Could Tang Xiaomin be blamed?
Clearly, she could not.
He had committed too many wrongs, and it was only natural for Tang Xiaomin to think of him this way.
"I don't want to defend myself. I just hope you can be happy in the days to come."
Just as Tang Xiaomin was about to drive Tang Zhongcheng away, Tang Zhongcheng got out of the car on his own.
He didn't pester her, but walked forward silently.
When he reached a lamppost, he opened the wine bottle given to him by Li Changchun and drank as he walked.
His figure grew smaller and smaller, and more and more blurred, until he disappeared at the end of the road.
Tang Xiaomin checked the time. If she went back now, she could also explain it to her adoptive parents.
The next day.
After Tang Zhongcheng told his family of his decision to become a monk, he went to Changhu Temple to become a monk, despite Tang Ye's objections.
At this moment, he had already left and was hailing a taxi on the road.
Tang Ye pulled at the car door, trying to persuade him.
"Dad, don't be impulsive. Let's talk things through properly. There's no need for this."
"If you become a monk, what will happen to me and Mom? What about our elder brother in the hospital? And Tang Xu, he's still in jail!"
Tang Ye had no experience in being the head of the family. No matter what happened, his first thought was always about home.
Because no matter what happened, his parents would give him advice or directly help him solve it.
Tang Zhongcheng sighed and looked deeply at Tang Ye.
"Whether Tang Yu can get through this is his own fate. As for Tang Xu, I am relieved that he is in prison. Take good care of your mother."
"Dad, no, I can't do that!"
"My mind is made up, you don't need to persuade me anymore."
"Dad, if you become a monk, what will we do?"
...
The driver said impatiently, "Are we going or not? If you haven't finished, get out of the car and say it, don't hold me up."
"Let's go, we'll go right away," Tang Zhongcheng said firmly.
He pried Tang Ye's hand away and closed the car door.
The driver stepped on the gas, leaving Tang Ye behind.
"Dad!"
In the rented apartment, Zhang Meiyu sat calmly in the living room.
Bang!
Tang Ye ran back in a panic.
"Mom, Dad is going to become a monk. Why didn't you try to persuade him?"
"If you say something, he'll definitely listen to you."
Compared to Tang Ye's panic, Zhang Meiyu was very calm.
Of course, she had no intention of stopping Tang Zhongcheng.
"That's his decision. I respect him, and there's nothing wrong with becoming a monk."
Zhang Meiyu picked up the ball of yarn beside her and started knitting a sweater, not caring about Tang Zhongcheng's affairs at all.
Seeing this, Tang Ye's heart sank to the bottom.
"Mom, are you really going to watch my dad become a monk?"
"Mom?"
Zhang Meiyu remained silent, knitting her sweater over and over again, repeating the same action.
Tang Ye sighed, not knowing what to say.
He went out, hailed a taxi, and called Tang Yan on the way.
When the two brothers arrived at Changhu Temple, Tang Zhongcheng was already clasping his hands together, kneeling on the meditation cushion.
An old monk with a gray beard was standing beside him, chanting scriptures.
"Have you thought it through?"
"Yes, I have."
The old monk counted on his fingers, nodded, and picked up the razor.
"Dad, don't be impulsive, Dad!"
"Yes, Dad, let's talk things through at home. Don't do this."
Tang Yan and Tang Ye kept trying to persuade him.
At this moment, Tang Zhongcheng's eyes seemed to have lost their ties to the secular world.
He was very calm, without any ripples.
"My mind is made up. You don't need to persuade me anymore, nor waste your time on me. Do what you should do, and live the life you should live."
"Dad..."
Under the helpless gaze of Tang Ye and Tang Yan, the old monk shaved Tang Zhongcheng's hair, strand by strand.
A light blue monk's robe replaced his original Western suit.
"Since you have entered the gate of Buddhism, you must sever all worldly ties. With the morning bell and evening drum, and the blue lamp and ancient Buddha, your dharma name shall be 'Shu Chen' (Redemption of Dust)."
From then on, there was one more monk chanting scriptures and reciting Buddha's name in Changhu Temple.
In the evening, Tang Xiaomin arrived at Changhu Temple.
As soon as she stepped through the gate of Changhu Temple, a chilling wind blew, and the temple's evil-warding bells rang incessantly.
Before she even reached the Buddhist hall, an old monk in a yellow kasaya walked out.
With just one glance, the abbot knew that Tang Xiaomin, who appeared harmless, was unfathomable and by no means simple.
"You are enveloped in the smell of blood, as well as evil and resentment. This is not a place you should be."
Tang Xiaomin smiled and said calmly.
"My hands are stained with blood, and my body is filled with evil and resentment. I should be even more so to accept enlightenment before the Buddha. Why do you stop me, Master?"
"You are indeed very bold, but I must still advise you, this is not a place where you can be reckless."
"I'm here anyway. I also advise the Master not to meddle in other people's affairs. Your sermons and grand principles are best told to ordinary people."
Tang Xiaomin strode into the main hall with steady steps, brazenly.
At that moment, the oil lamps and candles enshrined in the hall flickered.
Tang Zhongcheng knelt on the meditation cushion at the foot of the Buddha statue, holding a Buddhist scripture, reciting it with difficulty.
Tang Xiaomin's arrival did not distract Tang Zhongcheng.
Tang Xiaomin lit an incense stick as an ordinary person would.
Afterward, she walked to Tang Zhongcheng's side and looked at the Great Compassion Mantra he was reciting.
Purifying the heart, resolving troubles, eliminating karma...
"Some people have never done a bad deed in their lives, yet they are plagued by misfortune. Why is that?"
"You are a coward. You don't even dare to die, you only dare to hide at the foot of the Buddha statue and chant scriptures."
"You say you are here to repent and pray. This is merely a safe haven you have found because you are afraid of death. Your inherent hypocrisy has led you to this place, to escape reality."
No matter what Tang Xiaomin said, Tang Zhongcheng ignored her and continued reciting his scriptures.
The next second, Tang Xiaomin snatched the scripture and threw it into the nearby brazier, burning it.
"What are you doing?"
Tang Zhongcheng finally lost his temper.
Tang Xiaomin kicked Tang Zhongcheng over.
"It's just the Great Compassion Mantra, I can recite it backward, so what? What's the use?"
The old monk walked in with a solemn expression.
"Amitabha, sin, sin."
"Your resentment is too deep, and your inner demons are at play. If there is no Buddha in your heart, how can the Buddha save you?"
Tang Xiaomin walked up to the old monk and questioned him.
"You only know of my deep resentment, but you do not know of the heinous crimes of the Tang family. Are you blind and foolish?"
"When I was about to die, I also pleaded with heaven, earth, gods, and Buddhas for help. Buddha is compassionate, why did you not save my life?"
The old monk was speechless and shook his head.
"When will the cycle of revenge end? Where you can forgive, forgive. Amitabha."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaomin kicked the monk away.
At this moment, a golden light suddenly shone in the entire hall, illuminating Tang Xiaomin.
Due to the opposing attributes, Tang Xiaomin immediately felt uncomfortable all over.