The Plow

"Are you thirsty?"

When he was standing at the door to welcome the visitors who came up the mountain, Lao Yuan suddenly turned around and asked.

Ling Shu shook his head.

Old Yuan murmured to himself: "It's strange, why am I so thirsty all of a sudden, it must be too late to boil water now."

I subconsciously wanted to touch my nose, but I was afraid of knocking off my unstable beard, so I felt awkward no matter what.

Lao Yuan had never been so nervous before.

He felt that it might be because he had never played a role that needed to pretend to be a ghost. When he used to pretend to be his brother, he punched the old man, blackened his face, and just didn't speak for a long time.

After pondering for a long time, Lao Yuan found the reason.

"You talked so much just now, why are you silent now?"

I dare say that Ling Shu has become dumb, he is not used to it yet!

The other party looked at him innocently: "Didn't you let me talk?"

Lao Yuan: "Let's talk, I can tell you, I can't say those deceitful words, and you have to speak up later. The most important thing is to transport Mrs. Jin up the mountain safely, and then send her down the mountain safely. Mother has borrowed it, we can't make any mistakes!"

Ling Shu groaned, vaguely.

Old Yuan was dissatisfied: "What about the toothache?"

Ling Shu: "I'm afraid my beard will fall off."

Old Yuan: ...

He began to feel that it was unreliable to bet his hope on Ling Shu, but now it was too late to regret it.

Lao Yuan has already seen Deputy Mayor Jin.

He and a young man walked in front, followed by the housekeeper, and eight people carried the coffin at the end.

The mountain road is not considered rugged and steep. For a person like Deputy Mayor Jin who has passed his destiny, with a civilized crutch in his hand, although he is a little short of breath, he can be considered calm.

"stop!"

One person who carried the coffin sang loudly, and the eight people stopped in their tracks.

But the coffin was not put down.

The housekeeper trotted forward and asked Lao Yuan and the others first.

"Taoist, do you have a bench, four of them are needed."

Lao Yuan: "Yes, disciple, go and bring it to a few laymen!"

Ling Shu: "Alright, Master!"

He turned around and entered, and after a while, he took out a square bench of the same size and placed them neatly under the coffin.

Only then did the eight gently place the coffin on the bench.

Nowadays, when a funeral is held, it is considered unlucky if the coffin falls before the destination. Although Mrs. Jin came to Guanyin Temple to fulfill her vows, she did not come here to be buried.

Lao Yuan hurriedly stepped forward and saluted Vice Mayor Jin Jishou.

"Jin Layman, long time no see, don't come here to be safe."

Deputy Mayor Jin nodded in return: "Thanks to the blessing of the Taoist priest, it's okay, but I'm old, and it's useless to go up the mountain, and I can't breathe after walking a few steps. Let me introduce, this is Mr. Song, the big red of the municipal office People, the real future is boundless, maybe in a few years I will have to rely on him to support you, Taoist priest, you have to treat him well, maybe Mr. Song is happy, and someone will allocate funds to repair your Guanyin Temple."

Mr. Song, who was named, was in his 20s, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and looked talented. From top to bottom, it was only clearly written that he was a son of the rich and powerful who had studied abroad and was an elite.

The other party showed a reserved smile when he heard the words, superficially, alienated and polite.

"Elder Jin has won the prize."

At first glance, Ling Shu felt that this person looked familiar, but after a while, he suddenly realized that this Mr. Song was the same Yue Dingtang not long ago, or the Yue Dingtang reunited in the Fei Leng Cui Ballroom after a long absence.

At that time, the unsmiling Yue, exuding the light of upper class and elite from the outside to the inside, was completely different from Yue Dingtang, who was now wearing a melon skin hat and honestly pretending to be a quail in the side hall.

Several people rested for a while, and Mrs. Jin's coffin was sent to the side hall for temporary settlement.

Those eight people went to the Banshan pavilion first to wait.

Deputy Mayor Jin looked quite leisurely, and he was in the mood to look into the distance with his hands behind his back, admiring the scenery of the mountains.

Mr. Song was young, so naturally he didn't have so many thoughts about hurting the spring and autumn and reciting poems against him. He stood at the door for a while, and then stepped into the main hall first.

Lao Yuan wanted to accompany him, but he stopped him.

"The old Taoist priest will accompany Mr. Jin, and this little Taoist boy will be fine if he stays with me."

Old Yuan's first reaction was: Why does Ling Shu and his peers still have fake beards on their lips, Dao Tong is Dao Tong, and there is a small word in front, and he is the old Taoist priest?

Then he realized the business: Ling Shu's stay meant that he couldn't go to the side hall to help, and there was only Yue Dingtang left there, could he transfer all the things into the box in just one hour?

Looking at Ling Shu again, he didn't show anything unusual, and bowed slightly towards him with his hands in his sleeves.

"What would Mr. Song want to see?"

"You can watch whatever you want. If Elder Jin wants to offer incense in the main hall, I won't bother you. Just take me around."

"Behind the temple there is a forest of steles left by literati of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Shall Xiaodao take you to see them?"

"Also."

The two asked and answered, and gradually drifted away.

Lao Yuan hung his heart in the air, staring at their backs for a long time.

"Are you ready there?"

Deputy Mayor Jin's voice was close at hand, very low, almost a whisper.

Lao Yuan came back to his senses, and quickly whispered, "Everything has been arranged, who is Mr. Song?"

Deputy Mayor Jin: "His father holds an important position in the municipal office. He is his father's secretary in name, and his family has a background. Yesterday, I heard that I was going to come to offer incense and fulfill my vows. Suddenly, I said that I would come and have a look. It’s because I’ve never been here for sightseeing, so I can’t see anything unusual, just be careful.”

Old Yuan said: "When will the old lady return to Beijing?"

Deputy Mayor Jin: "The night is long and the dream is full. I will leave tonight. I have booked three tickets for you. When the time comes, you will leave as the attendants of the Jin family. Someone will take over when you arrive in Beijing, so you don't have to worry about it."

Lao Yuan nodded, his voice suddenly raised.

"Jin Layman, please!"

Deputy Mayor Jin was a little worried: "Is your friend okay?"

Lao Yuan: "Don't worry, Mr. Jin, he's my life-and-death brother, and he's quick-spoken."

He talked about reassuring others, but he was really worried about it, wishing to stretch his ears tens of meters to hear what the two of them had said.

In fact, most of the time, it was Ling Shu who was talking.

"Look at the mountain opposite, does it look like an old man is clasping his hands? After the wind and rain, the clouds and mist gather on the top of the mountain, and the white smoke curls up, just like the white hair on the old man's head, so it is also called Baitou Peak."

"It is said that there are century-old Ganoderma lucidum and ginseng on the top of the peak. The ginseng has become fine, and it will run around all over the mountain when digging, but I have never seen it on the trail, but the old shopkeeper of the medicine shop in the city passed it on."

"Look at this road again. It is winding and winding. Does it have a special artistic conception? Although our Fuyu Mountain is not as famous as those three mountains and five mountains, it is not useless if you look closely, so the mountains are not high. , where there are immortals, there are spirits, and it is not surprising that Bodhisattvas choose to stay here to manifest their spirits."

"You little Taoist boy, you will be young next year, why do you want to grow a beard?"

Mr. Song opened his mouth suddenly, but asked an irrelevant question.

Ling Shu grinned: "It's not to look more mature and stable. Master always said Xiaodao is frizzy and can't win people's trust. With this kind of beard, wouldn't Mr. Song hold his hand high and listen patiently to Xiaodao's so much nonsense?"

Mr. Song put his hands behind his back and raised his head casually to look around, while Ling Shu was half a step behind him.

"I heard from Jin Lao that your temple is very effective in fortune-telling and fortune-telling?"

Ling Shu said with a smile: "I'm afraid you have misremembered. There are only three people in this Guanyin Temple, besides Xiao Dao and Master, including the cook. The buddy has been dismissed, if the fortune-telling is effective, why is there so little incense?"

Mr. Song nodded: "I remember wrongly, Mr. Jin never said that."

Ling Shu's smile remained unchanged, and he said warmly, "Did you see the beautiful scenery and feel good about it, and want to donate some incense money to the small temple?"

Mr. Song laughed: "Not really."

Ling Shu immediately drooped his face.

Mr. Song was amused: "You little Taoist, why doesn't your accent sound like a local?"

Ling Shu: "Hey, because Xiaodao was originally from the south, his father died young, his mother remarried, and his stepfather went to the east of the Guandong, and brought me here. The family background is not good, and his stepfather has children, so Xiaodao doesn't want to look at people at home. , I happened to meet my master, so I simply followed him up the mountain to become a monk!"

Mr. Song: "So, you are right?"

Ling Shu heyed twice: "Yes, follow my master. But my master is still a bachelor, how can I go over the front on the trail, I'm still young, don't worry, don't worry!"

Mr. Song: "I think you are eloquent, why not follow me. I can't guarantee promotion and fortune, but it is more than enough moisturised than now."

He suddenly stopped and looked Ling Shu up and down, with interest in his eyes.

The reason why Ling Shu is pretending to be crazy and foolish here, and talking eloquently, is just to delay time, the longer the better.

Mr. Song is the only variable in this trip. As long as he is not present, Yue Dingtang can arrange it calmly without any mistakes.

Just now the other party was probing with words, but at this moment, the surnamed Song said something astonishing again, but he was able to keep his face unchanged.

"Mr. Song was just joking. Xiaodao was born in a rural area. It's okay to make the nobleman happy. If you stay with the nobleman for a long time, you may make frequent mistakes. Then you won't find Xiaodao interesting. Besides, look at Xiaodao's leg, Following the master, I have been disabled since I was a child, and I am limping. I am content to have a full meal on weekdays, but I dare not dream of climbing high. If you are willing to come to this Guanyin Temple to offer incense and relax, Xiaodao and Master will naturally welcome you! "

"You do have self-knowledge."

After saying this, Mr. Song didn't bother him any more, and walked deep into the path first.

For a moment, Ling Shu's evil came from one side, and he wanted to jump up from behind and strangle the opponent's neck with a click to kill him, and then his reason stopped his dangerous thought.

The death of the one surnamed Song really fell short.

But this fellow talked a lot of nonsense, rambling on and off, and then tried again. If he hadn't been wise, quick-witted, adaptable, calm and experienced, if Lao Yuan came over, he might not be able to get over it.

The forest of steles is not large. After all, few people know about this place. Most of the inscriptions on it were left by the locals in the Ming and Qing Dynasties when they went to the mountains to meet friends. There is also little interest in Chinese studies, and the wandering around will soon come to an end.

"Go back and find Old Jin."

It was only half an hour later, Ling Shu naturally couldn't let him leave so quickly.

"Mr. Song, are you hungry, do you want to try the most famous roast chicken around here?"

As soon as he heard the accent surnamed Song, he knew that this person was not a local. Although his words were sharp and he seemed to be shrewd, his words and deeds were like a son-in-law, and he didn't seem like a down-to-earth person. flicker.

"roast chicken?"

Mr. Song's expression was a little moved.

Climbing up the mountain early in the morning, you should be hungry.

Ling Shu was overjoyed, and continued to fool around: "My master caught two pheasants yesterday, and now there is one more. Xiaodao will go to pluck and roast it. There are some leaves on the mountain. Wrap the roast chicken and roast it together, which can make the chicken more fragrant. Tender and delicious, please come with me!"

"Wait." Mr. Song said, "I'm not very hungry yet, you take me to offer incense to the Bodhisattva first, just to ask Mr. Jin if he is hungry."

Since he is unwilling, Ling Shu can't force others to do what he wants, otherwise it will be suspicious.

"Then invite Layman Song and Xiaodao to come."

Only Deputy Mayor Jin was in the main hall.

He stood in front of the Bodhisattva, clasped his hands together, as if he was meditating on scriptures to pray for his mother, he was a little surprised to see Lingshu and the others turned back so quickly.

"Why don't you go shopping for a while?"

Ling Shu said with a smile: "There is pheasant in the back kitchen, and it hasn't been cooked yet. Xiaodao was worried that the two of you may be hungry, so I brought Mr. Song back to get something."

Deputy Mayor Jin waved his hand: "In front of the Bodhisattva, don't touch meat. Since I came here for my deceased mother, I should be more pious. You young people, use it."

Mr. Song said: "Elder Jin doesn't need it, and I don't need it either. Just use some porridge and side dishes later. Why don't you see Daoist Yuan?"

Deputy Mayor Jin: "Daoist Yuan went to the side hall to pray for his deceased mother. If Mr. Song is not too boring, he can sit with the old man for a while."

Mr. Song: "Mr. Jin sincerely prays for blessings. I shouldn't interrupt. I don't know if Daoist Yuan would mind watching. I want to open my eyes."

Deputy Mayor Jin couldn't help but glance at Ling Shu, and shook his head slightly at Mr. Song from an angle that Mr. Song couldn't see.

But Mr. Song didn't wait for Ling Shu's reply, and walked out.

The Guanyin Temple is so big, and the side hall is easy to find. On one side is the Laojun Hall, and on the other side is the Arhat Hall. Buddhism and Taoism blend together, and it has very folk characteristics. The door of the Arhat Hall is open. Walk towards Laojun Palace.

"Does Daoist Yuan need to close the door when he is chanting scriptures?" He looked puzzled.

Ling Shudao: "You don't know, what my master recites is the secret of our sect. It saves the dead, accumulates virtue and accumulates blessings, and gets twice the result with half the effort. The old lady was devout to Buddha in her lifetime, so the bodhisattva will give it to Mr. Jin. Tuomeng, this is the old lady's blessing. The Dharma cannot be passed on to the ears. I have been studying for several years, but I have not been able to get it personally. Please wait outside for a while, my master will come out in a while."

Mr. Song smiled but said: "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva entrusts dreams, but you are chanting sutras in Laojun Palace. Isn't that a little wrong? I am not a student of Taoism like you. I opened the door and looked at it. There is no sound, and it will not disturb people's tranquility."

He strode forward as he spoke.

Ling Shu didn't have time to think of words to stop him, and he couldn't do it hard, so he had to follow behind and talk loudly to remind the people in the side hall.

"Mr. Song, please walk slowly, be careful of slippery roads, oops, there are stone pits under your feet, please watch carefully!"

Ling Shu was really in a hurry.

At this moment, even if Lao Yue and the others packed the things up, they might not have time to cover up the matter by sprinkling soil. They had to close the coffin again, pretending to chant scriptures and pray for blessings.

In just a few seconds, Mr. Song had already walked to the door of the side hall and stretched out his hand!