After exchanging a few pleasantries, Fangzheng went straight to the point. "Zen Master Sunglow, Fangzheng has something to ask you."
"Abbot Fangzheng, feel free to ask. This Penniless Monk will definitely tell you if he knows," said Zen Master Sunglow with a smile.
After some thought, Fangzheng asked, "Southwest of the mountain, there's a river. It's very wide. What river is it?"
"That's the Dong River. It comes from the Changbai mountain range. It's formed by the convergence of several rivers. It's the widest area there, but it will eventually converge into the Songhua River. Venerable Fangzheng, why are you asking this? "Zen Master Sunglow was somewhat curious.
Fangzheng asked again, "Has the Dong River had a flood in recent years?"
"A flood?" Zen Master Sunglow fell into deep thought. After a while, he looked up and said, "It hasn't happened in recent years. But twenty years ago, there was a flood that engulfed a few villages. However, the government had already given an early warning and evacuated the people. The losses weren't too great. "
"Did anyone drown?" Fangzheng continued asking.
"That's too many. Every year, there are people who don't heed the advice to swim in the water. Quite a number of people die every year. Amitabha. "With that said, Zen Master Sunglow could not help but give a Buddhist proclamation.
Fangzheng nodded. "Zen Master Sunglow, take a look at this."
Fangzheng handed the pamphlet to Zen Master Sunglow and told him everything he had seen. Finally, he asked, "Zen Master, do you have any impression of this person? If This Penniless Monk isn't wrong, he shouldn't be living far from here. "
However Zen Master Sunglow shook his head helplessly. "This Penniless Monk spends most of his time studying the Buddhist Dharma. This Penniless Monk doesn't have many opportunities to venture out. This Penniless Monk doesn't have any impression of the person you mentioned. Besides, news of Patron Yuan Hai's ruckus has long spread. No one has heard of him. Perhaps, he has never come to the monastery in the past. This Penniless Monk doesn't have any impression of the girl in the portrait either. "
Fangzheng was stumped when he heard that. The most recent flood was twenty years ago. Even if Yuan Hai's relatives had perished in that flood, there was no need for him to search for them for twenty years. Based on the math, Fangzheng guessed that Yuan Hai's daughter had likely drowned while playing in the water. She had even died without a corpse.
Therefore, Yuan Hai was searching in the water while handing out pamphlets on the shore. This explanation made sense.
When he came out of Zen Master Sunglow's abbot chamber, Fangzheng scratched his bald head. He realized that the matter was quite troublesome. He knew too little about Yuan Hai. The things Yuan Hai could express were also too little. This was indeed a problem.
At that moment, Red Boy ran over and pointed to the sky. "Master, it's getting late. Shouldn't you take me to eat something good?"
Only then did Fangzheng recall that he had promised to bring Red Boy to eat some proper Buddhist vegetarian dishes yesterday. Fangzheng wanted to know if the sharp-tongued fellow really liked such dishes. If he did, One Finger Monastery would save quite a bit of food every year. Hence Fangzheng smiled. "That's simple. Let's go. I'll bring you to a feast!"
With that said, Fangzheng couldn't help but laugh.
When he arrived at the cafeteria, the monks had already arrived and were eating quietly.
Fangzheng got Red Boy to take a seat and personally got him two dishes, a bowl of soup, and a huge bowl of rice. Then, he placed everything in front of Red Boy with a beaming smile.
Red Boy said unhappily, "Master, it's not like you don't know how capable I am. This bit of food isn't enough!"
He said in an extremely benevolent and amiable manner, "Jingxin, eat. If it's not enough, I'll get more for you."
Red Boy looked suspiciously at Fangzheng. "Master, your expression reminds me of an animal."
"What animal?" asked Fangzheng.
"An old fox," said Red Boy.
Fangzheng: "…"
Red Boy looked at the empty table in front of Fangzheng and asked, "Master, why aren't you eating?"
Fangzheng pressed his palms together. "Amitabha. There are still a few rice balls in the meditation room. If you don't eat them, they will go bad. It's shameful to waste them. It's best I eat the remaining rice balls. My dear disciple, quickly eat. Once you are full, you can rest early. "
"Master, why don't I believe you when you say that?" Red Boy still did not move his chopsticks.
Fangzheng was rendered speechless. It was probably impossible for a master to behave in such a manner. If his own disciple did not believe him, there was probably no one else.
However, no matter what Red Boy said, he still had to eat. He was also curious. The dishes looked alright. They were lush green, and the rice was white. Was it really that bad? Then, Red Boy started eating …
Fangzheng's eyes lit up.
Red Boy ate a mouthful and found the taste of the rice in his mouth to be passable. After eating another mouthful of the dishes, Red Boy turned and ran out.
Fangzheng said lightly, "Jingxin, it's shameful to waste. Every mouthful you waste makes me recite the scriptures the entire night."
Red Boy's footsteps came to a halt as he sat back down with a look of grief and indignation. He stared at Fangzheng with puffed cheeks and said, "Master, did you do it on purpose? How can a master be like you? You specialize in scamming your disciples! "
Fangzheng rolled his eyes. "I didn't scam you. You were the one who insisted on eating. If you didn't take the initiative today, I would have forgotten. Alright, Jingxin, cut the chatter. Eat while it's hot. Once you're done, sleep early. "
"I …" Red Boy wanted to curse, but when he considered the difference in strength, he decisively gave up. He lowered his head and looked at the dishes in front of him. He felt like crying!
"My dear disciple, I know that you have a huge appetite. Why don't I scoop some more for you?" Fangzheng asked with a smile.
Red Boy hurriedly lowered his head to eat. He could not beat Fangzheng in a fight, nor could he scold him.
In fact, the vegetarian dishes were not that bad. It was just that with the contrast, it became worse. It was just like how many people would not be able to stomach fodder fish after being accustomed to the delicacies of wild river fish.
On the way back.
"My dear disciple, slow down!" Fangzheng jogged the entire way, but Red Boy ran even faster.
"No!" Red Boy shouted without turning his head.
"Slow down! You are not to overtake me! Hehe, you are running faster and faster. I'm going to have a scripture recital recital recital! " Fangzheng yelled through gritted teeth. If he ran faster, Red Boy would run faster. Fangzheng obviously knew what the darn kid was up to since he ran so fast! He was running back to give Fangzheng a taste of his own medicine! How could he allow that? Fangzheng had been relying on those few rice balls for the past two days!
"Master, can you not scam me?" Red Boy walked behind Fangzheng with an aggrieved look as he shouted indignantly.
"No," Fangzheng answered without any hesitation.
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