Entertainment from Divorce

The two continued walking and soon arrived at Guyang Cave.

The cave is not large, but the four walls are covered with small Buddha images, densely packed together.

Chen Ziyu took out her sketchbook, squatted down, and began to draw a small Buddha statue about ten centimeters tall.

The Buddha statue sits cross-legged with its hands in a mudra, its eyebrows and eyes curved as if it were smiling.

“Look at this one,” she said without looking up, “It’s small, but the details are impeccable. The folds of the clothes and the petals of the lotus base are all carved very clearly.”

Tan Yue squatted down next to her, looking at the small Buddha statues.

Some of the Buddha statues have weathered and their faces are blurred, but you can still see the care and attention of the craftsmen at that time.

The main Buddha in the center of the cave is about three meters tall, with a solemn expression. The Buddha statues on the left and right sides have flowing robes, as if they are about to ride the wind away at any moment.

Tan Yue recalled the travel guide she had read that morning: "It took more than 20 years to complete. So many small Buddha statues, how much effort must have been put into it?"

“It must have been made by many craftsmen together,” Chen Ziyu put down his pencil and rubbed his wrist. “Look at these small Buddha statues. Although the styles are similar, there are still differences in the details. Some have strong lines, while others have soft lines. They must have been carved by different craftsmen.”

It was already past four o'clock in the afternoon when we came out of Guyang Cave.

Guyang Cave is one of the earliest caves to be carved in the grottoes, and it contains the most stone inscriptions, with nineteen out of the "Twenty Inscriptions" located here.

Chen Ziyu is interested in calligraphy. He lingered for a long time in front of a stele inscribed with "The Record of the Statue of Shi Pinggong", and gently traced the characters on the stele with his fingertips: "This stele is really beautiful. The strokes are strong and powerful, yet lively."

Tan Yue leaned closer to take a look. Although the characters on the stele were somewhat worn, the strokes were still clearly visible. The horizontal strokes were upright, the vertical strokes were straight, and the left-falling and right-falling strokes were graceful, which indeed had a bold and unrestrained spirit.

He took out his phone, looked up the background of the "Statue Inscription of Shipinggong", and read it to Chen Ziyu: "This is an ancient work, carved to commemorate Shipinggong. The calligrapher is Zhu Yizhang, whose calligraphy was said to be very famous at the time."

Chen Ziyu nodded, then took out his sketchbook and copied down some of the characters on the stele.

Sunlight streamed through the cave entrance, casting dappled shadows on the inscriptions. Her hair was blown by the wind and fell onto her sketchbook. Tan Yue reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear, his fingertips accidentally brushing against her earlobe. Chen Ziyu blushed, but then continued looking at the inscriptions as if nothing had happened.

After crossing the Yique Bridge, you will arrive at the Dongshan Grottoes.

The caves on the east side are fewer than those on the west side, but they are quieter and there are fewer tourists.

The two walked up the stone steps. The trees along the roadside were lush and leafy, blocking most of the sunlight, with only occasional sparse spots of light falling on the stone steps.

“The temple ahead is Kanjing Temple,” Tan Yue said, pointing to the cave in front of him. “The guidebook says there are twenty-nine Arhat statues inside, which are ancient works with different expressions and are very lifelike.”

Entering the Kanjing Temple, the cave was cool and the light was dim.

Chen Ziyu took out her phone, turned on the flashlight, and illuminated the Arhat statue on the wall.

These Arhat statues are about two meters tall, some with their hands clasped together and solemn expressions;
Some held scriptures in their hands, seemingly lost in thought;
Some had their brows furrowed, as if they were debating Buddhist teachings.

Each Arhat has a different expression and posture, and even the patterns on the folds of their robes are different.

"It's amazing," Chen Ziyu couldn't help but exclaim. "Look at this Arhat, there seems to be light in his eyes, as if he is really thinking about the principles in the Buddhist scriptures."

Tan Yue looked in the direction she pointed. The Arhat statue had a slightly furrowed brow, narrowed eyes, and pursed lips, indeed displaying a contemplative expression. He recalled reading in a book that ancient sculpture had reached its peak, with artisans able to accurately capture the expressions and postures of figures, giving life to the stone.

The two stayed in the temple for a long time until the sun set and golden sunlight shone through the cave entrance, gilding the Arhat statues with a golden edge.

Chen Ziyu closed her sketchbook and stretched: "I walked all day today, and my legs are sore, but I'm so happy. I saw so many beautiful Buddha statues and inscriptions."

Looking at the satisfied smile on her face, Tan Yue felt a warmth in his heart: "In the future, we can go to Yungang and see more grottoes."

Chen Ziyu's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously: "Okay, let's go to Yungang next time."

As the two walked out of the temple, the setting sun had already sunk behind Mount Yique, the sky was dyed orange-red, the Yi River shimmered with golden light, and the outline of the Xishan Grottoes on the opposite bank gradually blurred in the twilight.

Tan Yue took Chen Ziyu's hand. Her hand was slightly cool, and her fingertips still bore the marks of pencil from her sketchbook.

“Let’s go back,” he said softly. “We’re going to the night market tonight.”

Chen Ziyu nodded and let him lead her down the path.

Some leaves had fallen on the stone steps, making a rustling sound when stepped on.

The sounds of tourists chatting and laughing, along with the shouts of ice cream vendors, drifted from afar, mingling with the evening breeze and creating a particularly warm atmosphere.

When they reached the entrance of the scenic area, Chen Ziyu suddenly stopped and turned to look in the direction of Yique Mountain.

The last rays of the setting sun shone on the face of the Buddha, making the Buddha's smile appear especially gentle in the twilight.

"Do you think," she asked softly, "that thousands of years from now, people will still come to see these Buddha statues?"

Tan Yue held her hand tightly and said earnestly, "Yes, as long as these grottoes still exist, people will definitely come. Just like us today, they will be moved by their beauty and wisdom, and then tell their stories to more people."

Chen Ziyu smiled and leaned on his shoulder.

A gentle evening breeze carried the dampness of the Yi River and the fragrance of grass and trees, and the distant chirping of cicadas gradually faded away.

After retrieving their luggage, the two quickly took a taxi to the night market. Tan Yue's fingertips still carried the sweet scent of peony pastries as Chen Ziyu pulled her forward.

As dusk completely descended, all the lanterns in the night market lit up, their red and yellow glows carrying the aroma of food into our nostrils, and even the evening breeze felt warm and inviting.

"Smell it! Doesn't it smell like the soup that doesn't boil?" Chen Ziyu suddenly stopped, her nose twitched slightly, and her skirt swept across the bluestone path, startling a sparrow that was looking for food at her feet.

She pointed to a stall ahead with a wooden sign that read "Lao Luojing Bufantang" (Old Luojing's Unconverted Soup), where steam was rising from a rough earthenware pot, and the spicy aroma of scallions and pepper wafted far and wide.

Tan Yue looked in the direction she pointed and saw that there were already five or six tourists in front of the stall. Some were dressed in casual clothes, while others, like Chen Ziyu, were dressed in Hanfu and carrying sugar paintings or roasted gluten that they had just bought.

“Let’s hurry up and get in line. I just read in the guide that this place makes its ‘Bu Fan’ (a type of noodle) with mung bean flour, which is softer than other places.” He said, quickly pulling Chen Ziyu to the end of the line, afraid that they would have to wait even longer if they were late.

While queuing, Chen Ziyu couldn't help but peek into the stall.

The owner was a man in his fifties, wearing a dark blue apron, holding a long-handled iron ladle, and pouring mung bean paste onto a hot griddle.

The batter makes a soft "sizzling" sound as soon as it touches the griddle, and quickly forms a thin, round pancake with slightly curled edges. This is called "Bu Fan" (meaning "no flipping") – it gets its name from the fact that it doesn't need to be flipped during the process.

"So that's how you do 'no flip'!" Chen Ziyu whispered to Tan Yue, her eyes fixed on the uncle's movements. "It's simpler than I thought, but it looks like it really tests your skills."

Chen Ziyu watched intently and even secretly took out her phone to record a short video: "There will definitely be one like this in our soup later. Look at the bowl of the person in front of you, it has so many ingredients, including tofu, seaweed and vermicelli, it looks so delicious."

When it was finally their turn, the uncle asked with a smile, "Would you two like two bowls? With chili?"

"Two bowls, just mildly spicy!" Chen Ziyu answered first, adding, "Please add extra scallions, thank you, uncle."

The uncle agreed, turned around and scooped out the boiling broth from the earthenware pot. He first put a sheet of "Bu Fan" into a rough porcelain bowl, then added the sliced ​​braised tofu, soaked kelp strips, and thin vermicelli. Finally, he sprinkled on chopped green onions, cilantro, and a spoonful of secret chili oil.

The steam carrying the aroma hit Chen Ziyu right in the face, and she couldn't help but swallow. When she took the bowl, she deliberately touched the rim with her fingertip, and quickly withdrew her hand because it was too hot.

"Be careful, it's hot!" Tan Yue reminded her with a smile, found a small square table against the wall and sat down, holding the bowl herself and blowing on the surface of the hot bowl.

Following her example, Tan Yue first leaned close to the bowl and took a sip of soup.

The delicious flavor instantly spread across his tongue, the spiciness of the pepper enveloping the richness of the broth, along with the fragrance of scallions, making it not greasy at all. His eyes lit up, and he scooped up a small piece of "Bu Fan" with a spoon and put it in his mouth. It was soft and tender, with a faint aroma of mung beans, and became even more flavorful after soaking in the broth.

"This is so delicious!" Tan Yue couldn't help but exclaim. He picked up another mouthful of vermicelli with his chopsticks. The vermicelli soaked up the soup and slipped into his mouth. It was so hot that he hissed softly, but he still couldn't bear to spit it out.

Chen Ziyu also enjoyed her meal. She especially loved the braised tofu, which absorbed the essence of the broth and burst with juice when you bit into it, with a touch of savory braised flavor.

"I watched a food documentary last time, and it said that the broth for this soup is simmered for several hours with bones and old hens. No wonder it's so delicious." As she spoke, she took another big gulp of soup, and the warmth slowly spread in her stomach, relieving most of the fatigue from a day of shopping.

While we were eating, two boys in round-necked robes came to the next table. They were also carrying bowls of soup and a bag of fried dough twists.

One of the boys saw Chen Ziyu's Hanfu and greeted her with a smile: "Are you also from out of town visiting the night market? We searched for a long time before finding this Bu Fan Tang (a type of soup), the taste is amazing."

Tan Yue nodded with a smile: "Yes, we just came from the tourist attractions and came here specifically to try this. The fried dough twists you have look delicious too, which shop are they from?"

"It's the third stall up ahead. They bake it fresh, the crust is super crispy, and it's stuffed with scallions inside." The boy pointed in the direction enthusiastically. "You can try it after you finish your soup. It goes perfectly with the soup."

After the two boys left, Chen Ziyu nudged Tan Yue's arm: "Did you hear that? We're going to buy some fried dough twists later. I've never had Luojing's fried dough twists before."

Tan Yue nodded, finished the last bit of soup in the bowl, and didn't even leave the chopped green onions at the bottom.

As he put down the bowl, he noticed a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead, yet he felt completely refreshed. "This soup is so warming; it would be even more comforting to drink in winter," he said, wiping his mouth with a tissue.

Chen Ziyu finished her soup and was looking down at the video she had just taken on her phone, a smile still on her lips: "I just filmed the owner making 'Bufan' soup. I'll edit it into the video when I get back, and I'm sure a lot of people will ask for the address." She looked up at Tan Yue, her eyes sparkling, "Let's go, let's buy some fried dough twists and browse some other stalls. I heard there's also an almond tea stall up ahead, which is also very famous."

Tan Yue stood up, brushed the crumbs off his clothes, and took Chen Ziyu's hand: "Okay, I'll definitely take you to try all the special snacks at the night market today!"

The two walked side by side, the lantern light reflecting off their clothes, making the hem of their skirts look like a dancing flame.

The warmth of the soup lingered in my stomach, and the aroma of fried dough wafted from my nose. The night at the crossroads became exceptionally gentle because of this bowl of hot soup.

After finishing the soup, Tan Yue didn't rummage through it; the warmth of the rough porcelain bowl still lingered in his palms.

Chen Ziyu handed her the paper bag containing the fried dough twists and said with a smile, "Let's eat as we walk. We can stroll back to the guesthouse and take a look at Luojing City at night."

The two walked side by side on the bluestone pavement of the crossroads. The hustle and bustle of the night market gradually faded behind them. The evening breeze, carrying the unique tranquility of the ancient city, blew over and fluttered the hem of Chen Ziyu's ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

She took a bite of the fried dough twist, the outer layer was so crispy it crumbled, and the salty and fragrant aroma of scallions mixed with the aroma of wheat spread in her mouth. She couldn't help but squint her eyes and say, "This fried dough twist is so delicious, it's even more fragrant than the sesame seed cakes I eat at home."

Tan Yue also took a bite and nodded in agreement: "Freshly baked ones are definitely different; they taste best when they're hot." He looked up at the buildings along the street. During the day, they were simple and rustic with blue bricks and gray tiles, but at night, illuminated by warm yellow lights, the outlines of the beast heads on the eaves softened considerably. "Look at those lanterns over there, hanging in strings under the eaves. Doesn't it look like a scene from an ancient painting?"

Chen Ziyu looked in the direction he pointed. Various lanterns hung in front of the shops along the street. Some were printed with peony patterns, while others had the words "Luoyang Water Banquet" and "Hanfu Rental" written on them. The light shone through the thin paper and cast dappled shadows on the ground.

She took out her phone, snapped a picture of the lanterns, and then turned to take a side profile photo of Tan Yue—his collar accentuated his smiling eyes, the background a hazy lantern light, like a gentle filter.

"Look at this one, it's amazing!" Chen Ziyu handed over her phone, her tone full of pride. "I've discovered that taking photos at night yields better results than during the day. The lighting is softer, and you don't have to worry about backlighting."

Tan Yue took the phone, looked at himself in the photo, and smiled even more broadly: "It really looks good. I'll set this as my profile picture later." He put away the phone, pulled Chen Ziyu to the side of the road, and avoided a few tourists coming from the opposite direction. "Isn't the Luo River just ahead? I looked at the map yesterday, and our guesthouse isn't far from the Luo River. We can go around and see the night view."

The two strolled slowly along the street, passing a Hanfu shop that was still open. A wide-sleeved robe embroidered with phoenixes hung in the window, shimmering under the lights. (End of Chapter)