Chapter 326: Chapter 170: Eyes Good at Spotting Opportunities_1
Lian Manman followed the direction Xiao Qi pointed and saw a person’s silhouette flash by the main entrance of the Earth God Temple, then head inside.
"It’s Sanlang,"
Although she only saw his back, Lian Manman recognized him at a glance, it was Sanlang from the second branch of the Lian Family. Among the grandchildren of the Lian Family, Sanlang could be considered outstanding in appearance, tall, with a fair complexion and large eyes—his looks were quite charming. However, Sanlang’s presence wasn’t strong, as he was not talkative and avoided conflicts.
Lian Manman couldn’t say she particularly liked Sanlang, nor could she say she disliked him. The most memorable trait Sanlang left on her was his laziness. He would sit rather than stand, lie down rather than sit when given the chance. Typically, aside from being ordered to work by the elders in the family, Sanlang’s days were mostly spent sleeping.
Sanlang’s mother, Lady He, once called him "San Laziness" in front of everyone, and since then, that nickname had spread throughout the village.
Such a lazy person, not sleeping at home early in the morning, why had he come to the Earth God Temple?
"Let’s go see what he’s doing here,"
Lian Manman and Xiao Qi, driven by their strong curiosity, decided to put their trip to the town on hold and entered the Earth God Temple as well.
Even though she had passed by numerous times, this was Lian Manman’s first time actually stepping inside the temple. The temple was quiet, with few people coming to offer incense this early. Upon entering the temple gate, Lian Manman saw Sanlang sitting on the steps in front of the main hall, cradling his cheek in his hand, dozing off.
He didn’t come here specifically to sleep, did he? Lian Manman wondered, her face contorting.
"What are you two doing here?" As Lian Manman and Xiao Qi approached along the steps, Sanlang half-opened his eyes and saw them.
"Sanlang, why are you here sleeping, it’s so cold." Lian Manman said, feeling some pity for him. How nice it would be to sleep in the warm home; here the ground was cold and the wind was strong. It was clear from Sanlang’s appearance that he had not woken up fully.
"As if I wanted to come," Sanlang seemed not to notice Lian Manman’s teasing, turning his head to glance inside the main hall. "Our granny and aunt insisted on coming here to offer incense early in the morning and made me accompany them,"
Oh, so Sanlang had come with Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu. It was rare for the two women who usually never ventured beyond their home’s main or second gates to travel such a distance to offer incense!
After saying this, Sanlang closed his eyes again and resumed his dozing. With his prominent nose bridge and sharp profile, if one were ignorant of the truth, Sanlang’s pondering pose made him seem quite profound.
Lian Manman and Xiao Qi exchanged a glance, then both tiptoed towards the entrance of the main hall. Peering through the partially ajar wooden doors, they saw the vast empty hall with only two people kneeling in front of the central deity’s icon.
It was Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu.
Lian Manman and Xiao Qi didn’t go inside and didn’t disturb the two, simply standing at the entrance and watching.
Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu were both holding lit incense sticks, kneeling on the prayer mats, and bowing devoutly.
As Lady Zhou prayed, she mumbled prayers, compelling Lian Manman to lean closer to listen intently.
"... Earth God Grandpa, Lord of Heaven, we know we were wrong. My daughter is young, she didn’t mean to do it. My fourth daughter-in-law is tough, used to being roughed up, but who knew that on that day she would... We’re poor, and the child born into our family is doomed to suffer. We beg the Earth God Grandpa for mercy, to let the child leave our family soon and be reborn elsewhere. I pray to the Lord of Heaven, the Bodhisattva, the Goddess to bless him, that he be reborn in a good family this time, living a life of luxury and comfort, and not to trouble us anymore..."
So Lady Zhou felt guilty, believing that she and Lian Xiuxiu had been haunted by Xiao Yue’s child’s restless spirit, coming to the Earth God Temple to offer incense and pray that the child would soon leave the Lian Family to be reborn. Their coming so early was naturally to avoid being seen by others.
Lian Manman didn’t want to listen anymore, she took Xiao Qi by the hand and left the temple.
Outside the Earth God Temple, there seemed to be more people, in groups of two or three, leaning against the wall, some squatting, some standing, munching on dry food.
"Where are these people from, what are they doing here?" Lian Manman muttered to herself.
"They are all going up the mountain to work," a somewhat childish voice replied.
Lian Manman was startled and spun around to see that the speaker was a Little Monk from inside the Earth God Temple. It turned out she had spoken her thoughts aloud, and the Little Monk had heard them.
"It’s you," Lian Manman said patting her chest.
This Little Monk, named Yuan Tan, often ran errands and passed messages for the old monks in the temple, and most people in the village recognized him, privately calling him Xiao Tanzhi. Lian Manman had also heard Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang mention that Xiao Tanzhi was a child of misfortune, found abandoned at the Earth God Temple’s doorway shortly after his birth. It was deep in the cold winter, and fortunately, the monks of the temple had found him while opening the doors to clean, and brought him inside, saving his young life.
