Chapter 4.2 - Temple (2/2)

Contrary to what one might expect, as the servant of a prestigious family, even though she was in dire straits and could only take out a string of copper coins, she still spoke in quite an imposing manner.

“Is there a lot of pastries?” Jiang Lî asked.

“A lot,” Tong’er asked, “does young miss want to eat pastries?”

Jiang Lî laughed, “I do.”

It was too bitter. And because it was too bitter, her mind constantly thought of the sweet taste of honey. These pastries could let her finally taste the sweetness, and at the same time could also make some other people feel bitter.

Tong’er excitedly said, “It’s good that young miss wants to eat some sugar. A few days ago we saved up a few copper coins and can exchange them for quite a few baskets. Young miss can eat as many as you want!”

Jiang Lî said, “You mentioned that this place is next to He Lin Temple, right?”

Tong’er stared blankly at her and asked, “Does young miss also want to burn incense?”

“No,” Jiang Lî replied, “I don’t believe in Buddha.”

Tong’er was puzzled.

Jiang Lî’s smiling expression softened a little as she said, “What trust can you put in Buddha?”

Footnotes:

1:鸠占鹊巢, meaning for one person to forcibly take another person’s place. A version of the idiom 鹊巢鸠占, lit. the magpie made a nest but the turtledove dwells in it, meaning to reap what one has not sown.:leftwards_arrow_with_hook: