While Zhao Ran and Yu Zhiyuan were chatting animatedly, Master Huo Gong brought the food to them. It was a bowl of piled white rice, a plate of chopped green onions and eggs, a bowl of vegetable soup, and a plate of brightly fried chili peppers.
Zhao Ran couldn't help but burst into tears. This was the first time he had eaten white rice since time travel! He devoured all the food. If he hadn't been concerned about his image, he would have even licked all the foam on the plate!
After finishing the meal, Zhao Ran, who was still unsatisfied, was dragged away by Yu Zhiyuan. Yu Zhiyuan impatiently took Zhao Ran to his house and showed Zhao Ran some of his proud works written in handwriting on the table.
Random evaluation.
Zhao Ran was full of witty words and actually gifted him many witty sentences used in later generations' books to praise good calligraphy, which made Yu Zhiyuan elated. Yu Zhiyuan also asked Zhao Ran to write and polished it for Zhao Ran himself.
Zhao Ran said a few words of humility, then stopped refusing, pondered for a moment, and wrote four large characters in running script: "Qu Shui Shui Shang".
After finishing writing, I saw Yu Zhiyuan frowning and thinking hard, with a very strange expression.
Zhao Ran said: "The boy showed his embarrassment and stained the Taoist priest's Dharma eyes. Don't blame the Taoist priest."
Yu Zhiyuan's eyes were always fixed on the four big characters, he shook his head and murmured: "No, no, no, strange... This word... suddenly moves to the left, sometimes to the right, but it is rigorous and neat, and it is straight and straight.
It’s so steep and puzzling.”
What Zhao Ran wrote was the famous Qi Gong style of later generations, which was completely different from traditional calligraphy that focused on the Nine Palaces Zhongzheng. No wonder Yu Zhiyuan couldn't understand it. Zhao Ran also didn't explain that this was a tactic he used to whet Zhiyuan's appetite and should not be exposed easily.
, I just wanted to ask if it was getting late and I didn’t know if I could arrange a night’s rest.
Yu Zhiyuan suddenly remembered this incident, quickly stopped studying calligraphy, and took Zhao Ran to the living room to rest.
The living room of Wujiyuan is divided into two places. Yunshui Hall accommodates Taoist priests who stay overnight, while Shifang Hall accommodates believers and lay people who stay overnight. Zhao Ran stayed in Shifang Hall that night.
…
In the Jiazi residence in the backyard, the middle hall is brightly lit with candles.
Zhong Tenghong from the Prison Court held a cup of tea and carefully placed it on the table. Then he turned behind the old Taoist who was leaning on the Tianshi chair. He lightly punched the old Taoist's shoulders with his fists, then gradually moved to his back and waist, and then turned back.
Up. This goes on and on.
The old Taoist squinted his eyes and enjoyed it for a moment, then waved his hand gently. Zhong Tenghong paused. The old Taoist picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then drank it all in one gulp and said happily: "The leaves of this Linghua are very good."
Zhong Tenghong waited for the old Taoist to put the tea cup down, and then began to beat it gently. While beating it, he said: "Abbott, this is specially sent by the Zhou Prefecture. It just arrived today. It has a total of three kilograms."
The abbot smiled brightly: "This thing is extremely rare. Master Zhou weighs three kilograms in one hand, but he thinks highly of me as an experienced person... Well, the left shoulder blade is a little heavier..."
Zhong Tenghong changed his strength and hit the abbot's left shoulder, and then said: "The Chief Envoy Si Youshou will take office at the end of the year, and the Zhou Prefect wants to take it to the next level..."
The abbot shook his head: "How can it be so easy? Is there no one in his court?"
Zhong Tenghong explained: "Wai Lang, a member of the civil service department, has a close friendship with Zhou Zhifu, and they are both in the same year of science and technology. However, the weight of a provincial council meeting is different after all..."
The abbot said happily: "Even so, Mr. Zhou should go to Xuanyuan Temple. If it is not possible, he should also find a way to the West Zhenwu Palace. But why do you want to involve me in Wujiyuan if you can't come to me?"
Zhong Tenghong complimented: "So Mr. Zhou is a sensible man. Naturally, he is not asking for Wujiyuan, but for you, the abbot. Wujiyuan can't help him, but you are different. You can say a word.
Everything others say is stronger than ten words."
The abbot pointed behind his back and said with a smile: "You are the only one who can speak with this mouth! Honestly, have you agreed to this?"
Zhong Tenghong smiled apologetically and said, "How dare you agree? I just agreed to help him ask you about your age."
The abbot smiled and said no more. Zhong Tenghong knew that the matter was probably done, and he was determined. So he changed the subject and said: "The great alchemist is here today. Although he has a distinguished status, as an elder,
Why do you need to welcome me in person? Your health is not good, so you should take care of yourself."
The abbot shook his head: "Teng Hong, you have come up step by step. You have enough talent and experience, but you have never been above. You must remember one thing, the people in the pavilion are different from us in Shifang Jungle.
, let’s talk about it, we are still people of the secular world, but you are a true cultivator of Taoism! If you are still stuck in the secular world, even if you are lucky enough to embark on the road of palace contemplation in the future, you will definitely run into trouble!”
This was a tone of admonishment. Zhong Tenghong quickly put away his smile, looked solemn, and respectfully said "yes".
The abbot said again: "The warning sent by the Great Refiner today, although we are a small Taoist temple, we still need to pay attention. You can arrange it tomorrow to make Ninggu Temple and Longshan Temple more alert. They are right next to each other."
Songfan Guards, we must guard against Buddhist infiltration. The White Horse Mountain Formation has lost its effectiveness, and we have Xuanyuan Temple and Xizhenwu Palace to worry about... But we cannot relax. From tomorrow, we will arrange the Fangtang round to inspect the line from Ninggu to Longshan.
There are suspicious Buddhist evildoers who need to be caught immediately!"
Zhong Tenghong responded yes, then hesitated and said: "Abbott, when the great master came to leave just now, he didn't mention the young man named Zhao Ran. Now Zhao Ran is still in the courtyard..."
The abbot made no sound, waved his hand and said, "You can just deal with this matter. I'm tired and I need to rest."
Zhong Tenghong left Jiazi Residence and returned to the prison where he lived. He summoned Deacon Jia, the acquaintance of the living room, and Deacon Hong, the master of Fangtang, and ordered them to go to Shifang Hall to meet Zhao Ran. He himself was in the prison.
Waiting for news.
Not long after, Deacon Jia and Deacon Hong returned hand in hand.
"How?" Zhong Tenghong asked.
Deacon Jia reported: "Prison Court, I just asked. According to Zhao Ran, the Great Master Refiner was his benefactor and saved his life. He did not elaborate on the details. What Zhao Ran meant was
I want to enter my Wuji Academy to learn Taoism, and I am extremely urgent in my words."
"Who is this guy from?"
"I am from Zhaojiazhuang, Shiquan County. I have been studying in a private school for several years. My parents are both dead. I have three acres of thin farmland at home. My family is very poor."
Zhong Tenghong frowned and looked at Deacon Hong. Deacon Hong nodded and said: "I tested it with a psychic jade. Zhao Ran has ordinary bones and is ordinary. He is not a talent for cultivation. In the prison, in fact, I think, if Zhao Ran can
Even if he is created, the Great Refiner will not leave him here. Since this boy's family is poor, it is very likely that the Great Refiner just wants the courtyard to provide him with food. In fact, there is no other deep meaning. Maybe we are overthinking.
"
Deacon Jia suddenly said: "In the Supervisory Academy, the Great Refiner did not mention how to arrange Zhao Ran's affairs when he left. I guess, in fact, the Great Refiner will not mind whether Zhao Ran is retained or not. If the Supervisory Academy
If you are in trouble, you can just give him a pen and send him away."
There are quotas for Taoist priests in Taoist temples. One more person will cost more. Therefore, new posts every year are very rare. Xizhenwu Palace issues an order to Wuji Temple to increase the number of Taoist priests every three years.
, as many as three people, and as few as one person, so this quota is very precious.
In addition to Taoists with formal ultimatums, Wuji Temple can also recruit some firework lay practitioners on its own, but these quotas are often used by the institute for favors and even to attract large donations.
Zhong Tenghong felt that what Deacon Jia said was reasonable. According to the current situation, the Great Refiner would not mind whether he accepted Zhao Ran or not. He was about to adopt Deacon Jia's opinion when he suddenly remembered what the abbot had just reminded him -
- The people in the pavilion are different from those in Shifang Jungle. These words still rang in his ears, which made him hesitate again. After thinking for a moment, he changed his mind and said: "Since it is the person brought by the Great Refiner, we must do something convenient anyway. Well.
, first send people to Shiquan County to investigate and verify the origin of this child, and as long as he is not a criminal, we will accept him."
In Taoist temples, the abbot is always respected, but in many Taoist temples, the abbot is not very interested in managing secular affairs, and most of the affairs are handled by the supervisor. Especially in Taoist temples like Wujiyuan, the old abbot is not in good health and is unwilling to interfere with trivial matters.
, Zhong Tenghong, the Supervisor, has great authority. When he makes a decision, Deacon Jia and Deacon Hong will naturally not object.
The duties of a new fireworker layman need to be arranged according to the rules, but when he thought of Chu Yangcheng, Zhong Tenghong hesitated, so he looked at Deacon Jia and Deacon Hong with a little hesitation. Deacon Jia thought for a while and said
: "In the prison, I think we should follow the rules. It is said that the great master is an upright man. If we go too far, it will be unsightly..."