It was barely dawn when Qing Shu was awakened. 

Qing Shu, still half-asleep, hugged her blanket and said, “Grandmother, why are we getting up so early?” 

Back in the Lion’s Ancestral Temple, she had to wake up before sunrise every day to work. However, since she returned, she had been sleeping in until dawn. 

While helping Qing Shu dress, Granny Gu smiled and said, “I told you yesterday that we’re going to Ganlu Temple today.” 

Ganlu Temple was quite far from the county town, about forty li (Chinese miles) away, so they needed to leave early. 

“Oh…” Qing Shu responded, letting out a long yawn. 

After washing up, breakfast was served. Besides the red date pearl porridge and small steamed buns, there were also hot fried dough sticks with soy milk and lamb, egg, and chicken congee. 

At the Gu family, there was no such thing as silent meals. Granda Gu took a bite of a fried dough stick and asked while eating, “I heard that bathing with goat milk makes your skin fair and tender. Sweetie, would you like to bathe with goat milk?” 

Qing Shu, who was sipping porridge, choked and started coughing violently. 

While patting her back to help her catch her breath, Granda Gu said, “You, child, if you don’t want to, that’s fine, but there’s no need to be so startled.” 

Qing Shu shook her head and said, “Grandmother, a bowl of goat milk every day is enough.” 

While drinking goat milk regularly might be beneficial for the skin, it wasn’t something that would show results in a day or two. Drinking it every day would be quite expensive. Although the family had some money, they couldn’t afford such extravagance. 

Granda Gu suggested, “One bowl a day isn’t enough. Since you like it, let’s have a bowl after lunch every day!” Goat milk was a valuable thing, and she wished she could get used to it. Otherwise, she would drink three bowls a day herself. 

Qing Shu was worried about gaining weight, so she said, “Just one in the morning and one at noon, but not in the evening.” 

After finishing breakfast, the grandmother and granddaughter set out. They left, and shortly after, Gu Heping and Yuan Shanniang followed. 

Upon hearing that Granda Gu had left, Yuan Shanniang’s face turned unpleasant. When they returned to their courtyard, she complained to Gu Heping, “Husband, does she still consider you her son? She didn’t even tell you where she was going.” 

Gu Heping remained silent. He remembered that when he was a child, Granda Gu had been very loving, but her affection had waned since he married Shanniang. Now, she hardly spoke to him at all. 

At first, he had been sad about it, but over time, he had come to terms with it, especially with a wife and children to keep him company. If she didn’t care about him, he wouldn’t push himself onto her. After all, she wasn’t his biological mother. 

Yuan Shanniang suggested, “Husband, we need to find a way to take over the family business. Otherwise, the Gu family’s assets will all belong to the Lin family in the end.” 

Gu Heping frowned and said, “Big sister isn’t like that. She didn’t even accept the gifts our mother sent, so why would she want the family’s assets?” 

Yuan Shanniang didn’t believe him. “Do you really think she doesn’t want our family’s things? She never refused any of the gifts we sent her.” 

That old woman was quite generous to Gu Xian, readily sending expensive silks, clothing, jewelry, and precious tonics as if they cost nothing. But she was very stingy with them, giving them just a few taels of silver every month, as if they were beggars. 

The more Yuan Shanniang thought about it, the more she resented it. Gu Heping’s lips moved slightly as he said, “The money is in Mother’s hands, and we can’t stop her from using it as she pleases.” Besides, even if he wanted to take over the business, he didn’t have the capability to do so. 

Yuan Shanniang felt discouraged after hearing this. However, she quickly regained her spirits and said, “Husband, how can we know if we don’t try?” 

Gu Heping shook his head and said, “Shanniang, my sister won’t take the family’s assets. My mother only has me as her son, and everything at home will be ours.” 

Yuan Shanniang saw that she couldn’t persuade Gu Heping this way, so she tried a different approach, saying, “The other day, Mother took that troublesome girl out and spent several hundred taels of silver in one go. Husband, even if we had mountains of gold and silver, it wouldn’t be enough for her extravagant spending. At this rate, I’m afraid our family will be left with an empty shell in just a few years.” 

Gu Heping fell silent and said, “Let me think about it.” 

After leaving the city, Qingshu opened the carriage curtain and looked outside. The pale blue sky was adorned with fluffy white clouds, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves along the road. Birds chirped and danced in the trees. Everything signaled the start of a new day. 

Qingshu’s mood brightened. Since she had been given a second chance by fate, she should cherish it and not dwell on the past. 

Seeing Qingshu lost in thought while looking outside, Granda Gu held her in her arms and asked with a smile, “What are you looking at so intently?” 

Qingshu snapped out of her reverie and smiled, “Grandmother, the scenery here is beautiful.” 

She patted Qingshu’s head and said, “If you like it, I’ll bring you here more often.” She didn’t approve of Gu Xian keeping the child at home all the time. Children should be active and play outside. Keeping them indoors all the time would make them dull. 

“Great, great!” Qingshu had no desire to stay cooped up at home all day, and her grandmother’s words were just what she wanted to hear. 

Ganlu Temple was located on the mountaintop, and there was no road from the foot of the mountain to the summit, only winding stone steps. So, they couldn’t take a carriage up; they had to walk. 

Of course, there were footmen at the mountain’s base. As long as you paid them, they would carry you up the mountain. However, unless someone was elderly or seriously ill, most pilgrims preferred to climb up the steps on their own to show their devotion. 

Qing Shu and Granda Gu alighted from the carriage, and two well-dressed middle-aged men approached, inquiring the servant, Ah Fu, if they needed a sedan chair. 

Grandma Gu lowered her head to look at Qing Shu and asked, “Sweetie, do you want to sit in a sedan chair?” 

Qing Shu shook her head and replied, “No need, grandmother. I’ll walk up with you.” 

After walking for less than half an hour, Qing Shu was already panting for breath. Her body was still too weak. 

Granda Gu wanted to carry her, but Qing Shu refused, saying, “Grandmother, I want to walk on my own.” 

However, Granda Gu didn’t agree and forcibly held her in her arms, saying, “Don’t be stubborn.” 

Qing Shu could only rest her head on her grandmother’s shoulder in resignation. 

Granda Gu had excellent physical condition, and even carrying Qing Shu up the stone steps didn’t make her face turn red or her breathing quicken. 

Qing Shu couldn’t help but feel puzzled. She vividly remembered her aunt telling her that her grandmother had fallen ill and passed away shortly after hearing about her mother’s difficult childbirth. 

It made sense that if her grandmother had been in poor health and learned about her daughter’s death in a fit of rage, she might have succumbed to illness. However, her grandmother was remarkably robust, and she was extremely affectionate towards Qing Shu. So, how could she have fallen ill and passed away? 

At that moment, Granda Gu interrupted her thoughts, asking, “Hongdou, what are you thinking about?” This child seemed to be lost in thought lately. 

Qing Shu smiled and replied, “Grandmother, despite your excellent health, I easily fall ill. I’m really useless.” 

Granda Gu chuckled and said, “Silly child, you’re still young. When you grow up, your health will definitely be better than mine.” 

Qing Shu believed her words. Since she could remember, she had rarely fallen ill. 

After a while, Granda Gu’s forehead was covered in sweat. Qing Shu wiped it away and said, “Grandmother, put me down, and I’ll walk on my own.” 

Unable to resist Qing Shu’s persistence, Granda Gu finally put her down. 

Watching Qing Shu holding her hand, Granda Gu felt regret for her previous suspicions. A well-behaved child like her couldn’t possibly be a demon. She hadn’t expected to be influenced by Gu Xian either. 

In reality, it wasn’t entirely Granda Gu’s fault. Qing Shu had indeed undergone significant changes in her personality and behavior, which were different from her past self. However, Granda Gu loved her and always tried to see the positive side of things. 

T/N Ramble:
There’s a new translation project by >>Not a Pessimist<<
called
>>High Energy Ahead<<
Here, there are the most dangerous missions, and there are the most generous rewards. The next moment could be the end of life, a point of no return into the abyss, or perhaps the ultimate ascent to divinity, standing at the pinnacle of all beings!

It’s about different types of people from different places timeline transported into an independent space and must fight their way in a ‘survival of the fittest’ trial. Because once they die in the trial, they die in real life.
The protagonist is no one special, not a know-it-all, ain’t no reincarnator or transmigrator, but a weak yet strong-willed ordinary human trying her hardest to live in reality and within the trials. And, I’m pretty much into reading her growth of being a weak woman into a strong one.

And yes, I have access to advanced chapters. (´～｀ヾ)
One of my perks, eh.