Be good, call me uncle

Chapter 566: An ancient temple in the mountains
Changsun Tao came close to her ear: "Then let's celebrate our wedding anniversary and birthday together. Yan Yan, what are you going to give me?"

Yu Qinghuan raised her eyes and looked at his graceful jaw: "Then what are you going to give me?"

Changsun Tao thought about it seriously: "Well... I am going to give you the gift of me who is both heroic and has a soft spot for you."

Yu Qinghuan chuckled: "Then I'm going to give you my beautiful, gentle and kind-hearted self."

Changsun Tao laughed loudly: "Then we save money on buying gifts."

Yu Qinghuan agreed with this statement: "Yes, a copper coin is also money. We have saved a lot!"

Changsun Tao hugged her tighter: "Yan Yan, you are the best gift. The gold and silver mountains, the palaces, and the rare treasures are not even half as good as yours."

Yu Qinghuan put her hand on his hand around her waist: "Zhaohua, you are in my heart too."

The winding path leads to the secluded place, and the zen house has deep flowers and trees.

This small mountain road leads to an unknown thousand-year-old ancient temple. There is only one practicing monk living in the ancient temple. When he saw a pilgrim visiting, he put down his work and greeted him, clasping his hands and saying, "How could you, two donors?" Did you come to this place of pure cultivation from the world of mortals?"

The monk was probably not confused by his age, and he was very upright in appearance. He exuded the temperament of a hermit and a master, and looked very much like an Arhat who came down to earth to save all sentient beings. Especially his clear eyes shone with the light of wisdom.

Changsun Tao returned the gift: "Master, my wife and I are passing by here. I wonder if I can ask for a drink of water and ask for blessings from the Bodhisattva?"

The monk glanced at the two of them and smiled slightly: "The two benefactors have profound blessings and will achieve perfection in this life. This is the greatest blessing God has bestowed on you."

Changsun Tao smiled: "Thank you, Master, for your words."

The monk said: "If the two donors don't mind, you can sit here and wait for a while, and I will prepare a pot of Yuqian tea that I roasted myself to quench your thirst."

Changsun Tao said: "In this case, it will trouble the master."

The two of them were sitting on a round stone table in the courtyard of the ancient temple, with the blue sky and white clouds above their heads, and the breeze blowing through the forest. Several pots of dwarf pines were trimmed just right, and the ground was paved with bluestones, with sprinkles fished from the river beside them. pebbles, a clear mountain spring slowly flowing through, and the sound of "ding dong" sounded.

Birds are chirping in the forest, and the light and shadow on the water of the clear stream are mesmerizing. It is such a quiet place that it seems to be able to wash away all the troubles and filth in the heart, making people calm and indifferent.

Changsun Tao stretched out his hand and poked Yu Qinghuan's cheek and asked her: "Do you like it? In the future, we will also build a yard like this, okay? In spring/you can enjoy the spring scenery, in summer/you can read under the shade of the trees, and in autumn you will enjoy the glory Make cakes, boil snow and make tea in winter. The most important thing is that no matter spring, summer, autumn or winter, I will be by your side, flowing as long as this thin stream of water."

"Do you know how disgusting you are?" Yu Qing approached him, her black and white eyes shining in the soft sunshine, "But I like it very much and I am also very happy."

At the right time, the monk brought a simple tea set and poured the tea into the cup. The tea soup was clear and yellow, exuding an alluring fragrance.

"Donor, please." The monk took the opportunity to sit across from the two of them and made a "please" gesture.

Changsun Tao raised the cup, took a sip, and nodded with satisfaction: "Master, your tea is very good. When I look at the cup holding the tea, I can see its origin."

Yu Qinghuan tasted it silently. It was indeed very mellow, sweet in the mouth, and filled with saliva.

The monk smiled and said: "Except for the main body of this temple, everything the donor saw was made by the hands of the poor monk."

Yu Qinghuan said: "If everyone in the world could be self-sufficient like the master, there would be a lot less suffering."

The monk shook his head and chuckled: "If everyone in the world could be as free of desires and desires as the poor monk, wouldn't it mean that everyone in the world would become monks?" Changsun Tao said: "Master is different from other masters."

Yu Qinghuan continued: "It's indeed different. There aren't so many sutras to speak, and there aren't that many difficult Zen sayings."

The monk smiled and said: "To practice as a monk, you need to find a secluded place to purify your mind, rather than tying yourself into the rules and regulations of Buddhism. Of course, there is no need to make every sentence profound and unfathomable. Being simple and plain is also part of the fun. .”

Changsun Tao's slender and clean fingers gently turned the cup to look at the rough lines on the pottery cup: "What the master said is true. If you could forget three thousand worries, pick chrysanthemums on the east fence, and hide in the mountains, what would it be like? A contented life?”

The monk smiled: "I am a useless person, so I live in the mountains and wilderness. The donor has a heavy responsibility and is a useful person. How can a useful person have leisure?"

Changsun Tao's smile suddenly disappeared. He raised his eyes and looked at the monk: "Master, you haven't told me yet, what is the origin of this cup?"

The monk said: "This cup is called the Taiping Cup. It is made from the earth of the peaceful age, the fire of the peaceful age, and the water of the peaceful age."

Changsun Tao picked up the teapot and refilled it for Yu Qinghuan before pouring it for himself: "Master seems to know that my wife and I will come here?"

The monk said: "I have been practicing Buddhism for many years and can detect some secrets. The arrival of the donor has already been written on the track of destiny, so I can know a thing or two."

Changsun Tao said: "Since the master knows that we will come, I wonder if the master knows what we are here to ask for?"

The monk said: "The donor is holding the Peace Cup, and naturally he is asking for peace in the world."

Changsun Tao said: "Master, can what I ask for be fulfilled?"

The monk said: "Who knows? Even if the sky is filled with gods and Buddhas, they would not dare to speak lightly of the established will of God. But the two donors are sitting here now. I guess many things have been predestined. Why should the donors know that it will happen sooner or later? Destined?"

Changsun Tao said: "Master, I don't understand Buddhism, and I don't want to pry into the secrets of heaven, but I believe that man can conquer heaven, and I will do my best for what I ask for. But I need the help of the master. If the master can help me, I promise you, master , we will definitely create a prosperous era where Taiping cups can be fired everywhere.”

The monk said: "Donor, you seem to think highly of the poor monk. The poor monk has long since stopped caring about worldly affairs. The poor monk does not want to pay attention to the turmoil in the world."

Yu Qinghuan said: "Master knew that we would come here, so he prepared tea to entertain us early. If master is not willing to help us, why would he need to see us?"

The monk was silent and did not deny Yu Qinghuan's words. The rejection seemed not because of unwillingness, but because of some unfinished matters in Buddhism.

Changsun Tao pointed to a corner of the yard, where there was an open space about ten feet wide. The soil was newly plowed, as if something had been planted, but not a single green bud could be seen on the land that had been moistened by the spring rain.

"Master, is that a test for my wife and I? Only after passing this test can we make a request to the master?"

The monk said: "No, no, on the contrary, it is not a test that the poor monk wants to give to anyone, but a riddle that the master left to the poor monk. Unfortunately, the poor monk is not talented enough and it took him half a lifetime to solve it."

Yu Qinghuan said: "I don't know what kind of puzzle it is, but even the master can't solve it."

The monk said: "Master asked the poor monk to spend one day on this land of [-] feet wide to find enough food for a family of five to eat for half a month. The poor monk tried growing mushrooms and vegetables, and tried every method, but nothing happened. Solve the riddle left by the master. This question cannot be solved, and the poor monk has no intention of doing anything in the world."

Yu Qinghuan and Changsun Tao looked at each other and said with a smile: "Master, if my husband and I can help you solve this mystery, can you be born to help us?"

(End of this chapter)