No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 597 Rong Zhen: It was the little princess who imitated me [7k two-in-one, monthly ticket requested! ]

"What, make the decision? What decision? We ordinary people are the masters of our own destiny. We don't need others to make the decision. We are the masters of our own destiny. Shopkeeper Wang, don't say such things in the future."

Ouyang Rong glanced at Wang Caozhi, who ran into the pavilion and started with a standard template of complaining, and said calmly without changing his expression.

Wang Caozhi: ...

Ouyang Rong's indifferent reaction made the atmosphere of complaining awkward for a while.

Wang Caozhi wiped his face vigorously, and called out again in a sad tone, "Brother-in-law."

Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze from the forest where Rong Zhen had disappeared, turned his head and looked at him carefully.

Wang Caozhi had just rushed over from the construction tent at the Xunyang Grottoes, looking exhausted.

It literally means being exhausted.

He had changed out of his expensive brocade and silk clothes and put on a durable blue-gray soap suit. He also wore a wide-brimmed felt hat of the same color on his head, which was covered with dust and mottled with wet stains.

Wang Caozhi's originally round and small baby face was now tanned red and dark. The hair pressed down by his hat looked like it had not been washed for several days and could be used as rapeseed oil in the kitchen.

Especially now in front of Ouyang Rong, he still had a heavy look of bitterness and hatred on his face...

After only a few days of not seeing him, Ouyang Rong felt that he already looked a bit like a weathered, dishevelled farmer.

There is no trace of his previous image of a shrewd, smooth, and wealthy young man who enjoys doing business with a smile.

Ouyang Rong thought for a while and asked:

"I don't have to move stones to monitor the progress of the construction site, right?"

"Uh, that's not necessary."

Ouyang Rong's face suddenly turned serious:

"I asked you to stay here and coordinate the construction of the statue, but I didn't ask you to roll up your sleeves and do the work. Besides, there are so many people and it's not your turn. Why are you looking like this? Are you trying to gain sympathy? The crying child gets the milk, right?"

"Woo woo..." Wang Caozhi choked twice, sounding like a poor, unwanted kitten caught in the rain, which was really disgusting.

He raised his sleeve to wipe the wet corners of his eyes, looked down before wiping, and picked out a relatively clean piece of cuff fabric.

"Brother-in-law, it's not like that. It's not that the crying child gets the milk, it's that the child is really crying."

Wang Caozhi cried and said:
"Brother-in-law, you don't know that these past few days at the Shuangfengjian construction site, whenever something happened, Madam Shi asked me to go over and handle it immediately. I had to go there myself, otherwise Madam Shi would be worried.

"I had to travel with the ship to transport the stone materials and be responsible for unloading the cargo at the dock. I also had to escort the materials to the cliffs where the Buddha statues were carved, and I had to use a handcart or a pushcart on the way.

"They didn't stop working in the middle of the night. They sent people to wake me up three or four times a night. They said they were worried that the head of the Donglin Buddha was damp and leaking. They asked me to lead people to hold torches in the cold wind in the middle of the night to check the head, replace the linoleum, and apply tung oil several times for maintenance...

He looked at the short young man in front of him and complained bitterly.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand indifferently:
"It's OK. They are just trivial matters, not a big deal. I have something to do in the city recently, so I asked you to help me coordinate it here on weekdays. It would be good if you could pay more attention."

"Brother-in-law, this is not just about your heart, this is about your life. I think the lady is targeting my life."

Wang Caozhi raised his finger and pointed at the light purple swollen dark circles under his eyes caused by “sleeping once every three days”.

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly.

Patted his shoulder and comforted him casually:
"The matter of the Great Buddha cannot be taken lightly, and the incident at Xingzi Lake must not be repeated. Please understand that Ms. Rong is not targeting you on purpose. It's mainly because I'm not here, so you have to do these trivial matters. Who else can I ask?
"Other people are also worried, right? Doesn't this also mean that they don't treat you as an outsider?"

"But...but..." Wang Caozhi suddenly became agitated.

Ouyang Rong said in a friendly tone: "Don't be impatient, speak slowly."

"But yesterday, Madam Historian took me and other shopkeepers to inspect the open-air caves. There was limestone falling off the top of the cave, and everyone was scared and ran to the outside. Madam Historian used her Qinggong to carry everyone out of the cave one by one. I was the last one!"

Ouyang Rong:......

He nodded slightly.

"Well, this is indeed a bit inappropriate. It's a bit too much to judge Ms. Rong in this way..." The next moment, Ouyang Rong changed his words with a serious face: "Is it possible that you were too far away and saved people one by one? It's just a matter of luck. I know Ms. Rong, she is definitely not the kind of person you think."

"Why doesn't my brother-in-law believe it?" Wang Caozhi's face flushed, and he said with his neck stiff, "I was closest to her at the time, and I even shouted for help, but she didn't see me.

"Brother-in-law, can this be considered luck? You might as well explain it by saying that she has bad eyesight. I'll feel better about it."

"Oh? What do you mean by my poor eyesight? What are you talking about?"

The cold voice of a girl in palace dress came from behind.

As Ouyang Rong smiled, Rong Zhen walked into the pavilion with his right hand spread out, on the palm of his hand was a small pearwood box.

She held the box in one hand and passed by Wang Caozhi, who was facing away from the pavilion.

Wang Caozhi turned his head and was frightened like an antelope drinking water by the river and being attacked by a lion.

Ouyang Rong's expression remained unchanged, and his eyes quietly fell on the pear wood box in Rong Zhen's hand.

"Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Rong." He greeted her in a calm tone.

Rong Zhen looked straight ahead, and when he passed by Wang Caozhi, he didn't even glance at him.

She shook her head.

"It's not hard. It's Shopkeeper Wang who is hard. It seems that I didn't do something right and Shopkeeper Wang was wronged."

Ouyang Rong saw that Wang Caozhi quickly lowered his head, wiped his face with his hands, then raised his head and forced a smile:

"Good morning, Madam. I'm not wronged. It's nothing! It's just the people below who are gossiping and trying to sow discord among us. Madam, please don't take it seriously..."

The look of a woman in the boudoir complaining loudly not long ago is gone, and if you don’t know her, you would think she has become a different person.

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but take a closer look at Wang Caozhi who was so motivated in front of the lady historian.

"Oh."

Rong Zhen didn't look at him and replied calmly, her attention focused on Ouyang Rong:

"Awaited."

Ouyang Rong shook his head.

The two stood face to face, neither of them moved.

Wang Caozhi looked around, then looked at Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen with some surprise, as if he was curious as to why they suddenly became quiet.

Until Rong Zhen turned around and gave him an unnecessary look with an expressionless face.

"..."

The corner of Wang Caozhi's eye twitched.

He bowed and left.

"Brother-in-law, Madam, please take your time chatting. I'll be waiting for you outside."

Seeing Wang Caozhi leaving the pavilion, Rong Zhen withdrew his gaze and handed over the pearwood box.

Ouyang Rong took the box without opening it. He put it aside as if he didn't care and chatted with Rong Zhen with his hands behind his back.

"What have you found? Did Ms. Rong figure out why Li Zhengyan and the others were looking for this article?"

Rong Zhen frowned, shook his head gently and said nothing.

Ouyang Rong turned his head and looked at the forest where Rong Zhen had just gone.

The piano music started improvising, faded away, and now it has disappeared.

Ouyang Rong gently shook the pearwood box in his hand and gestured:

"Ms. Rong is no longer needed, right? Then I will hand it over to Chief Clerk Yuan on her behalf?"

Rong Zhen didn't know what he was thinking. His eyes were a little dazed and he nodded habitually.

"Madam, is there anything else you need? If not, I will leave now."

"Wait, why don't you go meet Senior Song and the others? Princess Anhui is here today too, so you can go back together like you did last time."

"Forget it. I'm in a hurry. Besides..." Ouyang Rong stretched out an empty hand, "I didn't wear the Buddhist beads. When I met Deputy Supervisor Song, she also said that I didn't follow the etiquette and didn't care about His Majesty."

"That's fine too... By the way, I will be at the state prison in Xunyangfang tomorrow afternoon to examine the prisoners... It's not far from your Huaiye Lane."

Rong Zhen added this for no reason, as if he was asking what he had for lunch.

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Yeah."

He seemed to be worried, his eyes kept on the pear wood box, and he turned around and prepared to leave; Rong Zhen also turned around and left at almost the same time.

Ouyang Rong paused, turned around, and added:
"Then I'll go over and take a look when I have time. The state prison, right? By the way, is your Overwatch Council trying the prisoners that were arrested a few days ago?"

"OK."

I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but the ending tone of Ms. Madam’s voice seems to be a little bit prolonged.

Rong Zhen left with brisk steps.

Wang Caozhi, who was waiting outside the pavilion, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the lady historian finally come out. He took advantage of the opportunity and hurried into the pavilion to continue chatting with Ouyang Rong.

Rong Zhen had just walked a few steps out of the pavilion when he suddenly turned around and looked at Wang Caozhi.

The latter's foot-lifting movement got stuck.

Rong Zhen said nothing, just looked at Wang Caozhi quietly.

Her eyebrows were calm, the corners of her lips were turned down, and her pretty face was expressionless as usual.

The atmosphere at the entrance of the pavilion was silent for a moment.

Rong Zhen turned around and continued to walk away.

Wang Caozhi lowered his head obediently and followed her steps.

The two walked away one after the other, without saying anything from beginning to end.

Inside the pavilion, after Rong Zhen walked out, Ouyang Rong's attention was all focused on the pearwood box in his hand.

In fact, he still has more confidence in Wang Caozhi's abilities.

Although this kid has been complaining a lot just now, he doesn't seem to be really slacking off, which means that the current level is still within his acceptable range.

Moreover, if Wang Caozhi really did not do a good job, Rong Zhen would have come up and asked Ouyang Rong to replace him.

I haven't asked him to change it yet. It's not a big problem.

And, to be honest, at this critical stage of the Buddha's landing, who isn't busy on the construction site? Everyone is busy, including Ms. Rong. Ouyang Rong saw that she looked a little tired. She had as many things to worry about as Wang Caozhi did, and it was exhausting...

"Forget it. I'll see Ms. Rong tomorrow afternoon and help him speak up. I just forgot about it." Ouyang Rong muttered.

After a moment, he rubbed his face.

Carrying the pear wood box, he quickly returned to Xunyang City.

……

"Madam..."

"Manager Wang has rested, do you have time now?"

Wang Caozhi was interrupted in the middle of his speech and scratched his head weakly:

"Yes... yes."

"it is good."

Rong Zhen frowned and gave Wang Cao an order.

Upon hearing that it was another hard labor, the latter left with a sad face, like a wilted eggplant.

Rong Zhen's eyes don't squint.

Returned to the temporary camp at Xunyang Grottoes.

She walked straight into a large tent near the place where the Buddha head was placed, where two women, one old and one young, were chatting.

It was Nanny Song and Wei Anhui...

About an hour later.

Outside the Xunyang Grottoes, on an official road leading to Xunyang City.

Princess Anhui's carriage was ready to set off, with a group of black-clad guards guarding in front of the carriage.

Rong Zhen sent Wei Anhui from the camp to the front of the carriage.

"Princess, be careful on the road."

"Well, I'm sorry for taking up Sister Rong's time. Sister Rong should also take care of her health, just like Senior Song..."

Wei Anhui, who was wearing a veil, turned around and gave gentle instructions. Her soft voice made it hard for people not to like her.

Rong Zhen shook his head without saying anything, then turned his head to look at the four female officials following behind him.

"You should also go back and send the princess back to the city."

"Yes."

The four female officials immediately joined the team of black-clad guards.

At this moment, a middle-aged female official hurried over to the camp, carrying a blue-gray floral bag in her hand, which seemed heavy.

"Madam, is this your lost property?"

The middle-aged female official handed over the bundle with both hands.

Rong Zhen looked back, frowned and asked:
"What lost property? I don't carry this kind of stuff with me. Where did you find it?"

Wei Anhui was holding up her skirt with both hands and preparing to climb onto the shaft of the carriage. Halfway up, she also stopped when she heard the words and turned back curiously. The middle-aged female official said hesitantly, "It seems to be over there at the farewell pavilion."

"See you off...in the pavilion?"

"Yes, it's the place where you went to meet Scholar Ouyang just now. Shopkeeper Wang said that he picked it up when he was looking down at the ground outside the pavilion. You were walking in front of him at the time. Shopkeeper Wang said that it must have been dropped by you, and asked you to keep it well."

"What's inside? How can we find the owner if we don't open it? Why don't we take a look? It may not belong to Sister Rong." Wei Anhui on the side asked curiously.

The middle-aged lady saw that Rong Zhen was reluctant to take the gift and didn't know what to do.

Now, hearing what Princess Anhui said and seeing that Rong Zhen did not try to stop her, she began to unpack the bundle of blue-grey floral cloth.

Inside the bundle, there was a bunch of brand new women's accessories, including gold and silver hairpins, pearl hairpins, jade bracelets, and coral ornaments...

Several people looked at Rong Zhen in surprise.

The face of the girl in palace dress was still cold, and she calmly ordered:
"Go back and tell Shopkeeper Wang that this is not mine and he has found the wrong person. Also, throw it on the ground outside the farewell pavilion. The owner must be very anxious after losing so many things and will come back to look for it."

"Um... yes, Madam."

"Also, after you're done with this, go inform Wang Caozhi and tell him to finish his morning work and not to dawdle. Hurry back to the camp and report back. Follow me this afternoon to handle important matters. Today has just begun, why take a break?"

"Understood, Ms. Shi."

The middle-aged lady left with a strange look on her face, carrying a heavy gift bag of expensive women's jewelry.

"It's really interesting. Don't they know that Sister Rong doesn't lack these gold, silver and jewelry?"

Behind the gauze curtain of the shaft, Wei Anhui smiled slightly and spoke jokingly.

Rong Zhen's pretty face was tense.

"And from my impression, Sister Rong doesn't seem to like these fancy outfits."

At this point, Wei Anhui's eyes fell on the mandarin duck jade hairpin on Rong Zhen's hair. She hadn't noticed it before, so she said softly:
"Sister Rong is also wearing this hairpin? It's very popular in the city recently, and the price is quite expensive, and it keeps going up... I heard that it became a trend because the little princess of Xunyang Palace wore the same style at the New Year's Eve dinner, and many people are imitating her..."

Rong Zhen suddenly interrupted:
"I don't spend money. Besides...it's not me who imitates, it's her who imitates me."

After saying these two words, the cold girl in palace dress turned and left, not even giving Wei Anhui time to react.

Wei Anhui watched the figure of Sister Rong, who was walking away with her head held high and sleeves rolled up, looking like a white swan, muttering to himself.

"Your Highness the Little Princess and the others are imitating Sister Rong?"

……

Return to the carriage at the Ashleaf Lane mansion.

Ouyang Rong opened the pear wood box impatiently.

The box is lined with a red cloth pad, which together protects a silk book.

The material of the silk book is old, and as soon as you open the box you can smell a strange, stale smell.

Ouyang Rong pinched his nose.

He had never smelled anything so bad before.

It should be some kind of anti-corrosion measure to prevent the silk book from rotting.

Ouyang Rong opened the car window to take a breath, took out a pair of prepared silk gloves and put them on, then began to carefully take out the silk book.

Spread out slowly.

There are densely packed ink characters on the silk book, the handwriting is flowing and some are written in freehand cursive style.

It is the original text of "Peach Blossom Spring", signed by Mr. Wu Liu, which is the name Tao Yuanming used to call himself.

As long as Jingzhao Yuanshi is not lying, this should be Tao Yuanming's handwriting from hundreds of years ago.

In addition, there were many seals on this silk book. Ouyang Rong saw the most conspicuous private seal of the Jingzhao Yuan family. These should be the routine hobbies of collectors of all generations - stamping.

Ouyang Rong shook his head. He was not here to pay attention to this.

At this moment, holding "Peach Blossom Spring" in his hands, Ouyang Rong closed his eyes in the bumpy carriage, seeming to recite something.

Just like Han Shi's sword technique "Returning to the Countryside", he had already memorized "Peach Blossom Spring" by heart, but this was not the point.

According to his own experience, as long as the sword techniques of the Ding Sword are written by the sword wielder himself and he has comprehended them, they will contain a corresponding true meaning of the Ding Sword.

Just like the half-portion of the sword technique "Inscription on Chrysanthemum" written by Ouyang Rong before.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was silent.

Time passed by minute by minute.

He tried three times.

"This is not a sword technique."

Ouyang Rong suddenly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

There was no emotion in his heart just now.

Ouyang Rong closed the silk book and casually threw it into the box. He lowered his head and looked at it, his brows showing a thoughtful look, and murmured:

“Unless it is said that this is not Tao Yuanming’s authentic work, but a fake… But this possibility is not high. After all, the Jingzhao Yuan family was once the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the authenticity of their collection is still not low.

"Then there is only this one possibility. This is not a sword technique... But if it is not a sword technique, why would Li Zhengyan, Du Shuqing and the others come all the way to question Yuan Huaimin?
"At that time, they were looking for "Returning Home" and "Peach Blossom Spring" together. The former is the Hanshi Sword Technique that I know, and the latter, logically, should not be bad either.

“I originally thought that the original manuscript of Peach Blossom Spring was related to the Peach Blossom Spring painting they had, or even… that Peach Blossom Spring painting was a tripod sword.

“This guess is a bit bold, but who can blame the swordsmiths of the Craftsmanship School for being so fond of ‘swords that are not swords, tripods that are not tripods’?

"[Craftsmanship] and Night Pearl are both like this. The former's body is shaped like a glass iris petal, and when it appears, it looks like an 'arc', while the latter's body is a bead, and when it appears, it looks like a 'light spot'...

"This is a 'point' and a 'surface', wait, can't it be...

“Points, lines, and surfaces all three!”

Ouyang Rong's pupils shrank slightly, and a light bulb went off in his head, and he came up with this bold guess.

"From a mathematical perspective, points, lines, and planes are the basic elements of space, which are extremely simple. Regardless of ancient or modern times, the truth is always simple, and they are bound to be the same. So, are these strange swords made in this direction?

"So, there is another Ding sword that is in the shape of a 'line'?"

He took a deep breath.

The more I think about it, the more likely it seems.

"Good fellow, all the swordsmiths in your Craftsmanship School are great mathematicians, right? They are so coordinated in swordmaking."

Ouyang Rong frowned and thought for a while.

"Even if Yuan Huaimin is right, and the Peach Blossom Spring painting was really painted by Wu Daozi, then the Peach Blossom Spring painting may not be Ding Jian, but the blank scroll itself may not be certain..."

Still unwilling to give up, Ouyang Rong grabbed the silk book in the box, hesitated for a moment, found a relatively hidden and inconspicuous place on the silk book... and tapped it.

It was as simple and crude as the test of whether the Night Pearl was the Ding Sword in the Pure Land Palace not long ago.

At this moment, looking at the paper scraps and ink powder in the cracks of his fingernails, he looked slightly disappointed. The original copy of "Peach Blossom Spring" in his hand should have no chance of being associated with the Ding Sword or the Sword Technique.

After a while, Ouyang Rong put the silk book away and put it back into the wooden box.

He glanced at the almost imperceptible small button mark on the silk book, covered his mouth with his hands and coughed with guilt.
"Brother Huaimin is a generous person by nature. I'm sure he wouldn't care even if he knew... ahem."

However, although this was not what he had been expecting, Ouyang Rong had a need for Tao Yuanming's original work. After he had "reluctantly" accepted the imperial edict, he had made tentative inquiries... Soon, the look of loss on his face disappeared.

After returning to the residence in Huaiye Lane, Ouyang Rong went straight back to the study, opened the wardrobe, and found Miaosi.

However, before looking for this clever little creature, Ouyang Rong hid the original manuscript of Peach Blossom Spring, placed it in the carriage outside, and even stuffed it into a sword case to isolate it from the literary aura, deliberately preventing her from finding it.

According to his understanding of this little ink essence, this aged ink with precious literary spirit of ancient celebrities might be swallowed up in one gulp.

Ouyang Rong sighed, what a spendthrift little girl.

On the wardrobe, a young girl in Confucian clothes who had just woken up was holding a minibus with her hands and swinging her short legs.

After listening to Ouyang Rong's words with a yawn, Miaosi's little face gradually became alert.

"Why do you need more spiritual ink? You ask me for it every day, and I don't have any left."

Ouyang Rong said sternly: "Speak properly."

"Speak nicely, Ouyang Lianghan, you are shameless."

"You eat my food and drink my drinks, and you only put in a little effort, and you still say I'm shameless?"

"Hmph." She crossed her arms over her chest, a look of displeasure on her face.

Ouyang Rong appealed to their reason and feelings:

"I'm short of spiritual ink now. I used it up last time I drew a talisman. I urgently need another one in case of emergency."

She rolled her eyes and said, "That's fine, but I want delicious food."

"The literary style is easy to say. Write it now. How much do you want?"

"No, I want the literary style of your poem "Qingyu'an Lantern Festival". It is delicious, like delicacies from the mountains and the sea. Everything else is just bran."

Ouyang Rong frowned instantly, and the atmosphere around him became quiet.

He noticed Miao Si's little sidelong glance, and he knew in his heart that this was a deliberate attempt to make things difficult and bargain.

"Well, forget it if it doesn't work..." Miao Si pretended to say.

"Who said no?"

Ouyang Rong interrupted immediately, paused, and said in a serious tone:
"You said so. Now that you have it back, you will produce spiritual ink obediently."

Seeing his decisive attitude, Miao Si shrank her head slightly.

She squatted down, hugged her knees, lowered her head and drew circles, muttering softly: "Giving birth? Why does it sound like you humans giving birth to a child..."

"Then squeeze in."

"..."

"Okay, okay, okay, give me some literary energy from "Qingyu'an: Yuan Xi" and I'll give it to you."

"it is good."

"Hey, where are you going?"

Ouyang Rong ignored him. Under Miaosi's curious gaze, he walked to the table and started writing.

"Xiao Rongzi, what are you doing? Hey, you can't really take it back from the bad woman, right?" Miao Si felt like a cat scratching her heart, so she jumped onto the desk and moved closer curiously.

Ouyang Rong ignored him and continued writing his own poems. Miao Si saw him writing several poems about the bright moon, and she immediately shook her head:
"Write now? How can that be possible? I've already said it. I won't eat the ordinary ones. I only want the ones from 'Qing Yu An Lantern Festival'."

Ouyang Rong curled his lips and did not answer.

"Hey, why do you smell so familiar?"

She shrugged her nose, looking suspicious.

Seeing that Ouyang Rong ignored him, he became more suspicious.

The little nun in the palm-sized Confucian dress put her hands on her hips and said loudly:

"Ouyang Lianghan, did you steal this fairy's treasure? Although I don't know what it is, you must have taken it, right? Hand it over quickly."

Ouyang Rong didn't buy it, and smiled with a fake smile, "Haha, do you have any treasures hidden?"

Miaosi looked around and acted cute and silly.

After a while, Ouyang Rong straightened his clothes and strode out. At the back door, Ouyang Rong whispered to Ali who was feeding him hay:
"Go to Prince Xunyang's Mansion."

"Yes, son."

After getting on the carriage, Ouyang Rong first took out several poems about the bright moon and put them into a pear wood box together with Tao Yuanming's authentic silk book.

He closed the pearwood box, placed it on his knees, covered the box with his palm, and habitually tapped the lid with his knuckles.

Amid the rhythm, Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly, as if thinking. This time he was going to look for Li Guoer...

Halfway through the journey, he closed his eyes to rest when he suddenly thought of something. He bent down and took out a long violin case from under the seat.

"I've tried common words like full moon and moon goddess before, but they didn't work. So let's try new keywords and see if they work."

Ouyang Rong's expression brewed for a moment, then he lowered his head and shouted tentatively:

"Taoyuan... Peach Blossom... Peach Blossom Spring... Peach Moon? Yuanyue? Peach God?"

There was no movement from the sword box, no blessing was triggered in the ears.

But these awkward words almost exhausted all of Ouyang Rong's brain cells that could be used for association. It was really strange. What else could he think of?

He couldn't help but mutter:
"That won't work, then we can only combine them...

"Source... God? Circle God?"

Night Pearl: ???

【Craftsmanship】：……

……

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(PS: 7k words two-in-one, 3 chapters have been released this month, and 19 chapters are still to be released.

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(End of this chapter)