Fаng Хintоng аnd Zhеng Si рursued them аll thе wау tо Zhoushan.
Chеng Сhi still did not meеt the two оf thеm.
Тhеу stаyed in Zhоushan for a day, prерarеd incеnsе аnd сandlеs, аnd sеt оff fоr Mоunt Putuo.
When thеу deрarted in the mоrning, the sky wаs gray аnd оvеrсаst. Zhоu Shаojin worriеd it might rаin, but Chеng Сhi sаid it would bе fine: "It's windу tоday. Тhе sun will cоme out by nоon."
Zhou Shaоjin didn't undеrstаnd such things, but surе enough, just befоrе Si Zhеng (10 a.m.), thе sun рееkеd оut.
Arеn't thеse things оnly undеrstood bу sailоrs whо wоrk on bоаts уеar-round?
Zhou Shаojin found it quite marvelоus and went to find Сheng Chi.
Сheng Сhi wаs standing аt the bow of the boat, enjoying the breeze, with Qin Ziping, Huaishan, and others attending nearby.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin approach, they politely bowed to her and retreated to a distance.
Zhou Shaojin asked Cheng Chi, "How do you know how to read the weather? I heard only the elders in villages know when it will rain or be windy!"
The corner of Cheng Chi's mouth twitched as he replied, "Don't you know there's a book called the Dayan Calendar?"
She didn't!
Zhou Shaojin thought to herself, but outwardly she smiled and said, "Even so, not everyone can understand it, right? Otherwise, wouldn't the Imperial Astronomical Bureau be overcrowded?"
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin and said indifferently, "I don't know about others. It's enough that I can understand it."
Zhou Shaojin smiled, thinking that Uncle Chi was inherently proud at heart.
However, if she were as clever as Uncle Chi, she'd probably be even prouder than him.
With that thought, she felt that Uncle Chi was actually quite humble in character.
She walked to the bow of the boat.
The sun had dispersed the clouds, revealing a clear, azure sky. In the distance, small islands lay lush and lovely, resting peacefully amidst the vast blue waves.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but exclaim, "It truly looks like a pure land, making one's heart feel cleansed as well."
Cheng Chi offered no comment, standing quietly beside her.
The two gazed at Mount Putuo in the distance, neither speaking for a long while.
At noon, the sun rose higher.
The sky grew bluer, the water more emerald, and large, fluffy white clouds drifted across the sky, dreamlike and ethereal.
Their boat docked at the pier of Mount Putuo.
Passing pilgrims stopped to watch—many pilgrims traveled between Zhoushan and Mount Putuo daily, but few arrived on a sand ship like theirs.
The boatmen laid down the gangplank, and someone leaped aboard, calling out loudly, "Is it Fourth Master? I am Wang Xiao, manager of the Ningbo branch, sent by the chief manager of the Jiangnan branch to welcome Fourth Master!"
Qin Ziping stepped forward to respond, smiling as he invited Wang Xiao aboard.
Wang Xiao pointed to the porters and sedan chairs gathered below and said with a smile, "I arrived yesterday. The laborers are all arranged and ready, just waiting for Fourth Master, the Old Madam, and the young lady to board the sedans."
Qin Ziping praised him a few words and took him to see Cheng Chi.
This was Wang Xiao's first time meeting Cheng Chi, and he was so excited he trembled. After kowtowing and performing a grand salute, he stood to the side, unsure what to do.
Fortunately, Cheng Chi was eager to go ashore. After asking Wang Xiao a few questions, he prepared to disembark.
Qing Feng hurried to inform Old Madam Guo.Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin had long been prepared, waiting only for the boat to dock. Upon hearing they could disembark, Shaojin gently supported Old Madam Guo as they left the cabin. Simple curtains were set up around the area. Shaojin and the others hurriedly boarded their sedan chairs. Qin Ziping and the servants carried the offerings, following behind the sedan chairs. Wang Xiao, the reception monk sent by Fayu Temple, led the way as the group headed to Fayu Temple, located on the left side of Baihua Peak on Mount Putuo.
The abbot of Fayu Temple had already received word and was waiting at the temple gate with several senior monks, reception monks, and attending novices.
Upon seeing the Cheng family’s sedan chairs, the abbot personally came forward to greet them.
Cheng Chi stepped forward and exchanged greetings with the abbot.
The abbot smiled and chanted “Amitabha,” saying, “Patron Cheng has traveled from afar with such sincerity. This old monk has already arranged guest rooms. Please allow the old madam and the young lady to rest for a while. I will personally accompany the madam and the young lady to the Guanyin Hall to offer incense.”
The Guanyin Hall was the main hall of Fayu Temple.
Cheng Chi exchanged a few polite words with the abbot before heading to the meditation room for tea. Their sedan chairs were carried directly to a courtyard not far from the temple gate.
Wang Xiao had personally taken charge, ensuring the courtyard was already cleaned. Since they would be staying on Mount Putuo for two days, Shaojin and Old Madam Guo freshened up, leaving Madam Fan Liu and Nanny Lu in the courtyard to unpack the luggage. Accompanied by Biyu and others, they proceeded to the Guanyin Hall under the guidance of a kind-faced reception monk.
Like all renowned temples, Fayu Temple was built along the mountainside, ascending gradually.
The first main hall was the Heavenly King Hall, followed by the Jade Buddha Hall behind it. Between the two halls stood the Bell and Drum Towers. Beyond these were the Guanyin Hall, Imperial Stele Hall, Sutra Repository, Abbot’s Hall, and others. Compared to the Jiming Temple in Jinling, the halls here were spaced farther apart, grand and majestic, with ancient trees forming a forest, lending an even more solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
The reception monk provided commentary along the way: “These are all ancient camphor trees, often regarded as sacred by pilgrims, who peel their bark for medicine… On the platform of the Jade Buddha Hall, there is an ancient cypress tree, while a rare arhat tree stands to the west, with a circumference of over ten feet. Later, the old madam and the young lady can take a look. It is said that touching it can cure all ailments and prolong life… The Imperial Stele Hall houses the Buddhas of the Three Ages. On the western side, there is a door in the building leading to the Xiangyun Path of Foding Mountain. Further up is the Abbot’s Courtyard, the highest point of the temple… Hearing that the old madam and the young lady would arrive this afternoon, although we did not close the temple gates, we had already asked the temple’s lay devotees a few days ago to persuade other pilgrims to come another day for incense offerings. Tomorrow morning, our abbot will personally conduct a ceremony for the Cheng family in the eastern side hall of the Imperial Stele Hall…”
No wonder there were so few pilgrims at Fayu Temple—Cheng Chi had already made arrangements.
It was unclear how much incense money had been donated to warrant the abbot’s personal welcome. Of course, the Cheng family’s reputation and Cheng Chi’s status as a jinshi likely also added to the prestige of Old Madam Guo’s visit to Mount Putuo.
They proceeded to the Guanyin Hall.
The moment Shaojin saw the Guanyin Hall, she felt as though she had entered a palace.
Unlike other main halls, the Guanyin Hall of Fayu Temple was roofed with golden glazed tiles, shimmering brilliantly under the bright sunlight, as if they had arrived in the legendary Western Pure Land—vast, lofty, and transcendent. The distant beach stretched wide and empty, the sound of waves washing over them, refreshing both mind and senses.
Shaojin couldn’t help but silently chant “Amitabha” in her heart.Upon entering the Guanyin Hall and seeing the nine-dragon caisson ceiling carved atop it, she truly felt the distinctiveness and majesty of Fayu Temple being conferred by the imperial court as the "Nation-Protecting, Sea-Quelling Zen Temple."
She followed Old Madam Guo and Cheng Chi in offering incense to Guanyin Bodhisattva, presenting a copy of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra and a scroll of the Heart Sutra, donating two thousand taels of silver as incense money, and lighting five eternal lamps. One was for Cheng Jing, one for Cheng Wei, one for Cheng Xu, one for Cheng Chi, and one for Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin was greatly astonished.
Even at Jinming Temple in Jinling, lighting an eternal lamp for a year cost at least two hundred taels of silver, let alone at Fayu Temple on Mount Putuo.
She hurriedly tugged at Old Madam Guo’s sleeve.
But Old Madam Guo turned back with a gentle smile and said softly, "Those who can come to Mount Putuo are all people with a connection to the Bodhisattva. If you feel uneasy, you can often make headbands, shoes, and socks for me or copy some scriptures in the future."
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes grew slightly moist.
In her past life, she had always felt afraid at the thought of Old Madam Guo. Never did she expect to earn the old lady’s favor in this life. Indeed, the only way she could repay her was by doing needlework or copying scriptures for her.
The senior monks appeared composed as they watched the gleaming silver being poured into the donation box, but their bright eyes betrayed their true feelings.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. The overwhelming gratitude that had surged in her chest moments ago vanished without a trace.
Uncle Chi was truly wicked!
To use such real gold and silver to provoke these monastics.
Who knows if any of them, upon seeing so much wealth, might ultimately decide to return to secular life or choose to become a receptionist monk, welcoming and seeing off visitors, rather than delving deeply into Buddhist teachings!
As they exited the Guanyin Hall, the abbot suggested that Cheng Chi visit Foding Mountain, adding, "If you haven’t been to Foding Mountain, it’s as if you haven’t been to Mount Putuo at all."
Cheng Chi readily agreed and asked Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin, "If you’re not too tired, why not come along? There’s also Huiji Temple on Foding Mountain. Though not large, it’s built atop the mountain, offering a panoramic view of Mount Putuo’s scenery. It’s quite worth a visit."
Old Madam Guo was already slightly weary, but since a trip to Mount Putuo was rare, she thought it over and decided to visit Huiji Temple after all.
Zhou Shaojin naturally jumped at the opportunity—she was young, in good health, and though she had lived two lifetimes, this was her first visit to Mount Putuo. She was more eager than anyone to explore everywhere.
Cheng Chi instructed Jiying to support Old Madam Guo, saying, "Be careful. If you get tired, we can rest more along the way. After all, our main purpose from now on is to enjoy ourselves."
Zhou Shaojin agreed with this sentiment.
It wouldn’t do if Old Madam Guo, due to her advanced age, were to bump into something or get hurt.
Old Madam Guo, aware of this, smiled and said, "Don’t underestimate this old bones of mine. I might not be any worse off than you all."
Everyone laughed good-naturedly, and the group set off for Foding Mountain.
On both sides were steep cliffs and ancient trees so dense they blocked out the sky, presenting a scene entirely different from the clear blue skies and white clouds they had seen earlier at Fayu Temple.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "...I wonder who first built a temple here? These senior monks are truly remarkable, able to carve paths through mountains and build a temple right on the summit."The guest monk accompanying them to Huiji Temple smiled and said, "These are all donated by devotees. Without those lay believers, there would be no such Buddhist paradise. Speaking of which, our temple has long wanted to build a Mahavira Hall to enshrine the Bodhisattvas. Benefactor Cheng is from a prominent family in Jinling and generously donated five thousand taels of silver to our temple at once. In my ten years as a guest monk here, this is the first time I've encountered someone like Benefactor Cheng—born into a family of scholars and etiquette, yet so open-handed. If our abbot goes to Jinling to raise funds, I wonder if Benefactor Cheng could help introduce some charitable families in the city."
This was clearly asking Cheng Chi to act as a broker!
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes and looked at Cheng Chi, while calculating in her mind: five thousand taels of silver—they had donated two thousand at the Guanyin Hall, which meant Cheng Chi had already contributed three thousand taels in incense money earlier!
This trip to Putuo was practically paved with mountains of gold and seas of silver!
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Sisters, I don’t have time to correct typos, so I’m posting this first. Please read it for now, and I’ll soon upload a version with errors fixed.
PS: I’ve been rushing day and night but still couldn’t make it. Today’s update will be postponed until around 11 p.m.
(>_<)
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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