Fang Xintong and Zheng Si chased them all the way to Zhoushan.
Cheng Chi still didn't see the two of them.
They stayed in Zhoushan for a day, prepared incense and candles, and went to Putuo Mountain.
When they set out in the morning, the sky was gray and a little cloudy. Zhou Shaojin was worried that it would rain, but Cheng Chi said it was okay: "It will be windy today, and the sun will come out at noon."
Zhou Shaojin didn't understand all this, and when it was almost noon (ten o'clock in the morning), the sun finally showed up.
Aren’t these things only understood by the boatmen who work on boats all year round
Zhou Shaojin found it amazing and went to find Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi was standing at the bow enjoying the breeze, while Qin Ziping, Huaishan and others were serving him.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin coming, they saluted Zhou Shaojin gracefully and stepped aside.
Zhou Shaojin asked Cheng Chi: "How do you know the weather? I heard that only the old people in the village know when it will rain or when it will be windy!"
Cheng Chi's mouth twitched, and he said, "Don't you know there is a book called "Dayan Calendar"? "
have no idea!
Zhou Shaojin pondered in his heart, but smiled and said: "But even if it is so, not everyone can understand it, right? Otherwise, wouldn't the Imperial Observatory be overcrowded?"
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin and said calmly, "I don't know about others, but I can understand it."
Zhou Shaojin smiled and felt that Uncle Chi was still proud in his heart.
However, if she was as smart as Uncle Chi, she would probably be even prouder than him.
Thinking about it this way, I feel that Uncle Chi is actually quite humble.
She walked to the bow.
The sun dispelled the dark clouds, and the sky became a clear blue. The small island in the distance was lush and lovely, lying quietly in the vast blue waves.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but exclaim: "It really is like a piece of pure land, it makes people's hearts become clear."
Cheng Chi said nothing and just stood quietly beside her.
The two of them looked at Mount Putuo from a distance and did not speak for a long time.
At noon, the sun rose.
The sky is bluer, the water is greener, and large white clouds float in the sky, like a dream.
Their boat docked at the pier of Putuo Mountain.
The pilgrims coming and going stopped to watch - every day there were many pilgrims traveling between Zhoushan and Putuo Mountain, but very few of them came here by sand boats like them.
The boatman let go of the step and someone jumped up, shouting, "Is that the Fourth Master? I am Wang Xiao, the shopkeeper of the Ningbo branch. I am here to welcome the Fourth Master on the orders of the head shopkeeper of the Jiangnan branch!"
The one who came forward to respond was Qin Ziping, who smiled and invited Wang Xiao to get on board.
Wang Xiao pointed at the sedan chairs carrying porters gathered under the boat and said with a smile, "I came here yesterday. The servants have been arranged. We are just waiting for the fourth master, the old lady, and the young lady to get on the sedan chair."
Qin Ziping smiled and praised him a few words, then took him to meet Cheng Chi.
It was the first time that Wang Xiao met Cheng Chi. He was so excited that he was shaking. After he kowtowed and knelt down to pay his respects, he stood aside, at a loss.
Fortunately, Cheng Chi was in a hurry to get ashore, so he asked Wang Xiao a few questions and prepared to get off the boat.
Qingfeng hurried to tell Mrs. Guo.
Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin had already prepared everything, just waiting for the boat to dock. When they heard that they could get off the boat, Zhou Shaojin helped Madam Guo out of the cabin. The cabin was simply surrounded by curtains. Zhou Shaojin and others hurriedly got on the sedan chair. Qin Ziping ordered the servants to carry the offerings and follow the sedan chair. Wang Xiao and the monk sent by Fayu Temple led the way, and the group went to Fayu Temple, which was located on the left side of Baihua Peak on Putuo Mountain.
The abbot of Fayu Temple had received the news long ago, and he brought several senior monks, the receptionist, and the young novices to wait in front of the mountain gate.
Seeing the Cheng family’s sedan chair, the host came forward to greet it personally.
Cheng Chi stepped forward and saluted the host.
The host smiled and chanted "Amitabha", saying, "Donor Cheng has come from afar, and your sincerity is commendable. I have asked someone to prepare a room for you. Please rest for a while. I will personally take you to the Guanyin Hall to burn incense."
The Guanyin Hall is the main hall of Fayu Temple.
Cheng Chi exchanged a few words with the host with a humble smile, then went to the Zen room to serve tea. Their sedan chair was then carried directly to a courtyard not far from the mountain gate.
Wang Xiao personally took charge of cleaning the courtyard. As they were going to stay in Putuo Mountain for two days, Zhou Shaojin and Old Madam Guo washed up and left Fan Liu and Madam Lu in the yard to pack up the boxes. Then, surrounded by Biyu and others, they went to the Guanyin Temple accompanied by a kind-looking monk who was in charge of receiving guests.
Like all famous temples, Fayu Temple is built on the mountain, with levels gradually rising.
The first major hall is the Heavenly King Hall, behind which is the Jade Buddha Hall, between which there is a bell and drum tower, and then in order are the Guanyin Hall, the Imperial Stele Hall, the Sutra Library, the Abbot Hall, etc. But compared with the Jiming Temple in Jinling, the halls here are separated by wide spaces, the momentum is magnificent, and there are ancient trees, which makes it look more solemn and majestic.
The monk in charge of reception introduced along the way: "These are all ancient camphor trees, which are often regarded as sacred objects by pilgrims, and their barks are peeled for medicine... There is an ancient cypress on the platform of the Jade Buddha Hall, and on the west side is an arhat tree, which is more than ten feet thick and rare. The old lady and the young lady can go and have a look later. It is said that touching it can cure all diseases and prolong life... The Imperial Stele Hall enshrines the Three Buddhas. There is a door in the west building that leads to the Xiangyun Road of the Buddha's Head Mountain. Further up is the abbot's courtyard, which is the highest point in the temple... I heard that the old lady and the young lady came this afternoon. Although we did not close the temple gate, we asked the lay Buddhists of the temple a few days ago to persuade the pilgrims to come back to burn incense in a few days. Tomorrow morning, our abbot will personally preside over the Taoist ceremony for the Cheng family in the east side hall of the Imperial Stele Hall..."
No wonder there are so few pilgrims in Fayu Temple. It turns out Cheng Chi had already given notice.
I just don't know how much money I donated to attract the host to come and greet me personally. Of course, the reputation of the Cheng family and Cheng Chi's status as a Jinshi may also be one of the reasons why Mrs. Guo's trip to Mount Putuo was so colorful.
They went to the Guanyin Temple.
The moment he saw the Guanyin Temple, Zhou Shaojin thought he had entered the palace.
Different from other halls, the Guanyin Hall of Fayu Temple is covered with golden glazed tiles. It sparkles brightly under the bright sunlight, as if you have arrived at the legendary Western Paradise, which is grand and lofty, with an extraordinary atmosphere. The beach in the distance is vast and empty, and the sound of the waves is audible, making your eyes and ears suddenly clear.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but say "Amitabha" in his heart.
When she entered the Guanyin Hall and saw the nine-dragon caisson carved on the ceiling of the hall, she truly felt the uniqueness and majesty of Fayu Temple, which was named "Protecting the Country and Calming the Sea" by the imperial court.
She, along with Mrs. Guo and Cheng Chi, burned incense to Guanyin Bodhisattva, presented a copy of the Shurangama Sutra and a copy of the Heart Sutra, donated two thousand taels of silver for incense money, and lit five ever-burning lamps, one for Cheng Jing, one for Cheng Wei, one for Cheng Xu, one for Cheng Chi, and one for Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was shocked.
Even in Jinling's Jinming Temple, lighting a perpetual lamp costs at least 200 taels of silver a year, not to mention the Fayu Temple in Putuo Mountain.
She hurriedly pulled at Mrs. Guo's sleeve.
Mrs. Guo smiled and turned back to her and said softly, "Those who can come to Putuo Mountain are all people who have a predestined relationship with the Bodhisattva. If you feel uneasy, just make some forehead scarves, shoes and socks for me and copy some scriptures."
Zhou Shaojin's eyes were slightly moist.
In her previous life, she felt scared when she thought of Madam Guo, but she didn't expect to be favored by her in this life. She could only repay her by helping the old lady with needlework and copying scriptures.
Several great monks looked at the white silver poured into the merit box. They seemed calm, but their bright eyes revealed their true feelings.
Zhou Shaojin was immediately confused and amused, and the gratitude that had just surged in his heart disappeared into thin air.
Uncle Chi is so mean!
They actually used real money to stimulate these monks.
I don’t know if there are any monks who, after seeing so much gold and silver, finally decided to return to their hometown to live a secular life, or decided not to devote themselves to studying Buddhist principles and instead become a monk who welcomes and sees off guests!
They came out of the Guanyin Temple, and the abbot suggested that Cheng Chi go to Foding Mountain to have a look, and said, "If you don't go to Foding Mountain, it's like you haven't been to Putuo Mountain."
Cheng Chi readily agreed and asked Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin: "If you are not tired yet, why not go and have a look together. There is also a Huiji Temple on Foding Mountain. Although it is not big, it is built on the top of the mountain and you can see all the scenery of Putuo Mountain. It is also worth a visit."
Mrs. Guo was feeling a little tired, but it was not easy to come to Putuo Mountain. After thinking about it, she decided to go to Huiji Temple.
Zhou Shaojin naturally wanted it very much - she was young and in good health. Although she had lived two lives, this was her first time in Putuo Mountain and she wanted to travel around more than anyone else.
Cheng Chi told Ji Ying to help Madam Guo: "Be careful. If you are tired, we can take a break on the way. Anyway, our main purpose is to have fun next."
Zhou Shaojin agreed with this.
It would be bad if Mrs. Guo got into any collision because of her old age.
Madam Guo also knew this and said with a smile: "Don't look at my old bones, I'm afraid I'm no worse than you."
Everyone laughed tactfully and headed towards Foding Mountain.
On both sides are steep rocks and ancient trees that block out the sun, which is a completely different scene from the clear blue sky and white clouds that we just saw in Fayu Temple.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but praise him and said, "... I wonder who first built the temple here? These monks are really amazing. They can actually dig a path through the mountain and build a temple on the top of the mountain."
The monk who accompanied them to Huiji Temple smiled and said, "These are all donated by pilgrims. Without those lay believers, there would be no Buddhist kingdom of the sea and sky. Speaking of which, our temple has always wanted to build a main hall to worship the Bodhisattvas. Donor Cheng is from a Jinling family. He donated 5,000 taels of silver to our temple in one go. I have been the monk in the temple for ten years, and this is the first time I have met someone like Donor Cheng who comes from a family of poetry, literature and etiquette and is so generous. If the great monk of our temple goes to Jinling to raise funds, I wonder if Donor Cheng can help introduce some good families in Jinling City?"
This requires Cheng Chi to help act as a broker!
Zhou Shaojin looked at Cheng Chi with eyes wide open, but was calculating in his mind, five thousand taels of silver, they donated two thousand taels at the Guanyin Temple, that is to say, Cheng Chi had already donated three thousand taels of silver as incense money!
This trip to Putuo is simply made of mountains of gold and silver!
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Sisters, I don’t have time to correct the typos, so I’ll post it here first. Please take a look at it first. I will post the version with the bugs caught soon.
PS: I am busy day and night and cannot catch up, so today's update will be postponed to around 11 o'clock in the evening.
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