After the two of them exchanged greetings, the old monk said to Xu Jianguo with a kind face, "Your family has come to Hanshan Temple. I believe you have a connection with this Buddhist place."
His voice was like the sound of a bell in an ancient temple, ethereal and distant. Even if he stopped talking, the sound seemed to still echo in the air.
Xu Jianguo was certain that this old monk was no ordinary person, but he still maintained a faint smile on his face and said calmly, "Master, Hanshan Temple is famous far and wide. Today I have brought my family here to experience the charm of this thousand-year-old temple."
The old monk nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Hanshan Temple has weathered thousands of years of wind and rain, witnessing countless rises and falls, honors and disgraces. Benefactor, I see that you have a deep and profound aura, and you must be no ordinary person. It's just that your obsession is too strong. It's better to let go when the time comes."
"Oh? Can you see that I have an obsession in my heart?" Xu Jianguo became interested and asked.
The old monk nodded without saying anything.
"Master, do you have a way to crack it?"
"The sound of the temple bells has comforted travelers on countless nights. Donors, why not give it a try? After all, personal abilities are limited. Now that you have a fresh start, why not experience this wonderful life to the fullest?"
As soon as the old monk finished speaking, Xu Jianguo's brows furrowed slightly. After a moment, his expression returned to normal. He smiled and asked, "Master, does the bell of Hanshan Temple really have such magical power that it can relieve people's sorrow?"
The old monk smiled faintly and said, "The sound of a bell can reach people's hearts and break their obsessions. In this chaotic world, people are often confused and troubled. The sound of a bell, like the sound of Sanskrit, can bring peace to people's hearts, dissolve their obsessions, and find the way to liberation."
Xu Jianguo seemed lost in thought. Just as he was about to ask more, the old monk gently waved his hand and said, "Don't ask any more questions, everything is predetermined. Our meeting today is also a chance encounter. I hope you can understand your thoughts soon and practice and gain enlightenment."
After saying this, the old monk turned around and slowly left. His back became gradually blurred in the light and shadow of the ancient temple, and soon he disappeared.
Strangely enough, in the moment when the old monk appeared, the time in Hanshan Temple seemed to have stopped. Even the little red bean, who had been chattering non-stop, became quiet, staring at everything in front of him with big eyes.
Xu Jianguo looked at the direction where the old monk left for a long time, until Wen Sitian walked to his side, and then he came to his senses.
"Jianguo, are you okay?" Wen Sitian asked worriedly.
Xu Jianguo smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about what the old monk said just now."
"Don't overthink it. You've already done well enough. There's no need to dwell on unrealistic things. But I think what the master said just now is very true!"
"Oh? Which sentence?"
"Your obsession is too strong. It's better to let go when it's time to do so."
"You know I have an obsession?" Xu Jianguo looked at Wen Sitian in surprise.
"Tsk, I've slept in the same bed with you for twenty years, how could I not know whether you have any obsession or not?" Wen Sitian said with a slight blush on her pretty face.
Xu Jianguo smiled wickedly when he heard this and continued, "Then tell me what I'm obsessed with?"
"Country, family, and career!" Wen Sitian said these three words, then stopped talking and stared at Xu Jianguo with her big eyes.
Hearing this, Xu Jianguo stopped talking. After a moment, he put his arm around Wen Sitian's shoulders and said with a smile, "As expected of my wife, you understand me!"
"Oh, be serious!" Wen Sitian slapped Xu Jianguo's hand away in annoyance and continued, "I know you are under pressure, but you are only one person after all. There are many things that you cannot control. I think you can try to let go. This world can survive without anyone! I think what Grandma Deng said before is very true. She said, 'Don't take yourself too lightly, but don't take yourself too seriously. Keep a calm mind and work hard to live every day. It is better than anything else. Thinking too much will only add to your troubles! If the sky falls, there will be someone taller to hold it up. When your strength is really needed, you can't hide even if you want to.'"
Xu Jianguo agreed with Wen Sitian's words, and as a person who had lived two lives, how could he not understand the truth behind it.
At the same time, he also knew that the old monk's words were not groundless, and it was very likely that he had seen through his own origins.
Since his rebirth, he has been trying hard to protect his family and friends around him because he carries the memories of his previous life. He also prepares for many things in advance. At the same time, he also hides many obsessions deep in his heart.
These include making up for the regrets of his past life and excessive worry about the country's development. All of these are like heavy shackles that bind his soul.
It was not until this time that Xu Jianguo began to re-examine his inner self. He thought of the joy he felt when he was reborn back to Sandaliang and possessed the system and space, as well as the ideals and ambitions in his heart.
I recalled every detail of my life over the past twenty years and found that I was really tired of living. I already had such awesome golden fingers as the system and space, but why didn't I think about enjoying life and satisfying my desire to be a salted fish?
I have to admit that the words of the old monk and Wen Sitian planted a seed in his heart, allowing him to think more deeply about his future path.
In fact, he had considered this issue before, wondering whether he should wait until the reform and opening up to take off the military uniform. However, when he asked himself, he found that he had already become one with the uniform and it was something he could not give up at all.
"Since I can't take off this military uniform, then don't take it off! I can't disbelieve what the old monk says, but I can't believe it completely either. I can't worry about gains and losses just because of what he said, right? But he said something very right just now, practice and learn! Who can say for sure what the future will be like?" Xu Jianguo thought to himself.
At this moment, an ancient and vicissitudes of life bell sounded suddenly from the temple.
The sound of the bell seemed to come from ancient times, majestic and ethereal.
When it first started, it was like the dull sound of thunder rolling slowly in the depths of my heart, carrying the heaviness of years of sedimentation, and each sound seemed to be hitting the barrier of my soul.
The sound waves drifted leisurely and spread freely among the temples, like invisible ripples spreading layer by layer in the air. Wherever they reached, the hustle and bustle and troubles of the world seemed to be quietly washed away.
Xu Jianguo, who had just figured it out at this moment, suddenly felt a sense of clarity in his thoughts, and felt a sense of relief all over his body. It seemed that the shackles that were entangled in his heart were gradually dissolved by the sound of the bell. This feeling was something he had never experienced since his rebirth, and it was very comfortable.
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