βIt was alright . Just a bit over a hundred yuan for a box . β When Wang Yougui said that, he wore a complacent look . For a box of four mooncakes to cost over a hundred, those were definitely some extravagant mooncakes . At the very least, he wouldnβt bear eating them himself . Then he asked Dog Song, βWhat kind of mooncakes are yours?β
Dog Song chuckled . βI spent a huge sum . I bought the best mooncakes there were . They were made with backyard chicken eggs, imported ingredients, and handmade by a hired chef! Just one box cost more than three hundred!β
Upon hearing that, Shao Min, Zhao Gang, and Xue Zong were astounded . Someone was actually going up the mountain to deliver mooncakes to the monk? For real?
Shao Min could not help but mumble, βThereβs no way thereβs such a coincidence, right? Could he have heard our complaints and found someone to put on an act for us? This monk cares too much about his face . β
Xue Zong knitted his brows as well . What Shao Min said wasnβt impossible . After all, young adults definitely cared a lot about face .
Zhao Gang was in no rush to make a conclusion as he said, βContinue watching . β
Shao Min and Xue Zong were not in a hurry either . They decided to stay a while and watch . Shao Min sneered and said, βI want to see how they will carry out this act! For a monastery like Daming Monastery, dozens if not a hundred devotees gift them mooncakes . Is he trying to make up the numbers with two people? Hmph . β
Xue Zong and Zhao Gang did not say a word .
βHeh, nice going . You sure are generous . It looks like youβve made quite a bit of money recently,β said Wang Yougui with a smile .
Dog Song smiled ruefully . βStop teasing me . Itβs also because itβs for Abbot Fangzheng . I wouldnβt bear buying something so expensive for myself . β
Wang Yougui nodded and said, βEveryone knows very well the reason behind our villageβs current state this year . Out of the neighboring villages, none of them were as poor as ours . But this year? Thanks to Fangzheng, our village has really lifted itself out of poverty . We are even starting to become rich . Frost Bamboo has brought us tourism and rural tourism . The bamboo carvings have given us large numbers of orders . All the families are busy, and everyone benefits monetarily from it . It could be said that our village is number one among all the neighboring villages now! Itβs necessary we thank him . β
Dog Song nodded . βThatβs right . I was some hooligan in the past . Now, Iβm a role model . What I owe him cannot be returned . β
βTheir acting sure is good . β Shao Min mumbled inwardly .
At that moment, another person came . It was Sun Qiancheng with Mengmeng . Mengmeng was eating a mooncake which she was holding in her hand . Her face and clothes were covered in mooncake crumbs . Her tiny face with baby fat cheeks was ruddy as her two plaints came flowing down . She looked especially adorable . Sun Qiancheng had a huge bag of mooncakes in his hand . Most importantly, Sun Qiancheng had a woman behind her .
Dog Song pricked up his brows when he saw this . He said in a pleasant surprise, βHey, isnβt this Sister-in-law? Are you back to see Mengmeng for the festivities?β
The woman nodded . βThatβs right . Iβm back to see Mengmeng . I heard that Qiangcheng changed for the better immensely, that his business was going well, etc . So I came back to take a look . β
βHaha, so what do you think after seeing it?β Dog Song said with a smile .
βWhat else? Great!β When the woman said that, she smiled especially happily before continuing . βBefore returning, I always thought Qiancheng was bragging, but I never expected our village would be doing so well . This bamboo carving and rural tourism thing really brings great business . How nice!β
The woman had never been to school . Her voice was quite loud, and she spoke rather forcefully .
Dog Song laughed out loud . βI long since told you our village was no longer the same! By the way, Sister-in-law, are you still returning to the south to work after the festivities?β
βWhat for!? The factory is like an unending grind . I work to exhaustion only to earn two to three thousand yuan . That can now easily be earned here at home . β The woman rolled her eyes at Dog Song .
Dog Song said excitedly, βSo you mean, youβre staying?β
βYes! Iβm not leaving! Iβll stay at home with Mengmeng and Old Sun,β the woman answered candidly .
Wang Yougui, Dog Song, and Sun Qiancheng all smiled . It was very common for families like Sun Qianchengβs family to have a couple get separated . Many families had the entire family together during the farming season, but once the farm work entered a lull, one of the family members would head out to the factories to work so as to make money for the family . Some would even have the entire family head out to work . Furthermore, once their child left for work or studies, some would rather go out to work overtime daily then return to suffer while working the farms . For a period, the village would have fewer people, especially able young adults, which made the village appear rather desolate .
However, as the benefits which Frost Bamboo and bamboo carvings brought to the village increased, more and more men, women, and children were returning to the villages . Coupled with the apprentices that came from other villages, One Finger Village instantly became quite bustling .
And the one most deeply aware of this was none other than the Village Chief Wang Yougui! He had wished to improve the village into moderate prosperity his entire life . However, with time, the villageβs population dropped and just when he was almost in despair, things changed for the better . With the present-day results, Wang Yougui would even chuckle in his sleep . At every village chief meeting or gathering, he would appear especially spirited . He was the envy of many .
When Dog Song asked, it turned out Sun Qiancheng was also there to deliver mooncakes .
Zhao Gang mumbled . βIt looks real . β
βWhat do you mean real? If that monk Fangzheng is as awesome as they said, would only a few people from such a huge village come? I think itβs just an act,β said Shao Min .
Just as she finished her sentence, Dog Song exclaimed, βAiyah! Chen Jin, you came too? Donβt tell me you are here to deliver mooncakes?β
βObviously . Fangzheng saved our entire family . I naturally have to gift him some mooncakes for the festivities,β joked Chen Jin with a rebuking tone .
Shao Min fell silent . Chen Jinβs family was huge . It was a family of five comprising of Chen Jin and his wife, his son, daughter-in-law, and his grandson . It didnβt look like an act .
βCould that monk reallyβ¦ have such a high standing among the people? Heβs not some fake monk?β Shao Minβs heart weighed with her doubts .
At that moment, Zhao Gang patted Shao Minβs shoulders and gestured into the distance .
Shao Min looked over and saw that a huge group of people were coming out of the village . All of them carried bags of various sizes . They carried fruits, beverages, vegetables, and snacks . Although they all carried something different, there was one thing in common . Everyone had a gift box of mooncakes! And the packaging definitely didnβt look cheap!
When these people came, Dog Song and company greeted them one after another . Everyone began chatting and indeed, everyone was there to gift mooncakes to Fangzheng . The reason why they didnβt head up the mountain early in the morning was that they were busy with their farm work back home . As it was autumn, there was more farm work . Even during a festival, they needed to finish their work .
Upon hearing all of this, Shao Min wore a bitter look . If one or two people could be said to be actors, it was clearly impossible for so many people to be acting . Who would invite so many people to put on an act for three people!?
Shao Min suddenly realized that she might have made a mistake . Her assumptions had made her misjudge and maligne the monk .
When Xue Zong saw Shao Minβs state, he hugged her gently and whispered, βThese are all villagers from One Finger Village, and itβs like theyβre all family . So, itβs normal that they share a good relationship . Besides, you were doing it out of good intentions . Just donβt be too rash in the future . β
Shao Min nodded slightly . She did feel a little better when she heard that they were villagers and were akin to family . This meant that Fangzhengβs influence wasnβt that great . It was still focused on a single village . This reduced the blow inflicted on her . After all, offending an unknown monk was different from offending a famous master .
But the moment that was said, more people came from a distance .
βHey, isnβt that Zhao Baolinβs family from Hongtang Village?β
βHehe, isnβt that the prince of anti-gambling from our neighboring village?β
βHaha, I see Fatty and Monkey again . Those two guys have changed cars again!β
βProfessor Jiang and his disciples are here too! I thought they returned for the festivities and wouldnβt be coming . But here they are with gifts . Man, this will be a blast . β
Everyone chatted as names after names were thrown out . Xue Zong and Shao Min blushed in embarrassment . They had really belittled Fangzheng .
Especially when Xue Zong saw Guan Xiangfeng walking behind Jiang Zhou, his brows pricked up even higher . βI think I see Guan Xiangfeng from the Guan family there? Why would this guy who always has his nose up in the air be here? I heard that he has been studying bamboo carving from a masterβ¦ Could it be?β
βIsnβt Jiang Zhou our provinceβs famous carving master? Why is he here too? And heβs here to gift Abbot Fangzheng mooncakes?β Zhao Gang exclaimed in surprise .
If the ones from before were villagers, it would only prove that Fangzheng was a good person . But with these people appearing, it accentuated Fangzhengβs standing immediately! It implied that he was definitely a master; if not, why would another master come bearing gifts?
Having seen this, Shao Minβs eyes were wavering . She finally gritted her teeth and rushed straight for Guan Xiangfeng .
βEh? Shao Min, why are you here?β Guan Xiangfeng was stunned when he saw the young woman appear suddenly .
βLet me ask you a question . Whatβs with the bodhi tree on the mountain? Wonβt it die from the cold during winter?β Shao Min went straight to the point .
Guan Xiangfeng had been in the village for quite a while, so he naturally knew the situation of One Finger Monastery very well . He laughed . βDie from the cold? Stop kidding . That tree has been on the mountain for years . It froze to death once but suddenly revived last winter . Its leaves are luxuriant, even more luxuriant than the old trees grown natively in the northeast . Itβs one of the huge miracles of One Finger Monastery . β
βReally? You arenβt lying to me?β Shao Min asked with her face flushed red .
βWhy would I? Everyone around here knows that . You can ask anyone if you donβt believe me . Iβm telling you, Abbot Fangzheng is a master! An otherworldly master . His carving skills are even better than my masterβs . We are even learning bamboo carving from him . β Guan Xiangfeng was fully convinced by Fangzhengβs abilities and revered him greatly .
His words were also heard by Xue Zong and Zhao Gang who came walking over .
The trio exchanged looks, and the two men saw the bitterness in Shao Minβs eyes .
Seeing how the villagers were heading up the mountain with bags of different sizes, Xue Zong patted Shao Min on the shoulder . βAlright, stop thinking about it . Letβs go . β
Shao Min gritted her teeth and finally stamped her feet . βNo, I want to go up the mountain!β
βShao Min, arenβt you done yet?β Zhao Gang was left completely speechless .
Xue Zong wore a look of helplessness as well .
βWho said Iβm going up to stir trouble . I might have a bad temper, but Iβm not unreasonable! Since Iβm wrong, Iβm wrong . I shouldnβt have been so fierce against the monk . Since itβs my fault, canβt I apologize?β With that said, Shao Min went up the mountain .
Zhao Gang and Xue Zong exchanged looks and laughed . Immediately, they called out for her and followed her up the mountain .