Chapter 252: 252
By the dock beside the river, the river waters flowed . As though time had been fixed in place, the surrounding city experienced tremendous changes . Towering buildings rose from flat lands, wooden boats became steel .
The thing that changed the most was the woman that stood by the dock without falter . She transformed from a young girl to a woman and from a woman to an elder .
The one thing that remained unchanged was her insistence to remain impeccable and beautiful . Every strand of her hair was clean and combed neatly . She wore the white qipao and stood by the side of the river, waiting . Only when the final boat docked late into the night would she return to work at the side of the dock .
She had been a waitress, a road sweeper, a nanny . She never resorted to begging no matter how tough her days . She her chin remained up, undaunted by the challenges of life . Even without a marriage certificate, she lived on as a soldier's wife . She never lowered her head . It was an unshakable pride that stemmed from her love of her husband and their relationship .
Yet as the older citizens left, the city changed . No one knew her story . More people thought of her as mentally unstable . They stayed away and even ostracized her . She was chased out from her rental apartment . The hair saloon did not welcome her and her only job was a result of a kind hearted boss .
The only place she could call her temporary residence was a couch inside her boss's shop . Even so, she could only sleep for the night after the shop closed for the day always it would be late into the night . Before daybreak, she had to leave, unseen by the customers .
Even so, she did not succumb to the hardships of life . She firmly believed that he was somewhere far off, unable to return for whatever reason .
The old woman stood by the side of the dock, her palms pressed together . She silently looked east and muttered, "If Buddha really exists in the world, is it possible to bless him with peace? Not for him to return, but just for him to lead a better life!"
Fangzheng did not realize that he was tearing up after seeing this far . He never expected that an elderly woman that appeared crazy and resembled a ghost would have such a touching back story . A soldier's wife that was not officially married, one that would never lower her head and waited for her lover to return despite the onsetting years . Could such a person be called a ghost? Such a person was supposed to be respected!
Upon coming to this conclusion Fangzheng had a thought . He stepped in front of the old woman, pressed his palms together . "Amitabha . Patron, since you only wish for peace, why do you wait day in and day out?"
"You?!" Fangzheng was stunned . The instant she saw Fangzheng, she recalled things she ignored . Wasn't she supposed to be inside the temple? Wasn't this the young monk of One Finger Monastery? Why was she here?
Fangzheng smiled . "This Penniless Monk is One Finger Monastery's abbot, with the Dharma name, Fangzheng . "
"Why are you here? It's best you leave quickly . You don't need to meddle in my affairs . " After Liu Fangfang asked the question, her eyes vigilantly swept the area before chasing Fangzheng away .
Fangzheng turned to look and there were quite a number of people on the dock . They were looking over curiously . Fangzheng smiled . "Patron, are you afraid that the nasty rumors will befall me once they see me with you?"
Fangzheng waved his hand, causing everyone to vanish . "What about now?"
"You . . . who exactly are you? !" Liu Fangfang jumped in fright . Everyone disappeared with a wave of the hand . It was just too . . . unbelievable!
Fangzheng smiled, "This Penniless Monk is One Finger Monastery's abbot, Fangzheng . Patron, do you think the person you are waiting for will return?"
"How do you know about that?" Liu Fangfang was truly frightened .
"It was you who told This Penniless Monk . "
Liu Fangfang looked at Fangzheng as he looked back at her . The scene changed and as she rubbed her eyes, she was surprised to find herself sitting in the temple hall . Sitting not far from her was a white-robed monk who was none other than Fangzheng!
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