Chapter 131 Buddha, please protect your little fox (43)
Perhaps it was God's mercy that on the day after seven days of incense and worship, when the relics were transformed into dust in the void, the autumn rain suddenly stopped and a ray of sunshine rose.
The long-lost warmth instantly swept across Putuo Temple.
The long queues of pilgrims filled the entire hilltop.
They all wore plain white clothes, held long incense sticks in their hands, and looked pious and grateful.
When the plague and famine were rampant, it was the abbot who opened the temple doors and took them in, so they came spontaneously to see him off for the last time.
Among the crowd, there were many sentimental female pilgrims, all with red and swollen eyes, crying silently.
Inside the Buddhist temple, everything was silent, and the sandalwood rose slowly, passing around every face.
On the candlestick in the center of the Buddha statue, there is a relic. The relic is oval in shape and is covered with a layer of light gold under the candlelight.
Under the candlesticks, the young monks were kneeling on the ground.
Although Wuan had returned to secular life and vowed never to enter Buddhism again in his life, he eventually returned to Putuo Temple.
The only difference this time was that there was another person beside him—Ye Ranqing.
Ye Ranqing loves bright red, but at this moment she is wearing a white and spotless plain dress, with black hair like a waterfall, tied behind her head with a hairpin, and her small face, the size of a palm, is not made up.
Jingchen was wearing a white robe and standing alone in the corner, his eyes cold and indifferent, falling on the relic.
He did not wear a cassock, nor did he hold any Buddhist objects.
For him, he had already fallen out of Buddhism and cut off his Buddhist path, so how could he have the qualifications to be involved in anything?
As for the fat uncle, he put on the abbot's robe that belonged to Jingkong, and there was an extra mark on his round head.
On weekdays, he always secretly planned with Wuan that after Abbot Jingkong passed away, he would become the abbot and Wuan would take his place as the temple supervisor.
But when that day really came, he couldn't laugh at all.
The abbot passed away, Wuan returned to secular life, and the Buddhist disciples also had to leave to travel the world and enjoy the long-lost freedom.
In the huge Putuo Temple, he was the only one left in an instant.
Thinking of this, Uncle Fat's nose felt sore and he couldn't stop crying.
No...no, he is the abbot now, he can't cry, he can't bring shame to Putuo Temple.
The fat uncle hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with the sleeve of his robe and straightened his back.
He choked with sobs, and even his voice trembled as he recited the scriptures.
"Namo Amitabha, Tathagata, Tathagata, Tathagata... Zhitagali, Svaha..."
He gently closed the yellowed scripture book, bowed with both hands, and bowed reverently and respectfully towards the relic.
"Amitabha..."
When the monks behind him repeated this sentence, his eyes suddenly turned red.
The fat uncle leaned close to the relic, choking with sobs. He was afraid of being laughed at by the other monks, so he lowered his voice very low.
"Abbot... my recitation of the Rebirth Sutra is not up to standard at all, right?"
However, this sentence will never get a response.
*
After Abbot Jingkong passed away, no one saw the figure of Buddhist disciple Jingchen again.
Some people say that he was imprisoned in the palace by the last emperor of Daliang for eighteen years. Finally, when Daliang was destroyed, he returned to secular life, carrying a string of beautiful Buddhist beads, and traveled every inch of land between heaven and earth to feel the freedom and happiness he had never experienced before.
Some people said that he went to the palace and stayed in the Jingchen Hall where he had lived for eighteen years, chanting scriptures and practicing meditation. He had already practiced fasting and would soon realize the right way.
Of course, some people also say that he did not leave Putuo Temple, but stayed in the meditation room day and night, waiting for someone.
Waiting for whom? No one knows.
Only occasionally would pilgrims ask why the cute little red fox in the temple had disappeared.
At that time, the fat uncle had no choice but to laugh and joke
"It stole a lot of steamed buns from the temple and then ran down the mountain."
Uncle Pangpang always felt guilty when he said this.
Was it really just the steamed buns that the little fox stole?
Or is it a pure, clear, glass-like heart of a Buddhist?
*
After the Li Kingdom occupied the capital, they did not burn, kill, or loot everywhere.
Although they are barbarians on the border, their customs are wild and open, and they like to fight and seize territory, but they also respect the customs of the capital.
Under their control, the capital city became more and more prosperous, and even the small market at the foot of Putuo Temple became much more lively.
In the blink of an eye, it is June again.
"Rouge! Fine peach blossom rouge, young lady, come and see."
"Look at this piece of cloth of mine. It would be very good for a coat or a cloak."
"Tanghulu! Delicious Tanghulu!"
An old man with a kind face was carrying candied haws and selling them along the street.
"Hello, I want candied haws."
A girl with a flamboyant and beautiful appearance and a slim figure stopped him.
"Okay, how many do you want, girl?"
"I want two."
Ye Ranqing made a "two" gesture, lowered his head and prepared to take out the silver from his purse.
"Ranqing! I just bought some sugar-coated baba, why didn't you wait for me?"
A familiar, gentle voice came from behind.
A smile unconsciously appeared on Ye Ranqing's face, his eyes curved slightly, forming a small crescent-shaped arc.
She turned around and looked at the person who came.
Wuan was wearing a turquoise robe and a tall hat that covered the stubble of hair that had just sprouted. He had a handsome face, a thin and slender figure, and an extremely fair complexion, even whiter than her, a girl.
Every time Ye Ranqing stood beside Wuan, he always felt inferior.
Ever since Wuan returned to secular life, the girls in the capital city have always secretly handed him sachets and handkerchiefs.
Although Wuan declined one by one and said that he only loved her, Ye Ranqing still felt a little sad.
Humph, it’s all Wuan’s fault. Why is he so handsome?
Thinking of this, Ye Ranqing snorted coldly, and the smile on his face disappeared completely.
Wu An was confused. He touched the back of his head and asked in confusion.
"What's wrong? Did I make you angry again?"
Ye Ranqing glared at him, pointed at the candied haws on the old man's wooden roller, and said bluntly
"Yes, I am angry. Come on, buy me some candied haws to appease me!"
Wu An had long been accustomed to her little temper and smiled indulgently.
"Okay, buy as much as you want to eat, Ranqing."
He smiled and took out the copper coins from his pocket and asked the old man
"How much are two candied haws? Is five copper coins enough?"
The old man shook his head, hunched over and took out two candied haws and handed them to Wu An.
"Two coppers will be enough."
Wu An was a little surprised for a moment "So cheap?"
After the State of Li occupied the capital, everything became bustling, business gradually became booming, and the prices of things rose rapidly.
The old man smiled, his eyes slightly warm, and his eyes unconsciously looked into the distance, full of nostalgia.
"It's been almost a year, and all the shops in this market have raised their prices, except for my candied haws stall, which still keeps the same price."
"It's useless for me, an old man half buried in the ground, to ask for so much money. I might as well sell more and let more people taste my cooking skills."
Hearing this, Wuan couldn't help but be a little dazed.
It turns out that it’s been almost a year...
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