"Madam, why must you torment yourself like this? The child has returned safely, and as the saying goes, 'A scholar does not speak of ghosts and spirits.'"
Father Lu did not believe in such superstitions. If deities truly existed, how could there be so much suffering in the world?
"Mother, let’s commission a golden statue for the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva won’t blame you. Eating only vegetarian food will harm your health."
Lu Yuanyi was both guilty and heartbroken. If not for Lu Chao’s observation, he wouldn’t have noticed that his mother had been abstaining from meat lately. He felt like a terrible son.
"It’s alright. I never cared much for meat anyway. As long as you’re all well, I’m at peace."
Lady Lu smiled gently, trying to reassure them.
"Mother! If you won’t eat meat, then neither will I! I’ll only have vegetables from now on!" Lu Yuanyi protested indignantly.
"Madam, don’t be unreasonable. The child’s health is at stake!"
Hearing Father Lu’s words, Lu Chao nearly choked on his anger. Could the man not speak properly? If he couldn’t, he should just keep quiet.
Lady Lu, as if accustomed to such remarks, merely waved her hand.
"I made a vow before the Bodhisattva. How can I break it now? My decision is final, so don’t trouble yourselves further."
Seeing her resolute expression, the others didn’t know how to persuade her otherwise.
Lu Chao sighed. No wonder his mother had grown noticeably thinner lately. In these times, without nutritionists or supplements, a vegetarian diet could easily lead to malnutrition. The long-term harm outweighed any benefits. Such a kind woman as Lady Lu deserved to live a long and healthy life.
"Mother, why don’t we ask the Bodhisattva? If the Bodhisattva permits you to eat meat, then we’ll do so. How does that sound?"
Lu Chao glanced at Lady Lu.
"Hmm?" The others looked up in confusion.
"Mother is benevolent and charitable, distributing porridge to the poor every year. My second brother and I are well-behaved and sensible. The Bodhisattva surely sees all this. If he were to manifest, he would surely wish for Mother’s health and longevity."
"Chao’s right! But how do we make the Bodhisattva manifest?"
Lu Yuanyi wholeheartedly agreed with Lu Chao’s suggestion, but how could they get the Bodhisattva to speak?
Lu Chao cleared his throat with exaggerated solemnity. "This humble one has a plan."
"None of your trickery!" Father Lu’s brows furrowed so deeply they could crush a mosquito, his voice sharp with disapproval.
Lu Chao couldn’t be bothered to engage with him. This neglectful father was lucky to live in ancient times—in the modern era, he’d probably never find a wife.
Lady Lu smoothed things over. "The child is only being filial. Must you be so harsh?"
Father Lu snorted but didn’t leave. He wanted to see what nonsense his youngest son would spout next. Had a few compliments lately gone to his head?
"We can simply ask the Bodhisattva directly!"
"Preposterous!" Lord Lu slammed his teacup down with a grating clatter.
"If my lord has finished his meal, perhaps he should visit Aunt Li. I heard she suffered from heart palpitations this afternoon."
Lady Lu suddenly found the man unbearably irritating.
Lord Lu flushed but remained seated, refusing to leave. Lu Chao inwardly scoffed at his shameless father—old enough to take a concubine, and one barely sixteen at that! Disgusting. And now flaunting her in front of the main wife.
Lord Lu felt as if his eyes had been clouded by some demon. Against his better judgment, he followed his son to the small family shrine in the side courtyard. After washing his hands and lighting incense, he watched as Lu Chao produced a few objects, bowed devoutly to the Bodhisattva, and murmured under his breath.
"Bodhisattva, are you there? I’d like to discuss something with you. If you agree, please manifest—let this coin land heads-up as your answer."
Everyone: ???
Lu Chao pulled a copper coin from his chest, shook it in his palm, and tossed it high. All eyes followed the coin as it soared, fell, and rolled several times across the prayer mat.
It landed tails-up!
Just as Lord Lu was about to sneer, his rebellious son chirped brightly.
"Ah! The Bodhisattva isn’t home right now. Let’s knock again and bow once more—maybe he’ll return soon!"
With that, he pulled his naive second brother into another bow.
Lord Lu’s lips twitched.
The coin flew once more, then landed.
"Heads! The Bodhisattva has returned!"
Lu Xuanyi’s delighted shout echoed through the shrine, making the incense smoke swirl.
Lady Lu watched the two young figures kneeling on the mat, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
"Bodhisattva, my mother is kind and charitable, distributing porridge to the poor every year. She was so worried about us recently that she vowed never to eat meat again. Please show mercy—we’ll be good and ask for your permission before every meal. If you allow her to eat meat occasionally, let the coin land heads-up again!"
"Bodhisattva, I’ll eat less meat from now on. Please, please agree!"
Lu Yuanyi kowtowed several times, his forehead thumping against the mat, then stared anxiously at the coin in Lu Chao’s hand.
The coin soared through the curling incense smoke and landed once more.
"Mother!! The Bodhisattva said yes!!!"
Lu Chao grinned—luck had been on his side this time.
"Madam, you see? The Bodhisattva has been moved by the young masters’ filial piety. You must heed his will!"
Nanny Mei and the others supported Lady Lu as they urged her. Lately, watching their mistress’s waist grow slimmer had worried them deeply, but she had forbidden them from speaking of it. Now, at last, the matter was resolved.
"And if the Bodhisattva had refused?"
Lord Lu studied Lu Chao with amusement.
Lu Chao shrugged. "Then we’d just ask again. The Bodhisattva is kind-hearted—a little more begging would surely soften him."
Little rascal!
Lord Lu clasped his hands behind his back and sauntered out, whether to Aunt Li’s quarters or Aunt Zhou’s, no one cared.
"Nanny, you must ask the Bodhisattva every day from now on!" Lu Yuanyi instructed earnestly.
"Enough, enough. You two are too young to fret over such things—you’ll stunt your growth. Go wash up and rest now."
Lady Lu shooed them away with a smile.
Only after the brothers had left, hand in hand, did Lady Lu quietly wash her hands and light incense again.
But instead of bowing to the Bodhisattva, she stood silently before Aunt Su’s memorial tablet for a long time.
Finally, a sigh escaped her.
"Madam, it’s getting dark. Let’s return."
"Yes."
"Do you think she was a good woman too? How else could she have raised Chao so well?"
...
