Chapter 55 Martial Temple

"Sister, we two sisters finally came here. Later, you have to sincerely ask for a root stick in front of the emperor! I also ask for one." A few beggars sent away, while turning back to Dong Xiaowan said. At this time, they had arrived at Guandi Temple and were standing in front of the stone steps of the main hall.This Guandi Temple is located inside the Shicheng Gate.Shicheng Gate, also known as Hanxi Gate, is a major city gate in the southwest of Nanjing. Not far from the gate is a large ship wharf. There are many pedestrians coming and going, so the temple of Guandi is also quite prosperous.Today, in the open space in front of the temple, in addition to the people who come to worship the gods, there are also tea stalls one by one, as well as stalls selling incense, candles and ingots. , also mixed in, soliciting business, showing a bustling scene.

Since listening to Lu Maipo's enlightenment, Dong Xiaowan now feels a little more at ease in her heart, and her mood is also cheerful.Seeing how happy Mistress Lu was, she said, "Sister, do you think this place is good? It's a pity that we are a few days late. If we catch up with the Ksitigarbha Festival on July 29, it will be very lively!" "Really? Good sister, tell me about it!" "Well, if this day comes, every household in Nanjing will set up two tables in front of the door, light two candles for the whole night, and offer an incense bucket. On the road, it’s like a silver dragon swimming. It’s bright all night, the cigarettes don’t stop, and the strong wind doesn’t blow out. At that time, people all over the city will come out to burn incense and go to the meeting, and they will make noise until dawn!”

"Yo! Then you must have dealt with Bai Xiang!" "But it's funny to say it. It turns out that Earth Store Bodhisattva keeps his eyes closed all year round, and only opens them at this night. So someone came up with the idea to let him see by setting up fragrant flowers and candles all over the city. The Bodhisattva was coaxed to think that it was like this all year round, and he was happy that these people are kind and willing to protect people. Sister, look, isn’t this just cheating and cheating?” Mistress Lu smiled until there was only a slit in her eyes: "What do I mean, everyone now says that I, a Gusu native, is a man of unscrupulous minds and proficient in treachery. It turns out that Nanjing people are more courageous, even daring to lie to Bodhisattvas!"

While joking, the two walked to a small stall on the side of the venue, bought two sticks of incense sticks, turned around and were about to go up to the main hall, when they suddenly found a group of people surrounded behind them, all of them were oily noodles There are a lot of young guys, and there are one or two older ones, all dressed up in fancy clothes.Some were shaking folding fans, some were holding birdcages, and they were pointing and whispering, and from time to time they let out a frivolous laugh. Dong Xiaowan saw that it was aimed at herself.Based on the experience of these years, she knew that this group of people were all rascals, who were usually in a panic and wandered around in groups.When they come across pretty young women, they swarm after them, making comments, talking wildly, and even teasing and insulting them.She was afraid that if she was entangled by them, it would be difficult to get out, so she quickly tugged Mistress Lu's sleeve.Mistress Lu is also a well-behaved person, she immediately understood, turned around together with Dong Xiaowan, and hurried towards the main hall.Just a few steps away, someone suddenly blocked the way, and called out in a strange voice:

"Ah, good sister, my brother has been looking for you everywhere, but my sister has come here to play tricks, why didn't you tell my brother?" Dong Xiaowan saw that several people in that group were already standing in front of the steps and waiting. The person who spoke had small eyes, short eyebrows, and an ugly bulbous nose embedded in the middle. He looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. Despite her age, she had a lewd and frivolous look on her face.Dong Xiaowan didn't say a word, she lowered her head and walked diagonally, trying to bypass them. But the young man didn't give up, and followed him again, with a playful smile, he opened his hands to stop him and said, "Oh, my good sister, why are you ignoring brother? Could it be that you are angry with brother? Hee hee, don't go, brother will give you Can you make an apology?" Saying that, he really bowed down.However, she didn't straighten up immediately, but as if she had discovered something, she looked sideways at Dong Xiaowan's skirt and said with a smile: "My good sister, you, uh, your feet are so small, so beautiful! Let brother Take a closer look, okay?"

Dong Xiaowan's heart skipped a beat, and her face turned red immediately.Although she knew that her feet were hidden in the skirt and the other party couldn't see them, she still moved involuntarily.The prodigal children around have already cheered loudly: "Take it out and have a look, what are you afraid of!" "It's just a look, and I won't underestimate you!" "Look at this chick's appearance, her feet, hehe..." "It's hard to say, you have to see it to know!" "Yes, look! If you don't let me see, we're going to do it!"

"..." Although Mai Po Lu was well-informed, she felt a little nervous when she saw this kind of battle.While covering Dong Xiaowan with her body, she yelled and cursed with the most vulgar words.But seeing that she is a foreign woman, and with that Su Bai, even scolding sounds like singing, so why would they be afraid?There are also some people who see her in her mid-mature and playful, and take advantage of her gesticulation, without concealment or hindrance, to take advantage of her first... At this moment, Dong Xiaowan seemed relatively calm.As a brothel girl, she wasn't too worried about what kind of situation she would fall into.Now all she is thinking about is how to get rid of this obscene entanglement as soon as possible, so as not to spread it to Mao Xiang's ears and cause unnecessary misunderstandings.Because since she made an agreement with Mao Xiang at the foot of the Jinshan Mountain, she has been closing the door to thank guests, and has repeatedly expressed her determination to stay clean to Mao Xiang.If this matter is not clear today, and people spread the word with embellishment, I'm afraid it will be a bit bad.In fact, Maoxiang is half-hearted towards her now, and there are many people who are secretly jealous and waiting to slander about the two of them... Thinking of this, Dong Xiaowan became nervous. The rascal's appearance frightened her, but she had no choice but to force herself to be calm, and whispered in Mistress Lu's ear:

"Sister, tell them not to argue, I have something to say!" The saleswoman Lu was overwhelmed, and when she heard this, she hurriedly said loudly to the group: "If you want to call, my sister has something to say!" After calling a few times, the group heard clearly.They didn't expect Dong Xiaowan to be so bold and dare to answer, they were a little surprised, they couldn't help but fell silent. Dong Xiaowan leaned sideways, first said a deep blessing to everyone, and then said: "Brothers..." As soon as the words came out, someone immediately cheered strangely:

"Scream loudly!" "That's right, how hot!" "Hey, good sister..." But more people watched intently, waiting for her to continue. "Hush—listen to what she says," someone said. "Today, thanks to the praise of all the brothers, I came here to praise the slave family, thank you from the slave family!" Dong Xiaowan said, and made another salute. This time, no one made a sound. They obviously felt that something was wrong, but they didn't know what was going on. How could this charming little girl speak like this? "My brothers, I'm afraid you don't recognize my family." Dong Xiaowan paused, and then said, "My family's surname is Dong, my humble name is Bai, and my cursive character is Xiaowan. I also lived in the old courtyard of the Qinhuai River for a few years before, and then went to Gusu. This time, at the invitation of Rugao’s magistrate of Pijiang, I visited him in Nanjing. Rugao’s maoxianggong must be recognized by all the older brothers. They are very familiar..."

Dong Xiaowan reckoned that the gang of prodigal children didn't know who she was, and mistook her for an ordinary Xiaojiabiyu just because she was not dressed like a female family member of the gentry's family, so they dared to molested her boldly.Now that she has revealed that she is a prostitute, and that she was invited by a famous person from Fushe, maybe they will feel that they have met the wrong person and leave in disappointment.Sure enough, after hearing Dong Xiaowan's self-introduction, many people showed stunned and bored expressions.Only the boy with the bulbous nose who was the first to tease her seemed still unwilling, he said in a strange way:

"Oh, it turns out it's the famous Mrs. Dong, so that's even better. It's rare to see you today, so please go out and drink with us!" "Thank you, brother, for your kindness!" Dong Xiaowan hurriedly saluted, "It's just that the slave family can't obey." "Why?" The bulbous-nosed boy suddenly stared, "Do you think I can't afford the price? Let me tell you, I have plenty of money! Tell me how much you want!" "Oh, it's not money, it's my slave's house that is really not free today." "What is there to be free? Isn't it just a matter of worshiping gods and burning incense? Let me tell you, the young master will have a meal of wine today. You have to come if you don't come!" The young man was so arrogant. "That's right! Come when you're called, don't give a toast if you don't eat a fine!" One of his accomplices chimed in. "Hey, look at her airs are quite big!" "Just pretend, how can there be a girl who doesn't like money?" "Yes, yes, don't they just make a living by collecting money and selling goods!" The others Also said in a hurry. "Hahahaha!" More people laughed. "Hey! What are you doing!" Lu Maima, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly waved her hands and shouted, "It's not like she won't want to go with you, it's just not today! As the saying goes, 'Boss I can't keep the accounts clear', today, Mr. Mao and the husbands of Fushe have invited them a long time ago. Naturally, it is their turn first! You insist on making a mess, and there is no such rule in the kiln! Fathers and young masters If you want to help, go to the Qinhuai River tomorrow! We are too late, how can there be any reason to push the business out of the door? It’s just not possible today, Mr. Mao and the ministers of Fushe are in Shicheng at the moment The boat outside the door is waiting for us! Ah! I don’t want you to munch on maggots, we have to go back after burning a stick of incense, it’s too late, I’m afraid there will be a meal of complaints!” While talking, Mistress Lu dragged Dong Xiaowan to the hall. I don't know whether it was because of Lu Maima's words to smooth things over, or because he was frightened when he heard that Maoxiang and the people from Fushe were on the boat outside, but this time, the group of prodigal children did not catch up.However, when they climbed the steps and came outside the palace gate, Mistress Lu found Dong Xiaowan with her head down, two lines of tears silently streaming down her cheeks.Those were painful, humiliating tears.Mistress Lu looked back worriedly, half persuading and half threatening: "Sister, don't cry. If those plague stars see it, my sister will paste this window paper anyway, and maybe it will be pierced again!" As he said, he took a few steps and dragged Dong Xiaowan into the hall. This is a hall on the top of the mountain, with nine beams and six pillars inside, very spacious.Among them is a sitting statue of Guan Shengdi, about one foot high, with a red face, beautiful beard, phoenix eyes and silkworm eyebrows, which is lifelike.There are also smaller statues on both sides of him. On the left is a young general with a white face and beard, holding a seal in his hand; on the right is a strong man with a black face and beard, carrying a big knife on his shoulder .That is naturally Guan Ping and Zhou Cang.On the incense table in front of the god, there are various offerings displayed as usual, surrounded by incense candles, and the smoke is rising.Some devout men and women are prostrating on the futons to worship. When Dong Xiaowan inserted the three lit incense sticks on the incense burner and knelt down on the futon, for a moment, she raised her painful eyes and looked up at the statue of Guan Shengdijun in the altar .She felt that Dijun's face was so majestic and beautiful, and his eyes were so wise and kind.He seemed to be saying: "You committed sins in the previous life, so you deserve to suffer such hardships in this life. However, as long as you are devoted to the Tao and always be willing to do good, you can redeem your past sins and gain rebirth from the sea of ​​suffering..." Dong Xiaowan's heart suddenly felt calm: "Yes, my suffering in this life is the retribution for my past life's sins! I hope that my debts have been paid off, and I will be free from the sea of ​​suffering and grow old together with Maolang!" So, she put her palms together, prayed devoutly for a while, kowtowed, then stood up, took a stick from the altar, and began to shake it vigorously, while continuing to pray silently.She kept shaking, and with her gestures, the bamboo stick made a pleasant rustling sound in the stick.Gradually, Dong Xiaowan's whole heart was also immersed in this wonderful and mysterious melody, as if she had set foot on the way back to Rugao together with Maoxiang.The rustling sound is the river flowing by the ship's side, the light footsteps of the bearer, and Mao Lang whispering in her ear... Finally, there was a sound of "dumb" in the lottery, which was a signal of the god's presence.Dong Xiaowan opened his eyes reflexively, and sure enough, a stick came out of the barrel and fell to the ground.She quickly bent down to pick it up, "Ah, I don't know what the gods say, I don't know what he said?" She thought hurriedly and panicked, grabbed the stick in her hand, stood up in a panic, and went to the door on the right. On the counter, I paid a penny and took the signing paper from Miaozhu.But her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't see clearly the few lines written on the signed paper anyway.She had no choice but to stop to take a breath, and only read the signature again when she calmed down a little.This time, she not only saw it clearly, but also froze as if she had been hit hard.On the signature, there is such a seven-character quatrain: