Chapter 24: Spending Five Hundred Thousand on a Memorial Tablet, Infuriating Lin Qianqian

"Hello, little monk. I want to order this shrine for a memorial tablet. May I ask how to purchase it?"

The novice monk standing nearby had only been entertaining ordinary visitors for his master, but he didn't expect this female donor to be so generous—the price for a shrine spot in the Hall of the Afterlife is not low.

He immediately scratched his bald head and enthusiastically said to Lin Meng:

"Please wait, female donor. I can't decide on my own—I'll go fetch my master and the temple overseer."

While waiting, Lin Meng wandered around casually.

Ling Qing Si truly lives up to being one of the top temples of the Pure Land Sect; that Mahavira Hall is magnificent like a palace, solemn and imbued with a transcendent Buddhist spirit.

As she was wandering near a small door in a side hall, seeing a crowd gathered inside, Lin Meng thought for a moment and then went in.

This appears to be a small courtyard opened beside Ling Qing Si; no wonder there are so many people, mostly young—it turns out to be the Old Man Under the Moon Hall.

Lin Meng wasn't interested in seeking love; if the Old Man Under the Moon could really tie the red thread and arrange matches, why would there be more and more singles in the world?

She was about to turn and leave, but out of the corner of her eye she saw a familiar figure beneath the Old Man's tree—it was Lin Qianqian.

Lin Qianqian had just made a wish for herself, tying the red string to the tree, and her heart felt a bit more settled.

With an arranged childhood marriage set by the elders, and the Old Man Under the Moon helping her out, marrying into the Ye Family should go smoothly, right?

Thinking this, Lin Qianqian turned her head and saw Lin Meng; her face darkened instantly, and her heart gave a little jump, then another.

How could she be here? Could she be following me?

Lin Qianqian worried that nothing must go wrong with the Ye Family affair; her anxiety grew, and she hurried over to Lin Meng.

"How are you here?"

Lin Meng shrugged.

"What a coincidence, older cousin! I'm just traveling—Ling Qing Si is famous, I came to pray for more wealth."

Upon hearing that, Lin Qianqian's tense feeling eased by half.

It seems the pressure of over three million in debt is too great, driving Lin Meng to think of praying to Buddha.

As long as she's not here to ruin things for me.

"Oh, so you're traveling—I actually admire you for still having the mood to play despite owing millions. I advise you to focus on making money in earnest; being a deadbeat won't do, you're still young and have a long life ahead."

Lin Qianqian adopted an air of superiority and began pointing at Lin Meng.

Lin Meng smirked coldly inside, but said:

"Older cousin, you're right—one should indeed be down-to-earth and not have unrealistic fantasies."

"What are you doing in Jing Shi, older cousin? You said last time you could get residency—was that true? Also, could you bring me along?"

Lin Qianqian exploded upon hearing that.

"No way! What are you thinking, Lin Meng? We're not close!"

Lin Qianqian was about to leave after saying that, but then she worried Lin Meng might be secretly watching her, so she spoke up again, uneasy and impatient:

"Well then, since you're here, go enjoy the famous sights and don't waste money on places like this. I have a museum ticket that's hard to get—I'll give it to you."

Lin Qianqian reluctantly produced the museum ticket and handed it to Lin Meng.

Lin Meng naturally knew she wasn't being kind; after taking a look, she understood.

The museum is very far from the Ye Family Villa—three districts away—and the ticket is for tomorrow.

Lin Qianqian plans to visit the Ye Family tomorrow, probably hoping to settle the marriage on the spot—so this is likely a deliberate ploy to get rid of her, right?

Lin Meng smiled, slipped the ticket into her bag, and said bluntly:

"Then I won't be polite—I have things to do, I'm leaving first."

Lin Meng left humming a little tune, while Lin Qianqian stared at her back, her teeth itching with hatred.

That museum ticket was only obtained through her connections; after this exhibition, the museum will close for half a year.

She had originally planned to go to the Ye Family tomorrow, and if things went smoothly, stay for lunch, then invite the Ye Family gentleman she's engaged to to go to the exhibition together.

One ticket for two people, and it cost her two months of pocket money!

It's all because she was just in a hurry, only thinking of getting rid of Lin Meng like a piece of plaster, handing over the ticket without a second thought—now she regrets it a little.

Lin Meng pulled out her phone to check the exhibition announcement and discovered that this exhibition would also feature a special auction.

Moreover, it's an inner-field VIP seat ticket, and one ticket costs over six thousand.

"Tsk tsk, Lin Qianqian really went all out—I feel like she's losing out."

Back at the Hall of the Afterlife, the novice monk was rubbing his bald head, searching everywhere for her.

"Miss Donor, I've found you—my master and the monastery superintendent have arrived. Do you still want to set up the memorial tablet?"

Lin Meng laughed, ruffling the little monk's head, and saw in her peripheral vision that the two elderly monks were already waiting.

"Thank you, little monk."

After consulting with the monastery superintendent, Lin Meng finally confirmed the procedure for offering the memorial tablet; after paying the fee shortly, the temple will arrange it immediately.

Around this time, several onlookers overheard that someone else had ordered a memorial tablet and began whispering.

"I don't know which wealthy family would spend five hundred thousand on a memorial tablet for a dead person here."

"Keep it down—don't offend the Buddha. The wealthy believe in these things; five hundred thousand is just pocket change for them. Don't let poverty limit you."

"At the end of the day, it's just not having money—if I were rich, I'd also be willing to spend that."

Lin Qianqian happened to walk nearby, overheard the discussion, and tiptoed to see what a truly wealthy person looks like.

Although their family is considered the richest in Lin Jia Cun, they're really just a small household workshop.

Five hundred thousand could buy the family many luxuries to envy—there's no way they'd spend it on something like this.

Back when the village raised funds to repair the ancestral hall, their father wouldn't spare extra money—otherwise the best spirit tablet in the hall would have been theirs.

At this moment, Lin Qianqian especially envied the person who bought the memorial tablet.

She felt that only someone willing to spend this kind of money could truly be considered wealthy.

However, she only felt that envy for a moment before she became pleased with herself.

If all goes well, she'll become the prospective daughter-in-law of a top-tier wealthy family tomorrow.

Once she becomes the wealthy family's wife, she will come here with great fanfare to select a spirit position, fixing all the memorial tablet spots here.

She also needs to return to the village to give the ancestral hall major repairs.

She wants everyone in the village to know that she, Lin Qianqian, has married into a wealthy family, and from now on will enjoy endless wealth and honor!

While peeking around, Lin Qianqian seemed to see a familiar figure.

Upon closer look, she discovered that Lin Meng was actually inside the memorial hall, and two elderly men dressed as monks were saying something to her.

Lin Qianqian frowned, squeezed through the crowd and barged in; before she could understand the situation, she heard the high-ranking old monk say to Lin Meng:

"Lady Lin, we have already received the money; we will immediately go down to make preparations, and we only need to wait an hour."

The novice monk and his master stayed behind to continue receiving Lin Meng, while Lin Qianqian's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What? You mean she spent five hundred thousand to buy a memorial tablet spot?"

How could that be possible!