Xin Yuan sighed and said, "It's no wonder monks don't have good fortune."
Xu Qing heard this and laughed, saying, "No money needed, this wine is my offering to the master, as long as the master drinks it and doesn't trick other people's children into becoming little monks!"
"That's absolutely not possible, I am the most lawful monk, and I never do such disgraceful things!"
The gourd Xu Qing was handing suddenly paused as he deftly dodged Xin Yuan's approaching hand, his smile faded, "Hold on! Give me your wine gourd from your waist, I'll share some with you."
Receiving the wine gourd, Xu Qing poured while keeping an eye on the County Magistrate's situation from afar.
At a certain moment, Xu Qing suddenly exclaimed, "The County Magistrate came out! And there are two little bald heads!"
Xin Yuan quickly turned to look, only to see the front door of the County Magistrate's mansion tightly closed, with just one crow perched on a stone statue, fixing its feathers.
Turning back, Xu Qing had already shared the wine, and he handed back the monk's wine gourd while smiling and said, "The County Magistrate already chased those little bald heads back to the mansion."
The Mad Monk received the gourd, still a bit suspicious.
His little disciple really came out just now?
Before Xin Yuan could think too much, Xu Qing spoke again, "Look! The County Magistrate is truly coming out!"
The monk turned his head and indeed saw County Magistrate Chen come out with a stern expression.
Before getting into his sedan chair, he particularly instructed the maidservant at the door, "Make sure to watch the two young masters carefully, and don't let them interact with strangers!"
Early this morning, Chen Liu'Er secretly tried to run out of the mansion, luckily the nursing home noticed in time, otherwise who knows what trouble would have happened!
Meanwhile, Xu Qing's voice sounded behind Xin Yuan.
"Chen Liu'Er and Chen Zi'an's parents are still alive, it's not for them to sever worldly connections and go to the temple to be those wild monks."
"These two kids grew up under my watch, how they turn out when grown is none of my business, but if you dare to lure them away when they know nothing and understand no reasoning..."
Xu Qing chuckled lightly, turned around, and walked away.
Xin Yuan the monk wasn't a bad person, yet he clearly carried many secrets, Xu Qing even faintly sensed traces of Sister Liu's mentor, that old woman, on him.
Xu Qing didn't know what the monk was up to, perhaps he recognized Chen Liu'Er's talent and sought a successor, or maybe he held ulterior motives like that old woman.
But before Chen Liu'Er and Chen Zi'an grow up, Xu Qing wouldn't watch idly as the kids' parents worry constantly because of this.
After all, it was Chen Guangrui and his wife who helped him establish the first Bao Sheng Temple; if he sat by, he'd be like a cold statue indifferent to the world's suffering.
"Take money to resolve calamities for others."
"Receive incense offerings, protect peace for others."
Though Xu Qing was merely a minor deity of Bao Sheng Temple, he understood the importance of reciprocity.
The Mad Monk looked at the young man's departing back and smirked.
"Outsiders, how could they understand the true meaning of Buddha."
He instinctively raised his gourd and took a sip.
"This wine..."
"Is truly good!"
...
Inside the County Magistrate's Mansion.
Ever since foster father Chen Guangrui went to court, Chen Liu'Er was kept in the backyard by his foster mother.
Said that someone has been dispatched to inform his real mother, Yin Shi, at the Chen family's shop; just waiting for Yin Shi to arrive for a family tribunal!
Chen Liu'Er knew his foster parents were cautious and wouldn't easily beat or scold him, but if his real mother came, his butt would surely be in trouble!
After all, he even took their real son Chen Zi'an to shave his head.
If Yin Shi didn't spank him, he'd suspect she had turned into some ghost or monster...
Chen Liu'Er, being clever, quickly said he was thirsty and wanted some water.
Mrs. Shang and the wet nurse didn't think much of it; since the child was thirsty, they brought him water soup to drink.
After three bowls of tea went down, Chen Liu'Er burped from the water and said he couldn't hold it and needed to urinate.
Mrs. Shang still didn't think much, he drank so much tea, could she not let him go to the toilet?
However, Mrs. Shang wasn't someone easy to fool; she asked the two wet nurses to accompany Chen Liu'Er to prevent him from sneaking off in an instant!
Chen Liu'Er seemed oblivious, as he hurriedly made his way to the toilet, looking as if he was truly pressed.
"I can't, I really can't hold it! You two turn your backs, I'll pee at the corner!"
One nurse laughed, "We've seen everything, young master; when you were little, I even helped you pee!"
The other nurse said, "Young master, are you trying to escape?"
Chen Liu'Er said anxiously, "Escape to where, the main entrance isn't even on this side. Besides, the private tutor taught that men and women should keep a proper distance. If you don't turn away, I'll wet my pants and when mother scolds you, don't blame me!"
The two nurses, upon hearing this, agreed and turned their backs.
Turning away, the two quietly chatted:
"The young master is growing up, he's starting to feel shy."
"That's right, just a few days ago he was competing with Zi'an at the steps, seeing who could pee the furthest without feeling shy..."
"..."
The two nurses quickly turned back to check, but Chen Liu'Er was nowhere to be seen!
At the west end alley of the County Magistrate's Mansion, Chen Liu'Er sneaked out through the side door, aimed for a direction and dashed towards a remembered spot.
As he panted through two alleys and reached a corner, a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Chen Liu'Er, you've been caught!"
The mere words sent the little rascal into a fright, freezing him in place, unable to move.
At this moment, Xu Qing who was leaning against the alley sealed his wine and approached the kid.
Once he saw Xu Qing's face clearly, Chen Liu'Er let out a breath of relief and said with lingering fear, "Scared me to death! I thought it was someone chasing after me!"
"Little Liu'Er, what did your foster father say yesterday? Are you secretly going to find that Mad Monk again?"
Chen Liu'Er was not afraid of Xu Qing, he said cheerfully, "The monk is my teacher, what he talks about is much more interesting than the stuff at school..."
Xu Qing sneered, "Monks are supposed to sever worldly attachments. 'Leaving the world', 'leaving the world', only those without parents or ties leave the world to become monks."
"Those who leave the world have compassion. If you do this, is it compassionate?"
"Without compassion, one can't be a true monk."
With just a few simple words, Xu Qing effectively kept Chen Liu'Er from moving.
Chen Liu'Er retracted his short little legs, hanging his head, "You're right, I can't leave the world yet."
Xu Qing showed a satisfied smile, ready to change to a lighter topic, "Heard you secretly ate Lady Bao Sheng's offering fruit a few days ago?"
"..."
"How did you know?"
Xu Qing smiled and said, "Your foster father entrusted Bao Sheng Temple to me, I occasionally check on the temple, your deeds can't escape Sister Jin's vigilance either."
"Enough about that, only a few offering fruits, I don't think Lady Bao Sheng would mind. Let me ask you about something else..."
"Chen Liu'Er, didn't you find a scale by the riverside a few days ago?"
"How do you know everything?" Chen Liu'Er looked shocked.
Xu Qing spoke solemnly, "Lady Bao Sheng revealed this to me in a dream, she said this scale is from a monster dragon that despises monks. If a mortal child obtains this scale, at best they're plagued by sickness, at worst never able to become a monk throughout life.
Two years ago, there was a little monk who received a dragon scale and was driven out of the temple by the head monk, unable to become a monk again."
"Little Liu'Er, this item bears great significance; you're a child and can't handle it, it'd be better for me to keep it safe. I'm uninterested in being a monk, not afraid of dragon's curse."
On hearing that it was Lady Bao Sheng's revelation and the mention of not becoming a monk, he grew anxious!
"Little Liu'Er, you don't believe me, but surely you trust Lady Bao Sheng?"
"I trust! I do!"
Chen Liu'Er immediately took out a blue scale from his bag as if it were a plague and handed it over to Xu Qing.
"Alright, you head back now! But remember what I said."
"Thank you, Uncle Xu!"
Xu Qing was focused on the blue scale in his hand, happily waving his hand behind without looking at Chen Liu'Er.
This scale is truly extraordinary!