Proofread by Peter Gong
Madam Ma had been ill for a long time. Someone advised to find a Taoist priest to exorcise demons. Someone said the blessing of Jiafu Temple was more effective. Ma Tian’en didn’t believe in this. But looking at her mother’s anxiety, she decided to have a try.
Originally, Jiafu Temple was a small temple. It was said that master Hua Yen in Tang dynasty came here to preach, later, when the old dragon who settled in here was moved away, Da Xiong Palace was built. The temple faced south, and backed against Bao Zhu Peak. Because there was a Tan spring at the back of the temple and Tam trees on the mountain, so people called it Tan Zhe Temple.
There was a distance between Tan Zhe Temple and Ma Family, so the carriage was needed. Ma Tian’en and Wu Zhong went there together to pray for the mother of Ma Tian’en. Then she also hoped that Wu Zhong could pass Provincial Examination, metropolitan examination and Palace Examination. Of course, if he could get the first in the Palace Examination, that would be better. Because he could be the student of the scholar.
Outside of Tan Zhe Temple, there were many old towering trees which were hundreds of years old, blocking out sunshine. Among them, two pine trees were most famous, one was Panlongn pine, the other was Wo Long pine, symbolizing the fairy dragons which protected the temple.
The temple had two forests of pagodas where shariputras of eminent monks of generations were consecrated. This time, Ma Tian’en were also accompanied by Ashun and another manservant, they prepared sandal incenses for her in advance.
“Sir, we burn incense, donate money to the temple and ask Buddha to give us what we want. Is it a little strange?” On the way to Da Xiong Palace, Ma Tian’en asked Wu Zhong quizzically.
Ma Tian’en had been confused by this thing. People could get what they want if they burnt incense, the bad people could be forgiven if they prayed for Buddha, then what was justice? Maybe many people couldn’t afford to buy incenses or they couldn’t come to the temple, but they were kind, and didn’t Buddha bless them? Her mother often burnt incenses in the worship hall, why hadn’t she recovered? Someone said she was bewitched, was it true?
Wu Zhong thought for a while before replying: “I am not clear about Buddha, but I think you mistake the relation between offering and receiving. The Buddha said that ‘grant whatever is requested for the people believing in Buddha.’ It didn’t mean that Buddha will promise you a good fortune if you burn incenses and donate money when you are in trouble. Actually, burning incense is more likely to warn yourself, to get rid of the evil and show your respect to Buddhas. It may be clear if offering and receiving are separated. Burning incense is for offering. Offering means people shouldn’t ask for any return. What Buddhas give us is offering. Why do Buddhas do this? Because of our beneficence. Our destiny is controlled by ourselves and happiness is created by ourselves.”
Ma Tian’en was a little confused. However, what teacher said must make sense.
In Da Xiong Palace, Ma Tian’en took incense and burnt three of them. One was put in the middle of the incense burner, which meant soberness; the second was on the right, which meant integrity; the third was on the left, which meant purity. After that, Ma Tian’en clasped her hands silently and prayed for her mother. At this moment, Ma Tian’en felt something but she couldn’t tell it.
Wu Zhong also burnt three incenses. However, what he prayed for was political justness, social stability and lifelong happiness for Ma Tian’en.
The two stepped out of Da Xiong Palace, intending to look at other palaces. At this moment, Ma Tian’en found a figure. It was Jia Shengping, the thief who disguised himself as the ghost at the warehouse.
Mr. Jia was about to go downhill with people, so Ma Tian’en had no time to explain to Wu Zhong. Only by catching him could Ma Tian’en know the truth of her father’s injury. Ma Tian’en ran towards Mr. Jia, and Ashun followed.
Mr. Jia lived in Jianghu, so he was rather sensitive. The intuition told him someone was tailing after him. Turning around, he found it was Ma Tian’en and he ran quickly. This time, he wished terribly for growing another two legs.
But Ma Tian’en had already run to his side and kicked him heavily. Mr. Jia was kicked on the ground and rolled on the ground. Ashun also came here and beat him. The passers-by shunned aside when they saw they were fighting.
“It is not allowed to make a noise in front of Buddhas. Tian’en, take him home and interrogate him.” Wu Zhong saw a monk approaching here. It was improper to argue outside before finding the truth for fear of letting out the secret and disturbing the real murderer.
Ma Tian’en pressed down her anger, scragging Mr. Jia’s neck and said: “I will kill you if you escape next time.” After that, she picked him up from the ground. Ashun and another manservant held Mr. Jia in case he ran away again. Ma Tian’en followed behind. These people took Mr. Jia and went downhill together.
At the foot of the hill, Mr. Jia’s mouth was blocked and then was thrown on the carriage. In the carriage, Ma Tian’en beat his head with her fan. Thinking of her father’s injury, Ma Tian’en wanted to kill him now. Mr. Jia knew that the thing was difficult to solve. He wanted to say something but his mouth was blocked, trembling.
“Heaven’s vengeance is slow but sure. I burnt incenses just now and you bustard were caught. God bless me! Why are you mean? I didn’t investigate your disguising yourself as the ghost and took you to my home, serving you with delicious food and drinking. And you deceived my father.” Thinking of this, Ma Tian’en couldn’t control herself and beat him with her fan. Mr. Jia wanted to hide but was hit on the face. On his face appeared a clear mark of the fan immediately.
“Do you dare to hide?” Ma Tian’en became angrier and wanted to beat him but was pulled by Wu Zhong.
“Don’t beat him again.” Ma Tian’en stared at Mr. Jia severely but she couldn’t shake off Wu Zhong. Her teacher was a real scholar. Why was he so kind this time?”
Mr. Jia looked at Wu Zhong thankfully. It seemed that this scholar was a decisive factor regarding whether he could leave Ma Family alive.
“It is tired to beat him with hands. Besides, you are the master of Ma Family, future head of the family. How can you do this? When we come home, you find several powerful men, tie him and spank him with a plank. Besides, his mouth should be blocked, or it is a miserable scene when he calls out. I am a scholar, so I can’t hear this.” Wu Zhong said gently.
Hearing Wu Zhong’s words, Mr. Jia’s heart sank. He had thought this scholar was kind, but he didn’t think that he was so cruel.
“Alright, I’d like to listen to my teacher!” Ma Tian’en felt a little unpleasant when Wu Zhong stopped her. She had thought the teacher couldn’t tell good and evil just now, but now, he was still her teacher!
Actually, according to Ma Tian’en’s nature, she wanted to interrogate Jia Shengping in the carriage. But Wu Zhong didn’t think it should be in a hurry. He wanted to leave Mr. Jia alone. When they came to Ma Family, he had no opportunity to run away and he would tell truth. Now they didn’t give him opportunity to say, even if he wanted to.
On the way, Jia Shengping felt uneasy. His advantage was his glib tongue, but now his mouth was blocked. Wu Zhong and Ma Tian’en ignored his existence, talking and laughing. Ma Tian’en beat him with her fan sometimes, which proved that he was indeed caught.
Jia Shengping could be regarded as a filial son. His mother was ill. He heard that the blessing of Tantuo Temple was more effective, so he went there to beg for the pray of Buddha. But he didn’t think that he was caught before the incenses were burnt. As a matter of fact, Buddha didn’t pray for the evil man.
It was a long way. When they came to Ma Family, Jia Shengping was kicked down from the carriage like a dog by Ma Tian’en. Before standing up, Ashun and other man-servants dragged him like a dead dog to the front hall of Ma Family.
At the front hall, Jia Shengping was thrown on the ground. Sitting on the chair, Ma Tian’en pointed to him, ordering: “beat him.”
Before the cloth in his mouth was taken out, several strong man-servants came over, taking a bench, tying him tightly, spanking him on his ass with a plank.