The abbot stepped forward, touched Wen Shishi's little hand, and said with a smile, "We'll have porridge right away, okay?"
Wen Shishi's eyes widened, her lips sweet.
The abbot smiled and praised, "Good child!"
They hurriedly instructed the novice monks to bring out the cooked sweet potato porridge.
The novices quickly returned, brought two stacks of bowls, spread them out on the table, and scooped the porridge from the pot into them with spoons.
From the direction the Song brothers were looking, they could see that the porridge they were ladling in was very thin, like rice water...
Looking at the young monks, they were all very thin, just like the abbot.
The Song brothers couldn't bear to see it, and seeing the steaming porridge, they figured it must have been cooked for them...
So Song Chenghou looked at his brothers, stepped forward, took a bowl, and handed it to his second brother, Song Chengjian.
Song Chengjian held Wen Shishi in one arm, and with the other hand, he held a bowl of porridge, blowing on it to cool it down...
He waited until it wasn't so hot before bringing it to Wen Shishi's lips.
Little did anyone know, the little guy was starving and, complaining that Song Chengjian was pouring the porridge too slowly, he held the bowl himself with both hands...
He gulped it down in a few mouthfuls.
The young monks were dumbfounded; it was the first time they had ever seen someone drink sweet potato porridge so deliciously.
With a smile, Song Chengjian took the empty bowl down. Wen Shishi wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes sparkling.
Feeling energized after her meal, she curiously looked around the temple, her eyes darting around, before saying to the abbot, "This place is quite beautiful..."
When she speaks, her small mouth curves, revealing two dimples like the blush on a sparrow's cheek.
Unexpectedly, the little guy had such a sweet tongue, and the abbot immediately smiled kindly.
The Song brothers also smiled.
On behalf of his brothers, Song Chenghou said, “My sister has already eaten her fill. Please, abbot and masters, have the rest of the porridge!”
We brothers aren't hungry yet. We can go out and find something to eat later.
Song Chenghou also recalled that the fisherman who led the way said that the temple did not have much food and that it barely survived thanks to the help of the Tanka people and fishermen.
Song Chenghou couldn't bear to leave his ten brothers alone, so he ate all the food meant for the abbot and the novices.
The abbot, noticing their hesitation, chuckled and said, "You've come from afar, on a long journey, please have something to eat first..."
The sea is bountiful; as long as you work hard, you won't go hungry. However...
It's best not to go out at night; the wind and waves are high, and there are many dangers.
If you'd like to go out for a stroll, you can join the fishermen tomorrow for the 100th day of the lunar month.
The abbot was very hospitable, and the novices were also very friendly. The Song brothers couldn't refuse their hospitality, but they only accepted five bowls...
The two shared a bowl, and the rest was left for the abbot and the novices.
The abbot did not insist. He nodded slightly and instructed the novices to take the remaining porridge to the back room and share it with the other monks.
The abbot could tell from their clothes that they had been exiled here.
However, in previous years, even the lesser-than-ideal convicts would be assigned to Wan'an Prefecture by bribing the officials.
Yazhou is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with nowhere to live and many risks, so the number of convicts sent there was actually very small.
Seeing Song Chengjian shirtless, holding Wen Shishi, who was wearing a prison uniform top...
The damp skirt underneath had soaked most of the top she was wearing...
During the day, devout fisherwomen come to the temple to help with cleaning and sweeping, and can also help young girls wash and change clothes...
The temple is now full of monks, and the Song brothers are all men...
Therefore, the abbot suggested to Song Chenghou that the young novice monk lead one of them to ask a nearby fisherwoman for help to wash and groom Wen Shishi...
Song Chenghou and his brothers were extremely grateful, as it was rare for the abbot to be so thoughtful.
The little girl in their arms was already four or five years old, and it was indeed inconvenient for them to take care of her...
Going to the nearby area to seek help from women would be risky, as they are all men and strangers who have just arrived in this place...
However, with the novice monks sent by the abbot accompanying them, the situation became much easier.
Song Chenghou originally intended to go himself, but was stopped by the tenth brother, Song Chengxin, who said, "Big brother, I'll go!"
After saying that, he followed the novice monk out.
Watching the two figures depart, the abbot said to Song Chenghou, "Benefactor Song, your brotherly affection and respect are excellent..."
Song Chenghou discovered that the abbot spoke in a similar way to them, and his pronunciation was more like that of the Dayin people, only with a slight Hainan Island accent.
So Song Chenghou respectfully asked, "May I ask, Abbot, are you also a member of the Great Yin?"
Since its founding, the Dayin Dynasty has annexed several territories, and its subjects include multiple ethnic groups.
Just like Hainan Island at that time, the Li people originally dominated the island. However, due to the rule of the Dayin people, many Dayin people migrated to the four prefectures and became the most populous ethnic group on Hainan Island.
Next are the Li people, followed by the Dong people, with a small number of Nan Yue people and Japanese mixed in.
The abbot smiled and nodded, "You have discerning eyes, benefactor. This humble monk did indeed travel here ten years ago..."
Discovering that the people had different customs and traditions, he decided to stay and help educate them...
Ten years ago, that was when the Great Yin Dynasty had just recovered Hainan Island...
The hatred between the Dayin people and the local Li people was probably even greater than it is now.
The abbot's determination to stay and help the residents become enlightened is truly immeasurable...
Song Chenghou respectfully bowed to the abbot, as did his other brothers.
The abbot had a brief conversation with the Song brothers and learned that they were the sons of Song Yunsong, the former Minister of Personnel, which made him feel very close to them.
It turns out that when Master Huiyuan was traveling inland during the Great Yin Dynasty, he heard praise for Minister Song from scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants.
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