Besides, the two people looked relaxed and didn't seem like they had forced their way in.
If they didn't force their way in, then it can only mean that the temple opened its doors to let them in.
"Why is the female benefactor here?"
Meng Qingluan was lost in thought when she was suddenly startled.
Turning back, without mentioning what had just happened, Meng Qingluan held up the clothes in her hand.
"My husband's clothes got wet from the snow. I would like to ask you to take me to the kitchen so I can help him dry his clothes."
The young monk glanced at it and saw that the color of the clothes had darkened, indicating that they were indeed wet.
Little monk: "Come with me."
Meng Qingluan followed behind the little monk, casually starting a conversation.
"Your temple is quite big. I walked for a long time but couldn't find the front courtyard."
The young monk paused, then quickly replied with a smile.
"Our temple is the only one within a ten-mile radius. It is thanks to the incense money from the worshippers that we have been able to make some major repairs."
The young monk turned back to look at Meng Qingluan, smiling kindly, and asked with concern.
"Has the female benefactor been wandering alone in the backyard for quite some time?"
Meng Qingluan remained expressionless, only her grip on her clothes tightened slightly.
He nodded and said, "Yeah, I wandered around the area for a while, but I didn't see you and you changed direction again."
The young monk said, "Did you go to the east side of the backyard, lady? There are vicious dogs kept by the temple there."
Meng Qingluan pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
"Don't even mention vicious dogs, I didn't see a single person."
The young monk then turned around and led Meng Qingluan to the kitchen.
Meng Qingluan's nose twitched; why did she smell a meaty aroma?
As the two walked to the kitchen door, a young monk carrying a bundle of firewood came in.
Upon seeing the young monk, the wood-carrying monk stopped in his tracks.
"Greetings, Senior Brother."
The young monk nodded and smiled in response, "This is a female benefactor who came down from the mountain to take shelter from the snow and wishes to use the kitchen."
Upon hearing this, the young monk carrying firewood casually put the firewood aside.
"The kitchen just finished cooking, and I accidentally spilled millet all over the stove. I'll go clean it up first."
"Clumsy, hurry up and go." The little monk then turned to Meng Qingluan apologetically and said, "Please wait a moment, benefactor."
Meng Qingluan smiled politely: "Thank you for your trouble, masters."
"..."
The little monk carrying firewood stayed in the kitchen for a while, and soon came out with a rag in his hand.
Meng Qingluan's gaze inadvertently fell on the rag, which was wet and its contents were obscured.
The young monk led Meng Qingluan into the kitchen and took the clothes from her hands to help dry them by the earthen stove.
Seeing him holding the clothes in his hands, Meng Qingluan spoke up somewhat shyly.
"No need for that trouble, just put it on the stove."
The little monk shook his head. "This is made of silk; it will burn if you put it on the stove."
Meng Qingluan's smile froze, and she stepped forward to take the clothes from the little monk's hands.
"I'll do it, no need to trouble Master."
The young monk avoided the hand Meng Qingluan offered and moved a few steps to the side.
"It's alright, female benefactor, please go back and wait. I'll bring your clothes to you once they're dry."
Meng Qingluan felt a layer of cold sweat on her forehead and tried to smooth things over.
"No need to trouble you, Master. These clothes will dry quickly. I'll do it myself."
Seeing that Meng Qingluan was adamant, the young monk had no choice but to return the clothes to her.
He jokingly asked, "Are you afraid I'll steal your clothes?"
Meng Qingluan denied it, saying, "I just didn't want to trouble you too much."
The young monk didn't say anything more and just stood there in the kitchen.
Meng Qingluan felt a chill down her spine. Seeing that her clothes were almost dry from the heat, she decided to go back.
"It's done baking, I won't bother Master any longer."
The young monk nodded and suggested taking Meng Qingluan back to the backyard.
Meng Qingluan refused.
“I made sure to remember the way back when I came. Master, go and have some food.”
"..."
The young monk didn't insist and made way for him.
Meng Qingluan followed the path she had come from, running with lightning speed back to the house in the backyard.
Shen Yan was wearing a white undergarment and lying on the bed.
Meng Qingluan pushed open the door, threw the dried clothes at him, and said breathlessly.
"Quick! Change your clothes, this temple is too strange."
Seeing her flustered state, Shen Yan had his doubts, but he didn't waste any time.
As soon as she put on her clothes, Meng Qingluan hurriedly grabbed his hand and pulled him outside.
Chen Yan pulled Meng Qingluan back with force.
Shen Yan asked, "What's wrong?"
Meng Qingluan was extremely anxious and tried to forcefully pull him away.
"Let's go out first, and I'll explain to you after we get out. In short, we can't stay here any longer."
Shen Yan pulled her back again, seeing that she was annoyed.
He said helplessly, "You just got back and you're already in such a hurry to leave. If there's really a problem, don't you think that will make people more suspicious?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingluan immediately suppressed her outburst of anger.
That makes sense.
The little monk had been testing her to see if she had seen anything, and now she was about to grab Chen Yan and leave.
Isn't that enough to illustrate the point?
Meng Qingluan calmed down, sat down in a chair, and looked at Chen Yan.
"What do we do? We can't just stay here..."
Shen Yan stood beside her, one hand resting on the chair, and poured Meng Qingluan a glass of water.
He handed it over and said gently, "Don't rush, have a sip of water and then tell me what happened."
Meng Qingluan glanced at the cup in his hand with resistance.
"I won't drink it. What if there's something unclean in their water?"
Shen Yan chuckled: "You just came in and had a drink, and you're fine, aren't you? I've been in the room the whole time; no one could have done anything to me."
Meng Qingluan had been running around for most of the day and had been in a state of high tension the whole time.
Hearing Shen Yan's words, he felt slightly relieved and took the water cup to drink a few mouthfuls.
Chen Yan naturally picked up a handkerchief and wiped the water stains from the corners of her mouth.
Meng Qingluan said, "I just saw a group of fierce-looking people in the backyard. They didn't look like villagers; they looked more like bandits."
"And that little monk kept asking me if I had been to the east side of the backyard, where those people were standing at the door of the house on the east side. Tell me, if he wasn't feeling guilty, why would he ask me all that?"
Chen Yan nodded thoughtfully.
"Then what?"
Meng Qingluan bit her lower lip and leaned closer to Chen Yan, telling him what she found most strange.
"The young monk and I went to the kitchen and smelled a meaty aroma. How could they be cooking meat in such a sacred Buddhist place?"
"He also immediately noticed that your clothes were made of silk..."
As Meng Qingluan was speaking, there was a knock on the door.
"Esteemed benefactors?"
Meng Qingluan fell silent.
His pupils constricted, he turned his head to look at the door, and subconsciously raised his hand to cover his mouth.
He spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft; if someone were to listen closely at the door, they could vaguely hear him.
Meng Qingluan looked at the sunken inkstone.
Shen Yan gave her a reassuring look and then looked towards the door.
"What is it, young master?"
The young monk replied, "Dinner at the temple has been prepared. I'll take some on behalf of you two benefactors."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com