Chapter 218 Ghost Stories in the Temple
Compared to money, what he wanted more was a status, the status of a family member.
He had felt envious when he saw Xiao Ran's brother receiving his wages.
But Aunt Qian from the village told him that family members don't need to pay each other.
Jiang Ling did not speak immediately.
She walked around the counter, stood in front of Xiaoran, and gently patted Xiaoran on the shoulder.
"Xiao Ran, I'm so happy that you think this way, really. It shows that you've grown up, you know how to take responsibility, and you know how to consider others. That's more precious than any money."
She paused, looked at Xiaoran's slightly widened eyes, and continued:
“However, you don’t need to share this money with Xiaoyi, and your sister won’t take it back. The wages I gave you are yours, and you deserve them. Although you spend less time working at the shop now, you are still working hard by learning martial arts and studying. You are working hard for yourself, and naturally for the future of the shop. This is my investment in you. I believe that you will also use your skills to help the shop, so you don’t need to feel guilty.”
Based on her current shop income, supporting the two of them is no problem at all.
She didn't want them to worry about money too early.
Then, she turned to Xiaoyi and said gently, "As for Xiaoyi, you are still young and don't know how to manage money. Once our new house is built and you officially move in, I will make other arrangements for you. Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you."
Xiao Ran is already twelve years old and a key worker in the shop, so it's only right that he gets paid. He also has his parents around, so they can discuss spending money with him.
Xiao Yi is only six years old and an orphan, so having money is actually not a good thing for him.
Jiang Ling isn't here every day; I'm just worried that someone might be eyeing his money.
Xiao Ran's eyes welled up slightly as she listened to Jiang Ling's words.
Sister Jiang has done so much for him, and he has clearly felt the changes in his home in the past few months.
They live a much more comfortable life than their father used to have when he was hunting.
Besides the one or two taels of silver she earned each month working at the shop, she also received plenty of grain and cloth, and Sister Jiang always thought of her family.
He gets extra pocket money when delivering goods or going on trips.
Last night, his parents were discussing sending Xiao Qi to school next spring.
All these changes originated from Sister Jiang!
He will definitely work hard in the future to repay Sister Jiang!
Besides his parents, Sister Jiang is the most important person in his heart!
As long as Sister Jiang doesn't drive him away, he will stay by Sister Jiang's side for the rest of his life!
Jiang Ling closed the shop and went to bed early. She needed to prepare a second batch of supplies for Qin Qian the next day.
————
As night deepened, the snow-covered Hakuryu-ji Temple became even more quiet and chilly than usual.
Xiao Yi returned to the temple under the moonlight and through the unmelted snow, with the snacks Jiang Ling had given him still in his arms.
He tiptoed back to the meditation room where he lived with the children, only to find the lights still on.
The faint sound of tense conversation could also be heard.
Xiao Yi pushed open the door, and a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the smell of firewood wafted out.
Five or six children, led by Ashu, were sitting around a shared bed, with the young novice monk Biqing in the middle, who was in charge of taking care of their daily needs.
Biqing is a 15 or 16-year-old novice monk at Bailong Temple. He is usually lively and active, and he has become one with the children in just a few days.
"later......"
He was speaking in a low voice, vividly describing something, and the children listened with wide eyes, not daring to breathe.
"Xiao Yi! Come here quickly!" Ashu, with his sharp eyes, spotted him and immediately waved, moving over to make room for him.
"Brother Biqing is telling the sequel to last night's headless general story! Sit down quickly, don't miss it!"
The temple's rest time hadn't actually started yet; it was time for evening prayers. The children didn't have evening prayers, and since they couldn't sleep, they kept asking Brother Biqing to tell them stories.
Biqing himself was also a teenager, and he had a fondness for strange tales and legends. He told them for several nights in a row, and the children became more and more engrossed in listening, which made him more and more enthusiastic in telling them.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi's curiosity was piqued, and he quickly climbed onto the communal bed and squeezed into the middle of the children.
Once everyone was present, Bi Qing cleared his throat and continued speaking in that low, mysterious tone:
"...On that dark and windy night, heavy footsteps approached from afar. The headless general was still riding his skeletal horse, followed by will-o'-the-wisps glowing green. Blood dripped from the large sword he carried, drip, drip, leaving a trail of red dots..."
The children huddled together in fear, yet couldn't resist listening to what was happening.
As Xiaoyi listened, she suddenly remembered the bag of snacks in her arms.
He remembered what Jiang Ling said when she handed him the snacks: she told him to get along well with his fellow monks and friends at the temple, and she even gave him this bag of snacks so he could share them with his friends at the temple.
He hesitated for a moment, then carefully took out the white plastic bag, opened it amidst the children's surprised gazes, and whispered:
"These snacks were given to me by my sister. Let's share them. She told me to share them with you all."
The atmosphere of the ghost story suddenly stopped.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at Xiao Ran with curiosity.
Inside the plastic bag were beautifully packaged cookies and candies they had never seen before, their colorful wrappers gleaming enticingly in the dim light.
The children's attention instantly shifted from the ghost story to the snacks, and they let out a low gasp.
Wow! What is this?
"So beautiful!"
Are you really going to give us some?
Xiao Yi nodded and, imitating Jiang Ling, distributed the cookies and candies to her eager friends, even Bi Qing, who was telling stories, received a share.
Biqing curiously pinched the sandwich cookie, turning it over and over to look at it, reluctant to eat it.
Although he was a novice monk at the temple and never lacked food, the temple rarely went out to buy things on its own initiative.
They either grow it themselves or rely on donations from villagers.
Most of the donations were practical items like grains and vegetables; very few people donated pastries and snacks.
He no longer remembers what the desserts tasted like.
Xiao Yi demonstrated how to carefully tear open the packaging.
The children couldn't wait to take a bite. The crispy texture of the biscuit and the sweet taste of the candy melted in their mouths, completely forgetting the fear they had just experienced from listening to the ghost story.
The meditation room was filled with the rustling sounds of chewing and the joy of eating delicious food.
"This is delicious!"
"This candy is so sweet!"
"This pastry even has jam in it, it's so delicious!"
Biqing stuffed the cookies and candies into his pocket, and seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, he continued telling the story:
"...The headless general walked to the scholar's window, and slowly, very slowly, raised his headless shoulders, as if looking into the room..."
Just as the story reached its most suspenseful part, when the children held their breath and even forgot to chew their candy—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
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