noffsinger Chapter 27 has absolutely no problems.
Chapter 27 has absolutely no problems.
With a heavy heart, Zhi Zao led three monks along the official road of Zu'an County, feeling that the gazes of others were very strange.
It wasn't a hostile look, but rather a look of eager anticipation that made him feel uneasy.
After walking a little further, a young man finally couldn't resist approaching him and asked shyly, "Master, I'm almost twenty years old this year. Can you help me find a match? I'd like to find a pretty young woman, preferably one who can do housework."
Zhi Zao forced a smile: "Esteemed benefactor, this humble monk does not act as a matchmaker."
Upon hearing this, the young man glared at him and said, "What kind of monk are you if you don't act as a matchmaker!" Then he stormed off.
Zhizao: "..."
A middle-aged farmer stepped forward with a smile and comforted him, "Master, please don't take offense. Young people are hot-tempered and their words are sometimes unpleasant to hear."
Zhizao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that there were still normal people here, and smiled, "It's alright, monks don't get angry or speak ill of others, it's just that I can't help him."
The farmer sincerely praised, "Master, you are truly an enlightened monk. I'm different from him. I don't want a pretty young woman; just find me a nun who doesn't require a dowry!"
Zhi Zao's smile froze: "...This humble monk is truly not a matchmaker, and I do not know how to arrange marriages."
The farmer's expression immediately changed. He spat contemptuously and walked away cursing.
"Pah! What monk can't be a matchmaker? He's obviously a fake monk..."
A young monk accompanying them looked bewildered: "Brother, do monks in places other than Tiantai Mountain also act as matchmakers?"
Zhi Zao took a deep breath and said weakly, "You can find out for yourself when you go out to travel in the future. I don't want to talk right now."
After a while, he rejected more than twenty matchmakers who wanted to arrange marriages for them, and finally entered the city, exhausted both physically and mentally.
He arrived at a grand house and knocked on the door.
Seeing the old servant who came out to greet him, he bowed and said, "Benefactor, I was passing by and saw that your family is a family that has accumulated good deeds. I brought my three junior brothers here to establish a good relationship. I would like to ask the benefactor to do me a favor and give us some food."
The old servant said with a gentle smile, "Please wait a moment, Master, I'll go get you some rice right away."
He took the alms bowl from his hand and turned to walk towards the backyard.
The young monk relaxed and said, "Brother, the people here are quite easy to talk to."
Zhi Zao didn't respond, but kept pondering the old servant's attitude.
He had a premonition that this matter was not simple, and it wasn't until the old servant returned with the alms bowl that he was certain his intuition was correct.
The old servant, with a fawning smile and trembling hands, handed over the heavy alms bowl: "Master, your food is ready. My master is a little short on cash this month, so this is all he can offer for now."
Looking into the bowl, one could see it was filled with copper coins, with a silver ingot lying on top of the coins, and a few gold beans scattered around the silver ingot.
The food was presented very elegantly, and there was nothing wrong with it except for one edible item.
Zhi Zao's eyes widened immediately: "@#￥%￥#@……"
You're telling me this is food?
Seeing him stare blankly without speaking, the servant trembled with fear: "Master, my master really only gave this much, please don't make things difficult for me..."
After a moment of silence, Zhi Zao, fearing that a poor explanation would frighten the old servant even more, took the alms bowl and led the three monks toward the county government office.
This trip truly opened his eyes. He had only heard of Jiang Feng bullying local gentry before, but he never imagined that he had bullied them to such an extent.
He can already picture the scene of his sermon tomorrow in his mind.
He sat on the high platform, giving a solemn lecture. The crowd below was noisy, with one group describing their requirements for a blind date and another group gritting their teeth and throwing money onto the platform as a donation.
A scene of flourishing Buddhism, which makes one yearn for it... what a load of rubbish!
Zhi Zao felt a sudden headache and went to the county government office, where he saw Lu Ziwang, who was judging a case.
Lu Ziwang sat upright in the main hall, stroking his beard with a relaxed expression.
Three people were kneeling below the hall, two men and one woman. The two men had bruises on their faces and were glaring at each other, looking like they had just been in a fight.
At this point, Lu Ziwang had heard their account of the case and spoke up: "I now understand the case. You two were both having affairs with Liu. Zhao Ji, you caught Zhang Hong and Liu in their tryst, and therefore you fought with Zhang Hong. Am I right or wrong?"
Zhao Ji interjected, "Your Excellency is right. I was the one who met Liu first. Zhang Hong stole her away without any regard for propriety. I beg Your Excellency to punish him severely!"
Zhang Hong quickly retorted, "Sir, don't listen to his nonsense! I knew Liu first!"
The two started hurling insults at each other, and it looked like they were about to start fighting again.
Lu Ziwang slammed his gavel and roared, "All of you, shut up!"
The two of them jolted and immediately fell silent.
Lu Ziwang reprimanded them, "You two are both students of the county school, how can you be fighting over a woman like this!"
"Zhang Hong, tell me, how many times did Zhao Jida hit you?"
Zhang Hongdao said, "Sir, he punched me more than ten times and kicked me twice!"
Lu Ziwang nodded, then asked Zhao Ji, "And you, how many punches did he land on you?"
Zhao Ji said angrily, "Pretty much!"
Lu Ziwang snorted coldly and said, "Men, drag them both away and punch each of them a dozen times, then kick them a few times!"
Upon hearing this, several constables dragged the two away and beat them severely. The two, still groaning in pain, were then returned to the main hall.
Lu Ziwang said with a serious expression, "I have already avenged you for the beatings you suffered. Now, let's continue the trial. Do you two have any further demands?"
Zhao Ji felt pain all over his body, and with tears streaming down his face, he begged for mercy, "My lord, I'll drop the case, I won't press charges anymore..."
Zhang Hong quickly chimed in, "Sir, I won't report it either!"
Lu Ziwang nodded in satisfaction: "That's more like it. I'm very busy with official duties. I have to collect taxes for the emperor and manage the people. I'm so busy all day long that I don't have time to meddle in your business."
"You two may leave. As for the culprit, the Liu family..."
Lu Ziwang squinted at Liu Shi and said sternly, "Your conduct is improper, always attracting women. Come with me to the back office, I'm going to teach you a lesson for a few days, and I'll make sure you repent and start anew!"
Zhizao: "@#￥%￥#@……"
What kind of place is this Zu'an County? A ruthless bandit monk and a scoundrel magistrate have turned the whole county into a mess.
Is this a place where the Dharma can be propagated? Even the eighteen levels of hell are easier to convert than this place!
Master, it's not that I'm not trying hard enough, it's just that my cultivation level is insufficient!
Zhi Zao rubbed his aching forehead and said to his three junior brothers behind him, "We can't stay here any longer. Let's travel through the night and go to Shanyang County to spread the Dharma!"
Having said that, he led the three of them to leave Zuan County.
However, as soon as they left the county government office, they were blocked by a group of people.
Jiang Feng, carrying the Vajra Pestle on his shoulder, stood in front of them with Cui Ying and Yang Jian, a sinister smile on his face: "You think you can just leave so easily once you've come to my territory?"