"You're right," Jiang Mian said. "He saved so many people in Dongli Town. We can't just abandon him."
"However, the war is spreading now. It may not be smooth on our way back. To avoid trouble, we'll claim to be a family. He's mother's eldest son, Uncle is her second son, and I'm the youngest daughter."
Jiang Zhiqing smiled and said, "Mujin has made very proper arrangements. I have no objections. No matter where we go, as long as I can be with you and your father, I'll be content."
Jiang Mian let out a sigh of relief and nodded vigorously. "Yes, our family will always be together."
The chicken soup was ready over there. Li Zhao called the two of them over for dinner. Jiang Mian put down the carriage curtain and walked back with Jiang Zhiqing. After taking a couple of steps, she turned back, lifted the curtain, and pulled the thin quilt over Xiao Jingcheng.
Then she trotted up to Jiang Zhiqing, smiling as she took her arm. "Mother, let's go and taste father's cooking."
The pheasant and wild mushroom soup, floating with oil and exuding a rich aroma, was extremely delicious. Everyone ate heartily, especially Li Zhao and Jiang Zhiqing. They would look at each other from time to time, with their care and love for each other undisguised in their eyes, which made Jiang Mian extremely envious.
Her mother and father were truly deeply in love.
While there was a harmonious and warm atmosphere in Qianren Mountain, Ling'an Temple was overcrowded at this moment.
Master Huaihai of Ling'an Temple had returned from his pilgrimage! And as soon as he came back, he was going to give a sermon!
Although Tianyuan County was heavily guarded, it didn't mean that the townspeople were not allowed to go in and out. So the news from Tianyuan County still attracted many pilgrims who often came to Ling'an Temple to offer incense. There were no empty seats even before the time.
The Buddhist bell rang. Master Huaihai, wearing a brand - new cassock, walked slowly from afar, surrounded by several monks. The common people stood up one after another, put their palms together, and bowed to Master Huaihai.
Master Huaihai returned the greetings one by one. After washing his hands, he sat down on the high platform and began to speak:
"Today, I'm going to talk to you about the *Sutra of the Ullambana Festival*..."
Everyone below was stunned. Then they looked around at each other, with a look of confusion on their faces.
This sutra was not unfamiliar to Buddhist believers. It told the story of Maudgalyayana, a disciple of the Buddha, who couldn't bear to see his mother fall into the hungry ghost realm and suffer the pain of being hanged. So he went to the Buddha for a solution. This was a very famous sutra about filial piety in the folk. Anyone who believed in Buddhism knew it.
Moreover, Master Huaihai had given a sermon on this sutra a long time ago. What was the meaning of talking about it again at this time?
At this moment, not only the believers below but also the other monks were very puzzled. They didn't understand the purpose of Master Huaihai's sermon.
Although they had heard it before, in Master Huaihai's gentle and steady voice, everyone gradually immersed themselves in the mystery of Buddhism. Time passed unconsciously.
After finishing the explanation of this sutra, Master Huaihai put his palms together. "Amitabha. Actually, the reason I mentioned this sutra to you again today is because of the recent flood in Cangzhou, where the common people are suffering. This makes me can't help but think of an old incident many years ago."
Everyone came to their senses and looked up at Master Huaihai.
Master Huaihai twirled the Buddhist beads in his hand and said, "Eighteen years ago, there was also continuous heavy rain in Cangzhou. Everywhere was flooded. Ling'an Temple, caring about the common people, opened its doors to let them take shelter. That night, two women gave birth to two baby girls in the temple..."
What he was talking about was the past between Lady Ye and Jiang Zhiqing.
The clouds in the sky were blown away by the wind. The sun shone through the clouds, casting patches of shadows on the ground.
At first, everyone thought this would be a story related to filial piety. However, when they learned that Lady Ye vented her anger on an innocent woman, deliberately snatched the other's child, and used a dead cat to replace the dead baby, driving the other woman crazy, they were extremely angry.
"What a sin! The wife of a prefect actually committed such a sin in a Buddhist pure land. She's unworthy of being a mother!"
"That other woman is really pitiful. Not only was her child snatched away without her knowing, but she was also driven crazy. If it were me, I would surely make them pay the price."
The monks who were protecting Master Huaihai on the side were also shocked.
They hadn't been in the temple for a long time and didn't know this past. They always thought that Master Huaihai had secluded himself because he was worried that his whereabouts would be known by his enemies. It was not until this moment that they knew it was because Master Huaihai had done something wrong and didn't dare to preach Buddhism anymore.
Hearing the discussions below, Master Huaihai twirled the Buddhist beads in his hand and said, "If this matter hadn't received my silent approval, it would never have been pushed forward. Driving that female donor crazy and helping Lady Ye snatch the baby are all related to me. After that incident, I secretly executed the monks who were in the Ksitigarbha Hall that night."
What?!
Everyone looked at Master Huaihai in disbelief.
"I know I'm deeply sinful and unworthy of being the abbot of Ling'an Temple or wearing this cassock anymore."
As he said this, he took off his cassock. Then he put his palms together, recited a Buddhist chant, and closed his eyes.
The next moment, a trace of blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth and trickled down his skin. His face instantly turned ashen, and his body toppled to one side.
"Master!"
"Abbot!"
The other monks rushed forward and reached out to support Master Huaihai's falling body. For a moment, cries filled the entire Ling'an Temple.
Master Huaihai had actually passed into nirvana just like that.
And the truth he had revealed before his death was soon spread by the pilgrims of Ling'an Temple.
...
Jiang Mian didn't know what had happened in Ling'an Temple. Even if she had known, she would have sneered and said that he deserved it.
The group spent another night in the cave in Qianren Mountain. Early the next morning, they put out the fire, packed their bags, got on the carriage, and drove towards the mountain path in Jiang Mian's memory.
The mountain path was rugged and difficult to walk on. There were many stones on the road, and the carriage bumped very badly, so it didn't move fast.
Although Jiang Mian had an excellent memory, it had been a long time since she came to Dongli Town. There were bound to be some deviations. At this time, the yellow dog came in handy. Whenever they encountered a fork in the road, the yellow dog would dart out nimbly to explore the way. After confirming that the road was right, it would jump back onto the carriage and give Jiang Mian some hints.
The man and the dog cooperated very well, so they walked relatively smoothly.
The yellow dog got into the bushes again to explore the way for Jiang Mian and the others. Jiang Mian was sitting on the carriage shaft, sorting out the medicinal herbs in her hand.
Qianren Mountain was even bigger than the back mountain of Dongli Town. There were naturally many medicinal herbs with a long growth period and strong medicinal effects in the mountain. They had stopped and gone along the way, and she had picked a lot. She planned to find a medical clinic or a pharmacy to sell them when they reached the next town, to earn some silver and inquire about the news by the way.
There was a soft sound beside her, and someone sat down next to her. Jiang Mian looked up and said in surprise, "Uncle, why did you come over? Do you have something to ask me?"