Chapter 25 rain, moon, snow

When Du Yunqing first came to this nunnery, she was numb and didn't respond to anything.What kind of territory is this, who is there, how she is treated, and even how she eats, lives, and lives, all of which have lost the awareness of examination. In the eyes of others, she seemed to be out of her body, like a living dead. After more than a month in this way, Du Yunqing showed some vitality and noticed that this is an unfamiliar land boundary, very close to the mountain. However, this land is very quiet and clean, and there is always a fragrance of incense, as if it is the breath of a fairyland.Therefore, she couldn't help thinking ignorantly: This is the land to come after death, right?

It is not big here, there are not many courtyards, but there are trees in the courtyards.The tranquility under the shelter of the green shade is indeed very strange.In the center of the front yard is an exquisite flower pond, in which there are several flowers and trees with old trunks, lush branches and leaves, and huge flowers.It's a pity that the flowers are fading, and the pond is full of falling flowers.It must be some kind of precious flower for offering in such a prominent position. On this day, Du Yunqing was in a daze in front of the flower pond when a lame old woman came over.The old woman seemed to recognize her, and asked, "What kind of flower is this?"

The old woman said coldly: "I have told you several times, this is Peony." "You told me?" The old woman snorted coldly. "What's the name of the flower?" "Peony. How can the flowers next to it be so big?" "Peony? Peonies have such big flowers?" "You haven't even seen a peony? What a waste of growing up in the capital." "What capital?" "The capital is the capital, what can it be? Let's not talk about it. Do you still eat your tea and rice? You only have a few mouthfuls, and you come here to be dazed."

"Tea and rice?" "If you want to eat, go back and eat! After dinner, there is no one to serve you." After finishing speaking, the old woman staggered away. The old woman has small feet and a limp, but she walks vigorously.Du Yunqing looked at the old woman who was leaving, and didn't go back to eat immediately.She also didn't remember that the fading flowers and trees in the pool were called peonies. This old woman is exactly Kang Hunan's fourth wife, Meng Shi, who was also Rumei who was brought up by the third master, the old nun with beauty moles whom she ran into in Fengshan last year.She took a dharma name for herself, called Yuedi.

When she was mysteriously deposed by Kang Hunan, like Du Yunqing, she was lethargic at first, then died of a serious illness, and then witnessed the grand funeral for herself, and was finally sent to this quiet nunnery.Back then, she was deposed because of this woman from the Du family who had returned from the capital.Now, Mrs. Du has also followed in his own footsteps, and has fallen into this extraterrestrial Buddhist world.Yuedi should have been somewhat happy, but she really didn't have that kind of thought. She was as calm as stagnant water. When Du Yunqing was ill, Yuedi heard the news.She was someone who had experienced it, and she knew that Du's end in the Kang family was coming soon.At that time, all she felt was a bit of pity: the Buddha nature must have wiped out her jealousy and hatred long ago.

Du's arrival came earlier than she expected.She originally thought that it would always be delayed until May, but she didn't expect to come here as soon as March.Mrs. Du was not as haggard and old as imagined, and this woman did not seem to have experienced great grief.In the past, I always wanted to face Du Shi up close and take a closer look.Now, I finally got my wish, but I no longer have that interest.At that time, Du Shi was also in a daze, as if his soul had gone away, and he lost his joy and anger.She and Mrs. Du must be enemies, and finally meet each other at the end of the road, but it seems that they don't know each other, calm as stagnant water.

Is this the meaning of Buddha? Back then, when Yuedi first arrived here, he was also in a daze, like a living dead.When she was seriously ill, she didn't want to die, but she wasn't petrified: God wanted you to die, and you couldn't escape it.But that mighty funeral really frightened her into a petrified state!She didn't die, but the grand funeral that announced her death was held with such grandeur: she couldn't understand what happened. Lao Ting told her at that time: This is the only way to save her life.Only a grand and grand fake burial can keep her real life. But at that time, she could no longer understand other people's words. She was not deaf, but she couldn't understand Lao Ting's words at all.

She is demented, stupid. It was only later that she suspected that she was so stupid at that time, except that the funeral of the big scene frightened her too much, maybe the medicine in her body hadn't worn off yet.After many years of comprehension, she finally suspected that she was so lethargic and comatose before she died, probably because of some medicine she took. Now, Du Shi's dementia is so severe, it must be due to the nature of the medicine. Back then, after Yuedi arrived at the nunnery, he was in a daze for ten days and a half. After that, he gradually became less stupid, and he knew the grief first.Du Shi has been stupid for more than a month, and he still can't recover, Yuedi suspects that they have administered too much medicine.The onset of illness in the twelfth lunar month, the serious illness in the first month, the ascension to heaven in February, and the mourning in March, it is too hasty.It took nearly half a year for Yuedi himself to go from the onset of illness to his funeral.

Such a rush to give Du Shi such a strong drug, probably due to the fact that she is healthy and minded, is also forced by the current situation, but if she is given such a tiger wolf drug, what if she passes out of a coma and never wakes up again? Or, are they still secretly continuing to drug her? The pity of Yuedi is derived from this.She pays attention to checking the fast food in the nunnery, and beware of adding any medicine secretly.Because the rice, grain and vegetables in the nunnery are still supplied by the Kang family.But Du Shi is not the only one who eats tea and rice in the nunnery.Others are fine, so should Mrs. Du.This has always been what Yuedi eats, and Dushi eats what he eats.But Du Shi is still foolish, unable to call back his soul.

Yuedi was full of doubts and had nothing to do.Is it the Buddha's will not to wake up Du Shi?Or, is it Buddha's intention that he doesn't want to inquire about Liu Ye's current situation?She hoped that Mrs. Du would wake up, but she actually had a private idea: ask Mrs. Du carefully about Master Liu.Thinking of Liu Ye, Yuedi suddenly realized: Mrs. Du had no worries!There is no big concern in the world to tear you down, but it's not like you can't wake up! When Meng Shi woke up, the first thing she thought of was Liu Ye!Master Liu was her life, and Liu'er was only five years old at that time.At the end of her life, the only thing she couldn't let go of was Liu'er.

If there is no Liu'er, God will tell her to die, and she will die willingly.The Kang family, Mrs. Kang, and her days as an old lady really didn't make her miss them much.But God gave her a Liuer, so she was given an undead life.But her six son is only five years old, and God is going to call her dead!What crime did she do to suffer such retribution? Can't she let Liu'er grow up and claim her life after he becomes an adult? Her life is not precious, and she is not really enjoying the glory and wealth in the Kang family. The humiliation and resentment during the period are hard for the world to know, but God should know.Let her suffer for a few more years! Once Liu'er stands on her own, she should kill herself with a smile on her face. But God did not listen to her pleading, as if she would die without mercy. Bewildered, she came to the nunnery, and it was Liu'er who woke her up first.When he was dying, the nanny brought Liu'er in her arms.She also wanted to hug Liu'er, but Liu'er refused to let her, just looked at her strangely, and struggled back. Are you haggard and frightening?Tears are already welling up. But Liu'er didn't feel any grief at all, he still doesn't know what grief is, right? The heavy drowsiness oppressed her again, and she didn't have the strength to grieve anymore.Since then, I have never seen Liu'er, nor my nurse: she has reached the end of her "ascension to heaven".So before she died, the last memory left to her in the whole world was Liu'er, who knew no grief, looking at her strangely, struggling backward as if she wanted to abandon her... Since he is not dead, since he is still alive, he must first let Liu'er know, and he must meet Liu'er first!Can't see Liu'er, what's the use of keeping this life? But the nunnery master persuaded her not to go, coldly advised her not to go. Later, I found out that Yudi, the master of the nunnery, turned out to be the fifth master's biological mother, Zhu Shi.At that time, Yudi, although indifferent, had a kind face. In his forties, his face is as clean as a virgin, and his expression is as calm as water. At that time, Mrs. Meng was like Mrs. Du today. She didn't pay attention to everything in front of her eyes, so she couldn't feel whether the rain was good or evil.Her heart was completely occupied by Liu'er. How could she listen to Yu's persuasion?He said, "I have to go, I have to go, no one can stop me." Yudi said indifferently: "Someone can stop you." "No one can stop it!" "Your sixth master can't stop you?" "Liu'er? How could he block me? He won't block me!" "Aren't you afraid to frighten him?" "Am I going to scare him?" "You reappear in Kang's family, you are a ghost." "ghost?" "You have died of illness and mourned, and the new grave has not yet been completed." "Old Ting said it was a fake burial." "In Kang's family, not many people knew that it was a fake burial. In the whole Taigu, everyone knew that you had a grand funeral. If you reappeared, who would dare to treat you as a living person?" Meng Shi was so shocked that she couldn't speak. "Although you are alive, you and the world outside the nunnery are already two realms of yin and yang." "The two worlds of yin and yang?" "The Kang family mourned for you so grandly, do you think it's just for show? It's a sign to the sun: Your old lady Meng has ascended to heaven. From now on, you will only have a ghost body in the sun, and you will no longer have a living body." "They said it was a fake burial, to avoid disaster and save my life..." Yudi sneered, and said: "The underworld wants to end your life. If you hide here, you won't be able to find it? Yincao is so stupid. A fake burial of the Kang family can fool them? If this method works, people in the world No one will die." Meng Shi was speechless again. "Remember, you are already in the world of yin and yang in the world outside the nunnery, forget about the world of mortals outside as soon as possible." "Yin and Yang? I don't care! I can't forget Liu'er, I have to see Liu'er!" "It's up to you whether you listen to me or not. But if you scare your Liu'er out of control, you won't feel at ease in this underworld, right?" "Liu'er will recognize me, he is my flesh and blood, I can't scare him!" "Sixth Master is young, maybe he doesn't know how to be afraid. But you have left an impression of a ghost in his young heart, how will he miss you all his life?" "Liu'er will recognize me, will recognize that I am not dead!" Yudi smiled coldly again and stopped persuading her. At that time, Meng Shi really did not believe that he could not return to the world. Knowing what situation she was in, Meng Shi also calmed down a little.But she still put a price on her own life without hesitation: if she can't see Liu'er, if she can't enjoy the family relationship with Liu'er again, she will die for real.She just saved this life for Liu'er. Lost Liu'er, lingering in this yin and yang world, how can I really go to heaven! Meng asked Yudi what the rules were in the nunnery.The nunnery master said, there are no rules, you are not required to be ordained, you are not required to do Buddhist homework, and you are not required to observe the precepts, you can live according to your habits in the world.Because the Great Precepts of the Outer World have been set, even if you want to jump, you can't jump out. The world of mortals in the world has long been far away from us, and it is no longer possible to get close. This is called being comfortable without precepts. At that time, Meng Shi didn't have much awareness of the great ring covering him.Since there is no need to shave or change the nun's cassock, what is the difference between today's body and the past?Just trying to send a message to Liu'er's nanny, and the way back to the world will be opened.The nurse is her confidant, she is really a ghost, and the nurse will see her. But who can deliver the message for her?There are no other nuns in the nunnery except the nunnery master Yudi, and only a few maids who have not become monks, all of whom are middle-aged women.They should be easy to buy, right? It turned out that it was simply difficult to get to the blue sky!They all earn money from the Kang family, so it is inconvenient for them to exceed the rules.What's even more frightening is that Meng himself has no money to bribe others.Only now did she understand better that she had nothing but this life, her previous monthly chart, private house, delicate jewelry, and all valuable and non-valuable things were all left in the mortal world.She has nothing else, what can she use to bribe others? The nunnery provides all food and clothing, and gives everything you want, but no money.Even Yudi, the nunnery master, has not touched silver for many years.All the expenses in the nunnery were sent by the Kang family ready-made.The rainy land has regarded money as waste.But the Meng family was surprised: The Kang family really knows the power of money! If you can't buy others, you can only rely on yourself. How can you ask money to separate her from Liu'er?Since her life is there, these two legs can move.There is no car to send the sedan chair to welcome me, and I can still walk at home. She has already recognized that this nunnery is under Fengshan Mountain, not too far from Kangzhuang.She visits Longquan Temple in Fengshan once or twice a year.From here to Kangzhuang, it is just a smooth road all the way to the north. The Meng family silently began to plan: how to spy on Kangzhuang on foot. From her point of view, everything is nothing to worry about, the only thing she should worry about is choosing an appropriate time.Yudi has already pointed out to her: The outside world knew she was dead.Therefore, it is difficult for her to show up when the sky is bright.But in the dark of night, the Kang family had already closed their doors, unable to contact Liu'er.Then only at dusk, right?At this time, the sky was hazy, and the gate was not closed. But when I think about it again, I don't think it's right at dusk.The Kang family is a wealthy family, and they have very strict guards on the door.She has been in the Kang family for more than ten years, and knows that the Kang family's security at dusk is the strictest during the day: they are afraid that strongmen will sneak into the house at dusk and sneak into the house to steal at night. Then choose in the early morning?The Kang family has the habit of getting up early.Especially the men who practice Xingyiquan, pay attention to starting the practice before the sun is up, so the side door of the mansion can be entered and exited early.At the beginning of the morning, people will inevitably remain drowsy, staring in a daze, not alert.She comes in and out as a woman, so it won't attract attention.At this time, Liu'er should be sleeping soundly, and Mrs. Cui, the nurse, must have woken up.See Mrs. Cui first, it's easy to tell the truth, and it won't scare Liu'er. Just choose in the early morning. Meng Shi was eager to see Liu'er, so she made such a rough plan, thinking that everything was in order.She chose ordinary clothes and secretly prepared some dry food, so she decided to go immediately. It wasn't until I lay down the night before my departure that I realized that I had to leave in the middle of the night: there were still more than twenty miles to go.Meng Shi had never walked such a long distance on foot, and he didn't know how long it would take.Anyway, let’s hurry up early rather than late, I’m late, I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it to Kangzhuang in the early morning. But if you leave in the middle of the night, how can you open the gate of this nunnery?The door of this nunnery is also closed at night and locked by maids. How could she convince the maid to open the door for her in the middle of the night?Said to go to the wild to pray?I'm afraid it can't be said: she still doesn't have the capital to buy a maid. That night, Meng really stayed up all night.In the past, you didn't need to arrange everything by yourself. If you have something to do, you can just order it, and someone will take care of you.Now, not only do they have to do it themselves, but they also lose any capital and status.The maids here, no one treats her like an old lady.It's really a world of yin and yang. But she must go to see Liu'er.She must open a way between the yin and yang worlds. Not in the early morning, but at dusk?After much deliberation, I finally figured it out: It doesn't matter whether it's early morning or dusk. Anyway, when the gate of the mountain is not closed, I leave the nunnery and walk north.Before the sky is dark, just don't enter Kangzhuang.Only walk around in unfamiliar lands, and no one will treat you as a ghost.When the sky is dim, whether it's dusk or early morning, just sneak into Kang's house. Anyway, I made up my mind that if I don't see Liu'er, I won't go back to this nunnery again!Wandering outside, begging for food, not afraid.It's also hot, and if you spend the night outside, you won't be able to freeze. Now that you are going to do something more important than your life, then everything is no problem. After only one day's delay, Mrs. Meng quietly left the nunnery in the afternoon. At that time, there were not many tourists in Fengshan Mountain, and the nunnery was located in a secluded valley.The journey out of Fengshan was quite smooth.I haven't met anyone, and I still have strength to use under my feet.After leaving Fengshan, the road is smoother, but it still goes downhill slowly.But Meng felt that every step was getting heavier.Walking further, I felt that my whole body was getting heavier and heavier, and it was all pressing on my two feet, almost crushing my muscles and bones. He gritted his teeth and walked another distance, but couldn't move anymore, so he sat on the ground and leaned on the side of the road. After a short period of panting, when I got up and started on the road again, I couldn't walk anymore: my feet were stiff, and I almost lost consciousness.God, her little golden lotus feet are so useless! The Meng family was born in a family of officials, and since she was a child, she had such a pair of noble little feet that she couldn't walk a few steps all day long.To become an old lady in Kang's house, there is no need to go any further.Usually, I don't walk much like this, so I don't realize that my family is not good at walking.Now, doing this long-distance trek unexpectedly, and being caught in such a predicament for the first time, what can I do except panic? So embarrassed, how to move forward!Even if I turn around and return to the nunnery, I don't know how long I will struggle, right? Meng Shi had no choice but to turn around and go back, but it was still more difficult step by step.After struggling for a long time, she was shaking three times at one step, resting at one step after three steps.Even though it was still early, the nunnery felt very far away. Will I be able to struggle back when it gets dark? Just when he was in desperate situation, a maid quietly appeared in the nunnery.The maid didn't say anything, but came over to help her, and walked back with difficulty step by step.When they got to the valley, the maid had to carry her for a while before returning to the nunnery. At that time, it was almost dusk.The nunnery master Yudi didn't say much, even the expression on his face remained the same, as if nothing had happened.He just ordered the maid to boil more hot water for Mrs. Meng to burn her feet. That night, Meng felt that she had lost her feet.During the sleepless period, I only felt my swollen legs, and I couldn't find the feeling of my feet anymore.She also lost her sense of grief and didn't want to cry.Just like that, he kept staring into the darkness, feeling the pain in his legs. She also hardly thought about Liu'er. The next day, Meng Shi could not walk anymore.Yudi came over to her and said, "If you want to go a long distance, you must first practice the strength of your legs. There is a skill, would you like to practice it?" The rainy land was so calm that Meng couldn't believe it, so she didn't say anything. "This exercise is not difficult, as long as you have a lesson in the morning and evening, persevere, and don't try to rush it, you can practice it." "I'm going far outside the nunnery, won't you stop me?" "I said earlier, everything is up to you, never blocked." "Forgive me if I can't go out, so I won't stop you?" "If you have the ability to break the great precept, I will not stop you." Meng Shi didn't like to hear Yudi's words like this.However, she still asked: "What kind of exercise are you talking about? Is it a boxing technique practiced by women?" "It's similar to outer boxing, but much simpler." "From the simplicity of Xingyiquan?" "Maybe, I don't know what Xingyi Quan is." "Since it comes from the simplicity of boxing, I don't want to be contaminated. I hate men who practice boxing!" "Then there is a more simple practice method, ordinary people's movements, which have nothing to do with martial arts." "How do you practice this skill?" "The peony flower bed in the center of the front yard has a circle of six, six, thirty-six steps. You can walk around the flower bed in the morning and evening. It's up to you to go fast or slow. It's better to relax. For the first time, go around three times, and then go around three times in reverse. Practice like this for six days, and you can add one lap for each front and back. After another six days, add another lap. If you persevere in this way, the wind and rain will not stop, and you will be able to reach your feet when you practice for ninety-nine and eighty-one laps on the front and back of each lesson. The state of fitness is light, even if you travel around the world, you can feel at ease." "How long will it take to practice?" "Obviously, it won't be too long." Meng thought about it for a few days, and felt that only by practicing her legs and feet would she be able to see Liu'er, so she decided to follow Yudi's advice and went around the flower bed to practice. She didn't expect that she ran out of the nunnery so recklessly, walked only three miles, and then lay down and rested for six or seven days before she regained her strength.Therefore, when she started to practice, she didn't dare to be reckless anymore, and honestly followed Yu Di's instructions, she didn't dare to take more steps, and of course she didn't want to take less steps. When the Meng family entered the nunnery at the beginning of the year, it was already summer, so the peonies in the pool in the nunnery had already passed their flowering period, and there was no trace of falling red.She walked around the flower bed every day, only to see that its branches and leaves were plump and lush.Within a few days, I got tired of watching it. After the first month, each class was added to eight laps.There are eight for the front and back, which is sixteen; sixteen for the morning and evening, thirty-six circles per day, nearly 1,300 steps.Meng Shi didn't find it difficult after practicing.It's just that I always walk around a flower bed, just like a donkey pulling a mill. In a cramped area, I can't walk to the end, which is extremely boring.The peonies in the middle of the natural flower beds have not been seen as precious for a long time, they are just a bunch of low trees. Yu said: It will be fine in autumn, but you can see how the peonies wither day by day.In the spring of the next year, you can watch how it slowly recovers, buds, leaves, buds, and flowers. Do you have to practice until the peony blooms to come back to the end? Only then did Yudi tell the truth: a day without stretching would take a total of 474 days of practice before he could count to ninety-nine and eighty-one.Therefore, even if the peony flowering period comes again, it is far from over. It turns out that you have to practice for such a long time? Yudi asked Meng Shi to practice this kind of homework, originally because he wanted to lighten the vulgar thoughts and not engage in vain struggles.The yin and yang fake situation set up by that old man of the Kang family is extremely meticulous.Not only is it futile for you to rush, but you also have to take another humiliation, so that the secular old man will really drive you away like a ghost, why bother?Since the secular world has failed you and abandoned you, why are you rushing back to do it? Walking around the flower bed so tediously, thinking about it in a boring way, you will always understand this truth.Especially when it's cool in autumn, seeing everything is dying day by day, even like Kao Peony, it is no exception, it is also in decline: look at things and think about yourself, don't you want to see through the world? When Meng Shi practiced until late autumn, it seemed that she was completely addicted to the exercises.She seldom mentioned her six children, but kept talking about how strong her legs and feet had become. In order to complete Meng's merits and virtues, Yudi kept telling her: "Now the legs and feet are just buoyant."There is no foundation for buoyancy, as long as you slack for a few days, the power will be gone, and months of hard work will be in vain.Only when you have practiced counting to ninety-nine and eighty-one, with a firm foundation and deep-rooted muscles and bones, will your leg and foot skills be used for a long time and you will never be exhausted. Meng Shi is now willing to listen to Yudi's words.If there is no accident, she will practice step by step until her merits and virtues are perfect. But the accident still happened. That day, Meng Shi was already practicing the number of thirty, that is, walking 30 laps on the front and back of each class, and a total of 120 laps and 4,320 steps in the whole day.Women with small feet have short strides, and these more than 4,000 steps have covered more than four miles.With such an amount, Meng Shi still didn't feel hard work, but rather had a sense of accomplishment and fun.So, recently, her evening class has been brought up a lot earlier, as soon as the sun sets and the sky is still bright, she starts practicing. Not long after the practice started that night, there were servants from outside to deliver food and vegetables.The flower bed is in the front yard, separated from the mountain gate by a screen wall.The two maids who were the chef in the nunnery kept joking with the guards when they were receiving rice, grain and vegetables at the screen wall, which was already the norm.But today they were at the screen wall, they seemed to be a little abnormal, they only talked about something mysteriously, there was no atmosphere of joking. Meng's state of mind has already become flat, abnormal is abnormal, the worldly situation really has nothing to do with me.Except for Liu'er, even if the sky falls and the earth sinks, let it go.She just concentrates on practicing her skills. However, after all, she still has an ordinary heart, even though she didn't pay much attention to the screen wall, she could vaguely sense that after the guards left, the two maids didn't rush to carry the food and vegetables, but kept standing at the gate of the mountain to continue the mysterious discussion.Meng Shi couldn't help but listen carefully.Hearing this, it was terrible, Meng Shi could hardly control herself, she wanted to yell a few times, and slumped on the ground... Fortunately, after five or six months of practice, I finally stood up and did not lose my composure. What did Meng Shi hear, so stimulated?It turned out that what the two maids were talking about was that Kang Hunan was going to marry Mrs. Du as the fifth old lady!Besides, the whole town was talking about it at that time. When this young and beautiful woman from Du's family came back to Jin with her father, she mixed Beijing flavor with foreign flavor, which caused quite a stir. The big households in Taigu competed for the banquet, of course the Meng family knew about it.Kang Hunan talked about Du Yunqing in the old courtyard, even if he was in front of Meng Shi, he didn't have any scruples.Kang Hunan's comments can be summed up in two words: great rewards. As a woman, Meng could best understand the meaning of Kang Hunan's appreciation of Du Yunqing, but she didn't feel much jealousy.Although she has been in the Kang family for many years, the Meng family has never been proud of being a business lady.It's not all about arrogance and self-cleaning, the fact that Kang Hunan was only willing to show his true self in the old home really made her hard to respect.What's more, it's not uncommon for big families to take concubines and beg for small ones, with three bedrooms and five bedrooms. Therefore, Mrs. Meng once sincerely advised Kang Hunan: If you like that girl from the Du family so much, why don't you ask a respectable person to make a test and see if you want to be a child to the old man?That woman is just a little widow, and her father is not a serious Beijing official, so she is not very noble, is she? Unexpectedly, when Kang Hunan heard this, he lowered his face and said coldly: "The Kang family does not marry concubines. This is a rule left by the ancestors. You want me to break it?" It's really kind and thankless.Who wants to break the rules of your ancestors, you know best, right?You keep criticizing the beauty of Du's daughter all day long, so you are obeying the rules of your ancestors?Look at every mention of other people's natural feet, it's almost salivating: a pair of natural feet, walking is also charming?Is Tianzu also so unique and exquisite? If you really don't want to break the rules of your ancestors, that's fine. From then on, the Meng family stopped talking, but Kang Hunan's comments on the daughters of the Du family did not restrain themselves. At that time, it was popular among rich families to invite Du's father and daughter as guests, but the Kang family remained silent.The young third master suggested several times to the old man: We also invite Du Changxuan, who has been on an embassy to the West, to listen to overseas anecdotes and broaden his knowledge.But Kang Hunan just refused to allow it, saying that foreigners are not kind, so what can he do! Seeing this, the Meng family thought that Kang Hunan would stick to the ancestral system.Later, although I also heard that the Kang family's Tianshengchuan tea house had hosted a banquet for the Du family's father and daughter, Kang Hunan did not attend publicly, but only peeked at Du Yunqing's face from behind the partition: after all, he did not want to deviate. The Du family's father and daughter made a big splash in the autumn and winter of that year, but by the end of the twelfth lunar month, it had calmed down.For the entire second year, almost no one mentioned the Du family father and daughter again.Meng Shi remembered that she had asked the third master this year: Has Du Changxuan returned to Beijing?The third master said: "I didn't leave, I'm still in Taigu."The third master didn't seem to want to say anything more about it, so she didn't ask any more. That's how it went. In the spring of the thirteenth year of Guangxu, when Mrs. Meng was seriously ill, even though she occasionally thought of the girl from the Du family, she never suspected anything.She suspected that she was ill too suddenly, but she never suspected Kang Hunan. Since coming to this nunnery, she has gradually understood the meaning of her suspended animation. Apart from worrying about her Liu'er, Meng Shi has already decided to abandon the secular world.As for the daughter of the Du family, she has really forgotten. But now, all of this collapsed in front of her: Kang Hunan is going to marry a woman from the Du family so soon!It turned out that her false burial was to fulfill Kang Hunan: not only let him marry the romantic woman he had coveted for a long time, but also told him to keep the ancestral system and keep his virtues! For heaven's sake, what evil has she done to make her fall into such a false situation? In order for this man to have both selfish desires and virtues, he actually messed up the yin and yang worlds? She is old and poor, and she can be discarded like a shoe, but the sixth master is your flesh and blood, and you have the heart to let him lose his mother since childhood? In any case, the Meng family couldn't bear it any longer, and just wanted to expose the fake situation of Kang Hunan to the world immediately.Now, the first person she can talk to is Yudi, the nunnery master.Because until now, she didn't know that Yudi was the fifth master's biological mother, Mrs. Zhu. At that time, she was very impulsive, ran in and held Yudi, and spoke incoherently about her shocking discovery. Yudi listened as calmly as water, and after listening, he asked, "Do you know who I am?" "Who?" "I am the old Mrs. Zhu in front of you." Meng Shi was shocked again: "Are you the fifth master's biological mother?" Yudi smiled calmly and said, "You haven't looked at my portrait carefully, have you?" How could Mrs. Meng have not seen the portraits of the first three old ladies?But the difference between the portrait and the real person is really too big.The current Yudi is as holy as a fairy, who will link her with the late Zhu Shi? Yudi continued to speak calmly: "I have been buried alive in this nunnery for more than ten years. During this period, you were the old lady in the Kang family." "Then you died because of me?" "How could it be because of you?" Yudi smiled calmly again. "Besides, I'm not dead. If you want to say that the man who killed me should be the man in power of the Kang family. He wanted to marry another woman from an official like you, so he asked me to die. However, I didn't know before I died. Where are you? Forget it, it’s already a world of mortals, so it’s not worth mentioning.” "I have today, is it also retribution?" "You didn't do any crime, how can you get retribution? It should be a blessing to be able to escape from the sea of ​​evil." "Fortunately? What luck is there to fall into this state of neither yin nor yang!" Yudi just smiled calmly. But Meng couldn't help asking: "The old lady in front of you, the biological mother of the third and fourth masters, died like you and me?" "She is really dead, and being an old lady is the shortest, only six or seven years. Kang Hunan also misses her the most. He chose me back then, and seemed to regard me as that woman's substitute. Where am I? It's ridiculous." "What about his first wife?" "Of course he is really dead. The fake burial started from the beginning." "Don't talk about the vanity of the old lady, just a living person, suddenly imprisoned here alone, how can you tolerate it?" "When I came here at the beginning of the year, I was no different from you. I was ignorant and ridiculous. It's just that the master of the nunnery is an orthodox nun, and his practice is profound. When she was extradited in time, he gradually realized the Tao and entered the Dharma door." "Where is this nun now?" "The mage has moved to another place to practice, and he thinks the dust of the valley is too heavy." "No matter how deep the morality is, I don't believe it! If nothing else, how could you not miss Fifth Master?" "The circle around the altar you are practicing is the method that the mage used to save me. Back then, I was like you. The most difficult thing to break was the mother-child relationship with Wu'er. But the mage didn't say anything to stop him. He just said that he would return to Kangxi. Home, you must have feet and legs first. Your legs and feet have been disabled for a long time, how can you do it? When I practice counting to ninety-nine and eighty-one, I have legs and feet, but I have already understood everything, and I don’t want to re-enter the sea of ​​evil in the world .” "I don't believe it! What did you understand?" "When you practice counting ninety-nine and eighty-one, you will understand." Meng Shi sneered. "Although I am destined to extradite you, it's just that I don't have a deep knowledge. Since you have seen through the sea of ​​evil, you still hope that you can practice the exercises to the end." At that time, Meng Shi could no longer listen to Yudi's words. After Meng knew that Yudi was Zhu who had passed away for many years, she lost her composure. She thought that it was Zhu's escape into the Buddhist gate without making a sound, that indulged Kang Hunan even more!Since the yin and yang fake game he created was so successful and so impeccable, why didn't there be another round? She must not be silent, as if she were really dead! Therefore, Meng shi resolutely stopped practicing.At this time, she also felt that her own legs and feet had been reborn, and she was not afraid even if there were thousands of mountains and rivers in front of her. She began to openly prepare to appear in Kangzhuang, and she did not shy away from Yudi and the maids in the nunnery.The strange thing is that they didn't say a word, especially Yudi, who was still calm. Did they believe that she would not be able to return to Kangzhuang? This angered Meng Shi even more.Really can't break this fake situation?She didn't believe it. Now, she doesn't need to make any more preparations.Since it is a holiday, there is no need to pick the time, when to go, when to go in.What needs to be prepared is to bring some dry food for the journey.She hasn't walked this long road yet, so she doesn't know how long it will take.You also need to bring a thick coat to keep out the cold. It is already cool in autumn, and you may have to spend the night in the wild. After saving enough dry food in two days, the Meng family resolutely walked out of the nunnery's mountain gate.She didn't say goodbye to Yudi, and she didn't pay attention to whether the maid was watching.At this time, the autumn sun has just risen, illuminating the valley golden.The frost-stained trees in the mountains are dotted with gold, which is a special scene.A little cool, but no wind. This is clearly the human world. Now Meng Shi really feels like walking lightly and vigorously, and walking is no longer a difficult task.This should also thank the rain.Why don't you want to go out of the nunnery since you have practiced in the rainy ground to the point of perfection?If you want to be born, why do you have to work hard on your legs and feet? Never mind her, don't think too much about it. Walking out of Fengshan this time and stepping into Pingchuan gradually, Mrs. Meng always felt very relaxed and her mood improved.After entering Pingchuan, she kept meeting pedestrians, chariots and horses, and farmers going out to work, but no one stopped to look at her. It can be seen that there is nothing unusual about her. It is less than twenty miles from Fengshan to Kangzhuang.It was already noon when Mrs. Meng approached.After walking ten miles, she gradually felt strenuous and walked more and more slowly.But she still made up her mind to move forward and never looked back.I thought maybe I would die of exhaustion on the road, but I didn't die of exhaustion, so I approached. When she clearly saw Kang Zhuang and the Kang family's house, she thought to herself: I have already died, so I won't die again.Even if I want to die of exhaustion, I will not die of exhaustion. At noon in late autumn, it is no longer as quiet as summer: the days are getting shorter, farming is busy, and the villagers no longer rest.At this moment, the Kang family is still resting, that is the old guy Kang Hunan. Regardless of whether it was quiet or lively, Mrs. Meng just kept moving forward.After seeing Kang Zhuang, she clearly regained her strength.Hmph, what's so difficult about returning to Kangzhuang?Lift your feet and walk back!Yudi pretended to be mysterious, maybe he was secretly entrusted by that old thing? In this way, the Meng family approached Kangzhuang vigorously.Seeing that they were about to enter the village, two farmers came to meet them, one was young and the other was older, carrying empty poles.Most of the farmers in Kangzhuang are tenants of the Kang family.So, before meeting, Meng lowered his head: She didn't want the peasants to recognize her prematurely. But it's too late! When he was about to approach, the young farmer looked at her first, but he didn't say anything, and continued to walk over.可那个年纪大的，随后只是抬头瞟了她一眼吧，突然就大惊失色地厉声怪叫了一声，跟着就匍匐在地，捣蒜似的磕起头来，嘴里还不停地哀求着什么。 这时，那个年轻的也愣住了，张嘴瞪眼地呆了片刻，才忽然扔下扁担，撒腿朝村里跑去。一边跑，一边惊恐万状地大呼小叫。 当时孟氏没听见这后生在呼叫什么，也没听清伏地磕头的农夫在哀求什么：她也被这突然出现的事态吓住了，惊慌失措，什么也顾不上了。她分明也惊呆了，愣住了！ 一路走，她就曾一路想：世人会怎样将她当鬼看？可还是没料到会是这样一种场面。而更难以想象的情景，还在后头呢！ 可能就是转眼间吧，村口已经聚满了人。人群拥挤，却没人敢出声，只是都抻长了脖子，朝她这里张望。 也没张望几眼，这一片乡人竟一齐匍匐在地，磕起头来，但依旧没人出声。 这死寂忽然被打破：村中响起了凄厉的锣声。一面，又一面，锣声四起。 狗也狂吠起来，一呼百应。 孟氏几乎是下意识地逃走了：她无力撒腿跑掉，只是钻了路边的一片庄稼地。那是未收割的高粱地，能将她完全隐没。 后来多次回想，也幸亏有这一片高粱地。否则，那天村人将会怎么驱赶她？说不定会请来什么和尚道士，施了法，捉拿她？ 那天藏进高粱地，可是一直惊魂未定。她不知道村人会不会追赶进来，或者，人不敢进来，只放进狗来？那就更可怕。此刻，极度的疲累感已经涌上来，特别是腿脚，好像又失去了。她再无力挪动半步。有谁追进来捉拿她，都会易如反掌。 村中的锣声和狗吠喧嚣了很久，才渐渐平息。但一直没见人或狗，冲进来追赶她。 庄稼地里寂静无声，因为一点风也没有。外面，村子那边，也沉寂了。但太阳当空，外面还是一个明亮的世界，你万万不能走出高粱地。等到天黑了再说吧。 此后整整大半天，孟氏就坐在那片高粱地里，等待天黑下来。恐惧与疲累也渐渐在消退，但她不敢多想今天发生的一切。后半晌了，才有了饥饿感，翻出干粮吃了几口，又吃不下去。 终于熬到日落星出，才发现还有月亮。夜越深，月光越明亮。 这是不让她走出高粱地了？ 秋夜的寒意越来越重，秋夜的旷野更是死一般的寂静，月光虽明亮，映照出来的分明也是阴森和凄苦。鬼蜮就是这样吧？既已成鬼，还有什么可怕的？阳间的活人才怕鬼。 这样一想，孟氏终于站起来了：她得先回凤山尼庵。她不能困死在这里。她已经不能再死了。 往出走时，孟氏才发现：自己冲进高粱地时，竟钻到这样的深处？居然费了这样大的劲，才走了出来。当时也是太仓皇了。 月光照耀下的乡间大道，此刻空无一人。望了望康庄，已落在一片朦胧和死寂中，只有高处可见几点灯火在游动。那是康宅守夜家丁在屋顶巡游吧。她的鬼魂在村口出现，康家一定知道了。他们会不会告诉六爷？能不能吓着他？奶妈一定会听说这件事，她应该护着六爷，别叫他受惊。 这一趟，来得还是太鲁莽？ 孟氏不再多想，转身向凤山方向走去。此时，她仿佛又来了功力，走路重新有了身轻步健之感。这种有力感，倒渐渐唤起了她的自信。虽然是头一遭走这样的夜路，似乎也不是十分惧怕。 在夜间旷野，活人所惧怕的，无非是鬼怪吧。她现在已被阳间活人视为鬼怪了。世间如真有鬼魂，她倒想遭遇一回，看看真鬼是何样面目行止。从此往后，她将以鬼名存世，却并不知真鬼为何样德行，也是太可怜吧。 越这样想，周围倒越是空旷寂静，寻不出一点动静来。 其实，这死一样的寂静才是最可怕。 归途这一路，孟氏倒并不觉十分漫长。凤山渐渐临近时，她觉自己腿脚依旧有力。自己真是有腿有脚了？她惊异得不大敢相信。 其实，孟氏到达尼庵时，已是午夜了：她一路极度紧张，不断设法给自己壮胆，哪还能感知别的！她断定敲不开山门了，预备倚在门洞，坐以待旦。但试着推了推，山门居然就动了，再一用力，就张开一道宽缝。 是雨地特意留了门吗，还是有女佣一直暗中盯着她的行踪？ 不过，孟氏已顾不及多想：极度的疲累仿佛突然苏醒了！她进入尼庵后，才感到一点力气也没有了，挣扎回自己的禅房，一头栽倒了下来。 第二天醒来时，睁眼就看见了雨地。她还是那样平静如死水，这使孟氏感到非常不快：雨地早料到她会这样无功而返？ 雨地平静地问：“腿脚比以往好使唤了？” 孟氏懒懒地说：“好使不好使，我也得去。” “你把功法练到头，来去自如，岂不更好？” “与其驴拉磨似的绕了花坛转，哪如多出外跑几趟？反正不叫腿脚闲着，总会练出来的。” “练功须内外都静，跑出去处处嘈杂，心里也慌乱，哪能练得出来？” “我也不求得道成仙，只求腿脚如村妇乡姑似的，能随处走动就得了。” “只是无人会将你当村妇乡姑的。你闯康庄这一趟，很快就要传遍四乡了：康家闹鬼，新逝的老夫人现身村头。此流言既经风行，世人将重新记起你，疑心你会随时随地现身。康家一准要为你再次大做道场，请了道士和尚，驱鬼的驱鬼，超度的超度。这就像布下了天罗地网，你岂能再临近康庄？” “我才不管这许多，想去，抬腿就去了。既已为鬼身，还受它世间束缚？” “是你在紧束自己。” “我紧束自己？” “你每去闹一次鬼，那边就重布一次驱鬼的天罗地网；你去得越多，那罗网就结得越严密。那边防备得越严密，你的行动就越艰难。这岂不是紧束自己？” “你怎么知道得如此清楚？” “静心一想，即可了悟的。” “当年，你也去探望过你的五爷吧？” 雨地恬然一笑，说：“尽早了悟才好。” 孟氏冷冷说：“我可丢不下我的六儿！我也不想得道成仙。” 雨地依然平静，说：“我还是劝你练够九九八十一数。无论入佛门，还是返尘世，自家能来去自如，总是好的。” 雨地离去后，孟氏慢慢回想她说的话，觉得不愿听从也得听从。雨地说得很对，康庄这一闹鬼，真也十天八天冷淡不下去。在这人人怕鬼疑鬼，人人议论老夫人阴魂不散的时候，你真是不能再靠近康庄了。 这一闹鬼，会吓着那个杜家魔女吗？洋夷不敬鬼神，那魔女也会如此大胆吗？ 只是不要吓着六儿就好。 想到杜家魔女和六儿，孟氏还是不肯罢休的。这一趟往返康庄，她也尝到了练功的甜头：腿脚到底大不一样了。要想见到六儿，还得将功力练到头的。只练到三十数，便能往返康庄，要练到九九八十一数，也许真能健步如飞，随心所欲吧？ 所以，孟氏暂时安静下来，听从了雨地的劝说，继续绕了花坛练起旧功。 在那乏味的绕圈中间，她终于也想起来了：自己初到康家时，也有夜间锣声四起的情形。她问起，总是说吓贼呢，没说过吓鬼。现在看，谁知是吓什么！说不定雨地也有过像她一样的闹鬼经历吧？ 雨地也许生性贤淑沉静，可怎么能淡忘了她的五儿？ 孟氏设法探问过多次，可惜，雨地对此一直不多言一字。 孟氏练到九九八十一数，已到中秋时候。临近功满时，日走路程已到十二里，即早晚各走六里，来回轻松自如。不过这时的孟氏，已无惊喜，她也变得平静多了。 这期间，她曾得知杜筠青果真做了康笏南的新妇。听到此消息，虽然也一股怒气顶上来，冲动不已，但她毕竟没有失控。所以，练功一天也没有耽误。 功法练到头了，雨地以为她已看淡了俗世恩怨，就问她愿不愿进入佛门。哪想，孟氏居然说： “我剃度为秃尼，六儿更认不得我了。” 雨地一惊，问：“你还想重返俗世？” “不为见六儿，我何苦下这种功夫？” “你已试过，搁在阴阳中间的天罗地网，是撞不破的。” “只试了一次，就知撞不破？” “此道间隔，我比你看得清晰。” “你也试图穿越过吧？” “天长日久，你也会一眼望透的。” “我一眼想望见的，只是我的六儿！” 雨地叹了一口气，说：“既然因缘未尽，也只能由你了。” “那我讨教一声：我脸上这颗痣，割去无妨吧？” 雨地又一惊：“割你脸上的痣？为什么？” “这颗痣，是我脸面上最分明的记号。” “这种痣是不能动的，医家郎中都不敢动。” “为什么不能动？” “听说连着命根，割开将流血不止。” “我们已是鬼身了，还有血吗？” 说完，孟氏倒平静地笑了。 有六爷牵挂着，孟氏哪能割断俗念！但现在她除了牵挂六儿，对世间的一切，真是看淡了。跟老东西的恩怨，他的新妇杜氏，还有康家兴衰，商界官场，她都已撒手丢开：不过是一片孽海，你在乎不在乎，都一样了。但她不会丢下六儿。想割去脸上的这颗美人痣，正是为了在阴阳两界间来去方便。 在这大半年的练功中，她不知想过多少次了：那次刚到村口，一眼就被认出，只怕要赖这颗痣。如没了这颗痣，村人即便觉得她像死去的孟老夫人，多半也不敢认吧？所以她下了无数次决心：去掉这颗痣！ 因为从小生了这样一颗痣，也就早听说了它连着命根呢，不敢动，更不敢伤着。现在雨地也这样说，虽附和了俗世说法，只怕也是动不得。鲁莽将它割下来，真会失血而死？ 孟氏还有一种担忧：去掉这颗痣，就怕六儿也不认她了！ 所以，孟氏已另谋了掩盖的办法：寻一片膏药，贴住它就得了。在功法还未练到头时，她就吩咐女佣，送几贴拔毒膏来。膏药早预备妥帖了。 她也早预备了一身尼僧穿的法衣。那一次，穿着上也太大意。虽然只穿了妇人便服，但还是太像大户气象。她看雨地，穿了那身法衣，真与大户不相干了，冰冷中透着圣洁。这番气象，乡人见了既不敢轻慢，也不会害怕吧。她没有答应剃度出家，雨地还是送了她一套法衣。 总之，孟氏是一边练功，一边就在谋划重返康庄。功法练到头时，一切也早预备齐了。雨地劝阻，她也只是平静地听听而已。 就只等挑一个好日子，从容下山。 八月中秋是个大节庆，孟氏不想在这种时候惊吓乡人。所以，她挑了八月十七这天下山。 下山前，试穿了那身新法衣，忽然才觉得一个尼姑进了村，也够醒目了。尤其像她这样的尼姑，也不丑，又藏不尽头上蓄发，必定引人注目。一被注意，就麻烦了。 想了想，穿农妇粗衣最佳，可一时也不易得。于是，她就试着向尼中女佣借一身布衣。想了半天借口，只勉强寻到一个：日后要练武功，看穿你们这种便装是否更利落。不想，一位女佣倒慨然答应。 八月十七正午时候，孟氏就穿了这身女佣服装，用膏药贴住脸上的美人痣，从容走出山门，下山去了。依然未跟雨地告别。 这一次，不到一个时辰就临近了康庄。只是，她并未直奔村口，而是提前绕了一段田间小路，又过几处庄稼地，藏进了一片枣树林。从这片枣树林望过去，百步之外就是康宅正门前那道巨大的影壁。 康宅的前门，开在村子的最南头，可遥望凤山。风水上为了聚气，在大门对面立了那道影壁。 孟氏在康家多年，自然知道这一切形制。不过，她还是经过大半年的寻思，才谋得这样一个线路。因为心宅渐渐冷寂平静后，她已经不想蒙混着进入康宅了。既然脱出孽海，何必再入其中受玷污！她只是想见见自家的六儿，在宅外见分明更从容，也更干净吧。 六儿毕竟是男娃，屋里关不住他，宅院里也不够他奔跑。奶妈常带他到康宅之外，跑跑跳跳，护他玩耍淘气。有时也到这边的田亩枣林间，掐野花，逮蚂蚱。孟氏得闲时，也与他们一道出来。这一切情形，孟氏当然也是熟知的。 所以，思来想去，她选定了隐藏在这片枣林中，死守着，等候六儿出来。在这安静地界，也便于向奶妈说清真相的。 现在，已经顺顺当当来到这片枣林中了，但望过去，影壁那厢却是一片冷清。已是午后了，还不见有多少人影走动。 那老东西是不是得知她已下山了？尼庵的女佣若暗中跟了来，也该跑进康家报讯去了。 下山这一路，孟氏已留了心眼，不时回头观望：并没有发现什么可疑处。再说，她现在行动利落，健步疾行，也不是谁能轻易跟随得上。 Be patient. 六儿从五岁起，已送入家馆识字读书。有塾师管束，也不可能早早跑出来玩耍的。 可死死等到天色将晚，也未能如愿。孟氏也不气恼，起身撤出枣林，从容踏上返回凤山的大路。 哪那么巧呀，头一天就见着？ 回到尼庵时，月色正好，山门依然留着。她也不甚疲累。吃了斋饭，洗漱过，恬然入睡。 The next day, it was still the same.直到第七天，也许感动了上苍吧，她终于见到了她的六儿。 那天康宅前门依旧冷清，只是偶尔有村人走过。后来，见到一辆华丽的马车驶过来，但并未停在前门。这样华丽的车马，只能是往康家，为何不停？孟氏这才记起：康家前门平时不大开，主客都走东边的旁门。 守住旁门，也许能更容易等到六儿吧？可旁门开在街巷里，附近实在不好藏身的。她也只能继续守候在枣林中，六儿总有来前面玩耍的时候。 这天守到后半晌，她已不抱希望了，正想松弛一下，起身走动走动，就见从影壁后面走出一个妇人。 好像是一个眼熟的身影！ 孟氏不由得一惊，忙定睛细看：那可不就是奶妈崔嫂！ 但六儿呢，怎么不见六儿？ 崔嫂走出影壁不远，就站住了，转身望着后面，又不断招手：六儿在后面跟着，一定在后面跟着。 可他就那样被影壁遮挡着，久久不肯走出来！ 六儿在影壁底下玩什么呢？ 孟氏真想冲过去。为这一刻，她努力了一年多，一天都没放弃。现在到底等来了，与她的六儿只相隔百步之遥了。 do not miss it! 要在半年前，她可能早冲过去了。可现在，她没有动，她不能吓着六儿。 崔嫂竟要往回返吗？ 她就这样闪出来露了一面，连六儿也没引出来，就要回去了？ 孟氏望见崔嫂开始向影壁走回去，真急了，几乎要喊一声：崔嫂——，六儿——当然没有喊出。 也幸亏没妄动，就在崔嫂往回返时，六儿终于走出了影壁！是的，那就是她日夜牵挂着的六儿！他低着头，迈着缓慢的小步子，就像小老头踱步似的