Transmigration: A Farm Girl's Brocade-Chapter 74 - Eavesdroppers on the Other Side of the

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Eavesdroppers on the Other Side of the Wall_1

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Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Eavesdroppers on the Other Side of the Wall_1

“But, selling items in the monastery with you doesn’t seem quite appropriate,” Hongji said with difficulty.

Qian Yixiu replied, “Little Master, rest assured, I won’t shout about it, I’ll just walk around the courtyard. If they initiate to buy, I will sell. If they don’t, I won’t even talk. How about it? I’m helping you take care of Monkey Brother after all, and it’s especially gluttonous and delicate. We are already poor at home, and I have to save money to buy it treats. Haven’t you noticed how thin I’ve gotten? I’ve helped you with such a big favor, and you won’t even help me with this little one?”

Monkey Brother was so angry that its little face reddened further, and it cried out in displeasure. Its little owner was spouting nonsense; when had there ever been savings for treats? Just look at the ragged clothes worn; it was a testament of hard times indeed.

The Little Monk didn’t notice the Little monkey, glanced at Qian Yixiu, indeed very thin, and scratched his bald head, greatly troubled.

Qian Yixiu softened her voice and continued pleading, “Just leading me around once could potentially allow my grandpa and my mom to continue their treatment, enable my brother to continue his studies, and ensure our whole family along with Monkey Brother have enough to eat. This is a very good deed—are you really not going to do it?”

The Little Monk, hearing her reasonable plea, had no choice but to agree resignedly, “All right, I’ll take you for a walk. Remember, don’t shout about it, and don’t enter the courtyards where the pilgrims rest without permission. If you disturb the peace of the ladies, not only will you be driven out, but I will also be scolded. If you can’t sell everything here, just sell outside the temple. At worst, I’ll invite you to have a vegetarian meal, saving you the cost of a meal.”

Qian Yixiu nodded and thanked him, then asked, “Have the family of Old Great-grandpa Song from Song Qiao in Xizhou Mansion and the family of Sir Di, Di Shu arrived yet?”

The Little Monk nodded, “Both families have indeed arrived; I even saw them with Senior Liang this morning.”

Qian Yixiu pushed her luck, “Let’s walk slower when we pass by the Song family courtyard, it would be best if we could catch their attention. And go faster when passing the Di family courtyard—I don’t want to sell in their courtyard.”

The Little Monk was confused again, “Why? You sure have a lot of demands.”

Qian Yixiu did not hide anything from the naïve Little Monk and said helplessly, “The Song family has a manor across the river from our village. Little Master, as you know, our family is sick and weak, so we have no means to fight back when bullied. I’ve heard that Old Great-grandpa Song has an excellent reputation for justice and helping the people. I wish to take the chance while selling items to try my luck and make an appearance before the Song Family master. If our family truly falls on hard times, maybe I could seek help from the steward of the Song family manor. I know it’s unrealistic for a country girl like me to cling to the Song Family master’s ‘thick thigh’… but, I’ll do my best. If I can’t reach the master, befriending a steward or a steward lady would also be good.”

Hongji led them forward, then asked, “Then why wouldn’t you want to go to the Di family courtyard?”

“I heard that Old Lady Di is particularly… um, her vision isn’t quite there—sometimes pearls can look like fish eyes to her…”

As their voices trailed off into the distance, a burst of laughter, sounding like a duck’s quack, emanated from the small courtyard, and someone added, “This girl is crafty at such a young age, a real monkey spirit. Master, you’re a sage monk, can you tell if this girl is the reincarnation of a monkey?”

In the small chamber behind the wooden lattices, two heads were looking out, one was Liang Jinzhao, the other an old monk with white beard and eyebrows.

The Old Monk chuckled, “Even if she was the reincarnation of a monkey, she’s not necessarily more cunning than that Little Benefactor.”

Liang Jinzhao had made a casual remark, but did not expect Master Hong Yuan to compliment her so. Surprised, he said, “Oh? Is that girl really such a─monkey spirit?”

The Old Monk pinched his fingers and responded indirectly with a smile, “I must congratulate Hong Wei, as the stubborn illness that has troubled you for many years might finally have a chance to be cured.”

“Really?” Liang Jinzhao was overjoyed. “Does that mean there’s a possibility of completely curing your disciple’s illness?”

The old monk laughed and said, “Everything must rely on the words ‘chance’ and ‘opportunity.’ Just by happening to meet the right person, at the right time, doing the right thing, some impossible matters can become possible.”

Liang Jinzhao, after hearing the old monk’s words, jumped up excitedly and said, “That’s wonderful! With this, I’ll be able to join the military for training.”

The old monk waved his hand and said, “Hong Wei must not be hasty, these things cannot be rushed, success comes when the conditions are right…”

Liang Jinzhao listened, half-understanding but aware that the disease that had troubled him for many years finally had a chance of being cured, he was overwhelmed with emotion.

In his joy, he still felt great sympathy for the orphan of the fallen soldier. Such a young age with so many worries, her family’s life must indeed be difficult, seemingly oppressed by wicked people. He thought to return and speak to his fourth uncle, Song Zhixian, and Zhang Yang, to ask the Song and Zhang families to take better care of her.

Suddenly, a little monkey in ragged clothing dashed into the courtyard and, in a flash, climbed into the old monk’s embrace. It was Monkey Brother.

The old monk burst into laughter and said, “You naughty monkey, as soon as you arrive, you scare the nearby macaques into hiding…”

Qian Yixiu, unaware that walls have ears, followed Hongji around several meditation cells, and in the blink of an eye lost sight of Monkey Brother, becoming anxious.

The little monk said, “Little Benefactor, do not worry; that monkey must have gone to find my master. Its nose is very keen, no matter how far we go it will be able to find us.”

They walked along a quiet path and crossed a small arched bridge. Ahead, several secluded courtyards appeared, specially designed for resting the families of wealthy patrons who came to offer incense.

Qian Yixiu asked Lady Wu, who was timid, to rest in the small pavilion at the bridge side, then she took out a tiger basket from the box and went with the little monk towards those courtyards. They didn’t go in but cheerfully walked past the entrance of each courtyard.

Today was special, as those resting in these courtyards were from the richest and most distinguished families of Ji’an Province. Most of the offerings in the temple came from these affluent families. The patrons who came to the temple to offer incense were personally received by Master Hongyuan himself and today, he even brought his little disciple, Hongji, to meet the guests.

Therefore, the women guarding the courtyards knew that this little monk was the disciple of Master Hongyuan, the most famous Little Monk of high birth at Daci Temple.

They did not dare to shoo away this Little Monk who played here, and they couldn’t help but take a few extra glances at the pretty little girl by his side.

The pretty girl’s smiling face made the bright sunshine brighter, and the occasional burst of her soft, sweet laughter brushed past the ears like a gentle breeze. Also, the tiger basket she swayed back and forth in her hands was weird yet amusing.

As they passed the second courtyard, Hongji stopped under a large tree a few meters from the courtyard gate and started to speak.

A woman, who seemed to be a steward lady, walked out from the courtyard and smiled at the little monk, “Little Master Hongji, are you playing here?”

Although Hongji did not recognize the woman, seeing that she came from that courtyard, he still politely said, “Yes, Poor Monk and this Little Benefactor came to enjoy the scenery.” He added, “How is the Old Benefactor resting? When Poor Monk left, my master was explaining Zen to my senior, Liang.”