Chapter 13: Seeking the Living Buddha’s Guidance!

Under the direction of the head of the Zhuang family, the household descended into chaos. Yet, in the end, they swiftly gathered the offerings and set off toward Du Yuan.

From a distance, Du Yuan spotted the procession led by the elder Zhuang. Today, the elder had specially donned a silver-gray silk robe with a stiffened collar, followed by several servants. The well-dressed man from earlier trailed behind him—likely the family steward.

Du Yuan also noticed that the servants each carried a tray wrapped in red cloth. Curious about its contents, he took only a brief glance before realizing that this must be the wealthiest man in Qiaoshui Town whom he had been seeking.

Before the elder Zhuang even drew near, Du Yuan could hear him calling out from afar:

“It is truly a blessing beyond measure to have the Living Buddha grace our humble town!”

As the elder entered Du Yuan’s presence with a radiant smile, he first cast a discreet glance at Zhou Da’s body, which had been carried back inside and was now being prepared with burial garments. Then, with increasing brightness, he cupped his hands and said:

“I am Zhuang Dacai, the town’s principal authority. I have heard of the Living Buddha’s mercy in guiding the soul of Zhou Da’s eldest son. I have prepared a humble token of respect to honor you.”

With that, the servants behind him unveiled the red cloth from the trays, revealing twenty pieces of silver ingots, each weighing a full ten taels of fine silver.

In truth, the elder Zhuang had wished to offer even more, but this was all he could assemble at once with good quality. After displaying the silver, he hastily uncovered the last tray to reveal a lingzhi mushroom.

The lacquered tray held a palm-sized lingzhi, its entire surface a vivid vermilion. Most striking was the smooth, intact cap, devoid of the usual cracks and fissures common to such fungi, resembling instead a meticulously carved ornament of solid blood jade.

Such a specimen, worthy even as a tribute to the imperial court, was an astounding sight in this modest locale.

This treasure had cost the elder Zhuang nearly half his fortune to procure, intended for cultivating influential connections. Even the purple cloud immortal, Lao Senzi, had coveted it for some time, but the elder Zhuang had steadfastly refused to part with it—until now, upon meeting Du Yuan, he produced it without hesitation.

One must admit, those who achieve the status of country gentry possess a keen eye and resolute will. He was certain today was the moment to present this lingzhi.

Yet Du Yuan showed little interest. After idly examining the rare mushroom—something he himself had never before encountered—he returned it to its place, leaving the elder Zhuang startled.

“An excellent specimen indeed. You have obtained a treasure, Elder Zhuang.”

“Eh? The Living Buddha is not pleased?” the elder asked anxiously.

Du Yuan shook his head. “No, no. It is not mine to take.”

The elder quickly protested, “Living Buddha, this is my humble offering—no, it is my offering to the Buddha himself!”

Du Yuan did not wish to explain that he was not a monk, simply waving his hand.

“There is a matter I wish to ask you, Elder Zhuang.”

The elder promptly nodded. “Please, Living Buddha.”

Du Yuan pointed toward the well-dressed man. “Is this gentleman the steward you sent to assist Madam Zhou?”

The elder looked back at his steward, then replied somewhat baffled, “Yes, Living Buddha. You ask because...?”

Du Yuan glanced at the silent elderly woman holding little Wu and smiled gently.

“Elder Zhuang has spent considerable resources on this matter, hasn’t he?”

At these words, the elder Zhuang’s expression changed sharply. He suspected Du Yuan was challenging him.

Though a gentry man, he was from the southern part of town, while the Zhou family were mere farmers in the north—two worlds apart. Those in the north were united as one, not the wealthy residents to the south.

He had dispatched his steward precisely because Madam Zhou was willing to transfer the land deeds to him. Thus, he had managed everything personally. Without his involvement, the Zhou family could never have arranged for so many monks and Taoists.

Du Yuan had gleaned this upon arriving at Zhou Da’s home. In such times, the gentry inevitably sought every means to consolidate land—some with kindness, others with ruthlessness.

Eagerly, the elder said, “Ah, Living Buddha, this is a mutual agreement, each party benefiting!”

Du Yuan nodded. “I understand. Otherwise, Zhou Da would not have been driven to strike his head against the wall.”

“Ah?!” The elder and his attendants were startled, then all turned to look at Zhou Da’s remains.

Du Yuan continued, “If not for this, Zhou Da might have ended up at your house long ago.”

“Living Buddha, I—I...” The elder was terrified, realizing he might have narrowly escaped a brush with death.

Du Yuan gently patted his shoulder. “I know what you did cannot be called a sin, but does that mean it is without fault?”

Each time Du Yuan touched his shoulder, the elder unconsciously shrank a little more.

At that moment, the previously silent Madam Zhou approached with little Wu, bowing to Du Yuan.

“Living Buddha, I know you possess a compassionate heart, but our old Zhou family still has its dignity. This matter with Elder Zhuang truly was voluntary. He purchased the land deeds at market price.”

She had remained silent before, unwilling to use the Living Buddha’s authority to pressure Elder Zhuang into relinquishing the deeds. Yet she had underestimated the Living Buddha’s insight; nothing escaped his notice.

The elder Zhuang was nearly moved to tears.

He was neither a callous rich man nor a philanthropist, but he knew Du Yuan was a true bodhisattva, likely displeased that he had taken advantage of the Zhou family’s plight to seize their ancestral land.

In this, he was not entirely wrong—yet his actions had left the Zhou family bereft of their last support, destined either to servitude or starvation on the streets.

At this very moment, the Zhou family’s ability to speak well of him suggested that he might still find favor with the Living Buddha.

Du Yuan waved his hand.

“I know, I know. That is why I say it is not a crime. After all, no one can demand Elder Zhuang pay out of his own pocket to help others.”

The elder broke out in a sweat.

“Living Buddha, your lesson is well taken. From now on, I will reform myself. Ah, neighbors, these silver coins I, Zhuang, will share among you!”

Though the Living Buddha had not explicitly demanded anything, at times like these, whether he spoke or not was his own affair; whether Elder Zhuang acted was his responsibility.

The elder eagerly tried to distribute the silver to the villagers, but as soon as the trays reached his hands, Du Yuan stopped him.

“Not like this.”

“Ah, then rest assured, Living Buddha, I will return the land deeds to each household!”

Du Yuan shook his head again.

“No, that is not it either.”

The elder nearly fainted. He put down the trays and attempted to kneel but was stopped by Du Yuan’s raised hand.

He could only stand awkwardly, repeatedly cupping his hands in supplication.

“Living Buddha, please give me clear guidance. What must I do?”

Du Yuan smiled at him.

“How many plots of land have you accumulated over the years by such means?”

The elder began to count, but Du Yuan interrupted.

“No need to say. You have your own measure in your heart.”

“Though you have taken land by exploiting weaknesses, you have done so by leveraging others, not by outright coercion. Thus, your actions are both blameless and blameworthy.”

“For you have thereby incurred karmic consequences.”

The elder Zhuang’s deeds were hard to judge as right or wrong, constrained as they were by the times and human nature.

Du Yuan sought a middle path, hoping all might find harmony.

“If this continues, your family will surely prosper, but that will be the extent of it.”

At these words, the elder’s face suddenly froze.

He sensed something in Du Yuan’s tone and hurriedly asked:

“Living Buddha, do you mean my three children will fail the imperial examinations because of me? That they will fall short?”

Du Yuan said nothing, only smiled faintly.

The elder felt as if plunged into an ice cellar. His children’s futures were his greatest hope. He had worked tirelessly to build the family fortune precisely so they could reach higher and go further.

Fortunately, the steward was not present and thus remained unsuspecting.

He tugged at the elder’s sleeve and whispered:

“Master, the Living Buddha said there is no method of liberation!”

The elder shuddered violently.

“Please, Living Buddha, grant me your guidance! I cannot let my three children be ruined!”