Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Qingyun Temple
"Good morning, Aunt Qingfeng, good morning, Aunt Yun'an, I'm here!"
Lan Nongnong had lived in Qingyun Temple for over a year and was familiar with the temple's rules. She had originally estimated the time to come, but she had just been delayed for a while.
The monks in the nunnery were diligent and punctual, and knowing that today was the day she would come, they had already made preparations and were eagerly waiting. Naturally, they saw the reluctant farewell below.
She was not good at hiding her feelings, and now her face was rosy and her eyes were full of waves, which clearly showed that she was deeply in love.
Yun An tilted his head to glance at the abbot, but seeing no strange expression, he suppressed his anger for the moment.
There are now five practitioners in Qingyun Temple. The abbess has not yet taken enough mugwort, and the young nun has just moved into a new room. They have all lived in the temple to avoid the world and have experienced many hardships. Their natures are as calm as still water.
The temple is quiet, I am accompanied by Buddhist scriptures every day, my heart is as calm as an ancient well,
Such a peaceful and quiet day became different because of her arrival. Although she knew nothing at that time, she was always asking questions, laughing and being surprised, and curious like a child. However, the people in the nunnery were not impatient with her. They also treated her as a junior and gave her unlimited indulgence.
She is like a ray of ignorant light, shining and jumping, making people unconsciously attracted to her and smile knowingly.
The last time she came back, she had not yet fallen in love, and now she is just that young. For a woman, finding a husband is like being reborn. If she is not careful, it may be a lifelong problem. How can one not be worried?
The abbot nodded and went inside. Yun An took a step behind and asked softly, "I saw you staying downstairs for a long time just now. Is there something wrong?"
The masters in Qingyun Temple all treated her very well, but Lan Nongnong was closest to Aunt Yun'an.
Perhaps it was because Aunt Yun'an was the first person she met when she first arrived in a hurry, and she developed a fledgling complex towards her. She was also the benefactor who lent a helping hand and sheltered her when she was ignorant and helpless.
Lan Nongnong shifted the wicker basket to her right hand, and took her arm with her left. She leaned closer and lowered her voice, her words tinged with unconcealable sweetness: "I came back today because I do have something to tell the aunts. I'll go burn incense in front of the Buddha first, and then I'll tell the aunts in detail."
"Aunt, are you all doing well these days? Is everything going well? Have you had a good rest? Do you think your appetite is better? Are there many pilgrims? Is everyone here today?"
Yun An had a tragic fate and no children. Being held in arms and whispered to her in such an intimate way melted her heart. He gently patted the back of her delicate hand. His usually cold eyebrows and eyes were now as soft as a warm breeze, filled with unconcealable doting.
"Amitabha, with such deep sincerity, the Buddha will surely bless you with everything going well. We are all well and here. Your aunt Yunming went to the back mountain to pick pear blossoms early this morning and steamed pear blossom cakes and pear jelly for you..."
"Summer is coming, and you'll be struggling to make a living out there alone. Yun Ting and I made you a few extra summer clothes so you can... "
"There are pilgrims in the nunnery from time to time. The fruits and vegetables grown in the backyard and on the back hill are enough to support our daily needs. We rarely need to spend money. We also receive donations from donors. The nunnery owner also said, why do you have to work so hard to earn money..."
Every time she came back from the city, Aunt Yun'an and the other aunts would say these words. Lan Nongnong's heart would feel warm and a little bitter every time she heard them.
Although she had never asked, she could guess that most women who lived in nunneries and practiced Buddhism had a jar of sealed past.
She had seen everything that had happened in the nunnery over the past year. Apart from the servants from Aunt Qingfeng's family who would come to visit, she had never seen anyone from the other aunts' families come to visit, or receive letters. Even Aunt Qingfeng rarely had any family members come to visit.
But Aunt Qingfeng, who is so cold and indifferent, is willing to go back and forth with her family for her. Otherwise, with her helpless and helpless body, how can she gain a foothold in Yuqing City, and how can everything go smoothly for her?
Qingyun Temple protected her from the wind and rain, and the aunts helped her adapt to the world. All these kindnesses were like a rebirth, and she should repay them to the best of her ability.
Lan Nongnong exhaled softly, rested her face on her shoulder, and smiled brightly when she looked up: "With the aunts taking care of me in many ways, how can I be tired? It's just a coincidence. I was worried about not having enough summer clothes and a light diet, and the aunts prepared everything for me. They really understand me."
Yun An was snuggled up to her affectionately, the smile on his face never faded. He stroked her forehead with his hand wrapped in Buddhist beads, shook his head and laughed, "You're such a chatterbox. Is this how you use telepathy?"
Lan Nongnong blinked and chuckled, "It's about mutual understanding, and it's not specific to men and women. Aunts know what I'm thinking, so why can't I use it?"
Qingyun Temple is not very big. As soon as you enter the temple, you can see the Buddha statue in the hall. The two of them whispered a few words and then walked to the back of the corridor.
The head of Qingfeng Temple had returned to the meditation room. The Buddhist hall was deep and quiet, with agarwood hanging on the prayer flags and lingering in the air. Only Aunt Yunning stood by the incense table, lowering her eyes, twirling beads, and silently reciting scriptures.
Lan Nongnong restrained her expression and walked quietly inside. She first bowed three times on the kneeling mat, then lit three incense sticks, offering green smoke to the Buddha, and inserted them into the cloud-patterned censer. She then placed a bag of incense money into the merit incense, then moved to the incense table, clasped her hands together and said, "Aunt Yunning, how are you?"
"Amitabha, deep peace,"
Yun Ning looked her up and down, his cold face softening. He took a step forward, gently brushed the Buddha's tassel across her hair and shoulders, and silently chanted a spell to dispel disasters. After a moment, he returned to his original position and nodded gently: "Go."
At that time, people believed in Buddhism and believed that the monks who often worshipped Buddha could be bathed in Buddha's light. From high-ranking officials to ordinary people, everyone was willing to spend money to ask the monks to purify the evil and pray for blessings. If they could receive the worship from the monks or the abbots themselves, they would feel that they were immune to all evil and would flock to them.
Lan Nongnong has lived alone since she left the nunnery. Whenever she comes back, no matter which aunt is serving the Buddha that day, she will pray for her to be purified.
Lan Nongnong didn't know whether Buddha blessed her or not, but she felt comfortable all over every time the aunts did her good deeds.
After leaving the Buddhist temple, there is a row of lush green bamboos along the north wall, each one standing tall and straight, humming in the wind. The path paved with blue-gray stone bricks has been worn by footsteps to a warm luster over the years.
A few meters away, there is a pond of three square meters in size. A turtle is guarding the pond. Green lotus leaves are floating on the surface. White lotus flowers are breaking through the water, budding gracefully and blooming occasionally.
Occasionally, red carps play in the water, making splashing sounds, and a few balls of clear water jump onto the lotus surface, swaying slowly, and then flow into the heart of the leaves.
In the south corner stands a stout banyan tree, now nearly three feet tall, with luxuriant branches and leaves, shading the sky and earth. From here, entering the courtyard from the east, there are several side rooms for pilgrims to stay overnight or take a short rest. They are still lush and green, with only a few clusters of golden and white honeysuckle in the corners.
Behind the two brown wooden doors to the east is the residence of the masters in the nunnery. When Lan Nongnong first came, she lived in the courtyard as a pilgrim. Later, she secretly regarded the nunnery as her home and wanted to move to the backyard. Unfortunately, she was sternly rejected by her aunts.
Although everyone in the nunnery regarded her as a junior, she was in the prime of her life and had only been stranded here because of a temporary suffering. How could she really regard this place as her home?
In this world, women who shave their heads to cultivate themselves are either burdened with stigma, unable to bear the harsh words of others, or they are so sad that their hearts are dead and they have no more worries in the world. Even if there are pilgrims who come to the temple to listen to Zen and Taoism, they may seem pious, but deep in their eyes, they are actually contemptuous and avoid it.
So for the sake of her reputation, everyone did not want her to be gossiped about even if it was just a place to stay. Even when she left the nunnery, they told her not to mention to anyone that she had lived in the nunnery, so as to avoid damaging her reputation and being gossiped about.
Lan Nongnong didn't care, nor was she afraid.
Everything she has now is mostly thanks to her aunts. She is extremely grateful, so how could she betray them for her own benefit?
She is well-behaved and obedient, but she is very opinionated and will not change her mind once she has made up her mind. Her stubborn nature is evident.
Everyone warned him several times but it was of no use, and since they were too far away to do anything, they could only give up.
But I was touched by her thoughtfulness.
Although she was staying in a guest room, it was one that everyone had specially chosen because it was the most sunny and bright. Even when she was not there, no one else would stay in the room, and the room would be cleaned every day.
Lan Nongnong pushed the door open and walked in. The sun was pouring down. There was a bed, a table and chairs, and a four-character mantra hung on the wall: "Go with the flow, stay tidy and clean, and value nothing."
Only a pot of brightly blooming pale pink camellia by the window adds a touch of bright color to the quiet room.
It was this bright room that sheltered her from the wind and rain, gave her a roof over her head, and made her feel extremely safe.
Lan Nongnong took a deep breath and smiled. Yun An, Yun Ting and Yun Ming came in one after another, holding clothes. Seeing her like this, they smiled knowingly at the same time.
"If you like it so much, just stay a few more days. It takes more than half an hour to get here from Wulan Hutong. Although it's not summer yet, it's hard to avoid getting up early and traveling. You don't have to rush back later, just don't travel at night."
"The pear blossom cake has just come out of the oven, so eat it while it's hot. The pear jelly is slightly cool now, so it's just right..."
Although there are few people in Qingyun Temple, they all have their own skills. There are no chores in the temple. Sweeping, farming, and daily work all need to be done by themselves.
Yun Ning was in charge of the kitchen. In the past, the nunnery was quiet and peaceful, and the only thing she could do was to fill her stomach. After Nong Nong came, she began to think about studying cooking.
As a result, the nunnery also gained some income from vegetarian meals and pastries.
"What's so hard about this? I just keep thinking about Aunt Yun Ning's cooking skills."
"Aunts, please take a seat!"
Lan Nongnong sat down only after the three of them were seated.
On the white, unmarked plate on the table, a pear-shaped pastry, ivory-white and dotted with red stamens, was placed like a blooming flower. Lan Nongnong washed her hands with a handkerchief, then picked up a piece with bamboo chopsticks and put it into her mouth under the watchful eyes of the three people.
With a light bite of her white teeth, her cheek bulged, her bright eyes curved instantly, her jaw nodded repeatedly, her left hand extended from her lips, her thumb raised, her voice muffled and full of surprise: "Delicious! Aunt Yun Ning's cooking skills have improved again!"
For a chef, the most satisfying thing is to be loved by the people who eat it. Yun Ning's smile became even gentler. She pushed the plate next to her hand forward and said, "If it tastes good, eat more. I'll make some more for you to take back."
"Yes, thank you, auntie."
Yun Ming stood up and put the bag of clothes on the small table beside her bed. When he came back and saw that she was enjoying her meal, he poured her a cup of bamboo leaf tea and said with a smile, "It seems you are really hungry."
Lan Nongnong thanked him with a curved eye and drank it. In fact, she had already eaten breakfast and ate some of Yao Jingbei's food on the way. She still ate two more pieces before putting down her chopsticks.
She excitedly stood up, opened the rattan basket, took out three sachets from it, held them in both hands and handed them to the three people, her eyebrows curved into beautiful crescents, "Look, aunts, my craftsmanship has improved again?"
The sachet is only the size of a palm, and is made of golden orange silk. It feels cool, soft and smooth to the touch. The inside is filled with fine cotton, which feels soft and fluffy. It really feels like kneading a cloud in your hand.
When you release your fingertips, the concave part will instantly recover, lying in the palm of your hand as light as a feather, with cherry pink tassels hanging down. Each sachet is embroidered with a silly smiling face, decorated with the three words "An", "Ning" and "Ming", which are really cute.
The three of them gently stroked the sachets in their hands, and a faint sweet chrysanthemum fragrance seeped out. When they smelled it, they felt their brows and eyes relaxed, and their minds became clear. Chrysanthemums have the effect of brightening the eyes and clearing the mind, and are most suitable for people who recite scriptures. Thousands of thoughts were hidden between the needle and thread.
"The sachet is light and soft, the scent is light and not greasy, the stitching is delicate, and the pattern is unique and lovely. It is indeed more refined than the last time."
"Compared to when Nong Nong first started sewing, you've already improved so much, which shows how hard you work. But you've been working so hard out here alone. We haven't used up all the sachets we made earlier, and threading a needle and embroidery is very tiring. You don't have to bother yourself with that anymore."
"Nong Nong's scented sachets are excellent. The gardenias and camellias on the hill behind are in full bloom, and their fragrance is refreshing and calming. Tomorrow morning, why not go with me to pick some dewy petals for you to take home for your own use?"
The aunts loved it and Lan Nongnong was also happy.
The Sheng Dynasty was rich and prosperous, with silks and satins, gold, silver, bronze, jade, and glass. Scented sachets, incense boxes, and ceramic puppets were everywhere.
The sachets she made were shaped like palm-releasing dolls. Her embroidery skills were far inferior to others, but she aimed to be unique.
The means of making a living in later generations mostly come from technology and modern tools. Firstly, what she learned was useless here, and secondly, she was originally just a college student who had not yet enrolled.
She was the youngest daughter in the family, loved by her parents and siblings. She had never been well-fed and had no money to spend. Even though she was in another world, she was still undecided and could not bear to be subordinate to others and be ordered around.
Fortunately, she had a broad vision and was clever and skillful. After accepting the reality that she could not travel back, she actively adjusted her mindset and followed her aunts to learn needlework, study the culture of the Sheng Dynasty, and the fashions of the market. By integrating the ancient and modern, she was able to develop a unique skill to make a living and even gained a lot.
The aunts in the nunnery treated her kindly and were indifferent to material things, but she could not accept them blindly with a clear conscience, nor was she willing to make empty promises such as "I will repay my kindness when I become rich in the future".
I will repay you as much as I can, even if it’s just to show my appreciation.
The key to spiritual practice is perseverance, which requires continuous practice every day. It also requires offerings from donors to support the practice.
The three men felt sorry for her hard work in getting up early and traveling, so they hung the sachet on her wrist, held it in their hands, and told her to have a good rest, then stood up and prepared to leave.
As for what happened in the nunnery just now, Yun An did not make it known. On the one hand, the woman was shy, and on the other hand, she had said beforehand that there was no need to rush.
However, Lan Nongnong could not hold back. She came back today not only to visit everyone, but also to tell everyone that she had a crush on someone.
She was not used to hiding her feelings in front of people close to her, not to mention that this was the first time in her life that she had fallen in love, and the other person was Yao Jing, whom she fell in love with at first sight. The most precious thing was that they loved each other, so she wanted to tell this story to others.
With her parents and siblings not around, the only people she could open her heart to were her aunts who treated her like family.
"Aunts, please don't leave now. Ahem, well, I have something to say."
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