Cheng Chi clearly hadn’t expected Fayu Temple to have designs on him.
He smiled and said, “When you go to Jinling to raise funds, if I’m still in Jinling, I’ll naturally do my duty.”
The guest monk said “Oh,” and asked curiously, “Does Benefactor Cheng have plans to travel far in the near future?”
“Travel far is too much to say,” Cheng Chi smiled. “It’s just that I manage the household affairs, and I’m away from home seven out of ten days. Of the three days I’m home, I often have social engagements, rarely having a moment of leisure. I’m just afraid you might come when I happen to be away. However, I’ll instruct the household steward so that at the very least you won’t get lost in Jinling!” By the end, his words carried a teasing tone.
As for making introductions and such, he didn’t mention it at all.
The guest monk couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed.
He had thought that someone as young and successful as Cheng Chi would usually care greatly about face, and with a few kind words would agree even if reluctant… He hadn’t expected to run into an iron wall.
However, nothing in this world happened overnight. He would just have to find ways to continue wearing down this Benefactor Cheng with persistent effort.
He continued smiling warmly and attentively accompanying Cheng Chi and the others up the mountain.
But Old Madam Guo was advanced in years after all, and by the time they’d walked halfway, she was already gasping for breath.
Zhou Shaojin, who was walking beside Old Madam Guo, and Cheng Chi, who had been watching his mother, immediately noticed. One went to support Old Madam, while the other said, “We’ve walked for quite a while and are tired. Let’s rest here.”
Zhou Shaojin quickly agreed.
Biyu, who was accompanying them, hurried to take a cushion from a young servant and placed it on a nearby bluestone.
Zhou Shaojin helped Old Madam Guo sit down, only then noticing that to their east was a beach.
As the azure waves rippled, the sea and sky became one color. When the waves surged, it was like a white line rolling forward. This made Zhou Shaojin, who had never seen the sea before, not only amazed but also found it extremely beautiful.
She couldn’t help but point into the distance, saying, “Old Madam, look!”
Old Madam Guo looked in that direction, just as a wave came crashing in, splashing up countless spray.
“The scenery is very beautiful,” Old Madam Guo smiled and nodded.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I wonder whether the tidal bore of Qiantang River is more beautiful or the beach at Mount Putuo!”
“Each has its own merits,” Cheng Chi said, having walked over at some point. He stood behind Zhou Shaojin looking at the beach. “The waves here are broad and vast, while the waves there are like ten thousand galloping horses. You’ll know once you go see them.”
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel anticipation.
Old Madam Guo stood up and walked forward a few steps, gazing at the small islands in the distance.
Chun Wan tugged at Zhou Shaojin’s sleeve, silently mouthing the words “combs.”
She was asking when they could go shopping.
Zhou Shaojin’s brow furrowed slightly.
Ji Ying asked quietly, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Zhou Shaojin said, then felt it wouldn’t be bad to tell Ji Ying about this. Perhaps Ji Ying could think of a solution. So she added, “We need to buy some things to take back. I wonder when we can go shopping?”
“We?” Ji Ying said quietly. “You don’t mean you and your maid, do you?”
Zhou Shaojin’s face reddened slightly as she said, “I need to buy things to take back as gifts too!”
Ji Ying was exasperated and said, “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about such worldly things. What can I even say to you?”
“Then don’t say anything,” Zhou Shaojin smiled with pressed lips. “Some people like beautiful scenery, some people like shopping. Isn’t going out to have fun just about doing what you enjoy?”
“Fine, fine. I won’t talk to you anymore,” Ji Ying pretended to be angry and said softly. “You just keep thinking about what things to buy to take back!”
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes curved into crescents, making Cheng Chi, who was standing nearby and couldn’t help but overhear, secretly smile to himself.
He hadn’t expected that this girl, who appeared gentle and docile, would speak and act with such straightforward wisdom that seemed foolish but was actually clever.
Huiji Temple naturally couldn’t compare with the magnificent and imposing Fayu Temple, but it was built among highland forests, peaceful and tranquil. Standing at the mountain gate, one could look down over Mount Putuo, and beyond the gate were birdsong and fragrant flowers with peculiar and secluded peaks—another kind of pleasure altogether.
The guest monk in the temple, having received notice, hurried out to greet them.
Cheng Chi led them on a tour around Huiji Temple. They struck the bell at the bell tower, drank tea at the pavilion behind the mountain, donated five hundred taels of silver as incense money, and seeing it was getting late, were led by the Fayu Temple guest monk back to Fayu Temple via the southern mountain path.
After this round trip, except for Cheng Chi and a few others, everyone looked weary. After hastily eating a vegetarian meal, they each returned to their rooms to rest.
With familiar Chun Wan accompanying her, and Cheng Chi traveling with them, Zhou Shaojin quickly fell asleep in the unfamiliar room. The next day she was awakened by Chun Wan.
She bashfully washed and dressed, then hurried to Old Madam Guo’s quarters.
Old Madam Guo was waiting for Cheng Chi to come have breakfast together. Seeing Zhou Shaojin wearing a lotus-colored plain lake-silk vest, her jet-black hair in a bun with a small red-gold lilac flower, looking fresh and pretty like a budding crabapple blossom, her mood improved considerably. She couldn’t help but smile and say, “You’re dressed so beautifully today. At your young age, you should dress like this more often.”
Zhou Shaojin blushed and responded “Yes,” but looked up to see Cheng Chi walking in.
He wore a dark fine-cloth Daoist robe, his expression gentle and modest, his bearing free and easy, as if he were a figure who had walked out of a painting.
“Mother!” He stepped forward and bowed to Old Madam Guo, saying, “I’ve asked the temple to hold a ceremony for us. Would you like to go watch later?”
Old Madam Guo nodded.
After breakfast, they went together to the side hall of the Imperial Stele Hall.
Prayer mats had already been laid out.
Eighty-one monks prayed for the Cheng family’s blessings.
The wooden clappers sounded, incense and candles were lit, and the great hall filled with the scent of sandalwood.
Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo followed the monks in chanting several scrolls of scripture before leaving the great hall.