Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Pilgrims ascend the mountain, and after paying homage to Buddha, they generally leave behind incense money. Naturally, if the pilgrims stay on the mountain and partake in a meal, they will leave a bit more incense money.

After all, isn't dining free?

Esquire Zhang is considered the wealthiest person in Jinshan Village at the foot of the mountain. As he came to fulfill his vow this time, he naturally left behind incense money and deserved to be treated well with a meal.

Upon receiving words from Senior Brother Xuankong, Jiang Liu nodded and then went busy in the kitchen.

Soon, Jiang Liu rinsed the rice and put it in the pot, and then, stir-fried several colorful and fragrant vegetarian dishes.

Especially the bean sprouts that had sprung up a few days ago, crisp and refreshing as they may be, even a simple stir-fried plate was undoubtedly a novelty for the people of this era.

Though preparing vegetarian dishes is usually fast, this time, Jiang Liu put quite a lot of effort and was very meticulous. By the time he had finished, it was almost dusk.

Just at that time, Esquire Zhang and his group were done, and Senior Brother Xuankong quickly came over, carrying some dishes out.

He mentioned that Senior Abbot Faming was currently entertaining Esquire Zhang, and they were dining together.

After the meal for the Senior Abbot and his guests was served, Xuankong, Xuanming, and Xuanwu, the three Senior Brothers, also came over and joined Jiang Liu for the meal.

During the meal, each of the Senior Brothers nodded, signaling that today's meal was indeed more thoughtful than usual.

Especially the bean sprouts, crispy and refreshing, clear and translucent, a complete novelty that they had never tasted before.

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However, it wasn't long before a rush of footsteps was heard, and soon, Jiang Liu saw Senior Abbot Faming approaching, accompanied by several people.

Among them were two individuals dressed as servants and maids, naturally alongside a middle-aged couple around forty years old, likely Esquire Zhang and his wife who had come to Jinshan Temple to fulfill their vows.

Seeing Senior Abbot Faming bring in Esquire Zhang and his party, each of the Senior Brothers put down their bowls and stood up.

"Esquire Zhang, today's vegetarian meal was prepared by Liu'er..." said Senior Abbot Faming, his face wearing an affable smile as he introduced Jiang Liu enthusiastically.

Esquire Zhang, appearing to be in his forties and slightly portly, wore clothes that were not silk or satin, but the fabric looked decent, at least not coarse cloth.

While Jiang Liu scrutinized him, Esquire Zhang was also thoroughly examining Jiang Liu.

"Young Brother Liu'er, the dishes you cooked are very tasty. May I see your kitchen?", Esquire Zhang asked after a moment's scrutiny.

However, while he spoke as if asking for permission, he didn't wait for Jiang Liu's response and directly strode into the kitchen.

"What's going on here?", puzzled by Esquire Zhang's hurried dash into the kitchen, Jiang Liu wore a baffled expression and looked questioningly at the Senior Abbot.

Wasn't the Senior Abbot supposed to be dining with Esquire Zhang? Why did he suddenly bring him here without any obvious reason?

"Liu'er, Esquire Zhang not only owns shops in Chang'an but also partnered with friends to open a tavern," noticing Jiang Liu's questioning gaze, the Senior Abbot didn't explain much but whispered briefly and then followed into the kitchen as well.

The words of the Senior Abbot brought a sudden realization to Jiang Liu.

Though the temple as a whole hoped he could surpass the Incense Offering Ceremony, the elimination rate was after all over ninety percent, so was the Senior Abbot considering an alternative path for him?

If he failed to pass the Incense Offering Ceremony and had to leave Jinshan Temple, he could then seek a job at Esquire Zhang's tavern.

Feeling somewhat touched, Jiang Liu followed the Senior Abbot into the kitchen.

Inside, Esquire Zhang seemed particularly interested in Jiang Liu's seasonings, such as the meat powder ground from rice and star anise, some of his own mixed sauces, and the jar of glistening snow-like salt.

Esquire Zhang's final gaze fell on the small jar of salt, and he extended his hand, gently pinched a bit, and tasted it in his mouth.

"Young Brother Liu'er, where did you obtain this fine salt? As far as I know, even Chang'an City does not sell salt of such quality," Esquire Zhang turned around, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Jiang Liu and asked.

"This…," Jiang Liu was at a loss for words regarding Esquire Zhang's question.

This was salt he had filtered and refined himself within the temple, but for this era, this technology was indeed extraordinary, wasn't it?

Jiang Liu hesitated and did not speak. Esquire Zhang quickly realized that these salts were definitely not purchased; otherwise, what was there to hide?

"Young Brother, I am willing to pay ten liang, no, twenty liang of silver. Would you be willing to teach me the method to produce this fine salt?" Esquire Zhang, with glowing eyes, stared at Jiang Liu and asked.

Twenty liang!?

Upon hearing this, several brothers in the temple gasped in shock, their faces filled with astonishment.

So much money could cover the expenses of Jinshan Temple for more than a year.

"I'm sorry, I happened upon this salt by chance; I do not possess the method of production," Although twenty liang was a lot of money, Jiang Liu felt that he could make money by fighting monsters and wasn't in a hurry for this money.

Moreover, although refining fine salt was not a difficult task for him, for this era, it was a method that money couldn't buy.

Just twenty liang of silver for such valuable knowledge? Was this an attempt to cheat him?

"Well, that's truly a pity…" Hearing Jiang Liu's response, Esquire Zhang shook his head with a regretful expression.

Even the brothers nearby wore a disappointed look.

In their view, just trading a method for twenty liang of silver was an unexpected fortune for Jinshan Temple.

Unfortunately, Jiang Liu did not know such a method.

For Jinshan Temple, Esquire Zhang's visit to the kitchen was merely a minor episode.

As it was getting late, Esquire Zhang and his party did not stay long. Seeing that Jiang Liu did not know the method of refining fine salt, they did not linger and left the mountain with regret.

"Lord, was that salt that good? You were actually willing to pay twenty liang of silver, an amount that could buy a house," on the way down the mountain, Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but ask curiously.

"What do you understand, woman? If I could master this method, what is twenty liang of silver? We could even consider buying a big mansion on Zhuque Street," Esquire Zhang answered his wife's comment.

"Zhuque Street? That's the most prosperous area in Chang'an. A big mansion there? At least a thousand liang of silver is needed!" Mrs. Zhang exclaimed, shocked by Esquire Zhang's response.

A thousand liang of silver? That was a breath-stopping figure.

Although the Zhang Family was considered the richest in Jinshan Village, they had only a bit over a hundred liang of silver at home, and even summing up their properties, they barely had three or four hundred liang in total.

A mansion costing over a thousand liang of silver? That was beyond their wildest dreams.

"It's regrettable that the novice monk didn't know the method," realizing the value of this method, even Mrs. Zhang felt incredibly sorry.

"Doesn't know? Does he truly not know?" Without saying anything, Esquire Zhang looked back towards Jinshan Temple as he descended the mountain path, his eyes flickering.

In the end, they were dominated by greed and fierce colors…