My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 42 Go back and visit often

After finishing her meal, Song Jia teased the idiot for a while longer before leaving, and the room quieted down again.

Lu Yuan was helping Chen Xiaomiao clear the table when Chen Xiaomiao suddenly asked, "Lu Yuan, did Sister Song Jia also study at the 'school'?"

"Yes, the school she attends is much better than mine."

"Wow, that's amazing! What did Sister Song Jia study?"

"She's studying law and will become a lawyer in the future."

"lawyer?"

"It's a lawyer."

Lu Yuan changed his words, and Chen Xiaomiao was shocked and looked incredulous.

"Sister Song Jia is such a good person, how... how did she end up becoming a lawyer?"

Chen Xiaomiao has a natural aversion to litigators.

Although the concept of lawyers existed in the early Republic of China, their popularity was extremely low. In rural communities, the mention of lawyers still conjured up images of evil deeds such as stirring up trouble.

Therefore, in Chen Xiaomiao's limited understanding, "litigation swindlers" were all bad guys who feared nothing more than a peaceful world, made money by spreading rumors and instigating people to file lawsuits, and their reputation was not much different from that of local thugs and hooligans.

Lu Yuan explained calmly, "Things are different now than in the past. Lawyers... that is, legal professionals, are now a legitimate profession."

They need to understand many rules and regulations, and they can help the poor with their cases and uphold justice for them; they are not the kind of unreasonable litigators of the past.

Although Lu Yuan had a so-so impression of the legal profession, he tried his best to say nice things so as not to make Chen Xiaomiao feel uncomfortable about contacting Song Jia.

Chen Xiaomiao scratched her head as she listened.

Can lawyers uphold justice for the poor?
This is completely different from her stereotypes.

However… she tilted her head and thought about Song Jia’s cheerful and straightforward manner. That righteous spirit really didn’t seem to match the image of a sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced lawyer in her mind.

"Oh……"

She nodded as if she understood, and muttered to herself, "Anyway, I think Sister Song Jia is a good person. She's a lawyer... so being a lawyer must be a good profession."

The logic is simple and straightforward.

After tidying up the tableware and cleaning the kitchen, Chen Xiaomiao dried her hands, glanced at the package in the entryway, and then turned to look at Lu Yuan.

Taking advantage of Lu Yuan's attention being on the idiot, she quickly grabbed her package and slipped into her room.

Lu Yuan was in the living room when he clearly heard a "click" sound, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Inside the room, Chen Xiaomiao leaned against the door, her heart pounding.

Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she began to unpack the package little by little.

Inside was a cardboard box with a picture of a hot, scantily clad woman posing seductively, showing off her thin black stockings.

Chen Xiaomiao glanced at it only once before quickly turning the packaging bag over, muttering to herself.

"Indecent...indecent!"

In fact, Lu Yuan had explained to Chen Xiaomiao that such women were not prostitutes, but "models," a modern profession that included both men and women.

They are generally good-looking, and their job is to dress up in various clothes and take photos for people to earn money.

But Chen Xiaomiao still couldn't understand it.

A respectable young woman dresses like this, exposing her arms and legs, and then posts the photos to show so many people. Isn't she afraid of ruining her reputation and making it difficult for her to get married?
Chen Xiaomiao opened the cardboard box and slowly inserted her fingers, touching the slippery, cool fabric inside.

She gently twisted it; the material was so thin she could barely feel its weight, yet it possessed a strange suppleness.

Soon, a brand new pair of shiny black stockings lay quietly in Chen Xiaomiao's palm, and a wave of shame washed over her.

Is this thing really safe to wear out?
Just thinking about it made Chen Xiaomiao feel uneasy.

She hurriedly rolled up the stockings haphazardly, opened the wardrobe door, stuffed them at the bottom, and then covered them up tightly with several thick clothes.

It was as if what was hidden wasn't socks, but some kind of filthy, unspeakable stolen goods.

After doing all this, she breathed a long sigh of relief. The heat on her face subsided slightly, and she began to feel inexplicably heartbroken again.

Good heavens! That's a whole twelve yuan, and several kilograms of flour!

You just bought this thing?
Chen Xiaomiao, oh Chen Xiaomiao...

You're such a spendthrift woman!
She then lingered in the room for a while, fixing her hair and clothes in front of the mirror, making sure she looked normal before unlocking the door and going out.

In the living room, Lu Yuan was sprawled on the sofa scrolling through his phone, while Erbaiwu was dozing off on his lap.

Chen Xiaomiao pretended to be calm, sat down next to Lu Yuan, and casually pulled the sleepy idiot out of Lu Yuan's arms.

"Ouch..."

Erbaiwu grunted in dissatisfaction and twisted his body.

Chen Xiaomiao ignored it and vigorously stroked the dog's fur, trying to hide her panic. Lu Yuan looked up at Chen Xiaomiao; the girl's eyes were unfocused, and her movements were stiff and awkward, as if the words "guilty conscience" were written all over her face.

It's kind of funny, and inexplicably... cute?
Chen Xiaomiao felt uncomfortable under Lu Yuan's gaze, and the silly dog ​​in her arms was also unhappy with her stiff stroking technique, making "woof woof" noises.

Oh no, oh no, does he know?

Will you think I'm wasting money?

Chen Xiaomiao had already rehearsed several excuses for being scolded in her mind, but Lu Yuan suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.

"Xiao Miao, would you like to go back to Yuzhou for a visit?"

"What!?"

Chen Xiaomiao's mind was full of black silk, and she was startled by Lu Yuan's question, looking completely bewildered.

Lu Yuan had no choice but to patiently repeat, "I asked you if you wanted to go back to your hometown, Yuzhou, for a visit?"

Yuzhou...my hometown...

Chen Xiaomiao certainly wanted it; she dreamed about it.

I want to go back and see if Qizhen Temple is still there, and if my master's grave is still there...

However, Chen Xiaomiao remained rational: "If you come back with me, won't it interfere with your school?"

Lu Yuan explained, "I'll be on a long holiday at the beginning of next month, so I'll be free."

With the National Day holiday approaching, there's plenty of time to visit Chen Xiaomiao's hometown.

Still worried that she might cause trouble for Lu Yuan, Chen Xiaomiao continued to ask, "Wouldn't that be a lot of trouble?"

"To be honest, it's definitely going to be troublesome."

Lu Yuan frankly stated: "First of all, it's the same old problem. Since you don't have an ID card, we can only drive on the highway like last time, which is the biggest trouble."

Secondly, during holidays, there will be traffic jams on the highways. If I drive myself, I'm afraid I'll be exhausted after a round trip.

The flame that had just ignited in Chen Xiaomiao's heart was extinguished by Lu Yuan's cold water, leaving only a wisp of smoke.

"Then... then let's forget it. I don't want to cause you any trouble."

The girl's dejected appearance filled Lu Yuan with a bitter feeling.

He reached out and patted Chen Xiaomiao's head, his tone softening: "Don't worry, I remember this. I'll definitely find a way to resolve your identity issue before the New Year, so that you can at least go home for the holidays."

Chen Xiaomiao rallied her spirits and nodded vigorously: "Okay!"

Although she grew up in the temple, she often overheard other people chatting there and knew a lot about the affairs between men and women down the mountain.

Sister Xiaozhi always says that the men down the mountain are the best at sweet talk and empty promises, deceiving naive women, and should never be trusted.

But Lu Yuan is completely different!
He never used sweet words; he genuinely provided for her food and clothing, taking care of her in every way.

So when Lu Yuan made that promise, Chen Xiaomiao chose to believe him unconditionally!
"Also... Xiao Miao."

"Ok?"

"What if... I mean, what if you go back and find that Qizhen Temple is gone, and nothing is left? Wouldn't you be extremely upset?"

Lu Yuan planned to give Chen Xiaomiao a heads-up in advance.

Eighty years have passed, and with war, famine, and various political movements that followed, the chances of an obscure little Taoist temple surviving are extremely slim.

Why do you feel uncomfortable?

Chen Xiaomiao's face showed no trace of sadness, but rather an almost serene calm.

"Emperors have come and gone on the dragon throne, who dares to say they can sit on it for a hundred years?"
Our dilapidated Taoist temple was made of mud bricks and covered with thatch; what makes you think it's still standing?

Lu Yuan was surprised by her open-mindedness.

"So... you're still thinking about going back?"

I've been thinking about it!

Chen Xiaomiao nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with pure longing.

“I just want to go back and see! See if the mountain is still there, see if the old crooked locust tree at the entrance of the temple is still alive, see the hillside where we used to grow vegetables... Even if it's just a mound of earth left, I want to stand there and take a look.”

"Just to look?"

"Yes, look! My master gave me these instructions before he passed away."

Chen Xiaomiao paused, then sighed softly.

"Let me go back and visit often when I have time..."

(End of this chapter)