Chapter 4, Qiling Temple

The monk smiled and said, "When the benefactor comes next time, I will have tea prepared."

However, this vegetarian meal is not inexpensive; even when eaten on the mountain, it costs twenty taels of silver per meal

Even the abbot, despite his profound understanding of the Buddha's teachings, could not help but smile and say, "Young master, you possess a natural childlike heart, how wonderful, how wonderful."

This Qiling Temple is a renowned temple in Yangzhou, solemn and dignified, needless to say. It is said to be an ancient temple from the Sui Dynasty, named after the Qiling Pagoda within. Before Qin Fengyi had his 'dream', he had never been particularly believing in the ways of deities and Buddhas, nor did he ever come to the temple to burn incense or anything of the sort. However, things are different now; Qin Fengyi feels as if he has 'dreamed' of his not-so-glorious life, filled with various unresolved questions. Hearing from his mother that there are eminent monks in this temple, Qin Fengyi wishes to seek their guidance.

Li Caitou immediately cast an anxious glance at Young Master Qin's servant, Lanyue. Lanyue glanced at Li Caitou and hurried after Qin Fengyi.

Mrs. Qin was startled by this person, and upon closer inspection, she saw a figure dressed entirely in black, whom she did not recognize, especially given the coarse cloth and short attire that clearly indicated he was a servant. Mrs. Qin was filled with anger, exclaiming, "You scared me to death!"

Then I can rest assured Qin Fengyi was worried about Xiao Xiuer's safety Upon hearing that Xiao Xiuer was doing well, Qin Fengyi smiled and said, Thank you for the eggs you sent I instructed the servant to bring a set of the Four Treasures of the Study to reward Li Caitou and said, Xiao Xiuer mentioned that your son is also studying, so give this to your son to use

Due to the purpose of her visit, Qin Fengyi did not take the time to appreciate the scenery of Qiling Temple, let alone the three characters "Qiling Temple" on the enormous vermilion archway in front of it, which is said to have been handwritten by the current emperor

Qin Fengyi frowned and said, "However, my friend, what he saw in his dream does not resemble this Lu Sheng. Before entering the dream, he was destitute, yet in the dream, he had a beautiful wife and concubines in his embrace. What my friend saw in his dream was as if he was witnessing the future"

Due to the abbot's laughter, "Young Master, at this moment, are you and I conversing in a dream, or are we speaking while awake?"

A family of three had a vegetarian meal and rested for a while in the incense room. With her son accompanying her, Mrs. Qin was particularly enthusiastic. In the afternoon, she took her son to climb the Qiling Tower, where she carefully explained the tower's history to him. It was not until late afternoon, with the sun's rays slanting to the west, that the family returned home, with one riding a horse and the other taking a carriage.

"Mother, you need not worry, I am quite grown up now. The master is truly wonderful, he even invited me for tea." Qin Fengyi expressed her admiration once more, "The master is indeed wise; matters that I have been unable to comprehend for several days, he explained to me, and I understood them immediately."

If one cannot change, how could the Buddha allow the young man to see the future

Old Master Qin advised his wife, "If he still has that intention, even if we do not allow him to meet with that Li Caitou, he will still be concerned and will seek opportunities to find him. Now it is just right to see if he has truly changed."

Qin Fengyi smiled and said, "I cannot say, but I have already understood after consulting."

Mr. and Mrs. Qin were naturally pleased to see their son return so joyfully. Mrs. Qin even inquired, "Is there something my son wishes to privately consult the master about?"

Qin Fengyi sighed and asked the master, "If it is something unfavorable, can it be changed?"

The Qin family is a prominent household in Yangzhou. Moreover, Mrs. Qin has always been generous with her offerings of sesame oil, thus, even though the Qin family is merely a family of salt merchants, it is not difficult for them to meet the abbot, as the master is not hard to approach. Originally, Mrs. Qin also wanted to hear what difficulties her son was facing, but unfortunately, her son did not allow her to listen and said to the abbot, "Is there a quiet place? I will speak with the master there."

Due to the differing status of the master, Mrs. Qin added, "My son here has recently developed a connection with Buddhism and wishes to seek guidance from the master"

How does the young master determine that he is awake

Old Master Qin smiled and said, "Indeed." Even though Old Master Qin enjoyed his meal, it was primarily because he had a completely vegetarian breakfast, which truly left the nouveau riche Qin family with little appetite

Mrs. Qin smiled and said, "This is good." She was also concerned that her son might be impetuous due to his youth, and asked, "In front of the master, you must be respectful and courteous."

Madam Qin snorted, "Well, that is still acceptable."

Qin Fengyi still refused to admit it, saying, "This tea is quite good; it is bitter at first, but upon further tasting, it has a hint of sweetness." After all, she had received guidance from the master, so Qin Fengyi could not say that the tea was bad. After politely bidding farewell to the master, Qin Fengyi bounced out of the monk's quiet meditation hall, happily skipping along to find her parents.

The Qin family is a well-known wealthy household in Yangzhou. Naturally, they sent someone a day in advance to borrow a high-quality incense room as a resting place. Upon the arrival of the Qin family, a welcoming monk was there to receive and entertain them. Mrs. Qin is a devout Buddhist, and Qin Fengyi is eager to burn incense, so the family naturally went to burn incense first.

Qin Fengyi's wish was fulfilled, and the Qin family gathered again at Qiling Temple to enjoy vegetarian dishes. Qin Fengyi found the breakfast unappetizing and ate little. The vegetarian cuisine at Qiling Temple is renowned in Yangzhou. ... Look at the rouge goose, osmanthus duck, crab meat lion's head, honey-glazed fire square, squirrel fish, braised dried tofu, and three-ding buns ... ... a feast for the eyes. Of course, the vegetarian dishes need not be mentioned, but all the meat-like dishes are made from tofu, dried tofu skin, and other vegetarian ingredients. However, if one were not aware that it was vegetarian cuisine, the presentation, flavor, and the rich, savory taste in the mouth would completely disguise the fact that one was eating vegetarian food. Of course, the vegetarian dishes need not be mentioned, but all the meat-like dishes are made from tofu, dried tofu skin, and other vegetarian ingredients. However, if one were not aware that it was vegetarian cuisine, the presentation, flavor, and the rich, savory taste in the mouth would completely disguise the fact that one was eating vegetarian food.

Before Li Caitou could finish speaking, Mrs. Qin thought that it was all because of that little showgirl that her son had fallen seriously ill, and she immediately became even more displeased, calling out, "A Feng, come in with me!"

Qin Fengyi pinched her own thigh, wincing in pain, then reached out to pinch the master's arm, saying, "Pain means being awake"

Due to the fact that Abbot Liao Yin is already seventy years old and has encountered countless dignitaries, this is indeed the first time he has seen Madam Qin speak so directly. Just as Madam Qin was about to remind her son to be mindful of his attitude, Abbot Liao Yin had already said, "Yes, please follow me, benefactor."

Qin Fengyi actually had no intention of drinking tea; he was pondering how to consult the old monk about this matter. However, he was also aware of the importance of the situation. This Qiling Temple, though it was his first visit, he knew it was the most renowned temple in Yangzhou. The abbot of Qiling Temple was certainly not an ordinary person. Qin Fengyi restrained his impatience, quickly performed a deep bow, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Qin Fengyi mainly inquired about the situation of Xiao Xiuer, after all, he had not accomplished anything, and Xiao Xiuer was still an innocent girl. Moreover, having just returned from Qiling Temple today, Qin Fengyi was in a benevolent mood and exchanged a few words with Li Caitou at the gatehouse.

Qin Fengyi first felt a sense of relief, then emphasized, "It is not my matter, it is my friend's."

The Qin family certainly does not worry about money. Qin Fengyi has been eating to his heart's content. Mrs. Qin, seeing that he has a good appetite, smiled at her husband and said, "Indeed, this is the land of the Buddha; our son enjoys his meals exceptionally well here."

Old Master Qin saw that the matter was not significant, and thinking that his son was now an adult, he said to his son, "After you finish your business, come to your mother’s place; I will wait for you to have dinner."

The Abbot Liao Yin led Qin Fengyi out of the incense room, passing through the corridor of the temple, circling around the Spirit-Perching Pagoda, and arriving at a secluded meditation hut hidden within a bamboo grove. The Abbot Liao Yin pushed the door open and said, "I usually practice here, and no one comes by. Would you care for a cup of tea?"

Anyway, his family is wealthy; at most, they will just spend a bit more money

Old Master Qin, feeling helpless, said, "You child," and took his wife and children to the temple

Upon returning home, just as I entered the door, I suddenly saw a person rush out from the doorman, who immediately knelt down with a thud. Without saying a word, he knocked his head three times and shouted, "Li Caitou pays his respects to the esteemed master, madam, and young master!"

Qin Fengyi did not understand calligraphy very well; she merely stood patiently beside her father, admiring it for a moment. After her father finished speaking, he remarked, "These few characters from the current emperor truly exhibit the vigor of a dragon soaring and a tiger leaping, with an extraordinary presence." Qin Fengyi responded with a couple of "mm-hmms" and urged, "Father, let us hurry inside. No matter how great the emperor is, he cannot compare to the Buddha. We must not keep the Buddha waiting too long, as my mother and I still need to offer incense to the Buddha and Bodhisattva."

Qin Fengyi thought to himself, "What a clever fellow," and he patiently awaited the explanation from Master Liaoyin. Given Master Liaoyin's current status in the Buddhist community, he was certainly not an ordinary person. Having encountered many individuals, he had a good understanding of people, and although he had not met someone as simple-minded as Qin Fengyi very often, he had a sense of how to approach him. Knowing that speaking in Zen phrases might be beyond this young master’s comprehension, Master Liaoyin said, "Let me tell you a story, young master." He then proceeded to narrate the story of "A Dream of Yellow Millet" in a straightforward and accessible manner.

Old Master Qin did not recognize this person, but Qin Fengyi did and said, "Li Caitou, what brings you here? How is Xiao Xiuer?" This is Xiao Xiuer's father

Even the Abbot Liao Yin could not help but be astonished. However, at his age and being in the Buddhist community, with profound understanding of Buddhist teachings, he was certainly not like an ordinary person. The Abbot Liao Yin stroked his long, ethereal beard and said, "As you mentioned, your friend is indeed a person of great fortune, having received enlightenment from the Buddha. Since he has seen the future, it is likely that there will be much joy ahead, as well as much sorrow."

Qin Fengyi received the guidance of the master and felt relieved, thinking that as long as she did good deeds and accumulated virtue in the future, how could she fear ending up like in a "dream"? A hint of joy spread across Qin Fengyi's brows and eyes as she habitually picked up the teacup to sip some tea to moisten her throat, only to find it bitter once again. Unable to endure the tea served by the abbot any longer, Qin Fengyi stood up and said, "Having received the master's guidance, it would be inappropriate to disturb your tranquility any further. I shall take my leave now."

Qin Fengyi, however, was determined to turn over a new leaf and become a good person. She pushed her mother towards her father and said, "Father, you go rest with Mother for a while. I will have a few words with Li Caitou."

Li Caitou noticed that Qin Fengyi did not seem inclined to dwell on past matters, and he quickly expressed his gratitude profusely. Seeing that there was nothing more to discuss, Qin Fengyi lifted his foot and prepared to leave. Li Caitou was immediately left speechless; he, he, he had come with a request for Young Master Qin! He, he, he had not yet mentioned his matter!

I know

Of course, I am awake

Mrs. Qin returned to her courtyard and complained about her husband, "You really are something. Just when Ah Feng finally gave up on that thought, you had him interact with this person surnamed Li. What if it rekindles Ah Feng's feelings? What shall we do then?"

Upon seeing Qin Fengyi inquire about his daughter, Li Caitou quickly replied, "That girl is doing very well"

Qin Fengyi burned incense and, imitating her mother, earnestly bowed her head several times to the Buddha. She personally contributed some money for the oil and inquired of the guest monk, "Is Master Liao Yin at home?"

Due to the abbot pouring two cups of tea, Qin Fengyi drank it, finding it quite bitter. He forced himself to swallow, fearing that if he did not bring up a topic, the old monk would present him with some strange item for hospitality. Qin Fengyi said, "My friend encountered a situation; he had a dream in which he married and took concubines, enjoying great splendor. Upon waking, it was just like a fleeting spring dream. Master, is this dream real or not?"

Li Caitou presented a basket of eggs and said, "The day before yesterday, my daughter, being unaware, bumped into the young master. The old man has nothing else to offer as a token of respect; these are fresh eggs laid by the hens at home..."

Qin Fengyi has such explosive thoughts

The monk smiled gently, his pair of eyes calm and wise