Ye Yaodong thought it over too, then asked his father, "Dad, by that reckoning, I've only donated fifty. If we're really going by the rules, that isn't enough to invite Mazu aboard, is it?"
"I'll put in fifty for you and count it toward yours. That'll look better in the merit ledger too."
"Ah, no, no need. I'll make up the difference myself. It's only fifty yuan, not much."
"You've already earned plenty of merit. Everyone knows that. I was going to contribute anyway, so I might as well add it to yours."
"Then list your name separately."
"There's no difference. Your old man's been tied to you all along anyway." It would have been hard not to be, with the Old Lady at home who doted on her precious grandson.
Ye Yaodong shook his head. "That's different. Aren't they going to carve a merit stele for this? Of course it'd be better to have your own name carved on it. Neither of us is short of those fifty yuan anyway."
Father Ye thought about it. That was true.
"Then we'll talk about it when we get home."
The others talked as they walked too, all planning to discuss it at home before coming back.
Later, Lin Xiuqing and Mother Ye also said they would each make their own donations and register them under their own names.
Even the Old Lady said the merit had to be recorded separately. Whoever donated the money should have their name written down. Otherwise, how would Mazu know whether they had donated?
Ye Yaodong also felt that the merit for building the temple was one thing-it had already put his name first on the Merit Stele-and inviting Mazu aboard was another. They were two separate matters and should not be lumped together. He ought