Chapter 7: The Fool
Page 1/3
Hao Meili looked at Xiao Bugui, whose handsome appearance was anything but foolish. She suspected he was pretending to be simple-minded. Passing a stall selling fried dough cakes, Hao Meili’s mischievous nature stirred when she heard Xiao Bugui’s stomach growling. She said to him, “Brother Xiao, you didn’t eat breakfast, did you?”
Xiao Bugui smiled and replied, “Yes, my stomach is really hungry.”
Hao Meili said, “I’ll treat you to some fried dough cakes.”
Xiao Bugui responded, “Eating costs money, but I don’t have any on me right now.”
“I have money. I’ll pay. You sit here; I’ll go get the food,” Hao Meili said, guiding Xiao Bugui to find a seat. She approached the stall owner, an elderly man known as Grandpa Zhen, nicknamed “Foolish Old Master” because he had been slow-witted since birth. His father named him Zhen Sha, meaning “Zhen Fool.” As a child, he was called “Foolish Kid,” then “Foolish Big Guy” as he grew. Eventually, people forgot his surname, and in old age, he was simply “Foolish Old Master.” Yet, the foolish sometimes have good fortune: now in his fifties, he ran a small but prosperous food stall. Grandpa Zhen was busy placing long, thin dough cakes into hot oil. Hao Meili whispered, “Grandpa Zhen, a large bowl filled with hot oil and two fried dough cakes, please. Bring it to that young gentleman.”
Grandpa Zhen saw the silver coins Hao Meili left on the counter and quickly complied. He set an empty bowl on a plate, poured hot oil into it, added two fried dough cakes, then carried the tray to Xiao Bugui.
Hao Meili told Xiao Bugui, “This oil soup is the best. Drink the soup first, then eat the cakes.”
Xiao Bugui declined politely, “Have you eaten breakfast? You should eat first.”
“I ate at home. You drink quickly. The oil soup gets unpleasant when it cools,” she urged.
“Alright.” The bowl was too hot; Xiao Bugui struggled to hold it. When he touched his lips, the heat burned him, and his hands could no longer hold the bowl. Worried about spilling, he carefully set it down and then shouted, “It’s burning me! Water! Water!”
Though greedy, Grandpa Zhen was kind-hearted. He brought a bowl of cool water and handed it to Xiao Bugui, saying, “Are you more foolish than me? Drinking such hot oil—how can you?”
Xiao Bugui rinsed his mouth and washed his hands, pointing at Hao Meili with a wronged look. “She made me drink it.”
Grandpa Zhen said, “If you like Miss Hao, then kiss her on the cheek with your mouth. Drinking hot oil—aren’t you foolish?”
Embarrassed by Grandpa Zhen’s words, Xiao Bugui blushed deeply. He said to Hao Meili, “Miss Hao, I won’t eat anymore. Let’s go.”
Hao Meili bent over laughing, her smile radiant like a blooming flower. “Are you truly foolish, or just trying to make me laugh?”
Xiao Bugui said, feeling aggrieved, “Look, my mouth is burnt red. I just descended to the mortal realm, everything is new to me. Could you please not tease me?”
Hao Meili asked, “You’ve never eaten fried dough cakes before? What do you eat in the heavens?”
Xiao Bugui replied, “Peach fruit and dragon fish.”
Page 2/3
Hao Meili repeated with surprise, “Peach fruit? Dragon fish?”
Xiao Bugui explained, “On the Immortal Island, peach trees grow everywhere. Every spring, the peach blossoms stretch endlessly. When the wind blows, standing among the peach blossoms is very beautiful.”
Hao Meili asked, “Is the dragon fish also beautiful?”
Xiao Bugui replied, “Have you heard the story of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate?”
Hao Meili shook her head.
Xiao Bugui said, “Every summer, many fish gather at the Dragon Gate waterfall on the Immortal Island. They swim upstream to leap over the gate, transforming into red dragons—we call them dragon fish. I catch one each time and kill it to eat.”
Hao Meili said, “That’s cruel. The carp’s leap is so difficult, and you eat it?”
Xiao Bugui said, “I have no choice; life is hard.”
Hao Meili urged, “Eat quickly; the fried dough cakes are getting cold.”
Seeing the other diners enjoying their food, Xiao Bugui cautiously picked up a warm fried dough cake with chopsticks. He bit it gently first to test the temperature before eating more confidently.
Hao Meili giggled at his careful manner. “You really are a fool.”
Grandpa Zhen overheard and chuckled, “Today we finally met a true fool.”
By now, the sunshine on the mountain had warmed the morning dew entirely. In front of the Chang Le Palace gates, a group of female disciples gathered for morning martial arts practice.
As Xiao Bugui and Hao Meili ascended the stone steps, all the female disciples’ eyes were drawn to them. Shi Erpang whispered to Xing’er beside him, “Isn’t that the young gentleman who sneaked into Chang Le Palace that night?”
Getting closer, Xing’er confirmed, “It really is Xiao Bugui.”
The practicing sisters lost their discipline and began chattering like birds:
“This Xiao young master is quite handsome.”
“You don’t know, at midnight, Sister Hao accompanied this Xiao young master to the Northern Darkness Hall.”
“A man and woman alone surely means something!”
“Furong, you shouldn’t say such things. If Master finds out, you’ll be punished.”
Page 3/3
Hao Meili approached the group and said, “Sisters, this Xiao young master is here to compete for the Jianghu Token. Where is our Palace Mistress?”
The grand redwood door of Chang Le Palace slowly opened. A hunched old woman came out and said to Hao Meili, “Good girl, where did you bring this foolish boy from?”
Hao Meili replied, “Granny Meng, he said he fell from the sky and came to the mortal world to collect the Jianghu Token. So I brought him here to compete.”
“An immortal falling from the sky?” Granny Meng scrutinized Xiao Bugui for a moment. “I don’t think this boy is genuine; he looks like a fraud.”
Xiao Bugui bowed politely. “Granny, greetings. I am here to compete in martial arts. Please grant me permission.”
Granny Meng said, “You certainly have a sweet tongue, no wonder my good girl likes you. You want to compete, but our Chang Le Palace is all girls, and men and women don’t mix. Here’s what we’ll do: our palace has an ancient divine beast guarding the Wu’an Hall. If you can stay there for three full hours and come out alive, I’ll consider you the winner and give you the Jianghu Token.”
Hearing “Wu’an Hall,” Hao Meili immediately looked worried and wanted to plead, but Granny Meng gave her a cold glare. Hao Meili fell silent.
A nosy junior sister whispered excitedly, “The ancient divine beast in Wu’an Hall is fiercer than a lynx. What if it eats Xiao young master in one bite?”
A widow sister sighed, “This Xiao young master is so tender-skinned. What a pity—he’d be easy prey for that beast.”
At that moment, a cynical girl sneered, “What’s the matter, Widow Xue? Sister Hao doesn’t pity him, but you do?”
Xiao Bugui asked Hao Meili, “Miss Hao, isn’t Wu’an Hall near the demon sects around Chang Le Palace?”
Hao Meili said, “Wu’an Hall is the resting place of the previous Palace Master’s divine beast. I’m not lying to you, but that beast likes to eat meat. I’m afraid it might gobble you up. You’d better forget it this time. Compete at other Jianghu sects first, and when your skills improve, come back to Chang Le Palace.”
Upon hearing this, Granny Meng scrutinized Xiao Bugui carefully, while all the female disciples stared curiously at the handsome young gentleman, expecting him to blush and flee.
But Xiao Bugui’s gaze was firm. He answered decisively, “Granny, I am willing to face the divine beast in Wu’an Hall in battle.”