<aside> 🔑 Key: 🦌: Lu Chen/Alkaid 🖌️: MC 📌: Zaph 😺: Chang Sheng 🏯: Temple abbot
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The abbot told us about Chang Sheng’s cause of death. Chang Sheng died next to the kitchen, a roof tile fell exactly on the sleeping Chang Sheng.
Alkaid listened seriously, gently nodding his head.
🦌: Enci temple has been deteriorating for years… actually before it was never suitable to reside in. The abbot and Alkaid didn’t say anymore, but I heard it clearly, within this snow mountain the old temple red walls, looks like a paradise for modern man to pursue, but it already became dangerous. If Chang Sheng didn’t die during that night, this tile, could have fell onto a kitchen hand or another monk. In some sense, this cat took the accident for the people.
I slightly raised my head, looking at the abbot’s white beard. Five years ago, the abbot could had already realised there has been a decrease of visitors in Enci temple. He gave the cat the name “Chang Sheng”, in hopes this small life will be able to live for a little longer. at the same time he was clearly aware, this 1000 years temple, will have no more visitors coming and provide donations. 🏯: Chang Sheng didn’t get to live for long, and once you leave this temple, it may no longer exist when you are to return. 🏯: But from how this old monk sees, you two patrons only happen to stop here to hide from the wind and the snow, consequently shouldn’t be heartbroken about it.
Me and Alkaid looked at each other. I see, why Alkaid never had a deep impression of Enci temple. and the photos he took doesn’t age, but was able to touch the heart of profession and the experiences. The abbot doesn’t want to influence of the young Alkaid through foolish desire. This elder monk, probably believes the time for the flame to die is sometime soon, not everything needs to be imposed on. But Alkaid’s photographs influenced Teacher Qin, and perhaps subtly changed the decision of his father.
In a corner that Alkaid totally unaware of, people are scurrying to the temple, extending its life. If the old temple continues to live, and there will be new little monks, and a new “Chang Sheng*” 🦌: Master, I returned back here, the temple, with my lover, and we got to see Chang Sheng 🦌: MC, also really likes Chang Sheng. It seems that Chang Sheng heard these words under the plum tree, in that moment it nimbly ran to my feet, rubbed onto mc’s shoes. The abbot chuckled. 🏯: You should take a stroll around the temple, and come to the dinning hall for dinner. And after the abbot bid farewell, Alkaid’s phone started to rang.
🖌️: Its Zaph, he probably wants to know if we have fulfilled his wish. Alkaid bitterly smiled while on the phone. 📌: Alkaid, MC, have you arrived at Enci temple? 🦌: Mn, what did you wish for in the past? 📌: In the past...nothing much. Wasn't I saddened by the passing Great Temple Cat? So I just wished for for its fast reincarnation and to become a cute cat once again. 📌: You guys had saw the new Great temple cat, right? Alkaid narrowed his eyes. 🦌: Zaph, it looks like you knew Enci temple has a new Chang Sheng. 📌: Yeah, your dad told me…. this time I tricked you to go, it was also his idea. Making you the representative to ask the monks the status of the construction team. 📌: Moreover the pictures you take are definitely better than Uncle Guo, can you take a picture for the records. 📌: Oh that’s right, Uncle McGrath emphasised, “Most importantly take more beautiful pictures of MC for me!” Alkaid shook his head, and looked at me in dismay. 🖌️: The great photographer McGrath has been urged to take these photos, receiving troublesome requests from the special forces, and sometimes be ordered around by family, its must be tough…. 🦌: But, among the tasks I was given, my favourite is taking pictures of MC
Tonight, Alkaid and I were staying in Enci temple. Enci temple’s patrons inns were still as simple as before, but the fire in the fireplace warmed us. That night, Alkaid had a dream.
He dreamed of a little cat. In the dream, he couldn’t tell which “Chang Sheng” it was, it used its wet nose to poke his face, it looks like the sparkling fallen snow. 🦌: Do you mean… I should repay the favour back. 😺: … Meow
When I woke up, the sun has already risen. Alkaid and I opened our eyes. He will not wake up on the first bell to walk under the snow covered plum tree by himself. Its only, after we are by each other side we walked under the snow covered plum trees.
The morning of the second day, me and Alkaid went to the main hall to pray. In front of Buddha, I sincerely put my hands together and concentrate. After making my wish, I went to the back to look for Chang Sheng. Chang Hui was busy doing his own thing, but Chang Sheng wasn’t far away, enjoying its’s lunch…. of course it wasn’t a tanghulu, but an ordinary steamed bun and food.
🖌️: Chang Sheng, you really are a lucky cat. 🦌: You waited long, do you want to go and get tanghulu…. I looked at Alkaid handing over the tanghulu that he ahd carefully kept in his arms, but snow were hanging off his hair, and I laughed 🦌: What are you looking at? 🖌️: First sit here. I pulled Alkaid to sit down under the plum tree, and turned around to find the camera. 🖌️: …Wait.
Snap
The picture the camera captured in front of my eyes. Red walls, white snow. The subject’s always gentle expression. In those clear jade eyes, reflected my figure down to the snow caught in the ends of my hair.
🖌️: Alkaid… you look like a grandpa. I extended my hand, brushing off the snowflakes off his hair. 🦌: … That’s good. 🖌️: Is becoming a grandpa also a good thing? 🦌: Mn, after all I just had my wish granted, was also waiting for you to become a grandma, after MC becomes a grandma, we can come back and pay the favour back. 😺: … Meow. The white cat walked away from our feet, letting out a soft meow, and taking two steps into the temple hall.
New Chang Sheng
So this is a pun of Chang Sheng, as Chang Sheng’s name means longevity, so when MC said new “Chang Sheng” she is saying that the temple will be able to have new life, like how they got a new cat (Chang Sheng).