Chapter 85 Cicada
After cooperating with the police to deal with Old Man Tang and the group of people he hired, it was already mid-afternoon. A dilapidated temple was not a good place to talk, so Qing Bai suggested going to a "real" temple to take a look and have a vegetarian meal.
The sad cicada looked hesitant.
Qing Bai understood: "So the monkeys smashing the temple and pushing the Buddha statues is also fake?"
Ai Chan: "Ahem... Life in this temple is very hard. Please forgive me if the hospitality is not good enough."
Looking at the unconcealable embarrassment on Aichan's face, Qingbai snorted in his heart, thinking that this monk must have hidden a lot of things from them.
Qi Xiaopang, whose stomach had been growling with hunger for a long time, punched Ai Chan and said, "Why are you being so polite to us?"
Besides, no matter how hard life was, could it be worse than those days when they just moved to Weiming New Village and couldn’t even afford to eat?
Although Qi Xiaopang gave up thinking about all those twists and turns, fearing that thinking too much would hurt his feelings, he just wanted to have a big meal and then have a good sleep, but even so he did not forget the little monkey hiding behind the altar.
Looking at the little monkey playing with the little black dog, Qi Xiaopang felt a little embarrassed: "...We are going to eat, what should the little monkey do? Should we go to the temple together?"
The monkey king's mother was also very carefree. When the police arrived, she immediately took the monkeys and hid in the woods... At least she took the monkey cub she had just reunited with with her.
This little monkey is even more carefree. Even when his mother ran away, he didn't panic at all and even played with the puppy he just met...
Perhaps it heard the key words, the little monkey who was playing happily with the puppies paused, and the peach pit in his hand, which was tossed around like a ball by the puppies, hit Coal Ball's forehead with a "pop". Coal Ball was not a good-tempered person, and he immediately screamed in his childish voice, and buried his furry forehead to nudge the little monkey.
"Forget it..." Ai Chan looked at the little monkey, swaying back and forth as the little black dog nudged it. He didn't miss the flash of fear in its big brown eyes. He shook his head and said, "Life is hard in the temple..."
They were speechless. Why couldn't this guy come up with another excuse? But the little monkey really wasn't suited to going to the temple anymore; it wasn't a good place for him. Just because the old monk had died didn't mean the temple and the monkeys could reconcile and become good neighbors again. A peaceful existence would be a good outcome.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle was heard from the forest outside the temple. It was the Monkey King calling his little monkeys.
Qi Xiaopang was surprised. He squatted down and grabbed the coal ball that was still busy nudging the monkey. He poked the little monkey and said deliberately: "Your mother is calling you home for dinner!"
The little monkey took two steps outside, then turned back to look at the silent, mournful cicada with its eyes drooping. After a long moment, the little monkey hesitantly asked, "Will you...will you still take me to catch cicadas?"
Ai Chan opened her eyes wide, not expecting the little monkey to say such a thing before leaving, and she just stood there in a daze.
If you round this off, it's just a question of whether we can still play together in the future, but it takes two more detours, which makes it seem awkward and cautious.
In fact, it was not only Ai Chan who was nervous and speechless during this reunion, but the little monkey who was forced to stay in his childhood forever was even more frightened when facing the "little bald head" who had grown up.
When Ai Chan was deeply trapped in the illusion and unconscious, it could still climb up and down and stick to his shoulders and back without any hesitation, as if they were still the two close friends who used to play with cats and dogs and roam the mountains together. However, as soon as Ai Chan woke up, it quietly distanced itself from him and waited for Ai Chan to approach it at a place not too far away.
After all, although it is still the little monkey, the little bald head has grown up.
…Would adults be willing to play with monkeys?
The little monkey didn't know, so he decided to wait...but all he got was an apology from Ai Chan.
The little monkey has never blamed the little bald head over the years, and now it doesn't blame the cicada. It is just a little sad and a little unwilling... It is normal for adults not to want to play with monkeys, not to mention that it is a ghost monkey.
After the bones reshaped its body and it turned back into the cutest fluffy little monkey in the entire monkey group, the little monkey was happy and excited but decided to wait a little longer. A living monkey is always better than a ghost monkey, right?
That's why it stayed in this dilapidated temple where it had been imprisoned for more than ten years to play with dogs after its mother and the tribe left.
...I just didn't expect that I would play until the time I had agreed with my mother.
The little monkey didn't want to wait any longer.
Qing Bai looked at Ai Chan who was still in a daze and suddenly became furious. He kicked Ai Chan on the shoulder, then used the force to jump back, cushioned by Jiu Nian's body and landed lightly. The whole set of movements was done in one go, and even Jiu Nian couldn't stop him.
The Ai Chan, having been kicked back to his senses, sniffed hard and flashed a silly-looking smile that had more than eight teeth. "How about tomorrow? Let's go catch cicadas! Catch a hundred!"
The little monkey's eyes lit up immediately, and he tiptoed and hopped twice, blurting out words one by one: "Tomorrow! Good!"
This is what an appointment means.
The whistles coming from the forest became more and more urgent. The monkey king's mother, who had not seen her cub for a long time, began to urge him. No matter how reluctant the little monkey was, he had to obey his mother's call.
Ai Chan watched the little monkey disappear into the depths of the forest, and then in the blink of an eye, he met several teasing yet gratified gazes, especially from Qing Bai, who was being held by Jiu Nian to wipe the dust. The relief in his eyes was almost overflowing, as if he was watching some naughty kid finally turn over a new leaf and do something human.
Qi Xiaopang patted Aichan's shoulder, who felt a chill from being looked at, and said considerately, "For the sake of your agreement with the little monkey, let's stay in Chushan for a few more days."
Ai Chan was puzzled: "Why a few days?"
Isn’t the appointment for tomorrow?
Qi Xiaopang's eyes were filled with sympathy as he reminded him, "You forgot, all the cicadas in Chushan have been caught by the monkeys. Even in the middle of summer, you can't hear any cicadas chirping."
Ai Chan's expression slowly froze.
"Time is tight, the task is heavy, and I'm afraid we can't finish it in one day." Qi Xiaopang smiled wickedly and emphasized, "We have to catch a hundred~"
Sad cicada: “…”
After wiping his feet clean, Qing Bai snuggled back into Jiu Nian's arms and said, "Catching cicadas is just an excuse. The real thing is to connect with our past ties and rebuild our friendship. What evil have the local cicadas of Chushan done to deserve to be exterminated..."
Qing Bai is indeed a reliable and thoughtful soul! Ai Chan was moved for less than three seconds before she heard this reliable and thoughtful soul continue, "But since it's a child's wish, as an adult you should still do your best to fulfill it. If you can't do it, you can also ask friends for help appropriately - just place a takeout order, and the mission will be accomplished."
"We're all in Chushan, so the delivery fee is just for local delivery. Based on the above order, I can give you a 0% discount as a token of friendship."
Qi Xiaopang was stunned. Was this the strength his brother Qing had gained after years of working? He always had work in his eyes and business in his mind... He deserved his brother Qing to make a fortune!
Qi Xiaopang decided to learn from his brother Qing and raised his hand enthusiastically: "I can help too! Brother Qing, just give me a small tip, hehehe!"
Ai Chan said with a forced smile: "Thank you so much, my friends."
Qing Bai said in a natural tone: "You're welcome. This is what friends like us should do."
Sad cicada: “…”
I'd better make friends with monkeys in the future, at least it's good for your wallet :)
…
The temple in reality is even older than what you see in the cracks. The cracked stone bricks almost form an endless pattern on the ground. The faded gates and pillars have not been repainted. Only the big locust tree is still lush and leafy. The high courtyard walls cannot contain the deep and light green that is like a canopy, and can only allow them to cast trembling shadows on the solemn and majestic Bodhisattva statue, like some kind of metaphor.
The 'cicada curtain' at the temple entrance had been cleared away, but Qing Bai still didn't see any words that could be used as the name of this temple, or perhaps such a small mountain temple didn't have a name.
A temple can be without a name, but it cannot be without monks. However, they almost finished touring the small temple without seeing a single bald head. There were only the shadows of trees that seemed to follow them everywhere. The Buddha statues with half-closed eyes and kind faces seemed to lose their Buddha nature and become "vivid" when cast in shadow. Although there were no living people in the temple, it was crowded with people.
Fat Qi was a little nervous. He held the little black dog and rubbed against Ai Chan. "...Actually, I'm not that hungry. We've already seen this temple. Why don't we go down the mountain first?"
Ai Chan was originally looking at every brick and tile of the temple with a nostalgic expression. After hearing Qi Xiaopang's words, she thought he was hinting at something. Ai Chan thought for a moment and led him behind a small door. "The dining hall is in the back. Usually at this time, my senior brother would simmer the rice on the stove and then go to ring the evening bell..."
Just after passing through the small door, a middle-aged monk in coarse linen clothes came towards them. The monk was not surprised to see these uninvited guests in strange clothes and with their families. He just put his hands together and bowed to Ai Chan. His expression was calmer than the clay and wooden statues in the hall.
Ai Chan returned the greeting without saying a word, and stepped aside to make way. The monk then walked slowly and disappeared behind the door.
After confirming that the monk had left, Fat Qi exhaled a long breath. The scene just now was so Zen-like that he didn't even dare to exhale!
"Is that your senior brother?"
Qing Bai was also a little curious. If he remembered correctly, that monk was the silent young monk who the old monk had sent to the mountains to look for the monkey but failed to find it.
The wooden lattice door of the dining hall was so old that it made a series of teeth-grinding creaking sounds when Ai Chan pushed it lightly. The middle of the room was empty except for a dark-colored square table. Ai Chan slowly walked to the stove and lifted the pot cover to see that there was indeed a pot of rice porridge and two plates of vegetarian side dishes simmering underneath.
Ai Chan took out four porcelain bowls from the cabinet and filled them with porridge while saying, "Well, there is only one monk in this temple now, Brother."
...I can only say that it's not surprising at all.
Qi Xiaopang stepped forward to help pass the bowls and chopsticks. He noticed something was wrong after a quick glance: "Why are there only four bowls? One person's bowl is missing..."
Qi Xiaopang thought Aichan had gotten used to taking the tableware for four people recently. Just as he was about to open the cabinet to take more, he heard Aichan say, "It's not too little. Senior Brother won't eat tonight."
Qi Xiaopang didn't understand: "Why would he cook at this time if he's not going to eat?"
The cicada did not answer.
Qing Bai looked at the fragrant rice porridge in the white porcelain bowl and said calmly, "Why else? Of course I made it for Ai Chan... Tsk, what a sin."
Qi Xiaopang: "What do you mean?"
"Hasn't our Master Aichan always been planning to return to secular life?" Qing Bai pointed at the plain but not at all casual porridge and vegetables on the table. "Including that skewer of kapalas, the treatment Aichan enjoys in this temple isn't like that of an ordinary monk... All the nurturing and preferential treatment isn't meant to encourage him to return to secular life."
Jiunian nodded in agreement.
Qi Xiaopang felt a little embarrassed, as if the small bowl of porridge in his hand weighed more than a thousand pounds. He had an inexplicable feeling that they had led Zhiliao astray. But Zhilia's desire to return to secular life hadn't just begun after meeting them... right?
"Does your senior brother know that you want to return to secular life?"
Ai Chan shook her head. "After Master passed away, I went to the capital to study. Senior Brother stayed at the temple the entire time. Besides sending money back regularly...we kept in touch through letters."
"Contact through letters?" Qi Xiaopang was surprised. This method of communication was really old-fashioned.
Thinking of Senior Brother Aichan's behavior in the gap and the scene when the two of them met just now, Qing Bai's heart moved, and the remaining doubts were solved: "Is your senior brother deaf and mute?"
The sad cicada nodded.
No wonder, no wonder Old Man Tang didn’t know that the old monk had been dead for so many years... Apart from the fact that he did it on purpose, the deaf and dumb monk guarding the temple probably also contributed to it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
