That winter, the snow fell so heavily that overnight the whole village was covered with snow, as if it were a big cotton jacket.
The old locust tree in the courtyard of Li Laohan's house was also covered with snow, and a few crows occasionally crowed from the branches, which made people's hearts even more desolate.
Inside the house, the fire was as bright as something, but it was not warm or not, and the increasingly thin body of Li Laohan's daughter-in-law.
She, since the autumn, her body is not as good as day by day, and now, she is bedridden, and the doctor said, I'm afraid it's not a few days.
Li Laohan is an honest farmer, who has dealt with the land all his life, and the wrinkles on his face are like maps; Li Dazhuang is a well-known filial son in the village, with a strong body and strength like a cow, in addition to working in the field, he usually stays in front of his mother's bed and takes care of him carefully.
Seeing that his mother was seriously ill, Li Dazhuang was so anxious in his heart, like ants on a hot pot, turning around.
That night, it was as dark as the bottom of the pot, and the snowflakes were still falling.
Li Dazhuang sat on the edge of his mother's bed, holding his mother's cold hand, and his heart was like a knife.
Suddenly, he remembered the ancient temple in the east of the village, where the old monk was said to be able to communicate with ghosts and gods and respond to requests.
Thinking of this, he patted his thigh, put on a heavy cotton jacket, and decided to go to the ancient temple to pray for his mother's blessing, put incense on the pillar, and begged the Buddha to bless his mother with a speedy recovery.
But at this moment, the monk suddenly said: "Donor, the old man has something to say, I don't know whether to say it or not."
As soon as these words came out, Li Dazhuang shouted in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Master, if you have anything to say, just say it."
The monk said in a deep voice: "Donor, although you still have Yangshou, there is something wrong with your life.
I see that between your eyebrows, the yin qi is very heavy, I'm afraid it's ......" As soon as these words fell, Li Dazhuang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and the incense in his hand was almost not steady.
He didn't believe it in his heart: "Master, have you lost your eyes?"
Am I not good?
”
The monk sighed and said, "The old man's words are not groundless, the reason why you can still walk around in this world is all supported by the concern for the old lady in your heart."
But although this concern is strong, it is also slowly consuming your yang energy, and it is not a good thing to continue like this.
When Li Dazhuang heard this, his heart was in such a mess, how could he have thought that he would encounter such a strange thing.
He knelt in front of the Buddha statue, tears in his eyes, and his heart was not only concerned about his mother, but also helpless and afraid of his fate.
At this moment, the monk took out an antique jade pendant from his sleeve and handed it to Li Dazhuang: "This jade pendant is a treasure in our temple, which can ward off evil spirits and drive away evil spirits and keep you safe."
If you put it away, it might be able to help you get through it.
Li Dazhuang took the jade pendant, with tears in his eyes, and was about to ask how to solve the mystery of death, the monk had already turned around and entered the inner room, leaving only one sentence: "The secret of heaven cannot be revealed, everything has its own number of days."
Donor, do it yourself.
”
Late at night, Li Dazhuang carried the jade pendant and set foot on the way home.
The snow was fluttering, but there was more determination and hope in his heart.
He secretly swore in his heart that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, he would do his best for his mother.
He carried the heavy jade pendant, and his footsteps left deep marks in the snow, and every step seemed particularly heavy.
He has mixed feelings in his heart, both confusion about life and deep affection for his mother.
The wind on a snowy night was more biting than usual, but Li Dazhuang didn't seem to feel cold, and the heat in his heart was more than anything warm.
When he got home, Li Dazhuang didn't rush to tell the old lady about tonight, he was afraid that the old man would worry, and he was even more afraid that the sudden news would make her health worse.
He sat on the edge of the old lady's bed, gently held her hand, and quietly placed the jade pendant under the pillow, as if this would bring some peace and strength to the old lady.
"Mother, don't worry, my son will definitely find a way to make you better.
Li Dazhuang's voice was low and firm, and his eyes flashed with an unyielding light.
Although our mother is not lightly ill, she still understands in her heart, her eyes opened slightly, and when she saw her son's firm face, her heart was warm, and a reluctant smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she nodded lightly.
After that, in addition to taking care of our mother, Li Dazhuang was busy looking around for ways to crack his "dead appearance".
He ran all over the old Chinese medicine and Taoist priests in the village, and even went over the mountains and mountains to the next county town to find a master for advice.
But every time he asked hopefully, the answer was always vague, or he shook his head and sighed, and no one could solve this strange disease.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it is another year of spring back to the earth.
Our mother's condition has been good for a while, but Li Dazhuang has never given up.
He firmly believes that as long as he doesn't let go, there will always be a turnaround.
On this day, Li Dazhuang met an old beggar wandering around at the entrance of the village.
The old beggar's clothes were in tatters, but his eyes were bright, and he was on a broken cane in his hand, humming an unknown song as he went.
Li Dazhuang saw that he had an extraordinary bearing, and as soon as his heart moved, he stepped forward to talk.
The old beggar stopped, looked Li Dazhuang up and down, and smiled slightly: "Young man, you have a dead breath on your face, but you can still walk around this world, and you look like a person with a story."
When Li Dazhuang heard this, he was shocked, this old beggar could actually see his problem.
He hurriedly told the old beggar about his own affairs, and begged him for guidance.
After hearing this, the old beggar pondered for a while, and then said slowly: "Everything in this world has a cause and effect.
You can live until now, it all depends on your filial piety to our mother.
But this attachment is also like a double-edged sword, which can keep you safe and hurt you.
To cure this disease, we must let go of attachment and obey the will of God.
"Obey the will of God?
Li Dazhuang asked confusedly.
"Yes, obey the will of God.
The old beggar nodded, "You have to understand that life and death are fateful, and wealth is in the sky."
If our mother is destined to have such a catastrophe, no matter how hard you try, you can't change it.
But what you can do is to cherish every moment with your mother, so that she can feel your love and warmth in a limited time.
As for yourself, you have to learn to let go and not be burdened by life and death in order to live your true self.
”
After his mother left, Li Dazhuang didn't cry all day long, he inherited his mother's kindness and strength, and his life was ordinary, but he was also very fulfilling.
From time to time, he would think of the adventures of that snowy night, and the mysterious old beggar, and his heart was full of gratitude.
He understands that it was the concern for his mother that allowed him to survive those difficult days, but what really made him live his own life was the wisdom of knowing how to let go and conform to the destiny of heaven.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Li Dazhuang has also become an elder in the village.
He often sits under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village and tells his story to the children in the village.
Whenever he talks about that snowy night, his eyes will become very deep and gentle.
He said: "Life, like the four seasons, has the warmth of spring and the cold of winter.
But no matter what time it is, we have to remember that it is our duty to be filial to our parents, let go of our obsessions, and conform to the destiny of heaven in order to live a wonderful life.
”
In this way, Li Dazhuang's story spread in Cuiyun Village and became a good story.
Everyone said that he was not only a filial son who touched the sky with filial piety, but also a wise man who knew how to let go.
His story, like the winding river at the entrance of the village, flows into everyone's heart, nourishing the simplicity and kindness of this land.
The years are like songs, and in a blink of an eye, the children in the village have grown up, they have grown up listening to Li Dazhuang's stories, and they have told the stories to the next generation.
Li Dazhuang has also changed from a young and strong young man to a gray-haired grandfather, but his deep affection for his mother and reverence for life have never changed.
As he grew older, he became more and more fond of sitting under the big locust tree at the entrance of the village, squinting at the sunrise and sunset, enjoying the peace and tranquility.
He always had a warm smile on his face, as if he could dispel all the gloom.
Whenever young people or children sat around him, he always happily told them stories about his youth, especially the adventures of that snowy night, and the teachings of the mysterious old beggar.
"You guys, don't look at me like this, I think I was a stunned young man back then, and I wasn't afraid of anything.
Li Dazhuang said with a smile, his eyes flashing with the light of memory, "At that time, I thought that I could really change my life against the sky and ask for the elixir of life for my mother."
But later I realized that people still have to accept their fate, but accepting fate is not to give up, but to know how to cherish the people in front of them and live every day.
”
The children in the village were fascinated by the listening, and their eyes widened, as if they could see the brave and persistent young figure from Li Dazhuang's story.
Li Dazhuang, this buddy, as soon as he tells the story, he is as energetic as when he was young, full of passion and dreams.
Although those years have passed, his love and awe of life are like the old locust tree at the entrance of our village, with deep roots and lush leaves, forever green.
In a blink of an eye, it was winter again, and Xuehuaer put a layer of white quilt on Cuiyun Village.
Li Dazhuang sat by the hot fire, holding the yellowed photo album in his hand, which was the precious memory he had saved over the years.
He gently touched each photo, as if chatting with his past self.
Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door pulled him back from his memory.
"Uncle Li, open the door quickly, there is something urgent!
The village chief's voice came from outside the door, and he sounded very anxious and a little panicked.
Li Dazhuang hurriedly put down the album and got up to open the door.
The village chief was sweating profusely, holding a letter in his hand, and gasped and said, "Uncle Li, this letter is sent from the city, and it is for you."
Li Dazhuang took the letter and was a little puzzled in his heart.
Who still writes letters these days?
He opened the envelope, and inside was a yellowed note with a line of words written on it: "Origin and extinction are all due to obsession."
Let go, you can be at ease.
Although the handwriting was blurred, Li Dazhuang recognized it at a glance as the words of the old beggar.
He was stunned, and a wave of emotion surged in his heart.
It turned out that the old beggar had never forgotten him, and wanted to leave him such a sentence at the end of his life.
He looked up at the window, the snow was still falling, but his heart was warm.
"Village chief, thank you.
Li Dazhuang smiled and said to the village chief, "I accepted this letter."
Don't worry, I, Li Dazhuang, have lived well and died openly in this life.
”
The village chief looked at Li Dazhuang's calm and firm eyes, and he felt a little more admiration in his heart.
He nodded, turned around and left, leaving Li Dazhuang standing quietly at the door alone, looking at the snowflakes flying in the sky.
Since then, Li Dazhuang has cherished every minute and every second of himself and the people around him.
He does not regret the regrets of the past, nor does he worry about the unknown of the future.
He feels every moment of life with his heart and warms everyone around him with love.
He knew that the meaning of life was not how long it was, but how wide and deep it was.