Chapter 9 White Tiger
In the year of Bingchen, the horse ran to Baidu Posthouse in Baisha Town. As he did every time he encountered a lover, Meng Jian met the tailor Qiao Fengzi outside the Dasheng Temple. The old man Xiao He said that at that time, the tailor came out of the posthouse outside the Dasheng Temple with a satin flour thread bag tied around his waist. A bald postman climbed up the wall and stuck his head out, grinning and shouting, "Fengzi, hold your belly, will you sew?" Qiao Fengzi also laughed and said, "Look at you, you weakling, you are filial." The postman cursed, "Sew your mother." Qiao Fengzi said, "Call your mother and sew wherever she points."
The people of Baisha were no less slangy than those of Chengdu, but the Bayu dialect was more vulgar. Meng Jian's ears were weak, so he couldn't understand everything. His eyes were sharp, however; he spotted Qiao Fengzi. Xiao He, a nearby attendant, said the woman had been broken off by someone else.
The above account is by Xiao He, a native of Baisha—it's not recorded in the "Meng Bai Family Chronicle." Xiao He, a native of Baishatang Village, was Meng Jian's attendant at the time. At the age of twelve, Xiao He moved to Baisha and lived in a Taoist temple, where he practiced feng shui. He worked for seven or eight years as a laborer, and still lived there, occasionally working as a hired hand at the water station. One day, Xiao He told Meng Jian that Qiao Fengzi's name was Qiao Heng, and her family was of the lower fifth class. Her father, Old Qiao, had died early. Before his death, Old Qiao had entrusted the family to Li Qichang (Zhi). At the age of six, Qiao Fengzi became Qichang's daughter-in-law. Li Zhi's wife, Zhang, took Qiao Fengzi to the fields and taught her to recognize rice, count accounts, and sew. Zhang forbad Qiao Fengzi to socialize with her son, Li Fu, saying they could only get along when they were older. The Li family had a rule not to eat after noon, which meant that they didn't eat together in the afternoon; everyone went back to their rooms to eat. In the evening, the women ate vegetarian rice, and only the men could eat meat. Zhang said that it was not the right time for them to eat, and that the women were weak and couldn't eat much. Craving meat, Qiao Fengzi went to her husband, Li Fu. Li Fu gave her his own food, and after that, Qiao Fengzi often stole his meals. Qiao Fengzi asked Li Fu what books he was studying, but he couldn't answer. At first, Qiao Fengzi thought Li Fu was honest, but later she discovered that he only listened and never wrote in class, never looked at the teacher, and even loved to touch Zhang's face. Li Fu was blind. Qiao Fengzi didn't mind his blindness; her heart was in the meat. However, after she asked Li Fu if he was blind, he stopped letting her in. Qiao Fengzi turned to Li Fu's younger brother, Li He. Li He not only gave Qiao Fengzi meat, but also often stood in the fields, gesturing at the farmers and amusing Qiao Fengzi. After a few visits, Zhang discovered their relationship. Qiao Fengzi's engagement was broken off, but he didn't change, constantly running to the Li family's tile kiln to look for Li He. Xiao He, a native of Baisha, said that if Li He hadn't died, he might have married that adulteress. Li He often sent her goods. However, Li He was later murdered by a thief, bringing retribution to Qiao Fengzi. Unable to make a living in the town, she wandered to the Dasheng Temple outside. The monks took pity on her and let her live in a thatched hut west of the temple. Qiao Fengzi then opened a sewing shop, mending clothes for people at the docks and post stations.
Thirty years ago, Xiao He said, "They say she's a mender, but I don't think she is."
Meng Jian took out a dagger, cut open the brocade edge of his cuffs with silver thread, made a slit, and led Xiao He to the tailoring shop.
The thatched hut used as a sewing shop was made of tung wood and had three rooms. Although shabby, it had doors, windows, cabinets, and a stove. According to Meng Jian and Qiao Heng's son Meng Xiao, their mother, Qiao Heng, originally used the main room as a shop, with the loom placed under the south window to the left of the door. The sewing table in the middle also served as a dining table, and the embroidery supplies were stored in a side cabinet. It must have been here that Mother first met Father.
Xiao He claims that Meng Jian donated the beams and the 24-foot-tall gate to Dasheng Temple as a gesture of gratitude to the monks for their support of Qiao Heng. Meng Jian's road construction from Baisha and the Wenzhong Shrine were intended to restore Qiao Heng's reputation. Qiao Heng captivated Meng Jian. However, there are conflicting accounts. Bai Wenfeng, a lay Buddhist from Jinfang who received funding from Meng Jian and authored the "Jialan Records" and "Shaoxing Yongchuan Records" for Dasheng Temple (also the author of "Bai Meng Family Records"), says that even if Meng Jian were a lecher, he would never have been so captivated by a country girl.
Bai Wenfeng, a lay Buddhist from Jinfang, explained that Meng Jian's discovery of Qiao Heng was a coincidence in the eyes of Xiao He, a layman, and the Baisha natives. The natives and Xiao He, a layman, had no connection to the Dao. Bai Wenfeng said, "I came here with my wandering brother, Monk Bai. He said Meng Jian came here to pay his respects to the Great Sage Temple. From then on, Meng Jian first saw the clay body of the Buddha, then Qiao Heng. At this moment, Qiao Heng was the finger of the Dao. From the moment he saw Qiao Heng outside the temple gates to the moment she ran to find him at the river dock, it was also the finger of the Dao." Bai Wenfeng added, "What a coincidence, Meng Jian recognized Monk Bai. Looking back, our two families are also related through our ancestors."
According to the "Bai Meng Family Chronicle," Meng Jian stayed at the Dasheng Temple for over two months. When it was time to return to Chengdu, he went to say goodbye to Bai Heshang. Bai Heshang asked him why he was leaving. He said he was worried about something happening at home. Bai Heshang asked, "Where's Qiao Heng?" Meng Jian replied, "I've been begging her for over two months, but there's been no improvement. She just calls me 'big brother.'"
Monk Bai said, "That woman was originally promiscuous, but she suddenly became reserved. This is a strange phenomenon."
Meng Jian laughed, saying it was a human. Monk Bai said, "It's a vision. It's a physical body, but it's different from ordinary bodies. It's not controlled by itself, nor by its mind, but by the Dharma. It can't leave now; it's not free. It won't follow you because you're not worthy of being its husband."
Meng Jian asked, "Am I not worthy of Qiao Heng?"
Monk Bai said, "In the secular world, Qiao Heng is not worthy of you. In the Dharma, I'm afraid you are not worthy of her body. Don't look at your numerous children, who have spread all over Shu."
Meng Jian thought of Qiao Heng's fair body and asked seriously what to do. Monk Bai said, "Find her and do everything you can to help her. She will give birth to a child, and that child will be born in her womb."
Meng Jian asked, "How do you know?"
Monk Bai said, "She chose Li He, but Li He died suddenly. She was the mother chosen by General Tianda, and no one in the secular world is worthy of being her father."
Meng Jian asked, "Which general is this?"
The White Monk said, "The White Tiger in the Western Palace. I observed it at night and saw the Pleiades shining brilliantly, the Alpha Centauri competing with the moon for brilliance, shooting stars reaching the Celestial Palace, and the celestial ship sailing on the Milky Way. This grand spectacle is a sign of the White Tiger's arrival. For the White Tiger to come into the world, it must have flesh and blood, and first have flesh and blood relations. Anyone it chooses, regardless of whether they are human or animal, will give birth to its flesh and blood. It saw that you have many offspring, so it chose you as a father, but it will also depend on whether you can be a father to him."
Meng Jian said, "But Qiao Heng looks down on me."
The White Monk said, "It's not that she despises you, it's that the child despises you. Go, wait at the dock; she will be there at midnight. Do everything you can to help her. When she gives birth, the child will be brave and valiant. Anyone who opposes him will be filled with sin. Anyone who helps him become a general will be blessed by the Great General of Heaven. When the child is born, send him to me and have him become a monk to repay my kindness."
Meng Jian said, "I have been in the market for many years. I find it hard to believe what you said."
The White Monk said, "Come out with me now, and I will let you recognize me first." Meng Jian came out. The White Monk said, "Listen, there is a tiger roaring in the thunder. It is the White Tiger, your future son."
Meng Jian listened again and again, carefully examining the roar, vaguely sensing the presence of something. But he remained unconvinced. The White Monk stopped talking, waited a moment, then suddenly pointed at the dark forest on the other side of the stream and shouted, "Rise!" Thunder struck, and a massive gate opened from heaven to earth. A torrent of water, swirling with lightning, plunged like a python into the dark forest and into the earth. The wind and rain roared with a white rustle. Meng Jian saw the tiger, a plump white shadow, taking advantage of the situation.
Xiao He had also said these words from Jinfang Lay Buddhist Bai Wenfeng. Xiao He said that either Bai Wenfeng made this up, or his brother, Monk Bai, made it up to deceive Meng Jian. How could it be such a coincidence that the monk you met by chance was a descendant of your great-grandmother's family? The Bai brothers' goal was to keep Meng Jian in Baisha, or to spread Meng Jian's money in Baisha. Without Meng Jian, where would they get the 70,000 strings of cash for repairs? Could it be that the beams and mountain gates of his Dasheng Temple also fell from the gates of heaven? Maybe even Qiao Heng was in cahoots with them. Monk Bai was a wandering monk who, along with his brother, Jinfang Lay Buddhist Bai Wenfeng, had been begging for free food from Dasheng Temple for four years. He claimed to have achieved enlightenment and become an immortal, and came here to meet people to accomplish unparalleled merits. I think he was waiting to deceive people!
Regardless of what Xiao He said, thirty years later, that night, what was meant to happen happened. Like a flood that overwhelms a weir, it doesn't care whether people believe it or not. That night, Meng Jian went to the dock alone and stood in front of the boat, watching the lightning in the distance, his heart filled with a longing. The tiger roared in the thunder, as if answering, but he couldn't understand a word. Finally, he turned around and saw Qiao Heng's snow-white face, like a female ghost with disheveled hair.
Meng Jian rammed the road to Baisha and built a kiln in Ezhen to burn clay, creating a private road to Jiangjin. Modeled after the road within Chengdu, he erected a stone tablet in accordance with the "Etiquette Order" with the inscription: "South to Jiangjin, seventy-four miles. Avoid the shorter, avoid the longer; go and avoid the coming." This road and the gravel road at the wharf were recorded by Jinfang lay Buddhist Bai Wenfeng in his "Shaoxing Yongchuan Chronicle" compiled for Dasheng Temple, which reads:
"In the eighth month of the Yicho year of Shaoxing, at dusk and with a strong wind, Meng Gong arrived at Zejin, paved a road and a road for eighty miles, and erected a stele. Everyone was happy with it. The county magistrate asked if he would compensate him, and Meng Gong agreed. In the ninth month of autumn, Meng Gong visited the Sheng Temple and went to the Jinli Courtyard. He discussed with the monk (Bai) the donation of nine beams, rafters, long and short crossbeams (for the pavilion), interlaced golden purlins, a main ridgepole surrounding the ridge, and the mountain gate..."
The elderly Xiao He called Monk Bai a demonic monk. The people of Baisha shared Xiao He's views on Qiao Heng and Meng Jian. They avoided discussing them, and whenever someone asked about the road construction, they would instead discuss the beams and gates of Dasheng Temple.
白文鳳說，喬姮懷孕時，一屈姓老鳏罵她倒路橫死，第二天，一棟屋室被雷劈塌，正将老鳏的兒子壓在底下。此後土人更不愛提喬姮與孟谏，雖與他倆相隔五裏居住，只當世上沒有這兩個人。紹興七年九月，白和尚閉關滿百日，徑自到草廬看了一眼孟谏懷裏那像紅薯似的嬰兒，說，是了，這就是白虎。你們要小心養它，切莫弄傷它的血肉。又一百天後，孟谏回了成都。丙寅年再來，兒子孟骁已經在大聖寺出家，白和尚為他取了個道拏的法名。
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
