Chapter 137: Chapter 137: The Master Chef’s Apprentice

Kong Chan left like a gust of wind. Xia Wenjin said to Huangfu Jingchen, “When this man plays a monk, he looks solemn and compassionate, but look at him now! Does he have the slightest demeanor of a monk?”

Huangfu Jingchen chuckled and said, “He never was a real monk to begin with. Besides, if someone shows us this side of themselves, doesn’t that mean they are being honest with us to some extent?”

Xia Wenjin’s eyes deepened as she glanced unexpectedly at Huangfu Jingchen.

She had already sensed this, but didn’t expect Huangfu Jingchen felt the same.

Huangfu Jingchen watched her carefully flip the venison, and the faint aroma of meat wafted out. He finally said, “Do you really plan to disguise yourself as a woman?”

Xia Wenjin continued to focus on roasting the meat, “What’s wrong with that?”

After all, she is a woman!

Huangfu Jingchen pressed his lips together and said, “If you change your mind, just tell me anytime. I’ll go instead!”

Xia Wenjin turned her head to look at him. The young man’s gaze was earnest and his eyes sincere.

She nodded, but smiled and said, “I still think it’s less dangerous in the Zen room!”

Since Xia Wenjin was convinced, Huangfu Jingchen didn’t say much.

Currently, the back of the mountain and the Zen rooms were clearly the two problematic areas in Shian Temple. From the current situation, the back of the mountain indeed seemed more dangerous. Hopefully, the child-seeking Zen room was really just about chanting sutras and reciting Buddha, the monotonous things!

That night, the Zen room where Kong Chan stayed was continuously filled with the aroma of meat. Luckily, it was in a secluded area and also downwind. Otherwise, wouldn’t that smell have caused unrest throughout the temple?

The two of them ate just one piece each and were full; the remaining meat weighed about forty-five pounds. Kong Chan stayed eagerly by the fire, waiting; whenever Xia Wenjin finished roasting a piece, he would eat a piece. He even went out twice to gather firewood.

When Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen ate, they used a dagger to slice the meat into thin strips and ate elegantly, whereas Kong Chan stuffed entire pieces into his mouth, chewing with bulging cheeks, his mouth full of oil!

In the middle of the night, when the meat was finally roasted and eaten, he didn’t feel full or stuffed at all! Still rubbing his flat belly contentedly, he said, “Finally half-full!”

The sight of the monk drooling in satisfaction made Xia Wenjin both amused and annoyed.

Had she encountered a glutton? Or a bottomless pit.

No wonder he felt the mountain chickens were insufficient and went hunting for such a big game.

Kong Chan seemed to be savoring it and finally commented, “Your cooking skills are indeed excellent, even better than what I’ve tasted from renowned chefs in the Capital City! I thought you were bragging, but it turns out it’s unforgettable! Luckily my reaction was quick, or I almost swallowed my tongue several times!”

Xia Wenjin: “…”

She wouldn’t tell him that she learned her roasting skills from the enigmatic owner behind those famous chefs, who casually taught a few tricks to a disciple, which upheld the reputation of such a “renowned chef.”

She still remembered the delicious feeling when she had that meat, wanting to swallow her tongue.

But that was a past life.

Why dwell on bygone memories?

Thinking about spending the entire day rushing around, they hadn’t even considered changing the Zen room. If they returned, there would still be only one Zen room. Since Kong Chan had a vacant room there, they could each occupy one for now.

Early the next morning, Xia Wenjin descended the mountain.

Before leaving, Kong Chan asked if she wanted to take him along, this capable Disguise Master, which Xia Wenjin firmly refused.

She was also skilled in disguise, no worse than Kong Chan.

Besides, she only needed to change into women’s clothing and make herself appear slightly older.

Shortly after Xia Wenjin descended the mountain, Huangfu Jingchen also left but soon returned.

After the lottery event ended, Shian Temple, which should have been quiet for two days, welcomed more incense guests from afar.

It was said they didn’t dare attend the lottery event.

The reception monk came out to greet them, seeing a soft sedan chair, with a dozen house servants surrounding it, a steward, and a maid nearby. With such an entourage, the incoming individual was clearly of noble status.

The reception monk clasped his hands together, “Amitabha, upon entering the temple gates, please alight from your sedan chair and walk!”

This was the rule of Shian Temple; regardless of one’s status, one must dismount from horses or sedan chairs upon reaching the temple gate, so as not to disturb the Bodhisattva, also demonstrating the incense guest’s sincerity.

The soft sedan chair stopped, and a middle-aged man dressed as a steward said to those inside the chair, “Madam, what do you think…”

A gentle and clear voice replied, “We have come here with a request, and since it is the temple’s rule, we shall comply!”

The steward stepped forward to lift the sedan curtain, and the maid stepped up to help the person inside the chair out.

The reception monk and a few other monks behind him were momentarily stunned when the curtain was lifted.

The woman who stepped out was around twenty years old, dressed in simple, unadorned attire, with no makeup, yet her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like serene autumn waters, her nose like a suspended jade pillar, her lips like cherry blossoms touched with red, and her skin smooth and delicate like cream…

Such a beautiful woman, even without fine clothes and makeup, was stunning enough to leave one breathless. One could only wonder what celestial beauty she would be with luxurious robes and cosmetics.

The steward cleared his throat softly, bringing the monks back to their senses, and they quickly lowered their eyes, focusing their gaze. The reception monk stepped forward and said, “May I ask if the benefactor has come to the mountain to offer incense or to worship Buddha?”

The lady softly parted her cherry lips, her voice calm and pleasant, “This Shian Temple is famous far and wide, we came specifically to offer incense and worship Buddha!”

The reception monk said, “Please, benefactor, this way!”

As the steward passed by the reception monk, he whispered, “Madam’s family is named Zhang from Zongtai County. She has been married for five years without any children. Having heard that Shian Temple is effective in granting children, we started our journey ten days ago, rushing all the way to arrive today. Is there any place for Madam to bathe and change clothes to wash away the dust?”

The reception monk hurriedly replied, “Benefactor’s sincerity and determination will surely move the Bodhisattva, and your wish will definitely be fulfilled. As for accommodation, the lottery event has just finished, freeing up many Zen rooms where you may rest.”

The group was arranged to stay in an independent Zen temple.

Over the years, due to the thriving incense offerings, Shian Temple expanded and built many Zen rooms specifically for incense guests. Those from wealthy families, along with their family and servants, would be arranged in a courtyard, both convenient and considerate.

Of course, whether one stayed in a large or small courtyard depended on the incense money; Mrs. Zhang’s steward presented a silver note worth one thousand taels. Such generosity ensured attentive attention from the temple.

The news of Mrs. Zhang seeking a child was, of course, promptly reported.

Once Mrs. Zhang and her group settled in and freshened up, the deacon in charge of all reception monks personally came to inform Mrs. Zhang that to pray for a child, one must first kneel before the main hall, then enter a designated Zen room to recite sutras, lasting one to three nights. He inquired about Mrs. Zhang’s preference.

Mrs. Zhang had her steward convey that she had come from afar to pray for a child, her heart eager, so the sooner she could start, the better!

The deacon then escorted Mrs. Zhang and her retinue to the hall to carry out the relevant ritual.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep