"An Indian from another country? That's quite a coincidence. So coincidentally, I thought you were deliberately lying in wait here."
"A lady of noble birth, comparing herself to a rabbit, is truly unique."
Xiang Wan turned to look at Ji Meiniang and the others, who were still halfway up the mountain, and said coldly, "You didn't come here to do business with the monks, did you? Do you want to set a precedent by selling combs to monks?"
"Sell the comb to a monk?" The man pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He cupped his hands and said, "It seems that Miss and I are truly destined for each other. I have other matters to attend to, but if this can be accomplished, I will consider it a favor I owe you. If you wish to know my real name later, you can exchange the favor for it."
Trying to exchange a favor for his life? That's incredibly shameless.
Xiang Wan watched as he turned to negotiate with the sweeping monk of the temple. After being rebuffed several times, he still had a smile on his face. She couldn't help but turn her head to look elsewhere.
Merchants pursue profit, but they also need perseverance and courage. In his previous life, aside from that box of things, the original owner had no connection with him whatsoever. But in this life, he can't expect to remain uninvolved.
Most of the pilgrims who come here pray for peace and health, while those who pray for marriage are mostly young ladies. It's rare to see someone like Xiang Wan who has no other desires.
After praying to Buddha, Ji Meiniang drew a fortune stick.
The monk interpreting the divination slips asked Ji Meiniang what she was praying for, and she only said one word—"heart".
The monk clasped his hands together, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and said, “If you are asking about family, this fortune slip is neither good nor bad. If you are asking about your heart, it is the best fortune slip. I offer you two words: go with the flow. Everything is predestined, and you must not force it.”
Ji Meiniang frowned and pondered for a while, then gradually felt relieved and donated a large sum of money for incense oil.
When Madam Ruan came over to keep her company, she secretly wanted to ask about her husband, but with Xiang Wan and the others nearby, she was afraid of drawing a bad lot and making herself upset, so she simply didn't draw any lots at all.
"My dear daughter, you should draw one too."
Ji Meiniang grabbed Xiang Wan, preventing her from leaving. Xiang Wan couldn't resist, so she randomly drew a fortune stick and placed it in front of the fortune-telling monk. Before he could ask a question, Ji Meiniang and Xiang Wan spoke at the same time.
"Seeking a marriage partner."
"Pray for peace."
The two exchanged a glance. Ji Meiniang gently patted Xiang Wan's hand and said to the fortune-telling monk, "Master, where will my daughter's marriage be in the future?"
Since Ji Meiniang had already asked, Xiang Wan couldn't interrupt her anymore, since she herself didn't believe it anyway.
The monk stared at the fortune stick for a long time, then stood up and said, “Amitabha, I am truly ashamed to say that I cannot understand this benefactor’s fortune stick. Our temple’s Master Huiyuan has returned from his travels and is currently meditating and chanting sutras in his meditation room. If you wish to find out the answer, please follow me to the reception room. I will ask Master Huiyuan to interpret the fortune stick. What do you all think?”
Upon hearing that Master Huiyuan was here, Ji Meiniang clearly wanted to meet him, but she was still somewhat hesitant. Xiang Wan persuaded her, "Mother, I've heard that Master Huiyuan's Buddhist teachings are profound. Why don't we go and pay our respects together and listen to his explanations? Perhaps some things will be resolved that way."
Ms. Ruan agreed, and the group followed the monk who had interpreted the divination slips to their guest room. A short while later, a monk came to serve tea.
Master Huiyuan was not only highly proficient in Buddhism, but also a master of pulse diagnosis. Otherwise, Xiang Wan wouldn't have insisted on going to see him, dragging Ji Meiniang along.
After a cup of tea, Master Huiyuan arrived, accompanied by another person.
"That's not..."
Ruan did not finish her sentence. After her initial surprise, she, along with Ji Meiniang and the others, bowed to Master Huiyuan and took their seats.
It seems that this person has successfully won over Master Huiyuan, otherwise he wouldn't have brought him along when meeting guests.
When the man saw Xiang Wan, he smiled and nodded at her, which made Ji Meiniang feel uneasy.
"Master, this is the fortune stick my daughter drew. I wonder what it means?"
“Amitabha, the road ahead is vast and endless, but a whip can spur you on through perilous passes. No solution is no solution. Part the clouds and fog, and you will see the way. Female benefactor, I offer you this advice: do not be attached to appearances, and do not go against the will of Heaven. That is all I have to say. Please return.”
Huiyuan only glanced at Xiangwan before saying those words, which Xiangwan naturally did not believe.
She already had a plan in mind for how her fate should unfold and what choices she should make, so why would she easily change her mind because of a few ambiguous words?
Xiang Wan clasped her hands together, bowed to Master Huiyuan, and raised her head, saying, "Master, everything is preordained. All Buddhist teachings seek nothing more than peace of mind. What you sow, you reap; it is all predetermined. Whether you submit to fate or defy it, it is all in vain. The road ahead is long, and I pray that my heart may remain untainted by dust, but alas, even when I brush away the dust, all that remains is dust. Master, this is the will of Heaven; we cannot escape it, so why not face it head-on?"
Huiyuan looked up and met Xiangwan's eyes. He saw the clarity in her eyes like ripples on water, and finally shook his head and sighed, "So be it. A clay figure crossing a river can be done by boat or by bridge. I will be the wooden bridge. After crossing, I hope you will not look back."
"Excellent! Thank you, Master."
Xiang Wan and Hui Yuan were speaking in riddles, leaving Ji Meiniang and the others completely confused. The man, however, looked at Xiang Wan with a look of astonishment, as if he were examining a rare jade artifact.
Xiang Wan didn't even glance at him, and directly asked Huiyuan to help Ji Meiniang and Ruan Shi take their pulses.
We're all family, it's not good to show favoritism.
Ms. Ruan was given priority; she had a hidden ailment from years of travel, but with a year or two of recuperation, she would recover. Ms. Ruan looked surprised; she had never felt any discomfort in her body.
When it was Ji Meiniang's turn, Huiyuan didn't say anything, but wrote a note and told Ji Meiniang to open it after she got home.
Having achieved the desired result, Xiang Wan didn't linger. After bidding farewell to Huiyuan, she went down the mountain with Ji Meiniang and the others to return to the capital.
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