Chapter - 457 Will the Encounter While Lion-slaying Cause a Calamity? (13) (1/2)
The Du couple deliberately walked slow, huffing and puffing along the way, until at last they arrived at a pavilion just outside the Shaolin Temple, where they put down their loads and took a rest. There were two monks chatting idly in the pavilion. They did not think much of seeing these three people.
Yi Sanniang took off her head scarf to wipe her perspiration. She also reached out to wipe the sweats on Zhang Wuji's head while asking, ”Child, are you tired?”
At first Zhang Wuji was embarrassed, but then he realized that she said those words with genuine affection; he could not help but look in her eyes. He saw tears were forming on her eyes, so he knew she must be thinking of the son Xie Xun had killed. He saw she was looking at him with lingering emotion, apparently she was expecting a reply. He was touched, and said, ”Ma, I am not tired. You are tired.”
When he said, 'Ma,' he was remembering his own mother, hence, his voice was full of emotion too. As Yisanniang heard him call her 'Ma,' the dam broke and tears streamed down her cheeks. Instead of wiping the sweat off her head, she used the head scarf to wipe her tears away.
Du Baidang stood up, heaved the firewood and waved his left hand while walking out of the pavilion. Even though he could not hear the two people's conversation, he knew that his wife was overwhelmed with the memory of their perished child. He was afraid she would expose some weakness and the two monks would see through their scheme.
Zhang Wuji went to Yi Sanniang's pile of firewood, took two bunches and added them to his own pile, and said, ”Ma, let us go.”
Seeing him showing this much consideration, Yi Sanniang thought, ”If my child were still alive today, he would be several years older than this young man, and I would have had several grandchildren.” For a moment she was only staring blankly and unable to move. Then, seeing Zhang Wuji walking out of the pavilion carrying his load, she stood up to follow. But because she was still excited, she slightly staggered.
Zhang Wuji turned around to help her, thinking, ”If my Mama were still in this world, I would hold her like this …”
One of the monks said, ”This young man is actually very filial, which is rare nowadays.”
The other monk said, ”Popo, are you going to sell this bunch of firewood to the Temple? These past several days Fangzhang [abbot] has issued an order that no outsiders will be allowed to enter the Temple. You'd better come back.”
Yi Sanniang was quite disappointed; she thought, ”Shaolin Temple has indeed elevated their security, then it won't be easy to go in.”
Du Baidang had already proceeded several 'zhang's ahead, but realizing the other two did not follow, he stopped and wait.
The first monk said, ”This village family's mother is a loving mother, the son is filial, we must help them. Shidi [younger martial brother], take them through the back door to the kitchen. If anybody asks, just tell them they are the villagers who used to sell firewood. I don't think there will be any problem.”