Chapter 61: Buying Incense and an Incense Burner

After waiting just a short while, the senior came back.

“Little sister, I still don’t know your name. Being recommended to my shop is fate. I’m Gong Xihuanhin, happy to serve you.”

“Ahem… I’m… I’m Yang Yuehan. Just call me Xiao Han,” I said, slightly embarrassed.

“Yang Yuehan, then I’ll call you Xiao Han. You can call me Huanhin, or Senior Huanhin is fine too.”

“Okay, Senior Huanhin. You mentioned the incense is a bit expensive. Can you tell me how expensive? So I can prepare myself…”

I followed up on her words.

If the incense was really beyond my expectations, I’d just buy a small amount to try, treating it as a splurge.

“When I say expensive, I mean compared to regular incense,” Gong Xihuanhin said while opening a box she brought.

Inside were delicately packaged small boxes.

She casually picked one out and handed it to me.

“This box counts as one portion of incense. For regular incense, this amount would sell for just a few bucks, but this one costs over two hundred.”

“Two… two hundred?”

I stared wide-eyed at the small box in her hand.

If I opened it, the amount inside might be even less than I imagined.

Just this cost two hundred?

That meant I worked a whole day for nothing?

“Yes, and meditation incense burns quickly. This portion can conservatively burn for half an hour, with effects lasting about an hour, as long as you don’t open windows or ventilate. It’s best to use it in a sealed space or directly in a meditation room.”

Gong Xihuanhin opened the small box, revealing a transparent bag filled with what looked like powder.

She pinched the bag and waved it in front of me as she explained.

“So, do you still want to buy a portion to try? Also, my small business doesn’t do credit.”

“Well… I… I’ll buy one to try…”

I clutched my phone, looking at my not-so-large balance, and finally decided to buy it.

Since I was already in the shop, leaving empty-handed would feel awkward.

“Alright, is this one okay? Or should I get you a new one?”

She put the incense back in the box, closed it, and asked me.

“This one’s fine. I’m not picky.”

I took the small box, holding it carefully.

This little thing was over two hundred!

Today was a wash, sigh…

Just as I was about to pay, the Senior interrupted me again.

“Xiao Han, is this your first time buying incense? Are you just going to light it on the ground? Not only would that be a waste, but meditation incense isn’t lit with regular fire.”

“Huh?”

I looked at her in surprise, feeling like I’d been tricked.

Was there such a thing?

Was this bundled sales?

Was the incense price not even the main cost?

“It’s an incense burner. Meditation incense needs to be used in a specific burner, or it’s very wasteful. You don’t want your two hundred bucks to go down the drain, right?”

Senior Huanhin smiled slightly, as if she had figured me out.

“Then… how much is the incense burner?”

I asked tentatively.

Since I already bought the incense, I couldn’t skip the burner, right?

Otherwise, it’d be a waste of effort.

“That depends on what kind you want. A small personal incense burner or a large one for multiple people? For you, a small one should do, right?”

“Yeah, a small one’s fine. I’m using it alone,” I said quickly.

“Don’t worry too much. A small burner is only a few dozen bucks, unless you want one with lots of functions. Otherwise, it’s not expensive, but cheap ones come with their own hassles.”

Seeing my concern, Senior quickly explained.

As she spoke, she went to a nearby cabinet and took out a very standard-looking incense burner, palm-sized, clearly meant for personal use.

It looked just right for one portion.

“This is the cheapest one I have. Its capacity is just enough for one portion of incense, so you’ll need to refill it often, which can interrupt meditation efficiency.”

“It’s enough. I just want to try it. I’ll deal with the future later. This one, thanks.”

I quickly made my decision.

It was just for me, so I didn’t need anything fancy.

My wallet couldn’t afford high demands anyway.

“Alright, I’ll round it down for you since you’re a new customer. 260 yuan total,” Gong Xihuanhin said straightforwardly, showing no disdain for my small purchase.

After all, I was a customer who spent money, and Gong Xihuanhin prided herself on her service attitude.

“Thanks,” I said hurriedly, taking the small incense burner and quickly paying.

I needed to get out of here fast.

Staying longer might make me uncomfortable.

This senior was just too… too captivating, and dressed so alluringly.

Wasn’t she tempting me?

But thankfully, I had self-awareness, and my empty wallet added plenty of self-control.

“Xiao Han, leaving just like that? If you walk out without asking anything, you’ll run into big problems. Do you know how to set up the incense? How to light it? I mentioned earlier that meditation incense can’t be lit with regular flames.”

“R-right…”

My hurried steps paused as I realized I couldn’t leave yet.

I really didn’t know much about this.

“That’s more like it. I'll teach you how to use it.”

Gong Xihuanhin walked toward me with crisp clicks of her heels, leaning down lightly, one hand on my shoulder, as if pulling me into an abyss.

My heart skipped a beat.

But in the end, I was practically forced to sit down, with Gong Xihuanhin sitting across from me.

“Come give me your incense burner. I’ll show you.”

She gently took the incense burner I hadn’t even warmed up yet, naturally opening its lid.

“Inside the burner is incense ash. Regular incense involves burying incense charcoal inside, then slowly adding the incense material. But meditation incense isn’t like that. It’s a refined product made through alchemical means and requires a special method to burn and release its substances to aid meditation.”

“We need to gently flatten the ash, tap it lightly, and then place this to shape the incense powder…”

I watched the Senior's step-by-step process.

Her movements were so elegant that I got lost in them.

Only when I snapped out of it did I realize a serious problem!

“Wait… wait! This incense isn’t mine, is it? Uh…”

I looked at the portion she’d already put in.

She wasn’t trying to force me to buy more, was she?

“It’s just for demonstration, a gift from me. It’s not even a full portion, maybe a few minutes’ worth. You can experience the scent. If you buy incense elsewhere in the future, make sure to remember what pure incense smells like. Don’t get fooled by cheap stuff.”

“Huh? Oh… um, thanks.”

I froze at Senior Huanhin’s words, then awkwardly thanked her.

This senior seemed really nice.

Aside from her talent making me wary at first, she now seemed like a genuinely good person!

“No need to thank me. It’s what I should do,” Gong Xihuanhin said with a smile before standing up, seemingly about to leave.

“When the incense burns out, you can take it. Be careful not to burn yourself. And take the special matches for lighting incense too; they're a freebie.”

“Thank you, Senior Huanhin,” I said quickly, watching her head to the back, probably to tend to her own business.

At that moment, a faint fragrance wafted from my little incense burner the scent of the incense.

Just smelling it gave me a pure, soothing feeling.

No wonder it was great for meditation!