Chapter 60: Got It, You Little Money-Grubber
Su Keke’s little face fell at once.
She’d thought that brush case was bought for her.
Qin Mochen walked ahead with the brush case in hand. In a place where neither Su Keke nor Wu Zongbo could see, the corner of his mouth curved upward slightly.
After they got into the car and drove for a while, Qin Mochen casually tossed the brush case to the little girl. His tone was indifferent as he said, “I just remembered there’s already a brush case in the study, so you can have this one.”
Su Keke hurriedly caught it, running her small hands over the inside and outside of the case again and again. She grinned broadly and shot him a sly sideways look.
“Uncle, you’re lying. You bought this especially for me. If you keep lying to me, I’ll start calling you ‘Uncle Liar.’”
Qin Mochen let out a low chuckle. “So you can’t even take a little teasing? Fine, I admit it—this really was bought for you. From now on, put all your brushes in it. Don’t wrap them in toilet paper anymore.”
Su Keke happily agreed.
“And your new phone—take it out. I’ll install some apps for you.”
“Okay, okay, thank you, Uncle. But Uncle, my phone doesn’t seem to be able to access the internet.”
“We can share mobile data.”
“Oh, you can do that too? Uncle, I feel like I don’t know anything. I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid. You just haven’t been exposed to these things before. Once you use them more, you’ll naturally understand. If there’s anything you really can’t figure out, I’ll teach you.”
“Then I’ll be troubling you a lot, Uncle. I’ll definitely thank you properly!”
As if she’d thought of something, the little girl’s eyes rolled around mischievously and she suggested, “Uncle, let’s install that transfer app first, then install the learning apps Qin Xing recommended.”
“…Got it, you little money-grubber.”
Listening to the occasional sounds and bits of conversation drifting from the back seat, Wu Zongbo felt both gratified and oddly stifled.
Back when it was just him and Fourth Master, he still had at least a tiny bit of presence. Now he felt like he wasn’t even as noticeable as a puff of air.
—
Back home, Su Keke had already learned how to operate a smartphone and had gained a basic grasp of several apps.
She dove into her bedroom and fiddled with the phone for a long time, growing more and more absorbed.
No wonder her master used to say that indulging in play sapped one’s will—she’d only fiddled around a bit, and half an hour had already passed. In half an hour, she could have drawn many talismans.
Ding.
Su Keke glanced at the new message notification.
With that single glance, she was instantly pumped full of adrenaline and sprang off the bed.
A sum of money had just been transferred into the bank account she’d linked in the car not long ago!
Su Keke stared at the zeros on the screen, counting them five or six times.
“Wow—so many zeros!”
All of this was hers—hers!
After following her master for so many years, she’d seen plenty of large sums of money, but all of it had been saved by her master and never spent recklessly. Even the payment for exorcising the alluring ghost last time had been sent to her master. So this was the first income she’d ever truly earned herself.
Su Keke was thrilled.
The excited little girl immediately ran to the living room to find her uncle, but when she didn’t see him there, she rushed straight into the study.
“Uncle! Uncle! I got the money!”
She flung open the study door and announced it excitedly.
Qin Mochen was practicing calligraphy with a brush. When she shouted like that, his hand paused mid-stroke, and the entire piece was ruined.
Only then did Su Keke realize she’d accidentally done something bad.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Uncle. I was just too excited.”
Qin Mochen turned his head to look at her. “This sheet was just for practice anyway. Ruined is ruined. Come here, kid.”
He beckoned to her.
Su Keke walked over and stopped beside him. When she saw the characters on the paper, she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
On the scroll were eight characters: “Blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea; longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain.”
The brushwork was bold and vigorous, the strokes powerful and dynamic, as if ten thousand horses were galloping forth.
They said one’s handwriting reflected one’s character; someone who could write like this surely possessed soaring ambition within.
Su Keke studied the man thoughtfully.
Had Uncle been suppressing his true nature all this time?
Well, that made sense. With the destiny of kings and nobles, how could he ever be ordinary?
She turned her gaze back to the calligraphy and praised sincerely, “Uncle, your calligraphy is really beautiful.”
Qin Mochen replied, “I haven’t written for a long time. I’m a bit rusty.”
“It’s my fault for calling out just now. The middle vertical stroke of the character shan clearly paused for a moment. Otherwise, this piece would’ve been perfect.” The little girl commented seriously, looking regretful.
Qin Mochen raised an eyebrow. “You understand calligraphy?”
Su Keke curved her lips into a smile. “I wouldn’t say I understand it. I’ve just held a brush a lot. Drawing talismans and setting up formations all require a brush, so I’ve used one countless times. After holding it so often, the characters naturally take on a form of their own. But my writing is still far inferior to yours, Uncle.”
Qin Mochen dipped the brush in ink again and handed it to her.
Su Keke froze, then laughed. “Uncle, I wasn’t being modest. My writing really is quite ordinary.”
“Even if it’s bad, I’m not going to scold you.”
Only then did Su Keke take the brush. On the ruined sheet of paper, beneath the line Qin Mochen had written, she added another line—
Also: “Blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea; longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain.”
The girl’s strokes were decisive. Her brushwork wasn’t as unrestrained as Qin Mochen’s, but it flowed smoothly like drifting clouds and running water. The characters were graceful and refined, balanced between strength and delicacy, neither dry nor overly lush. The final stroke ended crisply, without the slightest drag.
A flash of appreciation crossed Qin Mochen’s eyes. “Kid, your writing… is very good.”
Su Keke smiled, revealing her little white teeth. “Really? Uncle, can you praise me more often in the future? Being praised feels really nice.”
Then her lips drooped slightly. “I’ve followed my master for so many years, and he rarely praises me. If he scolds me a few times less each day, I’m already thanking the Buddha.”
Qin Mochen frowned.
In just a few days together, he’d already noticed that Su Keke had exceptional learning talent—she could grasp things she’d never encountered before after seeing them once or twice. Yet her understanding of herself seemed… skewed.
And not just a little.
“When is your master coming back?” Qin Mochen asked.
He felt it necessary to have a proper talk with this so-called master.
Su Keke shook her head and sighed. “I don’t know either. Lately, my master hasn’t been replying to my messages, and no one answers when I call. He’s probably gone deep into some mountains or forests where the signal is bad.”
Qin Mochen nodded. “When he comes back, let me know. I’ll go visit the old gentleman.”
“Okay. If Master meets Uncle, he’ll definitely like you too.”
“Too?” Qin Mochen’s sword-like brows lifted slightly. “You like me very much?”
“Yes, yes!” Su Keke nodded vigorously. “Uncle has the best physiognomy I’ve ever seen. I really like you.”
Qin Mochen: …
Physiognomy?
Hah. Did this girl like him as a person, or was she just fond of his facial features?
Su Keke immediately added, “After spending time together, I like Uncle even more. In my heart, Uncle has already risen to third place!”
Qin Mochen paused slightly, lifted his gaze to her, and asked, “Third… place?”
