The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon

With that said, Fangzheng left Eighth Qiu’s place with Red Boy.

Fangzheng asked Red Boy when they were outside, “Jingxin, how would you resolve a situation like this over in your world?”

Red Boy grinned. “How would I know? The matters at my mountain were always simple. Anyone who looked like a sore sight was stewed. If this happened at my place, I would have stewed Qiu Baihong once I heard the news. Then, I wouldn’t care about it further.”

Fangzheng rolled his eyes at him. “Use your head!”

Red Boy immediately shook his head and said, “I used my head by moving it.”

Fangzheng: “…”

Fangzheng could tell that Red Boy really had no idea how to handle the matter; otherwise, he wouldn’t have given such a scoundrelly response. However, it did seem like Fangzheng’s behavior had rubbed off a little on Red Boy.

Fangzheng looked up into the sky and said silently, “Alright. This child didn’t learn much of the Buddhist Dharma from This Penniless Monk, but his scoundrelly skills have been fully inherited. If this fellow were to return to Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s side, would she cross worlds to slap me to death when she sees his attitude?”

Upon having this thought, Fangzheng couldn’t help but tremble as he hurriedly left.

“Master, don’t leave first. I still have a problem that puzzles me,” Red Boy said.

“Shoot.”

“Master, Qiu Baihong isn’t Eighth Qiu’s birth daughter, so even if he has feelings of love for her after living together for so many years, there’s no need for him to give so much to her, right? If I were him, I would have given all this love to Qiu Jinyu… She’s the birth daughter after all!”

Fangzheng shook his head and said, “You don’t know this kind of love. Qiu Jinyu is very blessed. Her character has determined her life to be calm and peaceful, but Qiu Baihong’s character is somewhat twisted. Eighth Qiu is worried that something will happen to her for her character flaws.”

“Uh, Master, so what? This child is already so twisted… If it were me, I’d just leave her to her own devices.”

“You have such thoughts because you haven’t been a father. If you saw a child grow up into an adult, you wouldn’t have such thoughts. A father is the family’s pillar of support. He’s the towering tree that shelters his child. A father works hard his entire life to help shield the child from any tempest, so be it rain or shine, or even faced with bowl-sized hail, a father will not shrink back even despite being covered in wounds. Being a protector is a father’s responsibility! This responsibility has little to do with the father’s wealth or looks, or even his strength. It’s all about love!

“Although Eighth Qiu is dull, and he doesn’t know how to handle his relationship with his daughter, he has been silently protecting his daughter.”

Red Boy nodded slightly. “That I know, but… Master, you don’t have children either, so why are you able to say so much?”

Fangzheng shot a glance at Red Boy. “With a brat like you, do I need to bring up another one to know how it feels?”

Red Boy: “…”

“Also, this is what my master once told me. Back then, I ignored what he said. However, as my experience with people and matters increased, and with me gaining disciples, I finally understood the deeper meaning of his words.”

“What’s the meaning?” Red Boy looked up and asked.

Fangzheng used a deeply profound gaze as he said sternly, “Apart from adding woe to yourself, there’s no benefit to bringing up a child!”

Red Boy had already been prepared to receive some long sermon that was like chicken soup for the soul, but this out-of-the-blue twist nearly dropped his jaws.

Red Boy wanted to launch a tirade when he realized that Fangzheng’s statement did seem to make sense… In the end, what did parents gain from giving their heart and soul to their children? When a child grew up and started a family of their own, it no longer had any obligations. How many people could really stay steadfast and accompany their parents forever due to so-called filial piety? Even if one had the intention of doing so, reality would force them apart! It wasn’t because the child wasn’t filial, but that the world was just this cruel.

Therefore, parents really didn’t gain anything from bringing up children.

Red Boy couldn’t help but recall his unreliable father he had always found dispensable. After hearing what Fangzheng previously said, it seemed as though his father had been secretly bearing the brunt of something for him. He just ultimately collapsed, causing the entire family to fall.

Ignoring Red Boy, Fangzheng led him back to Qiu Baihong’s house again.

Before they entered, they heard Qiu Baihong shouting. “You can’t leave! You can only leave after paying up!”

“What do you mean I can’t leave? What can you do?” the man who had been playing mahjong with Qiu Baihong roared.

Qiu Baihong was enraged. “Heh! I’ve seen shameless people before, but I’ve never seen someone as shameless as you! What? I won big the last round and you immediately flip the table and say you’re done? What’s the meaning of that? Trying to be a scoundrel? Tell me, does anyone play mahjong like that?” Qiu Baihong said to the other two.

The two revealed an odd expression as they remained silent, clearly having no intention of getting involved with such a messy situation.

With the two keeping silent, the scoundrelly man immediately felt emboldened when he noticed that Qiu Baihong’s husband wasn’t home. He scoffed. “The last round was ruined, so it’s normal that money isn’t given! If I had any say, you should return them their money! Also, mind your mouth. Who are you calling a scoundrel?”

“Mind my mouth? Bao Yuqing, you probably should mind yours! You don’t even brush your teeth after eating inside the toilet!” Qiu Baihong cursed.

Bao Yuqing pricked up his brows as he slapped her!

Pa!

Qiu Baihong staggered as a result of the slap.

Bao Yuqing cursed. “Pui! This is a lesson for you to mind your words! Do you think your family is still the same as before? When you offended people in the past, Eighth Qiu would visit them with a smiling face to apologize and provide compensation every time. So no one minded it because of him. But now that you are alone, how dare you act arrogant? Eighth Qiu might spoil you, but I won’t!”

“How dare you hit me!?” Qiu Baihong covered her face as her eyes turned bloodshot.

“So what? Do you think I won’t continue?” Bao Yuqing raised his sleeves as though he was prepared to beat her.

Although Qiu Baihong was quite a shrew, she was ultimately a woman. She had a biting tongue, but there was no way she could be extraordinarily physically powerful. Furthermore, her guts clearly couldn’t keep up with her mouth! With Bao Yuqing gearing to beat her, she immediately felt fear.

Upon seeing the matter escalate, the two others quickly stepped in, pulling Bao Yuqing away and saying to Qiu Baihong, “Enough. Don’t say anything more.”

“I’ll let this pass on Eighth Qiu’s account!” Bao Yuqing scoffed as he prepared to leave.

Red Boy looked at Fangzheng who waved his hand at him, signaling him to ignore it and just watch.

Qiu Baihong felt enraged that she had been slapped in front of others. Her character was one that easily went to extremities. Inundated with all sorts of thoughts, she clenched her teeth and ran into the house before running out with a roar.

When Bao Yuqing heard Qiu Baihong’s angry roars, he turned back only to see her running out with a chopping knife!