tallest building

Chapter 12 Wuqiu Temple

Wuqiu Nunnery is deserted, with only five nuns in total, two of whom are too old to move.

It is said that the Buddhist temple is a pure place, but in the end, it still needs the offerings of the secular world to maintain the solemnity of the Dharma image.

Wen Mingqian entered the temple gate and walked for a long time without seeing a single person. Only a myna bird chirped under the old Bodhi tree in the front yard.

Several clumps of hollyhocks were in full bloom at the base of the wall, their beauty contrasting with the dilapidated and peeling gray wall, creating a unique and elegant scene.

Further inside, there were two nuns sweeping the floor in the main hall. They only greeted people briefly and did not greet them warmly, which showed that they were used to being indifferent to worldly affairs.

At this moment, a maid came over, bowed to Wen Mingqian, and said, "Madam, please come with me."

He led Wen Mingqian to the Medicine King Hall in the east.

As soon as Liu got up from the prayer mat, she turned around and saw Wen Mingqian. She quickly came over and grabbed him, calling him "Sister."

He couldn't utter a single word after that.

"Cuiyi, don't be sad. Haven't I already returned?" Wen Mingqian called out Liu's maiden name and squeezed her hand tightly.

Liu wiped away her tears and forced a smile: "Yes, it's so good that my sister is back. I've been thinking of you a lot over the years and have secretly sent you many letters, but they've all been returned. I wonder how you are doing over there."

Wen Mingqian said, "I know you're worried about me, but I'm really afraid of implicating you. I know there are many rules in your household, and it would be difficult for you to do anything, so it's best to cut off all contact."

Liu Cuiyi asked, "Why did you leave back then, sister?"

Wen Mingqian laughed and said, "There are no secrets in the world, you must know something, right?"

Liu Cuiyi shook her head: "I don't believe any of those rumors. My sister would never harm a child."

Wen Mingqian said, "The Gong family believes that I instructed the maid to poison Song's son. They also cherish their reputation and do not allow the matter to be spread. Therefore, they sent me back to Shuangxi, ostensibly for self-cultivation, but in reality for repentance."

Liu Cuiyi asked, "That child's death was very suspicious. Who did it and is now pinning the blame on you, sister?"

Wen Mingqian remained silent for a long time: "I don't know much about it now either, but we still need to investigate what happened back then."

“But so much time has passed…” Liu Cuiyi said wistfully, “Is it still possible to find out the truth?”

"Stop talking about me. How are you doing? Are you happy living with your in-laws?" Wen Mingqian asked her.

Unexpectedly, a single sentence brought tears to Liu Cuiyi's eyes: "Sister, you know that there isn't a single person in the Zhou family who is easy to get along with. And yet, I'm useless and have given birth to two daughters in a row."

Liu Cuiyi's mother-in-law, Shao, was extremely difficult, and her husband, Zhou Jingsan, was a philanderer.

However, her father was extremely strict and old-fashioned, believing that parents are always right and insisting that Liu fulfill her filial duties and be content with her lot.

Her mother searched everywhere for remedies to help her give birth to a son, thinking that this would solve everything.

However, Liu Cuiyi just couldn't have a son. In fact, because she often took medicine and was depressed, her health deteriorated, and she hasn't been able to get pregnant in recent years.

The Zhou family had already arranged four or five concubines for Zhou Jingsan, but only her personal maid treated her with respect; the other concubines constantly bullied her. "Being a woman means facing many unavoidable hardships in life, but ultimately, one cannot be at the mercy of others. No matter what, one must find a way to fight back, otherwise, where will one end up?" Wen Mingqian felt great sympathy for her and wanted to help her escape this predicament. But no one can succeed by relying solely on others; one must stand on one's own two feet.

"Sister, to tell you the truth, if it weren't for those two pieces of meat, I really wouldn't want to live another day..." Liu Cuiyi cried, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. "Ever since I got married, it's like living in a dry well, guarding a tiny patch of sky above my head, and no matter how hard I try, I can't jump out."

“Good girl, you’re still young, don’t say such discouraging things.” Wen Mingqian put his arm around her and said, “There’s a line in a poem that says, ‘Born beautiful, it’s hard to give up.’ I think one must not give up on oneself in order to have a new world.”

Even if your situation is dire, it's still better than mine. I refuse to give up on myself, so how can you be content to sit idly by in despair?

"Sister, is there any hope for me in this life?" Liu Cuiyi looked at Wen Mingqian with teary eyes.

“It’s all up to us,” Wen Mingqian said firmly. “Don’t worry, no matter what, as long as I’m here, I will do my best to help you.”

These words made Liu Cuiyi's tears flow even more profusely. She hugged Wen Mingqian and cried bitterly, not because she was sad, but because she was moved.

Over the years, no one has ever given her such a promise, not even her closest relatives.

She knew that Wen Mingqian's situation was much more difficult than her own, but she still made a promise to herself without any reservations, a promise more precious than gold.

It warmed her heart, which had been soaked with tears.

After Wen Mingqian waited until she had cried enough, he gently patted her shoulder and said, "Does this crying make you feel a lot better?"

Liu Cuiyi said somewhat embarrassedly, "I really feel bad, I made my sister's clothes wet with tears."

"What's the big deal? As long as it can cheer you up, I'd give up anything, even ten or eight pieces of clothing, let alone just one." Wen Mingqian gently stroked her face. "Look at you, you used to be such a delicate beauty, but you've been worn out and haggard all these years."

No matter what, you must take good care of yourself.

“I’ve been so disheartened these past few years that I’ve really stopped caring about dressing up,” Liu Cuiyi said. “But my sister doesn’t look haggard at all; in fact, she looks even better than she did back then.”

Liu Cuiyi was not flattering him; Wen Mingqian was a natural beauty, and his refined and otherworldly demeanor made him unforgettable.

Seven years later, she was more serene and graceful than before, and even more pleasing to the eye.

“You know that Shuangxi is a poor and remote place with nothing valuable or rare,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile, taking out a small porcelain bottle. “This is a jade ointment that I made myself. I apply it to my face every night before bed to make my skin smooth and radiant.”

Liu Cuiyi took it and opened it, only to smell a faint, delicate fragrance of herbs and wood, inside was a white ointment as white as mutton fat.

"Thank you so much, sister. This is more precious than anything you could buy. I will definitely use it well when I get back and not let you down."

“That’s right! Don’t keep thinking about having a son all day long, and don’t let your husband and mother-in-law upset you.” Seeing that she smiled, Wen Mingqian further advised, “The stupidest thing in the world is to help others bully you. Be open-minded, be smart, and look forward.”

Liu Cuiyi took out a purse and handed it to Wen Mingqian with both hands: "Sister, there are two gold ingots inside. Consider it a gift for my nephew. That child is really lovable. I'll visit your residence sometime and see him properly."

Wen Mingqian didn't stand on ceremony with her and said, "Whenever you come, ask Zhang Ma to prepare a recipe for you. We've been so grateful to her for taking care of us all these years, especially with our diet. Health doesn't deteriorate overnight, nor can it be restored overnight. Diet is very important. Putting effort into this is better than taking medicine."

(End of this chapter)