Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 227 If you don't work hard when you are young, the boss will teach you

The next day, Wang Heng and Xiaocai got up very early. They had decided the night before that they would stay in the mountains for three days, and today they would go to see the Buddha's Light and Flowing Clouds, one of the six scenic spots in Jubao Mountain.

It is said that after the sun rises in the east on a clear and beautiful day, the sky is filled with colorful clouds, which shine on the Buddha Light Pavilion. The outside of the Buddha Light Pavilion seems to be covered with colorful clouds, shining brightly. This is the Buddha Light Clouds.

Therefore, to see the Buddha's light, you have to go around to the mountain south of the Buddha's Light Pavilion and walk several sections of mountain road in the dark.

Yesterday, Xiaocai asked the young monk from Jubao Temple for the route.

Wang Heng and Xiaocai walked out of the west wing. The indigo sky was dark and covered the sky. They estimated that it was around the time of Yinpai (around four in the morning).

The villa was quiet, and everyone in the Liu residence had not yet gotten up. When the two passed the pond for releasing animals, they saw that the makeshift scripture platform was still there, and remembered that the Liu residence's ceremony was on the second day.

The mountain path pointed out by the young monk was easy to walk on. It was different from the direction they had taken yesterday morning. They headed south from the release pond and climbed a hillside. Before them appeared the green bamboo forest that they had been unable to find yesterday.

From here, climb up the steps and wind eastward. In less than an incense stick of time, you will have climbed up a cliff. Looking north, in the dim morning light, you can vaguely see the Foguang Pavilion standing on the opposite cliff.

Xiaocai leaned against the cliff and looked around. He saw a stone path going eastward. About two or three feet along the path, he saw an ancient platform with heavy traces of artificial carving. It was surrounded by pine and cypress trees. It seemed to be a viewing platform.

Looking north at the main peak, the Foguang Pavilion seemed to be very close, and the pavilions and towers were extremely clear. The two smiled at each other, and the viewing point that the little monk mentioned should be this platform.

After a while, a hint of paleness appeared in the eastern sky, and the rosy glow rose, brilliant and dazzling. Soon, half of the face of the rising sun appeared, and it was about to rise slowly, but was covered by layers of clouds and mist, and in the blink of an eye, turned into a gray haze.

After waiting for a while, I still didn't see the sun break through the clouds. Alas, the weather is not good. I can't see the Buddha's light and flowing clouds today.

The two of them returned the same way they came, and after walking a few steps and approaching the cliff in front of them, they were stunned by the sea of ​​clouds in front of them. They saw mist lingering in the valley, rolling into a sea of ​​clouds, like a fairyland, accompanied by the sound of pine waves and bamboo whistling, the sound of nature, which took a long time to dissipate.

After a while, Xiaocai was surprised and said, "Could this be the Sea of ​​Self-Sacrifice Clouds? It would be even more perfect if a swordsman came riding a crane."

Wang Heng said, "That's probably right. Jubao Mountain isn't very big. The monk thought that the Sea of ​​Sacrifice Clouds was a rare sight and didn't want us to rush in."

Xiaocai sighed, "It is said that Buddha's light is easy to get, but we have no chance to see it. He left his body in the sea of ​​clouds and disappeared without a trace, but we saw him. It shows that fate in this world is indescribable."

Strolling down the mountain, the unhappiness on the boys' brows had turned into joy.

The sound of the ancient temple bell can be heard in the distance. This sound is for the early morning vegetarian meal.

They quickened their pace and soon entered the dining hall of the villa, but found that there was no one in the dining hall. The breakfast was still white porridge, pickled vegetables and steamed buns. They were about to finish their meal when the Liu family's housekeeper Ade came in and sat aside, looking like he had a lot on his mind.

Because it is a branch courtyard and not a formal Zen temple, there is no need to strictly abide by the rule of not talking while eating.

Wang Heng asked, "Housekeeper, there are so many people in your house, why is there no one here so early in the morning?"

A Deqiang smiled and said, "Master Wang, they are all serving the ladies. My master came to me in a dream last night, saying that he is still suffering down there, and he must let the ladies go down to accompany him."

"Ah?" Wang Heng and Xiaocai looked at each other, confirming that they had not heard wrongly. Mr. Liu wanted Mrs. Liu and Miss Liu to go downstairs to accompany him. What did this mean?
"Didn't we perform a ritual yesterday and recite sutras for the entire day?" Wang Heng asked. Ade smiled bitterly and said, "It doesn't work."

Wang Heng took a few glances when the monks at Jubao Temple were performing a ritual yesterday. It was solemn and grand, and seemed like they had great magical powers. How could it be that it was completely ineffective?

This Liu Biejia has already entered the underworld, but he still wants to indulge in the happiness of his family.

After the meal, the two returned to the west wing, put their daily necessities in order, washed up, and left the villa.

Yesterday, Zhang Xiru made an appointment with them, asking them to go to the Sutra Library to read before the end of Chenshi (9 a.m.).

During the journey, Xiaocai said, "Mr. Wei is lazy and never disciplines us to study. Mr. Zhang is strict and I often feel ashamed if I don't study hard with him."

Wang Heng thought for a moment and said, "This is exactly how lucky we are. Our enlightenment teacher is relaxed and interesting, which makes it easy for us to learn. Our teacher is knowledgeable and profound, which can help us reach a higher level in our studies."

Xiaocai nodded and said, "In the past, most of the teachers in Ziyang Academy didn't like teaching. They often said, 'If you don't work hard when you are young, you will have to be a teacher when you are old.' I thought that no one wanted to teach, but I didn't expect there would be someone like Mr. Zhang who found teaching enjoyable. I am lucky to be Mr. Zhang's book boy. But having said that, after all, wandering around is fun, while studying hard is hard."

Wang Heng said cryptically: "We all love to wander."

As they were talking, they had already arrived at the Sutra Library. The young monk Wuming ran over to open the door for them: "Mr. Zhang has arrived a long time ago. He is on the third floor today."

Going up the wooden stairs, we saw Zhang Xiru sitting on a cushion on the third floor reading scriptures. He gestured to Wang Heng and the other two to read on their own.

The Buddhist scriptures on the third floor are more precious, so both of them wiped their hands clean before daring to read them.

Time passed quickly and the lunch bell in Jubao Temple had already rung. Mr. Zhang was so immersed in the scriptures that he was unaware of it, and Wang Heng and Xiaocai were in no position to remind him.

After a long time, the young monk Wuming came upstairs to invite them to have a vegetarian meal. Mr. Zhang suddenly came to his senses and said, "I'm starving, I'm starving." He took out a palm-leaf fan from his arms, fanned himself and went downstairs.

Wuming invited the two followers to go to the temple kitchen for a vegetarian meal. Xiaocai quickly agreed. He winked at Wang Heng and whispered, "Let's not come to the temple in vain. We must see what the vegetarian food in the temple is like."

Following Mr. Zhang out of the Sutra Library, Wuming locked the door and was about to lead the way to the dining hall when he saw a monk walking hurriedly towards them.

"Mr. Zhang, there is a man named Liu De, who claims to be the steward of the Liu family who is holding a ceremony in the temple. He has something urgent to discuss with you," the monk said with a salute.

"Ade? Where is he?" Zhang Xiru asked.

The monk said, "He is waiting at the gate, and he looks very anxious."

The monk led the way in front. Wang Heng and Xiaocai thought that Butler Ade came at a really bad time, but they had no choice but to endure their hunger and follow Mr. Zhang out of the mountain gate.

Seeing the housekeeper Ade looking out at the gate from afar, he was not only anxious, but also anxious. When he saw Zhang Xiru coming out, he cried, "Mr. Zhang, during the meal, my young lady and my wife went somewhere. I'm afraid it's bad."