spring cloud warm

Chapter 366 Don't Ask Random Questions

As time goes by, people tend to forget.

Up to now, very few people remember that Wuqiu's presiding officer's status as a layman is Oushi, the nanny of the second room of Yong'an Houfu.

The second room of the Yong'an Hou Mansion has only one child, and that is the only daughter of the Cen family, Cen Yunchu.

The incense in Wuqiu Temple has always been deserted, and this place was originally only for quiet cultivation, there are few people in the place, and there are not many pilgrims received throughout the year.

Up to now, the door is closed to thank guests, and they are not accepted at all.

One day, two women, one old and one young, came outside the door.

They were all dressed as civilians, the older woman carried a basket on her arm, and the younger woman carried a bundle.

They knocked on the door for a long time, and a nun in her early forties opened the door from the inside.

"Master Zhikong, I have been gone for a long time, Amitabha, Amitabha!" The elderly woman put her hands together and greeted the nun.

"So it's Mrs. Feng and Miss Feng." Zhikong knew them both. "Are you here to burn incense and chant scriptures?"

"Master has a good memory, doesn't he! This year is the third year since my old man passed away. Thanks to the abbot and all the masters, we can do things here." Madam Feng said gratefully.

"You guys wait here for a while, I'll go in and tell the host." Zhikong didn't let them in directly.

Now the situation is special, the abbot has ordered the nunnery not to receive pilgrims.

But the mother and daughter have been here for two years, and it would be unreasonable not to ask her to do the rituals in the last year.

Although Mrs. Feng agreed, there was an obvious worried expression on her face.

Zhikong understands that if a poor family wants to do a ritual, it must spend a lot of money.

At the beginning, the abbot also took pity on their orphans and widowed mothers, so he asked them to perform rituals in this nunnery, and only charged a dime as incense.

This sling of money is just for show, the mother and daughter lived and ate in the nunnery for seven days, chanting scriptures and burning incense, so a sling of money was enough.

Zhikong found the abbot and explained the matter: "I didn't reject it outright. They came at this time in previous years, and this year is the last year."

The abbot thought for a while and said: "At the beginning, I agreed to them, but now it is naturally difficult to refuse, let alone the last year. Buddhists pay attention to compassion, and we must call her consummation of merit. Just like in previous years, let their mother and daughter Let’s live in, but please tell me, don’t move around, just stay in the courtyard where they live. Go out when you’re done, and don’t want her money.”

Zhikong agreed, and came to the front again, opened the door and said to Mrs. Feng and her daughter: "Originally, our presiding officer is retreating and recuperating these days, and does not accept outsiders. But thinking that this is the last year for you, how can you not?" You have to complete your meritorious deeds. Therefore, I will let you live in the same courtyard as in previous years, but it is agreed that you are not allowed to walk around casually, and you can leave after you have completed your meritorious deeds."

"Amitabha, Amitabha! Thank you, Abbot, for your mercy!" Mrs. Feng thanked her a thousand times, "I really bothered you."

Although this Wuqiu nunnery is small, it has more than [-] houses. Mrs. Feng, mother and daughter, were taken to a small courtyard in the northwest corner. There were two small rooms with only two beds, a table and a stool. Set, nothing else.

"Sit down first, and a Taoist woman will bring you bedding and a brazier later." Zhikong led them into the door and said, "The vegetarian meal will also be brought to your room for you to eat, twice a day."

"Thank you Master, this money is not much, please take it, and help us light an ever-burning lamp outside." Lady Feng took out a sling of money and stuffed it into Zhikong's hand.

Her hands are very rough, and she has to rely on washing and mending all year round to maintain the family. Her hands are like iron.

"Ms. Feng, take the money back! The abbot said, this year is the last year, and I don't want the money to help you complete your meritorious deeds." Zhikong pushed the money back.

"Hey, how do you say that? I'm so sorry." Mrs. Feng blushed a little, "We also know that this amount of money is not enough, but at least it's what it means."

"Take it, your money is not easy to come by." Zhikong finished speaking and went out.

After another long time, two Taoist women came over, hugged the quilts for them, and took the brazier.

Then another nun brought an ever-burning lamp.

There were incense candles and paper horses in the basket carried by Mrs. Feng, and the mother and daughter lit incense under the long-burning lamp, chanting scriptures and burning paper.

Today is short, let alone temples, even ordinary people only eat two meals a day.

After they finished reading today's scriptures, the Taoist woman who worked as a handyman in the nunnery brought them food.

"Sister Niu, are you doing well these days?" Mrs. Feng knows everyone here, and Dao Po is only a half monk, so she can still chat a few things in daily life.

"It's okay, but it's cold, and my legs and feet are a bit uncomfortable." Niu Daopo is a few years older than Mrs. Feng, her husband died early, and she has no children, so she came here.

Although there is no money, it is much easier than being a servant in an ordinary family.It's just that she doesn't see meat all year round, but fortunately she is not greedy.

"I know you have this problem. Someone just gave me two dog-skin plasters. They said they are the most soothing and blood-relieving ones. Let me give them to you!" Mrs. Feng said and took out two plasters and gave them to Niu Daopo.

"Oh, it's impossible. You're so busy these days, how can I ask for your things!" Niu Daopo shook her head.

"Why are you meeting me? I don't pay a cent to come here. What's wrong with giving you two plasters?" Mrs. Feng forcefully stuffed two plasters into Niu Daopo's hands.

"That's the kindness of the abbot, what does it have to do with me? I have become Bai Shoulu." Niu Daopo was a little embarrassed.

"But, originally we wanted to meet the abbot this time, so thank you very much. This is the last year, so it's not good to bother me again in the future. But I heard that the abbot is going to retreat and practice, so we can't meet. Alas, really... ..." Mrs. Feng said regretfully.

"It doesn't matter whether you see or not, monks never care about these lay etiquette." Niu Daopo said with a smile.

"Why is there a new monk in this nunnery?" Miss Feng asked all of a sudden, without saying a word.

Niu Daopo was a little dazed, and Lady Feng quickly explained: "When we came in, we saw a young woman from a distance, and she passed by in a flash. She was actually a practitioner with hair, so I couldn't help asking."

Niu Daopo was taken aback when she heard the words, and said: "That is just a borrower, and he will leave in a few days. Don't ask too many questions, even I don't know who that person is from, and the host does not allow people to talk nonsense. "

"Got it, got it." Mrs. Feng nodded quickly, "We are talking too much."

"It's done, you guys go eat quickly. I'll come over to collect the bowl later." Niu Daopo finished speaking and went out.

(End of this chapter)