Lotus Temple.
Because the temple is not well-known, it is not very popular on weekdays. Except for a few faithful believers who come to burn incense and worship Buddha on Buddha's birthday, most of the time of the year, almost no one cares about it.
However, today, several young guests came to the gate of Lotus Temple.
"Brother, this is it. I asked someone-----"
"Even if you want to become a monk, you should find a good temple. Look at this temple door, it's so shabby, it looks like it will fall down if you push it."
"Third sister, how can you talk like that? We are here to take Xiaoxiao back home----"
------
An Teng ignored the quarrel among his cousins, looked around the Lotus Temple located deep in the mountains, then took a step forward and knocked on the copper lock of the wooden door.
After a long time of filming, no one answered.
"Is there anyone here?" An Xiaojun was irritable and jumped up and shouted loudly into the temple. "Is everyone inside deaf?"
Crunch----
The wooden door opened, and a skinny old nun looked at the young people at the door and asked, "Are you here to burn incense?"
"Looking for someone." An Teng was too lazy to talk to these nuns and said, "We are here to find Fenghuang."
"Donor, there is no phoenix in this small temple-----" the old nun said expressionlessly.
"Bullshit." An Xiaojun squeezed past the old nun and stood in the yard, shouting, "Fenghuang, Fenghuang-----come out----"
The old nun was thin and frail, and was almost knocked to the ground by An Xiaojun's strong impact.
An Teng was quick-witted and reached out to support the old nun, saying, "Master, we are all Fenghuang's family members. We have something important to discuss with her----"
"There is indeed no phoenix in this temple----" the old nun said solemnly. "Everyone who enters our Buddhist sect has let go of the past. Now there is only a heart that is dedicated to serving Buddha and a body that is free from the seven emotions and six desires----"
"Brother, don't waste your words on this old nun." An Xiaojun was obviously a little impatient to listen to the old nun's rambling on about some Buddhist sayings, and said, "Why don't we send someone in to look around and find out? How big can this dilapidated temple be?"
An Xiaojun waved his hand, and the two black-clad bodyguards following behind them ran straight to the backyard.
"No need to look for it." A clear voice came. "I'm here."
Phoenix, dressed in a light grey robe, walked over quickly, stood in front of the two black-clad bodyguards, and said, "This is a pure land of Buddhism, you cannot make a noise here."
When the two bodyguards in black saw the eldest lady appear, they naturally did not dare to break into the Buddhist temple and the backyard where the nuns lived.
"This old man is still trying to deceive people----" An Xiaojun grinned and said, "We already knew you were hiding here. Sister, come back with us----"
"Shut up." Phoenix shouted in a delicate voice.
"------"
"Sister, don't be angry." An Xinyuan walked up to Fenghuang, held her arm, and said, "Sister, Xiaojun meant well, don't be angry with him. You have been away from home for several months, and everyone is worried about you. We finally found this place, just to take you back - Sister, come back with us?"
Phoenix shook his head and said, "This is my home. Where else can I go back to?"
"Sister, you don't really want to be a nun, do you?" An Xinyuan found this very difficult to understand. For a family like theirs, why would they want to become a vegetarian nun
"If your heart is dead, it will be painful to go back. It is better to spend the rest of your life in front of the ancient Buddha with a green lamp." Fenghuang said firmly.
An Teng stood in the distance and looked at his sister An Xiaoxiao. He hadn't seen her for a while, and her appearance had become thinner, but her facial features were still as delicate as water. She looked ethereal and otherworldly in the loose patched clothes.
It's just that her eye sockets were sunken and her eye circles were dark, and it seemed that her sleep quality had been very poor recently.
What on earth made her give up hope in life and still toss and turn in sleep in this Buddhist holy land
Because An Teng's ability and wisdom were not enough to shoulder the family's responsibility, he was not aware of many things. Although he could guess some things in his heart, they were still a far cry from the actual situation.
If he knew the truth, why would he provoke and curse at Fang Yan when he met him at the Imperial Palace Hotel
An Teng looked at An Xiaoxiao and said softly, "Sister, come back with me."
"Brother----" Fenghuang glanced at An Teng and said, "I have made up my mind. Please don't force me, okay? Even if this is-----the last thing I ask of you."
"You should know that no one will accept your decision." An Teng said in a deep voice. "No daughter of the An family has ever become a nun. Do you know how others view us after this incident? Go back and explain everything to your family. Grandpa, grandma and the elders in the family all like you - how could they bear to let you suffer any injustice?"
They all like you, how could they bear to let you suffer any injustice
Hearing this, Phoenix was about to burst into tears.
Isn't what she has endured considered injustice
Because of family interests, she cannot be with the boy she likes.
Because of their decision, she had to act with a man she didn't like.
Or is it because they were powerless when the man they loved was in danger of his life
If these are not grievances, then what are they
Is it injury? Is it murder
Yes, they have all killed their feelings, killed their hearts, and killed their hope for future life.
Killed the sunshine and rain, killed the flowers, birds and insects. Her world was dark.
"Something-----" Fenghuang tried hard not to cry. After adjusting her mind and receiving the power of the Buddhist scriptures, she was able to remain calm and composed at this time. She raised her head to prevent the tears from falling down and said, "I can't explain it clearly."
"Xiao Xiao----" An Teng was a little angry and said, "What's the matter? Why can't you explain it clearly? We are all a family. If there is anything, we should share the responsibility together. It is much better than keeping it in your heart alone, right? I know, isn't it just for a man? I told you a long time ago that Fang Yan is not a good guy and asked you to keep your distance from him, but you just didn't believe it----but it doesn't matter, you are still young. How does that sentence go? Which woman didn't fall in love with a few idiots when she was young----just treat him as an idiot who doesn't know how to cherish you."
After a pause, An Teng continued, "I taught him a lesson for you when we met last time. If you still feel suffocated, Xiaojun and I will go find him and have a fight after we return to Yanjing. I just don't believe that a poor boy from a mountain village can challenge our An family?"
"Are you looking for Fang Fangyan?" Fenghuang was shocked.
"If we run into him, we'll naturally teach him a lesson." An Teng said confidently. "Since he dared to do it, why is he afraid of what others say?"
"You----" Fenghuang was so angry that she couldn't speak. She said, "What qualifications do you have to cause trouble for others?"
"Xiao Xiao----" An Teng's face turned dark, and he said angrily: "How do you talk to your brother? Are you still speaking for him until now?"
Phoenix sighed softly and said, "Forget it, you guys go back---"
She looked at An Xiaojun, An Xinyuan and the others and said, "I appreciate your kindness, but I really don't want to go back. That home can't accommodate me----"
"Sister, just come back with us-----" An Xinyuan grabbed Fenghuang's arm, trying to drag her back by force.
"Xinyuan----" Fenghuang looked at An Xinyuan calmly and said, "Do you want me to die?"
"sister-----"
"I can't go back." Phoenix smiled sadly. "If I go back, I will die----I really will die-----"
"------"
------
An Teng left with his cousins, feeling angry and unwilling to give in.
However, when they left, they still wrote a large check to the Lotus Temple, hoping that the temple could improve their living conditions. In any case, they didn't want Phoenix to suffer too much grievance here.
What they don’t know is that Phoenix’s grievances are not in food, clothing, housing and transportation, but in her heart.
After seeing off An Teng and the others, Fenghuang closed the temple door and helped the old nun walk towards the Buddhist hall.
"Master Jinghui, they were too rude. Are you okay?"
"If you devote yourself to Buddha, your spit will dry up. How can you be on the same level with these secular people?" The nun smiled and waved her hands. "But do you really want to spend the rest of your life in this Lotus Temple? Saying this is really disrespectful to Buddha, but I still want to say one more thing. You are young, beautiful, and have a good family. You really don't need to take this path."
"Master Jinghui, my heart is already dead. What do other things have to do with me?" Fenghuang shook his head and sighed.
The old nun smiled, and the wrinkles on her face relaxed like orange peels. She said, "If the heart is really dead, how can there be sighs? How can there be tears when seeing relatives?"
"Master Jinghui-----"
"Silly child-----" The old nun stroked Fenghuang's head and said, "People often say that there is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. But if the heart is really dead, how can there be sorrow? How many people can really give up the prosperity of the world, relatives, friends and lovers to become a lonely sutra chanter? Since you can't let go, then go out. Your brother is right. What can't be solved in the world?"
Fenghuang shook her head and said, "Master Jinghui, you don't need to persuade me. I won't go back. These days in Lotus Temple are the most peaceful time for me."
"Don't try to lie." The old nun reached out and stroked Fenghuang's eyes, saying, "Since you came in, have you ever had a good night's sleep? You were thinking about something, which caused you to have trouble sleeping all night. Your heart is not with the Buddha, but with the man outside. The Buddha is always here, but the man outside may not always be waiting for you there."
"------" Phoenix looked sad, and his heart was like thorns. (To be continued)