During the Spring Festival, many people came to visit the Gu family to wish them a happy new year. Su Nuan stayed at the Gu family all these days. Sometimes she joined in the reception, and sometimes, not wanting to be treated as a mascot, she would hide in her room and read. Gu Chengfeng followed his brothers to visit various elders to wish them a happy new year and had no time to accompany Su Nuan.
That day, Gu Chengfeng came back from outside early in the morning and went upstairs and knocked on Su Nuan's door. Su Nuan opened the door and saw Gu Chengfeng, and asked in surprise.
"Didn't you go to celebrate the New Year with your elder brother and the others? Why are you back?"
Gu Chengfeng: "Today I went to my uncle's house. My eldest brother and his friends were playing cards there. I didn't join them. I just said hello and came back."
Su Nuan: "Then don't you need to accompany your uncle and the others? Can you come back by yourself?"
Gu Chengfeng: "It's okay, I told my uncle that there is a temple fair at Baiyun Temple today. Many of the younger generations in my family have gone to see it. I will take you to visit the temple fair when I come back."
Su Nuan: "Temple fair? What kind of activities are there? I have never been to a temple fair before."
Gu Chengfeng smiled dotingly and said, "Go change your clothes first and go to the temple fair and you will know what activities are there."
Su Nuan nodded, changed into going-out clothes, and went out with her small bag.
The two drove straight to Baiyun Temple.
When they were almost at Baiyun Temple, they saw many people walking towards it. Very few were driving, and most were walking. Families were out with their children, and some were riding donkeys to visit the temple fair. Su Nuan looked at it very curiously. Gu Chengfeng found a parking space, and the two got out of the car and followed the crowd to the location where the temple fair was held.
There were too many people coming and going, and it was crowded. Gu Chengfeng held Su Nuan's hand and walked slowly forward, explaining the temple fair activities to Su Nuan.
The Baiyun Temple Fair is one of Beijing's traditional temple fairs and the largest Taoist temple in the city. Key activities include "Meeting the Gods," "Following the Stars," "Hitting the Money Eye," and "Touching the Stone Monkey." The fair features numerous stalls, most notably those selling incense, candles, and paper foil, which visitors can purchase. The temple also houses offerings to various gods, along with handicrafts, children's toys, and snack stalls, creating a lively atmosphere.
During the temple fair period, there are also folk flower fairs, lion dances, stilt walking, and land boat performances, with constant gongs and drums, making the place extremely lively.
Su Nuan: "Cheng Feng, what's going on with the gods, following the stars, hitting the money eye, and touching the stone monkey? Tell me in detail."
Gu Chengfeng: "It's about gods. Look, there are many gods wearing gods' clothes on the streets. If a god walks up to you, you have to give him some symbolic money. Different gods have different meanings."
"This Shunxing is the day for worshipping the stars. One hundred and eight lamps are lit in the temple, and lamps representing the twenty-eight constellations and seven stars are lit on both sides. The lights are brightly lit to commemorate Taoist Qiu. The most eye-catching event on this day is the early morning steamed bun distribution. Before dawn, a long queue will form in front of Baiyun Temple. At first, it was limited to monks and Taoists, but later, the rules were gradually relaxed and ordinary people could receive the big steamed buns. Now it's morning time, and we can't see the steamed bun distribution anymore."
Su Nuan: "So there are such elaborate explanations."
Gu Chengfeng: "Yes, to play the money eye, we need to go to Wofeng Bridge. The bridge is in the temple. Let's go and see it later."
The two walked into the temple hand in hand and headed towards Wofeng Bridge. As soon as they got close, they saw a lot of people crowded on the stone bridge, throwing copper coins.
Gu Chengfeng saw Su Nuan looking at him in confusion and explained.
"Look, there's a massive copper coin hanging under the bridge arch, over three feet in diameter. Behind it, sitting on a cushion, sits an old Taoist priest with white hair and a youthful face, his eyes closed in deep thought. The so-called 'hitting the gold coin eye' involves exchanging real money for small copper coins at the coin exchange booth near the bridge. Then, you toss the small copper coin into the square hole in the center of the large copper coin. If the small copper coin passes through the hole, you'll have a smooth and peaceful year. If it then hits the Taoist priest sitting behind, you'll be blessed with good fortune and great luck."
Su Nuan: "I see, let's go exchange some copper coins and give it a try."
After that, the two exchanged some copper coins by the bridge and walked towards Wofeng Bridge. Su Nuan took a copper coin and tried to throw it. The copper coin perfectly avoided the coin hole. It neither went into the coin hole nor hit the old Taoist priest. He tried several more times, but failed every time.
Gu Chengfeng looked at Su Nuan who was a little discouraged and comforted her softly.
"Don't worry, just watch me throw. First, take the coin, estimate the approximate distance, and then throw it with force."
After saying this, the copper coin successfully entered the coin eye.
Su Nuan watched with inspiration and imitated Gu Chengfeng's way of throwing. This time it still didn't go in, but the distance was close to the money hole. She tried again, and this time it finally went in. Su Nuan jumped up happily.
"Cheng Feng, look, I got in, hahahaha"
"Not bad, I got the hang of it pretty quickly."
Su Nuan: "Let's go touch the stone monkey. Where is the stone monkey?"
Gu Chengfeng: "It's on the upper right side of the mountain gate where we just entered. There were a lot of people queuing up just now. Let's go and see if there are any fewer people."
Su Nuan nodded and followed. "What does this stone monkey say?"
Gu Chengfeng: "It's said that touching the stone monkey can cure illnesses if you have them, and prevent them if you don't. If you're sick, touching any part of the stone monkey will cure it. So, the stone monkey has been rubbed from head to toe until it's shiny and glossy."
Su Nuan: "Is it really so magical?"
Gu Chengfeng "If you believe it, it exists; if you don't believe it, it doesn't exist"
The two walked to the front of the mountain gate and looked up. In the upper right corner, there was a stone monkey that they could touch with their hands. There were about 5 people queuing in front of them. The two followed the crowd and lined up, waiting to touch the stone monkey.
Soon it was their turn. Su Nuan reached out and touched the stone monkey all over. Gu Chengfeng couldn't help laughing as he watched.
When it was Gu Chengfeng's turn, he wanted to just touch the stone monkey twice, but Su Nuan urged him, "Hurry up, Chengfeng, touch the stone monkey all over. You never know where you might get injured in this job. Then, the stone monkey will bless you and heal you."
Gu Chengfeng had no choice but to obediently touch the stone monkey all over.
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