The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

A big river crosses in front of the temple, and you can walk into the Zen forest through mountain steps.

Standing in front of the thousand-year-old Hanshan Temple, you are surrounded by devout pilgrims. Occasionally, a few tourists stood at the pavilion on the middle of the mountain and looked into the distance, and they were also shocked by the beautiful scenery of the river and the sky.

Chen Heng had no intention of doing this and pulled Xin Suzhao along the way. The three of them walked quickly through the temple gate. Xin Suzhao stopped the passing monk and asked, Little master, may I ask where Master Kongkong is now?

The young monk was also startled by the two people talking to him, because they had sallow faces and messy hair. If he got closer, he could smell a faint fishy smell.

The young monk hesitated a little and asked cautiously, I wonder who the two of you are from Master Kongkong?

When you came on stage, Chen Heng patted Xin Suzhao with his hand, and the latter replied: I am a lay disciple of Master Kongkong. I have something important to look for today. Please tell me the whereabouts of my master.

Eight out of ten people who came to see Master Kongkong said this. The young monk murmured in his heart, but seeing that Li Weiwei, who said nothing, was not someone to be trifled with, he only led them to the Zhike monk in the temple.

The three of them had no choice but to change places again and rushed to the monk's residence where the monk Zhike was staying. As soon as Chen Heng and Xin Suzhao finished explaining their intentions, the other party showed a hesitant look. Li Huwei couldn't stand it anymore, so he took out a token from his arms and showed it to Zhike Monk.

Chen Heng didn't see what the token looked like, but the Zhike monk changed his expression on the spot and said rather embarrassedly: It's an unlucky time for the donors to come. Master Kongkong is at Fahua Nunnery now.

Chen Heng was stunned when he heard this. Why did this monk run to the nunnery? Xin Suzhao didn't care and only asked where Fahua Nunnery was. They were also lucky today. The Fahua Temple was only one mile away from Hanshan Temple.

Following the route pointed by Zhike Monk, Chen Heng walked for two minutes on the winding mountain road. A sparsely populated temple was hidden behind the dense forest leaves in the mountains.

Although the place was close, the two of them were in trouble. This monk's temple is easy to enter, but men are not welcome in the nunnery. Chen Heng had no choice but to knock on the door again and bring out a master's wife to explain his purpose.

The master was about fifty years old, with a kind face and kind eyes, and his tone of voice was also very gentle. After explaining Monk Kong's location in a few words, he closed the door again with a smile.

Embarking on the journey again, Chen Heng walked around the outer wall of Fahua Nunnery while listening to Xin Suzhao talk about the life of his master.

It turns out that Monk Kongkong was a monk on the way, and the layman was an official in Yangzhou. He was eager to learn and read scriptures intensively since he was a child. He once passed the imperial examination and gained fame. Monk Kongkong also got married when he was young. Unfortunately, when he was about thirty years old, his children and parents died of illness one after another.

Then why is he hiding in Fahua Temple? Chen Heng walked for half a day and was somewhat breathless when he spoke.

If my guess is correct, you will know when you get there.

After walking a few steps, I suddenly saw a pavilion hidden among the pines, cypresses and bamboo leaves in the open space ahead, and I could faintly see several figures sitting in it. When Chen Heng got excited, he lifted up his robe and walked a few steps faster. He could hear their voices.

Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I found it for you after all.

Hmph. Although the sound was brief, Chen Heng could tell it was a woman.

Everyone is a monk now, so why bother with this?

Thirty years ago, you were the one who abandoned your home and wife. In the past thirty years, you were the one who has been hiding in Tibet. You became a monk and wanted to find peace of mind in front of the Buddha, so why should you avoid him like this?

Good guy, from the way this woman talks, it sounds like an old lover has come to visit. Chen Heng was joking. Seeing that his master was speechless, Xin Suzhao quickly raised his voice to relieve him, Master, my apprentice has brought his junior brother to see you.

Good disciple, I opened the window this morning and heard the cry of magpies. As I said, there should be a distinguished person visiting today, but I didn't expect it to be you. These empty words came from behind the forest.

Junior brother? ? ? Chen Heng was startled, but Xin Suzhao beside him had already jumped out. He had no choice but to catch up quickly.

When Chen Heng walked into the pavilion, he saw that the pavilion faced the wind on eight sides, the river on three sides, and the mountains on five sides. It was really an elegant resting place.

In the pavilion, there were one monk and two nuns, two old men and one young man. The two elders looked about the same age, but the female master looked slightly stern. The youngest one, about fourteen or fifteen years old, was sitting quietly. Although he is wearing sand clothes, his breath is like a orchid, as if he is holding a laurel tree.

Before Chen Heng could take a breath, he saw Xin Suzhao winking at him. He immediately understood, stepped forward, bowed, and said emotionally: Master, I haven't seen you for a long time. I miss you day and night.

It's not like he thinks about it day and night. He has been running around all the time these days. He can't eat well or sleep well. He thinks about the other person every day and is so anxious that he has blisters on his mouth.

But who knew that as soon as he finished speaking, the junior master burst into laughter, and he didn't know why.

Teacher Tai actually said: I didn't expect that Master Kongkong, who has six pure roots, could teach a scholar.

Chen Heng was a little dumbfounded. Is there anything strange about this monk teaching a scholar? It was Xin Suzhao who gave him a warning, clasped his hands together and said, Master, you don't know how hard it has been for me and my junior brother to walk this way.

It turned out to be like this, Chen Heng suddenly realized, but now even if he changes it again, it seems a little deliberate, and he can only blame himself for being too busy. He continued: Master, senior brother is right. I told him...

Why should I call Xin Suzhao my senior brother? ? ? ? ? Chen Heng couldn't help but stop and frown.

Okay, okay, it's not in vain that I taught you two diligently in the past. Master Kongkong took one of his beloved disciples by the hand and said with a smile, I am such a good disciple. You must have something important to do with me today. Master, I will do this. Come with you.

So smooth? Chen Heng felt his heart pounding and almost put the word happy between his eyebrows. He held Monk Kongkong's hand with his backhand and said sincerely: Master still loves me.

Otherwise, how can I be your master? Monk Kongkong winked at him.

That's right, Master, let's say goodbye first. Xin Suzhao proudly held his hands towards the teacher Tai Gong and was about to push the two of them out of the pavilion.

Hmph. Master Tai sneered, Miaoyu, stop them.

Yes, Master.

The little master stood up lightly and quickly stood on the steps of the pavilion. The place was not big, so she was in such a position. These three people are neither advancing nor retreating, and it is not easy to step forward and take action directly.

While everyone was worried, Chen Heng came to his senses and said: Master, my disciple has a relative who is seriously ill at home, so we really can't delay it. Please have mercy on me, Master, and let me give way to my senior sister.

Good boy, it's not that Master is making things difficult for you. Master is afraid that your 'Master' is gone and it will take several years to find him again.

several years? ? ? Chen Heng was also frightened when he heard this. He didn't know what Monk Kongkong had done to his master to avoid him like this.

Then I don't know how Master can let me go? Xin Suzhao asked frankly.

It's simple. As long as one of the three of you can answer my disciple's question, you can leave. Master Mu will not stop you. The teacher pointed at the little nun, clasped his hands, closed his eyes and said no more.

I just said that such twists and turns are inevitable. Chen Heng sighed, saluted the young master and said, I don't know what the problem is, senior sister.

After saying that, he couldn't help but feel worried. He didn't know what the problem was that could stump Monk Kongkong. Chen Heng just hoped that the other party would ask questions about walking on four legs in the morning, walking on two legs at noon, and walking on three legs in the evening.

I cried.