Chapter 215: Smile Cup |
Even though it was still relatively early, quite a crowd had already gathered near the Mazu Temple, queuing up to enter the temple.
Some prayed for romance, some for career success, some for academic achievement, some for an early baby—and of course, some wanted the opposite.
For example, someone hoping her sister's crush would break up with his girlfriend so she could swoop in.
Mazu, forgive me. I just want Linlin to be happy. What's wrong with that?
Lin Zhu walked along with the crowd, climbing the steps. There was still some distance before they reached the temple.
Being dragged forward by Lin Yilin, she said:
"Little Yilin, your senior and his girlfriend are out-of-towners, right? They probably don't know the Mazu worship procedures. I need to go teach your senior."
"No way! Big Sister, do you think I don't know what you're up to?"
Lin Yilin stared at Lin Zhu, refusing outright.
"Mazu is watching. Big Sister just wants to introduce the out-of-towners to our Southern Fujian traditional culture."
Lin Zhu looked at her with conviction.
Lin Yilin thought it over, then finally said:
"Then you go explain it to Senior Su!"
That way, Big Sister won't harass Senior!
"Sure thing. Then Linlin can go explain it to your senior!"
Lin Zhu replied with a smile.
See? If I directly said I wanted to lure Jiang-gege's girlfriend away, Linlin would stubbornly refuse.
But with a different approach, Linlin can't wait to let me go keep her company.
That's the art of language.
Just like some words mean the same thing, but expressed completely differently.
For example, if I say you're amazing at gaming, you'll be happy.
But if I say you play like a total noob, you definitely won't be happy. The underlying idea is similar, though.
"Th-this isn't right! If I'm alone with Senior..."
"What's wrong with that? If you don't go keep your senior company, then I will!"
"That's even worse!"
"Then I'll go find your senior's girlfriend, and you go find your senior!"
Too indecisive, Linlin. No backbone.
Lin Zhu tugged at her, not moving forward, then turned to look at Su Muzhi, beaming:
"So, Sister Su is an out-of-towner, right? Not too familiar with Mazu worship customs. Let me tell you how to do it when the time comes?"
As she spoke, she moved to link arms with Su Muzhi.
"Talk if you want to talk, but keep your hands to yourself. I really don't like you."
Su Muzhi smiled lightly at Lin Zhu, extending her palm to signal her to stop, her tone dripping with disdain.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
"Haha."
Lin Zhu forced a smile.
How does this person not even bother with basic courtesy?
"But go ahead, tell me."
Su Muzhi glanced at Lin Yilin, who was desperately trying to pull Lin Zhu backward, and shook her head.
Haha! This is the chance you gave me!
Lin Zhu rejoiced. Yes!
"It's crowded here. It'll be hard to talk once we're inside the temple. Let me stand by you and explain in detail."
As she spoke, she twisted her body and squeezed between Jiang Linyuan and Su Muzhi.
Su Muzhi stopped her and said:
"Don't move."
Then she looked at Jiang Linyuan:
"You move yourself."
Xiao Su, love you.
Jiang Linyuan shifted aside, leaving space for Lin Zhu.
Huh? What's going on?
Lin Zhu blinked, confused.
How is this Miss Su pushing her own man away?
"Hehe, what's wrong? Surprised?"
Su Muzhi looked at Lin Zhu, smiling.
"Haha, no, not at all."
Lin Zhu quickly stood beside Su Muzhi and immediately started explaining the Mazu worship guidelines.
Who cares what she's thinking? I achieved my goal. Even if she regrets it later, it'll be like a dilapidated temple with an incense burner but no offerings—no turning back!
"Hehe, Teacher Lin Xiaozhu, that's the name, right?"
At those three words, Lin Zhu's heart skipped a beat.
It's over. It's all over now.
Lin Xiaozhu was Lin Zhu's pen name.
Damn! She's bluffing! She must be!
Lin Zhu steadied herself and laughed:
"Sister Su can call me that if you want."
"If you call me that again, I'll tell your relatives and friends about the book you're writing."
"I'm sorry."
Lin Zhu apologized at lightning speed.
How did she find out! If my colleagues and friends learned I'm secretly writing steamy novels, I'd lose my current job.
"Hehe, just do your job as a guide and don't meddle."
Su Muzhi glanced at her, said flatly.
Bouncing around all day—I had to dig up your secrets just to keep you in line.
"Got it."
Lin Zhu could only comply.
Sorry, Linlin. Big Sister has been caught with her pants down.
Wah, we who write smut (sobbing), what will become of us?
Su Muzhi withdrew her gaze and looked ahead at Lin Yilin and Jiang Linyuan walking together. Her brow twitched.
Tsk. Still uncomfortable.
...
"Senior, you should know that when we worship Mazu, we use moon blocks. In our Southern Fujian dialect, we call it 'bobai.'"
Lin Yilin kept her head down, not looking at Jiang Linyuan, maintaining an arm's length distance, reciting the Mazu worship procedure like she was memorizing a script.
"The blocks have two sides. The raised side is the yin side, and the flat side is the yang side. This is how Mazu responds."
"One yin and one yang, that's a holy cup, meaning Mazu agrees with your request."
"Both yin sides, that's a cover cup, meaning Mazu disagrees."
"If both are yang, that's a smile cup, meaning Mazu doesn't understand your question—your phrasing is ambiguous, so you need to ask again in a different way."
As Lin Yilin spoke, she followed the crowd step by step into the temple.
Watching the people casting moon blocks, Jiang Linyuan asked quietly:
"Can we ask Mazu anything?"
"Normal things are fine. Mostly it's about hopes for a good future."
Lin Yilin said.
"What would Little Yilin wish for?"
"Hmm, right now, probably academic success."
Lin Yilin smiled.
Actually, during the New Year, she had already come early with her family to worship Mazu. Back then, her question was whether her love life would go smoothly.
Mazu gave her a smile cup.
"And you, Senior? What would you ask about?"
"Whether my relationship will go smoothly."
Jiang Linyuan said.
Lin Yilin froze, then whispered:
"Senior, aren't you and Senior Su getting along really well right now? Why would you ask that?"
"It's a good wish. It's good now, and I hope it will be in the future."
It's not good now, but I hope it will be.
Jiang Linyuan looked at Lin Yilin but didn't say that out loud.
Once inside the temple, Lin Yilin began casting the blocks, murmuring:
"Senior, just learn from my example, okay?"
Then, looking at the statue before her, she asked:
"Mazu, will my studies go smoothly in the future?"
The red blocks hit the ground. Both yang sides. A smile cup.
"Little miss, you can ask again."
The staff member beside her reminded her with a smile.
Lin Yilin complied and asked again:
"Mazu, will my... life go smoothly in the future?"
She cast again. Both yang sides. Still a smile cup.
Why two smile cups in a row? Well, at least it's not a cover cup, so that's a good sign!
Lin Yilin thought, then turned to look at Jiang Linyuan behind her.
"Senior, your turn."
Jiang Linyuan imitated Lin Yilin's motion and asked:
"Mazu, will my love life go smoothly from now on?"
Clatter. Both yang sides. A smile cup.
"Actually, a smile cup doesn't just mean Mazu doesn't understand. It can also mean she doesn't need to answer."
The staff member explained again with a smile:
"If the person asking has already made up their mind, then Mazu will only give smile cups."
Hearing this, Lin Yilin looked at Jiang Linyuan.
He had already stood up and turned to Lin Yilin:
"Little Yilin, you didn't tell me about that interpretation earlier."
"Smile cups are open to interpretation. Everyone sees them differently. Nothing much to say about it."
"Is that so?"
"Yes!"
PS: Had some stuff come up today, so just one chapter. Four tomorrow.
While looking for material, I spotted myself on Bilibili.
I'm already on Weibo, and now people from Kuaishou are already reaching into Bilibili and Douyin.