Until now, few people remember that the identity of the lay host of Wuqiu'an was Ou Shi, the nanny of the second room of Yong'an Marquis Mansion.
There is only one child in the second room of the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, and that is Cen Yunchu, the only daughter of the Cen family.
The incense in Wuqiu Temple has always been deserted. This place was originally only used for religious purposes. There are few people in the place, and it does not receive many pilgrims all year round.
Nowadays, guests are closed behind closed doors and no longer received.
That day, two women, an old man and a young man, came outside the door.
They were all dressed in civilian clothes. The older woman had a basket on her arm, while the young woman was carrying a bag.
They knocked on the door for a long time, and a nun in her early forties opened the door from inside.
"Master Zhikong, I haven't seen you for a long time, Amitabha, Amitabha!" The elderly woman clasped her hands together and greeted the nun.
"So it's Mrs. Feng and Miss Feng," Zhikong knew them both. "You are here to burn incense and chant sutras, right?"
"Master has a really good memory, doesn't he? This is the third year since my old man passed away. Thanks to the abbot and all the masters, we are allowed to practice here." Mrs. Feng said gratefully.
"You guys wait here for a while, I'll go in and tell the host." Zhikong did not directly let them in.
The current situation is special, and the abbot has already ordered that the nunnery not receive pilgrims.
But the mother and daughter have been coming here for two consecutive years. It would be unreasonable not to ask her to perform the rituals in the last year.
Although Mrs. Feng agreed, there was a clearly worried look on her face.
Zhikong understood that if a poor family wanted to perform a religious ceremony, they would have to spend a lot of money.
At the beginning, the abbot felt pity for the orphans and widowed mothers, so he allowed them to perform rituals in the nunnery and only charged a sling of money as incense fee.
This drop of money is just a show. The mother and daughter stayed in the nunnery for seven days, chanted sutras and burned incense. A drop of money was not enough.
Zhikong found the abbot and explained the matter: "I didn't refuse. They always come at this time in previous years, and this year is the last year."
The abbot thought for a while and said: "I agreed to them at the beginning, but now I can't say no. Besides, it's the last year. People in Buddhism pay attention to compassion, so they have to make her merits perfect. Let them, mother and daughter, do the same as in previous years."
Let's move in alone, but be warned not to move around, just stay in the small courtyard where they live. When you're done, you can go out without asking for her money."
Zhikong agreed, came to the front again, opened the door and said to Mrs. Feng and her daughter: "Originally, we, the host, are in seclusion these days and are not accepting outsiders. But thinking that this is your last year, why don't you
I have to make your meritorious deeds complete. So I will let you live in the same courtyard as in previous years, but I have agreed that you are not allowed to move around at will. You can leave after you have completed your meritorious deeds."
"Amitabha, Amitabha! Thank you, Abbot, for your mercy!" Mrs. Feng thanked her profusely, "I'm really sorry for bothering you."
Although Wuqiu Nunnery is small, it has more than twenty rooms. Mrs. Feng and her daughter were taken to the small courtyard in the northwest corner. There were two small rooms with only two beds and a table and stool.
Set, nothing else.
"You guys sit down first. A Taoist woman will bring you blankets and a brazier later." Zhikong led them in and said, "The fasting meals will also be brought to your room for you, two meals a day."
"Thank you, Master. This is not much money. Please take it and help us light a bright lamp outside." Mrs. Feng said, taking out a sling of money and stuffing it into Zhikong's hand.
Her hands were very rough, and she had to rely on starching and sewing to make ends meet. Her hands were like iron bars.
"Ms. Feng, take the money back! The abbot said that this is the last year to help you complete your merits, so I don't need the money." Zhikong pushed the money back.
"Oh, what do you say? This is too unexpected." Mrs. Feng's face turned red. "We also know that this sling of money is not enough, but it still means something."
"Keep it, your money is hard-earned." Zhikong said and went out.
After another long day, two Taoist women came over and brought them bedding and a brazier.
Then another nun brought an ever-burning lamp.
The basket carried by Mrs. Feng contained incense candles and paper horses. The mother and daughter lit incense under the evergreen lamp and burned the paper while chanting sutras.
Today is short, let alone in the temple, even ordinary people only eat two meals a day.
After they finished reciting today's sutra, the Taoist woman who worked as a handyman in the nunnery brought them food.
"Sister Niu, how are you doing these days?" Mrs. Feng knew everyone here, and the Taoist woman was only half a monk, so she could still chat a few words about her family affairs.
"It's okay, but it's cold and my legs and feet are a little uncomfortable." Niu Daopo was a few years older than Mrs. Feng. Her husband died early and she had no children, so she came here.
Although she didn't have much money, it was much easier than being a servant in an ordinary family. It was just that she couldn't see meat and fish all year round, so fortunately she wasn't greedy either.
"I know you have this problem. Someone just gave me two good dog skin plasters. They said they are the most effective in relaxing muscles and activating blood circulation. Give them to you!" Mrs. Feng said and actually took out two plasters and gave them to Niu Dao Po.
"Oh, this can't be done. Your life is so tight these days, how can I ask for your things!" Niu Dao Po shook his head.
"What are you doing with me? I came here for free. What's wrong with giving you two plasters?" Mrs. Feng forced the two plasters into Niu Daopo's hands.
"That's the abbot's kindness. What does it have to do with me? I'm receiving the salary for nothing." Niu Taopo was a little embarrassed.
"But, originally we wanted to meet the abbot when we came this time, so we would like to thank him. This is the last year, so we don't want to disturb him again. But we heard that the abbot is in retreat for spiritual practice, but we can no longer see him. Alas, it's really...
..." Mrs. Feng said regretfully.
"It doesn't matter whether you see him or not. Monks never care about these secular etiquette." Niu Taopo said with a smile.
"Why is there a new monk in this nunnery?" Miss Feng didn't say anything until she suddenly asked.
Niu Taopo was a little dazed, and Mrs. Feng quickly explained: "When we came in before, we saw what looked like a young woman from a distance, and she passed by. She was actually a practitioner with hair, so we couldn't help but ask."
When Niu Daopo heard this, she was stunned and said: "That's just a temporary stay, and he will leave after a while. Don't ask too much, even I don't know where that person is from. The host doesn't allow anyone to talk nonsense."
"
"I know, I know." Madam Feng nodded quickly, "It's us who talk too much."
"That's it, you guys can eat quickly. I'll come over and collect the bowls in a moment." After finishing speaking, Niu Daopo went out.
