By the riverside, at the dock, the river flowed. It was as though time was forever frozen there, but the surrounding city was undergoing earth-shattering changes. Tall buildings rose from flat ground, and wooden boats became motorized boats …
And the one who changed the fastest was the woman who stood at the dock. She went from a young girl to a woman, and from a woman to an old woman.
The only thing that didn't change was that she would always dress herself up beautifully. Every strand of her hair would be meticulously combed and washed. She would wear a qipao and wait by the riverside. Only when night fell and the last boat docked would she return to the shore to work.
She had carried plates, swept the floor, and been a nanny. No matter how tough her days were, she had never begged. She would always raise her chin. Even though they didn't have a marriage certificate, she always considered herself a soldier's wife. She would never lower her proud head. That was her husband's pride, and it was also her pride!
However, with the departure of the elder and the changes in the city, no one knew her story. More people treated her as a mental patient. They distanced themselves from her and even ostracized her. She was chased out of her rented apartment, and the hairdressers didn't accept her. The only job she had was secretly arranged for her by a kind-hearted boss …
The only place she could stay was on a bench in the boss's shop. Even so, she could only secretly sleep in the latter half of the night when the shop was closed. She had to leave before daybreak, and she couldn't be seen by others.
Even so, she wasn't defeated by life. She always believed that he was far away and that he couldn't return because of certain matters …
By the dock, the old woman stood there with her palms pressed together. She looked east silently and muttered softly, "If there really is a Buddha in time, can he bless his safety? I don't wish for him to return, but for him to lead a better life … "
When Fangzheng saw this, he could not help but tear up. Who could have imagined that an old woman who was treated like a ghost like a lunatic would have such a touching story? A soldier's wife who didn't have a marriage certificate, a wife who would never bow her head, a wife who spent her entire life waiting for her lover's return! Could such a person be a ghost? Such a person should be worthy of respect!
With this in mind, Fangzheng came in front of the old woman with a thought. He pressed his palms together and said, "Amitabha. Patron, since you only wish for his safety, why are you waiting here day and night?"
"You?!" Liu Fangfang was taken aback. The instant she saw Fangzheng, she recalled many things that she had neglected. Wasn't she supposed to be in the temple? Isn't this the young monk from One Finger Monastery? How could he be here?
Fangzheng smiled. "This Penniless Monk is One Finger Monastery's abbot. My Dharma name is Fangzheng."
"Why are you here? It's best you leave quickly. There's no need for you to concern yourself with my matters. "After Liu Fangfang asked her question, she looked warily into the distance before chasing Fangzheng away.
Fangzheng turned his head and saw that there were quite a number of people on the dock. All of them were looking over with puzzled looks in their eyes. Fangzheng smiled. "Patron, are you afraid that they will see This Penniless Monk and bring the blame to This Penniless Monk?"
With that said, Fangzheng waved his hand and everyone vanished. He asked, "How about this?"
"You … who exactly are you?!" Liu Fangfang was taken aback. With a wave of his hand, everyone was gone. This … this was too inconceivable!
Fangzheng smiled. "This Penniless Monk is One Finger Monastery's abbot, Fangzheng. Benefactor, do you think the person you are waiting for will come back? "
"How do you know about my matters?" Liu Fangfang was truly frightened.
"You were the one who told This Penniless Monk."
Liu Fangfang looked at Fangzheng and Fangzheng looked back at her. The surrounding scenery changed as she rubbed her eyes in a daze. She was sitting in the temple hall and not far from her was a white-robed monk. It was none other than Fangzheng!
"This …" Liu Fangfang looked at Fangzheng in disbelief.
Fangzheng slowly stood up. "Patron, This Penniless Monk knows you have many questions but these questions are meaningless, isn't that so?"
As he spoke, he walked out of the temple hall.
Liu Fangfang subconsciously followed. Fangzheng had one hand behind his back as he looked up at the bodhi tree in front of him. "Patron, this tree was given to One Finger Monastery by a patron several years ago. Unfortunately, trees from the south are grown in the north. They are not acclimatized to the climate and froze to death in winter."
"But … It's still alive," said Liu Fangfang.
Fangzheng nodded. "That's right. Who would have thought that a doomed tree would still be alive?"
Liu Fangfang's heart palpitated. "Are you saying that he's still alive?"
Fangzheng turned his head and looked at Liu Fangfang. "Patron, what do you think?"
"He …" Liu Fangfang did not dare say the answer. She already had the answer in her heart but she refused to face it. She was afraid. But eventually, Liu Fangfang asked a question. "Abbot Fangzheng, are there ghosts in this world?"
"Yes, there is hell in this world and there is paradise," answered Fangzheng with absolute certainty.
Liu Fangfang's heart palpitated as she immediately asked, "Abbot, I know you are profound in the Buddhist Dharma and have divine powers. Can you bring me to see him? Be it a living person or … I just want to see him one more time. "
"If you really want to see him, you will naturally be able to see him. As long as you wish." Fangzheng turned his head and smiled at Liu Fangfang.
Liu Fangfang looked at Fangzheng before looking at the old tree. She slowly closed her eyes and thought of the person in her heart. When she opened her eyes again, the monastery was gone. It was still the dock, but there was one more person on the dock. He was dressed in military attire and looked tall. He was in high spirits with a bit of bashfulness. His face was red, but he did not dare to take a step forward.
"You … are back?" Liu Fangfang did not pounce forward nor did she cry. Instead, she stood there and watched silently, smiling.
"Yea." Yu Guanghua nodded.
"Although I know you are not him, I'm still very happy," said Liu Fangfang with a smile.
A white-robed monk walked out from behind Yu Guanghua and pressed his palms together. "Amitabha. Patron, you are wrong. He is him."
"Impossible. He went to the front lines and never returned," said Liu Fangfang.
"He has never left. He has always been in your heart. This' him 'was found by This Penniless Monk from your heart. He has always existed, always protecting you and always smiling at you. It's just that you do not want to see him. " When Fangzheng said that, he looked into the distance. "The bodhi tree should have died but the wishes of all life allowed it to live. Yu Guanghua might have sacrificed himself but he lives in your heart because of your longing. His life and death does not depend on This Penniless Monk but on you. "
With that said, Fangzheng waved his hand and returned to the monastery.
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