"No self, no person, no sentient beings, no life span..."
The Chen Family's Buddha Hall was brightly lit by candlelight, and the smoke from the burning candles twirled around the beams.
Inside the Buddha Hall, the gilded Sakyamuni Buddha, with his left hand in the giving mudra and right hand in the wish-granting mudra, had compassionate brows and a dignified aura. Chen Ji and Mrs. Liang sat cross-legged, whispering with parched mouths and fatigued bodies and minds, their faces twisted.
Outside the Buddha Hall, servants, maids, and nannies gathered in a group, nearly falling asleep while standing. Xiao Man, seeing Chen Ji step out to pay respects yet not return for a long time, also waited outside the door, leaning against the wall, nodding off bit by bit.
Outside the Chen Mansion, a night patrol passed by, striking a gong and calling out in a high voice, "The air is dry; be careful with candles and lamps!"
Midnight.
