Chapter 344: Chapter 122: Fortune_2
Yueying nodded and said, “Then you carry on with your tasks, third younger sister.”
Just as she turned around, Yueyao said, “Elder sister, if you can’t finish copying next time, I hope you can tell me earlier. It’s very rushed in such a short amount of time.”
Feeling at fault, Yueying mumbled, “Okay.”
Yueyao looked towards the trunks and said to the two maids, “Don’t let them know about the things inside.” Yueyao did not want them to know about the tonics and medicinal ingredients. She didn’t want to share the tonics because those sent by Ma’s Mansion must be of good quality. As for the medicinal ingredients, she was absolutely unwilling to let Yueying and the others use them, fearing that without a doctor’s prescription, she couldn’t bear the responsibility if something went wrong.
Once Cai Yun returned to Ma’s Mansion, she reported everything she had seen and heard to Zhuang Ruolan: “Young lady, you have no idea how devout Cousin Miss is. She follows the temple bells for morning and evening prayers every day and spends every day copying scriptures. I heard Hua Lei say that Cousin Miss has even memorized the scriptures.”
Ruo Lan nodded after listening, “Very good, not complaining about hardship but silently doing what needs to be done,” and asked, “Did Cousin Miss say anything else?”
After Cai Yun repeated Yueyao’s words, she handed Zhuang Ruolan the letter Yueyao had written. After reading it, Zhuang Ruolan nodded and said, “Give this letter to the Old Master later.”
Cai Yun agreed and then, after thinking for a moment, added, “Young lady, the Cousin Miss didn’t use the main house. She said that it’s for the host family and they couldn’t stay there. Four people squeezed into two rooms seemed a bit cramped to me.”
Ruo Lan smiled and said, “Next time you deliver things, remember to tell Yueyao to move into the main house. The main house just got heating installed; it will be very cold if she doesn’t move there in the winter.” Ruo Lan said this because she kept forgetting many things due to her pregnancy.
Cai Yun answered with a smile, “Okay.”
In Zhaohua Temple, Yueyao heard the Little Novice Monk coming and couldn’t help but smile to herself–this child was really early.
The Little Novice Monk took the twelve Scripture Scrolls returned by Yueyao and asked curiously, “Female benefactor, have you really finished copying all the scriptures? You can’t just sloppily get it over with.”
Yueyao replied with a light laugh, “I have finished copying. If little master doesn’t believe me, you can go check the room; the scriptures are all placed inside.”
To verify Yueyao’s claim, the Little Novice Monk followed her into the room and flipped through the copied scriptures. The handwriting was neat, and the characters were beautifully written. It was clear that Yueyao had been serious about the task.
The Little Novice Monk solemnly said, “Female benefactor, simply copying isn’t enough. You must memorize these scriptural texts in your heart to truly show devotion to Buddha.” The Little Novice Monk didn’t mean to give Yueyao a hard time but felt that she and the others were insincere, as if they were rushing to complete a task.
Yueying interjected from the side, “Little Monk, we’ve worked hard to finish copying in such a short time. How can you be so demanding? Monks…”
Yueyao turned and gave Yueying a look filled with fury, intending to have the Little Novice Monk speak well of her to his Monk master–she wouldn’t allow Yueying to offend the Little Novice Monk.
Yueying was frightened by that fierce look and dared not continue.
Turning back, Yueyao looked at the Little Novice Monk with a frown and a smile, “While copying, I’ve also silently remembered some.” Seeing the Little Novice Monk’s skeptical expression, Yueyao smiled and said, “You can examine me and see if I’m bragging.” She wanted to leave an impression of having a connection with Buddha in front of the Little Novice Monk.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the Little Novice Monk began, “Buddha ra she ye, hu lu hu lu mo ra, hu lu hu lu xi li, so ra so ra, sir ru sir ru, su lu…” The Little Novice Monk recited, looking at Yueyao, clearly expectant for her to continue.
Yueyao did not hesitate for a second: “Su lu, bodhiye, bodhiye, po troye, po troye, mi di li ye, na ro jin chi, di li ser ni na…”
The Little Novice Monk was stunned by Yueyao’s fluency, even surpassing his own. He no longer had the heart to test her further.
After Hua Lei nudged the Little Novice Monk, he finally snapped out of his daze and asked Yueyao whether she understood the meaning of the Scripture Scrolls.
In order not to appear too showy, Yueyao deliberately explained with some hesitation; even so, she amazed the Little Novice Monk with her insight. “You can rest assured, I will tell my master,” he said. Initially, his master had wanted him to check the Scripture Scrolls Yueyao copied, because what mattered to the monks was not anything else but whether your heart was truly devout. Now that she could recite them, there was no need to check any further.
Yueyao let Hua Lei escort the Little Novice Monk out, a faint smile on her face; perhaps the purpose of her stay at Zhaohua Temple might indeed come to fruition.
Hua Lei also stuffed a package of snacks into the Little Novice Monk’s hand, making him feel somewhat embarrassed. Hua Lei said with a smile, “Take it, you’re growing and should eat more good things.”