Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 280 "Brother Yuan!"

Mrs. Wang’s courtyard.

Lady Wang sat upright in the high hall, slowly turning the prayer beads in her hand, and said to Tan Chun below, "I know you are a filial child. Your aunt's mistake was not because of you, so there's no need for you to come to me to apologize. Why don't you go and persuade your aunt to behave more properly in the future? Everyone is watching. If I don't punish her for her mistake, how can I keep the servants in line?"

Tan Chun obediently complied.

Madam Wang said, "Alright, you should go now."

Tan Chun curtsied, turned around, frowned slightly, sighed, and finally left Madam Wang's room.

Then Zhou Rui's wife came briskly towards them, glancing meaningfully at Tan Chun. When Tan Chun looked at her, she quickly put on a smiling face and then hurried into the room after passing by her.

Just as Zhou Rui's wife was about to speak after exchanging greetings, Yu Chuan'er said, "Madam, Miss Xia has arrived."

Madam Wang immediately smiled and said, "Jin Gui is here? Quickly call her in so I can see her."

Xia Jingui had been in the household for a few days, and not only did Baoyu praise her highly, but even the servants lauded her as 'wise and virtuous'. Xia Jingui was also very perceptive, frequently visiting Lady Wang's room, and thus she caught Lady Wang's eye.
If the Xia family weren't just a group of merchants, Madam Wang would genuinely want to matchmake the two young men. A couple of days ago, she suddenly remembered Chen Siyuan and Daiyu's situation, and Madam Wang came up with a plan—why not follow their example? In this way, Xia Jingui would inherit the Xia family's lineage, and she expected Madam Xia would be satisfied, without delaying Baoyu from marrying another wife.

The more Madam Wang thought about it, the more tempted she became, and she couldn't help but value Xia Jingui even more.

A moment later, Xia Jingui entered with a smile. Although she had been arrogant and willful since childhood, she knew her place. Compared to the mistress of the Rongguo Mansion, the Xia family was really insignificant, so Xia Jingui naturally flattered Madam Wang.

After entering and exchanging greetings, Madam Wang beckoned him forward, taking his hand and saying, "Good child, why aren't you with Baoyu?"

Xia Jingui knew Wang's temperament well, so she frowned and said, "I'm new here, and Bao Er Ye is only interested for a couple of days. How can he come to play with me all day long? He did come recently, but when he heard me say that I wanted to read more books, he was a little unhappy."

Madam Wang's face immediately darkened as she said, "My son, what you say is right. Baoyu has indeed been a bit lazy lately."

Lady Wang didn't mention the need for strict discipline later, naturally because Baoyu was being protected by Grandmother Jia at this time. The old lady's position was too high; she, as his mother, couldn't discipline her own son… Where could she find justice in that?

After exchanging a few words, Madam Wang asked Xia Jingui to take a seat.

Zhou Rui's wife, standing to the left, hesitated, unsure whether to reply.

To show her trust, Madam Wang said directly, "Jin Gui is not an outsider, so please feel free to speak your mind."

Zhou Rui's wife agreed and pondered for a moment before saying, "Madam, I don't know where the gossip has been going on these past two days, but it's said that you intend to keep Lan'er in your room to raise him."

Madam Wang squinted at Zhou Rui's wife and said, "That's interesting. Do you know where this news came from?"

Zhou Rui's wife said, "Everyone around is talking about it, and I don't know where to start investigating."

Madam Wang said, "It's just idle gossip anyway, let's just ignore it." After a pause, she added, "By the way, did Zhu Ge's wife hear it?"

Zhou Rui's wife said, "I don't know that, but yesterday Lan'er went to the old lady's place, and then the second mistress found two good servants, and this morning they escorted Lan'er to Master Yuan's new house to study."

Madam Wang was somewhat unwilling and asked again, "Does the old lady have anything else to say?"

"Never."

Lady Wang frowned upon hearing the reply. Such rumors were intended to annoy Grandmother Jia, but the old lady had unexpectedly feigned ignorance, leaving Lady Wang at a loss for what to do.

She was never good at strategizing, and after thinking for a long time, she came up with nothing, so she had no choice but to send Zhou Rui's wife away first.

Xia Jingui sat at the lower end of the table, listening to the two talking, her gaze constantly shifting between Madam Wang and Zhou Rui's wife. Having only been in the Rongguo Mansion for a few days, Xia Jingui had already spent several hundred taels of silver, and with the help of Granny Hu's advice and analysis, she had naturally grasped most of the situation in the Rongguo Mansion.

Therefore, how could Xia Jingui not know about the dispute between "Grandma Shi" and "Lady Wang"? At that moment, she kept her nose down and her mouth shut, and thought back to what Granny Hu had said in the past two days, in order to report to Lady Wang.

After Zhou Rui's wife left, Madam Wang laughed and said, "It's strange. Why would I need to raise Lan'er? I don't know which good-for-nothing told me to do that."

Xia Jingui's eyes darted around as she smiled and said, "First, the old lady raised Bao Erge, so it's only natural that Madam is raising Lan Ge'er now. Besides, I've heard that Madam has raised Zhu Dage exceptionally well. If he hadn't died young, he would probably be a pillar of the family by now. If Lan Ge'er receives Madam's guidance, he might very well achieve great things in the future."

Madam Wang didn't take it seriously, only laughing and saying, "You're such a smooth talker, girl." After a pause, she added bitterly, "It's just a pity about my Zhu-ge'er..."

Xia Jingui, her mind racing, offered a suggestion: "The deceased is gone, Madam need not grieve any longer. Besides... everything is preordained. Although Brother Zhu did not live to see the end, his intelligence and talent have now been bestowed upon Lan'er. I have heard that a noble person has promised to help him. If Madam teaches him for seven or eight years, Lan'er will surely rise to prominence, and who knows, he might even be able to help Brother Bao in the future."

"Huh?" Madam Wang exclaimed in surprise, and couldn't help but frown and ponder.

Even tigers don't eat their cubs. Although she disliked Li Wan, she never harbored any ill intentions towards her own grandson, Jia Lan—after all, he was Zhu Ge'er's son. Lady Wang was only not very close to Jia Lan because of Li Wan.

Hearing Xia Jingui's words, Lady Wang was immediately intrigued. Baoyu had become a source of great anxiety for her, and she was unwilling to let him remain a wealthy idler, indulging in a life of leisure. She secretly hoped that Baoyu would achieve something great.

However, the old lady kept obstructing her, and Lady Wang fought with the old lady countless times. Although she gained some advantage, she never managed to regain the right to raise Baoyu and the right to marry him.

A few days ago, I went to the palace with Miaoyu. When the eldest daughter heard that her marriage to the Xue family had changed, she frowned and was very unhappy. When Lady Wang inquired about the situation in the palace, the eldest daughter gave vague answers.

Even if Lady Wang were foolish, she would know that Yuan Chun's situation in the palace was not good. She secretly thought that it must be Consort Wu who had used tricks, and she hated Consort Wu's family with a vengeance.

Now that Xia Jingui has given her this hint, Madam Wang has finally realized... Why not take the opportunity to raise Jia Lan in her own room?

Firstly, Jia Lan is still young, and although we weren't very close in the past few years, we might become closer in the future. In that case, if Jia Lan becomes successful in the future, he certainly won't forget his grandmother.
Secondly, since Lan-ge'er has become successful, he might ask that noble person to leave the opportunity for Bao-yu.

As for the third one... Lady Wang has always disliked Li Wan. If Jia Lan were taken away, wouldn't it be perfect to drive Li Wan crazy?

That's killing three birds with one stone! What a brilliant idea!
After thinking it over, Madam Wang smiled and said, "Forget it, I'm getting old now, how can I have the energy to raise Lan'er? Let's talk about this later."

Xia Jingui smiled and nodded, then changed the subject. Stealing a glance at Madam Wang, she saw her smile widen, realizing she had swayed her. Xia Jingui couldn't help but feel secretly pleased, thinking that her mother's earlier description of the Rongguo Mansion as a den of dragons and tigers now seemed nothing more than that.

Suddenly a commotion arose outside, and Madam Wang asked in surprise, "What's going on now?"

A moment later, Yu Chuan'er came in and said, "Madam, it is the two sisters from the You family who have come to visit Master Yuan."

Madam Wang asked suspiciously, "Isn't Yuan-ge'er fully recovered? Why is he here again?"

Yu Chuan'er said, "They said that last night, the fever wouldn't go down, and Xiang Ling and Wu'er were busy all night to bring the fever down."

Lady Wang sighed deeply and immediately sent Yu Chuan to check on things. She herself was lost in thought, but she didn't show it on her face.

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A simple thatched cottage.

Third Sister You and Second Sister You, along with their maids, followed Xiangling quickly to the front of the courtyard. Hongyu, leaning on her cane, came to greet them at the gate. All the women had furrowed brows.

Sister You asked, "How is it?"

Hongyu said, "Master's fever broke early this morning, and the imperial physician changed his dressing, saying that the wound was infected and not doing well... Right now, Madam is so worried that she doesn't know what to do."

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Xing from inside said loudly, "That damned head monk of Fayuan Temple is really arrogant. I don't believe that those bald thieves will dare to refuse us even if we take the master's invitation!"

Then Baochai whispered, "Madam... it's not that the monk is shirking responsibility, but the effects of this mustard brine vary from person to person. In the past, many people obtained this and used it on their patients, but it didn't work and instead caused their deaths... From then on, Fayuan Temple established a rule that only those with Buddhist affinity can obtain this."

You Sanjie nodded to Hongyu and stepped into the courtyard. After entering the main room, she heard Madam Xing say, "These are all old and outdated rules... Never mind, I'll send Lian'er to take the young master to Fayuan Temple tomorrow."

Chen Siyuan, lying on the bed, smiled and said, "Aunt, there's no need to trouble Brother Lian. I can walk and move around now, so I can go by myself."

"Never mind that."

As soon as Madam Xing finished speaking, she glanced at Sister You San and Sister You Er, and seeing that they were both very worried, she frowned slightly but didn't say much. She only gave them a few instructions, then got up, took a note, and went back.

At this moment, only Sister Bao and Xing Xiuyan are present. The three sisters and Daiyu had already come to see them. Yihong Courtyard sent Baochan to see them, and Qixianzhai sent Xiren. Fengjie, Li Wan, and others also came to see them in person. However, the place was cramped, and with people coming in an endless stream, the three sisters and others took their leave first.

After Madam Xing left, Third Sister You threw herself at the bedside and wept uncontrollably. Second Sister You then sought out Sister Bao to offer her advice.

Chen Siyuan smiled and comforted You Sanjie for a few moments, feeling listless and weak all over. He secretly wondered if the wound was inflamed due to a bacterial infection. Since Chen's mustard brine contained penicillin, it should be effective.

The monks might just be mixing penicillin with all sorts of other mycotoxins in the brine, and if someone unlucky enough to have an allergic reaction, they could die. Tomorrow, when we go to Fayuan Temple, Chen Siyuan will definitely request the mustard green brine, but the mustard greens that have grown mold are what he's aiming for.

He carefully used some himself, and it might even be less toxic than that mustard brine.

After crying for a while, Sister You San got up and said, "Second Sister and I will go to Fayuan Temple now. Maybe we two have a connection with Buddhism."

Xing Xiuyan said from the side, "In that case, I'll give it a try too."

Sister Xing had read about both Buddhism and Taoism, thinking that maybe she herself had some affinity with Buddhism.

Chen Siyuan tried to stop them, but no one listened to him. Baochai gave them some careful instructions and then saw the three girls off together.

That day, Chen Siyuan was in a daze and couldn't eat the food that Li Wan brought him. By the afternoon, Chen Siyuan had fallen into a drowsy sleep. Baochai stayed by his side for a while and saw that Chen Siyuan had a fever again, so she and Xiangling quickly wiped strong liquor under his armpits, on his palms and soles.

By evening, Xing Xiuyan returned dejectedly, saying that she, You Erjie, and You Sanjie had gone to Fayuan Temple, but the abbot examined them and said they were not destined to meet, so they had to return empty-handed.

Baochai was also very distressed, and secretly hoped that Chen Siyuan would go in person the next day and catch the eye of the great monk.

Leaving that aside for now, let's talk about Li Wan in Daoxiang Village, who has been keeping this in mind.

At dinner time, Li Wan sent Su Yun to deliver the food. When Su Yun returned, she told Li Wan about Xing Xiuyan and the others' fruitless return. Li Wan frowned immediately.

Then Su Yun said, "Grandma, Uncle Yuan is going in person tomorrow. In that case, does Grandma not need to—"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Wan shook her head and said decisively, "No! It's hard to tell if the Buddhist connection is real or not. I'll go myself; maybe I'll have more opportunities."

Su Yun blinked and quickly said, "I was mistaken."

Suyun and Biyue both noticed that Li Wan was worried about Chen Siyuan, but they simply assumed that their mistress was grateful for Master Yuan's life-saving grace and didn't think much of it.

Li Wan had no interest in farming either, and instead sat silently in her room chanting Buddhist scriptures incessantly. However, the scriptures she was chanting had changed from the Diamond Sutra to the *Samantabhadra's Vows*.

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The next day, Li Wan answered Jia Lan correctly early in the morning, and just after dawn, she led her maid to the front.

The steward, having received instructions from Sister Feng, was already waiting at the ceremonial gate. Since it was just Li Wan and her servants, they traveled lightly and quickly exited through the side gate and headed towards Fayuan Temple in the outer city.

Chen Siyuan's journey was somewhat delayed, as he had a persistent fever last night. It wasn't until this morning, after consulting with Physician Wang and having a light breakfast, that he finally set off for Fayuan Temple by carriage at dawn.

Nafayuan Temple is located in the western part of the outer city. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty and is now a thousand-year-old temple.

Meanwhile, Li Wan and her entourage, traveling light and simply, entered the mountain gate and dismounted only after being led to the guest courtyard by the monk in charge of receiving guests. The steward led the servants forward to greet the monk in charge of receiving guests, and after a short while, they returned and said, "Please wait a moment, Madam. The monk in charge of receiving guests has gone to invite Master Zhishan."

Li Wan nodded in agreement and led her two maids, Suyun and Biyue, into the meditation room to wait. After a while, a Buddhist chant came from outside, the door was pushed open, and a gaunt old monk walked in gracefully.

Li Wan quickly rose and curtsied. The old monk bowed in return and said, "Amitabha, I already know the purpose of your visit, benefactor. However, this is the rule of our temple. That mustard green brine can save people, but it can also harm them. Only those with deep Buddhist affinity can use it. I hope you will understand, benefactor."

Li Wan frowned and asked, "But I don't know how one can be considered to have an affinity with Buddhism?"

Zhi Shan glanced at Li Wan, then shook his head and said, "In this old monk's view, you have deep worldly ties, and are not destined to be with me..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Wan frowned deeply. Su Yun, who was standing to the side, said, "Master, you can judge whether our grandmother has any affinity with Buddhism with just empty words. This statement is hardly convincing."

The old monk, his face expressionless, said, "I know you don't believe me, benefactor. There is a Jade Buddha Hall on the western road. If you don't believe me, just go and worship the Jade Buddha." Biyue asked in surprise, "May I ask, Master, what does this mean?"

Zhi Shan said, “There is a water vat in front of the Jade Buddha Hall. You, the female benefactor, just scoop up some clean water and place it in the golden bowl in front of the Buddha statue. If you, the female benefactor, have a karmic connection with Buddhism, the golden bowl will sink, flowers will bloom, and the Buddha will appear. At that time, there will be no need for this old monk; monks will come of their own accord. Whatever you, the female benefactor, desire, our temple will grant your request.”

Su Yun pondered, "Since it's sinking, we can just keep scooping up more water."

Zhi Shan laughed heartily, bowed again, and then turned and left.

Upon seeing this, Li Wan immediately shook her head and said, "If only it were that simple."

The guest house was on the east side of Fayuan Temple, and it was inconvenient to take a carriage if you went west. After the three of them, master and servant, had a discussion, Biyue went back to the carriage to get a bamboo hat and veil. Li Wan put it on and then headed towards the Jade Buddha Hall.

Upon reaching the main hall on the west side, passing the ancestral hall, one arrives at the Jade Buddha Hall. Li Wan and her servant glance around and see that, indeed, many devout men and women are praying and chanting in front of the hall. Some people are also trembling as they scoop up water and carefully pour it into the golden bowl in the Jade Buddha Hall, then stare intently at the bowl.

Seeing that the golden bowl remained motionless, it cried out in anguish, "Alas, Heaven is going to destroy me! Cough cough..."

Immediately, a novice monk stepped forward and helped the pilgrim walk outside, while the others outside the hall prayed even more fervently.

Su Yun glanced around and said to Li Wan, "Grandma, Bi Yue and I will also ask for a round later. That way we can try three times and have more opportunities."

Li Wan nodded in agreement.

Su Yun then found the young novice monk and obtained the bamboo slip number plate. After returning, she silently waited for Li Wan.

It was only a little past mid-morning, yet a large crowd had already gathered in front of the Jade Buddha Hall. Biyue stepped forward, surveyed the area, and returned to say, "It's still early. There are over thirty people ahead of us; we're probably going to have to wait."

At this moment, a young novice monk came to invite her, because of the reputation of the Rongguo Mansion, and invited Li Wan to rest and wait in the side hall.

Without further ado, after a short while, a young novice monk came to invite them. Li Wan and her two servants mustered their spirits and went to the Jade Buddha Hall. Su Yun said, "Grandma, Bi Yue and I will try first. If it doesn't work, Grandma can ask again."

"Mm," Li Wan replied.

Su Yun stepped forward and scooped up a full ladle of water. She moved gracefully into the Jade Buddha Hall, and after pouring all the water into the ladle, she saw that the golden bowl remained unresponsive. Puzzled, she reached out to press down on the bowl, but it indeed did not move. She frowned and said, "This… could it be a trap?"

A young novice monk standing nearby said, "Female benefactor, please be careful with your words. Just now, a believer left with their wish fulfilled."

Su Yun muttered "strange" and could only frown and turn back.

Biyue learned her lesson and this time scooped in half a cup of water, but just like Suyun, it didn't react at all.

Seeing that both maids had failed, Li Wan became anxious. Holding the ladle, she hesitated for a moment.

As the others urged them on, the young novice monk stepped forward and said, "Female benefactor, there are still people waiting behind us. Please hurry."

Li Wan breathed a sigh of relief, frowned, scooped up some water, and moved towards the Jade Buddha Hall. Upon entering, she saw a huge lotus bud tightly enveloping the Buddha statue, and in front of the lotus platform was a golden alms bowl.

Li Wan felt uneasy and put the ladle down on the ground. She lifted her skirt, knelt on the prayer mat, took off her veil and hat, put her hands together, and prayed to the Buddha statue in the lotus flower: "Good woman Li Lanqiao bows and prays, Buddha, have mercy on my distant brother..."

He was a truly upright and honorable man, yet he contracted a serious illness while saving my son's life. If he can pull through this ordeal, I, your disciple, am willing to be a lifelong vegetarian and recite scriptures a hundred times daily to pray for his longevity.

Just then, a gust of wind blew in, and the eternal lamp in front of the lotus platform flickered incessantly.

Li Wan was startled and quickly kowtowed heavily.

When she stood up, there was a red mark on her forehead, and when she looked at Lianhua, her voice was trembling with tears.

"If Buddha disapproves of my lack of sincerity, I am willing to be a vegetarian for life, offering half of my lifespan in exchange for my brother's recovery—"

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"Sir, slow down."

A soft cough came from inside the carriage. Xiangling helped Chen Siyuan down the carriage on a stool. The servant Qingyu talked with the monk for a while, then turned around and ran back to say, "Master, the monk has arranged a meditation room. Please go and rest first. Zen Master Zhishan will be here in a while."

Then Yunxiang's third sister, Dongmei, came over and said, "Master, you don't know, but this Zen Master Zhishan is the junior brother of Zen Master Zhixin. His cultivation is the most profound. It is said that he can tell past lives and present lives at a glance."

Chen Siyuan was unconvinced. He had tried it before, and even the Spirit Jade was just a gimmick. Where would such a highly accomplished master come from?

As soon as Xiangling stepped into the meditation room and sat down, she frowned and said, "Master, please change your clothes."

Chen Siyuan looked down and saw pus and blood seeping from his shoulder, staining a patch of his clothes.

Chen Siyuan was extremely troubled, wondering if he was really going to die from a bacterial infection. At that moment, Wu'er and Xiangling helped Chen Siyuan take off his outer clothes. Xiangling carefully changed the gauze wrapping and then found a clean set of clothes for Chen Siyuan to change into.

Just then, a Buddhist chant was heard from outside, and soon a gaunt old monk walked in.

Chen Siyuan stood up and bowed. The old monk smelled the strong medicinal smell and couldn't help but ask, "Amitabha, are you injured, benefactor?"

"Indeed, I was wounded by a thief's hidden arrow, and now the wound is festering. I have no choice but to come to your temple to beg for some preserved mustard greens."

Zhi Shan frowned and said, "Chen's mustard green brine is not a panacea. Whether it can cure the disease depends on whether this young master has any affinity with Buddhism."

Chen Siyuan pondered, "Does the Zen master think I have any affinity with Buddhism?"

The old monk examined him closely, then shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Young master, you are deeply attached to worldly desires; I fear you have no affinity with Buddhism."

Hearing this, Xiangling and the others were immediately filled with anxiety.

Chen Siyuan, however, remained unperturbed and said with a smile, "Master, there's no rush. I'd like to donate a thousand catties of sesame oil. Would that be a good match for your temple?"

The old monk chanted Buddhist mantras and said, "Layman, your kindness and generosity are appreciated by our temple. However, this mustard green sauce..."

“Eh? I did not mention such a thing.”

Zhi Shan paused for a moment, then said, "This humble monk is attached to appearances. I wonder if the layperson has any other requests?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "My wound was red and inflamed, and I had a high fever that wouldn't go down at night. I tossed and turned all night, so I looked up some medical books. Besides the mustard greens brine, there was also a widow's ash, which had the same effect as the former... I wondered if there was some connection between the two?"

"Oh?"

Chen Siyuan cupped his hands and said, "I am here to visit your temple for two reasons: first, to request the mustard brine, and second, to see how it is prepared. If I am fortunate enough to discover the secret, and it saves countless lives in the future, your temple will have accumulated immense merit, and I will also be able to share in the good fortune."

Zhi Shan, whose face had remained calm since entering, suddenly became interested upon hearing Chen Siyuan's words. He bowed and said, "Excellent, excellent! Since you, young master, have such a kind intention, this humble monk will naturally grant your request."

Just as he was about to speak, a young novice monk entered and whispered a few words in his ear. Zhi Shan frowned slightly and said, "Unfortunately, a distinguished guest has arrived. This old monk must entertain him. In that case, shall I have my disciple take the layman to see him?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded, saying, "I couldn't ask for more. Zen Master, you may go and handle your affairs."

Zhi Shan bowed again, turned and took his leave. The young novice monk, whose Dharma name was Yuan Kong, then led Chen Siyuan to the back of the main hall in the west.

Seeing that Xiangling and the others were about to follow, the young novice monk immediately said, "Layman, it's not convenient for women to enter that vegetable market. Please see—"

Chen Siyuan thought about it and realized it made sense. It was early summer, and the monks would have to prepare mustard green brine, which would mean they would have to go shirtless. How could they allow female relatives to enter?

He immediately instructed Xiangling and the others to stay in the meditation room and wait. Xiangling and Wu'er were naturally very worried, but Chen Siyuan coughed lightly and said, "Don't worry, I'm feeling better now and I'll be able to make it back. You can wait here and don't need to come with me."

Xiangling had no choice but to agree, and hurried off to find the servant Qingyu. But Qingyu was nowhere to be found, and she couldn't find him anywhere.

Chen Siyuan couldn't wait any longer. He gave a brief instruction and followed the young novice monk to the back.

Chen Siyuan followed the young novice monk out of the guest courtyard, passing the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Great Buddha Hall, and the Great Hero Hall, before turning west and arriving at a spacious courtyard.

In the courtyard, more than twenty large vats were neatly stacked, and shirtless monks were placing fresh mustard greens into an empty vat. A young novice pointed and said, "Layman, look, this is where our monks prepare the mustard green brine."

These mustard greens, exposed to wind and sun, must grow three or four inches of green mold before they can be used. After that, they are moved to the back and buried underground for ten years before they can be harvested.

Chen Siyuan walked with his hands behind his back and casually asked, "So we have to use it?"

The young novice monk boasted, "No, no, it depends on the Buddha's decree." Seeing Chen Siyuan stop and look over, the young novice monk said, "Some of this mustard green brine is useful, but some is too poisonous, so it can only be poured out and sold."

Chen Siyuan slightly covered his mouth and nose, because the place reeked of mold and decay. No wonder the temple was planted with so many flowers and plants; they were probably there to mask the stench.

Chen Siyuan pondered to himself, wondering if the mold had been contaminated with other toxins, such as aflatoxin, during the moldy process. This explained why not every vat of aged mustard brine was effective. As for the deaths that occurred later, it was likely due to a penicillin allergy.
Chen Siyuan said no more and followed the large vats, looking at them one by one, and soon arrived at the back of the Jade Buddha Hall. Just then, the mustard greens in the large vat had become moldy and grown moldy hairs about three inches long.

Chen Siyuan endured the stench, knowing it could save his life. He summoned the young novice and said, "I don't need Chen's mustard greens brine, but I wonder if this green-haired fellow could give me some?"

The young novice monk, remembering his master Zhishan's instructions, quickly nodded and said, "Master previously instructed that you may take whatever you need, young master."

Chen Siyuan thanked the young novice monk, took out a small brocade box from his sleeve, and used clips to carefully pick out the long green hairs. After a while, he finally took out a box.

The young novice monk was bored to death when a shirtless monk called out from afar, "Yuankong! Someone saw the snot on your pants. Go wash them quickly!"

The young novice monk Yuan Kong blushed with embarrassment and no longer cared about keeping him company. He simply apologized and ran off to the back of the meditation hall.

Chen Siyuan shook his head as he listened to the bare-chested monks spouting vulgarities. Indeed, very few monks at this time were truly devoted to Buddhism; most were merely seeking sustenance. Where, then, could they possibly be free from worldly desires?

Just as she was about to get up and turn around, she suddenly heard a woman's sorrowful prayer coming from the Buddhist hall behind her: "Good woman Li Lanqiao kowtows and begs, Buddha, have mercy and have compassion on my distant brother..."

Chen Siyuan was immediately taken aback. The sorrowful voice sounded extremely familiar... It was his sister-in-law, Li Wan.
The back hall door was ajar, so Chen Siyuan gathered the brocade box and pushed the door open to enter.

An echo reverberated within the hall, and Li Wan's prayers became muffled. Only then did Chen Siyuan turn around and see a mechanism behind the lotus platform. After a brief glance, Chen Siyuan noticed a latex ball in the water tank, perfectly positioned over a hole. Water was slowly flowing into it.

After some thought, Chen Siyuan understood: this was using the buoyancy of water to float the latex ball. But what was the purpose of this mechanism?
At this moment, Li Wan said haltingly, "If Buddha dislikes my lack of sincerity, I am willing to be a vegetarian for life, exchanging half of my lifespan for my brother's recovery—ah~ I know my sins are grave, and I shouldn't have had such delusions. For the rest of my life, I wish to serve Buddha from dawn till dusk..."

Chen Siyuan stepped out and saw Li Wan tremblingly carrying the ladle, crawling on her knees to the golden bowl, and carefully pouring the clear water inside. The water then flowed through the pipe under the golden bowl to the water tank behind it.

Li Wan stared at the lotus flower before her, eagerly anticipating its blooming, but after waiting for a long time, it did not move an inch.

Li Wan staggered, and said in despair, "Buddha...won't you forgive your disciple?"

The woman's plaintive questioning made Chen Siyuan's heart clench. After a moment's thought, Chen Siyuan strode out. He didn't know if he would regret it in the future, but he knew that if he didn't leave now, he would probably regret it for the rest of his life.

Just as Li Wan was feeling utterly lost, a large hand suddenly supported her. Li Wan turned her head and looked up, immediately exclaiming in surprise, "Brother Yuan?"

She was dressed in simple clothes, her face streaked with tears, truly a pitiful sight. Chen Siyuan said gently, "Seeking help from gods and Buddhas is not as good as relying on yourself, sister-in-law, please get up."

Li Wan was stunned and bewildered when he helped her up, and she couldn't help but look at the huge lotus flower.

Chen Siyuan glanced around and immediately laughed, "Seeing the real Buddha inside is not difficult, sister-in-law, please wait a moment!" He then let go of her hand, turned around and went to the back.

Li Wan was still at a loss. Chen Siyuan went to the water tank, rolled up his sleeve, reached in and removed the latex ball.

Amidst the rushing water, the mechanism turned, and a creaking sound was heard. The petals slowly unfolded, revealing a jade Buddha about half the size of a human.

Li Wan's eyes widened instantly. When she saw Chen Siyuan slowly emerge from behind the jade Buddha, her heart pounded wildly. She opened her mouth, but all the words she wanted to say were condensed into one sentence: "Brother Yuan!"

(End of this chapter)