Wen Yuan's Vacancy at Both Ends_5

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"It has been many years indeed," the old monk patted the eagle, released it, and then he removed the bamboo cylinder that had been tied to the eagle's leg. Using eagles to send messages, I fear, even now in the world, can be considered a rarity."

Unrolling the slip of paper taken from the bamboo cylinder, the old monk read it carefully and said to the man, "Don't worry, this letter is on its way. It should arrive in Beijing within the fifteenth or sixteenth."

It was too cold, so the man and the old monk walked back to the temple side by side to warm up, whispering to each other in low voices.

"What did Mrs. Gu say?"

"I also returned to the temple on the eve of the Lunar New Year a couple of days ago. I've reported all of Mrs. Gu's words to my master. She wants to make two more Jade Pendants. But it might be hard to find the raw jade; someone will have to go to Myanmar in person to pick and choose."

"Won't that delay things?"