Chapter 269 - 176: Same Name, Same Surname_3
On May 17th, a monk from Daci Temple delivered a message, saying Uncle Monk Hongji had invited the two little Qian benefactors to visit the temple tomorrow.
The Little Monk had been to their home once before, and the moment he saw the boisterous chaos, his eyebrows furrowed tightly together, and he left after only half a day.
Cheng Yue and others had already made summer robes for the Little Monk; even if he didn’t send an invitation, they would have visited regardless. They just had to wait until the 20th, their day off, to go. Mr. Yu was very strict, and except for every tenth day, he absolutely did not allow leave for any reason.
But as soon as they heard that Little Monk Hongji had sent someone to invite them, he made an exception and granted leave.
The next day, the siblings took their clothes, vegetarian food, Monkey Brother, and twenty lotus leaves to Daci Temple.
Speaking of lotus leaves, Qian Yixiu was filled with anger.
A few days ago, the family used these lotus leaves to steam chicken and cook porridge, and they found it exceptionally fragrant. Out of filial piety, Qian Sangui not only packed a plate of lotus leaf chicken and a small pot of lotus leaf porridge for Old man Qian and Old woman Qian but also gave ten leaves to the eldest branch and five leaves to the second branch. Moreover, he instructed Su Siwu, who was delivering the items, to tell them not to spread the word since supplies were limited.
They also sent ten pieces each to the Zhang family and Cui family in Xishan County Town, again instructing them to keep quiet. There were too many relatives with connections; it wouldn’t look good to give to some and not to others. What they feared most was some families asking for more after tasting the delicious leaves. To give them, they don’t have enough. To refuse, they can’t afford to offend those families.
There was no choice; when there’s something rare, it’s natural to want to share it with family and friends. So, when Qian Sangui sent them out, Qian Yixiu didn’t voice any objections.
What was infuriating was that the next day, Lady Tang came over and plucked twenty leaves herself, Su Sanwu who looked after the lake didn’t dare to object, and even restrained Tiaotiao from biting her. Lady Wang sent Duo Duo to ask for thirty leaves, and Qian Sangui, feeling obliged, had Su Siwu lead Duo Duo to pluck thirty leaves.
Lady Tang and Lady Wang found these lotus leaves tastier than those from their own ponds and wanted to share some with their relatives. In their view, the lotus leaves from their own ponds could be picked at will, so the leaves from the Third Branch’s lake should also be fair game. They ridiculed the notion of keeping it quiet, scoffing at how the wealthier one becomes, the stingier they are, even grudging over lotus leaves, which were not worth much.