After an entire day, Zheng Zheng had failed fourteen times, taking breaks to meditate three times to regain his spiritual energy. Although the results were frustrating, he didn't come away empty-handed. Each failure brought valuable insights, allowing him to gradually accumulate experience in drawing symbols and controlling nodes. He also discovered that each time his energy was fully depleted and he meditated, the effect seemed to be better than usual, which was a pleasant surprise.

Over the next half month, Zheng Zheng spent his time either meditating or practicing the art of talismans, with eating, drinking, and other personal needs almost entirely confined to his room. He went through an incredible amount of yellow paper and vermilion, but thankfully, these materials were inexpensive; otherwise, his financial situation would have made it hard to sustain. Although he hadn't succeeded even once, he could clearly feel that his technique in drawing talismans was becoming more sophisticated, with smoother brushstrokes and a better grasp of energy distribution.

Zheng Zheng believed that as long as he persevered, he would soon draw his first talisman.

Another busy day passed.

Looking at the room filled with discarded paper, he shook his head with a wry smile. Glancing out the window, he saw the full moon hanging high in the sky, signaling that it was time to call it a night. The supplies of rice paper and vermilion were nearly depleted, so he would need to head to Wenzhou to purchase more the next day.

"Ah, life in a small village can be quite inconvenient," he sighed.

The next morning, Zheng Zheng took a bus to Shuitou Town and then transferred to a rapid bus to Wenzhou. After nearly two hours, he finally arrived at Miaoguosi Temple.

Miaoguosi Temple is located on the southern foothills of Songtai Mountain in Lucheng District, Wenzhou, surrounded by lush pine forests, creating a serene environment.

The temple is a famous ancient site in the Dong'ou region, allegedly founded by the eminent monk Master Xuanzhi during the Tang Dynasty's Shenlong period. However, in recent years, Miaoguosi Temple had become a commercialized operation, attracting countless visitors. While it thrived with offerings, it had transformed into a money-making enterprise, losing its reputation as a pure Buddhist sanctuary.

The bustling area was filled with people, leading to various vendors setting up shop, selling everything from antiques and incense to rice paper.

“Hey, aren’t you Zheng Zheng?”

While Zheng Zheng was looking around for the shop where he had previously bought rice paper, a sweet and gentle voice called out beside him.

Turning in surprise, he saw a girl who looked like she had stepped out of a cartoon, her face lighting up with excitement as she stared at him.

Though her figure was not as tall and curvy as Hong Qianxiu’s, she was nonetheless well-proportioned and charming, with the right curves in the right places. Her oval face was delicate like a porcelain doll, giving off a vibe that she might shatter if touched. A pair of bright, sparkling eyes blinked adorably at him. She wore a white sweater with a pink vest over it, standing there like a sweet princess from a fairy tale.

Zheng Zheng was a bit confused, struggling to recall who this beauty was. He tentatively asked, “May I ask who you are?”

The porcelain-like girl wasn’t offended; instead, she squinted her eyes into crescent moons, revealing a pair of sweet dimples as she smiled and said, “Zheng Zheng Ge, you really don’t remember me? I’m so sad!”

In a moment of confusion, Zheng Zheng was suddenly transported back to his elementary school days, recalling a plump girl with pigtails who always followed him around the sandy playground, whining, “Zheng Zheng Ge, you never let me eat any! I’m so sad!”

In an instant, the two figures seemed to traverse more than a decade, overlapping once more. Yet, he could hardly believe the drastic change. Shocked and astonished, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “No way! You’re that greedy little girl?!”

“Giggling, Su Ning, it turns out you have quite a glorious history too.” Behind the porcelain beauty stood a fashionable, youthful woman who burst into laughter at Zheng Zheng’s embarrassing childhood revelation, causing heads to turn among the onlookers.

“Stop it!” Su Ning stamped her feet, her face turning as red as a peach, looking as if she could drip water if pinched.

“Uh, you really are that little girl. This change is too much. If you hadn’t called me, I might not have recognized you,” Zheng Zheng finally confirmed her identity with a look of amazement.

“Zheng Zheng Ge, you mustn’t call me a little girl! I’m not chubby anymore,” Su Ning pouted, her lips a rosy hue. The mixture of her sulky yet cute expression, along with her sweet voice, made her sound just like a little sister teasing her big brother, causing him to feel a bit soft inside.

Zheng Zheng widened his eyes, his gaze shamelessly roving over Su Ning’s figure.

Su Ning felt uncomfortable under his penetrating gaze, as if she were standing there naked. Embarrassed, she wished she could dig a hole and disappear.

Just as Su Ning was about to speak up to stop Zheng Zheng’s scrutiny, he suddenly averted his gaze, reverting to his previous, earnest demeanor. The contrast was so striking that it took a moment to adjust. He nodded repeatedly and said, “Not bad, not bad, you really aren’t chubby anymore, little girl.”

Su Ning was so furious she was almost ready to explode.

Internally, Zheng Zheng was laughing heartily. This girl still had the same tender skin as before and was easily flustered. He just wondered if her gluttonous nature had changed.

Speaking of Su Ning, one had to mention the Zheng family. The Zheng family has a long history, having built a large fortune through generations of hard work, making them a well-known wealthy family in Tengjiao Town. However, their fortunes changed when Zheng Zheng's grandfather was labeled a capitalist during the Cultural Revolution, leading to their properties being confiscated and their land seized.

Despite that, during Zheng Zheng’s elementary school years, the Zheng family still wielded significant influence in Tengjiao.

Zheng Zheng had an uncle who managed a pastry shop after getting married. Zheng Zheng's father was particularly close to this uncle, so naturally, the uncle was very fond of his nephew. As a result, Zheng Zheng would often find his school bag stuffed with various pastries. There were so many that he couldn’t finish them all, which naturally benefited his classmates. Su Ning was one of the lucky recipients.

Su Ning’s father, Su Wending, was a sent-down youth who was assigned to rural activities in Tengjiao and eventually married and had a daughter.

At that time, the Su family’s living conditions couldn’t be described as bad, but they were certainly not good either. Daily expenses took up most of the salary, leaving little for the greedy Su Ning to indulge in snacks. Furthermore, the Zheng family’s pastries were renowned in Tengjiao, synonymous with deliciousness.

Thus, Su Ning quickly became a dependent of Zheng Zheng.

When Zheng Zheng turned twelve in the fourth grade, the Su family moved away due to a job transfer, seemingly relocating to the city.

From that point on, Zheng Zheng and Su Ning lost all contact.

Thinking back, time had flown by so fast. In the blink of an eye, those little kids had grown into adults. He had shed the glory of the Zheng family and become an ordinary person lost in the sea of humanity, while the once-chubby little girl had transformed into a graceful and charming beauty, evoking admiration. Sometimes, one couldn’t help but marvel at the twists of fate.