The Legend of the Culinary Hero by April O'Malley

Author:April O'Malley [O'Malley, April]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

When the bells rang, the temple came alive with the footsteps and energy of daily jobs and mixed with the serenity of morning prayers and incense. The gardeners came to water the plants before the sun rose, and Yuhan stood up to watch them work. He considered doing a job like that, but it quickly left his mind in favor of more exciting things like cooking in the temple kitchens or sharpening the training weapons.

A few moments after the gardeners, Enlai Fan entered the garden. Spotting Yuhan, he walked over to stand at his side. “Interesting work, I see?”

“I was meditating on what you said to me,” Yuhan replied.

“To what end?”

“I have decided to go home after I complete my training and speak with my father. If my family is not alive… then I will offer prayers for their safe reincarnation.” Yuhan ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not the best solution but it’s the best I have to find peace with what happened.”

“It’s an acceptable solution.” Enlai Fan nodded his approval. “However, there is one I can suggest that will help better.”

“And what is that?”

“To think of your family as already dead, and to speak with your father as if he were a spirit. Until you can find out for sure, to accept such an outcome without knowing can be healthy. What if your home is razed to the ground and their bones are amongst several hundred others? You would never know if they are alive or dead. Perhaps your family never came to find you because they were themselves victims.”

Yuhan didn’t want to admit it, but Enlai Fan was right. To hold onto the hope that they still lived did not serve him. It held him back. To assume they no longer lived, could help him to focus. “I had never thought they’d have left me with the bandits due to death.”

“Perhaps that is why you hold onto anger and hate.” Enlai Fan looked over at Yuhan. “Are you ready to be assigned your duties?”

“Yes.” Yuhan didn’t question it. The old monk knew better for him than he. Enlai Fan had acquired much wisdom in his years, and he held a certain humility that placed him above nobles and bandits. Yuhan respected that quality.

“Then come with me.”

Yuhan followed the old man into the main shrine, where some monks handed him a hand brush and a pail full of soapy water. “Today, we cleanse the shrine. This is a weekly job, and all the students help. Once we finish cleansing and blessing the shrine, we will eat breakfast.”

Yuhan stared at the old monk as if he’d suggested Yuhan grow another head. “Won’t this take a long time? This shrine is a cavern!”

Enlai Fan chuckled. “With dozens of people helping you, it will only take an hour or so. Don’t be so pessimistic.”

He had a point. There were already several people scrubbing the floors and statues and dusting the furniture, replacing used incense sticks and polishing the bells. Yuhan sighed and went to work.

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