Chapter 6

Lu Zheng asked in confusion, "Of course it's a monk, why are you asking this?"

Tang Xiaojiu asked again, "Then what about us two, who do we spend our days with?"

Lu Zheng understood that Tang Xiaojiu had a deeper meaning, and replied, "Old Song, we are beggars, so we are always with other beggars."

Tang Xiaojiu grabbed Lu Zheng's arm and said loudly, "That's right! Mingkong sees monks every day, and we see beggars every day. Mingkong will be a monk in the future, and we will be beggars. If we stay in this circle all our lives, we will never be different. So we must leave here to have a chance to become different people and do different things. Xiao Zheng, we beg for food now just to survive, but we are not beggars!"

Lu Zheng was still a bit scared and muttered, "Even if we go to other places, we might still end up as beggars!"

"Even if we are still beggars, I want to be a beggar in a different place!" Tang Xiaojiu said angrily in response to such a discouraging remark, "The world is so big, where can't we go? Anywhere is better than staying here. I've thought about this for a long time! Xiao Zheng, the longer we stay here, the more likely we will be beggars for life, or end up as dogs for Lai Liqi. A person must have ambition. Look at Lai Liqi's gang, do you want to be like them?"

"Besides, you are different from me. My parents died a long time ago, but I at least know who they are and remember what they look like. What about you? Don't you want to know who your parents are? Don't you want to know what they look like and why they left you on the street? Your jade pendant clearly shows that you are from a wealthy family. Only when we make something of ourselves will we have a chance to find our parents, do you understand?"

Seeing Tang Xiaojiu's determined look, Lu Zheng, though still a bit worried, also made up his mind and nodded firmly. In fact, the moment he heard there was a chance to find his parents, he was immediately moved and couldn't help but start imagining what his parents looked like.

Tang Xiaojiu finally felt relieved and sighed, "As for Mingkong, we can ask him if he wants to go with us."

The two discussed for a while and then planned how to steal money from the donation box at Qinglong Temple. Tang Xiaojiu, who was very bold, suggested setting fires to distract the monks guarding the money box. Lu Zheng thought it was a bit risky but couldn't come up with a better plan, so he had to temporarily follow Tang Xiaojiu's idea.

As the sun was about to set, Old Song hummed a tune and returned, his bowl shiny, indicating he had found something good to eat. When Lai Liqi and his gang came earlier, he had heard the commotion and escaped through a hole in the back of the temple. He only dared to return now. Seeing both of them in the temple and the poor state of the small temple, Old Song sighed. Lu Zheng took out a bun and gave it to him, but he put it in the bowl without eating it, chatted casually with the two, gathered some dry grass on the ground, pulled over half a broken mat, and lay down, soon snoring.

Tang Xiaojiu nodded at the snoring Old Song, his meaning clear: "Look, do you want to be like this all your life?"

Lu Zheng looked at the sleeping Old Song, curled up in the grass pile with his gray hair, and shivered, nodding at Tang Xiaojiu. The two planned their midnight action and went to sleep early.

After the evening service, the sound of wooden boards being struck echoed in Qinglong Temple. A group of bald heads lined up and left the Great Hall, each returning to their rooms to sleep. Mingkong, being a young monk, was not among them and was still washing dishes in the kitchen. As he washed, Tang Xiaojiu and Lu Zheng sneaked in to discuss their grand plan of wandering the world. Mingkong threw the cloth and bowl into the basin, pulled out a thin bamboo stick from somewhere, and picked his teeth, saying, "Xiaojiu, this is your idea, right?"

Tang Xiaojiu nodded.

Mingkong then said to Lu Zheng, "You're the one who's worried about me, right?"

Lu Zheng also nodded.

Mingkong smiled, "You two still have some loyalty, but I'm not leaving. Qinglong Temple suits me. You don't need to worry about me. When you make it big, remember to come back and see me. By then, I, Mingkong the Great Master, will definitely be the abbot of Qinglong Temple. The one who will be cooking and washing dishes will be that fatso Puguang!"

He added, "Also, as an insider, I can responsibly tell you that there's not a single coin in the donation box. That fat pig moves the money to his room every night, leaving a bunch of bald heads to guard the hall, which is a trap. The fatso counts money every night to lose weight!"

Tang Xiaojiu was surprised, "This fatso has a pig's body but not a pig's brain!"

Mingkong rolled his eyes, "Right, some people don't have a pig's body but have a pig's brain. Think about it, if Puguang was just a lazy glutton, how could he be the supervisor?"

Tang Xiaojiu quickly glanced at Lu Zheng, pretending to understand, but Lu Zheng was unhappy, "What does that look mean?"

Mingkong chuckled and lowered his voice, "But tonight is an opportunity. A wandering monk came today, insisting that there are demons in the temple. He refused to leave, sitting under a tree in front of the Great Hall. He seems tough and is trying to get money from the fatso. The fatso couldn't deal with him all afternoon and finally called over a dozen monks, but they couldn't move him. They even broke the sticks they used to pry him. The fatso had to let him sit there. It seems this wandering monk has some skills. I heard the fatso is so tired that he will sleep deeply tonight."

Tang Xiaojiu and Lu Zheng both said, "Is that true? What kind of wandering monk is so powerful?"

Mingkong said, "I've never heard of such a person before. I heard it from other monks. Unfortunately, I didn't see it myself. But I took a look this afternoon. The monk was sitting under the tree, just an ordinary middle-aged monk, no special features."

Lu Zheng looked worried, "Does he really mean there are demons in the temple?"

Tang Xiaojiu interrupted, "There are no demons in the world. It's just a scare tactic to get people to donate money!"

Lu Zheng, however, said seriously, "But how could so many people not be able to move him? I've heard there are real immortals in the world. Could this monk be a bodhisattva incarnate?"

Tang Xiaojiu sneered, "Your head is broken. That's just what storytellers say. How can you believe such nonsense? If there were real immortals and buddhas, Lai Liqi wouldn't be so arrogant! This monk probably has some martial arts skills. Don't think everything is about immortals. There are no such things in the world, it's all made up to fool you!"

Mingkong wrinkled his nose, "I don't know if there are immortals, but according to Buddhist scriptures, if someone attains the status of a bodhisattva or buddha, they have various supernatural powers, like moving mountains and filling seas. Breaking a few sticks is nothing."

Lu Zheng, ignoring Tang Xiaojiu, agreed, "Right, right, there are many immortals in the world who occasionally guide mortals to become immortals!"

Tang Xiaojiu, who usually didn't believe in such things, mocked, "Sure, sure, the way to become a buddha is to eat vegetables, chant to a piece of wood, and you'll become a buddha! Mingkong the Great Master, why don't you show us some supernatural powers and clean these dishes?"

He then changed the subject, "Enough, don't take the storytellers' nonsense seriously! We need to focus on getting the money tonight."

Mingkong said, "What plan did you mention earlier, setting fires? That won't work. I have a better idea..."

The three discussed for a while. The two helped Mingkong finish the dishes, and finally, it was midnight. The night was dark, but there were lights everywhere in Qinglong Temple. Following Mingkong's instructions, Tang Xiaojiu and Lu Zheng sneaked around the walls and corridors, avoiding the night patrol monks. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and they soon reached the supervisor's room on the west side, which was Puguang's room.

Puguang's room was still lit, and shadows were visible on the window, indicating he was still awake. The two held their breath and crouched down, sneaking to the window. Tang Xiaojiu signaled Lu Zheng to hide, then slowly stood up and peeked through the window. He saw Puguang sitting at a table, counting coins. There was a pile of coins on the left and a small pile of silver on the right. His fat hands were very nimble, and the coins made a rhythmic sound as he counted.

Puguang was focused, with sweat on his nose and a smile on his lips, looking very pleased. Tang Xiaojiu stared at the pile of silver, estimating it to be several dozen taels, enough for them to wander for a while. He swallowed hard. But seeing Puguang's excited look, he didn't know when he would go to sleep. No wonder Mingkong said he counted money to lose weight! He was getting anxious and had to crouch down to explain the situation to Lu Zheng. The two had to wait patiently in the corner.

After a long wait, Puguang suddenly stood up and left the room. Tang Xiaojiu, hearing the noise, quickly came out from the corner. He looked around and then rushed to the door. But when he pushed it, it didn't budge. He saw a large copper lock on the door.

Tang Xiaojiu tried to force the lock, but it didn't move. Realizing it was locked, he cursed softly. At that moment, Lu Zheng, who was keeping watch, meowed like a cat, and he had to quickly return to the corner.

Puguang, with his pants up, walked back looking relaxed. He took a key from his belt, unlocked the door, and went in. Lu Zheng, seeing this, was anxious, "What do we do now? This fatso is too smart. He even locks the door when he goes to the toilet."

Tang Xiaojiu put a finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet. As they spoke, footsteps approached, and Mingkong appeared with a tray, holding a bowl. Mingkong looked around, and Tang Xiaojiu made a bug sound. Mingkong smiled, knocked on the door, and said softly, "Supervisor, it's Mingkong."

Puguang didn't respond but opened the door. Seeing Mingkong with the tray, he smiled. Mingkong grinned, "Supervisor, you're still working hard for the temple at this hour. This bowl of ginseng soup is for your health."

Puguang patted Mingkong's head and smiled, "Mingkong, you are the only smart one in Qinglong Temple. Follow me, and though you may suffer now, it's because you lack experience. In a few years, I'll promote you to the kitchen head, and the kitchen will be your domain!"

Mingkong thanked him repeatedly, handed over the soup, and said, "Supervisor, drink it quickly, it will get cold." Puguang took the bowl, drank it in a few gulps, and threw it back on the tray, saying, "I have some things to do tonight. Come back tomorrow with more soup." Mingkong agreed and quickly left, glancing at the corner.

Tang Xiaojiu almost laughed out loud, mistaking "kitchen head" for "food bucket." Mingkong had been flattering Puguang for a long time, almost offering to wipe his bottom, but now he was called a "food bucket." Wasn't that an insult?