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墨書 Inktalez
After finishing Mrs. Jiang's case, it was already half a month later.
I took a little breather and posted a moment of lament in my friend circle.
"Haven't rested for half a month, finally had a natural wake-up."
I didn't expect Zhou Heng to be the first one to reply to me: "Rest well." It was so surprising, he was playing WeChat at the time! It's a strange feeling, a Taoist priest sitting in a Taoist temple playing WeChat, the visual is quite strong.
I am wide awake, so I get up and quickly brush my teeth and wash my face.
The drive to Lingya Mountain is only a little over two hours. The road out of the city is not congested today, so I am driving fast.
After parking the car at the bottom of the mountain, standing outside the mountain gate, my heart also becomes devout.
A while ago, I had this feeling! The road up the mountain is so familiar, but this time it doesn't feel long. I quickly arrived at the stone steps of Qingyun Temple. Pilgrims come and go, entering and exiting the temple, making today's Qingyun Temple particularly busy.
I excitedly climbed the steps in three or two steps, and after a wave of tourists left, there were fewer people. When I stepped in there again, the first thing I saw was him. At that moment, he was lighting incense, and the scent of incense wafted past his cuff, lingering in the air with a faint, refreshing fragrance. I was surprised to find that the scent of incense was even more pleasant than the cologne sprayed by Du Yuwei.
He turned back to look at me, first in a daze, then smiled, and continued with what he was doing.
We didn't speak, and the quiet time flowed under the thin incense.
I slowly walked up, knelt on the cushion, and faced the Bodhisattva with a sense of awe in my heart.
Even though I am an atheist, in such a situation, I unconsciously become solemn and reverent. I devoutly kowtow, and with each bow, a subtle feeling arises in my heart.
This time, I didn't perform the ritual incorrectly, but specifically searched online for Taoist etiquette.
After the worship, I got up from the cushion, and he finally spoke: "You did the ritual quite well."
I feel a little embarrassed, "I felt ashamed after the last incident."
Zhou Heng smiled, "You have good insight."
Receiving such high praise from him, I couldn't help but awkwardly force a smile, "I don't want to make the same mistake."
I took out 300 yuan from my wallet and put it into the merit box.
Me: "This is to fulfill my vow."
My action surprised Zhou Heng, but he still said, "Alright, it's up to you."
He gently opened the flower registry on the table, which was a record of charitable donations. The book spread open under his fingertips.
Zhou Heng calmly picked up the nearby brush, dipped it in ink, and just as I was about to tell him my name, he had already written my name in the book, stroke by stroke.
He said, "I remember your name."
He remembered my name, yes, he actually remembered my name.
It's so surprising!
His handwriting is very good. Originally, I felt that the structure of my name was always not beautiful when written, but in his hands, every stroke looks so good.
As the ink slowly spread on the paper, it seemed as if the tip of the pen had bloomed into lotus flowers.
My heart couldn't help but ripple with emotion.
I handed him the tea leaves I had brought in my bag. "Thank you for your help. The final draft for Mrs. Jiang's project is ready, and we will be able to start soon."
He seemed very surprised, looking at the tea I handed to him, but he never reached out to take it.
" Master, I did say thank you," I said.
Unable to withstand my politeness, he finally accepted the can of tea leaves.
It's not some precious tea, I just thought he likes to drink tea, that's all.
He: "Stay for lunch?"
I was stunned, but I understood that he didn't want to owe me a favor. I know he's the kind of person who doesn't want to take advantage of others, so I didn't refuse.
This time, the difference is that he had lunch with me. Zhou Heng was very thoughtful, bringing me vegetarian food and carefully taking out the chopsticks from the chopstick tube, handing them to me: "Today, the temple didn't prepare vegetarian food for Pilgrims. It has been raining for a few days, so all they have left are these vegetables." I looked and saw potatoes, cabbage, and other foods that are easy to preserve.
"Are you all living such a simple and frugal life?"
"It's not exactly frugal, it's just that those who are practicing cultivation don't care about such things."
It turns out, he told me that the food supply on Lingya Mountain is delivered by special personnel. Due to a few days of rain and poor road conditions, that's why it's so scarce.
I felt uneasy in my heart, "Is it bad that I stayed and had an extra portion to eat?"
He comforted me instead, "It's okay, it's fine for one more person."
I don't know why, but during this all-vegetarian meal, I actually tasted the flavor of meat, and it lingered in my memory.
Zhou Heng The way he eats is very refined. A man who can eat so gracefully is probably the first one. He saw me stop using my chopsticks and stare at him. He was a little shy and asked me, "Is it not good?" "No, no," I concealed my embarrassment and quickly picked up the bowl, taking a few quick bites.
Just like that, the two of us quietly finished our meal.
I didn't leave right away, but Zhou Heng invited me to stay and taste my new tea.
It was quite a coincidence that just as we had set up the tea set, it started raining again.
Zhou Heng skillfully brewed a pot of tea and placed it in front of me, saying, "I should have had the day off today. I was covering for my junior brother this morning, so I can only sit here at this time."
I responded with an "oh" and picked up the teacup. I took a sip, and although the tea fragrance wasn't very strong, it left a slightly sweet aftertaste.
"In the future, don't give me such valuable tea leaves."
I choked on a mouthful of tea. In fact, this was a gift from a client, not something I bought specifically, as I rarely drink tea. I couldn't stop coughing, and he asked with some helplessness, " Daoist Ling, are you always so careless?" His words made me feel utterly embarrassed.
The first time we met, I mistook him for my Miai.
The second time, I made a wrong gesture in front of him.
And the third time, I choked on water in front of him and nearly died.
Actually, he didn't know that before I met him, I had never been so embarrassed.
I had finally stopped coughing, but he was there laughing.
His laughter was so bright, just like a child's laughter, so pure.
" Ye Ling " is because he has lived in the "Taoist temple" for a long time, so his smile can be so pure.
" Master, how can a monk take pleasure in other people's misfortunes?"
"I can't be considered a monk yet."
I was stunned. His meaning was...
"I grew up in a Taoist temple since I was young, but I haven't formally become a monk. My master said that the path of cultivation is long and asked me to decide slowly."
I hurriedly asked, "So do you want to continue being a Taoist priest?"
He took a deep breath and said, "That's what I think, but my family doesn't agree."
"If your family doesn't agree, why did they send you to the Taoist temple?"
His face suddenly changed drastically, looking very unpleasant, as if I had touched a nerve.
He stared into my eyes, seeming somewhat angry. But in an instant, he regained his composure.
Lowering his gaze, his voice became somber: "In this world, everyone has their own story."
I knew I had said the wrong thing. His relationship with his family must not be good, otherwise who would be willing to send their child here to live a hard life.
I saw the atmosphere was so awkward, so I deliberately changed the subject: " Master, can you draw talismans?"
The tea cup he was holding paused in the air and then he placed it on the table.
"I wonder what kind of talisman Daoist Ling wants?"
I scratched my head, "My stomach hurts! Can I use a sticker to help?"
Zhou Heng was stunned for a second, then laughed heartily.
I held my face, feeling really embarrassed. I do occasionally get stomachaches, usually from not eating on time when working overtime, and it's really painful.
" Master, you are not being fair, making fun of me."
"My stomach hurts, I need to see a doctor, eat on time, sleep on time, I can't draw this kind of talisman."
The atmosphere was finally eased, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
In the rain, Lingya Mountain is full of spiritual energy, with a thin layer of mist shrouding the mountaintop, making it look like a fairyland from a distance. I turned to look into the distance and couldn't help but sigh, "Actually, you Taoists are quite fortunate, breathing fresh air every day. How nice." Zhou Heng replied, "Yes, I also really like it here." Raindrops dripped from the eaves, and the wind chimes on the corners trembled slightly, making a clear and pleasant sound.
I stood up by the fence and said, "Why does it always rain when I come here? It seems like I have a special connection with rain."
Zhou Heng raised his eyebrows slightly and murmured, "Special connection?"
I chuckled, "It seems like the heavens want me to stay a little longer."
He seemed to be moved by my words, with a strange expression on his face. The next moment, he calmly drank his tea as if nothing had happened.
It was only then that I remembered another important thing - oh no, I forgot to bring the umbrella. I had clearly taken it with me when I got in the car, but I only remembered it now.
I patted my head, with a mournful look on my face, and said to him, " Master, I forgot to return your umbrella."
"He just smiled and said, 'It's no big deal.' He really loves to smile, as if nothing is a big deal in his eyes, and he faces everything with a peaceful heart. Time passed quickly while chatting with Zhou Heng, and before we knew it, it was already four in the afternoon, and the rain had stopped."
When I said goodbye to him, another Master came over and said something to him. He apologetically told me, "I can't see you off, I'll have Junior Brother Chen accompany you instead." I quickly said, "It's okay, it's okay, I can go by myself." He insisted, "No, it's not okay. It's slippery on rainy days, it's better to have someone look after you."
I can't help but think of what he said about the last time Pilgrims fell. His concerns were valid, and I can only accept them.
---------------
This junior brother surnamed Chen is much more outgoing than him. As we walked along the way, we talked and laughed, and he often made me burst into laughter.
"Didn't expect your Taoist priests to be so interesting?"
Master Xiao Chen has a charming smile, they all love to laugh.
He mysteriously told me, "Let me tell you, Senior Brother Zhou was even more mischievous when he was young. One time, he poured sesame oil into a teacup, and our master drank it in one gulp, he was absolutely furious."
"Is that so? Master Zhou is so mischievous?" I can hardly believe it. He was so refined, yet he was also so naughty when he was young. Master Xiao Chen continued with a smile, "In fact, Senior Brother Zhou has the highest understanding among us brothers. Our master also said that he will definitely accomplish great things."
"Is that so?" A hint of disappointment crossed my heart. He had mentioned that he had not yet become a monk, but clearly, he was not an ordinary lay disciple at Qingyun Temple.
"Yes. When we were young, a few of us mischievous senior brothers did a lot of ridiculous things together."
"I can't believe Zhou Heng, who looks so steady now, was such a monkey when he was young."
"Senior Brother Zhou is very popular. There are often female Pilgrims asking him for his phone number and WeChat."
"Is that even allowed? Aren't you guys Taoist priests?"
Xiao Chen sighed helplessly, "I've seen that expression from you countless times. Sigh, it's really boring. Aren't we Taoist priests also human beings?"
" Xiao Chen's words really challenged my understanding. I never thought Zhou Heng was so popular.
So, has he given his phone number and WeChat to other female Pilgrims?
I have a strange feeling in my heart."
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