Chapter 39

Holy Monk 5 (he is a holy monk, not an obstetrician).

It was an ordinary day; Stone Orchid Temple, as usual, received incense‑offering visitors at daybreak, who also took the chance to look around the scenery.

Everyone around Wutong County knows that the master of Stone Orchid Temple is skilled at cultivating flowers; the once barren mountains are now covered with blossoms, not only orchids but also many flowers said to be unable to survive here, which makes the people of Wutong County love to come—not to worship, but to enjoy the flowers and scenery.

Many people treat Stone Orchid Temple as a spot for outings and spring excursions.

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A young married woman, dressed lavishly but looking haggard, stepped down from the carriage, gazed at the winding mountain path, and sighed deeply: "The master who can defeat the Great White Snake—his temple should be more efficacious, right?"

The accompanying wet nurse silently wiped away tears and comforted, "Young lady, your devotion is sincere; the Bodhisattva will surely grant your wish."

The young woman traveled from the capital city, extremely devout, walking up from the foot of the mountain, hoping the Child‑Bestowing Guanyin would see her sincerity.

Jiang He stood before the temple; seeing this woman, he knew her family must be wealthy and influential, and she came from the capital. Whether his reputation could spread farther now depended on how this case turned out.

The young woman arrived anxiously, and upon seeing the master standing at the temple entrance to greet guests, she was stunned by his handsome looks; even the wet nurse thought she was dazzled by flowers.

The breathtaking scenery covering the mountains could not compare to a single face of the young master.

He stood there like a fresh breeze among the mountains, a clear spring among the pines, perfectly harmonious with nature yet still compassionate toward the world.

However, the young married woman soon could no longer focus on the master's appearance; under his compassionate gaze, her heart collapsed at once, and she poured out her inner suffering.

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"Wuwu… everyone says I'm unkind, jealous, but who knows the suffering in my heart? All these concubines fill the courtyard, yet none can bear children; they're a bunch of lowly women, even framing the matriarch with poison…," the young woman sobbed and cursed, "The mother‑in‑law's eyes are sharp and her tongue sharp; her gaze cuts like a knife—who would dare cause trouble under her watch?"

"I only hope the Bodhisattva blesses me with a son and a daughter, so I can answer my husband's family…"

Jiang He patiently waited for the young woman to finish crying, then asked her to extend her hand, and took her pulse through the veil.

The young woman, puzzled, asked, "Master, isn't this supposed to be a prayer to the Bodhisattva first?" Even a monk can't bless her pregnancy, can he?

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Madam, you should stop praying for a child; you're on the verge of miscarriage! By the way, she just climbed all the way here out of devotion, right?

One doesn't even need to think: if this lady comes to the temple to pray for a child and then miscarries, and the story spreads, all the reputation he's worked hard to build will be lost.

Jiang He, acting decisively, produced a silver needle and smiled like an obstetrician, "Madam, don't speak for now; let's first stabilize the pregnancy!"

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The incense‑offering worshippers nearby, hearing this, immediately gathered to watch the commotion.

Their eyes sparkled, "Oh my, she just arrived and is already pregnant; the Child‑Bestowing Guanyin in this temple must be incredibly swift!"

If Jiang He heard their thoughts, he would be full of questions—how did they reach that conclusion?

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She came with a worried frown and left with a smiling face.

Holding the wet nurse's hand, the young married woman, with her still‑unobvious belly, walked home joyfully.

Stone Orchid Temple is truly miraculous; she just arrived and can already carry a child back!

And that master, who looks like an immortal, is astonishing; after drinking his pregnancy‑stabilizing medicine, she feels her body is now strong enough to battle the shameless little brats in the courtyard for three hundred rounds!

The wet nurse supported her, her voice full of joy, "Madam, our most important task now is to stabilize the pregnancy; please don't get angry with the little brats in the courtyard."

The lady of that household leads a miserable life: the mother‑in‑law is unkind, the concubines are aggravating, the husband's backside is still biased, truly a life steeped in bitterness.

Now that the young woman has a child, everything is settled: "Don't worry, I know what's important."

Do you really think she's devoted to that deadbeat husband? She only wanted a son and a daughter; now she has a child, she can't be bothered with which little imp he brings to the bed to loaf around.

A man's child, not being of his own blood, matters little; she now relies on the child in her womb for the rest of her life.

The woman who almost miscarried is the young lady of the magistrate's household; after returning home she remained uneasy and sent for the magistrate's physician.

The magistrate's physician, after examining her, was somewhat astonished; the fetus was now so stable with no sign of miscarriage, and he couldn't help but proclaim that the one who prescribed the medicine must be a divine doctor, for the formula benefits both the fetus and the mother.

After receiving the physician's affirmation, the magistrate's young lady felt immense gratitude toward Master Xuanji; once her pregnancy steadied, she would have the wet nurse offer incense at Stone Orchid Temple, sparing no money for incense oil.

Following the master's medical advice, the young lady ate, used medicines, and still remembered to train; her body became vigorous and healthy, and after the child in her womb reached three months, she could finally speak of the matter.

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She is vengeful; many once said she couldn't bear children, and now she'll show them her pregnant belly!

The magistrate's wife also wore a smile; she didn't mind the daughter‑in‑law's triumph—both are women of noble families, they understand the proper reasoning.

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Moreover, the daughter‑in‑law's natal family is prestigious; only a legitimate son can reap the benefits. For the sake of the clan, this mother‑in‑law must eventually yield to the daughter‑in‑law.

At the banquet, the magistrate's eldest young lady promoted Stone Orchid Temple everywhere, lavishly praising Master Xuanji. "I consulted several physicians; they all said I was weak and unlikely to conceive, and even if I did, I couldn't keep the child," the young lady wiped at the corner of her eyes—though no tears fell—"When I climbed the mountain, I felt my abdomen was a bit uncomfortable… Master Xuanji is truly miraculous, surely using immortal techniques; he took out a silver needle and gave me a few punctures, and my stomach pain vanished instantly. After drinking the medicine he prescribed, I walked as if flying, my whole body brimming with strength…"

Among the guests were others with the same worries; they listened to the magistrate's young lady's words and extracted the key information.

Whether the master possesses magical arts is another matter, but his medical skill is unquestionably superb.

They had also seen the former eldest young lady; her complexion was wax‑yellow, like a wilted flower, but now she seemed like a dead tree reborn in spring, her skin smooth and delicate, even her husband, who favored a concubine, couldn't help staring at her for a long time.

So now she has both a child and her husband's favor?

Thanks to the magistrate's young lady's promotion, Stone Orchid Temple became thoroughly famous; incense offerings surged so much the temple could no longer accommodate them, and Jiang He was the only monk there, truly swamped.

Yú, the wealthy gentleman who hadn't visited for days, saw the stream of incense‑offering pilgrims on the mountain road and was amazed.

"With so many people, can Stone Orchid Temple even hold them?"

Yú stroked his beard, recalling that the master once lived alone and the space was ample; now it seemed insufficient, perhaps they should expand the temple? After all, the mountaintop is large enough, and if still not, he could purchase the neighboring hill and give it to the master. His family's snake ancestors often visit the master for play; the mountain is too small—what if the snake ancestors feel uncomfortable staying there?

Yú turned and ordered, "Steward, tomorrow go to the yamen and purchase the mountains surrounding Stone Orchid Temple."

The steward, upon hearing this, instantly understood his master's intention and nodded, "Sir, tomorrow I'll head to the yamen first thing! But we must hurry up the mountain to help now; with so many people, the master alone can't attend to them all."

Yú promptly summoned a young servant to go assist.

The master is truly overworked, having to receive countless people daily. Perhaps they should suggest to the master to keep a few young attendants to serve him?

The steward, hearing this, couldn't help but be exasperated.

"Sir, the master is a recluse; he certainly wouldn't want servants." He whispered, "Let's just say these young servants want to experience the baptism of Buddhism; then it's natural to let them stay and work in the temple, and the master won't have the heart to drive them away."

Yu Yuanwai gave the steward an approving look, then consciously stood at the mountain gate to greet the worshippers.

He was a notable figure in Wutong County, his son held a high post in the capital; passing paupers might not recognize him, but they could always tell by the fine quality of his clothes, the jade hairpin on his head, the thumb ring on his hand, and the boots embroidered with gold thread—none of which ordinary people could wear—and most people treated him with respect.

And those of good background could instantly recognize him as the wealthiest and most powerful Yu Yuanwai of Wutong County; they wouldn't dare, relying on their numbers, to cut in line and squeeze the poor to the side.

The Yu family's business was vast; at year‑end promotions, when crowds filled the shop scrambling to buy, he—very experienced—would take bamboo sticks, write queue numbers on them, and have people lead a group of waiting worshippers to the temple's rear mountain to enjoy the scenery; when the time was about right, he'd have them called into the temple, then bring the next batch of waiters to the rear mountain for tea and waiting.

With Yu Yuanwai's arrangement, the worshippers' complaints vanished.

Some still had the mind to admire the flowers blanketing the hills, and then they all praised the master's horticultural skill—without even mentioning praying to the Buddha, just for these flowers they felt their trip wasn't wasted.

The busy Jiang He glanced at Yu Yuanwai and felt quite satisfied.

He also thought that if things remained this chaotic, he'd let the great white snake come out to greet the worshippers; surely everyone would then observe order and know what queuing means.

In this world, beings suffer a hundred ills, and with no remedy in sight, they can only pray to gods and buddhas to console their spirits.

Lately, however, the worshippers coming to Stone Orchid Temple have been odd—all are child‑laden women from the rear courtyards who have endured much hardship, leaving Jiang He baffled.

Other worshippers who had come by reputation were equally puzzled: why does Stone Orchid Temple especially appeal to women? Could it be that the Child‑Giving Goddess here is particularly efficacious?

On the mountain path leading to the summit, a crowd of young women pressed shoulder to shoulder, each holding back their tempers.

"It's infuriating! If it weren't for not wanting to be rude before the Bodhisattva, that blocking little wretch would surely have shoved them right down the mountain—hey, big sister, why are you shoving? Quick, push them off the path!"

Hearing that Stone Orchid Temple had an unusually large number of worshippers, Shitou, in his spare time, deliberately came over to help.

Standing at the mountain's base, Shitou, who had never seen such a lively scene in his life, couldn't help but gape—"Wow, that's amazing! With so many people, the temple is more crowded than a Lantern Festival night market!"

"Tsk, even turning around is hard—Shitou couldn't think of any place under heaven where the incense burns more fiercely than this temple."

In the side hall, a woman sat at a table.

"Master, I've been married three years and still haven't conceived…"

Jiang He skillfully produced a silver needle: "Your constitution is too cold; come for acupuncture every three days, and you'll see results after ten sessions."

The woman's face lit up with joy, and she left thanking him profusely.

Next came a woman in plain clothing.

"Master, I've been married ten years and have only borne daughters…" she said, her face showing sorrow, "I've already given birth to five girls, and my husband says he will divorce me."

The surrounding women looked sympathetically at the plain‑clothed woman, feeling pity in their hearts.

But such matters are all too common; having seen them often, even if they felt sympathy, they could do little to help.

Jiang He pressed his palms together and said, "Lady benefactor, this isn't your fault; your husband's family is unkind."

Wang Li reflected that, over more than ten years of marriage, the couple had remained fairly affectionate; her husband had endured his parents' blame and refused to take a concubine, so she softened and attentively cared for him alongside their daughters.

She now finally understood that good and evil are eventually repaid—the Wang family's retribution has arrived!

Wang Dalang finally woke up, and upon waking he shouted that he wanted to go to Stone Orchid Temple.

He sat there dazedly, as if someone had given him the family property to provide a livelihood for his children, yet he went and sold it just to make another profit.

Jiang He gazed thoughtfully at the bouncing ball above, and thought, "The system is really idle—either it's forever hanging out on forums, or it's shouting at him to spend money; truly enviable."

Although patients, after seeing him, still go to worship the Bodhisattva, and the consultation fees—incense money—are not small, he is not the Child‑Giving Guanyin.

Those with the same worries then pondered whether to put the blame for not bearing a son on their husbands' heads.

The grandson blinked his big eyes, indicating he wasn't afraid.

Wang Dalang gripped the knife in his hand tight, his face fierce, yet his heart felt somewhat at a loss.

Jiang He received the equally exhausted Yu Yuanwai and his party, letting them stay; though the lodgings were few, squeezing in would do—after all, they were all grown men, so no need to mind the details.

Old Lady Wang covered her face, unable to bear the contemptuous looks of her son and daughter‑in‑law; she had felt guilty these years, yet whenever she saw the shop and the big house at home, she thought the boy had done right to sell it.

"Having the Snake Immortal in our village lets us sleep soundly at night," a middle‑aged man laughed, "bandits, ruffians, and thieves would never dare to come."

Upon seeing the arrivals, the white snake raised half its body and hissed, spitting out its tongue.

"Wait a moment!"

This world has spiritual energy, and naturally there is karmic retribution.

She had borne five daughters in a row; in this household she couldn't even lift her head, being scolded day and night by her husband's family, and even though she worked harder than a donkey, she never got a pleasant look from them.

Upon hearing this, Wang Li's natal family came straight to the door.

Nowadays, even though their tofu shop is open, no one buys tofu, and every day a crowd gathers around their home—just to watch the spectacle and throw out cold remarks.

That day, many women went up the mountain, and not a few of the wealthy and powerful were among them; quite a few were simply there to gossip, sending their servants to inquire.

He who tied the bell must untie it.

"You two‑legged beasts who don't entertain guests at night—hurry back!"

The woman who had given birth to five daughters in a row belonged to a husband's family surnamed Wang; they had moved here twenty years ago and made their living selling tofu.

The Wang family's several daughters shrank back, frightened out of their wits.

He came to be a holy monk, not a gynecologist.

"The Yu Yuanwai family has enjoyed smooth sailing for nearly a century, rising from illiterate farm children to great wealth—all thanks to the Snake Immortal's blessing." The elderly lady said kindly to her grandson, "The Snake Immortal is a good snake."

"Your husband's family caused harm twenty years ago; go back and ask them about it."

Now even Old Lady Wang couldn't lie still; the whole family gathered around Wang Dalang, turning him this way and that.

The villagers, unfazed, patted the startled child and said, "Be good, don't be afraid—surely a thief went up the mountain and was frightened by the Snake Immortal."

After returning from Stone Orchid Temple, Wang Li summoned her courage and stood before her parents‑in‑law.

Grinding tofu was indeed hard work, but the tofu shop was purchased by the Wang family; later they earned silver, bought a house, and lived better than most folks in the county.

The children's parents were deeply grateful; on the spot they knelt before the Snake Immortal, and later, following Yu Yuanwai's example, they offered two chickens as a thank‑you gift.

Even those with a little wealth all want a son to inherit the business—how much more so for the Wang family, which boasts of being quite affluent.

As the prospect of wife and children scattering loomed, Wang Dalang finally stopped avoiding the issue.

Old Man Wang and his wife dared not speak, nor did they dare to obstruct; their son had fallen ill for several days, and they felt tormented inside, fearing this was retribution.

Jiang He rolled his eyes; he wanted to be a saintly monk praised by all, including the common folk who most need help, and did not wish to serve the powerful.

Yet this time, the submissive daughter‑in‑law ignored her and did not attend to her at the bedside.

Since Master Xuanji saw the cause at a glance, he should give them a consequence.

The villagers were initially fearful, but recalling that the Snake Immortal helped them build roads and find lost children, they naturally stopped being scared.

When night fell, all the worshippers who had come to incense today left.

Wang Dalang kept his head down working, daring not to scold his parents, nor to look at his wife's resentful eyes, and dared not go out.

Everyone suddenly realized that when Old Wang arrived in Wutong County, he only brought his wife and son, so he must have abandoned the neighbor's child halfway.

Over the past ten years, how great a crime had befallen his own daughter? Because having no son made her unable to lift her head; even the Li family's daughters lost their prospects, and people feared that Li's daughters, like the Wang‑Li clan, would marry out and only bear daughters.

He now has no way out!

The crowded women around stopped jostling and began to eat up the gossip.

A wailing cry rang through the mountains, reaching not only the summit but also the village below.

Points cannot be spent; a free helper, however, is possible.

The woman was shocked, pale, and left in a dazed state. The other women were also full of astonishment, staring intensely at the master sitting there; they were gossip‑eaters waiting for fresh news.

The system laughed and rolled in the void, seizing the chance to promote: "Host, want to buy a golden finger? Look at this 'Limited Customer' golden finger; once you place it at the foot of the mountain, it can restrict insincere worshippers! Moreover, it can tell whether a guest is plump, guaranteeing your temple's incense so abundant that monks throughout the Great Celebration Dynasty will envy it!"

After a busy day, Jiang He was also a bit tired, lying on the soft bed, exhausted to the point of not wanting to move.

Wang Lishi had been married in for twelve years; since her first child, a daughter, was born, her mother‑in‑law kept a sour face, causing her to be mistreated daily in her husband's family.

Wang Dalang covered his face with a cloth, tucked a knife in his bosom, and patiently waited until night fell; only when the temple closed its doors to worshippers did he climb the mountain.

Although he ate vegetarian food every day, this level was still acceptable.

After eating a vegetarian feast with Yu Yuanwai, he was instantly amazed.

He dared not kill anyone, but now his family's reputation was ruined; his daughter‑in‑law wanted a divorce, and the master said that the fact he had no son had nothing to do with his daughter‑in‑law. She wasn't that old, so remarriage would surely attract many men.

At that moment, they saw the master's pale‑like face show a look of compassion.

No wonder the Wang family suffered retribution! They took others' money and cut off their lineage; cutting off descendants is retribution!

Jiang He's expression became extremely serious; this won't do, he must think of a solution.

Wutong County is still too small; even a tiny melon gets chewed over and over by people.

The master summoned the Snake Immortal to look for the child; when they reached the place and found the child, they saw the Snake Immortal, protecting the child, confronting a lone wolf.

Hearing the daughter‑in‑law mention twenty years ago made Old Wang's hand tremble, and the old lady's complexion turned white instantly.

Shilan Temple is just a small shrine, without even a guest hall for worshippers to stay; visitors come and go the same day.

His current identity seems to be that of a monk, but he is not a doctor!

Grandparents knocked on the door demanding to remarry the mother; a child without a mother is cheaper than grass—what should they do?

Although Old Wang's attitude was poor, it was still a tacit admission of what he had done.

"Nonsense, that must be the monk talking rubbish!" Old Wang steadied himself and hurled insults at Wang Lishi, "Raising children is a woman's business, what does it have to do with me!"

People in Wutong County were eating gossip with glee; Old Wang was so embarrassed he dared not leave the house, and Old Lady Wang lay in bed complaining of a headache.

Wang Dalang was at a loss for words.

An honest man, when enraged, is scarier than the usual street thugs who fight and brawl.

Until the county magistrate's wife, who also wanted a child, investigated the matter and told the world: "Twenty years ago, during a great drought in his hometown, his neighbor, on his deathbed, gave him all his property and asked him to take his six‑year‑old son Wang Gousheng…"

Wang Dalang scrambled back home, apparently terrified, fell ill outright, that night his fever wouldn't break, and for several days he was dazed and staring.

The woman's tears stopped, and she looked at him puzzled: what does this mean? Since ancient times, when a son is not born, isn't it always the woman's fault?

Earlier a child, fond of playing, disappeared in the mountains; they had no choice but to ask the master for help.

In the year of the great drought, people turned to cannibalism; that six‑year‑old innocent child might have been taken as a two‑legged sheep.

"One cannot commit a guilty deed without Heaven watching… Back then I had no choice, so I sold Gousheng into a wealthy family," Old Wang said remorsefully, tears flowing, "Go, go to the master, ask where Gousheng is now. If you find him, I will return all the money the father gave me."

In short, the master must find a way to make his daughter‑in‑law conceive a son, otherwise he…

Today he even forgot to count how many patients he had received; it seemed the patients all came for infertility issues?

Not yet halfway up the mountain, they saw a huge white snake coiled across the road, its body forming a ball, occasionally slapping its tail twice around.

Missing meat at every meal made him suddenly think, if the old woman hadn't objected, he could have become a monk himself.

Wang Dalang wiped the tears from his eyes; if the master would not give him a method, he would kill himself right in front of him!

"Father, Mother, today I'm going to Shilan Temple, and the master there said…"

The old lady, terrified, "Could it be about that…?"

Old Wang's reputation among neighbors was still decent; he refused to admit he had harmed people back then, and those around him were half‑heartedly skeptical, for after all, everyone who lived next to him for twenty years knew what kind of person he was.

Wang Dalang: "Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!"

Now the truth is clear, the failure to bear a son was all the Wang family's fault!

Only the poor pitiful steward, who must go to the yamen the next day, still must return.

Jiang He suddenly sat up, completely stunned.

Original content unaltered, please move to vinegar. Slip‑child, literature …