Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 143 Care
Xie Yuyan responded to the monk Zhiyuan, but his gaze also fell on Wang Yan.

Wang Yan's eyes were lowered, and he seemed lost in thought.

Xie Yuyan was slightly surprised. Since she arrived here, Wang Yan had always had a sharp gaze whenever she saw him, and rarely had he been so absent-minded. It seemed he was distracted by state affairs.

Could it be... news has leaked from the palace? It shouldn't be this early.

Xie Yuyan walked forward, followed by Yan Sui with his head down.

"Is this the great monk's disciple?" Xie Yuyan looked at Monk Zhiyuan.

The monk Zhiyuan performed a Buddhist salute: "I am indeed a lay disciple of a monk."

Xie Yuyan looked at Yan Sui: "Then let this young resident tell us, is it a good thing that the bell of Baode Temple is famous?"

Yan Sui glanced at Xie Yuyan cautiously. He had been waiting at the foot of the mountain just now to meet this... kind person, to say a few words to her, and hopefully to find out some information.

She did see him, but not only did she not get any information from him, she also saw through all the secrets in his heart.

Yan Sui still doesn't understand how this female benefactor figured out that he was secretly studying Taoist scriptures. That's one thing, but she also knew that he liked to hide things behind Buddha statues.

No, she didn't know; she got it from him.

Yan Sui was afraid that Xie Yuyan would reveal his secret, so he had no choice but to agree, "It's a good thing."

“Just now, at the foot of the mountain, I saw a master about to beat his servant. Someone reminded him that the temple bell should not be exposed to such things, and the master immediately stopped.”

Xie Yuyan looked at Monk Zhiyuan: "Recently, everyone has been speculating whether this bell will be rung on the second day of the lunar month."

"The war in the north had just ended when a Buddhist bell over a hundred years old was discovered at Baode Temple in Daming Prefecture. This is an auspicious sign."

"When Daming Prefecture is at peace, the bell tolls. The blessed can hear the echo from ten miles away."

"The master was afraid that he would miss the bell, so the servant was spared a beating."

"If the great bell becomes famous in the future, it might be able to protect the people of this region. Wouldn't what the monk said come true? Since it's all a good thing, why should the abbot worry so much?"

These words...

It's not unreasonable.

The monk Zhiyuan closed his eyes and began chanting Buddhist scriptures, and then his clear voice entered my ears again.

“By having the abbot diligently recite scriptures, am I not planting a good seed? He will surely receive blessings in the future.”

Monk Zhiyuan suddenly opened his eyes, and a bright smile immediately came into view.

"Amitabha." Monk Zhiyuan trembled inwardly. He dared not say that this was far-fetched and made no sense at all.

But he couldn't help but chant scriptures in his heart to solidify his Buddhist faith.

So... what exactly is right and what is wrong?

Xie Yuyan sat down, beckoned to Yan Sui, and whispered, "I brought some offerings. I'd like to trouble you, young attendant, to put them in the Buddhist hall for me."

Yan Sui nodded and was about to walk out.

Xie Yuyan said, "Don't forget to exchange some tribute for me; I need to take it back and distribute it to my clansmen."

Yan Sui immediately pouted. He had originally intended to take the opportunity to leave, but after she said that, he had to turn back.

Xie Yuyan's gaze lingered on Yan Sui for a long time. He noticed the tattered clothes on Yan Sui's body and the fake smile on his face, all of which seemed so familiar.

In her previous life, she had a rare period of peace and happiness in a Taoist temple. Her master did his best to protect her, ensuring that she did not suffer any grievances during the most difficult days.

It was her good fortune to meet her master.

Now that they've reunited here, she can finally repay them in some way.

Wang Yan looked at Xie Yuyan, whose lips curled into a smile again, her eyes never leaving Yan Sui. She didn't even notice his scrutiny. Thinking of this, his gaze deepened, and he fumbled for the teacup in his hand. Yan Sui was someone she knew.

Not here, but at... her time. That's why she was happy.

When you meet the person you want to see, things are naturally different.

Xie Yuyan turned his head: "Was that little fellow also a child picked up by the great monk?"

Monk Zhiyuan said, "Two years ago, he fell seriously ill and was abandoned outside the temple with a letter tucked into his body, revealing his name and origin."

Xie Yuyan said, "His family hasn't come looking for him yet?"

Monk Zhiyuan sighed: "No."

Yan Sui had been hoping his family would come, but... there was no news at all. Now he wouldn't even call himself by his own surname, only letting people call him: Yan Sui.

Xie Yuyan didn't know why her master was unwilling to be ordained. If she could choose whether he wanted to become a monk or remain in the secular world, she felt it would be the latter.

There were simply too many things that Master couldn't abstain from. He often talked about his wine and meat, and he couldn't forget his grandmaster, his benefactors, and his disciples.

Therefore, she could not take her master away immediately. She missed her master, but there was still a great master here.

Fortunately, she's here now. Baode Temple will get better, and everything can be done gradually.

Xie Yuyan took a box from Mama Yu and handed it to Monk Zhiyuan.

Having learned from his previous experience with the charcoal, Monk Zhiyuan was reluctant to lend a hand.

Things from female benefactors are never easy to bear.

Xie Yuyan said, "It's just a few lifelike flowers, not worth much money."

She then looked at Wang Yan and said, "Lord Wang also has some." The implication was that the monk didn't need to worry.

Wang Yan remained calm, appearing no different from usual. He seemed to have just remembered the lifelike flowers and casually said to Monk Zhiyuan, "Madam Xie and the women of the village made these; they are quite unique. Abbot, why don't you take a look?"

Wang Yan had already said it, and Monk Zhiyuan subconsciously reached out his hand, showing that he still trusted Benefactor Wang deep down.

When the box was opened, there were indeed several lifelike flowers inside.

“These are very beautiful, but,” said Monk Zhiyuan, “the temple can’t really use them.” Are we going to put them on the offering table?
“In the next couple of days, some scholars will come to the temple. They will bring some incense money to help rebuild the main hall,” Xie Yuyan said, glancing around intentionally. “But I’m afraid the temple has nothing to return the favor.”

The monk Zhiyuan blushed.

Some temples will prepare prayer beads, sculpt a few Bodhisattva statues, or scriptures to give to believers.

Their Baode Temple was already at its wits' end, and the things they made were extremely crude and truly unpresentable.

Xie Yuyan said, "The great monk can give these lifelike flowers to them."

Wang Yan looked into the box. Among these lifelike flowers, there was no dogwood. He hadn't intended to speak, but at that moment, he became somewhat interested.

“Madam Xie doesn’t have many of these lifelike flowers,” Wang Yan said. “Why don’t you send them to a few people to express your feelings?”

Xie Yuyan had exactly that in mind, and now that Wang Yan had brought it up, she could save herself some trouble.

Monk Zhiyuan subconsciously gripped his prayer beads; he felt a familiarity with this atmosphere.

This meditation room is not suitable for lingering any longer.

But his legs wouldn't obey him.

Wang Yan said calmly, "I think the abbot is having a hard time. Why don't I write down a few names, and my wife write down a few, and we can send them to the abbot for selection? If any of these people pass the imperial examination next year, then the abbot's Baode Temple will truly become the number one temple in Daming Prefecture."

Monk Zhiyuan stood there stunned, almost dropping the lifelike flower in his hand.

So this isn't a lifelike flower, but... yet another deceptive trick?

(End of this chapter)