Chapter 188: We Were Never Meant to Match

In fact, Qiao Mai had long prepared Little Ponies for the children, raising them in a space; after a long period of Spiritual Energy nourishment, the horses, which already possessed spirit, were very obedient and well‑behaved when they emerged under Qiao Mai, the space owner's command.

Even if firecracker sounds arise, they do not panic, which is why Qiao Mai feels so at ease letting the children ride on their backs.

The next day, the whole family set out together, each person slinging a Cloth bag across their body.

The Cloth bag is truly convenient; the old lady and the old gentleman especially like it.

The weather was clear and the sun bright, yet it didn't feel hot at all.

Each child rode a little horse; Ling'er and Qiao Mai sat on Dongzao's back, and even the gentle‑looking, scholarly Yuan Jiaqi rode a black big horse.

They and Qiao Mai rode side by side, while the old gentleman and old lady watched them from the window.

"These two seem quite well‑matched,"

"Yuan Jiaqi can't match my Mai Mai,"

"Yo, you've already started calling her Mai Mai, yet you still treat her like a child?"

"There's chili inside; after eating, drink a pot of Green Tea to clear the heat."

Except for the old lady, everyone was stunned; the dish was so plain vegetarian that not a drop of oil could be seen.

Qiao Mai gave him a glance, wondering what she was doing; even if she saw through herself, it mattered little—she simply didn't care and wasn't afraid at all.

She took a bite; it was tasteless, not even worth a pinch of salt.

When Qiao Mai glanced around, she recognized them as local petty thugs, small rascals who did nothing all day but eye others' pouches and money bags, scheming for unearned gain.

Thus no one dared to provoke them, and along the way they encountered many men on the roadside giving them lecherous looks.

"This is the Universal Sauce prepared by our young lady,"

She took an empty bowl, in front of everyone, poured a little from a small bottle she fetched from her bag, and shortly produced the Universal Seasoning Sauce.

The Abbot left first, and when the Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Fangzhang)))) departed he glanced back at Qiao Mai.

Seeing people moving in the courtyard, he couldn't help but ask.

The old lady must have been a regular here; when she arrived, the Abbot and the Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Fangzhang)))) both came out to greet her.

One room housed the guards, another held Yuan Jiaqi and three boys, and a third room contained Qiao Mai, Ling'er, Yuehong and Yuexia.

Everyone got off the carriage and followed the old lady up the mountain.

The old gentleman sighed softly, "She works hard, turning from a woman who only made money into someone who reads, practices martial arts, and, for this family, is desperately putting in Effort to learn everything."

"I don't get that either—can we eat spicy food here?"

By paying the Horse Head Toll, once you hand over the silver, they will look after the carriage, feed the horses, and take care of everything meticulously.

The old lady tasted it, her eyes brightening, "Delicious."

The young monk scratched his head, "Excuse me, is there any more of this sauce?"

"I went to Xiangtang Temple this time to show them their marriage fate and to pray for Ru'er and the children's safety."

In one breath they reached the foot of Xiangtang Temple, past lunchtime; the old lady, sincere in her Buddhist offering, stopped the carriage in the Horse Parking Lot at the mountain's base.

"It works, as long as it's vegetarian and the oil isn't too much."

This was Qiao Mai's warning to them: anyone who dares to target her family's affairs meets a death sentence.

Their whole family's outing attracted many eyes; just by looking at each person's attire and the accompanying guards, one could tell they were no ordinary lot.

She trusts only herself, so regarding Buddhism she respects it but does not worship it, because she always believes in herself.

"Naturally he's unwilling; what would he do? Ever since joining the Qiao Family, he's been spending money, still spending on studies, leaving my granddaughter to be busy alone."

"Benefactors, after a tiring journey by carriage and horse, Old Monk has arranged Vegetarian Meal; please, after you eat, rest well, observe the Three-Day Fast, take a Bath and Change of Clothes, and then you may meet the Buddha."

After the formalities, the Abbot and the Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Fangzhang)))) led them to the Guest Rooms at the back.

"We were never meant to match; my Mai Mai is the finest woman in the world."

The bad guys who had intended to tail the carriage and horses immediately backed out, only able to watch the procession with a sigh.

Seeing them stare at the family members' waist Pouches, her eyes flashed with murderous intent,

"It depends on whose eyes you look through; they say a lover sees a beauty like Xi Shi, and in my eyes you're the best, but in others' eyes, Qiao Niang is just a married woman."

Even the sincere old lady stared at Qiao Mai, her face grim, and asked.

Qiao Mai and the others stood behind the old lady, while the Abbot's and the Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Abbot (Fangzhang))))'s gazes passed through the matriarch to look at her.

"If you dare harm my granddaughter, I'll kill him!"

The old lady's group—men in one room, women in another—were all in a Pit, enough to accommodate many sleepers at once.

"Who knows, maybe Mai Mai will fancy another man later; this is unpredictable, so let's not waste time worrying here—fate's matters are beyond anyone's clear explanation."

Everyone hurriedly grabbed the dishes, dipping them in the sauce; some even used mantou to dip, and each ate with great relish.

"He also wants to help her, but your granddaughter won't allow it; let him study properly. You needn't worry—Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl will have future blessings. I have high hopes for that boy; he's interested in her, only your granddaughter is still testing him."

Then he portioned it out, saying, "Dip the dishes in this; everything is vegetarian, and the oil is Soybean Oil."

It smells so good—not a meat aroma; how to describe it, it truly makes them itch and ache.

The old lady gave him a coquettish glare, yet she found the remark very useful.

"What, even listening to you you still don't want to?"

"You, just fiddling with idle thoughts."

It was only for that brief moment, yet Qiao Mai captured it.

Finally, at night she could sleep with her mother; Ling'er happily hopped on the kang.

Xiangtang Temple isn't famous in the Ming Emperor's realm, but it has a modest reputation in Weicheng.

"Servant Girl, you're blamed for the food being too good; I, an old man, can no longer eat such light dishes—could you think of a solution?"

Qiao Mai burst into a chuckle, admitting that not being able to eat the light dishes was indeed her fault.

"Thank you, Great Master."

The entire courtyard was allocated to the Qiao Family, making arrangements easy; here there's no need to separate Main Family servants.

Alright then, you wait.

May I ask, Benefactor, what did you just eat, and why does it smell so good?

The old gentleman glanced at Yuan Jiaqi's furtive look at Qiao Mai and curled his lip, "Sigh, this kid, when faced with such a formidable woman, is afraid he can't match her."

After finishing the Meal, everyone went off to their own business; when the young monks came to collect the bowls and chopsticks, they sniffed vigorously.

It didn't take long before the Meal was brought up.

In my eyes, the granddaughter is just a child; think about it, she's not even twenty yet.

They didn't stop at all along the way; no one wanted to dawdle on the road.

"Universal Sauce?"

"Yuan Jiaqi, that kid from the Yuan Family, accumulated virtue in his past life; this life, although his relationship with Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl is a sham, they are still husband and wife, and are most likely to become a real couple."

Some people, upon inadvertently catching her gaze, were so frightened they wet their pants on the spot, their legs going limp.

Uh, rest assured, it's definitely vegetarian.

Three boys, each riding a pony, happily trotted behind the carriage, and Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi occasionally looked back.

Although she is an atheist, this transmigration made her believe in the existence of gods, especially since she is also a Cultivator.

"Hehe, that's it, it was delicious, we all finished eating our share, and the Masters are resting now, so we shouldn't disturb them."

"Oh, then sorry for the disturbance!"

The young monks left, and no one asked again later; monastics care a lot about food, drink, and cultivation, they were just asking, never intending to have to taste or eat anything in particular.

During these three days of Vegetarian Diet, Qiao Mai took the children to admire the scenery inside the temple.

(End of chapter)