Summer, you are like the Cowherd, and I am like the Weaver Girl

Chapter 95 Summer, you are like the Cowherd, and I am like the Weaver Girl

It was already summer, the sun was blazing, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly.

On this day of rest, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, along with Yin Xin, went boating on Qiantang Lake.

Several small boats, all with black awnings and painted with tung oil, were moored on the shore.

An old boatman with gray hair and beard was dozing under the awning.

Liang Shanbo stepped forward and called out softly. The old boatman squinted his sleepy old eyes and looked the three guests up and down. Liang Shanbo took out a handful of copper coins and handed them over. The old boatman then stood up with a smile, bent over to untie the mooring rope, his hands with bulging veins, but his movements were surprisingly nimble.

The three boarded the boat one by one.

The old boatman poled his bamboo pole, dipped it into the lake, and the light boat leisurely left the shore, gliding into the blue waves.

Just as Sun Yuangui said two years ago, the best time to visit Qiantang Lake is in the summer.

At this moment, the lake water has risen, becoming as clear as a mirror; the mountain colors have turned green, with varying shades of blue; the willows on the banks have turned a deep green, their tendrils drooping; the reeds have also grown tall, densely packed; and the lotus flowers are in full bloom, some a bright pink, others a shimmering white.

A small boat glides slowly through the lotus blossoms, the broad lotus leaves enveloping the tiny vessel. The fragrance of the lotus flowers is so strong it's almost overwhelming, leaving one feeling slightly tipsy, as if in a dream.

Looking at the lotus blossoms, Zhu Yingtai felt a sense of peace and joy fill her eyes. She turned to Liang Shanbo, her gaze clear and bright, and asked, "Brother Liang, do you still remember the time we boated on Mirror Lake last January?"

Liang Shanbo nodded and said with a smile, "Of course I remember. That day was the eighteenth of the first month. The sky was clear and the air was crisp. There was neither snow nor ice on the lake. We climbed that old willow tree first, and then boarded the boat to tour the lake."

Zhu Yingtai's lips curved into a smile: "While Mirror Lake was indeed beautiful that day, it was still a bit chilly in the first month of the lunar calendar. The willows had not yet sprouted, and the peach blossoms had not yet bloomed. Today, the summer scenery of Qiantang Lake is quite different."

As she spoke, she reached out and brushed a lotus leaf that had brushed against the side of the boat. A few drops of morning dew rolled on the leaf, glistening in the sunlight, before it tumbled into the lake and disappeared.

Liang Shanbo said, "Jinghu Lake and Qiantang Lake each have their own beauty. In the two years we've been at the academy, we've seen all four seasons of Qiantang Lake, which is quite a fortunate thing."

Zhu Yingtai gave a soft "hmm," her gaze lingering on the expanse of lotus leaves stretching to the sky.

The old boatman poled the boat for a while, and gradually the boat reached deeper water. The water was deep and the pole was too short to reach the bottom, so the old boatman placed the bamboo pole across the stern, switched to a wooden oar, and began paddling slowly.

The oars pounded softly, rippling the water's surface before gradually subsiding. Occasionally, the clear calls of waterbirds echoed across the lake from afar.

Looking at Liang Shanbo sitting beside her, Zhu Yingtai suddenly remembered her marriage and thought that next summer, she would probably be separated from her brother Liang.

She didn't say anything, but just stared quietly at the lake, a bitter look on her lips.

After the boat trip, the sun was high in the sky, scorching the earth.

The old boatman brought the small boat to shore, tied the mooring ropes, and then went back to the shady spot under the awning to take a nap.

Zhu Yingtai said to Liang Shanbo, "Brother Liang, let's go to Lingyin Temple for a visit."

Liang Shanbo nodded and replied, "Good, that suits me just fine."

The two had agreed yesterday that today they would not only go boating on Qiantang Lake, but also visit Lingyin Temple together.

Lingyin Temple is located west of Qiantang Lake, nestled between Beigaofeng Peak and Feilai Peak, surrounded by mountains and water.

The three of them walked slowly westward along the lakeside path, and after about half an hour, they arrived at the foot of Feilai Peak.

Feilai Peak is not particularly high, but its jagged rocks appear as if carved by a master craftsman. Ancient trees reach for the sky, their dense foliage blocking out the sun, and vines climb and spread like a canopy, enveloping the entire mountain in a deep and tranquil atmosphere, where even the summer heat seems to dissipate.

Legend has it that when the Indian monk Huili arrived here, he was astonished to see Feilai Peak and thought it was a small ridge from Lingjiu Mountain in India that had flown here. The people didn't believe him, so he called out two monkeys, one black and one white, from the cave as proof. Only then did they believe him, and Feilai Peak got its name from this. Huili then established a Buddhist temple here, founding Lingyin Temple and others.

The three of them walked through a dense forest, and suddenly the view opened up before them, revealing Lingyin Temple.

At that time, Lingyin Temple had only been built for fifty years. The temple consisted of only a stone pagoda at its core, with a few thatched huts scattered among the trees. Its layout was simple and lacked the magnificent grandeur of later temples.

The stone pagoda wasn't very tall, only a little over three zhang (approximately 13 meters). Its body was mottled with bluish-gray, built of bluestone, exuding a sense of ancient simplicity and strength. Several sticks of incense burned in the incense burner at the foot of the pagoda, and wisps of smoke rose up, drifting into the woods, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood.

There are not many monks in the temple, and the incense is quite scarce.

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai walked to the temple gate. Before long, a middle-aged monk came out to greet them. He was wearing a gray monk's robe, had a thin face, put his hands together, bowed and said, "You have come from afar, sir. This humble monk has failed to greet you properly."

The term "tanyue" is a combination of Sanskrit and Chinese, meaning "one can cross the sea of ​​poverty and suffering through giving alms".

Liang Shanbo clasped his hands together, bowed in return, and then took out a small hemp bag, which he presented to the middle-aged monk with both hands. Inside the bag were copper coins, which he had specially prepared for the day's offering.

The middle-aged monk thanked him, accepted the offering with both hands, and then bowed with his palms together. Seeing that Liang Shanbo had given the donation first, Yin Xin glanced at Zhu Yingtai, her eyes questioning. Zhu Yingtai gently shook her head, and Yin Xin understood, remaining silent. It turned out that Zhu Yingtai had also asked Yin Xin to prepare a donation beforehand, but seeing that Brother Liang had given first, she decided against it.

The middle-aged monk led the three into the temple, and soon they arrived at a small hall.

The temple doors were open, and the interior was dimly lit, housing a stone Buddha statue. The statue was simple and unadorned, yet its face possessed an indescribable compassion and solemnity, inspiring awe in those who beheld it. Several prayer cushions lay before the Buddha, slightly sunken from the kneeling of worshippers.

Zhu Yingtai stood outside the hall, gazing at the Buddha statue inside, and turned to Liang Shanbo, saying, "Brother Liang, I would like to go in and make a wish."

Liang Shanbo nodded: "Let's go in and pray together."

Zhu Yingtai gently shook her head and said in a low voice, "It's not good for the two of you to go in together. I'll go in first, and Brother Liang can go in after I come out."

Liang Shanbo was slightly taken aback, but then he understood. There were probably some things she wanted to say that she didn't want him to hear. He nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Zhu Yingtai straightened her clothes, composed herself, and walked alone into the dimly lit palace.

She walked to the prayer mat, slowly knelt down, clasped her hands together, raised them to her forehead, and then closed her eyes.

She didn't silently recite them in her heart, but instead opened her mouth and whispered three wishes, her voice so soft that only she could hear them, wondering if Buddha could hear them.

My wish is that my father, mother, and elder sister are safe and healthy, that our family is free from worries, and that we enjoy peace and tranquility year after year.

My second wish is that Brother Liang will successfully enter officialdom, live up to his diligent study and Mr. Meng's high expectations, and one day, with the sword of waiting for the right time, spread his wings like a roc and soar high into the sky, with a bright future ahead.

My third wish is to escape the predicament of being forced into marriage by the Ma family, and finally be able to marry Brother Liang and grow old together.

She clearly thought this third wish was as unlikely as smoke, yet she still whispered it down, her expression solemn and devout, with a resolute look in her eyes.

She bowed three times, stood up, clasped her hands together in prayer before bowing to the Buddha statue, and then turned and walked out of the temple.

Liang Shanbo then entered the hall, prayed before the Buddha, stood up, clasped his hands in prayer, bowed, and left.

After worshipping Buddha, the two sat down to rest on the bluestone under the stone pagoda.

Zhu Yingtai turned her head to look at Liang Shanbo, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Brother Liang, what did you pray for before the Buddha just now?"

Liang Shanbo smiled slightly: "Why ask, my good brother? As the Buddhists say, once you say it out loud, it loses its power."

Zhu Yingtai paused slightly, hummed in agreement, and did not press further.

Deep down, she really wanted to know. What was Brother Liang praying for when he knelt before the Buddha, eyes closed and palms clasped in prayer, with such a devout expression? Was it for his future success? For his loving mother? Or something else entirely?

SNSNEN

As the three left Lingyin Temple, the sky suddenly darkened, and dark clouds surged in from behind the mountains, pressing down heavily.

Suddenly it started raining, without any warning.

Summer rain is like that; it comes suddenly and without warning.

First, large raindrops pattered on the road and onto the three people. Then the rain suddenly intensified, as if someone had overturned a giant basin in the sky, pouring down a torrent of water. The rain wasn't falling in thin streams, but in curtains, covering the sky and the earth.

Unfortunately, the three of them hadn't brought any rain gear when they went out today, not even an umbrella.

Liang Shanbo took off his outer garment, spread his hands out, and held it above Zhu Yingtai's head.

The rain poured down, pelting his face and streaming down his brow, nose, and chin. He was only wearing a plain cotton undershirt, which was soaked through in an instant and clung tightly to his body.

He himself was completely unaware, simply holding up his coat with both hands to cover Zhu Yingtai underneath.

"Brother Liang!"

Looking at him like this, Zhu Yingtai felt an indescribable surge of emotion, and her throat tightened.

Liang Shanbo only said two words in a deep voice: "Go quickly."

Zhu Yingtai didn't say anything more, but quickened her pace and started running in the rain.

A coat was spread open above her head, shielding her from the wind and rain, while outside the coat was his figure, soaked to the bone in the rain.

The three of them ran to the eaves of a rented house in the county town. Liang Shanbo then took his coat back, wrung it out with both hands, and rainwater poured down to the ground.

Liang Shanbo and Yin Xin were both soaked to the bone and looked utterly disheveled. The rain was heavy, and even with Liang Shanbo's outer garment providing some shelter, Zhu Yingtai still got quite wet.

At this moment, Zhu Yingtai's hair was half-wet, with a few strands clinging to her forehead and temples, water droplets dripping down her hair. Her wide-sleeved, cross-collared robe clung damply to her body, outlining her figure in a way that was different from usual. Her face, wet from the rain, was clearer and softer than usual, and in addition to the heroic spirit in her eyes, a touch of delicate femininity had been added.

Seeing Zhu Yingtai like this, Yin Xin felt a sense of foreboding and was about to step forward to cover for her when she saw that Zhu Yingtai had already come to her senses and turned to walk into the bedroom. Yin Xin hurriedly followed.

Liang Shanbo noticed it, but he didn't point it out.

A thought quietly surfaced in his mind: "If Zhu Yingtai were to dress as a woman, she would surely be very beautiful. Not the delicate beauty of an ordinary young lady, but a beauty that carries a touch of heroism within her grace. Pure and bright, beyond compare."

Zhu Yingtai tidied himself up in his bedroom, changed into a clean set of men's clothing, re-tied his hair, and carefully wiped his face with a cloth, restoring his usual handsome appearance before coming out of the bedroom.

She walked up to Liang Shanbo, looked him up and down carefully, and said seriously, "Brother Liang, your clothes and shoes are soaked through. There are no spare clothes for you in the rented house, and you'll probably catch a cold wearing wet clothes. Let's go out and buy some, and I'll buy you a new set."

This time, Liang Shanbo did not refuse and nodded, "Alright, thank you for your trouble, brother."

Zhu Yingtai was delighted to see that he did not refuse. In the past, when Brother Liang received clothes from her, he would always decline, saying things like "It's too much trouble" or "There's no need for this." But today he readily agreed without a word of refusal.

She felt that this was because their friendship had grown stronger, and Brother Liang no longer treated her like a stranger in such trivial matters.

At that moment, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai went out together to buy clothes and shoes, while Yin Xin stayed in the rented house to start a fire and boil water for the two of them to bathe in.

One summer night.

The dormitory was unbearably hot and stuffy.

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai walked outside the schoolhouse, stood side by side, and gazed at the starry sky together.

The night sky was clear and deep, with the Milky Way stretching across the horizon, adorned with a dense cluster of stars. Some were bright and dazzling, others were dim and indistinct, some were distant and faint, others were close and blazing. Their scattered and interspersed arrangement created an indescribable sense of grandeur and solitude.

Zhu Yingtai tilted her head back, gazing at the Milky Way, and suddenly softly recited: "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are far apart. Their slender, fair hands gleam as they weave at their loom. All day long, they weave but nothing is finished, and tears fall like rain. The Milky Way is clear and shallow, how far apart are they? Separated by a mere stream, they gaze at each other, unable to speak."

After reciting it, she turned her head to look at Liang Shanbo and asked, "Brother Liang, what do you think of this poem?"

Liang Shanbo remained silent for a moment before turning to meet her gaze: "The poem is good, but every time I read it, I can't help but wonder, since the Weaver Girl sheds tears by the river every day, and the Cowherd gazes at her from the opposite bank every day, and they are so close, why doesn't the Weaver Girl call out to the Cowherd?"

Zhu Yingtai paused for a moment, then said, "Perhaps—she wouldn't dare."

Liang Shanbo asked, "What is she afraid of?"

Zhu Yingtai's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her eyes: "I'm afraid of the heavenly rules, afraid of divine punishment, afraid that even if I shout, it will be useless."

Liang Shanbo smiled slightly: "I think the Cowherd isn't afraid of these things. He's been waiting on the other side of the river for so many years, perhaps not for that Qixi Festival reunion, but for the Weaver Girl to call his name. Once the Weaver Girl calls, the Cowherd will take care of the rest."

Zhu Yingtai's heart started beating fast.

She took a deep breath and said softly, "Brother Liang's words make it seem as if he understands the Weaver Girl very well."

Liang Shanbo shifted his gaze back to the Milky Way, and said in a clear tone, "I don't understand the Weaver Girl. I just feel that some words are like a fishbone stuck in your throat if you keep them in your heart, but once you say them out loud, it's just a matter of saying a few words."

Zhu Yingtai stood there, speechless.

A gentle night breeze swept by, and the stars remained silent.

She glanced at Liang Shanbo's profile and thought, "Brother Liang's words tonight are clearly about the Weaver Girl, but why do I feel that he's not just talking about her?"

You are like the Cowherd Star, and I am like the Weaver Girl Star!

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