Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen

In 1929, that is, one day in late August of the eighteenth year of the Republic of China, a black Dodge car drove to the foot of Xiangshan Mountain, crawled along the winding mountain road, and finally stopped in an open space.It was very quiet there, surrounded by towering ancient trees, a ruin was hidden beside it, broken walls and ruins were hidden among the weeds and trees, and the valley was filled with mist.After the car came to a complete stop, a young man wearing round glasses got out of the car first, and opened the rear door respectfully.Su Fengqi leaned on a cane, came out calmly, straightened the white straw hat, looked around, and asked, "Li Zhuoyu, is this your first time to Xiangshan?"

"Yes, yes." The young man nodded repeatedly. "How do you see it here?" "It seems to be better than Zijin Mountain..." "I said, huh! Fragrant Mountain is 1,889 feet above sea level—here, look, there, the highest point, Xianglu Peak, is also called 'Ghost Seeing Sorrow'." Su Fengqi looked up, "And the Zijin Mountain is Fourteen hundred and seventy feet." Li Zhuoyu was nearly "established" and had just returned from the United States to obtain a doctorate. She worked as a teaching assistant for Su Fengqi at the university and as a secretary for Su Fengqi at the observatory.Now, he nodded again and again: "Oh, Fragrant Mountain is 420 feet higher than Zijin Mountain."

"It's not just a matter of altitude! The air clarity in Xiangshan is much better. Zijin Mountain removes dust, smog, etc., and there are more and more intense light interference, as well as the dense water vapor barrier in the south of the Yangtze River." The doctor said, shaking his head, With a long sigh, "Oh, short-sightedness and ignorance are common problems of human beings, even in the UK--I have predicted that the Greenwich Observatory will have to move sooner or later!" Founded in 1675, the world's premier Royal Greenwich Observatory is moving—isn't that crazy?But that's what Su Fengqi said!In this regard, he wrote an article long ago, but it was not published in the UK, but published in the United States two years later.Unsurprisingly, there was an uproar in the British Isles and a raucous accusation.But Su Fengqi left for China soon after.When he left, he still asserted that the Greenwich Observatory would have to move sooner or later!

"It's called Shuangqing Villa." Fortunately, the doctor quickly shifted his attention and pointed to a courtyard not far away.The houses were built along the mountain, in a well-proportioned manner, surrounded by trees, and the scenery is elegant. "Its owner, Xiong Bingsan, also called Xiong Xiling, is my friend." "Xiong Xiling, is it the one who was the Prime Minister?" "Yes. After he left the field, he built this villa in Xiangshan, and he strongly advocated that I build an observatory in Xiangshan." Su Fengqi waved his hand, "Come, go in and have a seat."

"Is Mr. Xiong there?" "He lives in Nanjing. However, everyone here knows me." As soon as the words were finished, following a bark of dogs, the gate of the villa opened wide, and a man about fifty years old walked up to meet him, grinning and saying, "Welcome, Master 'Jianzheng'." "Old Hantou, just like the previous few times, you accompany us up the mountain." The doctor said to the other party, and then turned around to introduce Li Zhuoyu, "Here, old Hantou, Bingsan's confidant housekeeper." Qin Tian "Jianzheng" is Xiong Bingsan's joke, and they all followed suit."

Su Fengqi led Li Zhuoyu into the living room, sat down to smoke a cigar and sip tea.After a short break, he led Li Zhuoyu to look inside and outside the courtyard. Jin Dading built Yong'an Temple here in the 26th year, and later changed its name to Xiangshan Temple-"Xiangshan" got its name from this.In the past seven or eight hundred years, Xiangshan Temple has been destroyed by fire many times, and it has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.The last time it was destroyed was arson by the Anglo-French allied forces in 1860... "Here, that's right there." Su Fengqi pointed to the ruined wall hidden among the weeds and trees.Even from the ruins, the scale and grandeur of Xiangshan Temple can be seen.Shuangqing Villa is located just north of the ruins.There are two clear springs on the high slope in the courtyard, which are crystal clear and gurgling.Su Fengqi said: "'Shuangqing' refers to these two clear springs. The tea we drink is made from this spring water."

"It tastes really good." Li Zhuoyu praised. "This is what the emperor drank!" During the Kangxi period, the royal family built the Xiangshan Palace here; in the 10th year of Qianlong's reign, it was greatly expanded, including almost the entire Xiangshan Mountain, and became a large-scale royal garden, which was renamed "Jingyi Garden".The big word "Shuangqing" on the stone wall where the villa is located comes from Qianlong's "Royal Brush"... "Let's go, talk while walking, don't miss the business." The doctor said, took out his pocket watch and looked at it, "Old Han, as usual, you lead the way and find a road you haven't traveled before."

The butler went forward.Wearing a straw hat and leaning on a cane, Su Fengqi followed enthusiastically.Li Zhuoyu is carrying a bag in the back of the palace. "There are many scenic spots in Xiangshan: Langfeng Pavilion, Senyu Wat, Liuli Pagoda, Jianxinzhai, Yuhua Villa, Zhao Temple, etc." Su Fengqi said while walking, "The buildings are moderately dense and well-organized, and they are in harmony with the surrounding natural scenery. It can be called a fairyland on earth when they are integrated into one body. If we build a platform here in the future, we will all become gods!"

"Oh!" Li Zhuoyu suddenly shouted, "It's still summer, and the maple leaves in Xiangshan are turning red." "What leaves from Fragrant Hills?" The doctor raised his eyes and looked into the distance.Indeed, a mountain forest in the distance showed mottled reddish brown. "Maple Leaf!" "No. The maple tree you mentioned is called 'Famaceae'. It is a large deciduous tree in the family Hamamelis. It only grows in the south and cannot appear in Xiangshan. What you see now is a kind of Aceraceae of the Aceraceae family. A small deciduous tree, the scientific name is Acer palmatum, and its leaves remain red or purple all year round, regardless of the season."

"I see." "Xiangshan red leaves, the largest number is called sumac, sumac family sumac genus, is a kind of shrub or small tree, accounting for more than 90% of the trees in Xiangshan, and it is not yet the red season. There is also a kind of torch tree, which is also sumac It is a small deciduous tree in the family, the leaves are bright red in autumn, and the fruit ears are as red as torches." Li Zhuoyu pondered: No wonder this old man is called "Encyclopedia"!Not long ago when he went to Zijin Mountain, he just asked casually, "Why is Zijin Mountain called Zijin Mountain", and the doctor went on and on: "Zijin Mountain is not only called Zijin Mountain, it is also called Jinling Mountain, Shengyou Mountain, and Shenlie Mountain. Shan, Jiang Shan, do you know that one of the reasons why the Chairman made Nanjing his capital is because Zijin Mountain is also called 'Jiang Shan', haha, we are 'Jian Zong' with him!" At this point, the professor smiled, Shaking his head without any trace, "The chairman believes that the mountain is spread out in an arc, and the king's spirit is fully contained; the three peaks are like a pen holder for the imperial case, and the feng shui is excellent..."

"In your opinion," Li Zhuoyu asked, "how does the Chairman see 'Feng Shui'?" Su Fengqi smiled but did not answer, just pointing to several exposed cliffs, and then said: "The mountain body of this mountain is composed of sandstone, quartzite and quartz conglomerate - the former is sedimentary rock, and the latter two are igneous rocks - —These rocks are purplish-red due to the smudge of iron, and under the sunlight, especially under the slanting sun, they look purple-gold from a distance.” The three walked and talked, walking more and more slowly; Su Fengqi stopped from time to time, looked at the map, played with the compass, picked up the binoculars to look far and near, circled the map with red and blue pencils, and recorded something casually on the pad.Today is a road that has never been taken before. The mountains are getting steeper and the paths are getting more and more rugged. Crimson and maroon.Obviously, the altitude here is higher, so that the leaves can be infected early.Unknowingly, I have been walking for several hours. There is no one in the radius of more than ten miles. Everything is solidified. The surrounding is beautiful, as beautiful as an oil painting... "What is this place?" Su Fengqi finally stopped. "I can't figure it out either." Lao Han frowned, "You said you were going to take an untrodden road." "This is the best place I've seen!" The doctor seemed to be talking to himself, "The terrain is good, the air is clear, and it's very quiet..." But this "quietness" was immediately broken!A bell rang somewhere.The strange, slightly dumb, and trembling bells are mysterious, as if they came from heaven or hell... The doctor asked, "Is there a church here?" "I don't know." Old Han shook his head, "I told you, it's my first time here too." "Go," Su Fengqi waved his hand, "Go and have a look." After staggering for a few miles along the wild grass, the three of them climbed up a mountain depression.Looking around, the foreground is strange: a maroon cliff plunges into the blue sky, and some buildings are scattered on the cliff, including a bell tower with a cross on the top, several bungalows and two-story buildings, and the courtyard walls built according to the terrain are like With ruined walls, it looks like a monastery.It faces the cliff in front and the cliff in the back. It is extremely steep, and there is only one narrow path connecting it.The courtyard walls and gates are all made of crimson rocks, which are integrated with the color of the entire building complex and even the entire cliff.The cliff is facing the north, so the building complex on the cliff is completely immersed in the shadow, no one is seen, no sound is heard; in addition, the cliff is so high that it gives people a gloomy feeling... Su Fengqi took a deep breath and didn't speak for a long time.Finally, with a slight wave of his hand, he leaned on his cane and started walking.The other two followed behind him without saying a word.About half a mile from here to the church, the only narrow path is rugged, and if you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss... Finally came to the front of the courtyard.The circular door opening was very tall, and the door leaf was made of thick wood with peeling black paint, as if it had never been opened.On a wooden sign with a black background hanging vertically on one side of the door opening, a few Chinese characters that were originally golden or white could be barely seen: Xishan Jingyuan.A wooden sign with a black background was hung horizontally above the door opening, and there was also a line of golden or white Latin on it. Su Fengqi saw it, and it said "Bugdu Fara Monastery".He reached out and rang the doorbell.A rustling sound approached from far away, and it took a long time before I heard a hoarse voice and a monosyllable: "Who?" "Mommy," Su Fengqi said, "We are passing by and want to ask for a drink." There is a small rectangular door on the gate for people to enter and exit.There is a palm-sized window on the small door.The window clicked open, revealing a pair of deeply sunken eye sockets that were densely entwined with wrinkles, with two gloomy pupils embedded in them.Ten seconds later, the small door opened.The old nun was Chinese, as thin as a skeleton wrapped in a black priestly robe.She silently made a "come in" gesture. "Is Mammy the Superior?" asked the doctor. "Yes." Mammy led the guests inside, "Sir, I look like a professor." "yes." "Sir came back from Europe?" "yes." "Back from England?" "Yes." Su Fengqi was surprised, "How did Mammy know?" "British people, or people who have lived in the UK for a long time, will carry a British smell everywhere they go." Su Fengqi discovered that the old nun is not a "skeleton", not so indifferent and rigid; moreover, she seems to have a "British smell" on her body... All the buildings of the monastery are solid and heavy like a bunker.There are few windows on the house, and they are very narrow, as if the people inside hate the already rare sunlight.Arriving here, it is really like being in a medieval European monastery.The three guests, led by the old nun, walked along the stone-paved path and the winding steps.Su Fengqi whispered to the two companions: "This is a nunnery, don't make irresponsible remarks and walk around indiscriminately!" After a while, a group of people came to a two-story building and entered a room that looked like a living room.The furnishings inside are simple and old, but very clean, all the tables, chairs, benches and wooden sofas are spotless.A middle-aged nun also dressed in a black robe with straight eyebrows and a pale complexion brought a water bottle and a water glass, then retreated silently, never looking up, let alone glancing at the guests... "Drink it," the old dean made himself comfortable on a high-backed chair, pointing to the water bottle and cup, "the spring water dripping from the cliff behind is very delicious! I am eighty-one years old and still healthy. It is because of the protection of the Lord—the Lord gave us this oasis, and allowed me to be with this spring for life.” The old nun said, and made a sign of the cross: spread the five fingers of her right hand, first from the forehead to the chest, Moved from left shoulder to right shoulder. "Your courtyard is a monastery," Su Fengqi asked while sipping spring water, "Why is it also called 'Scholastic Academy'?" "Scholastics means 'Jingyuan' or 'Academy', which is a school, a little more Chinese than 'Monastery'." The nanny explained, "We have never had external studies here, only internal studies, which only accept seminarians, and the research projects include religion. In addition to teachings, there are Confucian-style reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as the "seven arts". Because it is in China, and because it is a nunnery, it is necessary to learn from female celebrities and cowards." Monastic education in Europe has gone through more than ten centuries.At the beginning, there were only grammar, rhetoric and logic, called "three arts"; later mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy were added, namely "seven arts".Most of the senior clergy are knowledgeable, which stems from this. "Foreign School" only accepts secular students; but such a remote mountain, and it is a nunnery, obviously there will be no "secular students". "Internal Learning" is specialized in training "students", that is, people who have become monks since childhood and decided to dedicate their lives to the church... "Excuse me," the doctor pondered, "does your hospital only accept virgins?" "Yes." Mammy nodded. In the Middle Ages, the Earl of Yazili in Europe worked in the royal palace, but both sons became monks, and the youngest daughter Bugdu Fara actually wanted to become a monk!The earl was shocked, and the father and daughter had a long-term confrontation over this.Burgdu Farah fell seriously ill and sought life and death; at last the count was forced to give in and allow his daughter to become a monk.After becoming a nun, Bugdu Farah died in AD 657, and the Catholic "Biography of Saints" specifically noted "virginity". In the history of Christianity, there have been countless people who insisted on practicing for their faith, endured sufferings and even suffered tragic sacrifices. Some of them were bestowed by the popes of all ages and ranked as "saints". , "San Di Gino" and so on.Women can be deduced in the same way, and they are called "saints" before their names; among them, those who have never married have the highest status, and those who have never married are the most noble, and "virgin" is specially marked after their names.Bugdu Fara is such a "saint" and "virgin"; one can imagine the basic requirements for the nuns of the convent named after her.In addition, it can be seen that "Bugdu Fara" is an authentic Catholic convent, as evidenced by the Latin above the gate, which is the "legal" religious text of the Roman Catholic Church.There is a formal "religion" here. Before nuns become monks, nuns must make "three absolute oaths". One is "absolute wealth" and does not accumulate private property; Personal wishes, but the orders of the congregation are to be followed.The swearing was necessary, because the monastery, though deep in the West Hills, was not isolated from the rest of the world.A religious couple from a nearby village came once or twice a week to help the monastery.The nuns are knowledgeable and knowledgeable about medicine. They often go out to the mountains to give medical consultations to villagers, deliver babies to pregnant women, and sometimes teach in elementary schools.The villagers call it "Bug Temple", and the nuns call themselves "Bug Monastery".A lot of mail was sent here, mostly from Peiping, but also from all over China and foreign countries.The postmen sent them to the township office, sent by the Christian couple, or brought back by the nuns who went out of the mountain... According to the nanny, there were at most a dozen nuns here, but now there are only five including her, and they are all old. The one who delivered the water just now is the youngest.In recent years, however, several young and quite distinguished women have requested to come to the convent.Some of them were originally nuns who wanted to transfer here from other monasteries; some were young girls and students hoping to become monks... Churches have organizations and propaganda networks in China and around the world.It is very easy for believers and ordinary people to understand the church and its teachings, and to understand the situation of various churches, orders, monasteries, seminaries, and even the Holy See; even for such a remote place as the "Bug Temple".Therefore, it is credible to say that there are nuns and even girls who want to go here.However, the more believable this statement is, the more uncomfortable Su Fengqi feels!He is a father with a son and a daughter; like all fathers, he loves his children very much and hopes that they will live happily ever after!One of the greatest meanings of this "happiness" is to enjoy love and have a happy marriage and family in this life.At this time, he first thought of his five-year-old daughter—not to mention five years old, when his daughter was born for five months, fifty days or even five days, he, as a father, began to imagine and design the child's future, the future Everything, including future marriage... Even in his sleep, he never thought that his daughter would "become a monk".If anyone dared to say that his daughter might one day be a nun or a nun--he'd hit the other person on the head with his stick in no time! "However, we didn't agree easily." Mammy said unhurriedly, her voice still hoarse.With the passage of time, the cliffs with the setting sun on their backs have dimmed, appearing more dangerous and gloomy. "We have to think about them, as well as the monastery. This place is too remote, and it is not easy for young nuns to stay in such a place for life! They must be like the old Chinese saying, their hearts are like stagnant water in an ancient well..." "Yes, yes," Su Fengqi felt that the words were not speculative, and in terms of time, it was time to leave.Just as he was about to bow, the dean looked at him and asked, "May I ask what your name is, sir?" "My surname is Su." "I've already said that Mr. is a professor. Now it seems that Mr. is still a very famous professor." "This, this, let it be." "Mister's presence today is due to fate and God's will." Su Fengqi said "hey", nodded and smiled. "There is one thing I wonder if I can ask you sir?" "Please, please." "As I said just now, there are several young women who want to come to Burg Monastery, including female students." "Yes Yes." "One of them I particularly likes. I think God likes her as much as I do. I hope she will succeed me as Abbot of this monastery soon." "Oh, um, um, what can I do about such a thing?" "I would like to ask sir to inquire about the real situation of this female student. Since sir is a famous professor, he must have a lot of friends. This kind of thing should not be difficult." "Must be a virgin, a virgin, to take the 'three vows'—is it?" "This is the basic condition." Mammy said solemnly, "We hope she is not acting on a whim or acting on a whim." "I'm going back to Peiping today." Su Fengqi got up eagerly, "Which school does she go to?" "Qilu University." "Qilu University," Su Fengqi was stunned, "Qilu University is in Jinan!" "Yes, it's the Qilu University." "Qi University...which department is it from?" "She is a top student at Qilu University School of Medicine..." "What age?" Su Fengqi's face turned pale, "what's your name?" "You're only nineteen years old, and your name is Ye Yuhan." The nanny got up and said, "Yuzhuo's lotus—a pretty good name, isn't it?" "Yes Yes……" "Oh, I'm going to get a letter from a female student, yes, and a photo." "No, no, no! I already know, I know!" Su Fengqi was sweating profusely, waving her hands again and again, "Please believe me, I will definitely take it to heart, take it to heart! I will do it right away, do it right away! Thank you for your hospitality , thank you! It's getting late, so let's take our leave, take our leave!"