This was the first time the family went on a trip together. They had originally agreed to go and burn the first incense, but on the way they saw many people who were also heading to Xia Xishan with baskets on their shoulders. There were a few bright red candles sticking out of the baskets. The most important thing was that they all had means of transportation, including tricycles, bicycles, and motorcycles.
There are 7 people in the Lin family, which is too many people. They can only walk there. They think that they will definitely not be able to catch the first incense, so they just walk slowly and enjoy the scenery.
When we got to the foot of the mountain, it was actually just past eight o'clock. But the country people all got up early, especially those who were thinking about burning incense on the first day of the new year, and they got up even earlier.
"There are so many people!" The two brothers Ganchao were standing across the road at the foot of the mountain wearing their small military coats. They couldn't help but open their mouths wide when they saw people going up the mountain one after another. There was also a row of small vendors squatting on the side of the road with various shoulder poles and baskets.
"Selling radishes on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year? Who wants them?" Liang Shengdi stretched her neck and looked from the beginning.
"…I'm selling rice cakes too…who doesn't have any?”
"The basket is covered so tightly, who knows what's inside? How can we do business?"
"Incense, candles, and gold ingots...can't be eaten..."
…
"Mom..." Lin Guoqing was embarrassed. Where was the agreed-upon mountain climbing and burning incense? Didn't they just come out from home after a full meal? It's only been over an hour!
"They're just running a business. If they don't have what you want, don't say it in front of others! What if they end up arguing on New Year's Day?"
Liang Shengdi curled her lips, "Do you think I'm stupid? How could I say anything in front of others? I was just standing here muttering!"
"Alright, alright, let's go up!" Chen Chunhua urged, and stuffed the basket at the crook of her elbow into Lin Guoqing's hands. "You carry it for a while, I'm so tired from carrying it!"
Lin Guoqing: ...No, when I went out to ask her for it just now, who was it that said she didn't need help? Now she's complaining about him being inconsiderate?!
There seem to be many people on the mountain today, but that is only compared with the previous ten years. If compared with the next thirty or forty years, it is just the level of people just sprinkling water, like on ordinary days and holidays.
Chen Chunhua remembered hearing some children say that, just to be the first to light the incense, many people would run to the mountain temple after eating New Year's Eve dinner at home and sleep on the floor. But when they opened the door, they found that several local tycoons were already sleeping in the meditation room inside, so the outsiders had no chance of lighting the first incense.
Then the host on Xia Xishan was complained about and reported.
Later, the temple gates were not locked on New Year's Eve, so rich or poor, you could grab the entrance yourself! Then there were too many people, and stampedes were likely to occur.
What to do? Charge an entrance fee! Normally, locals can enter for free with their ID cards, while outsiders are charged 10 yuan. But on New Year's Eve, the price goes up to 200 yuan per person, and this price will remain until the end of the third day of the Lunar New Year.
But things didn't go peacefully for a few years. Everyone was making more money, and 200 yuan wasn't a big deal. The key was that after spending all that money, they wanted to burn the best incense, right? That could easily lead to fights, and later, the police station had to send people on duty...
One Chinese New Year, she really wanted to join in the fun, but her second son persuaded her not to go. He said, "Mom, there's nothing fun to see. All you can see are crowds of people. You can't even stop to rest for a while because the people behind you will push you. You're too old, so you'd better not go..."
Now, Chen Chunhua was climbing the mountain slowly, although the mountain path was rugged and difficult to walk on, and not as easy to walk on as the bluestone steps that were later renovated by the government.
But at least I still had the mood to stop and look down the mountain, chatting and laughing with my family. It seemed that another big family had come down the mountain, and I scolded the two little ones not to run on the mountain path.
They first went to the nearest nunnery. Lin Guoqing didn't go in, so he waited outside. The nunnery was small, with only two nuns who looked older than Liang Shengdi beating wooden fish.
Like other pilgrims, Chen Chunhua took Liang Shengdi and the children to burn incense at the big Bodhisattva in the middle, then walked around the hall and left, and then continued to climb up.
"Mom, were those two nuns the ones who shaved Erniu's mother's hair just now?" Lin Shugan asked in a low voice.
"That should be it. I didn't see anyone else. What happened?"
Lin Shugan shook his head, then nodded, "Nothing, it's just... don't they celebrate the New Year with their families? They all shaved their heads and became monks, so Erniu's mother will be at home for the New Year."
"That's different." Chen Chunhua didn't know how to answer. If she remembered correctly, the two nuns had been in the mountains for many years and no one had seen their relatives. If there were any, they would definitely have heard of them.
"Erniu's mother has only shaved her head; she hasn't officially become a nun. She has a family, so they'll definitely be spending the New Year at home. The nuns in the temple are officially nuns, but they... probably don't have any families anymore. Where else can they go if not here?"
"Ah... I have no family left..." This was too tragic. Lin Shu opened his mouth and looked back down at the nunnery which had become smaller. Then he put his hands together and bent down slightly.
"Amitabha, Buddha will bless them."
Lin Guoqing felt a little relieved watching from the side. It was great to have another devout believer in the family. Chanting Buddha's thoughts was much better than having no taboos at all.
He swears, there is absolutely no fucking connotation here!
After a lot of effort, I climbed to the top of the mountain. Even though the temple was dusty and old, with many corners of the temple still had collapsed rocks, it was still very large and had many courtyards. Back then, it was very popular.
It is said that this temple existed during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Over the past thousands of years, it has been burned down and rebuilt several times with funds raised by the public. During the ten years of the heyday of the dynasty, the temple was also destroyed and Buddhists returned to secular life, but it has survived.
After the reform and opening up, many people have donated money and manpower to repair the temple and build Buddha statues bit by bit, so it looks much more lively now.
Many people came out with empty baskets after burning incense. Chen Chunhua urged everyone to go in quickly and find the main hall first.
Lin Guoqing followed Shen Chunhua like a tool, stretching out his hand when she wanted incense, stretching out his hand when she wanted candles, and stretching out his hand again when he wanted matches.
Chen Chunhua was responsible and devoutly represented the whole family to pray to the Buddha for blessings, peace, health, wealth and good fortune.
Lin Guoqing would have to remind everyone in the family from time to time about the proper order and rules: candles should be placed outside, incense should be placed inside, and don't step on the threshold! I said don't step on the threshold! Did you hear me, Third Brother!
Shumei! Keep to the left, don't rush straight ahead! Kneel before the Great Bodhisattva, then the Small Bodhisattva, circling from left to right... Mom! Don't walk the other way! And don't go back!!!
In fact, there are not many temples that are worthy of proper worship now. Most of them are still closed and there is no money for repairs. After going around like this, Lin Guoqing feels more tired than going out to collect debts!
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