Chapter 167: A Chance Encounter at Wuliang Temple
After dinner, Li Yi didn’t return to the state-run guesthouse; instead, he took his father for a stroll along the road toward the old city gate.
Since it was already quite late after their doctor’s appointment today, they had missed the last train back to Ning City, so they would have to spend the night in the provincial capital.
Since they couldn’t go back anyway, Li Yi decided to take his father on a tour of the provincial capital—it was a rare opportunity, after all.
In his previous life, Li Yi had often visited the provincial capital. Although the cityscape back then was completely different from what it was now, he still had a general idea of where some of the famous landmarks were located.
The provincial capital looked utterly dilapidated now. Low, single-story houses were everywhere; only in specific areas—such as hospitals, government offices, and churches—could one spot a few low-rise buildings.
Most residential homes and shops were still single-story structures, with exposed gray-brown plaster walls and soot-blackened eaves—a far cry from the “First City of the Grasslands Beyond the Frontier” he remembered.
Even so, the sight of the provincial capital still astonished his father.
Especially the wide four-lane roads, with buses and cars passing by from time to time—a scene completely unseen in Qing Shan County.
Beyond these sights, what was most captivating were the people on the streets.
It was the height of summer, and the streets were filled with men and women dressed in light, summery clothing.
Compared to the conservative town of Qingshan, the way the young men and women in the provincial capital dressed was truly bold and avant-garde.
Especially the girls—some were even walking down the street in just a pair of capris and sandals.
If this were in Qingshan County, they’d likely be scolded back home the moment they stepped out by the elderly men and women wearing red armbands.
Besides the different styles, the colors of the clothes worn by the people in the provincial capital are also different.
In Qing Shan County, most people still wore black, blue, or green, but here the streets were filled with red, yellow, and pink.
By comparison, someone like Li Shankui, still wearing a blue long-sleeved jacket, was a rare sight, even drawing curious glances from many young people.
Li Yi knew his father was curious about many things in the provincial capital, so he patiently explained all the new sights of the city to him, just as his father had taught him when he was a child.
“What that young man is standing on is called roller skates, also known as inline skates. You can skate on any smooth surface, and they go really fast!”
Seeing his father staring intently at a young man on roller skates, Li Yi immediately explained.
“He’s going so fast—isn’t he afraid of falling?” Li Shankui asked curiously.
“Of course, but there’s a technique to it. People who know how to use them usually don’t fall…”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the young man suddenly lost his footing and crashed headfirst into a mailbox by the roadside.
Seeing this, his father chuckled and said, “Looks like he hasn’t quite figured out how to use them yet!”
“Hehe!”
The father and son chatted as they walked, and before long they arrived at an ancient building south of the city gate.
Although Li Shankui was illiterate, he knew what the complex before him was used for.
“Why did you bring me to a temple?”
Li Yi smiled and said, “Dad, this is the largest monastery in our northern frontier region. It’s not too far from where we live, so I thought I’d bring you to take a look!”
“Heh, what’s so interesting about a lama temple? Back when the Qia’erji Temple was still standing, I don’t know how many times we went there every year!”
Li Yi knew his father was referring to the Qiaerji Temple, a local monastery in Qingshan County, though he had no real memory of it.
But even though twenty years had passed, the local people of Qingshan County still often spoke of that temple, and many of them felt a deep sense of regret.
As they spoke, Li Yi led his father up the steps and into the temple.
Li Yi was quite familiar with the temple before him. As the largest temple in the provincial capital and indeed the entire Northern Grasslands, Dxmbang Wuliang Temple wielded immense influence throughout the northern region.
In his previous life, Li Yi had visited roughly once every two years to light a stick of incense and pray for that ill-fated beauty.
Compared to the Wuliang Temple of his memories, the one before him was undeniably dilapidated.
The plaque above the entrance had faded, and the characters for “Wuliang Temple” were barely legible.
The building itself was severely damaged; not only had many bricks and tiles fallen from the walls, but the rafters on the roof were of varying lengths, making it look as if it had been gnawed by a dog.
Furthermore, the murals—later renowned as Wuliang Temple’s most famous feature—had now faded to a dull gray; in some places, they had even fallen from the walls, bearing no resemblance to the vivid, vibrant scenes Li Yi had once seen.
Li Yi couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret. People today have yet to realize the value and significance of this temple, so they’ve allowed it to fall into such disrepair.
By the time people decided to protect it, it would be too late for many things.
However, there was nothing Li Yi could do about it; after all, his influence was still too limited, and he lacked the resources to restore such a vast temple.
Walking through the main gate, the interior layout was largely as Li Yi remembered it, though just as dilapidated as the exterior.
After looking around for a while, Li Shankui suddenly complained of a stomachache.
Li Yi immediately asked someone where the restroom was and led him there.
While his father was in the restroom, Li Yi went to the main hall next door to take a look at Wuliang Temple’s most prized treasure—the Silver Buddha.
The Silver Buddha of Wuliang Temple is extremely famous; it is said to have been crafted by Nepalese artisans and cast entirely from 30,000 taels of pure silver.
With a history spanning over 400 years, it is one of the largest surviving silver Buddhas in the country.
However, what Li Yi didn’t expect was that the moment his right leg stepped into the main hall—before his left leg could follow—he was bumped by a young man rushing out from inside.
Fortunately, Li Yi was physically strong enough that, though he stumbled from the impact, he did not fall to the ground.
On the contrary, the young man who had bumped into him was thrown backward by the impact and fell to the ground.
Li Yi immediately stepped forward and asked, “Comrade, are you all right?”
The young man, with a somewhat swarthy complexion, scrambled to his feet and hurriedly replied, “I’m fine… I’m fine. I was just walking too fast. I’m truly sorry!”
Seeing that the other man was sincere, Li Yi wasn’t angry and was about to let him go.
But when he got a clear look at the young man’s face, he couldn’t help but be startled—it was him.
Seeing Li Yi staring intently at him, the young man felt a bit uneasy and cautiously asked, “Comrade, why… are you looking at me like that?”
“Is your last name Ma?” Li Yi suddenly asked.
“Do… do we know each other?”
“No, we don’t!”
“Then why…”
Li Yi smiled and said, “I know a little about reading faces. You’re a man of great fortune. No matter what problems you’re facing right now, you’ll turn misfortune into good luck. Don’t worry.”
“Ah… I don’t believe in fortune-telling!”
“Hehe, I’m not charging you for this. If someone offers you a chance to change jobs in the near future, you should give it a try—it’s a great opportunity for you!”
“How do you know someone’s invited me…”
Before he could finish, Li Yi cut him off and said, “I can’t say! Judging by your face, you’re currently facing a major turning point in your life. Take a step forward, and the world is your oyster; take a step back, and you’ll be stuck in the same place!”
Just then, Li Yi saw his father coming out!
He immediately stopped talking, walked straight over to his father, and they left Wuliang Temple together, leaving the bewildered young man standing there dumbfounded.