A young girl's feelings are always like this, like a pure, white poem, beautiful yet fragile, melancholy yet short-lived. The four girls from Dormitory 441 walked arm in arm, side by side, out of their dorm, strolling through the vibrant, youthful Nanjiang Medical College. At first, they were a little reserved, their minds preoccupied with last night's nightmare, their voices silent and brooding. But soon, bathed in the brilliant sunshine and refreshing morning breeze, their unhappy memories drifted by like white clouds and flowing water. They laughed, teased, and joked with one another, innocent and bright. Their silvery laughter lingered around them, lingering in the air and drawing the attention of many of the men in the medical school.
The girls left the medical school, boarded the bus, and arrived at Shengjin Pagoda in half an hour.
The Shengjin Pagoda is an ancient pagoda in Nanjiang City, its history dating back to the Tianyou period of the Tang Dynasty (904-907). Legend has it that during its construction, an iron casket was excavated, containing four coils of golden rope, three ancient swords, and three hundred golden vases of relics. Hence the name "Shengjin Pagoda." It is the tallest ancient building in Nanjiang City. The pagoda boasts eight sides and seven stories, each with a winding corridor and arched access leading directly to the summit. Particularly remarkable is the gilded copper fire-suppressing tripod at the top, a dazzling spectacle of brilliance and brilliance.
Before entering, the four people, catching a glimpse of the ancient pagoda from outside the gate, were struck by its ancient elegance, woven from millennia of cultural heritage. The spire shimmered with golden light, radiating a dazzling brilliance, as if shrouded in a pure and sacred aura. It appeared dignified and awe-inspiring, daring to gaze directly upon it, a feeling of indescribable reverence welling up within them. Wind chimes hung on each of the seven floors of the ancient pagoda. Occasionally, a breeze rustled through, and the quaint chimes drifted distantly, a long and peaceful sound.
Because it's a Buddhist sanctuary in Nanjiang City, the pagoda attracts a constant stream of worshippers from nearby areas. The four of them purchased tickets and joined the crowd inside. They enthusiastically toured the Shengjin Pagoda, Thousand Buddha Temple, Yilin Garden, Confucian Temple, stage, and folk village. Then, led by Tao Bing'er, they ventured to the antique street to sample Nanjiang specialties like fried rice noodles and clay pot soup. After enjoying their fill of food and play, they remembered their purpose for visiting the Shengjin Pagoda: to seek Master Yi's interpretation of dreams and fortune-telling.
To their dismay, they were unable to meet Master Yi.
A local vendor told them, "You girls, you think you can meet Master Yi just by going there like this? Forget Master Yi himself, or even the seven disciples who inherited his true teachings. See that luxury BMW over there in the parking lot? Do you know who owns it? It's Master Yi's young disciple, Shi Ming. It's him! Without tens of thousands of dollars in hard-earned cash, don't even think about meeting him."
The girls looked in the direction the vendor pointed. Sure enough, there was a brand-new black BMW parked in the parking lot, gleaming brightly. It stood out among the ordinary, older cars.
"Well, judging by your looks, you still don't believe me? Just wait and see! Master Shi Ming is a regular. He drives out for his rounds at ten o'clock sharp. Five minutes left. Just wait and see."
Sure enough, five minutes later, a man in his thirties, dressed in a suit and tie, emerged from the pagoda's monastery at a brisk pace, followed by two attendants. He opened the door, started the BMW, and drove off with great momentum. Tao Bing'er was sharp-eyed. "You're kidding! Those three people clearly had hair, how could they be monks?"
The vendor chuckled. "You don't understand, right? They were wearing wigs. These days, they go out with cell phones, private cars, designer clothes, and suits. They only take off their wigs and put on robes when they're about to perform rituals. That's what successful people are. Unlike us, we're busy all day, exposed to the elements, and just trying to make ends meet."
Having said that, on second thought, those three people's hair did look a bit like wigs. Besides, the vendor had no reason to lie to them.
"I never thought being a monk would be so popular these days..."
The vendor also sighed. "When I was a child, a temple took in young monks and took a liking to me, but my family didn't want me. If I'd known this would happen, I would have shaved my head and become a monk. Now I can live a carefree and fulfilling life, instead of living in poverty."
He was a businessman after all, and after sighing, he immediately thought about his business. "What do you want from Master Yi? Do you want to buy a Buddha statue or have him perform a ritual?"
"I just want him to interpret my dreams and tell my fortune."
"Well, that's not easy. I I know there's a guy nearby who's incredibly accurate at interpreting dreams and fortunes. He's second to none, and no one else dares claim first place. Okay, come buy some trinkets from me, and I'll give you some advice."
"Is that true?"
"Look at what you're saying, little girl. I do business here every day. How could I possibly cheat you? Besides, you'll know if it's true or not once you try it. Why would I want to cheat you? Besides, my stall isn't big, but it's also where I make my living. If I cheat you, how could I get away with it?"
The others thought about it and each picked out some decorative Buddha statues from his stall. They weren't expensive, just street vendor goods, a few yuan each. After they made their purchases, the vendor gave them a nearby address.
Following this address, they arrived ten minutes later at an old alley beneath the Shengjin Pagoda. It was filled with old houses with blue bricks and green tiles, small courtyards, and single-story buildings with low eaves. Moss grew in the damp areas, emanating a hint of rustic, timeless charm that contrasted sharply with the dazzling skyscrapers surrounding them.
These houses were quite old, exuding a sense of antiquity.
The man they were looking for was called Blind Man Shen, a man in his seventies.
After asking a random local, they discovered that Blind Man Shen was quite famous in the area. A helpful neighbor led them into his house and, upon entering, called out, "Uncle Shen, someone's looking for you again."
In the back courtyard, two people sat at a stone table and chairs playing chess, their horses and elephants darting with gusto. One of them was quite old, with white hair, sunglasses, and a gaunt figure. It seemed to be Blind Man Shen they were looking for. The other looked only about thirty, quite youthful, with short hair and ordinary clothes. What was striking was his skin, which seemed translucent, with a soft sheen like white jade.
At the neighbor's call, the two seemed to smile at each other. "Seemingly" meant that Blind Shen was supposedly blind, but he also glanced up. Could it be that he was faking his blindness? Otherwise, how could he be playing chess here?
Blind Shen looked at them, chuckled, and said in a bright voice, "Are you wondering if I'm faking my blindness? Otherwise, how could I play chess and see like this?"
Without waiting for the girls to respond, he began to question himself: "Actually, although I'm blind, my heart is not. Let me guess, are you here for a fortune-teller's dream interpretation?"
Blind Shen was quite humorous, but a bit older. The neighbor who had brought them here also praised him, "Uncle Shen is a well-known master of Yili here. He's a fortune teller, interpreting dreams, and predicting the future. He's incredibly accurate. You're lucky to have found this place."
The young man playing chess closed his eyes slightly, meditating silently, like an old monk in meditation. Blind Shen ignored him and invited the girls to sit down and have tea. Blind Shen's movements were so agile that it was hard to tell he was blind.
Tao Bing'er, a native of Nanjiang, was worried about being ripped off, so she switched to Nanjiang dialect and asked, "We're here to ask Mr. Shen for a dream interpretation. How much does it cost?"
Blind Man Shen smiled faintly. "Since you've found me, it's a fate. Whether it's money or not, it's up to you. Ten or eight yuan is fine, but if you're not, you can give nothing."
With this, everyone felt relieved and gathered together to discuss. They felt that Blind Man Shen wasn't some kind of charlatan, so they decided to give it a try.