Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Kneeling and Listening with Tears

On his deathbed, the kind and upright old Taoist priest said to A Bing: Taoist music is celestial music, it is Taoist music that saves all living beings from evil and becomes immortal, and must not be disturbed by obscene music.A Bing knelt down and listened with tears in his eyes... When A Bing was fifteen years old, Taoism in Chong'an Temple grew stronger and moved to the larger Sanqing Hall. Sanqing Hall is close to the downtown area, surrounded by rap performers, performers, monkey performers, and snack sellers...it is very lively.Brothers and sisters A Bing and Yang Yin often go among these folk artists, listen to their rap, listen to them play the pipa and play the huqin, and learn from them.

One day, Ah Bing and the others were listening to a busker playing the piano. Daohua came over and said, "What's so good about a busker? Is it worth learning from them?" A Bing said: "Why is it not worth it? Performers are also human beings." Zhang Daohua sarcastically said: "Then you will be a performer in the future!" "So what?" Yang Qin pulled A Bing and left, saying: "Don't pay attention to him." A Bing stood still, he was still listening to that busker playing the piano, of course he did not expect that a few years later, he would have the same fate as that busker...

On this day, the old Taoist priest continued to lecture on the "Taiping Jing" to the Taoists in spite of his illness. He said: "...the records of Taoist music in the "Taiping Jing" contain many gist... It says that music is based on happiness, and talent can only be obtained through no desire and inaction. Happiness...Happiness is a great good in the world..." The old Taoist master gasped for a while and continued: "It is said in the scriptures that the music of the ancients was used for both encouragement and punishment." Hua Qinghe brought water to the old Taoist priest and said, "Taoist priest, take a break and drink some water before we talk."

The old Taoist took a sip of water and said: "... I can't talk about it a few times... The music recorded in the Taoist scriptures is too precious... You should study hard... A Bing, you can speak for me about the importance of the harmony of yin and yang in music... ..." A Bing said: "The Taoist priest once told us that if the yin and yang are in harmony, the voice will be harmonious and beautiful; if the yin and yang are not in harmony, the voice will be weird and chaotic..." The old Taoist went on to say: "So, the beauty of Taoist music lies in the harmony of yin and yang. All living beings listen carefully, this is the purpose of the Taoist music I want to talk about..."

After the old Taoist finished speaking these words in one breath, he felt very tired, and he gasped again. Hua Qinghe brought the porridge and said, "Taoist chief, rest for a while, come and have some porridge." Hua Qinghe helped the old Taoist priest up, took a sip, and the old Taoist priest waved his hand and said, "I don't want to eat." Hua Qinghe said: "Master Daoist, you haven't eaten well for a few days, and you insist on giving lectures to everyone, which will exhaust you." The old Taoist said: "I just want to take advantage of my breath... so... so..." The old Taoist gasped, Hua Qinghe hurriedly helped the old Taoist to lie down, and said to everyone: "Everyone, let's go loose first. Master, take a break."

On this day, Yang Pingli gave a music class in the classroom. He said: "Music is not only for entertainment, but more importantly, music has a mission. You teenagers should use music as a weapon to expose the darkness and awaken the people..." A Bing's eyes lit up when he heard this. At this time, the principal suddenly opened the door and came in, and said to Yang Pingli, "Come to my office after class." After class, Yang Pingli went to the principal's office. The principal said, "What are you preaching to the students? It's too radical. You're going to cause trouble for me. Sorry, I can't accommodate you here. You'd better find another job!" "

Pingli said: "I just said what a Chinese should say." "Teacher Yang, I don't want to argue with you, please do it yourself!" Yang Pingli was fired. In the evening, Yang Pingli and Hua Qing discussed with them.Yang Pingli said: "The principal is too timid." Hua Qinghe said, "You can go to Xiaosi Village temporarily and live with my brother. There is no music teacher in the elementary school there." "Well, let's go for a while and talk about it." "Let A Bing go with you too, and you teach him more." "it is good."

Hua Qinghe took A Bing and Yang Pingli's family to Xiaosi Village in his elder brother Hua Qingping's boat. Yang Pingli said to Hua Qingping: "Brother, I'm going to disturb you." Qingping said: "No, it's just that the countryside is tough, I'm afraid you won't be used to it." Qing He hurriedly said: "Brother, Mr. Yang left home because he was willing to suffer." Yang Pingli said: "Their mother passed away, and I took care of the two children alone. I have never suffered anything." Hua Qingping said, "It's really not easy."

Yang Pingli said: "Brother, I can fish. When I was in Guangdong, I often went fishing, so I can help you go fishing in the lake." "That's great, but you're busy, so it depends on your time!" "Brother, take a rest for a while, I'll take the scull." Yang Pingli swayed the scull, and Hua Qingping praised: "It's a good move." Arriving at Xiaosi Village, the boat docked, and they walked towards the eldest brother's house. When they were almost at the door, Hua Qingping yelled, and his sister-in-law came out to welcome them in. "Call Auntie quickly." Yang Pingli said to his children.

"aunt." "Hey." "Oh, the meal is ready, Mr. Yang, welcome, let's eat first!" So everyone sat down, and there were small fish and shrimp, green vegetables and taro rice on the table. Hua Qingping sighed: "The fish is too small, the big ones are all exchanged for rice and cloth. Oh, these days, even fishermen can't eat fish!" Yang Pingli said: "Chinese people are suffering too much, especially farmers. This situation must be changed." The next day, at dawn, Hua Qinghe and Yang Pingli took Yang Yin, Yang Qin and A Bing out to the lake to go fishing.

In Taihu Lake in the morning, it had just rained, and the lake surface was misty and rainy, and the water and sky were the same color.Yang Pingli stopped rowing the scull, looked at the vast lake, and sighed: "It's magnificent! Eight hundred miles away, Taihu Lake is full of light and gold, and it's mighty, so refreshing..." Not far away, singing came from a fishing boat—— Brothers and sisters A Bing and Yang Yin said: "This folk song is really nice." Yang Pingli sighed: "The people are looking forward to a peaceful life..." Suddenly, his expression darkened.Hua Qinghe said: "Brother Yang, why are you sighing again?" Yang Pingli said: "China is too dark and the poor suffer too much. This cannibalistic system must be overthrown." A Bing raised his head and listened attentively... Yang Pingli said again: "Do you know? Sun Yat-sen came out of Guangdong. He advocated the overthrow of the imperial system and the establishment of a new China. When China becomes prosperous and strong, the poor can live a better life." Hua Qinghe said: "I am a Taoist priest, and Taoist priests don't care about politics." Yang Pingli said: "Chinese people should be the masters of society. Although Taoism is a religion, it should also be patriotic." Hua Qinghe nodded and said, "You should be a patriotic Taoist priest." A Bing asked: "How can a Taoist be patriotic?" Yang Pingli said with a smile: "A Bing, to be patriotic, you must first worry about the country and the people. Concern for the country and the people is patriotism." A Bing listened with a half understanding. Yang Pingli said: "Our music is to arouse the people, to arouse the people. It is what Mr. Sun Yat-sen said. To arouse the people, we must go deep into the people. From now on, we will go fishing in the lake for a while, and go to the countryside for a day to talk to the villagers. Play together, and you also learn folk music well.” They collected their nets and collected the fish before returning to the village. It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Hua Qinghe had already returned to Chong'an Temple. Yang Pingli, his two children, A Bing, and A Bing's cousin Hua Boyang went to the village to play.A full moon rose in the sky, and they sat around the campfire with the villagers. Most of the villagers in this township were religious, and many of them were good at musical instruments.Yang Pingli first played a piece of violin called "Chang'e Flying to the Moon", which was so beautiful that everyone applauded happily, and then A Bing played the erhu.The villagers were all stunned by A Bing's music skills. They didn't expect the child to improve so fast; Yang Yin's brother and sister played the violin and pipa respectively, and were praised by everyone.An old man's erhu also made everyone applaud and applaud, and Hua Boyang and the village band also performed wonderfully. After the performance, the old people went home, and the young people sat around and listened to Yang Pingli telling them stories. Yang Pingli said: "People must persevere even more in adversity. Let me tell you the stories of ancient musicians Shi Kuang and Ji Kang. "Shi Kuang was a native of the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period. He was the music master during the time of Jin Daogong and Jin Pinggong. He was congenitally blind, but although his eyes were blind, he was born with a pair of extremely keen ears, which made him practice music. He has superb piano skills. It is said that when he played for Duke Ping of Jin, the cranes came from the north for the first play, and the cranes flew down to line up for the second play, and danced for the third play. His guqin skills not only reached the He is in a state of deity, and he opposes tyrants, loves the people, and has a sense of justice. Those who make music should keep in mind that music cannot be divorced from the masses." A Bing listened intently... "I'll tell you Ji Kang's story again." Yang Pingli said again. "Ji Kang is a Taoist musician, my master told me about it." A Bing said. "Oh, then tell me what impressed you the most about Ji Kang?" "Hateful as hatred." Yang Pingli nodded and said: "Yes, I hate evil like hatred. Ji Kang is not only an outstanding musician, but also a very upright thinker. He was only forty years old when he was killed. We must learn from his integrity, which is what a musician must have. of." On this day, get out of class was almost over, and Teacher Yang Pingli said: "I will tell you the story of Wenji's return to the Han Dynasty. Cai Wenji was the daughter of a great historian in the Eastern Han Dynasty. She was erudite, proficient in literature and temperament, and played the pipa well. When the Huns invaded, Cai Wenji was separated from her father during the escape, and was captured by the Huns, and was taken as a concubine by the Zuoxian King of the Huns. After Cao Cao unified the north, she took Cai Wenji back. She parted with her husband and two children, and wrote the famous "Hu Jia Eighteen Pads" showed her pain of parting, and later she silently wrote 400 articles written by her father Cai Yong, which shows her talent..." Yang Pingli said again: "You should remember that any outstanding piece of music is not born out of thin air, and its background is often a tragic journey." A Bing listened intently... The bonfire party is over. Yang Pingli and the children walked to the residence. Under the moonlight, they talked excitedly while walking. Yang Pingli said: "The root of music is in the folk. We should never forget to take root in the people..." Yang Pingli said again: "Have you noticed that the old man's erhu is very simple and beautiful." A Bing listened attentively. "So, in the future, we will go to the folks more to get nutrition." Afterwards, after class, Ah Bing, teacher Yang Pingli and Yang Yin brothers and sisters visited the folks. This Xiaosi village was originally the hometown of Taoist music. Most people in the village are Taoists, and many of them know Taoism. In the morning, when the red sun was rising, A Bing, teacher Yang Pingli and brother and sister Yang Yin came to the lotus pond. Not far away came the happy song of the lotus picking girl: Teacher Yang Pingli stopped and said to A Bing and the others: "Listen, folk music is so good. It's full of life!" After hearing this, A Bing said, "It's really beautiful." Yang Yin hurriedly matched the score. Yang Qin was also listening. A Bing listened excitedly, and he felt that his vision was broader. Over the past few days, A Bing has entered a brand-new musical realm by collecting folk music with teacher Yang Pingli. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is shining brightly. By the beautiful Taihu Lake, the villagers hold folk performances. Men, women and children compete to perform their best programs. Some sing, some dance, some play the flute, and some play the flute. Pipa, singing endlessly. A Bing played the erhu, which won warm applause, and everyone applauded to welcome him to play another song. A Bing looked at Teacher Yang Pingli, and Teacher Yang encouraged him to perform another song, so A Bing played another song, which was praised by everyone. An old man said: "Abing is so good, no one in this village can catch up with him." The violin performed by Yang Yin and the pipa played by Yang Qin were also praised by everyone. Yang Pingli was determined to train A Bing to be a musician. He said to A Bing: "A Bing, as long as you work hard, I believe you will become an outstanding musician." A Bing said gratefully: "Thank you teacher for your encouragement, I will definitely work hard." After the performance, everyone danced together.A Bing couldn't dance, so he played the piano to accompany him. Drenched in sweat, Yang Qin ran over and grabbed A Bing's hand, saying, "A Bing, let's go and dance for a while." Yang Pingli took A Bing's erhu and said, "Go, A Bing. Dancing and music belong together. Learning to dance is good for understanding music." Then A Bing went to dance. While teaching Ah Bing to dance, Yang Qin said: "The rhythm of the dance is consistent with the rhythm of the music. My father said that we should learn more about various folk dances." A Bing nodded and said, "Okay, I will learn from you." The joyful singing and dancing didn't end until midnight. Yang Pingli was hired as a music teacher by a private middle school, and he returned to Wuxi with his two children, and A Bing also returned to Sanqing Hall. Yang Pingli insisted that A Bing go to listen. One day, after class, Wang Lecai, a kid from a rich family, laughed at A Bing loudly, saying, "You haven't even gone to elementary school, but you dare to come to a middle school classroom to attend a class. What right do you have to sit with us?" When Yang Pingli heard this, he severely reprimanded Wang Lecai, saying: "Although he has never been to elementary school, he has studied in a private school. Besides, why can't he be allowed to attend classes? He is a musical genius, and his musical skills are much better than yours." .” Wang Le had to shut up after hearing this. The old Taoist is seriously ill, and he is going to choose a successor. In the morning, after chanting the scriptures, the old Taoist said to the Taoists: "I am old and sick. Whoever you think is the successor can recommend to me." When Zhang Daohua heard this, he was afraid that he would choose A Bing, so he said first: "I think anyone can be the heir, except A Bing." "Why?" the old Taoist asked seriously. "Because he has no parents, people say he is a bastard!" After hearing this, the old Taoist said seriously: "Zhang Daohua, as A Bing's senior brother, how can you talk like that! When we choose the heir, we choose him himself. What does it have to do with whether he has parents? Besides, his parents Who is it, do you know? As a Taoist priest, he has accumulated good virtue, can he say such a thing?" Zhang Daohua's words brought back A Bing's sadness.He sat with his head down without saying a word, thinking in his heart, who are my parents?Why don't you recognize me, am I really a wild species? A Bing fell into pain again. A Bing and Yang Qin sat on the stone bridge of the small river, A Bing looked down at the river below the bridge, silent. "A Bing, what's the matter with you, depressed?" "nothing." "It's nothing, I think you have something on your mind, don't forget, you once said that music is the most important thing in your life, and you said that you will never affect your pursuit of music because of anything." "Yes, I did." "Then what's the matter with you now, listless, why didn't your eyes look as bright as before when you practiced the piano?" A Bing shook his head and said, "Yes, I can't go on like this. I want to practice the piano. The more I do this, the more I have to practice. Let's go, Yang Qin, let's go practice the piano." "OK." The two stood up and ran towards the residence hand in hand. The kind old Taoist priest was seriously ill, and when he was dying, all the Taoist priests gathered in his room, he said out of breath, "I'm leaving...I've been with you for decades...we've gone through hardships together , We also had glory... We are loyal believers in Taoism, I have devoted my whole life to Taoism, and now the Taishang Laojun wants to take me away..." He gasped for a while, Hua Qinghe stroked his chest for him, and said, "Master Taoist, speak slowly." The old Taoist priest rested for a while, and then said: "We have developed from Chong'an Temple to Sanqing Temple, we have grown stronger, but it is not enough now, we still need to expand, but unfortunately, I have to leave you..." "Now...I announce to everyone that after I leave, Taoist Hua Qinghe will take over as the abbot of Sanqing Hall...From now on, you must listen to him...Hua Qinghe is a loyal Taoist priest, you should listen to him carefully, I am in heaven Just rest assured..." "Yes, old Taoist priest, we will all listen to Taoist Hua." "Then... I'm relieved, let's read it together again... No desires, no thoughts..." "No desires, no thoughts..." "Okay, tomorrow morning, the Taoist Hua's ascension ceremony will be held." "yes." In the evening, the old Taoist priest called A Bing to the bed and told him. "A Bing, you are a very perceptive Taoist priest. I know you like Taoist music, but you must learn Taoism well to understand Taoist music." A Bing knelt down and listened. "A Bing, you have to remember that Taoist music is celestial music, which helps people get rid of evil and become immortals. Dao music cannot be disturbed by obscene music. Do you remember, A Bing?" "A Bing will remember." The old Taoist said: "The purpose of Taoism is not to have no desires and do nothing, but to do nothing without doing nothing." "Do nothing but do everything..." A Bing was comprehending the meaning. "Although Taoism values ​​softness, it is never soft and weak. Even softness is an expedient measure. In the end, softness must be used to overcome strength. This is Lao Tzu's intention. Do you remember?" "I remember, weak is better than strong." The old Taoist pointed to the water in the cup and said: "Water is extremely soft, but it can wear stones. Taoism looks weak, but in fact it is the most backbone. Inaction is not because you don't want to do something, but when you should do something. , When you shouldn’t do something, you have to do nothing, so that you can really do something... In the future, the Taoists will look at you, you must cultivate the Tao well, do you remember, Taoist A Bing.” "Remember, Daoist." The old Taoist really wanted to tell Ah Bing about his life experience, but he was afraid that Ah Bing would not be able to bear it, so he held back and said: "A Bing, don't care too much about whose family you are from, you must remember that you are a Taoist." Child. A Taoist priest, his bounden duty is not only to cultivate himself, to be free from desire and inaction, but also to help people cultivate their hearts together, so that they can enter the Taoist fairyland. Child, do you remember?" "Master Daoist, Ah Bing will keep it in mind." The words of the old Taoist priest once again enlightened Ah Bing that one should not only live for oneself, but also save all sentient beings, and step into the fairyland of Taoism with others. The words of the old Taoist priest helped A Bing to struggle out of the sea of ​​suffering of finding his parents, and also had a profound impact on A Bing in helping the suffering people to overcome the sea of ​​suffering in the future. The old Taoist priest called Hua Qinghe to the couch again, his voice was weak, panting and said: "Qinghe...I'm going, you...you must take care of the monastery...and...you must also take care of A Bing, don't bury him he." Qinghe nodded and said, "Master, I remember." Hua Qinghe held the skinny hand of the old priest and cried, "Master, your kindness to me is as great as a mountain, and Qinghe doesn't know how to repay you..." The old Taoist priest said: "Make the Taoist temple well, pass on the Dao forever... pass on the Taoist music..." "Okay, master, this disciple will remember." The old Taoist asked someone to call for A Bing, and when A Bing came, the old Taoist said to A Bing, "A Bing, kneel down to Taoist Hua, from now on, you must regard him as your father, he is the best in the world. The one who loves you." A Bing knelt down to Hua Qinghe and called out, "Master." Hua Qinghe hugged A Bing, tears filled his eyes... In the early morning of the next day, the drums and music in the Sanqing Hall were ready, and all the Taoist priests stood in two rows. When the time came, the master of ceremonies shouted: "The ceremony for the new Taoist priest of the Sanqing Palace begins—" Drums and music sounded together, Huaqing and Zhuangyan stepped on the stage, kowtowed to the Sanqing Hall, and then bowed to the Supreme Lord with all the Taoists holding incense. After the enthronement ceremony, they came to the sick bed of the old Taoist priest and kowtowed to the old Taoist priest.The old Taoist has closed his eyes and ascended to heaven... "Old Taoist priest..." The Taoist priests knelt and cried together. Ah Bing's cousin Hua Boyang came from the countryside. Seeing the old Taoist priest passed away, he was very sad and cried, "Master... I'm late...Master, why did you go..." The Sanqing Hall held a solemn ceremony to see the old Taoist off. At five o'clock in the morning of this day, the Taoist priests of the Sanqing Temple were busy. They were going to solemnly see off the old Taoist priest. They cleaned the Zhaimu, cleaned up their clothes and hats, then beat drums and chimes, played ritual instruments, burned incense on the altar, and offered sacrifices to the three gods.Amidst the sound of drum music, they started to walk after reciting the mantra, praying for Taoism to grow into immortals and ascend to heaven. When they arrived at the cemetery where the Taoist priest became a fairy, all the people buried the coffin of the old Taoist priest while chanting together. After the funeral, everyone went back, Hua Qinghe and A Bing were still standing in front of the tomb, Hua Qinghe choked up and said, "Pray for the immortal master to ascend to heaven as soon as possible, and bless the incense in Chong'an Temple..."