Chapter 57: Jade Pendant
  This century-old temple wasn't as large as one might have imagined. Its apricot-red gate bore the marks of history, while two golden knockers graced its vermilion door. Above it hung a plaque inscribed with the characters "Tongyang Temple." Small doors on either side opened wide, allowing visitors easy access. Fang's father was the first to enter the temple. There were few monks present. Aside from one monk cleaning the grounds, the only sounds were the faint clacking of wooden fish and chanting.

  Unsure of where to go, his father approached and asked, "Excuse me, Master, where can I burn incense?"

  The monk, with his hands clasped together, politely directed them and then returned to his cleaning duties. Fang Qing and his companions followed the path indicated by the monk, heading back around a quiet corridor. They turned and found themselves in a large open space, where a Buddhist hall appeared before them.

  To the left of the entrance stood a small wooden table, upon which were placed free incense sticks and a donation box.

  It was Fang Qing's first time to burn incense at a temple. Following her mother's footsteps, she lit the incense and offered it, then knelt in prayer.

  Fang Qing didn't really know what she wanted or what she should pray for, but upon arriving at the temple, facing the majestic Buddha statue, the sound of the wooden fish drumming in her ears, her heart miraculously calmed. Involuntarily, Fang Qing slowly closed her eyes and clasped her hands together, her mind racing back to the painful memories of her past life.

  Fang Qing didn't know if the Buddha could truly resolve her doubts, but at that moment, she sincerely hoped that if there truly was a Buddha, he would bless her family with peace and health. As for her own future, she trusted in herself.

  The lingering incense of the temple enveloped Fang Qing, and she felt as if she had suddenly entered a magical world. In a hazy state, she seemed to see the entire temple, her mother muttering with her eyes closed, and herself kneeling on a cushion, also praying. Then, she seemed to enter a ball of light, and saw herself in her past life.

  By then, she was emaciated, her eyes dull, lying in a dimly lit room, her hands and feet bound to the bed. Doctors and nurses came forward to check on her, and only breathed a sigh of relief when they confirmed she was completely serene. Then a man entered, told everyone to leave, and whispered something in her ear. Fang Qing, who had been as quiet as a corpse just moments before, suddenly began to struggle violently. The long-term drug abuse had left her unable to form complete sentences. She could only stare at the man with glaring eyes, mumbling something incoherently.

  Floating in mid-air, Fang Qing watched the scene with bewilderment. Could it be that it had been so long since her rebirth that she had forgotten these scenes? Just as Fang Qing was filled with confusion, the man smiled and left the room, leaving Feng Qing alone in the bed, struggling and mumbling something.

  "Baojiu, what is Baojiu?" Just as Feng Qing was wondering, she suddenly heard a bell chime beside her. The sound seemed to come from the sky, instantly pulling her out of her trance. When Fang Qing opened her eyes again, she found herself still kneeling on the mat, and the Buddha statue in front of her was looking at her with compassion.

  At this moment, a tear suddenly flowed from the corner of Fang Qing's eye. She stared blankly at the teardrop in her palm, and everything that had just happened seemed like a dream she had experienced. Looking at the Buddha statue again, Fang Qing's expression was full of awe. Regardless of whether what she had just seen was real or not, she was grateful to the Buddha for giving her a moment of peace.

  The sound of wooden fish echoed in her ears. At this moment, Fang Qing finally prayed devoutly, hoping that her family would be safe and healthy, and that she could get what she wanted, and then knelt down sincerely.

  After burning incense, Fang Qing felt relaxed all over. Her mother also felt that the temple was a magical place and that coming here would make people relax. As they turned around and were about to leave, her mother saw the merit box on the side and generously took out a dozen yuan and solemnly threw it in. Fang Qing saw several sachets on the yellow wooden table at the door.

  At that moment, a plump monk with a round head approached. Seeing Fang Qing examining several sachets, he smiled and explained, "My dear donor, these are amulets blessed by the abbot of this temple. Wear them to ward off evil and bring good fortune. If you like them, you can take a few home."

  Fang's mother quickly approached, picked up several of the delicate sachets, and

  examined them carefully. "These are beautifully embroidered, Master. What are their uses? Are there any taboos against wearing them?" The monk's eyes lit up, and he quickly explained the various amulets' uses. "Some are for wealth, some for children, and some for peace and health..."

  Although Fang Qing doubted that the amulets in the temple might be as effective as the monks claimed, buying a few to carry around was a comforting thought. Despite their small size, these amulets were quite expensive. While Fang Qing was hesitating, Fang's mother unexpectedly bought seven or eight of them. Fang Qing immediately noticed that the monk's smile widened.

  After descending the mountain, Fang Qing clutched the seven or eight amulets in his hands, a mixture of laughter and tears. His mother, who used to haggle over even the smallest purchase of vegetables, hadn't expected such generosity in the temple.

  But his mother believed these amulets could bring peace and safety, so even if they cost a few dozen, not just a dozen, they were worth it. She also urged Fang Qing to follow the fat monk's instructions: after ablution and fasting, wear the amulets underneath her underwear.

  They'd burned incense at the temple that morning, and at noon, the family of four had lunch at a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain. Fang's father had heard about a small antique market in Tai County, so he took them there.

  After a long stroll, Fang's father bought a copper incense burner and an emerald-green bracelet for Fang's mother. Although Fang Qing didn't understand, he felt his father had been ripped off. The color was jadeite at best, but Fang Sheng claimed it was jasper. Unable to dissuade the family, Fang's father finally paid for the items.

  The eldest brother was not interested in any of these things, and followed his family around boredly. Suddenly, he saw a jade pendant and thought it would look great on his sister. The boss squatted on the ground, eating his meal, and without even looking up, he told Fang Ming that the thing was worthless and that if he wanted it, he could take it for twenty yuan.

  Fang Qing came over and liked the pendant very much, so he paid for it immediately. The pendant was oval in shape, like an unfull moon. It didn't look like real jade, but it was soft to the touch, and the more Fang Qing looked at it, the more she liked it.

  For some reason, when she saw this piece of jade, she thought of Wen Ning. Perhaps in her eyes, Wen Ning was that piece of warm and beautiful jade, so she put it together with the amulet.

  (End of this chapter)