Chapter 466 Using Soup to Offer to Buddha
"Why hasn't Tanlang come home lately?"
"busy."
"What are you busy with? Come, come, sit down. Don't go back to the house yet, Tanlang. Take off your coat and give it to Banxi. Talk to your aunt."
"Um, why is Auntie suddenly so free?"
“I only have one nephew. I used to be able to cook dinner and sew clothes for him, but now he often doesn’t come home at night. What can I do for him? I can’t just conjure up another nephew to dote on him.”
"Well, actually it's about helping Master Shandao and his Lotus Pure Land sect build the Donglin Buddha. Master Shandao and Xiufa came to freeload a meal before, didn't they mention it to Auntie?"
"Now that he is the Venerable Master Dahui, my lord, you must not address him as such."
"Very well, Venerable Master Dahui."
"But it's just building a Buddha statue, why isn't it finished yet? Is it that complicated?"
"It's quite tall; once completed, it will be the tallest Buddha statue in Southeast China."
"Now that Donglin Temple is so rich, why did it build such a huge temple out of the blue, and even need the help of your Jiangzhou government? You are all neglecting your duties."
"It seems that I should donate less incense to their temple in the future. Now, my nephew has to run around to make a Buddha statue. People who don't know the situation might think that the government is working for the monks."
"Auntie, it's okay to say these things in private, but don't say them in public, cough cough."
"What's the meaning?"
"It's alright, Auntie, don't worry. It's not like I'm the only one working so late. Many colleagues are keeping me company, and the ladies-in-waiting from the palace are doing the same. Nobody's idle. As the chief secretary, I can't just sit back and slack off."
"You're just stupid."
"Auntie..."
The moon was bright and the stars were few; it was already late at night.
Inside the Huaiye Lane residence, Ouyang Rong returned home dusty and weary. He had just arrived home and was about to tiptoe through the hall back to Yinbingzhai when he was caught by Zhen Shuyuan, who was sitting quietly in the darkness of the hall. She strode up to the corridor and intercepted him, giving him a good scolding.
If it weren't for this dignified light red official robe, the noblewoman in the silk skirt would almost have resorted to her old ways and started twisting her unfilial nephew's ear, just like before.
The hall lights came back on, and a maidservant took Ouyang Rong's official robe coat, lit the lamps, and withdrew.
Only Zhen Shuyuan, with her eyebrows raised in anger, and Ouyang Rong, with a helpless expression, remained.
"Tell me honestly, besides being busy with the statue making, have you been keeping a wicked woman on the side?"
"No, Auntie, where did you hear this nonsense?"
"You insulted me?"
"No, no. But why is Auntie suddenly saying this? Where did all these bad women come from?"
"If a man doesn't come home, it's either because he's having an affair, or he's gotten tired of his wife and family. He has to choose one, humph."
Zhen Shuyuan counted on her fingers.
Ouyang Rong's lips twitched slightly:
"Can't they all be... ptooey, none of them?"
"No, but these are other men. But Danlang is a special case. Danlang..."
What's wrong with what I said?
Zhen Shuyuan nodded:
"Tanlang is smarter. If he really had a bad woman or disliked his aunt and family, he would definitely not show it. Instead, he would be far-sighted and do the opposite, so that no one would easily notice. Tanlang should be as usual, coming home for dinner on time. He is even more self-disciplined and well-behaved than usual, so that no one can see through his act."
"Hmm, judging from this, Tanlang must have been really busy lately."
"..."
Ouyang Rong was completely speechless.
He didn't know whether to thank his aunt for clearing his name or to worry about her strange logic.
"No, it's not that bad..."
“Who says it’s not that bad? I think you’ve been showing that tendency lately.”
What are my trends?
"I heard that Tanlang spent the last few days carving bamboo and staying up all night to make a woman's bamboo walking stick?"
"That's true, but... but where did you hear that, Auntie? What women's bamboo walking stick? It's just a walking stick for climbing mountains. It was given to a colleague. There's no difference between men's and women's versions."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Zhen Shuyuan said in a calm tone:
"Ah, Tanlang, tell me, this bamboo cane you made by hand, will you eventually give it to a woman?"
Ouyang Rong immediately fell silent.
Zhen Shuyuan pursed her lips:
"I heard that when you made this bamboo walking stick, you specifically asked Wei Lai and Ban Xi to try it out to see if it was comfortable and easy to use. Tan Lang is meticulous in his work. For a walking stick to be comfortable, it also takes into account the height and weight of the user... Tell me, if the recipient was not a woman of similar stature to Wei Lai and Ban Xi, would Tan Lang have needed to have them try it out?"
Ouyang Rong slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing:
"Next time there's a murder in the city, we'll have to get Auntie to take a look. My reputation as the nemesis of evil will depend on Auntie from now on."
His tone was unusually serious.
"Stop your nonsense and tell me honestly, who is it?"
Ouyang Rong spoke like beans spilling from a bamboo tube:
"She is indeed a colleague in official business, someone I often deal with. She was injured last time, with me, but her injury was more serious. It's normal for your nephew to care for a colleague, upholding the principle of unity and friendship. The only slightly special thing is her gender; she's a female official from the palace. Anyway, she's not someone I can flirt with, so Aunt, please don't make such jokes."
"Oh? Our Chief Secretary Ouyang has such a pure relationship with a man."
"Of course, I don't know why my aunt misunderstood me. Your nephew may not fully deserve the reputation of being a virtuous gentleman that is widely known, but at least he lives up to those four words and has not disgraced them."
Ouyang Rong sat upright and solemnly.
He is upright and has nothing to fear.
Zhen Shuyuan glanced at her nephew's serious expression and suddenly said:
"So bringing her undergarment back to wash it and then sending it out is also in line with Tanlang's principle of unity and friendship?"
"...??"
Faced with his aunt's ambiguous smile, Ouyang Rong's expression changed slightly: "I guess so."
He paused, then suddenly said in a righteous tone:
"As my aunt said, I wouldn't make such a basic mistake. On the contrary, I would do the opposite. If there really was something fishy going on, I wouldn't let you know so easily."
"After Wei Lai cleaned this undergarment, it was returned to its owner. I didn't look at it much."
"That's not necessarily true. After all, even the smartest person can make a mistake, right?"
“Auntie, this is a double standard. If that’s the case, then I have nothing to say. Let Auntie speculate and slander as she pleases.”
"Well, now the word 'slander' is being used against Auntie."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand: "It's all baseless."
"Okay, let's change the question."
Zhen Shuyuan's smile remained unchanged as she smoothly changed the subject.
Actually, the noblewoman in the skirt didn't want to interfere with her beloved nephew's privacy; she just hadn't sat him down for a chat in a long time and wanted to talk to Ouyang Rong more.
And occasionally, deliberately misunderstanding or teasing him is quite amusing.
Just now, Ouyang Rong looked like he was trying to make an excuse to slip away and go back to his room to sleep, but now he's sitting down obediently, looking all arrogant and proud, as if he won't leave until he proves his innocence.
Moreover, Zhen Shuyuan didn't mind Ouyang Rong keeping women outside. If he liked them, he could bring them back. What did it matter if he took a few concubines? In fact, for the sake of the Ouyang family's beautiful vision of having many children and blessings, she wished for as many as possible.
Zhen Shuyuan smiled slightly, pulled Ouyang Rong, who had turned away, and straightened him from his side-sitting position, asking softly:
"Why hasn't Wanwan come lately? Tanlang made her angry, and she's sulking."
"Can't my aunt remember the good things about me? Why isn't it her who made me angry? Even though I didn't, my aunt always assumes that I did something wrong."
"Oh, my lord, you're really hot-tempered. Alright, I'll apologize to you. Here, drink this cup of tea as my apology."
"No, no, Auntie, what are you joking about? It's not proper for an elder to serve tea to a junior."
"You know I am an elder."
"..."
Zhen Shuyuan couldn't help but laugh, straightened her sleeves, and waved her hand:
"Alright, enough joking around. Look at your dark circles. Go and get some rest, or you'll complain about my nagging and make your home no peace and quiet."
Ouyang Rong was skeptical: "Did I really go back inside? Did Auntie have nothing else to say?"
"If you put it that way, there really is such a thing."
"..."
Ouyang Rong said sternly, "Are you squeezing toothpaste? You're speaking in short, fragmented sentences."
What is toothpaste?
"fine."
Zhen Shuyuan didn't pay attention and shook her head:
"I've made you a pot of soup. Go wash up first. Wei Lai will bring it to your room later. Drink plenty of it; it's good for your health."
"Why are you trying to nourish yourself for no reason?" Realizing what was going on, Ouyang Rong asked with a stern face, "What kind of soup is this?"
"Black chicken, yam, and red date soup nourishes blood and kidneys, and invigorates yang and qi."
Ouyang Rong's lips twitched.
"What, I've spent a whole day stewing this, are you sure you don't want to try it, my dear?"
"I'll try it, of course I'll try it. I'll drink it all when I get back."
Ouyang Rong left after saying that.
Back at Yinbingzhai, after resting for a while and just as I was about to wash up, Ye Weilai entered the room, lowered her head, and handed me a bowl of black chicken, yam, and red date soup.
Ouyang Rong's face showed a helpless expression.
"The lady said, one bowl tonight, another bowl tomorrow morning, and another bowl at noon... Anyway, Tanlang is going to drink it all, so let's simmer it over low heat for now. There's no rush, if he can't drink it, we can wait."
Ouyang Rong looked at the bowl of aphrodisiac food with a worried expression, then looked at Ye Weilai, whose ears were red and who was too embarrassed to look up at him.
I knew exactly what my aunt meant; she was already urging me.
In the stillness of the air.
Ouyang Rong's heart suddenly stirred.
He immediately picked up the bowl, swallowed his anger, and drank the bowl of chicken soup. Then he went back to his dormitory and went to sleep.
As for the white-haired girl tossing and turning in bed at night, the man pretended not to notice...
The next day, early in the morning.
As Ouyang Rongchao was about to serve Ye Weilai another bowl of black chicken, yam, and red date soup, he instructed her:
"I want the soup canned food to go."
Ye Weilai was stunned:
"Take...take where? Madam said I must watch Tanlang finish drinking..."
Ouyang Rong said earnestly, "Take it to the Prince's mansion and let her drink it with her. It will also help her replenish her blood."
Ye Weilai felt somewhat helpless after hearing this reason. After hesitating for a moment, she had no choice but to comply, though she would definitely have to consult Zhen Shuyuan later.
Ouyang Rong carried a soup pot with him as he went out and boarded the carriage.
However, when he arrived at the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, he couldn't find his junior sister anywhere.
Xiao Mo's exquisite thoughts were not in the courtyard either.
Ouyang Rong stopped a maid and inquired, only to find out that his junior sister, Li Guo'er, and Qin Xiaoniangzi had gone to attend a private gathering of ladies from Xunyang.
Ouyang Rong originally wanted to leave the pot of black chicken, yam and red date soup in the courtyard, but then he thought, what if his junior sister found out and returned it to him?
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow, then suddenly turned around and went out again.
Before long, he arrived in a simple courtyard not far from the main hall of Jiangzhou, carrying a pot of black chicken, yam and red date soup.
The courtyard gate opened.
What brings you here?
Rong Zhen leaned on a jade staff, frowning as she watched the visitor.
Ouyang Rong, acting as if they were old friends, walked past her into the courtyard and placed a carefully packaged jar of black chicken, yam, and red date soup on the table.
"This is……"
"Yesterday I suddenly remembered that after you were injured, you lost a lot of blood and your face has been pale. Being on a business trip in a foreign land is not like being at home in the capital. There is no one to take care of you and you have to rely on yourself for everything. I thought about it and cooked a pot of black chicken, yam and red date soup with my family. Please have some to nourish yourself."
He clapped his hands and said sincerely.
Two days have passed since they jointly petitioned for the postponement of the Buddha statue's unveiling, but Luoyang and Jiangzhou are far apart, and the petition is still en route. There has been no response from Luoyang yet.
To be honest, Ouyang Rong had been looking for an opportunity to say thank you these past few days, and now is the perfect time.
Rong Zhen's expression remained as cold as ever as she shook her head and pushed the soup pot away.
"I'm not helping you, I'm just stating the facts and doing what needs to be done."
Ouyang Rong pushed the soup pot back without looking to the side, and said seriously:
"This bowl of soup is also a small token of my appreciation. It's something that friends and colleagues should do."
"Having known you for so long, I deeply respect your noble character and integrity. I have no ulterior motives in bringing you this soup, and I have no requests whatsoever. Please do not worry, and accept it. Taking care of your health is the most important thing."
"Besides, since it's already been delivered, Lady Historian, please try it. If you don't like it, you may dispose of it as you wish."
After saying that, without waiting for Rong Zhen to refuse again, Ouyang Rong immediately turned around and ran away.
He only breathed a slight sigh of relief after he left the house, boarded the carriage, and drove some distance away, and saw that Rongzhen had not caught up with Huan Tang.
It's finally been taken care of.
At the same time, Ouyang Rong silently peered into the Merit Pagoda and saw a line of cyan-gold characters...
In the back courtyard, Rongzhen stood quietly inside the threshold, turning her head to watch the handsome chief secretary, who had come from afar early in the morning to deliver a can of chicken soup, leave with a dashing back view.
At one point, she twitched her delicate nose and glanced back at the soup pot placed on the seat.
He turned around, closed the door, went back inside, and opened the jar lid.
Rongzhen didn't reach for the silver spoon. Instead, she suddenly stuck out her index finger and plunged it into the boiling, thick chicken soup, not caring that it would burn her skin. The soup stained her finger.
She took her index finger out of the hot soup, put it in her mouth, and sucked on it.
Her little face seemed lost in thought.
This was a habit she developed when her mother was still alive. Her mother loved to make soup, and every time she lifted the lid of the pot, she would use a spoon to scoop out the soup to taste if it was cooked. Being short, she would fold her arms and lean over the stove, secretly dipping her fingers into the soup and trying to taste it like her mother...
Inside the simple house, the girl, who hadn't had chicken soup in a long time, bit her fingertip and muttered softly:
"Is it just a small token of my appreciation...?"
She pursed her lips again and sucked her finger.
The soup was warm and slightly sweet as it went down my throat...
(End of this chapter)
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