Chapter 006: The Monkey

"Is it a monkey?" Tong Er was puzzled, "What is there to see about a monkey?"

However ... ...

Do not say that she is the personal maid of the prime minister's daughter; even if it were Jiang Li or Xue Fangfei, their personal maids when they were young ladies in Tongxiang would certainly not regret a few pastries. If others were to witness this scene, they would not know how to express their emotions. Jiang Li reached out to pat Tong'er on the head and smiled, "But compared to wild fruits, monkeys prefer delicious food more."

Tong Er widened her eyes and said, "Miss, why is this? This servant does not understand"

Jiang Li looked at her and smiled: "Are you afraid?"

In Qingcheng Mountain, it is common for noblewomen to come and offer incense. To ensure safety, there are hardly any bandits in the mountains, making it very secure. Otherwise, if Tong'er were to go out at night, Jiang Li would also be concerned.

After a while, when the monkey finished the food in Jiang Li's hand, Jiang Li clapped her hands at the bold little monkey, indicating that she had none left either. The monkey reluctantly gazed at the palm of Jiang Li's hand for a moment before leaving with its tail held high

Jiang Li reached out her hand again, and the monkey could no longer resist the temptation of the walnut cake. It stretched out its paw, grabbed a piece, and turned to run away, hiding behind a nearby rock to eat the cake with its back to Jiang Li. After finishing the pastry, it turned back to look at Jiang Li, who was still standing by the window with a smile, holding some crumbs of cake in her hand. The monkey's courage grew bolder, and it turned back to Jiang Li in search of more food.

There are many monkeys on Qingcheng Mountain, and they are quite mischievous on ordinary days. The monkeys here coexist well with humans, especially near the Crane Forest Temple. Due to the continuous flow of worshippers, sometimes when they see these monkeys playing on the trees, they will throw some peanuts or candies. In winter, when food is scarce, the monkeys more frequently beg for food from the worshippers. In spring and summer, when the monkeys do not lack food, they do not disturb the worshippers and instead enjoy their own play.

Upon hearing this, Tong'er not only did not feel afraid, but instead displayed an eager expression, the little girl was quite bold, and for some reason was willing to do so, rubbing her fists together and saying: "I am not afraid! I have long wanted to do this!"

Having witnessed the entire process, Tong'er asked, "Are you intending to feed the monkeys? Why use pastries for that? It would be better to use wild fruits picked from the mountains; these pastries are quite expensive, it is not cost-effective."

Tong'er followed the instructions and brought over a few pieces of walnut cake

I want these monkeys to help me with something, "Jiang Li smiled and said, "Let these pastries serve as a toll for the journey."

Jiang Li broke the walnut cake into small pieces and waved at the monkey in the tree from a distance. Perhaps the pastries from Zhang Huo Lang's shop were truly fragrant and sweet, as the aroma of the walnuts quickly attracted the little monkey with a curled tail. It jumped a few times to the window, cautiously staring at the walnut cake in Jiang Li's hand, eager to try but hesitant to approach.

Zhang Huo Lang stared blankly at Jiang Li

Very well. Jiang Li nodded, "Let it begin from tonight."

"You have bought so many pastries; if you cannot finish them, they will go bad," Zhang the merchant could not help but remind.

He has known these two young girls for several years, having heard that they are young ladies from wealthy families who have made mistakes and were sent to this temple. However, judging by their attire, it is truly hard to believe that they come from affluent households. The maid is somewhat more lively, while the young lady often loses her temper. Every time Zhang Huo Lang finishes selling his goods, he leaves in a hurry, and it is the first time he has seen Jiang Li speak to him in such a friendly manner. However, judging by their attire, it is truly hard to believe that they come from affluent households. The maid is somewhat more lively, while the young lady often loses her temper. Every time Zhang Huo Lang finishes selling his goods, he leaves in a hurry, and it is the first time he has seen Jiang Li speak to him in such a friendly manner

As Tong'er approached, she saw in the distance a peach tree, on which sat a monkey the size of a palm, happily gnawing on a fruit.

"It doesn't matter," Jiang Li said, "I can finish it."

At this point, Zhang Huo Lang said no more. The coins belonged to someone else, and Jiang Li had bought nearly half of the pastries from his load. He could return home early from the mountain, and he was too happy to worry about anything else

After listening to Jiang Li's instructions, Tong Er suddenly asked, "Miss, are you doing all this in preparation for returning to the capital?"

It is uncertain whether Master Jing'an received someone else's instructions, but Jiang Li is not allowed to leave the temple's entrance. She can only remain inside the temple each day, with every move being closely observed. In contrast, Tong'er is free to roam around, as she still needs to go to the mountains to chop firewood during the day. Having spent six years on the mountain, she is extremely familiar with the roads of Qingcheng Mountain and will not get lost.

"It's just a few pastries," Jiang Li interrupted her, "Once we return, let the small kitchen prepare them for you every day, no need to worry about these few."

However, as for the nunnery here, due to its inherent desolation, monkeys seldom come—places where food is scarce are always lacking in attractions.

"These pastries," Jiang Li said as she reached out to tap the basket, the aroma of the pastries wafting throughout the room. The master and servant could only eat thin porridge and pickles every day, and the enticing scent had long since left them ravenous. Jiang Li suppressed the hunger in her stomach and instructed, "Divide these pastries into fifteen portions, feeding these monkeys one portion each day until the nineteenth. On the nineteenth, there will be no need to feed them anymore"

Tong'er did not understand, yet still replied: "This servant will remember."

Tong Er fell silent. When it came to returning to the capital, Jiang Li was likely even more distressed than she was. Tong Er did not dare to say anything that would upset Jiang Li.

Look over there," she said, pointing into the distance for Tong'er to see

Jiang Li did not look at her; she pushed open the window. Outside the window, the continuous hills of Qingcheng Mountain were in view, with the elegant peaks rising and falling. The winter snow had long since melted, and the peach blossoms covering the mountains had dyed the usually austere peaks with a layer of pink mist, resembling a gentle and stunning beauty

Upon returning to the damp room, Tong'er placed the basket containing the pastries on the table, closed the door, and finally could not help but ask: "Miss, why did you buy so much ... ... of this?"

Although there were doubts, Zhang Huo Lang still had to hurry to the other end. He originally thought that Jiang Li was joking and would not really spend all the money on buying pastries. After all, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the lives of the master and servant here were by no means affluent. It would naturally be acceptable for an ordinary wealthy family to spend 40 strings of copper coins on pastries, but it was rather unreasonable for two children who could barely keep warm.

Tong'er still had something to say, but she saw Jiang Li turn around and walk to the table to sit down. There was only one stool in the room, which was made by Tong'er herself from a piece of wood she picked up outside. The legs of the stool were unstable. Jiang Li said: "Tong'er, starting tomorrow, you will take these pastries to feed the monkeys"

"You go and get some pastries," Jiang Li said

It is half an hour's journey from here to Helin Temple," Jiang Li said, "I am unable to leave the temple gates every day, so it must be you who goes. You leave at the hour of Hai each day, and at the hour of Zi, you will take these pastries to feed the monkeys in the woods behind Helin Temple, continuing to do so until the 19th. On the evening of the 19th, you will no longer need to go.

How can one take care of monkeys when people are struggling to have enough to eat? What is the reasoning behind this?

However, Tong'er, although she did not understand Jiang Li's words, had probably never disobeyed Jiang Li's orders. She could only suppress her anxiety and, when she returned holding a large drawer full of pastries, she attracted the attention of passing gray-robed nuns who glanced at her from time to time. Tong'er, fearing that they might come to snatch them away, held the pastries even tighter.

In this manner of speaking, with a gentle and soft demeanor, she truly resembles a refined young lady from a prominent family; however, to suggest that she is the daughter of the Prime Minister's household seems rather exaggerated