Xu Fenglei nodded.
He believed that Xuanzang was capable of promoting a positive image of the Tang Dynasty when he was away from home.
"These are actually secondary."
Xu Fenglei whispered,
“The map of the Western Region is the most important thing.”
"You must meet His Majesty's requirements, and they must even be placed before obtaining the scriptures!"
"If you come back from Tianzhu, you are full of scriptures but do not see the map of the Western Regions... Then it will be a disaster for you and the Central Plains Buddhism! Because you have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor."
"Understand?"
Xuanzang looked solemn.
"Please rest assured, Grand Master, since the young monk has promised you, he will never break his promise."
He bowed slightly and said seriously,
"The young monk will make a record of what he sees and hears along the way as he travels westward, as well as the information His Majesty needs."
"As long as I return alive, I will satisfy the Grand Master and His Majesty."
The corners of Xu Fenglei's mouth rose.
"good!"
He patted Xuanzang on the shoulder and praised with a smile,
"If you can do this, you will become a great Buddhist mage and great sage that will go down in history!"
"Okay, I'll stop here and go say goodbye to your senior brothers!"
Beside the official road, the group of bald monks were still waiting.
"yes."
Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said,
"Xuan Zang also remembers the kindness of the Grand Master in his heart. The 'cotton' you mentioned, the young monk will do his best to find in Tianzhu Kingdom."
After saying that, he turned around and headed towards the group of monks.
"This kid is on the right track."
Xu Fenglei looked at his calmly leaving figure, shook his head and sighed,
"How can I become a monk when I have so many beautiful and precious qualities? It's a pity..."
"If there is a chance in the future, I have to squeeze out his talents."
Wisdom and perseverance.
Such a person can succeed in anything he does!
…
The old monk Yuanjing looked at Xuanzang, who was in coarse cloth robes in front of him, his eyes slightly red.
"Xuan Zang...are you going just like that?"
His hoarse voice trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but said,
"This is too thin and crude!"
"Anyway, let's ride a horse and buy some food and clothing!"
Chirp.
The bay red horse next to him snorted and shook his head.
This is the horse from Xingguo Temple. Yuanjing wanted to give it to Xuanzang, but he declined.
At this moment, he still wanted to give it away, but Xuanzang still shook his head.
"Tianzhu is so far away that nothing can accompany me."
Xuanzang clasped his hands, shook his head and said,
"The host should keep these external possessions in the temple."
"I just need to rely on my own legs, my original mind, and these eighteen monks' possessions, that's enough."
"It is said in the scriptures that the monks and monks in the Buddha country travel hundreds of thousands of miles. With these eighteen things, they are like having wings and can go anywhere. I think it is the same for me."
His mind is clear.
What kind of horse can accompany him across a hundred thousand miles?
This is not Journey to the West. He does not have the white dragon horse riding the little white dragon.
What gorgeous clothes, brocade robes, and jade platters of treasures can support him to wear them to the Western Regions and eat in Tianzhu?
No.
All external objects that will be lost are not so important to him at this moment.
In fact, the test of traveling thousands of miles is never whether you are well prepared, but your ability to adapt to changes.
In this regard, Xuanzang was quite confident.
"Oh? Which eighteen things are they? Your backpack makes me healthy."
Xu Fenglei came up and lifted Xuanzang's backpack.
There were all kinds of gadgets inside, small and exquisite, like little toys, which aroused his curiosity.
"Master, this is not a carrying basket, this is a sutra basket."
Xuanzang pointed at the sutra case and said,
"The eighteen things for a monk are poplar branches, bath beans, three robes, bottles, alms bowls, sitting utensils, tin sticks, incense burners, water filters, hand towels, swords, fire flints, tweezers, rope beds, sutras, rules, Buddha images, and Bodhisattvas. picture."
"With these things, a monk can walk around without fear."
Ding-ding-ding-ding.
Xu Fenglei picked up this one and looked at it, then took out that one and looked at it. The two collided and made a crisp sound.
"Hey, it's pretty solid."
He chuckled and said,
"Could this be the experience of survival in the wilderness summed up by ascetics of all ages?"
"Yes, yes, these tools can be included in the wilderness survival manual."
"It's just the Buddha and Bodhisattva statues... It's unnecessary. They take up too much space and are not light in weight."
Xuanzang calmly took back the objects from Xu Fenglei's hands and arranged them again.
"For Buddhist disciples, Buddha and Bodhisattvas are their faith. They can lack anything, but these two things are absolutely indispensable."
He said softly,
"Xiao Monk always believes that faith is the most important thing when going out."
"For ordinary people, faith may come from family or friends. Perhaps an object from family and friends can support them to move forward."
"For monks, Buddha and Bodhisattvas are the driving force that supports us moving forward."
Xu Fenglei nodded.
"You're right." He touched his chin in agreement.
"The presiding abbot, brothers and sisters."
Xuanzang turned his gaze to the group of monks and said in a deep voice,
"After seeing each other for thousands of miles, we will eventually say goodbye. Just send him here, and let Xuanzang walk the rest of the way alone."
"I may leave for a few years, more than ten years, or even decades, or maybe... I will never come back."
At this point, a strong wind suddenly came and blew Xuanzang's robe making a hunting sound.
All the monks were silent.
Their eyes were full of admiration and reluctance.
In their hearts, Xuanzang's image grew higher and higher, until he reached the six-foot-long golden body like the Buddha.
"Xuan Zang, there is no need to say anything."
Yuanjing took a step forward and said sincerely,
"Just go, we will wait for you to come back, no matter ten years or twenty years, as long as I have not passed away, we will definitely wait for you!"
"No matter how dangerous the future is, you must remember that there is a group of your brothers and sisters in Chang'an Xingguo Temple... waiting for you to come back!"
The few young monks who followed him were all sobbing loudly at this moment.
Farewell, or farewell.
"good."
Xuanzang nodded heavily and said,
"I will."
"Amitabha."
"Amitabha." All the monks chanted.
Xuanzang finished bidding farewell to the monks and turned to look at Xu Fenglei.
Xu Fenglei, at this moment, also prepared two cups of tea and handed them over.
"How can we say farewell without wine? But you Buddhists have many rules, so you have tea instead of a bar!"
Xu Fenglei smiled and said,
"I respect you for venturing into the Western Regions alone, whether you are bringing back a map of the Western Regions for the Tang Dynasty or bringing back scriptures for Buddhism, you are a hero!"
"Come."
He raised his glass.
"Thank you, Master."
Xuanzang also raised his glass.
"Hold on."
Xu Fenglei paused, picked up a handful of mud from the mud beside him, put it into Xuanzang's cup, and said,
"Have you read the words on the title page of the customs clearance document?"
Xuanzang was shocked and nodded.
He read in a deep voice:
"Those who hold this ultimatum please remember that no matter where you are in the world, do not be afraid. Behind you is His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the powerful army of the Tang Dynasty."
I don’t know why.
After reciting this sentence, he felt a sense of peace of mind for no reason, which was even more peaceful than when he recited the name of the Buddha.
Xu Fenglei nodded.
"Don't forget your homeland."
He said,
"please."
Ding.
The two of them clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.
"Take care of yourself."
"Take care of yourself."
"Xuan Zang, take care! We are waiting for you to come back! If you don't come back, I will not close my eyes even if I pass away!"
"Uncle-Master, you have lost your composure..."
"Shit! I'm showing my true feelings! What do you know? Go back and copy the scriptures a hundred times!"
"..."
The legendary monk began his journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures.
Those who saw him off were the monks from Xingguo Temple, plus Xu Fenglei who appeared as a friend.
And more than ten years later, he will return.
At that time, the entire Chang'an City will be empty!
…
Chang'an, West Market.
As the most prosperous area in Chang'an City, the most prosperous city in the world today, West Market is always so lively and crowded.
People come and go, bustling.
Every day is like a holiday.
Walking on the streets of West Market, the shouts from both sides can almost drown your ears:
"Fried locusts, come and have a look. One skewer costs three cents. Four skewers cost ten cents. Come and have a look and a taste!"
"There are all kinds of fried foods! Fried bean skin, fried lamb, fried cabbage, fried okra, there are only things you can't think of, there is nothing I can't fry! Everything can be fried!"
"It's of high quality and low price, and the ingredients are fresh. Come and take a look, our newly squeezed oil. The main focus is health, and it's for that authentic taste!"
"..."
Xu Fenglei looked left and right, also surrounded by oil smoke.
Good guy!
Everyone is doing deep-frying, which has become the fashion in Chang'an now!
Even vegetable pastries must be fried in a pan, otherwise they will be outdated.
"This can be considered a trend that I started, right?"
Xu Fenglei touched his chin and smiled secretly,
"From deep-fried locusts to everything being fried... Tsk, tsk, I really have to admire the wisdom of the working people. I won't accept it."
"Wait a minute, will it be my fault if Tang people become obese in the future?"
From deep-fried locusts, fried food is all the rage.
From the popularity of fried food to obesity in the Tang Dynasty.
From being obese in the Tang Dynasty, to being fat is considered beautiful.
Hmm...well-founded and convincing.
"Master Tai is here?"
While I was thinking wildly, I suddenly heard a soft female voice coming from my ear.
But he saw Mrs. Wang, the proprietress of the mutton soup restaurant, holding a handful of bamboo sticks in her hand, frying locusts in the oil pot stall outside.
She raised a handful with a smile, brought it to Xu Fenglei, and said enthusiastically:
"Try it, does it taste authentic?"
Xu Fenglei sniffed his nose and his eyes lit up!
"It smells good!"
He was not polite and took the roasted locust and put it into his mouth.
Bang, bang, bang!
A rich fragrance spread in the mouth, coupled with the excellent taste, a look of satisfaction appeared on Xu Fenglei's face.
"Hey! Authentic, authentic!"
He gave a thumbs up and praised,
"It's even more delicious than my original version... What did you add?"
Wang pursed her lips and smiled.
"Nowadays, all the stalls in Chang'an are making deep-fried food. If we don't improve it, how can we make it more special?"
She pointed to the iron pot in front of her and whispered,
"I added mutton fat to this pot! The fried food will naturally be more fragrant and more flavorful. I won't tell ordinary people."
"Would you like to try this mutton kebab again?"
As he said that, he handed over a handful of fried meat skewers.
"Have they all gotten involved to this extent..."
When Xu Fenglei heard this, he couldn't help but murmured a few words, moved the bamboo stick horizontally, and put a bunch of mutton into his mouth.
Snapped!
Explosive juice!
Completely opposite to the texture of fried locusts, the fried lamb skewers are extremely juicy. Just chew them lightly, and the juice with the rich lamb flavor will explode in your mouth!
At this moment, Xu Fenglei thought of peeing on cow balls and the scene of squirting juice.
Ah... so cool!
"This is so delicious! It's absolutely delicious!"
He thoroughly enjoyed the skewer of mutton and couldn't help but praise,
"A big seller, this is definitely a big seller!"
"Congratulations, boss lady, you are going to make a fortune!"
Mrs. Wang was so praised by him that her branches trembled with laughter.
"Then let me borrow the auspicious words from Grand Master."
She smiled brightly and said,
"I just started researching this. I'm afraid of messing up... You are still my first customer."
Xu Fenglei touched the oil nozzle.
"No problem, absolutely no problem."
He rubbed his hands and said,
"Get me a few more skewers."
"Okay, you can eat as much as you want, just a moment." Wang nodded and put the marinated meat skewers on the side into the pot again.
Xu Fenglei casually picked a bunch of candied haws from the old man passing by, threw him three pennies, and started munching on it.
"How have you considered what I asked someone to tell you last time?"
He said casually,
"Ma Zhou is a talented person. I recommended him to the South Study Room a while ago. Now he is among the Pope's sons and grandsons. Imagine how many ministers in the court will be his disciples from now on?"
"I heard that when His Majesty was taking him to the school, he even chatted with him all night! Later, when everyone met, he would praise Ma Zhou for his talent and ability, and that he deserves to be reused!"
"Tsk tsk...the future is bright!"
Xu Fenglei praised, but Wang just smiled, still frying the skewers in his hand, and licked the black hair next to his ears at the right time.
"Hey... aren't you excited?"
Seeing that she was unmoved, Xu Fenglei couldn't help but said,
"It's hard to find such a rich man with a lantern! If you miss this village, you won't have this shop."
Wang raised his head slightly.
"Master Taishi is right, everyone in the family understands the truth."
She whispered,
"But didn't you also say that he is a man with a bright future? In the future he will be the prime minister and minister, and he will be in and out of mansions and royal palaces. He will meet all high-ranking officials and noble women."
"Those people are the ones who match him."
"and I?"
Crack, crackle.
The hot oil in the pot burst up and hit her dark apron.
She didn't change her expression about this, she was already used to it.
"I'm just a businesswoman, braving the fumes, shouting hard, and cooking some cheap food for the visiting guests."
She smiled and said,
"I... am still a widow whose husband has died."
"If we compare him to a roc soaring with wings, I am an ant so humble in the dust. He is soaring above the nine heavens. Even if he overlooks the world, he will not see me."
"We are not from the same group."
"The one he wants to marry should be the emperor's princess, the prime minister's daughter, and thirdly, she should be a lady of the family. No matter how we turn, it won't be my turn."
Xu Fenglei was slightly startled.
"People need to be self-aware. This is a high branch that my family is not qualified to climb."
Mrs. Wang picked up the bamboo skewers, patted the skewers against the pot twice, drained the oil, handed them to Xu Fenglei, and said with a smile,
"Master Taishi, your mutton skewers."
Xu Fenglei: "..."
"You... are really sober in the world."
He took a bite of the mutton, felt the pleasure of the juice, and praised it with his tongue,
"Such a sober woman can be regarded as a strange woman. If she can marry into the family, she will be able to maintain the inner house well."
"On this point alone, it's more than enough for you to have Ma Zhou!"
(End of chapter)
