Chapter 24.2 - Bamboo 竹叶
She knew better than anyone that He Suye understood, which is why he was willing to watch her go.
When Shen Xifan arrived at Huatai Temple, she saw a familiar figure standing at the door. Though He Suye’s left arm was in a cast, making him look somewhat strange, his casual demeanor seemed to show he didn’t mind at all.
She suddenly remembered that every time she made an appointment with He Suye, he was always the one to arrive earlier than her, without exception.
When did he start getting used to waiting and waiting for her?
Meeting his smiling gaze, she couldn’t help but smile back, warmth and tenderness flowing deep into her heart. She extended her hand first, “Sorry to keep you waiting, let’s go inside.”
In the afternoon, there were fewer people offering incense and praying in the temple. They walked into the main hall, where a young monk joined his palms, “The master asked you to go to the back yard, please follow me.”
Shen Xifan, clearly confused, quietly tugged on He Suye’s hand, “What’s this about? I’m not prepared to talk to a high monk; I know nothing about Buddhist teachings.”
He Suye smiled, “You don’t need to speak to him, the peace talisman needs to be consecrated. We are familiar with the abbot here.”
She sighed with relief, “One place, one god. If I go to America, I’ll need God’s blessing.”
“You clever little girl,” He Suye chuckled, “Don’t say anything strange later.”
Throughout the process, she didn’t pay attention to what He Suye and the abbot were talking about, nor did she understand what the so-called consecration was. What caught her attention was the tea they were drinking, so special, unlike any tea she had ever had. The pale green tea, with a light yellow tint, paired with the white porcelain blue-and-white cup, had a faint bamboo scent, fresh and pleasant.
This tea was perfect for slowly sipping on a slightly warm afternoon. The ancient temple, towering pine trees, and verdant bamboo groves added a mysterious atmosphere to the tea – peaceful, calming, and soothing.
After they walked out of the back yard, Shen Xifan couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of tea was that just now? Why does it have a faint bamboo scent?”
“Was it good?” He Suye smiled softly and gently brushed the leaf from her shoulder, “Let’s walk through the bamboo forest.”
The entire bamboo forest was filled with a faint, refreshing fragrance, smooth and sweet. The bamboo shoots and leaves on the ground spread out like a green carpet, warm and comfortable, and the sound of them crunching underfoot.
Shen Xifan took a deep breath, “The fragrance is like the tea we just had, persistent and delicate. I really like it!”
He Suye smiled and handed her a small bamboo leaf, “The tea you just drank was bamboo leaf tea. Bamboo leaves are also a traditional Chinese medicine. But for medicine, we usually use the raw form; I’m not sure about the tea.”
Curious, she took the bamboo leaf and asked, “What does this treat in traditional medicine?”
“It clears heat, relieves irritability, quenches thirst, and bamboo leaves are good for clearing internal heat and opening the channels. It can be used with honeysuckle, forsythia, and mint,” He Suye explained seriously, “In fact, there are other bamboo-based medicines like light bamboo leaves, bamboo juice, and bamboo pith, all of which can treat ailments.”
“No wonder the fragrance was so nice, it also clears heat.” A breeze blew, rustling the bamboo, and blew the bamboo leaf from Shen Xifan’s hand. She laughed, “Fallen leaves return to their roots.”
“Fallen leaves return to their roots…” He Suye repeated the phrase thoughtfully, gently taking her hand, “There’s more to this phrase, isn’t there?”
Shen Xifan grinned mischievously and said slowly, “Yes, I meant it – referring to me, of course.”
When they left the temple, they noticed a few stalls set up against the back wall, surrounded by a crowd. Shen Xifan, curious, dragged He Suye over to have a look.
It turned out that a fortune teller was setting up a booth, and Shen Xifan noticed a group of girls gathered around one person, chattering excitedly. A young, pretty girl holding a divining stick, probably the stall owner, saw them and called out, “Matchmaker’s divination. I only do three divinations a day, but today’s last free one will go to them.” The girls around them sighed, making way for them.
Shen Xifan hesitated and looked at He Suye, half-joking and half-serious, “Are all doctors atheists? He Suye, what if I draw a bad result?”
The girl smiled, “Listening to both sides leads to wisdom, believing only one side leads to darkness. Besides, everything has two sides. Don’t take it too seriously.”
Shen Xifan hesitantly drew a stick, and when she looked at it, she saw the words “得其所哉” (De Qi Suo Ai) inscribed on it. Confused, she handed it to the girl, and to her surprise, the girl’s eyes widened in admiration, “That’s an excellent fortune!”
The surrounding girls looked at them enviously, and the girl laughed, “‘De Qi Suo Ai’ means that you have found your place. It is a great fortune, especially for love. This is an extraordinary opportunity, and you should not hesitate. Take it without second thoughts, or it may slip away, and you will not be able to reclaim it.”
This left Shen Xifan stunned, while He Suye turned his face away and secretly smiled. The girl put the divination stick into her backpack and waved her hand with a grin, “Three divinations a day, I open at 4 PM, you’re all welcome.”
Shen Xifan muttered to herself, “Is this really accurate? It doesn’t look very professional!”
Someone nearby chimed in, “How is it not accurate? It’s a big deal! She only does three divinations a day, and my friend recommended her to me. I’ve been here three days, and she hasn’t done my divination yet.”
She turned to He Suye with a helpless look, and he smiled, his eyes bright, nodding slightly, “I think it’s quite accurate.”
Well, then it must be very accurate, she thought to herself with a secret smile.
Back at He Suye’s house, Shen Xifan was busy preparing dinner while He Suye was in the study, checking He Shouzhen’s homework.
