Chapter 32
A week before the exam, Chen Meiyun's mother took Chen Meiyun to burn incense and worship Buddha, and took Jiang Wan with her.
The temple was built on a small island in the middle of a lake near Nanyuan City, about three hours' drive from the city. When Jiang Wan heard they were planning a self-driving tour, she immediately planned to withdraw Xiao Jiang.
There was no other reason, it was just that Chen Meiyu's mother drove too hard and treated the road as her own living room.
"Although my mother does drive a little fast, you have to admit that her driving skills are very good." The car turned onto the highway. Chen Meiyu, who was sitting in the back seat, took out a piece of cut cantaloupe from the black lunch box she carried with her and handed it to Jiang Wan.
Chen Meiyun's mother is a true strong woman. She works as a senior executive in a foreign company and is usually very busy. However, she is never vague about matters related to Chen Meiyun and always arranges everything properly. Therefore, Chen Meiyun has always lived a very carefree life. The only bad thing is that she has never suffered any hardship at home, which leads to her having a bit of a saintly mentality when interacting with others outside, especially when it comes to finding a boyfriend.
She has no resistance to male versions of little white flowers, such as her white moonlight, Wei Lin.
"Wanzai Wharf." Chen Meiyun's mother looked up through her sunglasses at the two girls in the rearview mirror and asked, "Is your dad still traveling and not back yet?"
Jiang Wan actually didn't care much about Jiang Huainan's return date, but because there were so many people around asking, she sent a WeChat message a few days ago to express her concern, which made Jiang Huainan think that she missed him, and he almost burst into tears and booked a flight back that night.
"I guess I'll be back in two or three days."
Chen Meiyun's mother shook her head. She was close to Li Wan, so although she didn't say it, she had always looked down on Jiang Huainan. She changed the subject: "You and Yunyun have been in the same school since elementary school, and now you have to separate in college."
Chen Meiyun held a piece of cantaloupe in her mouth and said incoherently, "Mom, why are you stirring up trouble for no reason? Jiang Wan and I have already agreed that she will go to F University and I will go to the school next door."
Chen Meiyun's mother laughed at her: "Why bother? You might as well just open a pancake stall in front of Renjiang Wan University and sell pancakes."
"Do you think I don't want to? I'm just afraid of being caught by the urban management. You know I'm terrible at sports. I can't even run three steps without gasping for breath."
In fact, Chen Meiyu's grades were pretty good, but she had already set her ambition a long time ago. She wanted to apply to a normal university and become a secondary teacher in the future. Since she was very young, she and Jiang Wan played teacher-student games together, and she liked to play the role of teacher the most.
The island is blessed with outstanding people and beautiful scenery, and there is a constant stream of people coming here to burn incense. The temple hall was packed with people. Jiang Wan and Chen Meiyun were waiting outside the hall. She had no experience in worshiping Buddha and gods, but Chen Meiyun had been here several times with her mother and knew a little about the ins and outs.
"I'm telling you, when you go in later, remember to go through the door on the right, because the middle door is the empty door, and only monks can go through it. There's a saying called 'entering the empty door'. Last time, my mom scolded me because I went through the wrong door."
While listening, Jiang Wan observed the pilgrims coming in and out, and found that there seemed to be some meaning behind the way men and women raised their feet.
"Men should take their left foot first if they are on the left, and women should take their right foot first if they are on the right." Chen Meiyu explained it to her before she asked.
Jiang Wan briefly recalled her only experience of going to the temple to burn incense, and found that she had done everything wrong: "Do you think that if we really do something wrong, will the Buddha make things difficult for us?"
She looked up at the Bodhisattva seated on the altar, enveloped in a wisp of mist. With half-lidded eyes, she gazed down upon the countless worshippers. Jiang Wan kept a small secret about her only experience worshipping the Buddha. At the time, Jiang Huainan and Li Wan were arguing bitterly, and Jiang Wan often dreamed of the deceased Jiang Sheng. For a time, her spirits were severely strained, nearly on the verge of collapse. However, when she was nearing a breakdown, she often displayed a more aroused state than usual.
So not only did the people around him not notice it, they all thought she was in a particularly good mood during that time.
She wasn't one to talk to, but then, for some reason, she decided to go to a temple. She took a two-hour drive alone to a fairly famous temple in Nanyuan. It was raining heavily, and the temple was deserted. She got soaked. With the money she'd saved from lunch, she bought some incense and herbs from a Buddhist temple distribution center. After burning incense, she knelt for a long time in the main hall.
The raindrops hanging on the green branches fell for a long time.
It seeped into her eyes bit by bit.
At that time, she had only one wish, that everything should have cause and effect. No matter good or bad, as long as there was a result, it would be fine.
After Chen Meiyun and Jiang Wan finished their worship at the temple, they waited for her mother outside. Chen Meiyun's mother had a long-standing Buddhist amulet here, and it seemed it was time to renew it. With nothing else to do, the two of them started snapping photos. Jiang Wan snapped a photo with the temple's name and posted it on WeChat Moments, captioning: "There's no such thing as burning incense to improve yourself."
Chen Meiyu was the first to give her a thumbs up.
Lu Jiyu was the first to send her a message.
gazer: Are you worshipping Buddha?
Jiang Ziya: I have finished my worship and I would also like to pray for you and Zhou Zifang.
Lu Jiyu was a little surprised to find that her conscience had been so strong recently that it seemed to be overflowing.
gazer: Oh, what do you want? Can you tell me?
Jiang Ziya: What else could it be? Good luck on your college entrance exams. Oh, and I also hope you find a wife who's willing to spend time with you in a second-hand air conditioner.
This time Jiang Wan waited for about five minutes before Lu Jiyu replied belatedly: I guess even the Buddha would be speechless about you.
Jiang Ziya: I'm speechless, since the Buddha doesn't like to talk anyway. So, did the Buddha speak to you?
After she replied to the message, Lu Jiyu waited for a few minutes before replying with an expression that said "I admit defeat".
So Jiang Wan asked directly: Are you busy?
gazer: Well, I’m done.
Jiang Wan thought of the little trick of worshipping Buddha that Chen Meiyu had just taught him, and was curious whether Lu Jiyu knew it too.
Jiang Ziya: Have you ever worshipped Buddha? Do you know some of the intricacies involved?
Gazelle: Me? I've done it a few times with my family and know a little bit about it, but I'm not an expert. What's going on?
Jiang Ziya: I found that my previous method of worshipping Buddha was wrong. Do you think Buddha and Bodhisattva will care about it?
Jiang Wan's question reminded Lu Jiyu of a previous trip to Southeast Asia, where a friend took him to a famous local temple. He didn't believe in foreign gods and Buddhas, so he and his friend went inside to visit without paying homage, simply passing through. Later, as they were walking up the stairs to the overpass, Lu Jiyu suddenly felt dizzy and, without warning, tumbled down the stairs.
Fortunately, despite his delicate appearance, he was actually quite resilient. His friends were horrified and took him to a nearby hospital for a checkup, but luckily, he was fine. Later, upon returning to China, Lu Lin learned about the incident and took him to see an abbot he knew to perform a ritual.
It was a rather melodramatic experience, but now that I think about it, I do feel that there was indeed some metaphysics in it. Later, whenever Lu Jiyu went abroad, he would stay away from such supernatural things.
Gazer: Haven't you heard of the saying, "Sincerity is the key to success." Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are so magnanimous, they wouldn't bother with you about right or wrong.
The two chatted for a few sentences when the phone suddenly vibrated several times.
Jiang Wan exited the chat box between her and Lu Jiyu, and found that Chen Meiyu had created a small group of four people and sent a lot of photos into it.
She took a look at the name of the group, "Singles' Team", and her eyes went dark.
Yunyun wants to go to bed early: Please help me choose the best one quickly, I want to use it.
Zhou Bajie: What for? Sending it to your Bai Yueguang?
Yunyun wants to go to bed early: I'm glad you know. Choose for me!
Zhou Bajie: With the beauty filter turned up so high, I can hardly tell whether it’s a human or a ghost, and you still let others choose!
Yunyun should go to bed early: No one will think you are dead if you don’t speak.
Zhou Bajie: You see, even though I don’t say anything, the other two people are willing to pay attention to you.
Lu Jiyu: …I immediately sent a “good” emoticon to show my perfunctory response.
At this moment, Jiang Wan, who was sitting opposite Chen Meiyu, also kept quoting Lu Jiyu's expression, showing the most perfunctory attitude.
Chen Meiyun glared at him, and Jiang Wan raised his hands in surrender, but he also didn't forget to surrender: "I think what Zhou Zifang said is pretty much the same. To be honest, the photos you sent are not as good as the ones I just took for you."
As soon as Jiang Wan finished speaking, two more photos appeared in the group, which seemed to be the two photos Jiang Wan had just taken of Chen Meiyu.
Zhou Bajie: It’s even more unbearable to look at.
…
gazer: The previous ones are abstract, but these ones are very specific.
Lu Jiyu's words aroused Jiang Wan's curiosity, and she followed up with further questions.
Jiang Ziya: What do you mean?
Gazelle: The first part is very abstract, while the second part is very detailed due to poor photography. Also, a cute emoji.
Jiang Ziya: Thank you, I’ve blocked you.
Chen Meiyu put down her phone and spread her hands in front of Jiang Wan: Look, woman, you are still too confident in yourself.
After Chen Meiyun's mother finished her business, she took Jiang Wan and Chen Meiyun to eat a vegetarian meal and then went for a walk on the island. During this time, Chen Meiyun's father called to ask about her. Chen Meiyun hugged the phone and acted like a spoiled child. Jiang Wan took a video and sent it to Jiang Huainan.
Jiang Ziya: Look at them!
＊
After worshiping Buddha, Jiang Wan returned to the studio around 7 o'clock. Before returning, the three of them had a simple snack at a local cafe, but after a three-hour journey, when they arrived at the doorstep, Jiang Wan didn't expect that he was hungry again.
Half of the doors in the alley were still lit. Jiang Wan was walking while looking at his phone and ordering takeout.
Jiang Huainan will be back tomorrow, and she plans to clean up the studio tonight to prevent him from being so angry that he runs away from home when he comes back tomorrow.
After a long and arduous process, Jiang Wan finally decided between Malatang and Chengdu noodles. Then, considering noodles' tendency to clump, she finally settled on Malatang. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she found herself at the studio's entrance. The evergreen camphor tree rustled in front of the door, and the evening breeze carried the aroma of Dongpo pork. The surroundings were dark and gloomy. However, a stubborn little light still burned in the tofu shop next door, barely illuminating the small space in front of the shop.
Jiang Wan vaguely remembered Jiang Huainan mentioning that there was a chef living nearby who was an amazing cook. He even opened a beef noodle restaurant in the heart of the city. Business was booming every day, and he had three husbands. As she thought about it, she searched her bag for the key to her studio.
Suddenly, a male voice came from behind, which sounded both strange and familiar.
"Jiang Wan——"
Jiang Wan paused for a moment before turning his head to look in the direction of the voice. A group of tall and thin boys were standing in the white lights in front of the tofu shop, with familiar smiles on their faces blurred by the light.
She was not very good at remembering people, but she still recognized the other person at a glance - Gao Zhuo.
Jiang Huainan was the first student he had since opening his studio, and for a long time, his only student. A somewhat romantic figure, he firmly believed that good wine needs no bush. After opening his studio, he neither advertised nor asked for publicity, and he wasn't anxious about not being able to recruit. He lived happily every day, managing this seemingly shabby studio, which was actually Jiang Huainan's entire fortune.
Until one day, a thin boy pushed open the door of Jiang Wan's studio. He was Gao Zhuo.
Later, Jiang Wan realized that Gao Zhuo had been admitted to a very low-quality high school because he hadn't done well on the high school entrance exam. He was completely hopeless, believing he'd never get into his ideal school. But then he heard someone suggest he try pursuing an art degree, which required lower scores on the college entrance exam. Gao Zhuo had never discovered any other talents, aside from a brief stint in elementary school painting, so he considered pursuing this path.
but.
He didn't seem to have much talent in painting. After studying for a whole year, Gao Zhuo felt that he had no chance of success in painting and took the initiative to find Jiang Wan who was helping in the studio that day.
He was a very introverted boy. During the year in the studio, except for the few times when Jiang Wan took the initiative to talk to him, he rarely talked to her.
Gao Zhuo knew that Jiang Wan had excellent academic performance and attended one of the best high schools in the city. He was very envious, so that day he asked Jiang Wan, "If someone like me doesn't pursue a career in art, will I never be able to get into university?"
The studio was silent, and his voice was the same as always, soft and low, like a soliloquy, but concealing endless entanglements.
"How could that be? I thought you were the type of person who would eventually get what you wanted no matter which path you chose."
Jiang Wan is not the kind of person who would say nice words to comfort others. She said this because she sincerely felt that if someone as hard-working as Gao Zhuo could not get what he wanted, then he didn't have to worry about it. Such a result could be everyone's fault, but it definitely wouldn't be his.
Gao Zhuo didn't come to the studio the next day. He decided to focus all his energy on academic subjects.
"I was having dinner nearby with a friend, and after dinner we wandered over to the studio to come check it out. I saw the lights were dim and thought you weren't there, but the lady at the tofu shop next door said you'd be back soon, so I waited there for a while."
"We've been chatting for more than a while, haven't we?" Jiang Wan took a bottle of iced cola from the kitchen and handed it to Gao Zhuo. "She doesn't know if I'll be back or when I'll be back. She just wants you to chat with her for a while."
Gao Zhuo touched his head, a look of belated realization on his face: "Oh, is that so?"
"But it was quite fun chatting with her. It reminded me of my own grandmother."
Jiang Wan dragged a chair beside him and sat down. He bent down, picked up a paintbrush on the ground, and scribbled a few strokes aimlessly on the paper in front of him. He sighed in his heart that not only had this man's appearance not changed much, but his personality was also as kind as ever.
"I heard from Teacher Jiang that you got extra points from F University. I'm so happy for you." Gao Zhuo's face was a little darker than before, and his smile seemed a bit simple.
"Thanks."
"I heard from my dad that you are doing well in your studies now?"
Gao Zhuo seemed to hesitate for a few seconds before slowly nodding: "Well, I plan to apply to C University."
"C University?" Jiang Wan was genuinely surprised. C University was a prestigious university in Nanyuan. Even at No. 3 Middle School, one needed to consistently rank in the top 150 of their grade to have a chance of getting in.
"Doesn't it sound a bit like a fool's dream?" Gao Zhuo smiled shyly again.
"But he told me I could do it, so I thought I could do it too."
"Him?" A picture of the shimmering sea surface gradually took shape with just a few strokes of Jiang Wan's brush. Gao Zhuo stared at Jiang Wan's painting technique. He had felt for a long time that Jiang Wan was talented in painting, but she always acted as if she didn't like painting.
"He's a new friend I met recently. He was originally admitted to our school, but because he was so talented, he was poached by No. 3 Middle School. He was recently recommended for admission to F University, and our teachers invited him back to give us tutoring."
"He's amazing. He has a cool, handsome face and a brilliant mind, but he's also a very kind person. Sometimes I'd work on a problem until midnight and send him the part I didn't understand, and he'd call me to teach me."
"The most important thing is." At this moment, Gao Zhuo's eyes flashed with a glint that Jiang Wan had never seen before, like -
“He taught me the importance of believing in myself.”
After talking for a long time, Jiang Wan suddenly became curious: "By the way, which high school did you go to?"
"Dewen Middle School."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
