flstandardbreds Chapter 177 Hosting
Chapter 177 Hosting
Heshan Temple wasn't originally there; it was at the highest point of the mountain, and there was no way to go any further up, as if cut by a knife.
Heshan Temple is not large, but it is unique and elegant. There are not only various crane statues at the entrance, but also real cranes.
There are cranes in the Jia family mansion, and Grandmother Jia keeps a few in her small garden, but none of them are as graceful and lively as the cranes here.
Jia Hu and the other little ones went to see, and Jia Jing and the others followed.
"No wonder it's named after cranes; the cranes here seem exceptionally intelligent."
Seeing the flock of cranes, each with its own unique posture and beautiful appearance, Jia Jing became interested.
Jia She also felt that it was more skillful than the ones in his own household.
"Perhaps this temple has a spirit, and the crane has been here for a long time and has also absorbed some of its spiritual energy."
Jia Hu looked at the place in front of him where the cranes were playing in the water. The water flowed down from the top of the mountain, forming a pool, which became the place where the cranes played.
The mountain, the scenery, and the cranes are absolutely stunning.
Jia Daishan came over and said with a smile, "You all know the origin of Heshan Temple. It has an abbot who is obsessed with cranes, so naturally the cranes are well cared for."
Jia Daihua looked at the sky. They had traveled quite a distance to get here, so they needed to hurry. After paying their respects at the temple, they still needed to take their grandchildren out for a meal.
The people in the temple now are all pilgrims who are going down the mountain after burning incense.
Jia Daishan also remembered that the Shanhe Temple did not offer vegetarian meals.
It turns out that a member of a prominent family had spoken to the abbot, saying that the temple was beautiful and they didn't want to leave in a hurry, and asked the abbot to prepare vegetarian meals for them in the future.
The man, being quite wealthy, even said that he could pay for it, considering it an act of charity.
But the abbot refused without hesitation, saying directly:
'The small temple only serves meals to those with a destined connection; adults are not among those with that connection.'
The man flew into a rage, complaining that despite donating so much incense, he wasn't a destined recipient. He thought the monks were just fooling people.
"You're really dishonest, monk! With all the offerings I receive, everyone I meet is destined to be there. You're probably just making this up!"
The abbot was not angry and explained,
'We were never meant to be in this life, and all this offerings from you are not for you.'
The adult was furious, panting heavily.
"Smash this dilapidated temple and let everyone see what a terrible temple this is!"
"You only accept money, and you even fabricate this 'destined person' lie. If I were to give you several thousand taels, you, the abbot, would be begging me to be the 'destined person'!"
The abbot showed no change in expression, his hands clasped together.
'Amitabha! A monk does not lie. The incense you donated today contains the remains of a dead person; this is all sin, how could this possibly be a good deed?'
The adult suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. The money was ill-gotten; he had helped someone settle a murder case involving someone who coveted his family's property, and that person had given him half of the family's assets. This matter made him somewhat uneasy, which was why he came to the temple to pray today.
He didn't dare go to the big temple for fear of running into acquaintances, so he came to this small temple instead. He never expected that the monks in this small temple would say such things.
The man looked at the people around him. Some of the worshippers had already raised their hands, while others held up stones they had picked up. Judging from the situation, if he dared to let anyone make a move, even those watching could hit him.
The servants on the side were also frightened, wondering if they too would one day have to go to the eighteenth level of hell!
The abbot sighed.
'Benefactor, the fruit of today's harvest is the cause of today's harvest.'
After these words were spoken, the pilgrims became excited.
'Get off! Don't dirty the ground, get off!'
'You monk! Stop spouting these empty platitudes. I'm not easily intimidated!'
The adult glared, ready to argue with the abbot, but since most of the worshippers were women and elderly, he became bolder.
"And all of you, none of you have donated as much incense as I have, so it's none of your place to point fingers!"
'Sir, the donated incense will be fully refunded. Please descend the mountain now.'
As soon as the abbot finished speaking, several martial monks emerged from the temple behind him, wielding clubs and looking menacing.
The master was also startled, and the butler who came with him advised his master that they should leave first.
The adult spat fiercely.
"I gave you the gift, that's what I gave to the gods. What does it have to do with you, you fake monk? I gave you money, so you're expected to bless me!"
After uttering those harsh words, he grabbed the butler's hand and fled as if he were escaping.
The worshippers nearby all put their hands together, chanted Buddhist mantras, and offered words of comfort to the abbot.
The abbot listened with a smile, showing no impatience whatsoever with the old man's somewhat rambling words.
After speaking, the pilgrims were about to descend the mountain when the abbot spoke up.
"Please, esteemed guests, come into the temple for a vegetarian meal."
The pilgrims were surprised. "Can they use it?" an old man asked.
"Can we use it? Isn't there this 'destined person' thing? So many people offer incense and don't even qualify. I just brought some vegetables I grew myself; it's nothing special, is that alright?"
'You are here today and have experienced this event; it is fate that brings you together.'
He had so many descendants, yet not a single one belonged to him.
"Grandpa, the vegetables you took were earned with your own hands; that's what makes them precious to you."
Later, the corrupt official was exposed, dismissed from office, his property confiscated, and beheaded. The incense he had donated was given to the victims by the abbot.
This matter spread throughout the capital, and the Heshan Temple suddenly became famous.
More people came and went, but the temple remained unchanged, and many people were proud to be kept by the abbot.
Jia Daishan knew that he fought for the country and for the people, but he had committed murder, so he could never be the one destined to be with the country.
Jia Hu and his companions obediently entered the temple. By noon, there weren't many people left, and the temple was much emptier.
A group of people went from house to house kowtowing. Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua returned the money, and the younger ones had some loose silver prepared. After they kowtowed, they were told to put it in the incense box.
After bowing once, the three younger ones kowtowed repeatedly.
Without noticing, Jia Zhu bumped into someone at the door and fell into their arms.
Jia Hu quickly pulled Jia Zhu aside and apologized to the master at the door.
Liao Wu smiled and said:
"Young benefactor, are you injured?"
Jia Zhu shook herself, indicating that she was fine; it was just a light bump, nothing serious.
Jia Jing and the others had already gone out to see the scenery, but when they saw the commotion here, they quickly came over.
After the younger brother kowtowed first, Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua came out.
Seeing that his younger brother was alright, Jia Hu looked up at the person who had come and said in surprise:
“You’re not that,”
Liao Wu's smile deepened.
“Yes, young benefactor, I am the one who sweeps the floor. I knew we were destined to meet, and here we are.”
Jia Zhen said:
"Master, have you finished sweeping the floor?"
Liao Wu smiled and said:
"Thank you for your concern, young benefactor. The floor has already been swept."
Jia Zhen nodded.
"That's good. Remember to be serious about your work!"
Several adults also greeted Master Liaowu.
"Abbot, lunch is ready."
A cute little monk came over and said.
Abbot Liaowu reached out and patted his disciple's head.
"Greetings to all benefactors."
The young monk greeted his master kindly and obediently, then tugged at his master's robe and hid behind him.
Jia Daishan: "So you are the abbot. I apologize for my rudeness."
Abbot Liaowu:
“You’re too kind, benefactor. These are just common names. You can just call me Liaowu.”
Jia Zhen exclaimed in surprise:
"So you're the abbot, not the floor sweeper?"
Jia Daihua pulled Jia Zhen aside and said:
"Zhen'er, you mustn't be rude!"
Liao Wu smiled and waved his hand.
"It's alright, it's alright. Young benefactor, no one has ever said that the person sweeping the floor can't be the abbot, has they?"
Jia Zhen thought for a moment,
"No, you really are amazing."
This remark made the abbot burst into laughter.
Jia Zhu looked at the child, who was about the same age as her, touched the candy in her purse, quietly went over, took out all the candy, handed it over, and whispered:
"Here, have some. This candy is delicious, but don't eat too much in one day, or your teeth will hurt."
Shanhe looked at the child who had suddenly appeared in front of him with some surprise. His fellow disciples in the temple were all older than him.
Among the pilgrims who came, there were children about the same age as me, all of whom were in the arms of adults.
This was the first time he had ever spoken to such a young child, and the child even offered him candy.
He also has candy. Sometimes, pilgrims would give him candy to eat. Sometimes, his senior brothers would bring it to him when they came down the mountain. Sometimes, his master would also give it to him.
But the time when he actually gets candy is relatively rare, and he usually can't bear to eat it.
Seeing the generous child in front of him who wanted to give all the candy to him, Shanhe also took out the candy he had been hiding for a long time; he only had one left.
Shanhe was a little embarrassed. His candy wasn't pretty at all; it wasn't as plentiful as the young master's, and it wasn't as good-looking either.
Jia Zhu didn't mind at all and said with delight:
"Is this for me?"
Shanhe nodded, and Jiazhu took the candy.
"Thank you, please take all of this."
Jia Zhu first took a piece of candy, put it in Shan He's mouth, and then asked, "Can I eat this?"
Shanhe felt that this candy was the sweetest she had ever tasted.
Hearing the question, he nodded vigorously, "Of course!"
Jia Zhu was also happy. He ate the candy and then tied the purse to Shan He.
Shanhe was extremely embarrassed, but he didn't know what to say, so he could only tug at his master's clothes.
Liao Wu was talking to Jia Daishan and the others, looking down at his young apprentice.
Liao Wu knew his apprentice was obedient, so he bent down and listened to what his little apprentice had to say.
He laughed after hearing this.
"If you want to be friends, you have to put your heart into it."
Shanhe nodded obediently, then came over and pulled Jia Zhu aside, saying:
"Thank you."
He wanted to be friends with this young master.
Jia Zhu laughed and said:
"You're welcome."
"Now that the food is ready, please come with me and have a vegetarian meal."
"Then thank you very much, Abbot."
Jia Daihua also laughed and said that a group of people arrived at the dining hall.
The Jia family, accustomed to all kinds of delicacies, were quite surprised to eat this vegetarian meal.
The vegetables used include those grown by the pilgrims themselves, those grown by the temple staff, and various wild vegetables from the mountains.
It tastes very fresh and delicious.
The dining hall was crowded with people eating, yet there was little noise. Everyone was focused on their food, paying attention only to the meal in front of them.
Every now and then, a chef would pass by to add more food or rice. If you wanted more rice, you could just gesture with your hand.
The group of people were really tired from climbing the mountain, so they were very satisfied with the meal.
After the meal, Abbot Liaowu smiled and said:
"Shanhe, take your friends and go have some fun."
After the children left, Abbot Liaowu said to Jia Jing and the others:
"Please make yourselves at home; the temple also has some nice scenery."
Finally, he smiled at Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua and said:
"This humble monk would like to invite you two to have some tea together."
After Jia Jing and the other two bowed, they went out to enjoy the scenery.
Jia Daihua and Jia Daishan followed Abbot Liaowu to the room and sat down at the table.
Abbot Liaowu poured tea for the two of them.
"The food and drink are simple, I apologize for the inconvenience."
"You're too kind, Master!"
Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua accepted the tea and smiled.
"I have finally met Young Master Jia Hu today. It seems his soul has returned to him."
Upon hearing this, the two people opposite were both taken aback.
Jia Daishan was extremely surprised. Did he know about this back then? He and that master both knew about it.
Later, he only told his family how Master Liaowu knew. Could he really be an enlightened master?
"How did the master know this? Did he really calculate it?"
Master Liaowu smiled and said:
"This humble monk is nothing more than a sweeping monk; how could I possibly possess such great abilities?"
I heard about this from my senior brother; he's the one who told you about it back then.
Jia Daishan solemnly said, "Master Liaoran and you are actually fellow disciples, but why are you here at Heshan Temple as the abbot?"
Master Liaowu smiled and said:
"I'm afraid you two will laugh at me for telling you this, but back then, my fellow disciples and I followed our master to cultivate together."
Because in my entire life, I have loved only one thing: cranes.
"This humble monk also feels that I am too self-centered and my spiritual practice is inadequate, so I came to this mountain, built this small temple, and raised some cranes."
At this point, looking at their beloved grandson, the two grandfathers smiled and said:
"The matter of Young Master Jia Hu was mentioned to me by my senior brother when I visited my fellow disciples. He felt that Young Master Jia Hu was destined for great things, but he couldn't see it clearly."
They said I was destined to meet this child, and that we would have a chance to meet someday. So I waited and waited, and that destiny came.
Meeting the young master today, I can see that he is indeed blessed with good fortune and possesses an extraordinary demeanor. Although he is young, he has a clever and insightful mind, and what's more, he is a kind-hearted child.
I have just taken the liberty of taking a look and found that the young master is from your family, whose reputation is illustrious and whose lineage has continued for generations.
As for your doubts, let nature take its course.
After Master Liaowu finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and took two sips of tea.
Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua, however, were filled with mixed emotions. They were able to hear Hu'er's inner thoughts and knew that Hu'er had lived in another world for decades.
So, could both masters have seen and predicted all of these things? That's truly astonishing!
Jia Daihua was still in shock.
"These two masters are amazing; they can predict everything."
My brother and I have always had a question: we wonder if these things have harmed Hu'er's health or damaged his destiny.
Master Liaowu smiled and said:
"My fellow monk and I are not as powerful as you two claim."
If everything could be calculated and events could be predicted, what would be the point?
"My spiritual cultivation is inferior to my senior brother's; I can only glimpse a little of it."
As for your concerns, you two can rest assured. This humble monk has not discovered anything unusual.
Young Master Hu is doing well.