Chapter 155 Buying Land and Building a House?
Her reasons were somewhat far-fetched, even appearing somewhat indifferent, but the sincerity in her expression seemed genuine.
Master Chenji listened quietly, his worldly-wise eyes looking at Jiang Ling as if he could see through her unspeakable secret, but he did not point it out.
Monks are compassionate and strive to build good relationships. Since the other party is willing to go to such lengths to find a place for the child to live, and this would indeed help other children in the temple, there seems to be no reason to refuse.
After a long silence, he slowly nodded: "Amitabha. Since you are truly concerned about this child, then by the mercy of Buddha, let him stay in the temple. The temple will arrange for him to do some chores and will also teach him to read and understand principles."
Jiang Ling felt a sense of relief, mixed with gratitude and a touch of indescribable sadness.
"Thank you, Master! I will send someone to deliver the incense money and food tomorrow."
With the dust settled, a worry on my mind has finally been put to rest.
Just then, the sound of children's laughter came from outside.
Jiang Ling and Master Chenji walked to the backyard and saw Xiao Yi squatting on the ground, holding a piece of candy in his hand, handing it to a child who was even younger than him.
The child took the candy and timidly said "thank you".
"Sister!" Xiao Yi saw Jiang Ling, still clutching the last piece of candy in his hand, ran over and handed it to her.
"Sister, eat!"
Jiang Ling squatted down, patted his head, and pushed the candy back: "Xiao Yi, you can eat it yourself, your sister won't eat it."
Xiao Yi blinked twice, not noticing anything, and was about to tear open the candy wrapper.
Jiang Ling paused, then spoke in an exceptionally gentle tone, "Xiao Yi, from now on you can live in the temple and study with the master and the other children, okay? There are many friends here, and you can learn to read, write, and acquire skills."
Xiao Yi's smile froze, and the candy in his hand fell to the ground. He didn't bother to pick it up, and asked softly:
"Sister...don't you want me anymore?"
Xiao Ran, who had just walked over, heard this and stopped in her tracks, no longer moving forward.
"It's not that I don't want you." Jiang Ling felt a pang of sadness and quickly explained.
"I'm busy managing the shop and can't take care of you all the time. But here you'll find a master chef and friends who can make your life better. I'll come to see you often and bring you delicious food, okay?"
Xiao Yi looked up at Jiang Ling, then at Master Chen Ji behind her, her little head seeming to have sensed something.
It seems I know I can't change this decision.
He lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes but not falling. After a long while, he nodded gently.
“I will listen to my sister… I will stay at the temple, study hard, and work hard.”
Master Chenji walked over, patted Xiaoyi's head, and said gently, "Xiaoyi, don't be afraid. The senior brothers and sisters in the temple will take care of you. We are all family."
Xiao Ran also came over, her tone still a bit fierce, but less hostile:
"Stay here and behave yourself, don't be as clumsy as you were in the shop."
After saying that, he stuffed the rest of the candy in his hand into Xiaoyi's hands.
Jiang Ling stayed with Xiao Yi in the temple for half an hour, watching him follow an older senior brother to familiarize himself with the living quarters. The small room was crammed with three children, but it was kept very clean.
Watching him squatting in the yard playing with pebbles with the other children, he was initially sullen, but later he also laughed out loud.
Jiang Ling bit her lip and turned to go down the mountain only after Xiao Yi was called away by her senior brother to help gather firewood.
On the way down the mountain, the morning mist had dissipated, and the sunlight shining on the stone steps was somewhat dazzling.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Xiao Ran suddenly asked, "Sister Jiang, are we just going to leave him on the mountain like this?"
Jiang Ling turned to look at him. "I said I was only taking him in temporarily and would find him another place to go. What? You can't bear to part with him?"
Xiao Ran lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.
By the time we returned from Hakuryu-ji Temple, the sun had already climbed high in the sky.
Jiang Ling had just opened the shop door when she suddenly remembered that she had to deliver the goods to the Song family. So she packed up the goods and arranged for Xiao Ran to drive the carriage over.
Xiao Ran is already very skilled at delivering goods; she has no problem finding her way around or handing over packages, so she no longer needs anyone to follow her.
"Xiao Ran, you know the way to the Song family. Go there and give the things to the butler."
Jiang Ling handed the rope to Xiao Ran, but he looked listless, his fingers gripping the rope, and he only responded with a heavy sigh.
Jiang Ling thought for a moment, "That's right, let Xiao Qi go with you, so you two can talk on the way."
Xiao Qi is Xiao Ran's younger brother, two years younger than Xiao Ran. He is quite lively and active, and usually likes to follow Xiao Ran around.
Let them be together so they can talk and relieve their boredom on the way.
She took out a small piece of silver from her purse and handed it to Xiao Ran: "Take care on the road, no rush. Take this change. If you don't make it back by noon, take Xiao Qi to the noodle shop in the county town for a bowl of hot noodles. Use the rest of the money to buy some snacks."
"Don't worry, Sister Jiang!"
Xiao Ran took the silver, and her voice finally brightened a bit, though she still didn't laugh.
As soon as Xiao Qi heard that they were going to the county town, he jumped up to the carriage and started chattering excitedly:
"Brother, I'll check the goods for you! I guarantee not a single needle will be missing!"
Watching the carriage gradually drive away, Jiang Ling turned around and went back to the shop to take stock of the inventory.
The shelves were still well stocked with daily necessities, and snacks and desserts were neatly piled up. The two batches of food sent out previously were purchased separately, so it didn't affect anything.
The store's retail demand isn't very high, so this amount of inventory can last a long time.
She noted down the remaining stock in the ledger and marked the empty shelf locations, planning to restock on the next order.
As noon approached, she was too lazy to cook any more complicated dishes, so she took out some frozen dumplings from the freezer and ate a simple meal.
The dumplings are filled with cabbage and pork. They float to the surface when cooked, and each bite is bursting with broth.
I had just finished eating and was about to clear the dishes when I heard some noises coming from outside the shop.
She put down her bowl, went to the door and saw that Grandpa Zhao was leading three people in government uniforms, measuring the ground in front of the shop with long rulers. There were also a few small wooden stakes stuck in the ground and faint lime lines drawn on the ground.
"Uncle Zhao, what are you busy with?" Jiang Ling walked over and asked curiously.
Grandpa Zhao turned around, still clutching a wooden wedge in his hand, and explained with a smile:
"It's nothing serious. These are county officials here to measure the land. Recently, many people from other places have come to inquire about buying land and building houses in our Jishui Village. The village head and the government both think this is a good thing, as it can bring some income to the village, so they sent people here."
First, measure and register all the unclaimed or vacant plots of land in the village, especially those near the road. Then, when a buyer actually wants to purchase the land, the land deeds and everything will go through the government, ensuring clarity and transparency!
Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised: "Buying land to build houses? Why are people suddenly coming to our village to buy land?"
"It's all because our village has a good location!" Grandpa Zhao pointed to the distant mountains and the nearby stream, his tone tinged with pride.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com