Morning bell, evening drum

  Lin Jing hesitated for a moment and decided to take a gamble this time.

  Since he had made up his mind, Lin Jing didn't beat around the bush anymore. When he arrived at the main house, Lin Jing didn't wait for someone to announce him and loudly asked to see them.

  Lin Ruhai's current mood was like a pot of boiling water, with the pain of his eldest son's early death, worry for his beloved wife, and those unspoken frustrations and resignation. At this moment, hearing the voice of this illegitimate child outside made him even more annoyed. His wife didn't want to see this illegitimate child now, why did he still want to come forward? Was it necessary to make himself speak clearly? Or was it because he had just given him some good looks today and he didn't know his own weight?

  Lin Ruhai waved his hand and said in a bad tone: "Don't see!"

  Lin Jing also guessed Lin Ruhai's reaction, so he spoke louder: "The mansion has been in trouble for a long time, and I know the pain of my parents. I want to help them share their worries. However, I'm stupid and can't think of any way to do it, but I have a filial heart. I thought that maybe I could find a temple, shave my head and become a monk, and pray for blessings in front of the Buddha for my parents, and also recite some scriptures for my younger brother. I know Father will miss me, but please grant me this wish. I'll kneel here until you agree. If not, I won't get up."

  "What's going on?" Lin Ruhai shouted from inside the house, separated by the door. In fact, he was very annoyed to hear about cultivation and such things now, although he didn't want to think too much about it, but there was a hint of thought that if he hadn't punished that person to meditate in silence back then, would this disaster have occurred? He had read books for many years and didn't quite believe in those vengeful ghost stories, but rather thought that the person's actions at the Buddhist temple had polluted it, leading to this cause and effect.

  But then, thinking again, what that person said outside might not be a bad idea after all. Keeping this son by her side would surely make Min'er feel uncomfortable in her heart; sending him far away is also a solution. Alright, abandoning this son, it can't be helped, and in front of the Bodhisattva, it could even eliminate some karmic obstacles. Anyway, he doesn't care about this son either.

  Just then, something happened in the mansion and they sent the illegitimate child into the mountain gate again. It's probably not good to hear...

  Actually, Lin Ruhai's ideas were already anticipated by Lin Jing. Otherwise, what was the point of her gamble? Compared to running through a thorny path, hiding in a temple was much better. Being far away from the Lin Manor also made her feel more at ease, and she wasn't afraid that Lin Ruhai wouldn't take her back in the future.

  So, inside and outside the door, one was mentally agreeing but pretending to be stubborn, while the other was deliberately feigning ignorance, trying their best to cooperate. This went on for half a day.

  Not only that, Lin Ruhai also invited several old doctors to come and diagnose Jia Min. With people coming and going, looking at a child kneeling outside the door, with doubts in their hearts, the servants took advantage of the situation to say that Jing Ge had asked to practice self-cultivation, and the words of the elderly couple's reluctance to part with their son were like a story of filial piety.

  Only after finishing the show did Lin Ruhai step out of the door, looking at the child in front of him who was almost kneeling down, his eyes were complex, "You little scamp, how can you be so foolish. Never mind, never mind, it's my fault for going along with this, just as you wished!"

  Lin Jing finally got his wish, and with a sigh of relief, he felt his body relax. Lin Ruhai saw this and quickly arranged for someone to send him back, telling them to take good care of him. Then, he let out a long sigh, his heart truly fluctuating with emotions.

  Lin Jing had gone through this ordeal, but not without gain. From then on, the filial piety of Lin's brothers and sisters was spread far and wide, and her previous reputation for being foolish was suppressed.

  Moreover, Lin Hai has already put on a show, so he can't casually find a broken temple for Lin Jing.

  Two days later, Gaofeng Temple, one of the eight major temples in Yangzhou, gained a devout lay disciple.

  This Gaofeng Temple is not only a famous ancient temple, but also the six emperors who inspected Jiangnan six times, all of whom stayed in the outer palace of this Gaofeng Temple, making this Gaofeng Temple cover the famous Daming Temple in Yangzhou and became a royal temple. If it weren't for Lin Ruhai's official position as the Salt Inspector, there would be no way to bring Lin Jing in.

  Lin Ruhai not only found a place like this for Lin Jing with all his heart, but also gave Lin Jing unprecedented hospitality in other aspects.

  Since he was a Buddhist monk, his clothes and food were naturally the same as those in the temple, and there was no way to bring servants with him. So, all the maidservants who had been by Lin Jing's side stayed at the mansion, even the wet nurse couldn't follow him. However, Lin Hai let the steward Lin An choose two young servants and two attendants for Lin Jing, arranging them outside the mountain gate, only listening to Lin Jing's orders, also helping Lin Jing with some rough work. In addition, he gave Lin Jing a stack of silver notes, in case of emergency.

  Apart from these material things, Lin Ruhai also prepared for Lin Jing the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as annotated translations of these works, along with a large quantity of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. He said that apart from reciting Buddhist scriptures, he hoped Lin Jing would take a look at these books; even if he couldn't understand their meaning, memorizing them would be good too.

  These are just superficial things, but for Lin Jing, they are hard to come by. This is the first time she can shake off Jia Min's shadow and doesn't have to pretend all the time. And those poetry books and brushes, as Lin Hai said, memorizing them is also good. She isn't a complete novice who doesn't understand the meaning of the books at all, and besides, she can practice writing properly now.

  Lin Jing has started her days of cultivation with a shaved head.

  Although she had to get up early to do chores, sweep the floor and carry water, and only ate simple food like vegetables and tofu, Lin Jing still looked radiant.

  Every morning bell and evening drum, copying Buddhist scriptures, practicing calligraphy, also cultivating one's mind.

  Lin Jing is not trying to avoid the world, nor is she willing to be like other popular cross-dressing novels that talk about being content with mediocrity and detached from fame and fortune. Since her transmigration, she has suffered enough hardships, of course, she understands that in order to survive, in order to not be controlled by others, one must be strong enough themselves.

  In this world where everything is inferior except for reading books, how can one become powerful? Read books, hold office, and become an official! Strive to climb up!

  As for her daughter's body, she didn't plan to recover it. Think about it, Lin Daiyu, this Lin Ruhai Jia Min's treasure, what was the ending in that book? Although, this has something to do with Daiyu's original personality. It can't be denied that because she is a woman, so in this male-dominated society, without her father, she could only be manipulated by those so-called relatives. Lin Jing herself was just an illegitimate daughter, and it's said that the birth mother of this body was still Jia Min's accompanying maid, a house-born slave of Rongguo Mansion. This prospect, can it be better than Daiyu's?

  So Lin Jing has her own plan. She is now just waiting, waiting for the best opportunity. Or to put it in a cold-blooded and ruthless way, she is waiting for Jia Min's death.

  As the days went by, it got colder and the New Year's Eve was approaching. Lin Jing did not plan to return home for the new year, and even if she came back, there might not be anyone who wanted her back.

  On this day, Lin Jing followed his usual routine and attended the morning service in the main hall with the other Bhikkhus before returning to his quiet room to copy scriptures. In fact, copying scriptures is a good way to practice calligraphy. As he passed by a usually deserted Zen temple, he found that there were people's voices coming from it today.

  Lin Jing slightly poked her head out. It had been some time since she found someone sweeping this place, and then there was no movement again. Today, was it coming to sweep again or did someone move in?

  Just as Lin Jing looked up, a person ran out. The man was more than a head taller than Lin Jing and looked like he was only in his early teens. Seeing Lin Jing's monk robes, he shouted: "Hey little monk, quickly go get a basin of water!" As he spoke, he raised the basin in his hand towards Lin Jing's direction.

  Gaofeng Temple is a large temple, with strict rules. In the temple, no matter what your background is, only the senior monks in front of Buddha are asked. So, in the temple, there is no longer Lin Jia Shu Zi Lin Jing, but only a secular disciple named Yuan Fa, wearing monk robes, except for not shaving his head, he is no different from other little monks.

  Lin Jing didn't think that just poking his head out would get him into such trouble. So, don't be curious about everything, or you'll end up creating trouble for yourself.

  However, Lin Jing didn't plan to bother with that person. Although she was practicing here, apart from the courses arranged by her master, she wasn't someone who would serve others. Moreover, she was still young and had a hard time doing her own chores!

  Lin Jing looked at the man, not saying a word, and turned to leave. Behind him, he heard the man shouting: "Hey, you little monk, can't even move? You stand still for me, today I must have you bring water over, otherwise, you'll be in big trouble!"

  Lin Jing pretended not to hear and quickened his pace. He only heard someone chasing after him from behind, but before they could catch up, another voice called out: "Jin Fu, come back!"

  The person chasing behind him replied, "Hey, old man, how did you get out?"

  Old man, which family's old man is this again? Lin Jing heard it but didn't stop in his tracks. No matter whose old man it was, it had nothing to do with him.

  For the next few days, Lin Jing walked a long way around that temple, thinking to himself, no matter which master it was, whether he could be offended or not, it's better to avoid him.

  But sometimes many things can't be avoided. Just like that old man from who-knows-which family, these past two days he's also been following the Bhikkhus to do morning and evening chanting.

  In this large hall, there were many seats, but that old man's cushion was not far from Lin Jing. That person named Jin Fu also followed his master to do homework. Every time he saw Lin Jing, when no one was around, he would frown and glare, with a distorted face.

  Lin Jing slightly furrowed her brow, although she had already caught her breath, but still had to hold back and be a good person. And sometimes, those slaves were more troublesome than their masters. So every time the lesson ended, Lin Jing would always slip away early.

  That day, Lin Jing was as usual, did his homework, swept the steps, and returned to his own Zen room, planning to quietly write down the Analects he had memorized yesterday. Just as he approached his residence, he found that Jin Fu was waiting outside his Zen room.

  Yesterday, something happened at a friend's store and I was urgently called to help. I didn't return home until after 11 pm. No writing, no internet, and no leave were taken. Today, I'm making up for the lost time and bowing in apology!