Denghuaxiao

Chapter 37 Green Lotus Gathering

 The rain stopped on the second day.

　　While the sun was shining, Yin Zheng took the damp bedding to the small courtyard to dry it in the sun. Thick threads were strung under the eaves, and a half-worn rose-colored edged thin blanket was hung up. A layer of sunlight was sprinkled on it, and the small courtyard became a little warmer.

Du Changqing glanced out of the small window outside and said, "Miss Yin Zheng, the courtyard is covered with quilts. You should make some space to dry the medicine."

Yin Zheng stroked a fold of the quilt and replied: "The medicinal materials are being dried every day, and this mattress will become moldy if it is not dried in the sun. Besides, Shopkeeper Du," she glanced at Du Changqing, "can you give the girl and Acheng hair?" The monthly payment is not given to me, so the matter of applying the medicine is not my responsibility."

Du Changqing choked and couldn't refute Yin Zheng's words, so he went out angrily.

 When they entered the outer shop, Acheng was wiping the table and Lu Zhu was arranging the medicine cabinet.

 With a lot of rain these days, poplar flowers aren't as disturbing as before, so fewer people come to buy herbal tea for nasal congestion. Du Changqing had been busy for a while, but now he was doing nothing again. He fell down on the bench and started reading.

Lu Tong was in front of the medicine cabinet, opened the drawers and checked the medicinal materials inside one by one, and asked Du Changqing: "Shopkeeper Du, is there anything happening in Shengjing recently to see?"

Du Changqing was stunned and looked at Lu Chen suspiciously: "Why do you ask this?"

Lu Zhuo didn't look at him either: "I see that there are not many people coming to the hospital to buy medicine recently, and few patients come to seek medical treatment. I plan to take two days off with you. Yin Zheng and I are new to Shengjing and are not familiar with the area. , so I’m asking you if there are any grand gatherings or temple fairs happening recently, so I can go and broaden my horizons.”

As soon as these words were mentioned, Du Changqing became interested instantly. He just sat up straight and said with a smile: "Doctor Lu, you have asked the right person. I also visited the mountains and rivers in Shengjing back then. There is no lively place that I don't know." "As for the grand gathering or temple fair you mentioned..." He pondered for a while before speaking: "The most recent one is the Qinglian Festival held on the first day of April."

Lu Zhen paused as he took stock of the medicinal materials: "Green Lotus Festival?"

"You know," Du Changqing spread his hands: "those temples with strong incense have to hold meetings several times a year, either the Guanyin Society or the Ksitigarbha Society, so that they can get money for incense candles and lanterns."

"The most lively event in Wan'en Temple is the Green Lotus Festival on the first day of April. It is said that on the first day of April, the Bodhisattva opens his eyes. If there are any serious sins, he will release them to cleanse his karma. If there are any wishes that have not come true, he will light a lamp. If you pray sincerely, the Bodhisattva will bless the good-hearted people to have their wishes come true, and those who commit evil will accumulate negative virtues."

“I don’t believe in these things, but there are many people who do, especially those doing business. On the first day of April, I go to Wan’en Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings.”

"When my father was still here, he would drag me there every year, forcing me to burn incense, send oil and rice, and ask the Bodhisattva to help me get ahead. But in the end, I was still a waste. This shows that this Bodhisattva is not Reliable, just taking money and not doing anything, is not a good thing."

He said without any respect at all, he just said: "Although the Bodhisattva is not very good, you can still go and take a look at the Green Lotus Festival. On the first day of April, a large Dharma lantern will be lit in the Green Lotus Pond. After the Dharma Assembly, all the people There are also many vendors selling snacks and Buddha statues in En Temple. The scenery on the mountain is not bad, there are many tourists, and the excitement is comparable to the New Year Temple Fair. Nowadays, you can’t catch the New Year Temple Fair, but the Green Lotus Festival can still be crowded. "

Du Changqing saw that Lu Chen was listening attentively and seemed to be very interested in the grand gathering he mentioned. He became more and more interested and told Lu Chen in detail: "The Wan'en Temple is not small. There are several halls dedicated to the Bodhisattvas. I I can’t tell who belongs to whom. I only know that the East Hall is for marriage, the West Hall is for academics, the South Hall is for wealth, and the North Hall is for health. Ask around before you go, but don’t I begged the wrong person. I originally wanted to pray for wealth and prosperity, but I accidentally begged the girl who asked for her son. This talkative person cannot even be accommodated in a medical hospital."

"...The green lotus lantern must be lit on the dharma boat. When I was a child, I once climbed onto the dharma boat secretly with someone on my back. I fell off and almost drowned. My father beat me so hard that I couldn't get out of bed for three days, but you He should and will not sneak onto the Dharma boat."

"...On the day of the puja, there will also be a release ceremony. Those merchants and officials bought thousands of baskets of **** loaches and poured them into the pond. I heard that after the puja, the monks would pick up the loaches and fry them to eat. I don't know. not real."

"...Anyway, when I went there once, I sneaked into the back hall where they kept raw loaches, and then walked around the woods and took a small path to get there. No one came to the back hall, and the water tank was really big. I caught the fattest fish. It's a little fishy when it's roasted and eaten, maybe because no salt was added." He was caught up in the good memories, his expression seemed to be intoxicated. Acheng couldn't help but interrupt him: "My boss, maybe it's because you were disrespectful to the Bodhisattva and even ate the loach that was used to release animals, so the Bodhisattva didn't bless you to get ahead."

"Nonsense!" Du Changqing scolded him: "What happened to me eating two loaches? Then I kowtow to the Bodhisattva after eating. Even if this matter is over, how can I still hold on to it? How can a Bodhisattva be so stingy? ?"

 Acheng had no choice but to shut up.

Du Changqing spoke in a trivial and detailed manner. Yin Zheng went out for a trip, but when he came back, Du Changqing hadn't finished speaking yet, so he waited for another half an hour.

It wasn't until Du Changqing's mouth was dry and he had nothing to say anymore that he said: "Anyway, when outsiders come to Shengjing, they must go to the Qinglian Festival to have a look. You have listened to me for so long today, I guess. It’s hard not to think about it. I think I’ll give you a day off on the first day of April. You can go and have a look. However, it’s a long way up the mountain, so it’s best to set off half a day in advance. Remember to bring me some apricots from Wan’en Temple when you come back. breast…"

Lu Zhen responded with a smile, packed up the medicine cabinet, and walked to the back shop with Yin Zheng.

As soon as she entered the room, Yin Zheng came close to her and whispered: "Girl, a letter came from the happy building, saying that Wanfu went to happy building early this morning. He only asked for one sentence. He agreed with what the girl said."

Lu Zong hummed softly.

It was not surprising that Wanfu agreed to do things for her. Ke Chengxing was just a master, but Wanquan had Wanfu's blood in her blood. Which one is more important is clear at a glance.

What's more, with Wanfu's mind, he should have thought that Ke Chengxing was able to silence Lu Rou's insider servants back then, and he might not be able to silence his family.

People are always selfish. It is human instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

Yin Zheng asked: "Now that Wanfu agrees to do things for the girl, it will be much easier. What does the girl plan to do now?"

Lu Zhen didn't say anything. He walked to the medical box at the foot of the table, squatted down, opened the lid of the box, and found a cloth bag inside.

“The first day of April is the Green Lotus Festival at Wan’en Temple.”

 She took out the contents of the cloth bag and held it tightly in her hands.

 “The Green Lotus Festival, the Bodhisattva opens his eyes.”

Lu Zhen looked out the window and spoke word by word: "On such a good day, a vicious person should be punished by prison."

 (End of this chapter)