Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Dried Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Potato Chipsi (1/2)
Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Dried Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Potato Chipsi
Translator: 549690339
Madam Yun smilingly said, “Thank you for your praise, Madam Xie. This child has suffered a lot over the years. I do not seek excellence for her. My hope is that she is able to live a stable and peaceful life in the future.”
After exchanging formalities, they noticed that everyone had assembled. The Magistrate’s wife announced they would start the journey.
The order of the procession was considered carefully. At the very forefront was Madam Xie and Miss Xie, followed by Madam Yun, Wei Ruo, and Wei Qingwan. Next were Madam Qian and Miss Qian, trailing behind were the County Magistrate, the Principal Secretary, and other local, influential women of Xingshan County.
Among the women, if reverence was based on the rank of their husbands, Madam Yun’s would have been the highest. The magistrate held the seventh rank, Wei Mingting the sixth; as for Madam Xie’s husband, he was only a scholar yet to receive a specific assignment.
However, everyone knew about the present circumstances of Wei Mingting, and the Xie Family happened to be enjoying a phase of prosperity. Thus, in an unusual twist, Madam Xie led the processional.
Today’s journey was for the purpose of prayer, valuing a sincere heart. Thus, at the proposal of the Magistrate’s wife, everyone climbed the mountain by foot, walking all 999 steps from the foot of the hill to the front of the temple.
Wei Ruo followed behind Madam Yun at an unhurried pace. Whatever speed the others moved at, she matched. If they stopped to rest, she too would pause.
She endeavored not to stand out or to provoke controversy.
Leading the way was Xie Ying, striding ahead, creating a considerable distance of twenty or thirty steps between her and the others. Madam Xie was not able to recall her.
The pace of the rest was not fast, they would walk awhile and stop to rest.
Stop and go, after more than half an hour they finally arrived in front of the Huafa Temple.
The chief monk, accompanied by his disciples, was already waiting to receive them at the entrance.
After exchanging pleasantries with the chief monk, they entered the temple.
Since the Magistrate’s wife had already made arrangements with the temple master, Huafa Temple did not receive any other pilgrims today, only accepting this group of women relatives, so the interior was quite empty, undisturbed by others.
Upon entering the main hall, they began to light incense and kneel in worship. Wei Ruo slipped between the crowd, lighting a set of incense sticks.
Kneeling on mats, half the day passed while they listened to the scriptures. At noon, everyone planned to stay at the temple to partake in a vegetarian lunch.
While waiting for the food, they sat in the dining hall, sipping tea provided by the temple.
Having climbed the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps and exerting a great deal of physical strength, added to the fact that it was now noon, they all felt their bellies rumble with hunger.
However, Huafa Temple was strict about meal timings. They would only serve food at noon. As everyone naturally didn’t want to break the rules, they waited restlessly in the dining hall.
At this time, Wei Ruo brought out the dried sweet potatoes she had prepared and shared with everyone to taste.
Observing the object Wei Ruo produced, a group of women relatives exhibited curious and puzzled expressions because they had not seen the likes of this before.
Conversely, upon sighting what Wei Ruo pulled out, Madam Yun grew anxious. She assumed that Wei Ruo had brought common pastries, and since everyone was indeed hungry at this moment, her gesture of distributing the pastries would have been harmless.
Discovering that Wei Ruo produced something unfamiliar, she grew worried.
At this moment, it was too late for Madam Yun to hinder Wei Ruo as the items had already reached the hands of every Madam and Miss present.
Wei Qingwan glanced at Wei Ruo then at the food she had produced, sharing the same confusion as others. However, she refrained from speaking, sitting quietly beside Madam Yun, observing others’ reactions.
“What is this, Miss Wei?” Madam Qian asked first.
“This is dried sweet potato, made from a plant called sweet potato,” Wei Ruo patiently explained.
“Sweet potato? What type of crop is it?”
It’s a new crop, accidentally brought by a merchant ship from Nanyang. It has already been planted extensively in Huzhou Prefecture, with many farmers starting to cultivate it.”
“Really? Is that so?” Madam Qian looked at the reddish-brown, shiny dried sweet potato in her hand while expressing astonished confusion.