Chapter Three: The Method of Seeking Fate in the WTO
Although Liu Shang is famous far and wide, everyone knows him at least. He has not been seen for more than a year, but the villagers at the foot of the mountain recognized him at a glance and greeted him one after another.
"Hey, isn't this the Taoist priest on the mountain? Oh, there are so few visitors."
"Hello, little Taoist priest."
"You're lonely on the mountain, why don't you go sit in your aunt's house?" This was a teasing joke from a middle-aged woman looking at the path with her beautiful features.
"Go to hell, Aunt Liu. Stop bullying the little Taoist priest. Come and sit at my house. But there is no food in the temple. The little Taoist priest has gone down the mountain to look for food." This is the village chief uncle, Master Liu Sang, behind him.
The thing was helped by the village chief, an enthusiastic uncle.
Liu Shang didn't make any mistakes when facing these enthusiastic villagers. He regarded these people as relatives and elders, very kind and casual. Although he was famous far and wide, these people didn't take them too seriously. They were just children.
Although I am lazy now, I am a bit lazy, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.
"Hello uncle, hello aunt, hello village chief, hello everyone."
Liu Shang greeted everyone one by one, smiling and handsome, so he was quickly accepted by the simple villagers.
After all, this boy was once a member of the village, but his family suffered a natural disaster and his family was destroyed. The flood more than ten years ago is still fresh in people's minds. Little Liu Shang was only three years old at that time.
If he wasn't an old Taoist priest on the mountain, this little guy would just go with him. How pitiful.
Liu Shang is well-behaved and naturally lovable. She wears a patched gray monk's robe and is clean and tidy. The way she holds a whisk in her hand makes the villagers in the village feel very sad for the poor little guy.
"Let's go to my uncle's house. I'll see how thin you are. Your master is gone and you are alone in the temple. You have suffered a lot since you came here. This time when you come down the mountain, you will live in my house and let your uncle take good care of you." Old Village Head Wu Wu
He was already ten years old and he was a warm-hearted person, so he felt sad.
Liu Shang did not refuse, and raised his hands to salute. The scholar-master looked like he used to do, smiled and agreed, saying, "Thank you very much, village chief. I'll excuse you. I will stay a little longer when I go down the mountain this time. If you need anything, you can do it."
If you come to me for help, my master will do it. I will inherit his old man's mantle. In the future, I will not go down the mountain to help everyone.
This little guy is so sensible at such a young age. Oh, poor kid, the villagers surrounded him and sent him to the village chief's house.
Liu Shang was like a wanderer returning to his hometown, surrounded by people. Although not many villagers believed his words, it was good to have such intentions. It was better to have a future than lazily watching. The villagers were very happy.
Those who eat green vegetables and tofu in the temple rarely eat meat. His master, whose real name is Wang, came here decades ago to take care of the Taoist temple on the mountain. Since then, he has taken root here, practicing medicine, dispensing medicine, repairing houses and tiles, and has a good reputation. Gradually,
Accepted by the villagers.
Wang Laodao lived a life of poverty and happiness. He exchanged his crafts and medical skills for what he needed. He never asked others for charity, one or two kilograms of rations, a pot of tea, and silently walked the path he pursued. This is the true monk.
One time when he went down the mountain, after the little Taoist became wise, he remembered the master's happy appearance, which made him remember it fresh. It turned out that the master also ate meat. In his heart, he had always thought that Taoists did not eat meat. The little Taoist asked the master curiously.
"Master, is the meat delicious?" The little man, looking like a greedy cat, approached his master's eyes.
Wang Laodao picked up a chopstick from the bowl and fed it to him. Xiao Liu Shang remembered the taste and could never forget it. Every time his master came down the mountain, he would look forward to following him in exchange for meat. Unfortunately, since then
After this time, it is rare to get meat in exchange.
Because the villagers are also poor, meat can only be eaten during the New Year and festivals. In this village on the edge of the vast mountains, meat is also very precious.
Wang Laodao was very poor, and he did not ask for generous rewards. Even if it was just a few corn cobs, the old Taoist priest would not hesitate to use his craftsmanship and medical skills to help everyone.
Xiao Liu Shang grew up in such an environment. He did not know the dangers of the world. He saw everything the master gave him. If others are good to him, he will exchange his sincerity for your kindness. Others
If you treat him evil, well, I'm sorry, the whisk in his hand is just enough to wipe away these evil things.
The village chief was very distressed that he didn’t have good food to eat when he was still growing. He was alone in the mountains doing some cultivation. Today he specially cooked a delicious meal, including meat, chicken, duck, and a fish. It was better than the Chinese New Year.
rich.
Liu Shang is not polite either. He regards these people as his relatives. If your relatives treat you deliciously, it would be wrong if you don't gorge yourself on them.
"Eat slowly, be careful not to choke." The village chief looked at him wiping his tears. What a good boy. Looking at the food, you can see how much he has suffered.
Liu Sang, who still had a bulging mouth, muttered: Uncle Village Chief, you don’t know, I haven’t eaten something so delicious in a long time, it’s so delicious.
The village chief's family has two sons, the eldest Liu Ti and the second Liu Qi. They are both married, but the children are not around. They went to the big city and took care of the old house in the village with their wife. When they saw Liu Shang, he looked like
Looking at my child, I feel so sad.
Hearing this, my wife was crying beside her. Yes, Liu Shang's family was very close to him back then. Liu Shang's family were also good old people in the village. It's a pity that good people don't live long. Fortunately, they stayed here.
I got this single seedling.
The more my wife looked at Liu Shang, the more she realized that it was not a big deal. Why did such a good boy go up the mountain to practice Taoism? If he didn't get married in the future, wouldn't the old Liu family be extinct?
The village chief was holding dishes for Liu Shang. Liu Shang didn't know what his wife was thinking. He just focused on eating, grinning from time to time and saying, "It's delicious."
More than ten years ago, this small village in the southwest border was really poor and remote. But now, not to mention how rich every household is, there is no shortage of meat, there are several cars and so on, and there are many people in the village.
There is a health center, so headaches and fevers will not be so troublesome. To be honest, what can Liu Shang do if he goes down the mountain?
"Just stay here with uncle and take good care of yourself. It's rare for you to come down from the mountain. Let me tell you, what's so good about Po Tao Temple? You're not afraid of being alone. Just listen to uncle." The two village elders said.
He kept persuading.
Liu Shang was full of tea and food. Hearing the words, he just smiled. He didn't refuse or agree, he just said: Although it is difficult in the mountains, I have some friends who accompany me every day, so I am not lonely anymore.
The village chief didn't know who the friends Liu Shang mentioned were. Hearing this, he nodded and asked: "How long do you plan to stay down the mountain this time? There is a lot of mildew and rain at this time and the farming is not busy, or you can stay longer."
In the past, when I followed the master down the mountain, it was common for one family in the village to sometimes run to the neighboring village or town. If I stayed at the village chief's house, then there seemed to be no point in going down the mountain. After thinking about it, I shook my head and said;
Uncle, I'm going down the mountain this time to seek the Dharma, so I can't stay in the same place.
The village chief was stunned, and the old couple looked at each other, what did the child say?
"What kind of destiny are you looking for? Do you want to imitate Master Wang and guard that broken Taoist temple all your life?" the village chief said in confusion.
Liu Shang smiled, approached the village chief, and said flatteringly, "Uncle, don't worry about it. The master handed over the inheritance to me before he passed away. You can't ignore it. Then the master will not be at ease in heaven."
Speaking of Taoist Wang, let alone the village chief, he is really a Taoist priest worthy of respect.
My wife didn't say anything anymore, and the little Jiujiu in her heart also gave up. If Liu Shang really practiced Qingdeng Ancient Buddha, then I would not harm the girl by introducing him to him. Oh, forget it.
Liu Shang didn't know that he almost wanted to have multiple wives for no reason, but fortunately his words made her give up the idea.
Looking at the sky outside, it was already afternoon after coming down from the mountain. Liu Shang thanked him again and did not stay overnight. He got up and said, "Uncle, aunt, it's getting late. I want to go to the village for a walk."
After eating, they patted his butt and were about to leave. Fortunately, the old couple regarded him as a child. If it had been anyone else, they wouldn't have gotten angry on the spot.
The village chief stood up and tried to persuade him again: "Son, it will get dark soon. Why don't you take a rest for the night and go back tomorrow?"
Yes, yes, you see it's so late, you're a young man, where are you going?
Liu Shang thought to himself, uncle, aunt, don’t underestimate people.
But he didn't say it out loud, he just thanked the old couple for their concern, shook the dust in his hand, and stood up to say goodbye.
"Uncle, aunt, thank you. I have my destiny, so I'll take my leave."
The village chief had no choice but to ask him to be careful in front of the door.
Liu Shang nodded and left heartlessly. It's not that he didn't care, but that his Taoist heart was firm and difficult to be moved by external things. In fact, the most important thing was this guy. To put it bluntly, he still didn't understand the world. The master was a Taoist idiot.
teach him to read
To be literate is to read the scriptures. The years in the mountains are either to cultivate one's health and practice martial arts, or to go to the mountains to collect medicines. The people who have seen this are just pilgrims and villagers. If he didn't know that his ability can be exchanged for food, I'm afraid he really wants to
Starved to death.
He went down the mountain without any money.
When he is thirsty, he is just like his master. When he is hungry, he goes to a house to see if there is anyone in need of help. Everyone gets what they need. This is true harmony with Taoist Wuwei.
He is too pure-hearted and has few desires. In his heart, nothing seems to matter except the great road.
However, unlike his master, at least Taoist Master Wang is still familiar with the ways of the world. He is just a casual person, and he doesn't know if he will get into trouble this time.
Liu Shang was walking in the village. The village in his memory had changed a lot. There were small high-rise buildings, rotten wooden houses, muddy roads, and potholes. It seemed ridiculous from the perspective. Even now, candles are still used for lighting.
, there is no electricity.
As for televisions, mobile phones, and other electrical appliances, don't even think about them. There are things and there is no signal in the mountains. He doesn't care if he has them or not. He is not curious anyway and is focused on practicing.
So the place Liu Shang lived in was really primitive. You never thought that there is still such a place now. It’s no wonder that tourists occasionally go to the temple to explore the wonders. Isn’t it just strange?
The younger people in the villages and towns have all gone out to work. There is no future for them if they stay in the mountains. The adults all stay at home, managing the thin fields and guarding a few acres of land. Every year they only look forward to having their children and grandchildren come back to accompany them during the Chinese New Year.