The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

At that moment in time, Lone Wolf had already placed his front paws on the kitchen top, drooling.

“Fangzheng, you came just in time. We began making bean paste today. You can have some in a bit,” said Du Mei with a smile.

Fangzheng was still vexing over what to eat during winter. As an authentic northeasterner, not having bean paste to him was like not having spicy food to people from Hunan or Sichuan. Days without it were completely unimaginable. And Fangzheng had already spent almost a year living such days! Ever since Zen Master One Finger passed away, there was no more bean paste left on the mountain. Fangzheng couldn’t bring himself to go down the mountain to request it from the villagers. Therefore, he had waited an entire year. Now that there was finally some, Fangzheng didn’t stand on ceremony as he kept nodding and saying, “Okay.”

By the side, Lone Wolf was smacking his lips in delight when he saw this. Although he should enjoy eating meat as a wolf, he had discovered that human food was the most delicious after following Fangzheng! The bloody meat he usually ate in the past sucked! If a ranking of who in One Finger Monastery enjoyed trying something new were made, Lone Wolf would definitely rank first. Therefore, the moment he heard that there was something delicious, he was naturally overjoyed.

“Patron Yang, let This Penniless Monk man the fire.” Since he was receiving their hospitality and food, he should do something, right? Therefore, Fangzheng made the offer.

“No, no, no. There’s no need. I can do it. Abbot Fangzheng, don’t stand on ceremony with us.” Yang Hua hurriedly stopped him. Du Mei didn’t treat Fangzheng as abbot, treating him as a child she had brought up, but Yang Hua wasn’t the same. Just as Wang Yougui and Tan Juguo said at the meetings: Fangzheng had grown up and was no longer a child. Him managing to single-handedly lead a monastery wasn’t easy. If Fangzheng was a good-for-nothing, it was fine if everyone took care of him like their child, but things were different now. Fangzheng had promise, and his future knew no bounds. At least on the outside, people had to treat Fangzheng like an adult and give him face. Everyone should work hard to uplift Fangzheng and not suppress him!

Yang Hua always kept this in mind. Besides, Fangzheng was indeed capable. The entire village were indebted to him, especially Yang Hua. His children were a result of One Finger Monastery! Naturally, he treated Fangzheng with great respect. Although it might seem overly sycophantic, it was just the due respect among equals.

Fangzheng was just about to say something when Du Mei struck the kitchen top. “Brat, are you being disobedient? If you continue being disobedient, no bean paste for you! If you have nothing better to do, go feed the chickens and ducks. Our stupid dog chases after them all day until they don’t eat or lay eggs.”

Fangzheng knew Du Mei was a frank and impetuous auntie, who didn’t take no for an answer. For his bean paste, he obediently carried a basin of leftovers out.

Lone Wolf followed behind, and once they were out the door, Fangzheng kicked Lone Wolf and said, “Work time. Get all of them here. I want to admonish them.”

Lone Wolf nodded immediately and ran off. However, there were too many chickens and ducks, so everytime he gathered them, one or two ran off…

Fangzheng couldn’t bear watching this any further. “Can’t you find a helper?”

Therefore, the golden retriever who was bathing in the sun on a cement platform was recruited by Lone Wolf. Lone Wolf was domineering and cool, while the golden retriever had a good temper. It agreed to help immediately and as they began running from both sides, the chickens and ducks were in a tizzy. Chicken feathers flew everywhere in the sky… Fangzheng couldn’t bear watching any further, for if this continued, those chickens would probably shed their feathers and turn completely wretched.

Fangzheng hurriedly got them to stop, but when he shouted, all the chickens stopped as well!

Fangzheng was taken aback. Suddenly he recalled something. Why was he going through so much trouble? These chickens could understand him!

Therefore Fangzheng said, “It’s meal time!”

This resulted in the chickens and ducks looking towards the golden retriever who felt like it had been accused. It tucked its tail between its legs and held its head down as though it was contrite and penitent.

“Amitabha. Patron, don’t bully these chickens and ducks in the future. You should help each other when you are all under the same roof,” Fangzheng said to the yellow retriever.

At this moment, Yang Hua came out. When he heard Fangzheng saying that to a dog, he laughed. “Abbot Fangzheng, our stupid dog doesn’t understand human speech. He’s not as smart as Jingfa. You need to use a stick to deal with it.”

With that said, Yang Hua swung a stick, causing the golden retriever to scamper away.

Fangzheng shook his head in resignation. However, Fangzheng also knew that although the villagers sounded fierce, they actually showed a lot of love and care to dogs. Although they spoke of beating, they very seldom did so.

Even after the golden retriever had run off, the group of chickens and ducks still didn’t eat.

Fangzheng asked in puzzlement, “What’s wrong?”

All of them looked in unison at Lone Wolf!

Lone Wolf rolled his eyes as he bared his fangs to warn them. It wasn’t like he had provoked these a**holes. Why were they looking at him?

However, Fangzheng coughed dryly and gave him a look, sending Lone Wolf to scamper off dejectedly.

When Yang Hua saw this, he smiled. “Abbot Fangzheng, don’t burden yourself. These chickens probably got a fright. Even if the dog is gone, they refuse to eat. I’ve tried many times.”

Fangzheng looked at the poultry and indeed, none of them came over. Fangzheng asked in puzzlement, “What’s wrong with you?”

All the poultry looked at Yang Hua!

Yang Hua jumped in fright when he was the focus of attention. “Abbot Fangzheng… What’s… What’s happening?”

“Amitabha. Patron, since they are looking at you, why don’t you also leave?”

Yang Hua smiled bitterly. “Darn it. I have to leave just to feed my own chickens and ducks? Are they mine or yours…” Shaking his head, Yang Hua went to the washroom in the backyard. As for why the poultry had looked at him in unison, Yang Hua didn’t think too much of it. Everyone was long since aware of Fangzheng’s ability to tame animals. Even a fierce wolf, playful monkey, lively squirrel, and a brat like Jingxin had been tamed so well by him. Therefore, it was barely understandable that he could deal with the poultry toi. Besides, had there been a lack of miracles involving Fangzheng in the past year? He was long used to it.

And true enough, the moment Yang Hua walked to the wall with his stick, he heard the poultry quaking and crowing behind. He secretly glanced back out of curiosity and saw the chickens rush towards Fangzheng. The ducks were waddling towards Fangzheng as they stretched out their necks, hoping to be fed.

Fangzheng hurriedly scattered the leftover food as the poultry ran everywhere to snatch it. It caused quite a cacophony.

Upon seeing this scene, Yang Hua was astonished. He scratched his head and grumbled, “Am I f**king scarier than a dog? The heavens are really blind…”

Shaking his head, Yang Hua went to the washroom.

By the time he was back, the basin of rice had been eaten clean. All of the chickens and ducks were running around in a lively manner. Upon seeing this scene, Yang Hua said to Fangzheng, “Abbot Fangzheng, impressive!”

Fangzheng chuckled as a response.

When Yang Hua returned to the house, Lone Wolf ran back with the golden retriever. Having gained a lackey, Lone Wolf clearly felt like he had returned to the days when he was still the alpha wolf of a pack in the mountains. He walked with his head up, but unfortunately, his silliness remained. His eyes were opened wide, and his mouth wasn’t too small. With his tongue flailing out, it instantly obliterated whatever grandeur he had.