This large courtyard was inherited from A-lai's grandfather's ancestors.
To the east and west, it was surrounded by dense forests and towering mountains. In the north stood the ancient Leiyin Temple, its towering trees stretching toward the sky, and to the south lay the picturesque Lotus Lake. Midway up the mountain, a verdant tea plantation flourished, blending seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape. The courtyard, nestled among the green hills and clear waters, was a harmonious part of the nearby pavilions, terraces, towers, and other structures, creating an idyllic scene of "little bridges, flowing water, and homes."
The courtyard was about fifty meters long and twenty meters wide, covering an area of over 900 square meters—larger than a standard basketball court. Brick-and-wood structures lined both sides.
As you walked further in, past the living room, the ground rose slightly to reveal the deep inner courtyard, where the brick-and-wood house stood. At its center was a large open courtyard, designed for optimal ventilation, lighting, and drainage.
This was a testament to the prosperity of A-lai's family in the past.
Now, most of the rooms were empty, with some used as storage for piled-up miscellaneous items. Only three rooms still held some old furniture—one for A-lai, one for his grandfather, and a third reserved for guests.
When A-lai entered the courtyard, he immediately noticed the imposing osmanthus tree at the center.
This ancient osmanthus tree, which A-lai had never seen bloom, was often referred to as the "iron tree." If not for his grandfather's timely intervention, he might have cut it down in frustration several times.
According to his grandfather, the tree was over 1,200 years old. Last year, the two of them measured it with a tape measure: the tree was 18 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of 4.8 meters and a crown span of 25 meters.
Above ground, it appeared as though seven branches tightly intertwined around a central trunk, forming a seamless whole. After rising to a height of over 3 meters, the main trunk quickly divided into many branches, some as thick as a basin and others as thick as a bowl.
A soothsayer from a stall near Leiyin Temple once came here and predicted that in the future, seven devoted girls would follow A-lai for life.
A-lai laughed it off as a joke. However, as a child, to avoid being disturbed, he often slept in the tree branches. Strangely, whenever he had a cold or was feeling tired, a nap in the tree seemed to cure him, which he found eerie.
His grandfather explained that the tree had spiritual energy and was passed down from the Lei family's ancestors.
As a child, Fangfang had often played house and done homework with A-lai under this osmanthus tree. Now, she teased, "This really is an iron tree. I've been away for so many years, and it still hasn't bloomed. I've often dreamed of hearing it bloom. Maybe this time..."
A-lai didn't respond, thinking, "What a jinx. Do you really think you're a prophet?"
Because of Master Liaokong's passing, both A-lai and Grandfather Lei were in low spirits. If it weren't for this sad event, Fangfang would have surely dragged A-lai around, overjoyed, and perhaps even bursting into poetry. But seeing them so silent now, she didn't dare say a word.
The three of them were lost in their own thoughts, unwilling to share them.
At dinner, A-lai barely touched his food, eating only a few bites before retreating to his room. In his mind, he kept replaying the scene of Director Li taking out a box of '95 Supreme' cigarettes from his pocket.
Hurriedly, he opened his luggage and placed the cigarette box he had picked up from the graveyard into a large jar, sealed it tightly, and used a syringe brought from the hospital to vacuum the jar. He then sealed it with a candle, preserving this crucial piece of evidence for future use.
Lying on his bed, memories of his time with Elder Liaokong flooded his mind, as vivid as a movie playing out. Each visit to the temple, Elder Liaokong would prepare the freshest fruits and teach him how to make exquisite vegetarian dishes like lily and golden needle mushroom or stewed cabbage with winter mushrooms. A-lai had learned how to prepare vegetarian meals and had been trained in self-reliance from a young age.
Whenever A-lai encountered something he didn't understand, the elder would patiently explain it to him. Elder Liaokong would inquire about his studies, and A-lai often showed him his good grades, each time feeling a sense of happiness and fulfillment seeing the elder smile.
After playing all day with the young monks, A-lai often returned to Elder Liaokong's meditation room and fell asleep on the wooden bed. When he woke up, there was always a blanket covering him.
At night, the elder would patiently teach him to calm his mind and meditate... their hearts were deeply connected.
In the lonely, silent night, A-lai's mind was filled with thoughts of Elder Liaokong—his kind face, his gentle manner. The longing grew in his heart. The elder was gone forever.
As A-lai thought and thought, tears streamed down his face. He cried so hard, his sobs echoed throughout the quiet courtyard, lasting all night long.
It was the first time A-lai had cried since he was a child.
His crying alarmed his grandfather and Fangfang, who were sleeping next door. They quickly got dressed and came to A-lai's bedside, trying to comfort him. But A-lai seemed oblivious to their presence, unaware of the world around him, and continued to cry loudly.
Seeing that they couldn't console him, Fangfang waited until Grandfather Lei went to fetch some wash water, then shouted harshly, "Why are you crying like this for a monk who's not even related to you? Are you really that heartbroken?"
A-lai stopped crying and stared at Fangfang, as if seeing a stranger.
Seeing that A-lai was silent, Fangfang continued to yell, "I don't think you'll amount to much in life!"
When Grandfather Lei returned with the wash water and heard Fangfang scolding A-lai, he quickly intervened, "Child, don't blame A-lai. He's an orphan, and his heart has suffered enough. Liaokong was like a grandfather to him, just like me."
Fangfang, upset, retorted, "I'm half an orphan too! I don't even know who my father is or where he is! Do you see me being weak like him?"
Seeing them argue, A-lai lowered his head and fell silent, lost in his thoughts.
Seeing that A-lai had stopped crying, Fangfang and Grandfather Lei offered some comforting words before returning to their rooms.
The next morning.
Grandfather Lei, seeing that A-lai had not yet woken up, quietly approached his bed. Noticing the tear stains still on A-lai's face and the dampness of his pillow, he realized that A-lai had been sad all night. His heart ached, but he didn't have the heart to wake him and let him sleep longer.
Fangfang, who had gotten up early, was clamoring for A-lai to take her out for some sightseeing. Grandfather Lei patiently explained that A-lai needed to rest and that he himself had to go to Shuguang Primary School to handle some affairs. He offered to take Fangfang along so she could see the sights.
"Knock, knock..." At this moment, there was a knock on the courtyard door. Grandfather Lei opened it to find Miyue and Mile from Leiyin Temple.
They greeted him with their palms pressed together, "Amitabha."
Grandfather Lei quickly asked, "Is something the matter?"
The two replied in unison, "Is A-lai home?"
Grandfather Lei, looking troubled, replied, "A-lai cried all night thinking about Elder Liaokong and finally fell asleep late. He's still resting."
Miyue and Mile exchanged glances, their eyes moist with sympathy, and said, "We were sent by Master Liaocheng. No matter what, A-lai must come to Leiyin Temple. The master needs to see him and discuss something important."
Grandfather Lei woke A-lai and helped him get dressed.
When A-lai asked what was going on, the two monks only replied, "You'll understand when you arrive," and fell silent.
Seeing their reluctance to speak, Fangfang blurted out, "Is it because the temple has been busy lately and something valuable was stolen? A-lai isn't even a real monk—why are you calling him?"
A-lai glared at her, thinking, "You jinx, I wish I could tear you apart." He hurriedly got dressed and prepared to leave.
Miyue and Mile led A-lai quickly up the mountain.