Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 349 Haha, it’s finally my turn to be proud

Yan Qing paused, then continued, "I'm really worried that when all these cakes and pastries are put out, people will want this and that, and want one of each."

"If that's the case, our temple can't afford it."

As everyone was talking, Wen Yuan walked in accompanied by Abbot Ci'en.

When Ci'en saw the tray full of colorful and varied pastries, she was so happy that she clapped her hands and laughed like a child.

He was laughing happily when he suddenly stopped and said seriously, "No one is allowed to tell others about the appearance of the cakes for this year's blessing ceremony."

"When we display it, it will definitely surprise Ci Jing and the others."

"Haha, if he saw that we prepared such cakes, he would definitely be shocked."

"Humph, let him laugh at me again. This time it's finally my turn to be proud of myself."

Perhaps because his cakes and pastries were never as good as others, Master Ci’en was despised and laughed at every year because of this.

This year, she finally had a chance to turn things around. For a moment, Ci'en was so happy that she didn't know what to do.

The more he spoke, the more proud he became. The more he thought about it, the happier he became. When he saw that everyone was looking at him, he felt that he had lost his composure as the abbot.

Ci'en quickly straightened her face, put on a dignified expression, and said, "Miss Shen, you have helped me a lot this time. I want to thank you very much."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a little monk who had been standing outside the kitchen, with a round head and a round face, who looked only seven or eight years old, ran over and said crisply, "What do you want, Grandmaster?"

Ci'en said, "Go to my courtyard and find your master uncle. Ask him to bring you a copy of the sutra that I copied by hand. Also, bring me twenty taels of silver. Oh, no, no, bring me a note for fifty taels of silver."

After hearing this, Shen Yu just thought that Master Ci'en was very generous as he gave fifty taels of silver right away. He didn't think there was anything unusual about the other things.

However, when Wen Yuan and others heard that Ci'en was going to give a handwritten scripture to Shen Yu, they were all surprised and envious.

Ci'en said with a smile: "Miss Shen, I will have to trouble you in the next few days. You must come over to make cakes and flower cakes when the time comes."

Shen Yu nodded and said, "Master Ci'en, don't worry. It's still seven or eight days away from the Wanshou Festival."

"The Dharma Assembly will start two days in advance, so there will be four or five days of free time for Master Wenyuan and others to practice."

Shen Yu paused, and then said: "If I am really too busy and can't make so many cakes in a day, I will come with my mother to help."

Wen Yuan felt more confident when he heard that if they couldn't make it, Shen Yu would bring people from the restaurant to help.

He immediately said to Ci'en with full confidence: "In the next few days, in addition to making vegetarian meals, we will continue to learn how to make them. We will definitely be able to make them quickly and well and not let Master down."

Ci'en nodded with satisfaction, turned around and saw the little monk running towards him and handing the small cloth bag in his hand to Ci'en.

Ci'en took the cloth bag, opened it and took a look, then wrapped the string of Buddhist beads she was twisting in her hand into it, and then handed it to Shen Yu.

He smiled and said, "Miss Shen, these fifty taels of silver are a small token of gratitude, please don't despise it."

"The Buddhist beads are made of sandalwood, which is nothing special, but they have been consecrated before the Buddha. Wearing them can ensure safety."

"I copied this scripture myself in my early years. Now I am old and my eyesight is not good, so I rarely write. I will give it to you. It will be very beneficial to read it often."

Shen Yu took it with a smile, squatted down and bowed, and thanked him solemnly: "Thank you, Master."

Ci En waved her hand and said with a smile: "No need to be polite, I should be the one thanking you."

He looked at the plate of cakes and felt really happy. He said to Wen Yuan, "Miss Shen has been making cakes for the whole morning. She must have worked really hard."

"At noon, make a bowl of your specialty three-fresh vegetarian noodles, so that Miss Shen can also taste the craftsmanship of our Guang'an Temple."

Wen Yuan agreed, and Ci En said to Shen Yu happily: "Miss Shen, have lunch here before going back."

"If you are free in the next few days, come over and teach me how to make pastries. I will ask Wen Yuan to pick you up at the restaurant then."

Shen Yu waved his hand hurriedly: "Thank you, Master. The restaurant is not far from here. The temple is also preparing for the blessing ceremony. There must be a lot of things waiting to be done."

"You don't have to come all the way to pick me up. I can come here by myself after noon every day."

Chef Xu also said hurriedly: "The county magistrate said that if the temple is busy these days, I can come and help. I will definitely help Master Wen Yuan make the cakes and pastries."

Ci En was even happier when he heard this, and said hurriedly, "Okay, then I'll do as you say."

"Wen Yuan, tell the guards at the temple gate not to stop Miss Shen when she comes."

Wen Yuan answered yes, and Ci'en left with satisfaction.

It was almost noon. Wen Yuan arranged for Yan Xin and the others to prepare vegetarian lunch, and he himself was going to make three-fresh vegetarian noodles for Shen Yu.

Shen Yu fried many cakes and pastries in front of the wok, smelling the fumes, and tasted one. He didn't feel hungry at this time.

She was concerned about the lack of staff in the store, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "Master Wenyuan, my restaurant has a lot of customers at noon, and I have to spare one person to deliver meals to the academy these two days. If I'm not here at noon, I'm afraid I'll be too busy to handle it."

"I don't think there's anything else to do here right now. Can I go back first and try your three-fresh vegetarian noodles another day?"

When Wen Yuan heard this, he knew that Shen Yu was telling the truth. When he went to pick her up in the morning, the snack bar was already full of diners. There must be more people going there at noon.

He smiled cheerfully: "Of course, in that case, I will send the girl back now."

"Old Xu, if you have nothing to do in the county government, don't go back for the next two days and practice making cakes with us."

Chef Xu waved his hand and said, "We still have to go back. Although the county magistrate no longer eats vegetarian food for three meals a day like before, he still has to eat this evening meal."

"I am the same as Miss Shen. I come here every day after noon when I have nothing to do. It's not far from here."

Wen Yuan saw that both of them had their own things to do, so he had to give up.

He called Yanxin to pack two bags of five-spice dried tofu, handed them to Shen Yu and Xu Chu, and said, "This five-spice dried tofu that we made recently tastes good. I'll pack some for you to try."

The two thanked him and agreed to come to the temple again after noon tomorrow.

Wen Yuan accompanied the two of them out of Guang'an Temple, drove Shen Yu to the restaurant first, and then turned the car around to pick up Chef Xu.

Shen Yu entered the restaurant carrying dried tofu and a small cloth bag containing Buddhist scriptures and Buddhist beads.

But I saw Zhou Dalang coming through the small door of the shop carrying a plate of cakes.