Such a grand event would naturally not be missed by Old Master Zhang. By the time he alighted from his carriage, the temple was already bustling with people. Following behind him was his eldest grandson, Zhang Cheng.
“Grandfather, I will be setting off tomorrow and won’t be back for two or three years. I won’t be able to enjoy Zen tea for several years,” Zhang Cheng sighed.
“Zen tea can be found everywhere in this world. If you can’t grasp this, then it’s just as well not to have Zen tea,” Old Master Zhang said with a smile.
As the grandfather and grandson were chatting and laughing, they suddenly heard a female’s voice calling out.
“Old Master, Old Master.”
They stopped in their tracks and saw a maid running towards them.
“Ban Qin!” Zhang Cheng exclaimed in surprise.
“Young Master,” the maid quickly curtsied to him.
“Has your mistress also come?” Old Master Zhang asked with a smile.
“Yes,” the maid replied.
“Also for the tea?” Old Master Zhang inquired, still smiling.
The maid nodded and pointed behind her.
“There’s one more thing, our Tai Ping Residence has come to offer tribute,” she said cheerfully.
Old Master Zhang and Zhang Cheng both looked in the direction she pointed, where a bustling crowd of people, dressed in various attires, were carrying baskets on their shoulders and in their hands.
“Offerings? Tai Ping Residence?” Old Master Zhang expressed some surprise. “So that’s why you were called away.”
The maid nodded.
“Tai Ping Residence?” Zhang Cheng exclaimed. “Tai Ping Residence belongs to your mistress?”
The maid nodded again with a smile.
Zhang Cheng was about to say more, but the maid bowed apologetically.
“I must attend to my duties now. I will come back later to serve the Old Master,” she said.
Watching the maid walk away, Zhang Cheng’s face was filled with astonishment.
“So Tai Ping Residence actually belongs to her master? Then she must know who wrote those five characters for Qieting Temple!” he said with excitement, rubbing his hands together. “Great, Grandfather, hurry and ask who the calligraphy master is!”
Old Master Zhang also looked surprised, but then he laughed heartily.
“Indeed, indeed,” he said. “So it’s her, it’s her after all!”
“Who is it?” Zhang Cheng asked, puzzled.
“This lady, she relies on the two words ‘Tai Ping’ again,” Old Master Zhang replied, shaking his head with a smile instead of answering directly.
“Tai Ping? ‘Heaven’s way is impartial; it sides with the good.’ So-called Tai Ping, it’s just the right name,” Zhang Cheng asked, still confused.
A familiar conversation seemed to echo in his ears.
“Taiping steamed buns are indeed quite delicious,” Old Master Zhang laughed heartily.
Taiping steamed buns?
Zhang Cheng was stunned for a moment. What does this have to do with Taiping steamed buns? Tai Ping Residence isn’t a place that sells steamed buns.
In his daze, Old Master Zhang calmly walked towards the main hall. Zhang Cheng hurried to follow.
Watching the maid return, Manager Wu and Li Dashao did not inquire, each lost in their own unease, not even noticing the maid’s comings and goings.
“Brother Li, don’t be nervous,” the maid couldn’t help but comfort.
Li Dashao kept his head down, muttering something under his breath, his hands clenching and unclenching intermittently.
“Yes, no need to be nervous, you’ve practiced well,” Manager Wu also chimed in.
Their party consisted of four people, with Xu Bangchui carrying a shoulder pole, one side holding a clay stove and the other side kitchen utensils.
“That’s right, that’s right, the tofu is all prepared. If Buddha doesn’t turn out well, just change to the flower,” he added as well.
His words, meant to reassure, only made Li Dashao more anxious.
Carving on the spot, success in one attempt—succeed and it’s done, fail and it’s ruined. There’s no chance for two or three tries.
Ahead, the crowd surged as the placement of offerings began. Since they were at the very back, the group hurried forward to avoid being blocked outside.
However, the sheer number of people inevitably caused them to be obstructed. At the most prominent outer position, a large group of people noisily set up their tables. Like them, they also used stoves, but theirs were transported by carts, far more luxurious than their single shoulder pole. The utensils they displayed were either gold or silver, gleaming brilliantly in the morning light.
“Make way, make way,” Xu Bangchui shouted.
“Make way for what? Wait,” the blocking servant retorted rudely.
Xu Bangchui immediately glared, but Manager Wu quickly held him back.
“We have few people and little stuff. Just a slight squeeze and we’ll be through,” he said with a smile.
The servant glanced at the group, noting there were only four of them, simply dressed and plainly equipped, and let out a disdainful snort.
“Few people and little stuff, then what’s the rush? Just wait,” he said.
Xu Bangchui immediately kicked out.
“I told you to get out of the way, why are you still acting high and mighty?” he roared.
The servant was kicked forward, stumbling right into a man dressed in silk, wearing a hat adorned with flowers.
Dou Qi turned around and slapped the servant.
“Blind fool!” he cursed.
“Boss, someone’s trying to pick a fight with us,” the servant cried, holding his face and pointing behind him.
Dou Qi furrowed his brows and looked behind him, first spotting Xu Bangchui, who was carrying a shoulder pole and laughing heartily. His gaze then fell on Li Dashao and Manager Wu behind him, and he was momentarily stunned.
“Master Dou,” Manager Wu greeted with a smile and a bow.
“Manager Wu?” Dou Qi exclaimed in surprise, as if not quite recognizing him. “What are you all doing here?”
“I’ve returned to my old trade to make a living, and our boss has also come to present offerings,” Manager Wu replied with a smile.
Li Dashao glanced up at Dou Qi, his expression complex, but ultimately he lowered his head without saying a word.
Dou Qi let out an “oh,” squinted his eyes, and chuckled.
“So that’s how it is,” he said. “May I ask where?”
“A small roadside inn outside the city,” Manager Wu replied with a smile, clasping his hands in a polite gesture. “We’ve secured a spot in front of the hall. We hope Master Dou will be accommodating.”
The spot in front of the hall—that kind of location was the cheapest.
Dou Qi chuckled again.
“In that case, go ahead,” he said, motioning for his people to step aside.
Manager Wu nodded and bowed in gratitude, then beckoned Li Dashao, Xu Bangchui, and the maid to file past in single file.
“Congratulations,” Dou Qi called out in a drawn-out tone.
Manager Wu turned back, smiling, and bowed in thanks.
Dou Qi laughed heartily, then turned away, his smile vanishing as he spat.
“Congratulations, my foot!” he said. “Two unlucky, good-for-nothing losers!”
The outside was noisy, but in front of the Zen Tea Hall, it felt much quieter, though there were still plenty of people coming and going.
This was one of the busiest annual events in the capital, where both male guests and female attendants were dressed in their finest attire. At a glance, it looked like a sea of vibrant colors. Although silence was required in front of the Buddha, occasional low laughter from the women still rang out, attracting curious glances.
“Look, your sister’s here,” Young Master Qin suddenly said.
Zhou Liu-lang quickly turned his head and, sure enough, saw a lady walking towards them, flanked by two maids and a young man. Ahead of her, a young girl was running, with a nursemaid carefully following behind.
“Dan-niang, slow down,” several of the sisters called out.
Madam Chen reached out to gently stop Dan-niang.
“Mother, I brought Lady Cheng here,” Chen Dan-niang said with a smile.
Madam Chen smiled and complimented her, then turned her gaze toward the approaching Cheng Jiao-niang.
Cheng Jiao-niang lowered her head and gave a respectful greeting.
Chen Shi’ba-niang also stepped forward, while the other sisters watched her with curiosity. Since they had already heard about this lady’s background, no one moved forward to greet her immediately.
“Mother, I’m not going in. I’ll stay outside and play with Lady Cheng,” Chen Dan-niang said eagerly.
Madam Chen shook her head with a stern expression.
“Don’t cause trouble,” she said in a low voice.
Chen Dan-niang pouted.
“It’s alright, I promised her,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, “I don’t particularly enjoy drinking tea, but this time, being invited by Shi’ba-niang, I’m simply here to take a walk. It’s nice to have a place to go and someone to accompany me. It’s very good, very good.”
Madam Chen hesitated for a moment, and then Chen Shi’ba-niang spoke with a smile.
“Mother, since Lady Cheng has said so, let her have her way,” she said, while pulling Chen Dan-niang over. “This year, you’ve surely had your wish fulfilled, being out so often and not bored.”
Chen Dan-niang smiled happily and grabbed Cheng Jiao-niang’s sleeve.
“You all go ahead,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, once again bowing to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen nodded, somewhat helpless, and instructed the maids to follow closely.
“And my snacks, my snacks!” Chen Dan-niang called out.
On the other side, a maid was holding a box, smiling as she showed it to her. It was the snacks that Cheng Jiao-niang had sent.
Now that she had both food and fun, Chen Dan-niang was at ease. She pulled Cheng Jiao-niang and began to walk away.
“There’s a pond behind, with so many koi. Let’s go feed the fish,” she said happily.
Watching the group walk away, Madam Chen shook her head.
“Mother, don’t worry. Dan-niang is not a reckless and unruly child. Since she said so, it means she can communicate with them. And Lady Cheng is not someone who would humiliate herself for others. If she agrees, it’s because she is willing to,” Chen Shi’ba-niang said with a smile, while linking arms with her mother. “Moreover, today at Puxiu Temple, it’s peaceful and quiet. Ordinary people are not allowed in, so it’s a rare chance for a pleasant outing.”
Her words made Madam Chen smile.
“So, you can get close to her?” she said, lifting her foot to step forward. “It seems you’re not like us ordinary folks.”
“Mother, don’t tease me,” Chen Shi’ba-niang laughed and followed her. “I’m simply learning from Dan-niang, treating her with a childlike innocence.”
The Chen family followed the crowd through the side door and entered the hall.
