Chapter 58 Tongyang Temple (Revised)

  This century-old temple wasn't as large as one might imagine. Its apricot-red gate bore the marks of history, while its vermilion door was inlaid with two golden knockers. Above the gate hung a plaque inscribed with the three large characters "Tongyang Temple."

  Small doors on either side opened wide, allowing visitors to enter the temple. Fang's father was the first to enter. There were few monks in the temple. Aside from a monk cleaning the grounds, the only sounds were the faint clacking of wooden yu and chanting. To the left of the Buddhist hall stood a small wooden table, upon which were placed free incense and candles, along with a donation box.

  It was Fang Qing's first time to burn incense in a temple. Following her mother's lead, 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 in this temple, facing the majestic Buddha statue, the sound of the wooden yu ringing in her ears, her heart strangely calmed.

  Fang Qing didn't know whether the Buddha could really resolve her doubts, but at this moment she sincerely hoped that if there really were gods in the world, they would bless her family with peace and health. As for her own future path, she believed in herself more.

  An old man came over to sit next to her. The old man was wearing an ordinary monk's robe and lit a lamp under the Buddha statue.

  "Girl, is there something you don't understand?" The kind voice made Fang Qing turn her head, and she immediately saw the old man who was also sitting next to her.

  "Old man, thank you, I don't seem to have any confusion." Fang Qing replied politely.

  The old man smiled, his thin face full of smiles. He touched his beard and shook his head, "You can't see clearly when you are in it. Girl, whether you believe it or not, you can only pick it up after you let it go. Amitabha..."

  The old man bowed to the Buddha, slowly got up and left.

  Fang Qing didn't understand the old man's words until a gust of wind blew across her face, bringing a cool breeze. She realized she had been crying without realizing it.

  After offering incense, Fang Qing felt relaxed. Her mother also felt that the temple was a magical place, a place that brought peace and tranquility. As they turned to leave, her mother noticed a nearby donation box and, unusually generous, took out a dozen yuan and solemnly dropped it in. Fang Qing then noticed several incense sachets on the yellow wooden table by the entrance.

  A round-headed, portly monk approached, observing Fang Qing examining the 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 Qing didn't believe the temple's amulets might be as effective as the monks claimed, but buying a few was a comforting thought. Despite their small size, these amulets were quite expensive. While Fang Qing was hesitating, his mother suddenly bought seven or eight. Fang Qing suddenly noticed the monk's eyes widening with laughter.

  After descending the mountain, Fang Qing clutched the seven or eight amulets in his hands, a mixture of laughter and tears. His mother used to haggle over even the smallest purchase of vegetables, but she 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, let alone a dozen, they were worth it. She also instructed 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 at best jadeite, but Fang Sheng claimed it was jasper. Unable to stop him, the family finally paid for the items.

  The eldest brother, uninterested in any of this, followed his family around in boredom. Suddenly, he spotted a jade pendant and thought it would look great on his younger sister. The owner, squatting on the floor, shoveled his food, not even looking up, and told Fang Ming it was worthless; if he

  wanted it, he could take it for twenty yuan. Fang Qing came over and was immediately drawn to the pendant, buying it immediately. The pendant was oval, resembling a half-moon. It didn't look like real jade, but it felt soft to the touch, and the more Fang Qing looked at it, the more he liked it. He placed it with his amulet .

  After a day of exploring Taishan County, the family returned to their hotel, took a hot shower, and quickly retired to bed.

  Fang Qing clutched the amulet and jade pendant in his hands and drifted off to sleep.

  The night was quiet. Holding the jade pendant, Fang Qing slept restlessly. The soft moonlight from the window shone on the pendant, its reflected light hitting Fang Qing's forehead.

  As the moonlight faded, Fang Qing's slight frown gradually relaxed.

  She found herself lying in a dimly lit room, her hands and feet bound to the bed.

  Doctors and nurses came to check on her, confirming the medication was taking effect and that she was completely pacified. They breathed a sigh of relief. Then, a strange man entered, told everyone to leave, approached with disdain, and whispered something in her ear.

  Fang Qing, who had been as quiet as a corpse just moments before, suddenly struggled violently. The long-term torment from the drugs had left her unable to form complete sentences. She could only glare at the man with glaring eyes, mumbling curses.

  "Why did you want to kill my father? He has no grudge against you. If it was me, you could have just come after me. Why him? Why them?"

  The man beside the bed gave a sinister smile. "Why? Because your family shouldn't have been here in the first place."

  Feng Qing was about to continue, but she realized the drug he had just injected had caused a violent reaction in her body. Her tongue was so stiff that she couldn't make any sound, and she could only roar like a mute!

  Fang Qing wanted to rush to the man for revenge, but her limbs were tied to the bed, and she was waiting for someone to judge her like a commodity to be slaughtered.

  The unwillingness in her heart made her fall into a state of madness. She originally thought that it was because of her that the whole family was destroyed, but it turned out that there were other reasons.

  Fang Qing had a ferocious face and kept roaring at the man, swearing a poisonous oath in her heart, "One day, I will definitely seek revenge on you, and you will all die miserably."

  But the man looked at her as if she were a joke, and then casually ordered the doctors and nurses outside, "Don't take good care of her in the future. Just treat her like a dog. I want to watch her live a miserable life."

  The man laughed and walked away, leaving Fang Qing struggling in pain on the hospital bed. But no one cared about her. She was like a puddle of struggling mud, trapped forever in this dark corner.

  The moonlight fell again, and Fang Qing woke up with a start, unable to recover for a long time.

  (End of this chapter)