Chapter 2 The old couple at the foot of the mountain
There is a village at the foot of Huanxiu Mountain called Tanqing Village. There are dozens of families in the village who make a living by collecting firewood and reclaiming wasteland in the mountains. Tanqing Temple has some Buddhist fields, which are cultivated by these villagers, and they harvest some every year.
forage.
Recently, an old couple came to the village and made an appointment to buy a few thatched cottages in the village. Then they hired villagers and some young men from the town to renovate the houses. The old couple's surname was Qu, and the old woman's surname was Qu.
The surname is Wang. They are both in their sixties and are kind-hearted. It is said that they once served as officials in other places and retired to their hometown. They like the pure Buddhist place and want to be blessed by Bodhisattva at the foot of Mount Wutai.
The villagers in the village are very simple, and the Qu couple are generous, hospitable, and extremely humble, so the villagers are willing to help. Several big houses were built in a few days. It is early summer, and they will be built soon.
Checked in.
Old man Qu vacated a room and asked the villagers to bring their children. He personally enlightened the children and taught them to read and write. At first, there were only ten or eight children from the village, and the old couple only had one school.
One of them cooked food for the children. After a while, the villagers in the village, who had relatives and friends from all over the country, all knew about it and sent the children over one after another. Old man Qu didn't mind that there were too many children, so he just accepted those who came.
.The peasant women in the village saw that Mrs. Wang was busy working alone and the children were eating very hard, so they rushed over to help.
Within a month, there were more than 20 children, big and small, in Old Man Qu's home, who often came to read and write with him. These children ate at Old Man Qu's house every day at noon. Fortunately, Old Man Qu had some savings, so he didn't care.
He just gave the villagers money and asked them to go to the town and buy rice and noodles. The villagers felt sorry for themselves. They had vegetables grown in the fields at home, so they would send them over from time to time. This old man became a highly respected elder in the village.
, Old Man Qu is always the one to be judged on whatever happens in the village.
From Tanqing Nunnery on the mountain to this village, there is a mountain road, which is rough and difficult to navigate. Old man Qu said that it was his wife's ambition to build an easy-to-walk stone road for Tanqing Nunnery. So he paid and organized
Villagers from ten miles away and eight villages came together to pave and build roads. Old Man Qu gave out some silver, and with his prestige, the spring plowing had already been completed, and the people had time to spare. Hundreds of young and strong people came down from the mountain all at once.
Master Jinghui of Tanqing Nunnery learned about this and was extremely moved. She led the bhikkhunis in the nunnery to take turns delivering water to the villagers who were working on the project every day. When they encountered villagers who were injured during the work, they also provided timely medical treatment for them.
When the officials of Taihou County heard about this, they also brought people here to send a banner to Old Man Qu, raised some money in the county, and mobilized people from surrounding villages and towns to participate.
It was the people who gathered firewood and so many people worked together that the mountain road from the foot of the mountain to Tanqing nunnery was paved with stone slabs in less than a month. From then on, the road to the nunnery became wider and easier to walk.
There are more, and you no longer have to worry about the muddy and slippery mountain roads when it rains or snows.
Master Jinghui of Tanqing Nunnery was grateful for the kindness of Mr. Qu and his wife, so he specially invited Mrs. Wang to the nunnery and thanked her. Mrs. Wang became a frequent visitor to the nunnery and would come to the mountain every few days.
, pay a visit to Master Jinghui. This old lady Wang met Ying'er again. When she had time, she went to sit with Ying'er and brought some daily things. The bhikshuni in the nunnery knew that this old lady Wang was a kind-hearted old woman.
I would also like to get closer to him.
Every time Mrs. Wang brought something, she would give it to her husband, and she would also ask her to go to her home to fetch some things and go up the mountain. At first, she would also bring some fresh fruits, preserved fruits, and pickles up the mountain, but Ying'er followed the precepts in the nunnery and went up to the mountain with the bhikkhunis.
They practiced together and lived together, refusing to eat that food. ** had no choice but to take it to the nunnery, which was cheaper for Ming Ming and Xu Nuo. ** Whenever he saw the two of them eating happily, he would sigh and say: "The princess can't
Eat, you guys are having a great time eating!" Xu Nuo just smacked his lips and said, "'Master Qingmao' said that practitioners need to be more considerate of all things and not waste them. If she can't enjoy these delicacies, we will treat them as a good deed.
Eat it for her!"
Ying'er practiced in the nunnery for more than a month and lived like other bhikkhunis. She got up early to do morning exercises, chanted sutras and practiced martial arts, and rested on time. When she had time, she went to the back hall and copied scriptures according to Master Jinghui's instructions. Although
The food he ate was light, but his physique became much stronger. Occasionally, he could debate scriptures and Taoism with the senior sisters in the nunnery, and perform push-hand moves. Gradually, his expression became more calm and calm, and every time he meditated, he was like a beautiful Bodhisattva.
**Watching this, I don't feel happy for Ying'er in my heart; Xu Nuo shouts that I also want to worship Master Jinghui as my teacher and learn Buddhism, just like 'Master Qingmao', but every time I get bright eyes.
.
In addition to teaching the children to read and write every day, Old Man Qu also pays attention to the road up the mountain that passes in front of his house. The children who come to study do not have anything new happening in the village, and they all like to talk to Old Man Qu.
Every time I heard it, I would give the child some Kit Kat toys or cakes.
In the afternoon of that day, two young people came to the village. As soon as they entered the village, they saw Old Man Qu's house. The door was open and there were many children playing in the yard. The two young people walked in and looked around.
Wang. Old man Qu noticed these two young people early in the morning and saw them standing in the yard looking around. Several curious children had already gathered around them. Old man Qu walked out of the house and squinted his eyes to take a hard look at the two young men.
Someone asked: "Young man, are you here for business?"
Two young people saw an old man coming out of the room. He had gray hair, bowed slightly, and spoke in Mandarin. They knew that this old man must be an elder with some experience, so they saluted and said: "Old man, we are
Those who want to go to Mount Wutai to worship are to fulfill their parents’ wishes. But we unexpectedly come here, and we don’t know that the temple on this mountain is a temple in Mount Wutai? We thought we could go up there and pay homage, so we could hurry back.”
Old Man Qu walked up to the two of them and saw that they were wearing tight-fitting clothes, holding a sword in their hands, and their bodies were covered with dust. He knew that these two people were definitely not religious men and women who burned incense and paid their vows, so he said: "This is
Tanqing Village, on the mountain is Tanqing Nunnery, which is full of bhikkhunis. This nunnery does not accept men. If you want to go to Wutai Mountain, why not go over there, go to Beitai from the back mountain, and burn incense at Lingying Temple to fulfill your vows!"
The two young men looked at each other, then turned to look at the Beitai Mountain Peak in front of them, frowned and said: "Old man, we came from a distance and were not familiar with the road, so we came here by mistake. The weather is probably too dark now."
We can't make it to Lingying Temple. We are not allowed to enter the nunnery. I wonder if the old man can accommodate us to stay at your home for one night. We will go to Lingying Temple early tomorrow to fulfill our parents' wish!
"
Old man Qu nodded repeatedly and said: "What a thoughtful young man, how can he obey his parents' wishes. Old man, I like young people like this. Come, come and sit in the room with me." After saying that, he turned around and led the two young people.
Enter the house.
A group of children also arrived early after school and were eager to play together. Some refused to go home. There was a smart one who saw Old Man Qu ushering the guests into the house, so he followed him inside and poured water. Naturally, Old Man Qu was
After a lot of praise, the child who received the praise quickly ran out to show off to others.
Old Man Qu looked at the two young men and asked, "You two gentlemen, don't you know what to call me?"
The older young man raised his hands and replied: "Old man, I'm Yuan Bin, from Xiangfen. This is my cousin Yuan Quan. I haven't asked the old man what his surname is."
Old Man Qu nodded and said, "You two Mr. Yuan, yes. Old man, my surname is Qu, with the single character Tong. I left home when I was young and worked as an official for many years. When I grow old, I return to my roots and return to my hometown."
After hearing this, Yuan Bin quickly raised his hands and said: "It turns out that this old man was once an official, no wonder he looks so majestic. Then let's boldly call you Uncle Qu! Does Uncle Qu run a private school at home?"
Old man Qu laughed and said: "What kind of private school is this? Old man, I know a few words, and the villagers are willing to send their children, so I just teach them how to read a few words. I'm afraid of misleading others!"
"
Just as he was talking, Mrs. Wang came in from the outside and was startled when she saw two young people. Old man Qu quickly introduced them. The Yuan brothers stood up and wanted to greet Mrs. Wang, and Mrs. Wang hurriedly asked them to sit down, and then
He said to Old Man Qu: "I want to prepare a meal, but these two young masters want to stay and have dinner together?"
Old man Qu nodded, and the Yuan brothers quickly thanked them. Mrs. Wang called to the children in the yard outside to get firewood and went to the kitchen to cook.
Old Man Qu and the Yuan brothers were chatting, and the sky gradually darkened. Old Man Qu lit the lamp, and Old Mrs. Wang also prepared the food and brought it to the room. Several children who were busy with them also received food from the old lady.
I ate a few pieces of meat happily and ran home.
When the Yuan brothers saw four dishes placed on the table, they knew that these two old men were doing their best to serve as landlords. While thanking them, they let Old Man Qu eat the dishes first.
Old Man Qu looked at Mrs. Wang who was sitting aside and said, "Old lady, I have a good rapport with these two young masters. How about you let me have a glass of wine with them?"
Mrs. Wang glared at him angrily, and said with a smile: "If you are thirsty for wine, just tell me, and under the guise of the two young masters, I will get it for you." After saying that, she went into the house and took out a jar of wine and put it away.
to the table.
When Old Man Qu was about to get the wine jar, Yuan Quan quickly picked it up, opened the lid, and poured it for Old Man Qu first, then poured a bowl for Yuan Bin, but he didn't pour it for himself, so he put down the wine jar and closed the lid.
.
Old Man Qu asked strangely: "Master Yuan Quan, why don't you fill it up for yourself? Are you afraid that my wine doesn't taste good? This is Xinghua Village wine, I have hidden it for many years!"
Yuan Bin said: "Uncle Qu, my cousin is not good at drinking. If he doesn't drink, you don't have to let him go. Come, little nephew, I will drink with you!"
Old man Qu no longer gave in, so he drank with Yuan Bin and drank a few bowls. Old man Qu became drunk and said to Yuan Bin and Yuan Quan: "This Tanqing nunnery is where the Bodhisattva is worshipped. This nunnery is dedicated to the Bodhisattva."
The bhikshunis who practice here are also bodhisattva-hearted, helping the world, saving people, and encouraging people to do good. No matter how bad people or evil deeds are, they will become good when they come here!"
As he spoke, Old Man Qu burped, took a sip of water, and continued: "You are also literate. Mr. Yuan, tell me, are there really such heinous bad people in this world? Who is willing to do those things that harm the Bodhisattva?
Evil deeds! If you do those kinds of things, you will go to Avici Hell."
Yuan Bin laughed dryly after hearing this and did not answer. Yuan Quan smiled and said to Old Man Qu: "Old Man Qu, you must be drunk. How can there be any hell in this world? As for good and evil, there are good and evil in the human heart.
The only difference is that sometimes it is a last resort for a person to do things alone.”