Chapter 36: The Hall of Matrimony (1)

Chapter 36: The Hall of Marriage (1)

The group chatted as they walked deeper into the temple grounds.

Chen Gangpao, full of some inexplicable burst of energy, dragged Qin Zhonglian along as the dog tore ahead like his life depended on it.

Qin Zhonglian had been playfully bantering with Chen Shuoan when, in a moment of carelessness, he let the dog slip away.

Su Qingwan watched from the side, utterly dumbfounded, and quickly called out: "Young Master Chen, Gangpao is..."

About to bolt back into the wild.

Chen Shuoan's eyes darted around and caught sight of a white dog silhouette frolicking in the distance. He saw red as he roared: "Chen Gangpao, get your ass back here!"

He sprinted toward the dog, briefly turning to the others: "Sorry, you all go on ahead. Once I catch him, I'll find you to regroup."

Goddammit, he was going to skin Chen Gangpao alive today!

Qin Zhonglian felt a pang of guilt—after all, the dog had slipped away on his watch—so he followed along, shouting as he ran: "I'll chase him with you!"

The two of them trailed behind Chen Gangpao, panting and exhausted, but no matter how much Chen Shuoan yelled, the damn dog refused to look back.

The rest stayed behind, teasing.

"Oh my, Chen Gangpao is something else—making two grown men lose their minds and chase after him like lovesick fools."

Li Wei was totally speechless, itching to kick Zhang Chenggong right in that shit-talking mouth of his.

"Can you read a few more books in your spare time? I'm begging you, alright?"

————

"Where did he run off to? This is getting so damn annoying day by day."

Chen Shuoan pushed aside the dry branches and vines blocking his path, his pretty brows furrowed into a deep frown, angry and worried at the same time.

"And what are you gonna do when you find him?"

Chen Shuoan let out a sinister chuckle: "Since he won't listen to reason, I'll have to introduce him to some physics."

He was determined to show Chen Gangpao a thing or two, to make sure that little dog saw not just black and white, but also the black-and-blue of a beating.

Let him learn the harshness of the world and the pain of a good beating.

Qin Zhonglian stopped in his tracks, then suddenly elbowed Chen Shuoan in the side, exclaiming urgently: "I think I spotted him!"

Chen Shuoan let out a pained yelp, clutching his side as he slumped against Qin Zhonglian, groaning in pain but still giving him a thumbs up: "You've got that endless ox strength every damn day. You're something else—here's a big thumbs up."

Qin Zhonglian panicked, grabbed Chen Shuoan's wrist, and ran off while apologizing: "Sorry, Shuo'an! If he gets lost, I really wouldn't know where to find another dog this ugly for you."

Thanks to Chen Gangpao, the two of them sprinted at full tilt, drenched in sweat, moving at speeds rivaling Usain Bolt's. Just as they were about to catch up, they could only watch helplessly as Chen Gangpao slipped through a slightly open door into a small shrine.

Above the shrine hung a plaque.

The Hall of Matrimony.

Qin Zhonglian: "..."

Chen Shuoan: "..."

I'm so done.

Gangpao, are you here to pray for a handsome, purebred male dog too?

As it turned out, little miss Chen Gangpao scoffed at the whole idea of love.

Chen Shuoan caught the scent of roasted sweet potatoes wafting through the air and silently cursed his ungrateful son.

He never let the dog go hungry or without a wardrobe, yet here the mutt was, catching a whiff of something tasty from miles away and ditching his dad, scurrying over here all happy just to gnaw on some sweet potatoes.

Seriously.

Dude, can't you tell the difference between having a full meal every day and a one-time feast?

Luckily, they'd stumbled upon the Hall of Matrimony by sheer luck, so Chen Shuoan and Qin Zhonglian weren't in a hurry anymore. They just waited for the others to arrive.

Together, they stepped forward and pushed open the peach-wood doors. The palm of one touched the back of the other's hand, and both paused for a moment before quickly pulling away.

Chen Shuoan's face was so dark it could drip water, feeling that the vibe between them was off.

Not one of lingering romance, but of tension ready to snap.

Qin Zhonglian smiled without any warmth: "Don't tell me you've got other ideas about me."

Chen Shuoan feigned shyness: "God knows, my interest in you isn't even half of what I feel for Chen Gangpao."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, slinging an arm over each other's shoulders and waists, stumbling inside together.

The courtyard was utterly bare—no love-sickness trees like in the dramas, no mandarin duck bridges like in the novels. The atmosphere was cool and quiet, everything eerily still.

Chen Shuoan craned his neck to look inside. The hall housed a statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, carved with remarkable detail, standing about ten feet tall, with a kind face and compassionate eyes.

Directly below the statue, an incense burner sent up wisps of smoke, the sticks burning bright red.

The air was filled with a mix of roasted sweet potato and sandalwood.

Chen Gangpao sat upright at the front of the courtyard, his doggy eyes fixed intently on the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva before him.

Chen Shuoan: "..."

Anyone would think he's here praying for love, but his mind's probably just full of sweet potatoes. Stupid dog!

He walked over, wrapped an arm around the dog's neck, and bowed devoutly toward the statue: "Bodhisattva, don't mind him."

The moment the words left his mouth, a big slap landed square on Chen Gangpao's black doggy face.

Perfect force—just enough to daze him, not enough to scramble his brains.

Chen Gangpao let out a whimper and immediately collapsed into his arms, whining and acting cute.

"You deserved that, Gangpao."

Chen Shuoan smiled with loving kindness.

From behind came the sound of "tap tap" footsteps. Chen Shuoan turned to see a young monk in a dark blue robe.

The little monk pattered over to Chen Gangpao on his short legs, holding a few piping-hot sweet potatoes in his hands. As if he couldn't take it anymore, he let go, and the sweet potatoes hit the ground with a "thud," rolling several times.

He pressed his soft little hands against his ears, turning them red and hot before finally lowering them to blow furiously on his fingers.

Chen Shuoan laughed, crouching in front of him and blowing on his hands to help cool them.

The little monk puffed out his cheeks, utterly adorable, muttering under his breath, "Eat up, eat up."

He looked up at Chen Shuoan with bright, round eyes, his black pupils as large as grapes, and said with a lively smile, "Big brother's blessed with great fortune—you're the best kind of benefactor in the world."

Chen Shuoan thought this was hilarious and couldn't resist pinching the little monk's smooth cheek, asking, "Since when does the Marriage Hall read fortunes too? Go on, tell me—what's this great fortune of mine?"

The little monk held his hand, seeming to enjoy the touch, rubbing his face against Chen Shuoan's palm.

"I don't know, my master hasn't taught me yet, I can't, I don't know."

The little kid was so flustered by Chen Shuoan that he couldn't get his words out, afraid the big brother might quiz him on his studies.

Qin Zhonglian pointed at his own face and leaned in, teasing him as well, "What about me? C'mon, Master, take a look at me."

The little monk stared wide-eyed at the man, his lips pressed tightly together, forming a small dimple at the corner of his mouth.

"You... you're fine, you'll live a peaceful, healthy life and pass on peacefully."

Both Chen Shuoan and Qin Zhonglian burst into laughter.

Seeing how adorably dazed the boy was, Chen Shuoan grabbed the face of Chen Gangpao, who was busy wolfing down food, squished it up, and asked, "Little Master, please take a look at my dog here—what's his doggy fortune?"

The poor little monk, as if finally having enough of them, burst into tears with a loud "Waaah!"

"I can't, I can't... I can't read dogs, don't ask me anymore..."

Seeing that he had made the child cry, Chen Shuoan quickly bent down, scooped him up, and spun him around to soothe him.

"Don't cry, don't cry, big brother was just teasing you... I won't ask you to look anymore, okay?"

The little monk, with tearful eyes, snuggled in Chen Shuoan's arms, hiccuping, and let out a muffled "Mm-hmm."