Chapter 256 - 255: Two Against
The old monk tugged on his white beard and laughed, saying, "What the benefactor speaks is true. Indeed, I needed those items for the benefit of the people, to do good deeds."
Chen Afu sneered, "Not necessarily, those leaves..."
The old monk, blushing, interrupted her, saying, "Those leaves, I couldn’t resist. I wanted to make a unique incense, but that little thing is too stingy... okay, okay, since the benefactor is fighting for the welfare of the people, you can put the blame on me for any unfavorable talk. But, since it is taken out in my name, there is no reason for Lingyin Temple not to plant it. Benefactor, just give me some of those special watermelon and cucumber seeds."
This request was reasonable and not excessive. Chen Afu nodded in agreement, saying she would send them over in a few days.
The old monk then whispered, "Tell that little thing not to be angry, anger harms the body. I asked for its leaves in an unusual way, and it took my incense by unfair means, we are even. I can still be its friend."
A voice flashed in Chen Afu’s mind, Jin Yanzi’s voice, "Stupid baldy, wishful thinking, who wants to be friends with you."
The old monk stood up, took a small carved box of red sandalwood out of the cabinet, and took out a golden piece about the size of an adult thumb. He said with a smile, "I found this when I traveled overseas about forty years ago, on a deserted island in the ocean. That island was desolate, uninhabited, but I found this rare item in a pile of sand. This amber, formed over ten thousand years ago, is a rare treasure. The exquisite craftsmanship is beyond the reach of today’s craftsmen, it’s strange."
Chen Afu took the piece, and it was a small bird carved from amber, crystal clear and brightly colored, with a small insect inside. The most peculiar thing was that the bird’s tiny eyes and sharp beak were naturally red, and it seemed to be laughing. Its simple demeanor was strikingly similar to Jin Yanzi.