Chapter 1777: The Heart Is Not Calm, Monk!

Su Su Dacheng had persuaded Su Qi Laoda, but only Su Su Pozi remained unwilling to give up and still wanted to cause trouble.

She raised nothing else, only filial piety. Filial piety was the only effective weapon old people had to manipulate their children.

"I am his mother and Xuewen's grandmother. Is it wrong for me to worry about my grandson's marriage? The second daughter-in-law is simply unfilial; do you really want to bring an unfilial woman into the family for Xuewen?"

"If the second couple disagrees and Xuewen is unwilling, it is a fault even if it isn't one. If you want to ruin Xuewen and Xuewu's futures, go ahead and accuse the second couple of unfilial conduct. Do you really think your husband's niece's granddaughter is a good match? Is she worthy of Xuewen? With his uncle, Xuewen could marry a young lady from an official family. Seeing that the Su family is about to rise in Xuewen's generation, you don't help at all; instead, you insist on dragging us down."

Su Su Dacheng was furious. Teaching his wife behind his son's back, he should at least save face for his old wife.

Su Su Pozi wailed to heaven and earth, "Why is my fate so bitter? Who am I doing this for if not for this family?"

Su Su Dacheng sighed; he was worried too.

Seeing the second family's life getting better and better, already surpassing the first family, he felt anxious in his heart.

But he did not lose his reason just because he was anxious.

He spoke earnestly, "Enough, say less. The first brother has no ability, cannot make a fortune, and does not have a capable brother-in-law like Chen Chen Guanlou; that is his fate, and he must accept it! He cannot, because his own fate is bad, try to seize the second branch's fortune."

"The two brothers already have a poor relationship. If you do not want to see the first and second brothers turn into enemies and cut off all contact forever, then do not do unnecessary things and do not interfere in the affairs of the first and second households. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

"If you truly want what is best for the first brother, let the eldest grandson interact more with the two brothers, Xuewen and Xuewu. Once brotherly affection is good, whenever something happens in the future, they will lend a helping hand. Affection is built through interaction."

Su Su Pozi wiped away her tears. "The second one was never a good thing since childhood, especially after marrying a wife; he is even worse. He was just lucky to meet a capable younger brother-in-law. If I had known, I should have betrothed Chen Chen Xiaolan to the first brother back then. The Hou Fu connection would have belonged to the first brother. The first one would have..."

"Shut up! How can such words be spoken recklessly? Are you afraid this family isn't chaotic enough?"

Su Su Pozi was left speechless and realized she had said what she should not have. If this got out, the two Su brothers would truly turn into enemies. As the saying goes, a brother's wife is not to be trifled with! Su Su Pozi leading the trifling was purely adding fuel to the fire.

She hung her old face low. "So, is this it?"

"What else! In a few days, once Xuewen's marriage is settled, let Xuewen help find a post in the county yamen for his elder brother. It would be better than serving at the city gate guard."

"Will Xuewen agree?"

"Xuewen's relationship with his elder brother is not bad. In daily life, remind the eldest grandson more often to interact with Xuewen and Xuewu."

"Does Xuewen have this ability?"

"Xuewen may not have this ability, but Chen Chen Guanlou does. In any case, remember what I say: do not push the second branch away. Be a bit kinder to the second one in the future, and do not scold or beat him every time you meet."

Su Su Pozi snorted coldly, very disdainful. Su Laoer was her son; she could beat him whenever she wanted and scold him whenever she wanted.

The Su family withdrew and stopped coveting Xuewen's marriage, so Chen Guanlou took the opportunity to show leniency and let Su Qi and his family go.

He reminded Chen Chen Xiaolan, "If there is any sign of trouble at the Su ancestral house, if you cannot solve it, tell me in time. Do not stubbornly endure!"

Chen Chen Xiaolan agreed; she also felt a wave of fear.

"Just thinking that Xuewen almost married the old woman's husband's niece's granddaughter made me have nightmares for several nights in a row and eat poorly. It is truly harmful to people."

Chen Chen Guanlou laughed. "Sister, relax. Regarding Xuewen's marriage, if you do not nod, no one else can do anything."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen Xiaolan felt a great weight lifted.

She was truly afraid of Xuewen bringing back a hateful daughter-in-law.

On this day, Chen Chen Guanlou changed into a silk green gown, dressed somewhat low-key, and held a folding fan as he went to Daxiang Temple.

Since Monk Liaochen passed away, Daxiang Temple seemed to have declined. With the rise of Baoguo Temple, Daxiang Temple's fame gradually faded. There were still worshippers climbing the mountain, but far fewer than in its peak period.

Since he had come to the temple, Chen Chen Guanlou, as usual, bowed to the Bodhisattva and added five taels of silver as incense money.

He asked the guest monk, "Is Master Jingnan in the temple?"

"Amitabha. Master Jingnan, our junior uncle-grandfather, has been in the temple these past few days."

"Could you help introduce me? You can tell him that Chen Chen Guanlou from Jingcheng is visiting."

The guest monk had intended to refuse, but upon hearing his famous name, he hesitated for a moment and finally chose to report it.

Seeing this, Chen Chen Guanlou smiled smugly. He did not expect his famous name to have already reached the ears of monks and Taoists; it was indeed something to celebrate.

Not long after, the guest monk returned. "Benefactor, please come this way!"

"Trouble you, Master, to lead the way ahead."

"Benefactor is too polite."

Jingnan lived in a meditation room in the back mountain, which was piled high with various sutras and classics, leaving almost no room to step.

Chen Chen Guanlou raised his eyebrows slightly. He had thought Jingnan was a fame-seeker, but he did not expect Jingnan to actually have real substance. He had judged by appearance and formed a preconceived notion.

"Amitabha. Let the benefactor laugh at me." With so many sutras and classics piled around Jingnan, he found it difficult to rise, so he could only offer an apologetic smile.

"Monk, no need to be so polite." Chen Chen Guanlou smiled and stepped into the meditation room. "The monk studies sutras, so I assume you have achieved something. Have you perhaps obtained the true scriptures?"

"The Buddha Dharma is profound. This poor monk has only just glimpsed its pathways and cannot bear the title of 'true scriptures'."

"The monk is being modest. Perhaps the monk Jue Neng next door at Baoguo Temple is not as good as you."

"That statement is an exaggeration. Master Jueneng and the Pure Yang True Man publicly debated sutras in the past. This poor monk has seen the records compiled by others. Master Jueneng is full of talent, and his research into the Buddha Dharma is so profound that this poor monk is far inferior."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen Guanlou chuckled lightly. "Monk, you are very boring. If your Daxiang Temple wants to replace Baoguo Temple and become the number one temple in Jingcheng, or even the number one temple under heaven, then do not be modest. You must become arrogant; the more arrogant, the better, and then slap faces hard! Only arrogance can build enough fame in the shortest time. Monk, do you want fame?"

His expression was half-smiling, like a devil tempting a good person into evil.

Jingnan remained unmoved. "Amitabha. Fame and profit are all illusions! Benefactor, do not speak further."

"You are moved, Monk! Let your master, Master Liaowu, step forward to ensure your wishes come true. The palace is eager to seek out grandmasters. Why not replace Jue Neng and let Master Liaowu serve as a royal patron? Once this is accomplished, Daxiang Temple's fame will surely resound throughout the world again, instantly clearing the impact of Master Liaochen's parinirvana."

"Amitabha! Monks do not speak falsehoods. This poor monk is not moved; the benefactor has misunderstood."

"Was it truly I who misunderstood?" Chen Chen Guanlou wore a gentle smile on his face, while his heart was full of various poisonous thoughts; he only wanted to drag Daxiang Temple into the mire.

He did not believe Jingnan had no desires!

If there were no desires, why was his forehead covered in sweat?

The heart is not calm! Monk!