"Well…" Ding Junjie was speechless.
Seeing that the woman was more beautiful than she was, the jealous Zheng Peipie arrogantly said, "This is a Ding family matter. It doesn't concern you. Don't interfere if you don't understand what's happening!"
Two soldiers marched forward immediately, drew their sabers, and pointed them at Zheng Peipei. "What is your name? How dare you speak to the celestial teacher this way? Have you grown tired of living?"
"Celestial teacher!" The arrogant Zheng Peipei's face turned pale. In Jiuzhou, the celestial teacher was the highest level of existence.
If the celestial teacher killed her, she would still be innocent!
The two were intimidated by Min Qingqiu. She looked at Ding Hao with her beautiful eyes and said, "Gentleman Ding, what happened here? You don't need to be afraid. If they bully you, you can sue them, I will be your witness!"
Ding Hao wished that they would capture the two men and send them to jail. Thinking, however, he realized there would be no point in suing them now as their crime was not serious yet.
Ding Hao's motto was: either he didn't do anything about it, or he would make them pay for what they did dearly.
There was no point to sue them for minor crimes. Furthermore, he and Min Qingqiu had only met once before—it was not good to trouble her. It would only make him seem oversensitive. He might as well pretend to be generous. He cupped his fist and said, "Lady Min, your arrival has brought light to my humble dwelling. I'm sorry that you had to see that… I am thankful for your heroism and sense of justice. I'm afraid I might not have had long to live had you not interfered. Thank you dearly for your help."
Min Qingqiu saw that his mannerism was gentle, thus she had a good feeling about him. She said, "If they bullied you, I will help you seek justice."
Ding Hao shook his head. "Lady Min, Ding Junjie is the son of my housekeeper. Zheng Peipei and I had a marriage arrangement. They were making fun of me, that's why we argued just now. But I don't want to make this matter any worse than it is. The blame does not fall on them, as I have yet to properly awaken. I ask Lady Min and the soldiers to forgive them."
Ding Hao's generosity touched Min Qingqiu and the soldiers. One of the soldiers shouted, "You were lucky that gentleman Ding is so generous. If not, you'll have to go to court! Scram!"
Ding Junjie and Zheng Peipei were furious. Ding Hao scolded them, and now they had to leave.
Seeing the celestial teacher and soldiers from the city lord's residence were there, however, they could only leave. As they were about to leave, one of the soldiers said, "You can escape from going to the court, but you have to apologize! You immoral pair, you better apologize to the gentleman now!"
"Apologize to that piece of trash!" Zheng Peipei stomped her foot, and, fuming, said furiously, "I will never apologize to a piece of trash!"
"Forget it, just leave them be. Don't lower yourself to their level, just let them go." Ding Hao continued to pretend to be generous and said, "Lady Min and the soldiers, please come with me!"
Min Qingqiu turned her head to have a look. "Boss Shang and I said that we would come here. Where are they now?"
Ding Hao said, "Lady Min please head inside first, I will wait for them here."
Watching Ding Hao invite Min Qingqiu and the others into the house, Ding Junjie and Zheng Peipei looked at each other in dismay. They had just laughed at Ding Hao about how no woman had ever come to see him. Now a beautiful lady had arrived to see him, and he had tarnished their image.
Zheng Peipei whispered behind Min Qingqiu's back, "What is this? Coming to see a piece of trash, has she no shame?"
"Stop saying nonsense!" Ding Junjie scolded her in a softer tone, "Stop gossiping behind the celestial teacher's back; I don't want to die!"
Zheng Peipei paused, then said, "But why would a celestial teacher come to see this piece of trash?"
Ding Junjie said, "You should go home, I'll check it out."
…
Min Qingqiu walked into the main hall, burning some incense for the wooden statue as a sign of respect.
She asked, "Why is there a broken bowl here?"
Ding Hao smiled, and said, "I'm 15 years old and I haven't been awakened, so it is hard for others to not look down on me. Even the Ding family servants looked down on me. The bowl is for me to use when I have to beg for a living."
"Beg for a living…" Min Qingqiu's sight fell on Ding Hao. She paid attention to him, discovering that he spoke very calmly, as though he was talking about someone else. Min Qingqiu thought, "What an interesting young man. Could it be that he has had some terrible experiences before? Is he calm because he has given up, or has he other plans?"
She had to ask, "What do you think about that?"
"The thought may have come from a good place, but I don't think I need it."
Ding Hao changed the humiliation and said it as good intention. Min Qingqiu, who was usually cold to others, smiled ever so gently, and looked at Ding Hao. "I have faith in you."
A gust of wind blew through the main hall, onto Min Qingqiu's green dress. Ding Hao looked into her beautiful eyes and said, "Thank you."
As they were chatting, Ding Junjie led Boss Shang and his son to the main hall.
Ding Junjie knew Boss Shang and his son. As they were walking, he advised them in a soft tone, "Boss Shang, how could you trust him? He is just a piece of trash! He is the worst in the Ding family. 15 years old and hasn't been awakened. Even the servant that washes clothes calls him a piece of trash. I've stayed here for so long, and I've never heard that he knows how to meditate."
"Is that so…" Boss Shang and the son didn't have much faith to begin with, but, now, having heard Ding Junjie say that, they began regretting their decision to come.
Ding Junjie was afraid that Ding Hao would ruin this business. He quickly went closer and said, "Boss Shang, Xiao Hai. You are here, please come in."
Ding Junjie walked in front of Boss Shang, pointed at Ding Hao, and exclaimed, "Piece of trash, I warn you! Stop fooling around!"
The soldiers shouted, "You did that again and again, what do you want?"
Ding Junjie said loudly, "Soldiers, I, too, work in the government office. I've stayed here for more than ten years now. I've never even heard that he could meditate! If you don't believe me, you can ask the others. I fear that you'll be tricked! If he was that great, why didn't he awaken his own celestial gene?"
The crowd thought that it seemed logical. They fell silent and turned to look at Ding Hao.
Ding Hao had no qualms. He said, "All you need to do is to stay and watch if I'm able to help him to enter a meditative state. If I fail, it won't do any harm to him. Why do you care?"
"Why do I care?" Ding Junjie said, "You'll give the Ding family a bad name! The Ding family who has a wooden statue is home to a con man. Isn't that terrible?"
Ding Hao laughed. "You care very much about the Ding Family's name."
"Of course!" Ding Junjie said smugly, "In six months' time, I will seize your celestial identity! And I will be the eldest son of the Ding family! Of course, I care about the Ding family's name! Piece of trash, if you are good, I will still let you have the hogwash. You don't have to beg for a living!"
"Hogwash!" Ding Hao was furious. He clenched his teeth and said, "Ding Junjie, you've planned well. But I have two words for you: Dream on!"
"Let's watch and see!" Ding Junjie saw that it was getting late. As he had to go to work, he humphed and left the house.
"These servants are too much." Boss Shang could not believe what he had seen. Even if he had the right to seize the seed, he had no right to treat the master of the house that way.
Ding Hao said, "It's alright, I'm used to it. Follow me to my room, I promise that Xiao Hai will enter into a meditative state easily!"
"Sounds great!" Boss Shang was happy.
When they got to Ding Hao's room, he let Xiao Hai sit on the Bodhi cushion. Min Qingqiu watched silently. Truthfully, she did not quite believe that this young man who hasn't awakened could help someone else to meditate. In Jiuzhou, there is a profession called 'tutors' who helped guide the cultivators into entering a meditative state.
Min Qingqiu was a level three tutor.
She could not help Xiao Hai to enter a meditative state, so how could Ding Hao?
They saw Ding Hao draw a few circles above Xiao Hai's head, and said softly, "Enjoy wine and songs while we can."
"Entered a meditative state!" Boss Shang was so happy, he almost yelled.
"How is that possible?" Min Qingqiu's eyes flashed with surprise. No guidance needed, and he had already entered a meditative state. She had never seen anything like it!
"Wait." She quickly took a jade talisman and stuck it onto Xiao Hai's forehead. The jade talisman shone a dark red light. Min Qingqiu nodded, "Entered the lower-stage meditative state."
"Lower-stage meditative state." Ding Hao then moved his hands above Xiao Hai's head again. He sighed and said, "Life is short."
"What?" Min Qingqiu's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise, and the jade talisman turned pink!
"Middle-stage meditative state! Impossible!" Min Qingqiu looked at Ding Hao curiously. She could not tell what method he was using to guide Xiao Hai to meditate.
It was much simpler for Boss Shang. He saw that his son had entered the middle-stage meditative state, and he almost cried. He exclaimed, "This is wonderful! Xiao Hai entered the middle-stage, the chances of being awakened have increased! Gentleman Ding, next time when you come to my bookshop, just take any book you like!"
In actuality, Ding Hao could let Xiao Hai enter the higher-stage meditative state, but he stopped after seeing Min Qingqiu's expression. He did not want to risk it. The ability to let him enter a meditative state unprepared was already quite shocking. If he let him enter the higher-stage so easily it might bring big problems!
He thought about it and stopped. "Alright, Xiao Hai has entered a meditative state. Let's not interrupt him, let him stay quiet for a while."
They left the room. Boss Shang could not stop thanking him. He stuffed a small black pouch in Ding Hao's hand. It was soft, possibly containing
Min Qingqiu said, "Gentleman Ding, you are truly amazing. Not sure if you know that there is a profession called 'tutor' in Jiuzhou. They specialize in helping others to enter a meditative state. Judging from what you did just now, you are greater than a level two tutor, would you like to attend Jiuzhou Academy and get a tutor certificate? Furthermore, we have many books. You'll be able to study further and become a level one or special grade tutor."