BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 83 The Banquet (Part 3)

The moment Che Qianzi uttered that insult, everyone in the private room was startled.

Sun Desheng hurriedly covered his little brother’s mouth and said with a smile, “Venerable Monk, my brother had a few drinks at home before coming over. The alcohol hasn’t worn off yet, so he’s talking nonsense. Honestly, he even called me Fatty just now. If you don’t believe me, ask Huang Ran. Old Huang, my brother even avenged you back in the tomb…”

Seeing the situation, Huang Ran also stepped forward with a smile.

“Master, this child has always been disrespectful and unruly. Please don’t lower yourself to his level. At least for my sake…”

“Your sake? How big is your fat face, Little Huang? Why should Buddha Master here give you face?”

The old monk let out a strange laugh. Then he turned and stared cheerfully at the bewildered Che Qianzi.

“This face should indeed be given—but not to little Huang Ran. If I give face, it should be to that person…”

“Hahaha… interesting, very interesting. I never thought he would leave behind a seed like you…”

It was obvious the old monk knew something.

Blinking his eyes, Huang Ran cautiously asked, “Master, do you know this child’s parents or elders?”

“Do I know them or not—since when do I need your permission?”

The monk shot him a glance.

“You invite everyone here to feast while Buddha Master has to stay home eating bran and swallowing vegetables. Bring that dish over here and let me taste something…”

As he spoke, he grabbed the remaining plate.

“Oh? Meat?”

“You little brat, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Don’t you know Buddha Master is a monk? What a sin, what a sin…”

He stuffed food into his mouth while lamenting.

“Needs more salt. Little Huang, where’s your common sense? This should be paired with pickled mustard greens…”

Although he kept claiming to be a monk, he ate enthusiastically.

Everyone except Che Qianzi was already used to his behavior, and nobody dared say anything.

While the old monk was eating, Sun Desheng leaned close to Che Qianzi and whispered, “Brother, whatever you do, don’t provoke this old monk. He’s a big shot on the same level as Director Wu. Give your big brother some face. Endure whatever happens. After dinner, I’ll take you to Secretary Yang’s house and we’ll spend the whole night cursing him instead.”

Even with his mad-dog temper, Che Qianzi knew when to pick his battles.

Seeing everyone practically fawning over the monk, he decided to avoid provoking him.

Just then, a waitress brought in another dish—a plate of steamed fish.

After setting it down, she introduced it:

“This is steamed baby shark. Once sharks mature, ammonia accumulates in the meat, making it unsuitable for cooking. Only sharks around two or three months old have tender flesh…”

Hearing this, the old monk exclaimed, “Did you say baby shark?”

“Amitabha…”

“You people are too cruel. Bring it here, bring it here. Buddha Master must deliver it from suffering…”

“Fish, oh fish, your fortune is not small. Buddha Master personally sends you on your way. In your next life, be reborn as a human…”

He took a bite and immediately frowned.

“Too bland!”

“Such a fine fish, and they steamed it? It should’ve been braised in sauce!”

“How can anyone eat something this bland?”

“Too damned bland!”

“What a sin…”

Seeing the waitress standing there in confusion, Huang Ran smiled and handed her a tip.

“Please tell the kitchen to make all the remaining dishes heavily seasoned. And if you have pickled vegetables, bring some.”

Then he turned toward the monk.

“If I’d known you were coming, Master, I wouldn’t have chosen this place.”

“Forget the useless talk. Buddha Master came to retrieve the Bodhi Cicada.”

As he spoke, the monk wiped his mouth with his strange half-robe, half-gown outfit.

“It’s been several hundred years since I last saw the little thing. Buddha Master rather misses it.”

“My only concern is… don’t tell me, Little Huang, that you failed to handle even this?”

An awkward expression appeared on Huang Ran’s face.

“I failed in my duty…”

“The Bodhi Cicada has already passed away.”

“My Bodhi Cicada…”

The monk immediately threw down his chopsticks.

“The Bodhi Cicada that Buddha Master raised for so many years is gone?”

“Huang Ran, how did you do your job?”

Looking grief-stricken, he continued, “I raised it like my own son! There was only one Bodhi Cicada under heaven, and now it’s gone just like that?”

“Do you know what it feels like for a white-haired man to bury a black-haired child?”

“Oh Buddha above…”

“Take me with the Bodhi Cicada!”

To everyone’s astonishment, the old monk began wailing loudly.

Huang Ran stood awkwardly beside him.

Trying to comfort him felt wrong.

Not comforting him also felt wrong.

For a man as clever as Huang Ran, he suddenly found himself completely at a loss.

Zhang Zhiyan looked similarly helpless.

As for Meng Qiqi, she completely ignored the old monk and casually scrolled through her social media feed on her phone.

Watching everyone’s reactions, Che Qianzi quietly asked Sun Desheng, “This is the great expert who’s on equal footing with your father-in-law?”

“Even people whose real sons die don’t cry like this.”

“Or was that Bodhi Cicada actually his biological child…”

“My little ancestor, stop talking!”

Sun Desheng covered his mouth again.

“What do you know? The old monk plays at life like this.”

“Fine. Since Huang Ran helped you earlier, your big brother will help him too.”

Smiling, Sun Desheng moved over to sit beside the monk.

“Venerable Monk, the dead can’t be brought back. You need to think positively. Why not distract yourself with something?”

“Honestly, if you keep dwelling on the Bodhi Cicada, it’ll damage your health.”

The old monk suddenly became serious.

“The concerts of Ebisu Muscats…”

“If Buddha Master could watch two, three, four, maybe five performances, my mood would improve.”

“No problem!”

Sun Desheng grinned.

“I’ll even arrange backstage access for you. Everyone can take cheerful group photos together.”

Che Qianzi, who had been listening in confusion, couldn’t help asking, “Fatty, what Ebisu what grapes? Why are they holding concerts?”

Sun Desheng shot him a glance and lowered his voice.

“That’s grown-up business. Don’t ask. Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”

The old monk’s face flushed with excitement.

“Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”

“After all, Buddha Master is a monk. Besides Buddha himself, there is no room in my heart for anything else…”

“We agreed, only meeting them and taking some pictures.”

“As for going to the hotel, Buddha Master absolutely won’t go.”

“Right! The hotel!”

Sun Desheng laughed.

“After the concert, I’ll arrange a hotel visit for you.”

“A presidential suite—no, it should be called the Holy Monk’s Meditation Chamber.”

Hearing this, the old monk immediately beamed.

“After your wise guidance, Buddha Master no longer feels so sad.”

“If the Bodhi Cicada is gone, then so be it.”

“Come to think of it, I believe I was the one who killed its physical body back then.”

“And that ugly little thing with all its teeth and claws wasn’t exactly lovable.”

He then glanced at Huang Ran and shook his head.

“Originally, Buddha Master intended to elevate you and accept you as a disciple.”

“What a pity…”

“You have no discernment.”

“Buddha Master has been eating Muscats in front of you for so many days, and you never noticed a thing?”

Before Huang Ran could explain, Meng Qiqi finally lowered her phone and spoke indignantly.

“Monk, if you want to go, just say so. Everyone knows what kind of person you are. What’s there that you can’t say?”

“Buddha Master is a monk. How could I say such things? What a sin…”

Suddenly, the old monk thought of something.

He looked at Meng Qiqi.

Then at Che Qianzi.

A broad smile appeared on his face.

“How about Buddha Master acts as a matchmaker?”

“I’ll bring you two together.”

“There isn’t a pair under heaven more suitable than you.”

The moment those words left his mouth, three people spoke simultaneously.

Che Qianzi.

Meng Qiqi.

And Zhang Zhiyan.

“No way!”