Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 304: Cultivation Ground_1 (1/2)

Chapter 308: Chapter 304: Cultivation Ground_1

Upon leaving the Wei’s residence, Yingbao was followed by two servants, each holding a gift box.

Gifts from the Wang family included consultation fees and medicinal costs totaling up to two hundred taels of silver, plus six pieces of silk in varying designs.

Upon returning to the Wen family, Yingbao intended to give the silk fabrics to Mrs. Wen and Wen Shu, but they adamantly refused to take them.

Xiu Zhenniang: “These are tokens of Mrs. Wang’s gratitude to you. How can we take them? You don’t need to worry about carrying them. In a few days, I’ll have them sent back to Qinchuan County and give them to your family.”

Seeing Mrs. Wen being so determined, Yingbao had no choice but to agree.

Afterwards, Xiu Zhenniang brought Yingbao and Wen Shu to the market in the Prefecture City, where they enjoyed the local delicacies.

Yingbao bought a few fire starters, two small iron pots with covers, and a kitchen knife from the market. These things were small and easy to carry around, so they could be useful when traveling.

For the following several days, Yingbao stayed at Mrs. Wen’s house until her Second Senior Brother called her back to the Taoist Temple.

Because the next day was the first day of the seventh lunar month, the “Ghost Month”, the Temple would conduct rituals to honor the ancestors, gods, and spirits.

The old saying goes, “Blessings from the celestial officials on the day of the First Yuan, forgiveness from the terrestrial officials on the day of the Mid Yuan, and disaster relief from the aquatic officials on the day of the Last Yuan.”

This “Mid Yuan” where “terrestrial officials grant forgiveness” was precisely on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.

So the ceremonies at Jin Ding temple would start on the first day of the seventh lunar month and continue till the fifteenth day.

Yingbao and her two senior disciples, following their master’s lead, sat cross-legged on straw cushions, chanting redemption mantras.

At this moment, colourful flags fluttered in the temple, the air filled with the scent of sandalwood, while all types of musical instruments played in harmony. The priests danced on ‘Mountaintop’ wearing colourful magical robes, their feather crowns adorned with colourful ribbons fluttering as if they were immortals.

Yingbao estimated that there were over a thousand people in the Taoist ground, most of them Taoists and lay worshippers.

After a ritual, the master and his disciples returned to their guest rooms to rest after having their vegetarian meal. Most of the Taoists and worshippers went down to the villagers’ homes and the inns to rest while some stayed in the great hall to keep the incense burning.

Yingbao lay on her small bed and quietly took out some grapes.

The meals provided by the Taoist temple were too poor, just a bun and a bowl of thin porridge per meal, barely enough to fill her. She didn’t know how her master and senior disciples could endure this, especially as this would continue for more than a dozen days.

A few days later, Zhang Min quietly came to find his junior sister disciple. “Yingbao, let’s go down the mountain.”

Yingbao: “Did the master permit you to go?”

“Master won’t care.” Zhang Min whispered, “Are you coming or not? If not, I can go by myself.”

“Let’s go!” Yingbao swiftly packed her bag, tied her shoelaces, and followed her senior disciple as they slipped out of the guesthouse.

As dawn was just breaking, there were not many people in the Taoist temple, so the two of them left the temple and went straight down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, there were a lot of stalls selling breakfast, most of which sold vegetarian food.

However, there were a few stalls selling three fillings steamed buns and mixed vegetable soup.

The mixed vegetable soup contained chicken and meat shreds, which were very delicious.

Zhang Min ordered two bowls of mixed vegetable soup and ten large three fillings steamed buns.

He ate six buns in one go and drank a large bowl of vegetable soup.

After finishing eating, as Yingbao was still eating, he said, “I’m going to bring some buns to Master. Stay here and wait for me.”

Yingbao nodded, “Okay.”

Zhang Min bought six more buns, asked the vendor to wrap them in lotus leaves, tucked them into his robe, and hurried back up the mountain.

Seeing her senior brother leave, Yingbao turned to the vendor and said, “Give me two more steamed bun baskets.”

Each basket contained nine large buns, so two baskets are eighteen. She wanted to store some in the cave dwelling to eat later.

The vendor happily brought over two baskets of three fillings steamed buns and politely asked, “Would you like me to wrap these for you, young master?”

“Give me two lotus leaves, I’ll do it myself.” Yingbao spoke while taking a bite of the three fillings steamed bun.

“Alright.” The vendor handed two lotus leaves to Yingbao and went to attend to other customers.

After he was done with his chores and turned back, the steam basket in front of the young master was already empty.