Chapter 59 Monk
"I heard that Liu Lang went to take the county exam." During dinner, Grandpa Gu asked about Xiao Liu Lang.
Before the New Year, something happened involving Xiao Qin. Although no one expected that Gu Jiao did it on purpose, they felt that Gu Jiao was really unlucky. Since Xiao Liulang married her, then Xiao Liulang was also unlucky.
Hearing Xiao Liulang's name, the three women—mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law—felt a tightness in their chests. Unfortunately, it was the old man who asked, so they dared not speak and simply ate in the kitchen in silence.
"Yes, he only took one exam," replied Gu Dashun.
Gu Changhai asked in bewilderment, "Why only one? Didn't you have five exams last time?"
Gu Dashun thought for a moment: "They must have failed the exam, right? If you don't pass the first exam, you won't be allowed to participate in the later ones."
Gu Changhai: "Will the exam fee be refunded?"
Gu Dashun: "No refund."
Gu Changhai picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks: "Tsk, two taels of silver! You could throw it in a latrine and it'd still make a bubble."
Old Master Gu frowned and glanced at his eldest son. Gu Changhai cowered and shut his mouth.
The whole table was disgusting after being exposed to the cesspool, except for Gu Dashun.
Don't think he didn't know that the dean registered Xiao Liulang for this exam. The dean abandoned a perfectly good student like himself, but placed high hopes on that good-for-nothing Xiao Liulang, and the result could only be disappointment.
A sense of vengeful pleasure rose in Gu Dashun's heart.
Ten days later, the results of the county examination were released.
Gu Dashun was waiting to see Xiao Liulang make a fool of himself, but he was struck dumb by a bolt from the blue!
On the academy's bright red congratulatory notice, several large characters were written in a flamboyant style: "Top Scholar in the County Examination, Xiao Liulang!"
Actually, the results weren't posted by the government office that quickly. It was the head of the county office who was so anxious that he went there in person to find out the results. Before they could even post the results, he posted the congratulatory notice himself.
Hang it in the most conspicuous place so that everyone passing by the academy can see it!
The dean stood under the congratulatory notice, grinning like a fool.
Those who knew him said it was his student who topped the county examination, while those who didn't might have thought it was his own son who had passed the imperial examination.
He even summoned Xiao Liulang to the Zhongzheng Hall: "...I knew my efforts would not be in vain."
You were indeed moved by me!
Xiao Liulang glanced at him expressionlessly: "I just hate taking so many exams."
The dean said slowly, "Oh, then you can hand in a blank paper!"
Even if you hand in a blank paper, you don't have to take the exam, right? Admit it, Rokuro, you just feel sorry for me! You don't want to disappoint me!
Xiao Liulang ignored him and turned to leave.
The good news hadn't reached the village yet, and Gu Jiao was completely unaware of it.
She rested at home for a few days and recovered from her cold. Now she is packing her things, planning to go to the temple.
"Those pastries were good last time, bring some back with you." The old lady called out to her before she left.
Gu Jiao thought for a long time before she remembered that the old lady was referring to the pastries that the lady had given her when she first went to the temple: "Those weren't from the temple; they were brought by a pilgrim. I don't know if I'll run into her this time."
While saying that, I secretly thought that since I went twice and ran into him twice, the probability was still quite high.
Gu Jiao packed some mountain produce into the basket, intending to exchange it for some snacks with the other party later.
However, she didn't encounter the lady until she reached the mountain, but she did see a few clever little monks.
The little monks finished their homework and piled up behind the door like a human pyramid, peeking out with their little heads, seemingly waiting for someone.
When Gu Jiao arrived at the mountaintop carrying her small basket, everyone's eyes widened in surprise!
"She's here! She's here!"
She came carrying a basket on her back!
She's here! She's here!
She came over with Fafa (flower)!
"Quick, quick, hide!"
The little monks retreated quickly, but there were too many little dumplings on top of each other. Those on top couldn't get off, and those below couldn't retreat. In the end, they could only pounce out all at once, rolling around on the ground like little winter melons.
Gu Jiao looked at the string of crooked little monks that had suddenly appeared in front of her: "..."
Um?
A large-scale staged accident scam?
"Jingfan! Jingxin! Jingshan! Where have you all gone again?"
They tripped and fell in front of a beautiful female benefactor, don't they have any dignity? And that stinky senior brother even called them by their names!
The little monks got up and tried to run away!
Gu Jiao suddenly spoke up: "What were you doing just now?"
The group paused in their small steps.
Little Monk 1: "We're not looking at you!"
Little Monk Two: "That's right, I wasn't looking at you!"
The little monk nodded three times!
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow: "Why are you looking at me?"
The little monk said, "You're beautiful!"
Gu Jiao: "..."
The little monk pointed at Gu Jiao's birthmark and said, "Your hair (flower) is pretty!"
Ironically, the village children all treated her like an ugly monster, either bullying her or avoiding her whenever they saw her. Yet, these young monks who had never left the mountain were more than once deeply attracted to her birthmark.
Gu Jiao was charmed by the little monks and took out a few pieces of sesame candy from her basket for them.
“We cannot accept anything from a female benefactor,” the young monk refused.
Gu Jiao thought for a moment and said, "Don't you monks all beg for alms? If you come to me for alms, these sesame candies are yours."
The young monks thought it made perfect sense! They immediately went back to their rooms, grabbed their small alms bowls, and went to Gu Jiao to beg for alms. Gu Jiao then distributed the sesame candy to them.
The young monks, carrying their small bowls, sat on the steps and began to eat heartily.
Gu Jiao counted the heads of the little monks and asked, "Huh? Weren't there four of you? How come there are only three left?"
The young monk said, "You mean Jingkong? He's going down the mountain!"
So the little wrestling dumpling is called Jingkong.
Gu Jiao learned the whole story from the little monk and discovered that the wrestling boy had been adopted by a kind-hearted wealthy family. The couple had been married for ten years but had no children, so they wanted to raise the wrestling boy as their own son.
"He must be very sad to leave here, right?" Gu Jiao asked.
The three young monks all shook their heads.
The youngest monk was the most active and served as the little spokesperson for the group of young monks. He said, "He's not sad at all; he's been wanting to go down the mountain for a long time."
Gu Jiao asked, puzzled, "Why?"
The young monk said, "He said we can eat meat once we go down the mountain!"
Gu Jiao: "..."
What kind of misguided little monk is this?
Gu Jiao added, "Then you must be very sad, right?"
The three young monks shook their heads again.
The young monk said, "Actually, he can't eat meat even after he goes down the mountain; he's afraid of meat! He doesn't know that himself!"
Are there really people in this world who are afraid of meat? Don't try to fool me, I'm not very educated!
Gu Jiao said, "Aren't you going to tell him either?"
The young monk said, "If we tell him, he won't leave!"
Gu Jiao paused for a moment, then said with emotion, "You guys are really considerate of him." Being adopted by a kind family must be a very happy thing.
The little monk arrogantly declared, "Who told him to eat so much? He ate all our food!"
Gu Jiao: "..."
What kind of plastic little monks are these?
However, the little wrestler ultimately couldn't descend the mountain because the wealthy family suddenly stopped coming. The abbot inquired and learned that the wealthy family's wife was pregnant, and the pregnancy had been confirmed the previous night.
The doctor confidently asserted that it was a son.
When Gu Jiao went to the abbot's meditation room, the little monk was sitting on a stone at the door with a brand new little bundle beside him. He drooped his little head and didn't move at all, his little back looking somewhat lonely.
Clearly, he already knew that he had been abandoned by his adoptive family, and his whole little body was shrouded in a small sadness.
Gu Jiao thought for a moment, then walked over and asked him, "Can I sit here for a while?"
The little monk didn't say anything, but simply moved the small bundle to one side.
Gu Jiao then sat down next to him.
As someone who's obsessed with good looks, Gu Jiao has always been powerless against beautiful things. The little monks in the temple are all quite cute, but this one in front of her is especially adorable. It has a round little head, big eyes, and long, black eyelashes—it's practically a little eyelash fairy.
"Are you very sad?" Gu Jiao asked.
"What?" Xiao Jingkong responded, realizing what Gu Jiao was asking, and snorted, "I'm not sad at all!"
Her voice is sweet and childlike.
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and said, "So, you don't want to go down the mountain?"
Xiao Jingkong crossed his arms, turned his face away, and said arrogantly, "Yeah, what's so good about going down the mountain? I heard you'll be forced to eat meat! I'm not going to break my vows!"
Hey, your friends don't say that.
Gu Jiao teased him, "You really don't want to go down the mountain?"
Xiao Jingkong said solemnly, "Of course not! I will never leave the mountain in my life! I want to be a monk for life! And I want to be the abbot of the temple in the future!"
Gu Jiao secretly gave a thumbs up; that's ambitious.
Gu Jiao glanced at him and sighed, "Since you're so adamant, then forget it. I was originally planning to talk to the abbot and have you come down the mountain with me for a few days."
Xiao Jingkong put his hands on his hips and said, "I told you I'm not going down the mountain! Especially not with you! Ask me again if you don't believe me!"
Gu Jiao asked blankly, "Do you want to come down the mountain with me?"
Xiao Jingkong grabbed the bundle in a flash: "I want it!"
Gu Jiao was speechless on the spot: "...!!"
I only have three words to say: Hahaha!
(End of this chapter)
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