Chapter 20: The Legend of White Snake

Ou Zanghua came back to his senses, bowed to Cheng Zhirou, and praised: "Playing the piano brings up the spring breeze, and singing makes the spring water fall. Miss Cheng, thank you for letting me hear such a beautiful version."

"Your lyrics are well written and your music is well composed." Cheng Zhirou smiled and said softly, "There are many beautiful voices in this world, but good lyrics and good music are hard to come by."

"Haha." Ou Zanghua smiled again.

In fact, music, like novels, is an art of constant summary, progress and innovation.

Modern people have summarized and innovated over hundreds of years, and have eliminated some sensational works. After the test of time, only the best works will remain.

"Bai Suzhen Under the Qingcheng Mountain" was created in 1992 and is still considered a classic by the public in 2024.

This is the good stuff left over from the test of time!
If it were released in the Ming Dynasty, it would be a work that would be enough to surprise musicians of that era.

"Sir, this story is probably not finished yet, right? I beg you to leave the full version." Cheng Zhirou stood up and bowed to Ou Zanghua. "Your fee is decided by you, and I will not argue with you."

Ou Zanghua thought for a moment before saying, "How about this! I'll read it to you and you can write it. Miss Cheng will give you whatever you think it's worth."

In fact, by the Tianshun period of the Ming Dynasty, the phenomenon of collecting writing fees had become common among the people.

After the imperial examination paper leak case, the famous Jiangnan talent Tang Yin made a living by selling calligraphy and paintings, and also indulged in wine and sex to entertain himself.

It can be seen that at least during the Hongzhi and Zhengde periods, selling writings and paintings was a very good way for literati in the Jiangnan region to make a living.

It’s just that most people write poetry and prose, and there are fewer people like Ou Zanghua who write operas and tanci.

Cheng Zhirou immediately asked Mother Zhang to prepare the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone. She stared at Ou Zanghua with her beautiful eyes, waiting for him to speak.

Ou Zanghua took a sip of tea before speaking slowly.

He was talking about the "New Legend of White Snake" adapted by Mr. Gong Min based on "The Strange Story of Leifeng Pagoda" by Yushan Master and "The Complete Story of White Snake" by Menghua Pavilion Master.

Of course, Ou Zanghua only remembered the general plot, so many parts were also edited according to his own preferences.

Bai Suzhen was originally a little white snake that practiced in the mountains. One day, the little white snake was captured by an old snake catcher and nearly killed. Fortunately, she was saved by a little shepherd boy. Bai Suzhen secretly vowed: I will always remember this life-saving grace.

After 1,700 years of practice, Bai Suzhen finally shed her snake body and transformed into a human form.

She originally wanted to go to Mount Emei to continue her cultivation, but after being enlightened by Guanyin, she remembered that she still had an unfinished love affair in the human world.

She followed the instructions and came to West Lake in Hangzhou to look for Xu Xian, her savior in her previous life.
Taking shelter from the rain in the same boat, borrowing an umbrella from a sailboat, cleverly transforming the palace, using magic to save people, realgar appearing, stealing the Ganoderma lucidum, intercepting the evil spirits, etc., one bizarre and wonderful plot after another unfolded in front of Cheng Zhirou like a picture scroll.

She was so frightened and excited when she heard this that even her handwriting, which she usually took great care of, became sloppy.

In the "Complete Legend of the White Snake" by Master Menghua, Fahai and Bai Suzhen have a karmic relationship in their previous lives.

In his previous life, Fahai was a toad spirit. His elixir was stolen by Bai Suzhen, causing him to fall in Taoism and reincarnate to cultivate again.

Ou Zanghua felt that this was boring, so he simply changed Fahai's previous life to Moxiu Luo, one of the Buddhist gods and one of the Eight Immortals.

That’s right, it’s the mighty Tianlong version of Brother Hai!

Especially the phrase "Great and mighty heavenly dragon, great mantra, Prajna Buddhas, Prajna Bama Boom!"

Isn't it more impressive than holding a golden bowl and shining it around?
With Fahai's appearance, Cheng Zhirou's face flushed when she heard about the flooding of Jinshan Mountain and the fight between the gods. She was excited.

Is this how gods fight?
After chanting the mantra, he swung his robes, and the vast Sanskrit sound filled the sky. Then he slapped his palm and a golden dragon roared and bared its fangs and claws.

The white snake twists and the green snake dances wildly, just like the roaring waves that destroy everything in their path, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals fight the monks fearlessly for life and death.

In the original novel, the flooding of Jinshan Mountain caused great suffering to the people, and Bai Suzhen violated the Heavenly Law and was defeated by Fahai and imprisoned in Leifeng Pagoda. But Ou Zanghua thought that the people who were flooded were innocent.
Bai Suzhen was imprisoned in Hangzhou for only twenty years and finally became an immortal. This is somewhat over-beautified.

Therefore, he launched a major restructuring.

Bai Suzhen gave birth to a child in the flood, and the baby's cry made Xu Xian, who was controlled by the Buddhist sound, regain his humanity.

He wanted to rush out of Jinshan Temple, but as a mortal, how could he be a match for the monks in the temple? He was pinned down.

Seeing that the flood was about to cover Hangzhou City, Prince E, who had been observing everything in secret, finally took action and suppressed the flood, thus preventing Hangzhou City from suffering.

As punishment, Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing were imprisoned under Leifeng Pagoda and could not come out until the water in West Lake dried up.

Fahai, who was indifferent to all living beings and harbored a violent temper, was punished in Jinshan Temple by being forced to copy the Diamond Sutra 545,591 times, which is exactly the same as the current population of Hangzhou.

Xu Xian's love with a demon violated ethics, but considering their deep love, he made the right choice at the critical moment. He was punished to raise the child alone, and the couple reunited in Leifeng Pagoda.

At this point, Cheng Zhirou couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Ou, it is said that God has a benevolent nature. White Snake and Xu Xian truly loved each other. Isn't it too cruel for them to end up like this?"

"Don't worry, the story is not over yet." Ou Zanghua smiled and continued to make up the story.

In his version, Xu Shilin is not a literary star, but just an ordinary person.

After learning that his mother was in trouble, the mischievous boy started to study hard and did not give up even after failing three exams.

After passing the imperial examination for the fourth time, Xu Shilin chose to serve in the frontier. After surviving many dangers and making many military achievements, he was commended by the emperor. He took the opportunity to propose that he would use his military achievements in exchange for his mother's release from the frontier so that the family could be reunited.

The emperor was moved by Xu Shilin's filial piety, Bai Niangzi's kindness, and Xu Xian's friendship, so he issued three imperial edicts.

The first one thanks Prince E for upholding justice and saving Hangzhou, and conferred the title of Yuesheng Emperor on him.

The second order was to order the Tongzhi of Hangzhou to rebuild the Leifeng Pagoda, which resulted in the collapse of the Leifeng Pagoda.

The third order was to order the prefect of Hangzhou to tidy up the waterways of the West Lake, thus completing the process of drying up the water in the West Lake.

When Xu Shilin returned to Hangzhou with the three imperial edicts, people all over the city went out to welcome him.

Under everyone's attention, the bronze door of Leifeng Pagoda was opened, and White Snake and Xiaoqing saw the light of day again after 20 years.

The couple met on the Broken Bridge and hugged each other and cried.

Fahai was still copying the Diamond Sutra when he suddenly heard the voice of Prince E, saying that he could come out of seclusion.

When Fahai opened the door of the meditation room with a confused look on his face, he discovered that five hundred monks of Jinshan Temple had been copying scriptures for him for twenty years, and the stack of papers was taller than Leifeng Pagoda.

At this moment, Fahai became enlightened, let go of the last obsession in his heart, and became a Buddha, named Golden Sea Light Buddha.

Finally, Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian practiced medicine in Hangzhou for twenty years. Xu Xian died of old age, and Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing completed their practice and ascended to heaven.

After Ou Zanghua finished speaking, Cheng Zhirou looked at him with red eyes, wanting to say something but feeling shy.

It seems that no matter whether it is the ancients, modern people or future generations, they all like the happy ending!
".After practicing medicine for twenty years, the gods were moved by his sincerity and Xu Xian, Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing ascended to heaven, and the one who led them was Zen Master Fahai."

Cheng Zhirou's eyes lit up, her joy needed no words.

That’s right!

It would be great if lovers could finally get married!

(End of this chapter)