In the Mingquan Courtyard, Wu Yun rested quietly on the window lattice, her eyes following Xiaoman's figure as she moved back and forth.
While wiping the table, Xiaoman hummed a folk song from the streets and alleys of the Ning Dynasty: "Angry at their family's wealth and honor, joyful when others face disasters. Some things are beyond one's control, what a pity the heart has turned bad. People's words may not all be true; when listening to words, only believe three parts. Do not form enmity with a petty villain, for a petty villain naturally has their own adversaries..."
A long folk song couldn't be sung to the end. Xiaoman was like a little bee, flying around the room, wiping even the edges and corners clean.
Seeing that nothing new and interesting was going to happen, Wu Yun slowly closed her eyes and went to sleep. Out of twelve shichen in a day, a Cat had to sleep for eight shichen; as she slept, a day would pass just like that.
Turning her head and seeing Wu Yun close her eyes, Xiaoman stealthily approached, wanting to pick her up from the window lattice. But before she could get close, Wu Yun had already opened her eyes and glared at her coldly. Crossing her hands behind her back, Xiaoman hummed a song and walked away as if nothing happened.
"Young Master's Cat is so weird and strange..."
Just as she was muttering to herself, a voice came from outside the doors: "Xiaoman, Xiaoman! Open the door!"
Xiaoman's eyes lit up. "Sister Liqiu!"
She trotted over to open the door. Outside, Liqiu mysteriously and secretively pulled her right into the room.
Once they entered the room, Xiaoman hesitated. "Sister Liqiu, why are you acting so mysterious?"
Liqiu said in a low voice, "There's a good thing like a meat pie falling from the sky. It all depends on whether you want to catch it or not."
Xiaoman curled her lips. "Even if a meat pie fell from the sky, could it possibly hit me? I don't have that kind of good fate."
After saying that, she was about to turn back to wiping the table. Grabbing her arm, Liqiu yanked her back forcefully. "Why don't you listen to what this good thing is first?"
Xiaoman said lazily, "What is it?"
Liqiu lowered her voice. "Someone is offering money, giving you two taels of silver every single month. All you need to do is tell me when your Young Master leaves the estate and when he returns home. If you can find out what your Young Master likes and who he interacts with, they can add an extra three taels."
Xiaoman's eyes widened. "Five taels of silver every month?!"
Suppressing her joy, Liqiu's eyes shone. "How about it? Doing such a trivial minor matter and getting paid for it. Once you save up enough money over two years and marry out of the estate, you won't have to worry about anything for the rest of your life."
Xiaoman's fingers gripped the rag tightly. "No, no, that won't do. Sister Liqiu, you also know that although my Young Master is cowardly and useless, he treats me very well. I cannot treat him like this."
Liqiu became anxious. "Treats you well, my foot! Have you forgotten how exhausting it was for you to empty nightstools and scrub commodes these past two years? Which of these masters truly views us as human beings? And now you've started acting all loyal and devoted? How cheap are you?!"
Xiaoman's expression showed hesitation.
Seeing there was hope, Liqiu hurriedly rolled up Xiaoman's sleeves. "Look at the chilblains on your hands, and look at the cracked cuts on your lips. Weren't you thinking about going to the Eastern Market to buy some rouge paste previously, but couldn't bear to spend the money? Now, by taking this money, not only can you buy rouge paste, but you can also buy the best stone eyebrow pencil to draw your eyebrows, and buy the best soap beans to wash your face until you're fragrant and soft."
Xiaoman whispered, "That still won't do. I cannot harm my Young Master."
Feeling Hate Iron for Not Becoming Steel, Liqiu said, "You little wench, what are you putting on a False Display Of Emotion here for? Like I don't know what kind of person you are? Just say it, how much do you want?"
Xiaoman said Resoundingly and Forcefully, "Ten taels."
Grabbing her wrist, Liqiu high-fived her. "Deal!"
After saying that, she unfastened her pouch and pulled out ten Peanut Silver Nuggets from inside.
Holding out both hands, Xiaoman's eyes were illuminated by the Peanut Silver Nuggets. "So much... Sister Liqiu, the employer probably gave more than ten taels, right? How much were you originally planning to skim off from this deal?"
Liqiu felt somewhat awkward. "I can't make the trip in vain either, right? Older Sister has taken care of you for two years; you should at least let Older Sister rely on you to earn a bit of a retirement dowry. Furthermore, with this matter, I can also follow the Chen Family back to the Capital City. Luo City is so dull and depressing; it's nowhere near as interesting as the Capital City."
Xiaoman's eyes darted around. "Who is the employer?"
Liqiu became vigilant. "Do you understand the rules or not? Could I possibly tell you this? You just need to do your job well."
Xiaoman gave an "Mhm." "Alright, Sister Liqiu. From now on, whenever the Young Master leaves the estate, returns home, what he likes, and who he interacts with, I will quietly tell you everything."
"I didn't dote on you in vain! I'm leaving!" Beaming with joy, Liqiu left, leaving a trail of fragrant scent.
Sticking her head out to confirm she had gone far away, Xiaoman hurriedly lowered her head and counted the Peanut Silver Nuggets in her palm over and over again, terrified she had miscounted.
She cast a glance at Wu Yun on the window lattice, smiling with her eyes curved and revealing her two small canine teeth. Cautiously and carefully, she tucked all the Peanut Silver Nuggets into her robes.
...
...
"The ritual of being a son requires one to warm his parents' bed in winter and cool it in summer, setting their bedding at dusk and inquiring after their health at dawn."
The so-called setting bedding at dusk and inquiring at dawn was a requirement of filial piety: children must pay their respects to their parents in the morning, and serve them when they retired for the night, fetching water to wash their feet and making their beds.
Outside the Buddhist hall, Chen Ji and Chen Wenzong stood respectfully and bowed with clasped hands: "Chen Ji pays his morning respects to Madam."
"Wenzong pays his morning respects to Mother."
Sitting cross-legged inside the Buddhist hall, Madam Liang didn't even turn her head as she said warmly, "During these two years in the medical clinic, Chen Ji has truly grown up. In the past, you used to drag your feet whenever it was time for morning respects, but now, having just returned home, you actually came on your own initiative."
Chen Ji smiled faintly. "It's been two years; I should be a bit more sensible than before."
Standing up from the futon, Madam Liang said with an apologetic expression, "Previously, I neglected to discipline the servants, which led to Wang Gui making a joke of us. Child, you have suffered grievances."
Without showing any outward reaction, Chen Ji clasped his hands. "Madam does not need to blame herself. There are petty villains and honorable gentlemen everywhere. With you worrying about so many matters every day, it's pardonable that certain people found a loophole to exploit."
Madam Liang sighed with emotion. "It is good that you can be understanding. Last night, filled with guilt, I couldn't sleep all night. It was only after reading the Earth Store Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vow Sutra several times that my heart felt slightly at peace. Buddhist teachings truly contain grand Wisdom; they can allow us to return to our bright and tranquil original hearts."
Chen Ji was somewhat bewildered. If you felt guilty, just apologizing to me would be fine; why suddenly start talking about Buddhist teachings?
Changing the subject, Madam Liang said, "Come, Wenzong, Chen Ji. You two don't need to study your academic coursework today. Read Buddhist sutras with me; it will be beneficial for you as well."
Chen Wenzong answered respectfully, "Yes, I shall follow Mother's arrangements."
Chen Ji's heart moved. This Madam Liang felt thoroughly unwilling and unreconciled about being punished to repent in the Buddhist hall herself. One must know, for the primary wife managing the household to be punished to repent in the Buddhist hall completely caused her to lose all face. If she couldn't win this face back in the future, her prestige and dignity before the servants would be completely swept the floor.
Now, the other party had actually found an impeccable excuse that couldn't be faulted to keep him in the Buddhist hall with her.
And to make matters worse, Chen Wenzong had already agreed; he simply had no way to refuse!
Agreeing to it, Chen Ji sat cross-legged on a futon together with Chen Wenzong.
Chen Wenzong asked, "Mother, which book are we reading today?"
Madam Liang said softly, "Let's read the Earth Store Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vow Sutra that I read last night. Recite it aloud in a low voice; Sincerity Leads to Spiritual Fulfillment."
Chen Wenzong nodded. "Alright."
Chen Ji inwardly cried out 'Not good!'
Reading through a copy of the Earth Store Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vow Sutra from start to finish would take a familiar person half a shichen, and an unfamiliar person could even take a full shichen.
It seemed he was destined to eat this mute loss.
Early in the morning, the three of them sat side by side on futons and began reading. Chen Wenzong was the first to finish. After finishing, he sat unhurriedly and calmly to rest his spirit, waiting for Chen Ji.
This was Chen Ji's first time reading this Scripture. Stumbling and stammering through it, he spent a full shichen, his mouth dry and tongue parched.
Just as he was preparing to get up and bid farewell to Madam Liang, he saw Madam Liang stand up and pour a cup of tea for the two of them. "Come, drink some tea water to quench your thirst. Later, we'll read the Great Prajna Sutra."
Chen Ji's eyes wavered slightly. Although he hadn't read the Great Prajna Sutra, he knew it was one of the longest Scriptures in the world. The Earth Store Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vow Sutra was only seventeen thousand characters, but this Great Prajna Sutra had six hundred volumes, totaling four million eight hundred thousand characters!
Madam Liang was dead set on keeping him in the Buddhist hall to vent her anger.
Picking up the teacup, Chen Wenzong took a few shallow sips. "Many thanks to Mother for bestowing tea."
After saying that, he returned to the futon and pulled out a volume of the Great Prajna Sutra.
Seeing this, Chen Ji downed the teacup in one gulp. He also sat down and casually picked a volume.
This time, the three of them read from morning until the sun was three poles high before finishing. Chen Ji read until his mouth was dry, his tongue parched, and his head dizzy and vision blurred.
Using her sleeve, Madam Liang gently dabbed the corners of her mouth. "Alright, today the filial piety of you two can be clearly seen. Go back now, and come again tomorrow."
Chen Wenzong planned to stand up, but Chen Ji grabbed him. "Older Brother, wait a moment."
Chen Wenzong asked curiously, "What is it?"
Sitting cross-legged on the futon, Chen Ji said earnestly, "Older Brother, in the past, perhaps it was because I didn't understand the grand Wisdom within the meanings of the Scriptures that I found them dull and dry. Today, having read two volumes of Buddhist sutras, I kept feeling as if I had understood something, experiencing a hearty, thoroughly enjoyable, and dripping wet feeling of satisfaction. Why don't we stay behind today and accompany Madam to read a few more volumes?"
Chen Wenzong's eyes shone brightly with spirit. "Are these words true?"
Chen Ji said earnestly, "True."
Smiling, Madam Liang stopped them. "That won't do, that won't do. Today you two have already read a lot. You must know that in the ways of conducting oneself and dealing with matters, Haste Makes Waste. You absolutely must not be overly greedy and advance rashly."
Chen Wenzong shook his head. "Mother, this is not being overly greedy and advancing rashly. In the past, Third Brother couldn't absorb the meanings of the Scriptures, saying it was like reading a heavenly book, worrying Father terribly. Now that he can find joy in reading, how can we not help fulfill this for him? We naturally ought to strike while the iron is hot!"
After saying that, Chen Wenzong sat back down cross-legged, picked a volume of the Great Prajna Sutra on his own, and began reading. Chen Ji also picked a volume and earnestly mumbled the words.
A moment later, seeing that Madam Liang still hadn't moved, Chen Ji stopped chanting and asked curiously, "Is Madam not going to read anymore?"
Chen Wenzong also stopped and said, "Mother, how about your son picks a volume for you?"
Smiling, Madam Liang took the Scripture Chen Wenzong handed over. "Alright, then Mother will accompany you two to read for a while longer."
Chen Ji said abruptly, "Sincerity Leads to Spiritual Fulfillment."
Madam Liang's mouth opened slightly. After a long time, she didn't say a word, lowering her head to read the Great Prajna Sutra. She originally had the habit of taking an afternoon nap, but today, she wouldn't be able to sleep.
The three read from noon until evening. After Chen Ji finished one volume, he swapped it for another. Chen Wenzong remained steady and calm as ever; in the time it took Chen Ji to read three volumes, he had already read six volumes.
Whenever there were parts Chen Ji didn't understand, he could answer them one by one.
Chen Ji pondered in his heart, this older brother's academic knowledge truly lived up to the title of Yuzhou's top Jingkui, the Top Provincial Candidate.
By evening, Madam Liang's voice was no longer warm and gentle. She said calmly, "How about we just read until here for today?"
Chen Ji shook his head. "Madam, it is precisely the time to strike while the iron is hot! I currently thirst for knowledge as if parched, and I still want to read a few more volumes."
Madam Liang remained silent for a while. "Alright."
Inside the Buddhist hall, maids and old nannies lit over a dozen candle flames, illuminating the gilded Buddha Statue brilliantly and resplendently.
Beneath the solemn dignity of the Buddha Statue, Chen Ji and Madam Liang were clearly reading Buddhist sutras, yet their expressions grew increasingly distorted and ferocious the more they read. Only Chen Wenzong alone drank it in like sweet dew, knowing no fatigue.
At the deep night of the Hai hour, Chen Ji slowly closed the Great Prajna Sutra in his hands. Madam Liang immediately asked, "Is Chen Ji tired from reading?"
Chen Ji took a deep breath, swapped out another volume, and held it in his hands. "Madam, Sincerity Leads to Spiritual Fulfillment."
(End of this chapter)