rocks?”

“I calculated it,” Chu Qianli said matter-of-factly.

“When did you calculate that?”

“When you said I was less sensible than city kids.”

Wang Ping was shocked. “I thought you were just wandering aimlessly in the mountains, slacking off!”

Chu Qianli puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. “That’s too much! I was seriously observing the weather patterns!”

Tan Muxing gently mediated. “Alright, alright, let’s leave it at that.”

Wang Ping looked stunned. “Because you used to sit idly in the courtyard all day, I assumed you were just lazing around and avoiding work… So all that time, you were watching the weather?”

Chu Qianli: “No, that was just idling and slacking off.”

Wang Ping: “…”

Feeling deceived yet again, Wang Ping fumed. “This is why I say you’re always spouting nonsense! It’s impossible to tell which part of what you say is true and which isn’t!”

Chu Qianli lowered her gaze. Her eyes glinted slightly as she murmured, “Does it really matter whether it’s true or not? As long as everyone’s happy and things work out smoothly, the truth doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“But that makes you seem like a fraud.”

“No need to seem like one—I am one.”

As Chu Qianli and Wang Ping bantered back and forth, Tan Muxing listened quietly, taking in their conversation. He realized Wang Ping knew nothing, which likely meant that his companion hadn’t shared her secret with anyone.

She was the greatest trickster of their time, believing that truth and falsehood didn’t matter as long as they brought happiness and success. Naturally, she wouldn’t reveal anything that could make people unhappy or cause things to go awry.

Because of this, Tan Muxing had pretended nothing was amiss since arriving in the village, never mentioning the sorrowful secret.

If she wouldn’t bring it up, he’d act as if he didn’t know. He would stay by her side but wouldn’t expose her.

After the meal, Wang Ping told Chu Qianli to go inside and prepare clothes and snacks for stargazing later that night. Meanwhile, she collected the dishes and moved to the faucet to wash them.

Tan Muxing stood awkwardly by the sink, feeling guilty about not working. Tentatively, he offered, “Let me help with the dishes?”

“No need. You two look like you’ve never done chores before, and you’re not faster than me anyway.” Seeing his uneasy expression, Wang Ping added, “If you’re feeling idle, just put away the tables and chairs. Stack them in the corner.”

The three of them had just eaten outdoors in the courtyard. Dutifully, Tan Muxing began to move the tables and chairs. Wang Ping squatted by the sink, washing dishes. The two struck up a casual conversation as they worked.

In the distance, insects chirped from the grass, while the sound of running water filled the courtyard.

As Wang Ping washed the dishes, she casually asked, “Why did you follow her back to the village?”

Caught off guard, Tan Muxing stammered, “Ah, just a summer trip…”

“Those who frequently interact with her are usually either people going through tough times or those fascinated by her supposed fortune-telling skills…” Wang Ping glanced at him. “But you’re neither.”

Tan Muxing smiled wryly. “Isn’t that a bit presumptuous? Didn’t you also get close to her?”

“When I met her, I really wasn’t doing well. I got cheated out of wages while working, got scammed while job-hunting, and didn’t have much education. I couldn’t go back to my old home either…” Wang Ping’s tone was calm. “If I hadn’t met her and her grandfather, I might’ve just ended it with a rope. I felt like there was no hope left for anything I did.”

Tan Muxing was taken aback. “You’re not originally from Yinlong Village?”

“Not before, but now I guess I am. My old home is in a rural area too, but I couldn’t go back there. When they told me not to end my life and invited me to live with them in the village, I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing left anyway, so why not?’ So I came here.”

Tan Muxing hesitated. “I can’t imagine you, Sister Ping… feeling so hopeless?”

Wang Ping, always straightforward and efficient, sometimes scolded Chu Qianli, making it hard to associate her with weakness.

“People change. Looking back, I think I was being ridiculous. It wasn’t even a big deal, but at the time, I felt like life was impossible,” Wang Ping said self-deprecatingly. “But back then, it really felt unbearable.”

When she first arrived in Yinlong Village, Wang Ping was aimless and dispirited, convinced that her life was a bleak, meaningless cycle with no chance of success.

Chu Qianli and Chu Yilie didn’t push her. Villagers regularly brought over vegetables and grains, and the three of them subsisted on plain boiled vegetables, living one day at a time.

Chu Qianli and Chu Yilie spent their days casting divinations in the courtyard, while Wang Ping squatted nearby, bored and indifferent, watching as the grandfather and granddaughter argued over who would sweep the floor, turning a simple chore into an hours-long competition.

Wang Ping often saw people visiting the two masters for advice. Gradually, the exposure to various problems and their solutions began to sink in. One day, as if a fog had lifted, she emerged from her gloom, shaking off the lingering depression like sunlight breaking through clouds.

It was a beautiful sunny day when Wang Ping felt, for the first time, that her whole body was brimming with strength. The world didn’t seem so bad after all. She couldn’t stand watching the two of them dawdling and shirking chores, so she grabbed the broom and cleaned the house herself. Realizing that boiled vegetables tasted awful, she even took it upon herself to cook that day.

She began to feel that she could actually do something and wasn’t entirely useless.

Chu Qianli remarked that Wang Ping was suited for work involving animals, and Chu Yilie helped her establish residency in the village. From there, it was only natural for her to settle down. It turned out she had a knack for raising animals—raising chickens and ducks earned her more than any of her previous jobs. Coupled with her fondness for the atmosphere of Yinlong Village, she decided to stay permanently.

While the villagers held great reverence for Chu Yilie and Chu Qianli, Wang Ping, not being a native of the village, had a different perspective. Though she remained grateful for their help, she saw them more clearly than most.

“The village leaders hold her in such high regard, but if you ever don’t need her abilities, you’ll see how terrified she is of death. A single snake or chicken can scare the wits out of her. She’s not really much of a master…” Wang Ping mocked but then added, “But she does have some real skills.”

“It’s not just her fortune-telling skills—it’s that she sees things clearly in her heart. She’s usually lazy as can be, but on the day her grandfather was buried, she insisted on doing everything herself, not letting anyone else help. I asked her why, and she said it was to repay him,” Wang Ping said calmly.

Tan Muxing was taken aback.

Wang Ping shook the water droplets off the dishes and stood up, speaking evenly. “I don’t know why you followed her back to the village, but even though she seems unbearably annoying most of the time, she’s actually the one who understands people the best.”

Someone who studies destiny and fate can’t possibly be ignorant of worldly matters.

“She annoys you on purpose, but when she cheers you up, she genuinely means it. It’s all a mix of truth and falsehood. Once you understand that, you’ll find it easy to get along with her.”

Tan Muxing felt a stir in his heart. He lowered his gaze and softly asked, “Why is Sister Pingping telling me this?”

Wang Ping smiled and said, “Because it’s written all over your face that you want to know. You don’t speak after entering the village, but you’re always listening.”

Tan Muxing wouldn’t have come if he weren’t interested. He always listened quietly, trying to learn about Chu Qianli’s past through the people around her.

Tan Muxing remained silent for a long time before lowering his head and saying, “…Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. You two can go stargazing later. I’ll tidy up and go to sleep,” Wang Ping said cheerfully. “That’s the one thing she’s good at, and she knows the way better than I do.”

Tan Muxing nodded in agreement.

A moment later, Chu Qianli stepped out with her things packed. She saw Tan Muxing in the yard and looked around. “Where’s Pingping?”

“Sister Pingping said she’s resting.”

“So early?” Chu Qianli exclaimed excitedly. “Come on, let’s go ourselves!”

The two of them walked along a mountain trail toward higher ground. Before long, they reached a flat, shaded area. Above them stretched a vast starry sky, with countless stars outlining a luminous Milky Way.

The village’s night sky was completely different from the one in the city. It was like something out of a cinematic masterpiece, as if the secrets of the universe were laid bare.

“The view is great tonight—you can see the Ziwei Star,” Chu Qianli said with delight, pointing it out to her companion. “Over there, that’s the Ziwei Star. It used to be the North Star, but now it’s called Beta Ursae Minoris.”

Tan Muxing stared at the sky, puzzled. “It used to be the North Star?”

“Yes. In ancient times, people thought the Ziwei Star didn’t move, so they considered it the Emperor Star. But everything moves, so the current North Star isn’t it anymore. Many of the principles in Ziwei Astrology no longer apply either.”

Tan Muxing was bewildered. “…That makes Ziwei Astrology sound scientific.”

“It is very scientific.” Noticing his rapt attention to the stars, Chu Qianli suggested, “Do you want to bring back some souvenirs?”

Tan Muxing raised an eyebrow. “What kind of souvenirs?”

“Bring back a star.”

“…You don’t mean picking up a rock and calling it a meteorite fragment, do you?”

“Of course not. It’s a real ground star.” Chu Qianli took a glass jar from behind her and proudly displayed it. Inside was a firefly fluttering like a bright star in the night sky.

Tan Muxing was surprised as he accepted the jar. “Where did you get this?”

Chu Qianli pointed to the side. In the woods, thousands of fireflies danced, weaving a boundless starry curtain on the ground.

They resembled tiny lamps floating among dense leaves, drifting along the narrow mountain trail like golden dust scattered in the air, sparkling with a serene and lively glow.

The stars above were dreamy, while the glimmers below danced.

Surrounded by starlight, the two silently admired the scene.

Tan Muxing gazed at the firefly in the jar. He unscrewed the lid, letting the light dot fly out and merge with the glowing stream nearby. The tiny insect vanished in an instant.

Chu Qianli watched this and hesitated. “You don’t like it?”

Tan Muxing shook his head. “It’s not that. It just feels…pitiful.”

Chu Qianli thought for a few seconds before replying with a hint of meaning, “Fireflies only live for about a week. It does sound pitiful, but their short lives are brilliant. Maybe they don’t feel sorry for themselves.”

“Actually, it’s enough to admire their light. Why think so much about it?”

Tan Muxing’s hand trembled as he held the jar. He looked at her in disbelief, only to see her usual playful smile replaced by a slightly troubled expression.

Chu Qianli gave a bitter smile. “You’re making that face again. How about I cast a spell to make you forget that thing, okay?”

Tan Muxing didn’t respond.

She had deliberately avoided returning to the He family and had told no one, yet somehow, he had found out.

Tan Muxing wasn’t the type to invite himself. He feared troubling others. For him to follow her to the village meant something big must have deeply affected him.

She could sense it.

Lowering her gaze, Chu Qianli softly said, “Can’t we go back to how things were before? You can think I’m childish, unreasonable, and annoying, but don’t feel sad for me. Let’s just be happy every day.”

Tan Muxing’s voice trembled. “…Is that really okay?”

Chu Qianli nodded. “It’s great. I study astrology to make people happy and bring everyone joy. Some things don’t need to be said if they make people unhappy. That’s why rhetoric is necessary. Why not forget it?”

Tan Muxing shook his head. “Astrology isn’t just about making people happy. That’s why I can’t forget.”

Chu Qianli protested, “But you don’t even care about this stuff…”

Forcing a smile, Tan Muxing replied, “But you said the core of astrology is growth. Painful growth is still growth. Life isn’t just one flavor.”

“I shouldn’t have said so much. You remember everything I say…” Chu Qianli muttered, her eyes glistening as she pleaded softly, “Please, forget it.”

“I promise to study hard from now on. I won’t babble nonsense anymore. I won’t make ridiculous demands. I’ll be an all-rounder in moral, intellectual, physical, and artistic development…” Chu Qianli vowed earnestly, her voice tinged with despair. “I’m begging you, just this once. Can’t you forget? Can’t you pretend to lose your memory here and now?”

Of all the things he shouldn’t have known, he had to know this.

Seeing her pitiful plea, Tan Muxing turned slightly away and firmly shook his head.

Chu Qianli hadn’t expected him, usually so easygoing, to be so stubborn now. She was at a loss.

Lowering her head in defeat, she asked, “Then what can I do to make you happy? My specialty is astrology, but you don’t seem to like it much.”

“Why do you want to make me happy?”

“Because I feel I can’t repay the emotions I’ve caused in you.”

Tan Muxing took a deep breath. At that moment, he understood Wang Ping’s words. Chu Qianli wasn’t clueless; it was just that when she started acting considerate, those around her might not be able to handle it. It meant things had gone beyond her control, forcing her to reveal the truth beneath her playful façade.

Later, he specifically studied the meaning of the Fool card and even researched the Tarot cards that followed.

She is the Magician in Tarot, the number one card. Upright, she is supreme, extraordinarily intelligent, capable of controlling the entire world. Reversed, she reveals deceit, superficiality, and the illusion of chaos.

Her magic has momentarily disappeared, and he should stop pushing her.

The Magician’s spell has ended, and it’s time for the next card, the High Priestess. She gathers sufficient information and approaches matters calmly and objectively.

Tan Muxing stood under the stars and moon. The night sky was black, the starlight white, and the stars and night were silently opposed in eternal conflict. In the quiet, he calmed his complicated emotions, striving to make his tone gentle: “You don’t need to repay me.”

Chu Qianli froze.

Tan Muxing smiled and said, “Even though I’ve learned the truth, I don’t believe in these things, so I’m not upset. You said destiny can be changed, right? Then it doesn’t matter.”

“You’ve seen my natal chart; you know I don’t believe in this, right?” Tan Muxing’s gaze softened. “So you don’t need to try to comfort me, nor do you need to feel sorry. You still owe me nothing, so there’s no need to think about repaying.”

Chu Qianli was doubtful and hesitant. “…Really?”

Tan Muxing nodded earnestly. “Mm, I don’t believe in it. I used to worry that saying so would upset you.”

Chu Qianli cautiously observed his expression. Tilting her head, she probed, “You’re really not upset? Then I’m going to mess with you!”

Tan Muxing replied casually, “What do you want to mess with me about?”

Chu Qianli pointed at the sky. Blinking, she straightforwardly declared, “I want the stars in the sky.”

Tan Muxing fell silent for a moment, then unscrewed the glass jar in his hand and decisively said, “I’d better help you get the stars on the ground back instead…”

Seeing that Tan Muxing had returned to normal, Chu Qianli finally breathed a long sigh of relief, grateful that her desk mate didn’t believe in metaphysics. If he had remained despondent, she truly wouldn’t know what to do.

After an open-hearted conversation, they seemed to release emotions that had been pent up for a long time. Under the starlit sky, they laughed and talked while enjoying the scenery.

Chu Qianli lamented, “If the stars on the ground are gone, I’ll have to come up with a new specialty item.”

“Are you still dwelling on that?” Tan Muxing chuckled helplessly. “Don’t worry about it. The specialty of your village is you. That should barely pass as an answer.”

“That’s so perfunctory!”

“Aren’t you usually that perfunctory with your homework?”

Chu Qianli’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she tried to negotiate, “Now that you know everything, can I skip doing homework in the future?”

Tan Muxing shook his head. “Nope. I don’t believe in these things, so you still have to study. Otherwise, you won’t get into college. Didn’t you answer geography quite well during that interview? You can definitely do it.”

Chu Qianli muttered, “But that’s just one or two marks on an exam! Studying more is exhausting!”

Tan Muxing encouraged, “Keep at it; you can do it.”

Although she grumbled in response, Chu Qianli felt completely reassured. If Tan Muxing could say such things, it meant he was emotionally stable and not hiding any grief.

He had truly calmed down, genuinely convinced that everything could change and that none of it was real.

Tan Muxing even began talking about how he had learned about everything, including Master Xu Qian and the Pathway Convention.

Chu Qianli remarked sourly, “No wonder you never let me do readings for you. Turns out you already have a master at home. You listen to him and not me. I’m useless to you, huh?”

Tan Muxing hurriedly waved his hands in denial, explaining, “No, no, no, I never asked him to do readings. He just came to me on his own!”

“Hmph, if he came to you, couldn’t you cover your ears?” Chu Qianli said with a pout. “You’ve never let me do a reading for you.”

“Uh… Covering my ears would be rude, right?” Tan Muxing stammered for a while. Seeing her dissatisfaction, he promised in a conciliatory tone, “…Next time, I’ll cover my ears.”

Hearing this, Chu Qianli finally felt satisfied. She nodded and said, “Not bad. Listen less to fortune-tellers and trust more in forward-thinking astrologers like me!”

Tan Muxing: “?” Oh, great. Other people are fortune-tellers, but she’s an astrologer.

Tan Muxing asked, “Then do you know about the Pathway Convention? Master Xu Qian said many experts will attend. Maybe we can find…”

Chu Qianli decisively replied, “I don’t know, not going, no interest.”

Tan Muxing was immediately surprised. “Why?”

Chu Qianli raised her eyebrows impatiently. “I’m already the best in the world. Why would I go? To teach them how to calculate? I can help ordinary people solve their problems, but there’s no need to specifically educate my peers, is there?”

“Don’t believe that Daoist’s words. I am absolutely the pinnacle of the craft. Relying on them is less reliable than relying on me.” Chu Qianli blinked sweetly and hinted, “Give me a couple more outfits and fewer homework assignments. If I’m happy, I might come up with something. Stop thinking about those unreliable people.”

Tan Muxing: “…”

Tan Muxing was now certain that the Magician had regained her magic. She had reverted to her omnipotent, cheeky self, making all sorts of childish demands. Clearly, she had fully recovered her spirits.