Chapter 23

The Joss Sticks Extinguished

When Jiang Xi was rarely discharged from the hospital, Zhoushan Mental Hospital had sent two or three nurses to follow her all the way, afraid that she would bring back trouble. As a mental patient, it was already very impressive that Jiang Xi could get such treatment.

“You’re not allowed to walk in front of me. You have to walk behind me.” The silly son of the Cheng family drooled as he looked at Jiang Xi without blinking and mumbled, “My mother said that if I don’t eat, my wife is not allowed to eat. If I don’t speak, my wife is not allowed to speak. If I walk in front, my wife must follow behind me. You are the wife I bought, so you can only be a member of the Cheng family. After you marry into the family, you have to give birth to eight to ten sons for me. In the future, you don’t have to do any work at home. You just have to give birth to children.” As he spoke, a string of crystal-like saliva flowed down the corner of the Cheng family’s silly son’s mouth.

Matchmaker Wang was stunned for a moment when she heard the Cheng family’s fool’s words. Then, she quickly tried to smooth things over and said to Yang Fen, “Don’t misunderstand. The eldest son of the Cheng family is worried about Jiang Xi. He’s afraid that Jiang Xi will be tired from walking too fast.” As she spoke, she pulled the silly son of the Cheng family and said, “What’s there to buy or not to buy? Jiang Xi will be your legal wife in the future.” Although Jiang Xi was indeed a daughter-in-law bought by the Cheng family, it would be too ugly to say it out loud. At the same time, she was afraid that Yang Fen would regret it and not let Jiang Xi marry.

Matchmaker Wang blamed the Cheng family’s First Madam in her heart. She knew that her son was a fool and had no control over his mouth, but she still said everything to a fool. Even if she wanted to say anything, she should have said it after she had tricked Jiang Xi into marrying him!

The Cheng family’s First Madam acted as if she did not see Matchmaker Wang’s resentful gaze. She pulled her silly son and encouraged him, “My son is so smart!” In the past, no matter how much she taught her son, he would not be able to learn it. Today, he suddenly remembered such a long paragraph, which really made her proud!

“Little sister, come to my side. Be careful of the steps you’re stepping on.” Zheng Rong was furious. The way the Cheng family dealt with things made even someone as good-tempered as her unable to tolerate it. She pulled Jiang Xi along and walked forward, trying to get as far away from that fool of the Cheng family as possible.

Yang Fen did not speak much along the way. She looked at the road in front of her in a daze, and no one knew what she was thinking. Jiang Er had been following Yang Fen the whole time, so Yang Fen could see him as soon as she looked up.

The group of people entered the main hall with different thoughts in their minds. On top of the main hall, two large golden characters were written, ‘Hongfu Hall’. People came and went in the hall of prosperity, and the joss sticks were burning vigorously. There were also the clanging sounds of lots being drawn. A bald monk was sitting beside him and was responsible for unsealing the lots. There were three futons in the hall, and there were many statues of bodhisattvas around.

“Let’s go, it’s our turn.” Matchmaker Wang brought over some joss sticks and gave it to Yang Fen, Mrs. Cheng, and the silly son of the Cheng family. After some thought, she seemed to feel that she had been too obvious, so she simply gave everyone three Buddha incense sticks.

Jiang Xi held the joss stick and saw Yang Fen, Mrs. Cheng, and the silly son of the Cheng family kneeling down. Behind them, Jiang Yi and Zheng Rong knelt on the ground without a cushion.

“Today, the Jiang family and the Cheng family are going on a blind date. I beg the Buddha to bless us and bless the two families to get married.” Matchmaker Wang smiled and muttered a few words in front of Buddha. Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for the people around to hear. Hearing Matchmaker Wang’s words, Yang Fen lowered her eyes, glanced at Jiang Xi, and then at Jiang Er, but did not say anything.

The group knelt down, bowed, got up, and left the joss sticks. When they were about to pay their respects to Buddha again, they heard a clang. An unfamiliar little girl next to them was so frightened by the sound that she dropped her lot pot. She pointed at the big bronze ware full of joss sticks and widened her eyes. “Oh my God, all the joss sticks have been extinguished!”

Hearing this sound, Yang Fen and the others also raised their heads abruptly and saw that the joss sticks they had just lit were instantly extinguished! A gentle breeze swept by, bringing with it waves of incense ash. Mrs. Cheng’s face instantly darkened!

“It’s them! It’s them! I saw with my own eyes that after they left the joss sticks. The moment they let go, the whole jar of joss sticks went out!” The little girl looked at Yang Fen and her group in surprise.

The people in the hall looked at each other. The little monk, who had heard the news, came over and looked at the extinguished joss sticks. He quickly explained, “Amitabha. Benefactors, you must have been frightened. I think the quality of this batch of joss sticks is not good. It has nothing to do with you. I’ll get someone to change a batch of joss sticks. Benefactors, you can just light the joss sticks in peace…”

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