Xia Xin was lingering with Jiangli in the side hall when the loud knock came again at the door.
"Do we have another visitor today?" Xia Xin exclaimed.
He couldn’t help but look towards Jiangli.
Jiangli replied, "It must be pilgrims. You go and tend to them; I’ll check out the science education."
With that, she pulled out her smartphone and continued watching educational videos.
Looking at Jiangli engrossed in science, Xia Xin, his face a mask of sweat, hurriedly strode out.
As he opened the door, there stood Chen Tianxu, along with a group of boys and girls.
Xia Xin asked, "Are you all together?"
Chen Tianxu quickly shook his head: "No, brother. They’re here to offer incense. I’m here to do homework."
Xia Xin burst into laughter, "Well aren’t you diligent. Go ahead inside."
Chen Tianxu, looking like a regular, obediently replied with an "Okay!" and scampered off to the side hall with his backpack.
Xia Xin then turned to the others and asked, "And you are?"
"We’re just here to burn incense. Didn’t they say you get a free divination with your incense?"
The group stared at Xia Xin with hopeful anticipation in their questions.
Hearing their words, Xia Xin knew they had caught wind of the offer online and followed it here; he fully opened the heavy double doors and said, "Then please come in, just head straight to the main hall, and I’ll prepare the incense."
The group followed Xia Xin into Jiaoyang Temple, faces alight with excitement and expectation.
Seeing the unimpressive Jiaoyang Temple, quite a few were disappointed.
They had imagined it to be a quaint and famous historical site.
But, it indeed had a rustic charm.
Besides being rustic, it seemed there was not much else.
The Taoist temple wasn’t very large.
However, it was compensated by the quiet environment, which inexplicably induced a sense of peace in those who entered.
Since they were already here, they didn’t dwell on it further.
Even if they just came for the Abbot’s free divination, it was still worth the trip.
The visitors entered the main hall in single file, bubbling with subdued excitement.
Xia Xin fetched a box of sandalwood incense and explained the procedures for offering incense before distributing it to them.
Everyone took their incense sticks, lined up, and one by one offered incense and bowed reverently.
No sooner had they finished their respects than someone excitedly asked, "Now that we’ve offered incense, can we go see the Abbot for divination?"
Xia Xin could tell they were specifically there for the free divination promised by the old ancestors and couldn’t help but smile wryly.
After Chen Tianxu entered the side hall, he became rather well-behaved, quieting his steps and carefully making his way to sit opposite Jiangli, bowing deeply. "Abbot, I’ve come to borrow a place to do my homework."
Jiangli was engrossed in her phone, not even looking up. "Sit wherever you want."
She reached into a drawer beside her, took out some snacks, and handed them to him. "These are all bought by Xia Xin; help yourself. Don’t mind me; I won’t host you."
Chen Tianxu, utterly flattered, hurriedly accepted the snacks, thanked her, and then sat down across from Jiangli with his backpack down.
While taking out his homework, he watched Jiangli’s expressions and said, "Abbot, Uncle Su told me about yesterday. He said you helped him and that your words were really effective!"
Jiangli glanced up at him for a moment. "When have my words ever not been effective?"
Chen Tianxu chuckled, "Right, right, the Abbot’s words are always effective!"
Jiangli grabbed a bag of chips for herself and asked, "By the way, how are your parents?"
Chen Tianxu’s smile faded. Putting on an exaggeratedly weary air, he sighed. "After a lot of thought, I still told my mom about my dad’s affair. My dad came clean too... so, they’ve decided to get a divorce today. I didn’t want to go with them, so I came here by myself."