Whenever a major life event occurs, mortals in the human world like to find a place to pray for blessings. Therefore, temples, Taoist temples, and various Western temples in the human world mostly serve a similar function to insurance companies. People go to burn incense just like they are buying insurance.
If something happens at home and you don't burn incense somewhere, it feels like something is missing. As long as you burn incense, it's like you've bought insurance, and you feel much more at ease. As for whether it works or not, one can blame the temple, and the other can blame your own heart; that's another story.
The burning of incense beforehand is absolutely essential, as the old saying goes, "If you don't burn incense regularly, it's basically useless to try to pray to Buddha at the last minute."
However, whether it's burning incense regularly or seeking blessings temporarily, each family has its own experience. Some burn incense for several years and then stop going when there's nothing else to do, while others go every year but then have to stop going because of some misfortune. There are all sorts of people, but this never affects the flourishing incense offerings at various places of prayer.
Yunling Eighteen Temples is a place near Huadu where unconventional insurance companies are clustered together. Although it is called eighteen temples, there are actually far more than eighteen temples. The ancient temples have been passed down for thousands of years, while the younger ones have been newly built in the last two years. There are both Buddhist temples and Taoist temples.
This is also a unique phenomenon in the human world. There are such places in places that are neither too far nor too close to major cities. If they are too far away, it is inconvenient for people in the city to go there. If they are too close, it seems that the bodhisattva is too easy to talk to and that it is too easy to pray for blessings, which makes the sense of ritual much less.
Yunling itself is a place with mountains and rivers, and the scenery is pleasant. With the arrival of these temples and Taoist temples, its popularity has increased. In the past, wealthy people from Huadu came to Yunling to burn incense and also had the custom of enjoying the scenery. Gradually, Yunling became a scenic spot.
However, people back then had very little economic awareness; for thousands of years, they never thought of building a wall around their property to charge admission fees. But in recent years, people's economic awareness has soared to unprecedented levels. Not to mention beautiful mountains and rivers like Yunling, even an inconspicuous rural village has built tourist attractions to generate revenue.
Therefore, a long wall was erected around Yunling, and barbed wire was installed in key places. The original gate for pilgrims to enter the mountain was moved dozens of miles away, and an imposing gate was built. No matter if you are a large bus or a small car, you must park in the parking lot outside the gate.
Then you have to take the electric shuttle provided by the scenic area, ostensibly to protect the environment, and after seventeen or eighteen stops, you can finally reach the original old mountain gate.
The seventeen or eighteen stations in front of Yunling Mountain are not just a slap on the wrist. Unlike those country bumpkins who can only create some artificial landscapes, make a few clay sculptures, or even use paper trinkets to make up the numbers if they don't have enough funds.
The main purpose of these things by scenic spots is to extend the time people spend in the scenic area, so that people feel that the ticket price is worthwhile, and some can even charge additional small entrance fees.
Yunling has such a rich historical heritage that there's no need for those things. After all, the ancients left behind many relics and legends along the way.
For example, there is a stop called the "Minister's Rest Stop". Legend has it that in ancient times, a minister would stop at this place every year when he came to the eighteen temples of Yunling to offer incense.
If you look carefully after you get down, you can still find the stone post where the Minister tied his horse. There is also a sign next to the stone post that explains in detail the origin of the Minister's resting place.
Tourists who enjoy exploring ancient sites take photos here, as if they have made a connection with the ancient minister.
There is another stop called Zhuangyuan Muzu Pavilion. It is said that in ancient times, the top scholars would come to the eighteen temples of Yunling to burn incense. When they arrived here, a stream was flowing down Yunling. So the scholars built a pavilion by the stream and would wash their feet in the stream before going up the mountain.
Washing feet in the stream is no longer allowed to avoid polluting it, but being able to catch a glimpse of the place where the top scholar used to wash his feet seems quite nice. Moreover, walking along the stream and looking at the rural houses on both sides is a unique experience for people who have lived in big cities for a long time.
In short, these seventeen or eighteen stops are like the prologue before a movie starts; although they are a bit long, they gradually whet the appetite of tourists.
The immortals who lived long lives in the office had visited the Yunling Eighteen Temples Scenic Area many times before it stopped charging admission. After all, the office was located in Huadu, a famous scenic spot in Huadu. If an immortal hadn't been there, wouldn't that be considered ignorant?
However, after the Yunling Eighteen Temples started selling tickets, the immortals lost their desire to go. Everyone's salary was not high, and it was a waste of money to go sightseeing. We've seen it all before, haven't we? It felt like a small ditch in front of our house, where everyone likes to play in the water in the summer.
One day, the ditch was suddenly turned into a swimming pool, and people started charging for swimming. At that time, people who used to go there regularly would definitely not go again. After all, it used to be free, but now it costs money, and going there would feel like being cheated.
So it had been many years since anyone had visited the eighteen temples of Yunling. When Lü Xian used public funds from the office to treat everyone to a trip, everyone was very excited. After all, it had been many years since they had been there, and it would be a lie to say they didn't miss it.
Wang Yao was even more so; while others had at least tried it, he had never even tried it.
Wang Yao originally planned to go back to Fanrong Lane after the meeting. He was a little worried because Zhen Huai hadn't made any moves for so many days. However, the office actually arranged a trip, so Wang Yao suppressed his worries about Zhen Huai. His uncle had been in the police station for so long, so a day or two wouldn't make a difference.
Back in the room, he discussed it with Hui Shuo. He insisted on going to play, and Hui Shuo could decide what to do. Hui Shuo was unwilling to leave his parents and insisted on going too. Fortunately, Wang Yao had left some of the thousand yuan he had given him, which was enough for the tickets.
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