Chapter 1349:
Eating, Sleeping, Beating Salted Fish
The police acted faster than Yu Nian had expected. The next day, his money returned.
In order for her husband and daughter to receive an early release, Hu Xiaoye’s mother took the initiative to return the house. Within three days, she completed all the procedures.
Old Hu and the others had originally thought that the disaster was over, but a bigger disaster descended upon them!
Due to the fact that their marriage had been exposed, they were known by everyone about how untrustworthy they were at marriage. The Hu family was blacklisted from marriage.
After all, money didn’t grow on trees. No one could be sure that they would end up scammed after giving the betrothal price.
Besides, who would want to be in-laws with a family with such problematic character?
One had to be on guard against them every day!
As a result, Hu Xiaoye, who was rather pretty, failed to find a partner for five years. In the end, she had no choice but to leave the country to get married. However, when her husband happened to return to China, he learned of Hu Xiaoye’s past and the two of them started having conflicts and being wary of each other. In the end, they ended up breaking up.
Hu Xiaoye ultimately remained single her entire life…
Because of this, Hu Xiaoye and Old Hu had a falling out. They lived separate lives. Only at his death bed did Old Hu stare at the ceiling and whisper, “What Man does, the Heaven watches…. It’s retribution…”
Yu Nian scratched his head after all was over. He found it surreal. Finally, he faced One Finger Monastery and pressed his palms together. “Thank you, Abbot Fangzheng. You saved my life and saved my dream!”
At the same time, in Mt. One Finger’s One Finger Monastery, all his disciples were sitting in front of Fangzheng.
Fangzheng said calmly, “Remember. No matter when it is, your dream is your dream. Don’t care if it’s right or wrong. As long as it doesn’t break the law, you can charge forward. This is because you are the only one who understands why you are chasing after it… Others will never understand.”
Red Boy asked, “Master, is it like Yu Nian?”
Fangzheng nodded. “Yes, you have to pursue your own dreams. Outsiders might know more about the hards.h.i.+ps of the industry that you are in, but they definitely don’t understand the significance of that industry to you. Sometimes, dreams are more important than money.”
Squirrel asked out of curiosity, “Master, what is your dream?”
Fangzheng sighed when he heard that. “My dream…”
Fangzheng really wanted to say that his dream was to renounce asceticism, but after renouncing asceticism, were his disciples still considered his disciples?
In the past, he wanted to renounce asceticism because he had enough of the boring, poor and terrible life on the mountain. He didn’t have a good time. He only wanted to live a normal life, have family, loved ones—the simplest happiness.
But now, wasn’t he happy?
Fangzheng looked at the row of disciples sitting in front of him. He felt a pang in his heart.
After leaving the monastery and leaving them, could Fangzheng still find his own happiness?
Fangzheng fell silent. For the first time, he was unable to say the words “renounce asceticism.”
Fangzheng felt a little vexed. He got up and waved his hand. “I have some matters to tend to. Go out and have fun.”
With that said, Fangzheng left…
The disciples looked at each other in puzzlement.
“Did I make Master angry?” Squirrel asked carefully.
Red Boy shook his head. “Definitely not. Master will instantly take revenge. If you anger him, he would have long taken action.”
Squirrel asked, “Then what’s wrong with Master?”
Red Boy shook his head. “I don’t know. Junior Brother Jingzhi, do you know?”
Salted Fish stroked his whiskers and said meaningfully, “Do you want to know?”
Lone Wolf, Monkey, Squirrel, and Red Boy nodded in unison. They said with a look of yearning, “Of course.”
Salted Fish chuckled. “It’s not impossible to tell you, but…”
With that said, Salted Fish shot a glance at Squirrel and said, “Second Senior Brother, you still have some of those pine nuts, right?”
Then he said to Lone Wolf, “Eldest Senior Brother, I’m thirsty. Third Senior Brother, I know you hid some top-grade bamboo shoots. Fourth Senior Brother, I’m so envious of your ability to fly on clouds.”
Upon hearing that, Lone Wolf, Squirrel, Monkey, and Red Boy were left rooted to the ground. Following that, Red Boy snapped to his senses. “You are taking advantage of the situation!”
Salted Fish spread his fins and said, “Don’t say that. I wasted many brain cells while thinking over such a profound question, so I have to nourish my body. What do you think? Deal? If it’s a deal, I’ll tell you immediately.”
Squirrel said, “Are you sure?”
Salted Fish said, “Of course! As an ancestor, I never lie!”
Unfortunately, no one believed his words.
Salted Fish said, “Are you curious? If you want to know the answer, produce the goods. If you don’t wish to know, I’ll go out for a stroll.”
“Fine, wait here!” Lone Wolf couldn’t hold back his curiosity. He ran over to get some water for Salted Fish.
Monkey sighed. “You sure are ruthless. I’ll give you one.”
Squirrel said, “I hid it so well; yet, you actually knew… Alright, I’ll share it with you.”
Red Boy said, “There’s no harm in telling you, but are you sure you can cultivate it?”
Salted Fish said, “Tell it to me first. Whether I can cultivate it is my business.”
Red Boy immediately went over and whispered. Salted Fish carefully listened.
When Red Boy finished speaking, Lone Wolf’s water, Monkey’s bamboo shoots, and Squirrel’s pine nuts were all present.
When Salted Fish saw this, he smiled happily. With a wave of his fin, he stored the items into his scales. Then, he stroked his beard and said, “Actually, there’s a reason for Master’s sadness.”
“What is it?” Squirrel asked subconsciously.
Salted Fish said, “Can’t you tell?”
Everyone shook their heads.
Salted Fish said, “Take a look at Master’s meditation room.”
The few rascals subconsciously turned their heads to look back at the meditation room, only to hear a gust of wind behind them. Following that, they heard hurried footsteps of a fish fin hitting the ground.
The few of them turned their heads again. Salted Fish had already disappeared!
Squirrel said adorably, “What’s Junior Brother doing? Junior Brother, there’s nothing in Master’s meditation room!”
Red Boy was rendered speechless when he heard that. He rapped Squirrel on the head and said, “Idiot, we were tricked! He doesn’t know anything. He scammed us!”
“Old b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you lied to us!” Lone Wolf yelled as he gave chase.
Red Boy roared. Senior Brothers, get your weapons!
Hence, Mt. One Finger began a whole series of fish-beating exercises.
The almost forgotten sport of eating, sleeping, and beating Salted Fish was back again…
This year’s winter pa.s.sed faster than every year. At least that was what Fang Zheng thought.
Every day, he would strike the bell and drum and recite the scriptures. When he was free, he would receive a few confused patrons at his monastery’s entrance. He watched the snow melt as the willow trees sprouted. He ate the Wormwood sprouts in early spring. He listened to the bird chirping return and his disciples fooling around. He led a carefree life.