Chapter 84 - 80 The Bizarre Buddha’s Sound
Zhang Yunwu had intended to follow Jiang Qing’s advice and squeeze to a pavilion closer to the boat, where amidst the chanting of sutras from the monks of Wuchan Temple, he would release a blessing lamp into the lake imbued with the aura of Buddha.
But shortly after Jiang Qing left, an accident occurred.
It turned out that the gluttonous Zhang Yue’er, having eaten too many sweets, finally suffered discomfort and began to experience a bad stomach ache.
After several trips to the outhouse, the little girl lost her earlier liveliness and seemed to be completely drained and listless. Especially since she had worked up a sweat playing and then got chilled by the cold wind, she had lost all her energy.
Fearing his daughter might catch a cold, Zhang Yunwu decisively gave up the idea of squeezing through to the pavilion and decided to head home early.
He carried his daughter to a quiet and spacious area downstream of Huailan Lake.
The view here wasn’t great, and he could barely see the boat carrying the Buddha bath ceremony.
Following the principle that sincerity breeds spirituality, Zhang Yunwu placed a small red-wax lamp inscribed with Sanskrit into the lake and respectfully knelt three times in the direction of the boat, praying for his mother’s safety and health.
Afterward, he released seven more small lamps into the lake, each bearing the names of Wen Zhaodi, Zhang Yue’er, the masters of Vajra Temple, Jiang Mo, Liao, Li Nanshuang, and Lu Renjia, praying sincerely for blessings.
"Daddy, why isn’t there one for you?" Zhang Yue’er asked in her clear voice.