Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 306

We follow the beggar and he leads us to get into a small vehicle, which he calls a “taxi”. This vehicle keeps
shaking when it is moving, along with the smell of fuel, we nearly vomit. I keep reading the Buddhist
scriptures aloud, and all of us luckily go through the whole journey without vomiting. He gives the driver
some coins and we finally get out of the “taxi”.
We enter a place where is dirty and smelly, we can see poor people like the beggar living in cramped
houses. This place is a slum. I feel great sympathy for all these people, why isn’t the Buddha helping them?
The beggar invites us into his house and says, “Please come in and make yourselves at home, do try the tea I
just brewed.” He’s so friendly, I start to like him. Bajie suddenly holds the whole pot of tea and pours it into
his mouth. I regret letting him be my apprentice, he’s so impolite. But I don’t have time to scold him, we
need to concentrate on our mission. I ask, “About going to the Vulture Peak…” “I can help you if you give
me your belongings, deal?” the beggar interrupts. “Deal!” Wukong dumps his bag on the table, the rest of us
stare at him. “Why are you guys looking at me like that? Don’t you want to go back to heaven?” We put
our bags there, just hope this beggar is trustworthy.
Then we stay in his house, waiting for him to arrange our trip. A group of children comes into the house,
both boys and girls. Wujing shouted at the girls, “Girls, get back to your homes! You should be helping
your mothers with housework!” “My mother is working in the factory. How can I help her?” one of the
girls replies. “What? Women can go out to work?” I am too shocked. “Of course! You guys are so weird,
let’s go away,” another girl who seems to be the leader says, bringing the others to leave the house.
Women should stay at home, but females in this modern world can work, play and even become a leader
above males. What’s happening! This world is full of sinners, they don’t even follow the customs set a long
time ago. I think we must leave this world as soon as possible.
A month has passed, the beggar finally comes back. At first sight, I can barely recognise him, he looks a lot
cleaner. He yells, “My guests, please come out!”
We go out and get into another “taxi”, but this one is totally different, it is shinier and looks luxurious. It is
weird, he was a beggar, but now he seems to be so wealthy. “Thanks for giving me your sacks. Do you
believe it, they are worth millions of dollars! I’m now a millionaire!” he says joyfully. “We are going to the
airport, boarding my private plane! I’m so excited!” “We are going to the Vulture Peak, right?” I ask
doubtfully. “Of course, just in a few hours,” the beggar answers.
I don’t quite trust him personally, but my apprentices seem to be relaxed, they do trust him. I think I should
just wait for what will happen next.
We get to the airport. We can see many enormous planes. I want to refuse to board our plane, the Buddha
will scold us for not completing the whole journey ourselves. But that’s the only way we can get to the
Vulture Peak, right? So, I tell myself not to worry that much.
The flight has been quite steady until after about four hours, the plane keeps shaking. When I look up, I can
see the Buddha, calling us back to heaven. We arise and we are back in heaven again.
“Welcome back. What have you learnt? Should we follow our customs or believe in things modern people
believe in, technologies, money and gender equality?” the Buddha asks.
“I don’t have an answer. I don’t have any answers,” I say.
“Me too. I still can’t figure it out. You now know why I’m not helping the modern people in the mortal
world, right?”