Chapter 377 Extra Fourteen
It was July, the height of summer, and the endless desert was filled with heat waves. The wind over the desert took shape, deformed by the heat waves.
The desert was silent and even insects and snakes were unwilling to come out to look for food, but a group of monks were trekking towards them from the west.
In the evening, the heat in the desert suddenly dropped, and a caravan of more than 40 people set out on their return journey. In the middle of the night, they caught up with the monks who were walking.
In recent years, the number of monks in the Western Regions has increased year by year. Ah Shui has seen so many that she has learned a few Buddhist verses and put on an act. She stopped her camel, leaned over and said "Amitabha", and took the initiative to ask: "Master, do you want to come with us? We have camels that are not loaded with goods and can be ridden."
Green Bud also came over with her camel. She handed over two bags of water and said, "Master, quench your thirst."
Seeing that the two were women, the monk turned around and saw fluttering flags. Under the moonlight, the four words "Sui Dynasty Caravan" on the red flags were clearly visible.
"Donor, is the head of the Sui caravan Madam Xihua?" asked an old monk.
"Yes, you have also heard of the reputation of our caravan?" A Shui said excitedly.
"White cotton is blooming in the oases all over the Western Regions. From a three-year-old child to a seventy-year-old man, everyone knows the beautiful name of Lady Cotton Flower," said the old monk.
Ah Shui was pleased, proving her propaganda was effective. Three years ago, when she returned to the border, she had a large red banner embroidered with the words "Sui Family Caravan" and the seal of Lady Xianhua. She actively promoted her name and reputation when conducting business outside the border, tirelessly explaining to outsiders that Lady Xianhua was the first to cultivate cotton and that she was the head of their caravan. This made the Sui Family caravan very popular outside the border.
Yang Erlang drove the camel over and urged, "We can't delay any longer. We must continue on our journey."
A Shui invited more monks, and twenty-seven monks followed the caravan.
The night passed quickly, and as the heat descended upon the desert once again, the caravan halted its journey. Zhang Shun and his men expertly scraped away the scorching sand, driving away the sand scorpions and insects and snakes. They spread out ten rolls of thick linen, propped up with poles to create shade, and then spread straw mats on the sand. A group of exhausted people slept on the ground, and the monks, seeing this, also found an open space to sit down.
After waking up and sleeping repeatedly until sunset, the caravan and the monks continued their night journey.
When the caravan arrived in Kucha and was about to stop to do business, the monk said goodbye and continued his journey eastward with another caravan returning east.
"Brother Liaojing, the Western Regions today have changed a lot compared to the Western Regions five years ago." A monk sighed.
The old monk nodded silently.
When passing through Yuli, the merchant met a caravan he knew, who told him that Changgui Guesthouse had arrived in Yuli, had just opened last month, and was now available for accommodation.
"I heard Shopkeeper Yu mention it when we passed through Dunhuang last year. It's finished so quickly. Let's go over and look after her business," said the merchant walking ahead. He then asked, "Is Shopkeeper Yu in Yuli? I met her caravan in Qiuci."
"She's not here. She should still be in Dunhuang."
The two caravans were walking across each other. The caravan heading west saw the monks and discovered that there was an old monk with Han Chinese appearance in the caravan. They whispered to each other in surprise.
"Are you Han Chinese?"
"Yes, the eyeballs are black, which is the appearance of us Han people."
"I've seen many monks in the Western Regions, but this is the first time I've seen a Han monk this old."
The young monk glared at the merchant, and the escorts did not want to cause trouble, so they interrupted the merchant's rude words and urged the caravan to leave quickly.
The old monk didn't care what the merchant said. He followed the caravan returning east and stayed in the Changgui Guesthouse. Outside the guesthouse, there were Han people selling chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep. When the vendors saw the caravan coming, they hurriedly made way.
"Manager Qin, why don't you buy some of our millet jelly? This is an old craft my grandmother has been making for decades. Your storekeeper Yu has even eaten it." said a young man in his twenties.
"Shopkeeper Yu has even tried my cold cakes." Another vendor, carrying a shoulder pole, squeezed over and sarcastically said, "You might as well say you have the same last name as Shopkeeper Yu, otherwise it won't stand out. Which food stall on our street hasn't been patronized by Shopkeeper Yu?"
"Not only that, I not only share the same surname as Shopkeeper Yu, but I'm also from the same clan as her." Sui Qingru said this casually as if to exaggerate. He then took the opportunity to say, "Manager Qin, my surname is also Sui, and I have a connection with your Changgui Guesthouse. You can buy my cold cake."
The others laughed, but Manager Qin was serious. He had heard rumors that the master had also been a slave. He looked at the man's face and didn't know if it was an illusion, but this man had the same nose as the second manager.
"Okay, I'll buy it. From now on, you'll bring me two basins of lianggao every day. If there are a lot of customers, I'll ask you to prepare more in advance." Manager Qin said, "Lianggao is two coins per jin. You bring the basins in. The person who weighs it is in the kitchen."
Sui Qing proudly walked out of the crowd and suddenly met the gaze of an old monk. He gave him a puzzled look, then asked enthusiastically, "Master, would you like to buy some cold cakes?"
"Qing boy, are you really a member of Shopkeeper Yu's clan?" the old man selling sheep fat interrupted.
"Do I look like one?" Sui Qing chuckled. "As long as someone believes it."
"Hey, kid, I'll say later that I'm your grandfather, and he's also a member of Shopkeeper Yu's clan. Let's see if anyone believes me."
"No, my grandfather has turned into bones long ago. You can't be his grandfather. You need to live a long life." After saying that, Sui Qing turned his head. The old monk with a scar on his face had passed away without knowing when.
After selling the cold cakes and collecting the money, he met the old monk again outside the guesthouse when he was leaving.
"Do you have any cold cakes at home?" asked the old monk.
"Yes, yes. I'll bring it to Master."
"I'll go with you."
On the way, the old monk asked him if there were any other people at home.
"Grandma, I'm back. The jelly cakes are sold out." Sui Qing raised his voice and shouted.
The old monk saw a short, old woman sitting in the yard picking cotton, and she was unaware of her grandson's voice.
"My grandma is old and her hearing is not very good. She can't even hear thunder." Sui Qing explained, "Master, please sit for a while. I'll go get you some cold cake. Do you want a spoonful of chive sauce?"
“Don’t topping it off.”
"Okay."
The old monk walked to the side of the hard-of-hearing old woman, and the shadow cast by him made the old woman realize that someone was coming.
"Who are you looking for? Who are you?" Aunt Chun couldn't see clearly. She squinted and looked again, and recognized it as a bald monk. She said, "Begging for alms? Wait until my grandson comes back."
"Let me take your pulse."
"What did you say? You want me to serve the food?"
The old monk held her wrist. As an old man's skin becomes loose, he had to smooth the loose skin together before he could touch her.
pulse.
Sui Qing brought out the cold cake and hurried over when he saw the old man. The old man squinted at him again, and after a few glances, he said, "My grandson is back."
Sui Qing didn't say anything, and even if he did, she couldn't hear him clearly.
"Master, is my grandma sick? The doctors in Yuli are useless. I've asked several to come to my house, but they're all blind and say my grandma is cursed."
The old monk chuckled, and the centipede-like scar on his face twisted. Sui Qing was startled. He seemed to remember that he also knew a person whose face was disfigured, and he didn't know whether that person was dead or not.
"I will send ten sets of medicine tomorrow. I will boil them and give them to your grandmother to drink. Wrap up the residue while it is still hot and apply it to her eyes. I will also leave the prescription to you. If it is useful, you can buy herbs from the caravan." The old monk withdrew his hands.
"Okay, thank you, Master." Sui Qing handed over the bowl and said, "Have something to cool down."
The old monk did not refuse. He took the bowl and chopsticks and ate the cold cake.
"Qing'er, who's here?" An old man carrying a cotton basket walked into the yard with a bitter look on his face.
"It was a monk who could take my grandmother's pulse and diagnose her illness. He said he would send us ten prescriptions of medicine tomorrow and maybe my grandmother would be able to see again," said Sui Qing.
The old monk turned around, wondering if his cousin could recognize him.
"How much are ten doses of medicine?"
"A bowl of cold cake can make up for it." The old monk put down his bowl and chopsticks and stood up, saying as he left: "Medicine may not be effective, but it's a good deed."
After the old monk walked away, Sui Qing said, "Dad, did you see the scar on his face? Before we..."
"It can't be him. He's ten years younger than me and is at most in his early forties."
"Oh, that's right. The old monk looks to be in his sixties, but he is in good health. When he came back with me, his steps never slowed down." Sui Qing muttered.
The old monk did not come to the house the next day. He asked the waiter of the guesthouse to deliver ten sets of medicine and a prescription.
Afterwards, Sui Qing went to the guesthouse to deliver a meal to the old monk. On the third day, the waiter told him that the monk had left with the caravan.
*
When passing through Loulan, the monk met the Sui Dynasty caravan again. When passing by, A Shui enthusiastically greeted the monk by chanting "Amitabha".
"How did you catch up so quickly? Didn't you stop in Yuli?" asked the merchant.
"No, we travel day and night," Qingshan said.
"After all, they are young people, and their bodies can endure." The merchant sighed.
"Sleep a little less and have a good rest when you get back. It's the same thing." Zhang Shun continued.
"Don't listen to him anymore. His wife is about to give birth and he's in a hurry to go back. He's urging us like he's demanding our lives." Xiao Chunhong complained.
Ah Shui drove her camel to catch up with the merchants walking ahead. She asked in a friendly manner, "Uncle, do you want to rest in Loulan?"
"No need to rest, let's go back as soon as possible. We have to reach Chang'an before winter." said the merchant.
"Then let's go together. By the way, uncle, let me introduce you to a restaurant. It's just before you leave the city. There's a plaque with no words on it. The food they cook is delicious, and tastes a bit like the food in our guesthouse." A Shui introduced enthusiastically.
"That place, I know, the food there is delicious."
"Yes, yes, yes."
At the invitation of A Shui, the two caravans went to the Wu Zi Food Store to buy food when they left Loulan. A Shui did not go in. She had nothing to do, so she drove her camel closer to talk to the monk.
"Master, which county in the Han Dynasty are you going to? Chang'an?" A Shui asked.
"Wherever I go is where I will go." The young monk replied.
"Oh oh oh, just go with the flow, right?" A Shui understood very well.
"A Shui." Lu Yaer shouted outside the food store.
The woman who had come out with the bucket to empty the slop looked up. Her eyes met Ah Shui's, then she looked at the monk beside her. She paused when she saw the old monk with a scar on his face. It had been so long that she could no longer remember Sui Wen'an's face, but judging by his age, this old monk couldn't be him.
Le Jing recognized Tong Huaer and was sure that she didn't know him.
The people who hated him so much that they wanted to kill him couldn't even recognize him. Things have changed, and all the people who were trapped back then have walked out.
Perhaps he gained confidence from Aunt Chun and Tong Huaer, so when he arrived in Dunhuang, the old monk chose to follow the caravan and stay in the Changgui Guesthouse.
"Isn't Manager Yu at home?" asked the merchant.
"My brother-in-law's father broke his leg, and my sister, brother-in-law, and I went back to our hometown in Jiuquan with our two children to visit him," Sui Liang said. "The fifth guesthouse is empty, so you're staying there. Are these monks going to stay with you?"
"We pay for our rooms separately," said the young monk.
"Okay, how many nights will you stay? Is there anything you should be aware of regarding the food?" Sui Liang asked. "This is the first time our guesthouse has hosted monks, so we don't have much experience."
"Uncle Liaojing, how many days will we stay in Dunhuang?" asked the young monk.
"Ten days. I have something to finish in Dunhuang."
Sui Liang suddenly turned around and looked at the old monk who was talking. Seeing that the old monk had a scar on his face, he wondered if it was Sui Wen'an.
"Donor, do you recognize me, Uncle Jing?" the monk who handed over the silver asked, "We don't have any copper coins. Can we use this silver horn cup to pay for the room?"
"I won't charge you for the room." Sui Liang waved his hand. He walked up to Master Jing and asked, "My name is Sui Liang. Master, do you know me?"
"Have you seen me?" The old monk shook his head. "I have never seen you outside the Great Wall."
"Donor, you must have recognized the wrong person. This is the first time my uncle has come to Dahan." The monk who was carrying the luggage interrupted.
Sui Liang smiled apologetically, "Sorry, sorry, let me ask again, do any of you have the same Dharma name?"
"This is inevitable. We are wandering monks and we don't gather in Buddhist temples. We cannot pass messages to each other in time, so it is common for our Buddhist names to clash." said the old monk.
"The scar on Master Liaojing's face..." Sui Liang wanted to ask more, but when he saw the other party's face change, he swallowed the words in his mouth.
During dinner, Sui Liang and Sui Hui waited outside the kitchen. When the monks came out, he whispered, "Cousin, look at that old monk with the scar on his face. Is he your eldest brother? His Buddhist name is Le Jing. I heard my sister say he has a scar on his face."
Sui Hui looked at him carefully, then shook her head and said, "They don't look like each other. Not only do their ages not match, but their looks are different too. Don't you remember my eldest brother? He was a very gentle man, but this master looks quite fierce, with a murderous look in his eyes."
After hearing her say this, Sui Liang no longer had any doubts. It didn't matter whether it was true or not. What Sui Hui missed was the person in her memory.
Le Jing recognized Sui Hui and learned that she was now called Er Niang. She was in charge of the warehouse and bargained with merchants. She lived a good life. He met her combing the dog in the morning when he went to the foot of the Great Wall to recite the Sutra of Rebirth. In the evening when he came back, he often saw her tidying up the warehouse.
One day, he came home early and saw a young man holding a child calling for his mother. He stood outside the window and watched for a while, but scared the child and made him cry. He left in a hurry and tried to avoid her afterwards.
After chanting the Rebirth Sutra for ten days, the twenty-seven monks left quietly early one morning.
"Is he really my uncle?" asked Hu Ansui.
"It was him. I didn't recognize him at first, but later I was sure when I saw him chanting scriptures at the foot of the Great Wall every day," said Sui Hui.
"Then why don't you recognize him?" Hu Ansui was puzzled.
"He doesn't plan to recognize me. He might just come back to visit. I won't make things difficult for him." Sui Hui's eyes were filled with tears. She looked up at the sky through the open doors and windows and murmured, "Will he return to secular life? No. If I pester him, he will go further away. It's better to pretend I don't know him. He will come back when he passes by Dunhuang in the future."
This was really beyond Juan's expectations. He thought that his mother would cry her heart out when she saw his uncle again.
"He's suffering more than I am. I have you, but he only has himself. He can only survive by following his own path. I won't make things difficult for him. I'm content knowing he's still alive." Sui Hui wiped away her tears, sighed deeply, and after a long moment, said, "He's aging too fast."
The last time Sui Hui saw him, Sui Wen'an was still a young man. Now he looked not much younger than Uncle Niu. He was dark and thin, with wrinkles all over his face. His exposed hands were not much better than those of a slave doing hard work.
*
On her way back, Sui Yu met a monk on his way. She looked at him curiously and asked, "Master, where are you going?"
"Wherever you go is where you are." said the young monk.
"Have you seen a..." Before she could finish her words, Sui Yu saw the old monk with scars on his face. She stopped her camel and asked curiously, "Is this Master Le Jing?"
The old monk smiled. Some people remembered him, and some recognized him.
"It's been years since we last met. How are you, benefactor?"
"I'm doing quite well. Are you willing to come back?" Sui Yu jumped off the camel and said, "It's getting dark. My guesthouse is ten miles to the west. Would you like to come with me and spend the night there?"
The old monk refused. "I heard in Kangju that the imperial court abolished the system of camp prostitutes and pardoned a large number of slaves. This move seems to be related to cotton. I decided to come to the Han Dynasty to take a look."
He thought of twenty years ago when Sui Yu said that the crimes committed by Tong Huaer and her gang were the fault of the law. At that time, he thought it was just her excuse. Now that the court was revising the law for greater interests, it just confirmed her words.
"Your efforts have proven your words are correct," the old monk said cryptically. He then said frankly, "I came into the world to avoid the world. I only tire my body but don't grow my enlightenment. To avoid misleading more people with empty Buddhist teachings, I plan to return to the secular world to gain enlightenment."
It was indeed very tiring for the body. A man in his early forties looked like a man in his sixties. Sui Yu looked at him for a few more seconds and said, "Find a stable place to live, work less and live a few more years."
The old monk's deep insights were interrupted. He was too lazy to talk to Sui Yu anymore. She really had no wisdom, and talking to her would destroy his Buddhist faith.
"Let's go." said the old monk.
A group of monks left on foot. Sui Yu watched them go. She said to Zhao Xiping, "He's popular now. When I met him in Dayuan before, he was as dignified as a Buddha statue, unwilling to say a single warm word."
"It's a good thing." said Zhao Xiping.
"Yes, his self-exile has ended." Sui Yu looked far to the east, reviewing this collective punishment. Some died, some were destroyed. How many people were consumed by this harsh law.
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