Chapter Eighteen: The Lamp Grass and the Monk

  As expected, Liu Xin Ge finally stepped down. Because he didn't have a solid background, and since becoming the factory director, he was too arrogant, directly or indirectly offending many people. At this time, there were many who kicked him while he was down, and almost no one gave him a helping hand in the snow. Those with equivalent qualifications secretly rejoiced and each ran their own course, waiting for his dismissal papers to come down so they could take his place.

  Not long after, Dad went back to the factory to continue working. It wasn't because of his skills or qualifications. But because the new factory director was his childhood friend. Growing up in the same village as kids, their relationship was naturally good. Before Dad even had a chance to go look for him, he came knocking on our door. Sometimes, interpersonal relationships are more important than your abilities - that's just reality. With Dad back at the factory, there were more smiles on his face. In his eyes, after working at the factory for over 20 years, it was like another home to him.

  It wasn't until Father's work issues were settled that it was already mid-September. Unconsciously, I had been back home for over a month, and the time I had agreed with Master was only a few days away. Looking at the crow's feet around Mother's eyes and the increasingly speckled hair of Father, I really couldn't bear to bid them farewell. So, one day dragged into another, and I ended up staying at home for another week. It wasn't until Master sent me a telegram that I finally made up my mind to bid my family farewell.

  "I'll be arriving soon at Xihu Lingquan Temple!" The telegram had only these few words.

  "Son, when you're out, bring more money for emergencies. I've put some change in your bag and sewn the rest into your pants. When you're outside, be careful and don't believe everything people say. Think things through before doing them, don't let others cheat you! Also, remember to come back and visit us when you have time." My mom helped me carry my luggage, which contained two sets of exercise clothes and a Taoist robe, as well as two woolen vests she had knitted herself. She said that after October it would get cold, and since she couldn't be there to take care of me, I should remember to dress warmly myself.

  "Mom, don't worry. I'm already such a big person! In the future, I'll try to come back home twice a year to see you and dad. After some years, who knows, maybe I'll just stay at home and not go anywhere else, just accompany you and old dad." The long-distance bus arrived, I took the travel bag from my mom's hand, gently stroked her hair and comforted her.

  "Your dad is on duty today and didn't have time to send you off, don't blame him!" As I was about to get on the bus, my mom held my hand tightly, not wanting to let go. At the same time, she explained why Dad couldn't come. A mother's heart is meticulous.

  "Turn back and tell Dad for me, go to work and come back from work, don't always think about those things in the factory. There are more than 10,000 workers in the whole factory, how much can he do? One's body is one's own, at this age, having a good body is more important than anything!" After getting on the bus, I found a window seat and sat down, then I stuck my head out of the window to remind Mom.

  "Mom, you take care of your body too. I'll come back to see you during the New Year's holiday. Be happy, don't cry! Oh my, it's almost October, November, December, January and February are just around the corner before Chinese New Year arrives! I promise you, I'll be back in January, okay?" My mom tried her best to hold back but eventually couldn't help bursting into tears. A child travels a thousand miles, a mother worries; this is probably true for all mothers. And I stood there forcing a smile to comfort my crying mother.

  "What you said, you must keep your word!" Mom calculated that I would be able to return in three months, and only then did she feel a little better. She wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and rubbed my hair, saying.

  "Let's just drop it, let's go back now." I hastily patted my mom's shoulder and said to her. After finishing speaking, I quickly closed the window, I was afraid that if we continued talking, the tears I had been holding back would fall down.

  In the mid-1990s, China's transportation was not very developed. From my hometown in Hubei to Hangzhou, Zhejiang, I had to transfer trains. First, I took a long-distance bus to Wuhan, then transferred at Wuchang Railway Station to take another train to Zhejiang. At that time, the speed of the train was generally not very fast, and after a day and a half, I finally arrived in Hangzhou! After sitting on the train for over 10 hours, my butt felt numb, my legs felt like they were floating! It was easy to escape from the carriage filled with fart smell, stinky smell, and fox smell, which made me feel like I had escaped from hell.

  At 4:30 in the morning, the waiting hall of the train station was still crowded with people. Outside the waiting hall, except for a few dim streetlights, there was no one else. Oh, I forgot. There were two cleaning aunties working hard sweeping the floor.

  Half leaning on some worn-out plastic chairs, I began to wonder why my master would send a telegram from thousands of miles away, asking me to come to this strange city and find that strange temple!

  "Could it be that Master is preparing to abandon his Taoist ways and become a Buddhist? He wants me to shave my head, but that's absolutely out of the question!" I thought to myself.

  It wasn't easy to wait until dawn in the crowded waiting hall, and as soon as I walked out of the gate, I hailed a taxi and headed straight to West Lake. It's not that I didn't want to save money, but damn it, I simply had no idea which bus to take to get to West Lake or how to walk there after getting off the bus. After some thought, anyway, my mom gave me several hundred yuan for emergencies. Taking a taxi was undoubtedly the most convenient way.

  "Where are you going?" The taxi driver asked me enthusiastically after I got in!

  "Lingquan Temple!" I took out the telegram sent by my master and looked at it, saying to the driver. "Anyway, I'm completely unfamiliar with this place, so just drive according to the address on the telegram!"

  "Lingquan Temple? I'm telling you, little brother, you're not mistaken, are you? By the West Lake, there's indeed a Lingyin Temple. But Lingquan Temple, I've lived here for half my life and never heard of such a temple!" The driver looked at me in surprise through the rearview mirror.

  "Ah! It's written like this on the telegram, I think it should be correct, right? Or would you take me and cruise around West Lake?" As soon as I heard it, I got anxious. I came all the way from Hubei to Zhejiang, only to find that the address was wrong again. What the heck, Master, are you playing a trick on me?!

  "Hmm, I'm telling you, little brother, taking a detour around West Lake isn't cheap. Why don't I take you to Lingyin Temple first? What if the telegram was written incorrectly? Besides, even if it's correct, you can ask the monks at Lingyin Temple. They might know something about the temple you're talking about!" The driver was a kind-hearted person and instantly came up with a good idea. I thought for a moment, and since there were no other options, I agreed to his suggestion!

  The taxi drove along the wide street, stopping at red lights and going at green lights. When we arrived at the gate of Lingyin Temple, it was already an hour later! After enduring the pain and giving the driver 30 yuan, I pushed open the car door and got out. This trip cost me 10 bowls of beef noodles!

  After getting off the bus, I walked slowly along the stone road in front of Lingyin Temple. I have a bad habit, sitting in a rickety car with wind blowing from all sides is fine, but sitting in this relatively stable car always makes me carsick. At this moment, I feel my stomach starting to churn. If someone came to talk to me now, I'd vomit all over them! As the saying goes, "good things don't work and bad things do". Just as I was secretly praying that no one would come to bother me, a monk walked over!

  "Is the master from Hubei?" The monk held a paper in his hand, with the words "Welcome to Lou Mengmeng!" written on it in bold and cursive script. I took a glance and nodded quickly, but didn't dare speak up.

  "Big brother, why is your face so pale? Are you unwell?" The monk saw the situation and took a few more steps closer to me, even stretching out his hand as if to support me.

  "Master had anticipated that Brother would not be able to find the place, so he instructed me to wait here. It seems now that Master's calculations were indeed divine. Brother, follow me!" The monk spoke with a tone of reverence for his master, talking to himself. As for me, I felt the noodles I ate at the train station this morning rising up into my mouth.

  "Big Brother!"

  "Ugh!"

  "Meow!"

  The monk walked ahead, but after a few steps he turned back as if to say something. At this point, I couldn't bear it anymore, stretched out my hand to grab the monk's robe and let out a loud belch.

  "Master... brother!" Countless incense-burning tourists covered their noses and walked around the monk. The monk, however, was helplessly pulling up his robe, which had been spat on with noodle soup residue and small bits of undigested food, and angrily said to me!

  It wasn't until now that I had the chance to take a good look at this monk who came to greet me! Ah, greet... okay, let's change the word. Welcome! This monk was white and plump, with a big belly and about my age. At first glance, he seemed kind and gentle, but upon closer inspection, there was a hint of anger in his eyes. What's more, on top of this monk's head sat a tiger-striped cat, looking like it was wearing a fur hat! The cat was currently giving me a disdainful look, its expression clearly one of contempt.

  "Endless life, don't blame me, brother! Don't blame me!" Since he has already addressed me as his senior brother, I will not be polite and address him as my junior brother. Looking at him with a tangled expression, clutching his monk's robe standing in the middle of the road, without even knowing to yield. I hurriedly went forward, holding his monk's robe collar, leading him to the side of the road.

  "Doesn't the young monk know his Buddhist name?" I asked casually while helping the monk take off his dirty robes. At this moment, the most important thing is to stabilize his emotions, after all, it was me who made him lose face in front of so many people. Looking at his sturdy build, I estimated that I wouldn't be a match for him.

  "The poor monk's name is Deng Cao!" To say that Monk Deng Cao's temperament has been cultivated to perfection, such a person hasn't even gotten angry with me. Seeing my inquiry, he instead joined his palms together and very politely answered my questions!

  "This is the poor monk's lifebound cat, Dharma name Deng Xin!" Before I could ask again, Monk Deng Cao very thoughtfully picked up the cat sleeping on his head and handed it to me, introducing it with great solemnity.

  "Oh, I've long admired you! Lamp grass, lamp core!" I hypocritically praised with a bow. In fact, before I spat on this monk's body, what did I know about lamp grass and lamp core?