This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 122 Under Peace
However, since they had decided to go and investigate together tomorrow, Liu Hongyu and the others did not refuse and stayed overnight.

After dinner that night, Liu Hongyu and the other five people moved into the two cleaned-up rooms. There were not enough beds but there were enough beddings, so sleeping on the floor would solve the problem. Zhao Chenyu's servant would live in the same room with him tonight.

Compared to the past when he let the servants do everything, Zhao Chenyu now does many things by himself. Even things like cleaning the house are done together. Just like the dinner before, the guests are not allowed to move, but he, as the host, helps to boil water and cook.

In Zhao Chenyu's own words, he used to take himself too seriously. In Xiangyang, he, Zhao Langjun from Wuling, was nothing. What qualifications did he have to put on airs and act wealthy?

The two girls were tidying up the room over there, while Xiaowen and the others were making the bed with the Zhao family servants over here, while Liu Hongyu was rummaging through the bookcases and called Zhao Chenyu over.

"Mr. Qiming, please come here!"

As they got to know each other better, and with the added bonus of Zhuang Lin's relationship, Liu Hongyu and the others changed the way they addressed Zhao Chenyu.

Zhao Chenyu still had his sleeves rolled up. When he heard Liu Hongyu calling him, he walked over, only to see the latter taking out a peach from the bookcase.

Mu Hongwen and the others saw this from the side, and immediately looked at each other and smiled.

"Peaches? These peaches look so fresh and tender."

Zhao Chenyu walked to the bookcase and saw Liu Hongyu handing him the peach, so he subconsciously wiped his hands on himself and took it. After taking a look at it, he felt that the peach looked like it had just been picked, extremely fresh, and there was no fuzz on it when he held it in his hand.

"Mr. Qiming, these peaches are unique in their growth and taste excellent. They are also nourishing and are rarely found elsewhere. They are native to our hometown. My master once told me that if I have the chance, I will pick some peaches and bring them to you to try."

Liu Hongyu added.

"I thought you were in Wuling, but you ended up in Xiangyang. The journey was so long that it was difficult to preserve it, so this is all I have left. Please eat it quickly, sir!"

"Did Mr. Zi'an ask you to bring it?"

"That's right, sir. Please don't let my master down, and don't despise this meager gift!"

Hearing Liu Hongyu say this, Zhao Chenyu hurriedly waved his hands.

"Oh, how could I dislike it? This peach looks tempting, so I would be disrespectful to refuse it!"

Seeing that Zhao Chenyu was about to put the food in his arms and had no intention of eating it immediately, Liu Hongyu smiled again.

"Please eat here, Mr. Qiming, or I won't feel at ease!"

"Now? I haven't packed it up yet!"

Xiaowen on the other side hurriedly said.

"It's all ready. Mr. Qiming, you should eat it. This is really what the Master said. And if you don't eat it now, we're afraid you'll forget and it will be easy for the rats to eat it later!"

"Yes, Mr. Qiming, this peach is special. We don't have many of them here. Honestly, it's priceless! Eat it now!"

Gao Ran also said this.

Now that things had come to this, Zhao Chenyu didn't refuse. It was a peach on either side, but he looked at Xiaowen and Gao Ran and said something else.

"Why don't you let the child eat it? I always have some fruit."

"Oh, we are all tired of eating it!" "Yes, it was originally given to you!"

"Mr. Qiming, if you let me eat it, the teacher will definitely punish me if he finds out, and the eldest brother will complain!"

Liu Hongyu grinned and gave Xiaowen a blank look, but didn't say anything.

Zhao Chenyu glanced at a few people and saw that the servant over there was also smiling, so he smiled and did not refuse. However, he did not bite it immediately, but broke off part of the peach directly.

Suddenly, a strong aroma burst out from the peach, and in an instant the fragrance filled the room.
Liu Hongyu was shocked and made a gesture with his sleeve. The peach juice dripping from Zhao Chenyu's fingertips turned before falling to the ground, forming a small circle and being gathered together. The fragrance of peaches did not drift out of the room.

"So fragrant? What kind of peach is this?"

Zhao Chenyu was also startled by the fragrance. It was even stronger than the rouge and powder used by the girls in the brothel, but it was fresh and pleasant and not pungent.

This is a fruit, not a flower. Even if it were a flower, it couldn't emit such a fragrance, right?
"Mr. Qiming, don't waste it!"

"Uh, yes, come on, Ah Cai, you and I, master and servant, will share this peach today!"

As he spoke, Zhao Chenyu handed the small half of peach without the pit in his hand to the servant. The latter was already swallowing his saliva, so there was no way he would refuse and he just reached out to take it.

"Thank you, sir. I'll be polite then!"

After saying that, the servant bit into the peach flesh, and the sweet fruity aroma immediately filled his mouth.

“Mmm, delicious.”

Zhao Chenyu couldn't help it, and looked at Liu Hongyu again. Seeing him nodding with a smile, he also started to eat the peach, and ate it with a sound of praise.

"It's hard to find anywhere else, and it's incredibly delicious!"

Liu Hongyu seized the opportunity and pointed his finger at Zhao Chenyu from his sleeve. The peach juice he had just collected turned an arc in the air and fell directly into Zhao Chenyu's mouth, and entered his stomach as he swallowed.

After the Zhao family's master and servant finished eating the peach, one kept sucking the peach pit while the other sucked his fingers, both of them seemed to be still unsatisfied.

Moreover, after eating the peach, both of them felt a warm feeling in their stomachs, and the fatigue in their bodies was unknowingly swept away.

"Alas, what a pity I wasn't in Wuling. You only saved this one peach. I wonder if you'll have the chance to eat it again in the future?"

Zhao Chenyu asked this, and Liu Hongyu thought about it and shook his head.

"It's not that we're stingy, but it's so rare for these peach trees to bloom and bear fruit. I don't know when they'll be available again!"

"Really? That's a pity."

"Mr. Qiming, don't throw away this peach kernel. This peach is quite special, and the kernel has wonderful uses. After drying it in the sun or roasting it over charcoal, make a carved flower basket out of it. Wearing it can calm children down!"

Zhao Chenyu nodded and took note of it, but then he was slightly stunned and couldn't help but ask a question.

"It can calm children down if worn. Is this true?"

Liu Hongyu nodded.

"This medical art contains mysterious principles. I don't know the details, but my hometown uses this peach kernel carved basket to treat convulsions and weakness in children, and it's always effective!"

"Oh I got it!"

Zhao Chenyu nodded and subconsciously tightened the peach core in his hand.
-
The next morning, Zhao Chenyu woke up feeling refreshed, all the aches and pains from yesterday's fall gone. He still had things to do, so he got up early too. But Liu Hongyu seemed even earlier, already washed and waiting for him.

This time they went out without anyone else. They each left their own instructions and left together shortly afterwards.

Zhao Chenyu first went to the county government office to take a look. As a literary clerk, he had a very low presence on weekdays and no one cared about him at all. He didn't even need to tell anyone if he wanted to be absent from work.

Seeing that everything was the same as before, Zhao Chenyu took Liu Hongyu straight to Wanzhang Foguang Temple.

At noon, the two men left the south of Xiangyang City. Only a mile out of the city, they saw a large Buddhist temple. There were many people walking in that direction around them, most of them were going to burn incense.

When you get closer, the scale of the Buddhist temple becomes even more astonishing. The most eye-catching thing is a seven-story tower in the direction of the temple. The gold-painted spire sparkles in the sun, giving you a sense of the sacredness of Buddha's light.

"That's the Wanzhang Foguang Temple. Everyone in Jingxiang knows this place, from the wealthy and powerful to the common people. Countless people come here to burn incense. Even though it's just a Buddhist temple and a group of monks practicing in seclusion, it's a very important place!"

As Zhao Chenyu said this, Liu Hongyu also looked serious.

"I'm afraid he's not a pure monk!"

Zhao Chenyu didn't say anything, and walked towards the temple gate with the younger generation beside him and the pilgrims.

The area was already filled with horse-drawn carriages, and some were even parked. Among the pilgrims there were many wealthy people in fine clothes.

When he arrived here, a strong smell of incense and candles hit his nose. It was not just the smell of incense and candles that ordinary people could smell. Liu Hongyu also knew that there was a lot of diffused incense smell, which showed how prosperous the incense business was here.

"Foguang Temple enshrines many Buddhas. The two main halls enshrine the Bodhisattvas of Tianyin, one male and one female. The temple has not only monks but also nuns who are in charge of the two halls."

"Monks and nuns living in the same temple?"

Liu Hongyu was surprised.

"Isn't this unreasonable?"

"It's a little unreasonable, but that's just how it is in Foguang Temple. But we'll go in later and show some respect!"

"Ok!"

As the two were talking, they had already entered the temple with the pilgrims. There were many people inside, but it was not too noisy. It was obvious that the pilgrims had awe for this pure Buddhist place.

People coming and going go to the various halls to burn incense and worship Buddha, and there are monks in the temple to maintain some order. Everything seems to be normal.

Even Liu Hongyu's current Dharma eyes could not see anything, and it always looked like a peaceful Buddha's light.

If Liu Hongyu had not already identified the problem, he would probably have ignored this.

When they arrived at a side garden near the center of the temple, Zhao Chenyu finally found an opportunity. He found a few monks who seemed relatively free, gave Liu Hongyu a wink, and hurried up.

"Excuse me, masters. I am Zhao Chenyu, the literary official of the county city!"

"Oh, it's Donor Zhao, what's the matter?"

The monks did not dare to neglect him. Since he was an official of high rank, they returned the gift and spoke politely.

Zhao Chenyu said with a smile.

"I once heard while drinking tea in the city that Masters Jingkong and Jingneng possess profound Buddhist knowledge and can resolve people's worries and doubts. I've felt frustrated in recent years and would like to seek help from these two masters. I wonder where I can find them? Or, could you please recommend them to me?"

As he spoke, Zhao Chenyu took out the two small coins he had prepared long ago, hid them in his sleeve and handed them to the leading monk.

The monk was initially surprised at what the other party was doing, but when he touched the two strings of money in Zhao Chenyu's sleeves, he immediately smiled and took the money and hid it in his monk's robe.

"Donor Zhao is a local official. He is worried about the people and the country, and he is also interested in educating people. That's why he feels so sad. Unfortunately, Master Jingkong and Master Jingneng are out on business. I'm afraid they won't be back anytime soon."

Liu Hongyu watched Zhao Chenyu chatting with several monks from a distance behind. From the initial politeness to the later spontaneous hit it off and the lively conversation, he couldn't help but marvel in his heart.

This guy is really capable. Although he gave him money, if it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to put on a good face, at least I definitely wouldn't be able to do it like him.

Zhao Chenyu also chose the position where Liu Hongyu stood. He was a little far away but could still hear their conversation, but it didn't make the monks feel uncomfortable.

By the time they finished talking, at least a quarter of an hour had passed. Zhao Chenyu saluted the monk, and the monk returned the salute and said politely, then wanted to take Zhao Chenyu into the backyard.

Zhao Chenyu greeted Liu Hongyu, who was slightly stunned and hurried over.

"Oh, this must be your junior, he's really quite a handsome man!"

The monk looked at Liu Hongyu and praised him sincerely.

Zhao Chenyu had been depressed for a while, and he was indeed a few years older, so he looked a little haggard now. Liu Hongyu's face next to him did look like a younger relative.

Liu Hongyu bowed politely and then they went into the backyard together.

This was what Zhao Chenyu had just negotiated with the monk he had become familiar with, allowing him to take people to the backyard for a stroll. If it were someone else, it would not be enough to just spend money. Status and money were both required, and it also depended on "fate".

However, thanks to Zhao Chenyu's means, Liu Hongyu went in with him.

This made Liu Hongyu wonder in his heart, with Zhao Chenyu's ability, how could he fail in the officialdom?

However, Liu Hongyu's attention was soon attracted by some situations in the backyard. Passing by the Zen room on the side of the Female Prime Minister Hall, he saw a small number of young women and even girls wearing monk robes, and they had not shaved their heads at all.

Seeing that Liu Hongyu was attracted by the monks, the monk leading the way smiled and said.

"Young Master Liu is full of youthful vigor."

"Uh, I don't dare, but Master, I'd like to ask, these nuns don't seem to have tonsured?"

Liu Hongyu seemed a little nervous, and Zhao Chenyu beside him also looked curious, as he didn't know much about this place.

But the monks didn't care and explained with a smile.

"These are not monks, but children with predestined dharma who are here to bathe in the Buddha's light. There are both men and women who follow the monks and nuns in the temple for a short period of time to practice and then return home. They can pray for blessings, dispel disasters, and relieve misfortunes, and receive blessings."

Liu Hongyu found it strange, and Zhao Chenyu beside him also frowned slightly.

However, unlike Zhao Chenyu, Liu Hongyu was not an ordinary person after all. His eyes fell on some of the figures, and he hid his left hand in his sleeve to calculate, but the result was somewhat surprising.

These people showed no signs of being under duress.
(End of this chapter)