Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty-Chapter 56 - 55 Abbot Liao Chen

Chapter 56: Chapter 55 Abbot Liao Chen

Chapter 56 -55 Abbot Liao Chen

Upon hearing that they intended to purchase him, Chen Dabao burst into tears and pleaded, “I want to go home, I want to be with my mother. Please, don’t buy me. My mother cannot survive without me. The people in our village all say that I am clever and that I will eventually become a scholar. If I do, I will be able to support my mother and my grandparents. If I become a slave, I won’t be able to take the imperial examination… Wuu wuu wuu…”

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His cry startled the three birds into a dive, circling above their heads, squawking loudly.

Abbot Liao Chen darkened his expression, clapping his hands together before saying, “Amitabha Buddha, everything is about destiny, do not forcibly impose on others. The young Chen benefactor has been accompanying these birds and staying with Yan’er for so long due to his kind heart. How could you disregard his goodwill like this! Do not bully the weak because you are strong, especially not a child…”

The people there hurriedly voiced their repentance.

Abbot Liao Chen then reassured Dabao, “Don’t worry, benefactor. They will not force you to sell your birds, nor will they force you to be sold. Thank you for playing with Yan’er for such a long period. You’re her first good friend and she really likes you a lot. It’s the first time that I have seen her getting along with a stranger for such a long time…”

When Chen Dabao was leaving, Abbot Liao Chen had a maid prepare a package of pastries and four brushes with two bars of ink for him, asking him to come again tomorrow to accompany Yan’er.

Chen Dabao didn’t dare to accept the gifts. Abbot Liao Chen smiled, “You are Yan’er’s first good friend. There is no need for such formality among friends.”

Yet another false alarm for the family, those people wanted to buy Jin Bao, Qi Qi, Hui Hui, but also wanted to buy Dabao. In ancient times, it was indeed tough for the common people.

Chen Afu, full of sorrow, lifted Dabao, gently kissed his little face and said, “It’s okay now. Dabao is home.” She then thought of the compassionate Abbot Liao Chen…

When Chen Afu was selling needle and thread packages at Yingxue Nunnery, she heard a few vendors gossiping. They said that the Abbot Liao Chen in Yingxue Nunnery was proficient in medicine, compassionate, and often helped the poor with medical treatment.

Was this Abbot Liao Chen the Abbot Liao Chen from Yingxue Nunnery?

That day, the “hero” told the little girl to “visit her grandmother”. Mrs. Wang had also mentioned that the abbot of Yingxue came from a wealthy family.

Could it be that this Abbot Liao Chen was indeed the Abbot Liao Chen from Yingxue Nunnery, and also the biological grandmother of the little girl?

Chen Afu was astounded by her audacious guess. Upon returning to the east room, she shared her conjecture with them.

Mrs. Wang appeared thoughtful. She acknowledged that the name of the abbot at Yingxue Nunnery was indeed Liao Chen, but whether she was the same Liao Chen from Tang Garden was unknown.

She recalled that Abbot Liao Chen had joined Yingxue Nunnery as a nun about nine years prior. Before she joined, the Nunnery was smaller, and only had three nuns. After she joined, she expanded the nunnery and recruited more nuns. Her family also invested heavily in beautifying the backyard of the nunnery, transplanting dozens of century-old Magnolia trees and building a plum garden. This attracted many high-born women to come to worship and go sightseeing, thereby increasing the popularity of the nunnery.

The reason why Mrs. Wang was so familiar with Yingxue Nunnery was that she had been tirelessly seeking medical treatment for Afu. She didn’t want Afu to remain unintelligent forever and had not only been taking Afu to doctors and administering medication according to folk remedies but also often visited Lingyin Temple to worship the Bodhisattva. Occasionally, she would also visit Yingxue Nunnery, which was close to Lingyin Temple.

“Mother, you also met Abbot Liao Chen?” Chen Afu asked in surprise.

Mrs. Wang replied, “Not only have I met her, but Afu has also met her. When you were seven years old, I took you to Yingxue Nunnery to see Abbot Liao Chen for medical consultation. She said that her medical skills were limited and that she could not cure your illness. She gave you a few vegetarian pastries when we were leaving. That Abbot Liao Chen has really a compassionate heart, a very pleasant demeanor and was very beautiful. The way she looked at Afu then – I still remember it. She had no trace of disdain, only tenderness. Alas, such a wonderful woman, why would she…”

Mrs. Wang didn’t continue, but heaved a long sigh.

Such a compassionate nun.

If they are truly the same person, what circumstances would have compelled a wealthy woman who already had a son to become a nun? Moreover, even after becoming a nun, she was still entangled in worldly affairs?

Chen Afu also sighed.

Chen Ming said, “The wealthy families have lots of secrets that such lower-class people as us cannot even imagine. Dabao, remember not to go to the eastern side to let out the birds.”

Mrs. Wang seemed to realize something and gave Chen Ming a glance. Her lips pursed into a small smile.

Chen Dabao nodded obediently, “Okay”. He added, “Abbot Liao Chen is so compassionate and gentle. I really like her. And I also like Yan’er sister. She is so pitiful, she cried without making a sound, and just let the large tears fall. Alas, I can’t bear to see that.”

He wanted to propose that he go see her again tomorrow and play with her for a while. But recalling that some people intended to keep him and his bird brothers in Tang Garden, and that his grandfather also forbade him from going, he dared not say it.

Chen Afu asked again, “Didn’t you see the little girl’s father or mother?”

Chen Dabao shook his head, “I didn’t see her father and mother. I just heard them say that a gentleman would come to pick up the ‘sister’ in a few days. I don’t know if that gentleman is Yan’er sister’s father. I’ve not heard anyone mention her mother.”

In ancient times, daughters were usually taught by their mothers. This little girl was with her father last time and her father would pick her up again in a few days. She was accompanied by her grandmother who had taken her vows in the separate courtyard – who knew what her family situation was like.

Chen Afu unwrapped the package of pastries which were rose cakes. They were bright in color, semi-transparent, and had an enticing aroma. Afu let Dabao take some to Little Stone, saying they were from his grandmother. It was courtesy to return a gift when one is received. It wasn’t right to just take items from Wu’s family. Yet she specifically told him to only say that the little girl from Tang Garden asked Dabao to play with her because she was bored and not to say anything else.

The pens and ink were from Jingcheng Wenshangzhai. They were presented to Chen Ming, but Chen Ming waved his hand, “These things are too good for me to use. Keep them for Alu and Dabao when they go to school. No, when they take the examination to become scholars.”

Chen Afu laughed, “Dad, you can use them first. We can buy more when they take the examination.”

Since Chen Ming had gotten a little better, he enjoyed reading books and writing occasionally. He shook his head and said, “Afu probably doesn’t know about Jingcheng Wenshangzhai. It is the best stationery shop in the Dashun dynasty. The things there are very expensive. Even this pen costs no less than two taels of silver.”

Chen Afu laughed again, saying, “I will go there and buy when I earn more silver.”

Chen Ming, laughing, shook his head. After playing with the items for a while, he still couldn’t bear to use them.

In the late afternoon, Chen Afu wanted to make a gold swallow doll to give to the little girl. She found a ball of cotton wool and found a few kinds of cloth suitable for making the swallow in the pile of cloth scraps after searching for a long time. The material was average, mostly made of cloth, with only a small strip of pink silk that could be used as a tongue.