The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

Li Xueying shook her head. “That’s not all. I’m talking about moving everything away! Not a single brick should be left behind!”

Glasses widened his eyes and said, “Sis Xueying, do you mean that we are going to tear down and take it away?”

Li Xueying nodded and said, “Yes, take them all away. Since my parents can’t bear to part with them, take them all with us! Don’t leave a brick behind, we can do the reassembly when we get there.”

Glasses quickly calculated and said, “Sis Xueying, that would be more expensive than rebuilding.”

Li Xueying shook her head. “When I was young, they did everything they could to raise me. So what if I spent more money on them? As long as they are happy, I’m willing to spend even more money. Alright, quickly get it done.”

Glasses understood what Li Xueying meant and immediately arranged for someone to do it.

When the villagers saw that the Li family was about to move away, they felt a sense of loss.

Someone even mumbled, “How can they move away? If they just move away, what will we do in the future? Who would still give us money?”

Granny Sun sneered. “Are you a retard or a cripple? Can’t you earn money with your own hands? If I were to say, it’s a good thing that Xueying is moving away.”

“What are you saying? How can this be a good thing?” someone said unhappily.

“You find it bad? That’s because you are a good-for-nothing and a lazy bum! You are so young but you can’t even support yourself. What will happen to you when you grow old? Do you really think Li Xueying will support you for the rest of your life? With ingrates like you and the amount of bullying you do, it’s only a matter of time before they move. You should be glad that Xueying is leaving now.

“If she really is ruthless and continues rearing you, you’ll forget how to even work when you grow old. Once you are out of society, she’ll leave… Humph, even if you have the intention of working, you won’t be able to do any work. All you do is wait at home and starve to death!”

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Some people wanted to retort, but after careful consideration, they realized that they hadn’t been doing farming all these years. Some of them had already left their land to fallow. Every day, they would target Li Xueying’s house to get some money. After getting the money, they would play mahjong. In a blink of an eye, a year had passed.

Some of the youths fell silent. What did they know?

They suddenly realized that other than playing mahjong, they did not know anything!

They didn’t know how to farm or do work. They had no skills at all.

Now, if they really went out to work, they would not know where to go or what they could do!

They looked confused as they fell into deep thought…

As for the elderly, they became gripped with fear. Their children were useless and could not bring in the bacon.

Although they knew how to farm, they were already old and their bodies weren’t that tough. To count on them to rear a family?

Going out to work? They could have done it in the past, but now that they were already at this age, who would want them?

Panic spread in the elderly people’s hearts. At this moment, they finally realized that they were wrong, terribly wrong!

There was originally a big tree beside them. They had never thought of protecting it well. They could have helped it grow more luxuriant to help them shelter from the elements.

Yet, they were also thinking of means to chop wood from it for firewood. Now that the tree had fallen, they had nothing left…

Regardless of what they thought or how anxious they were, Li Xueying still left. She left without any hesitation.

At the instant Li Xueying left the village, the anxious villagers began heading home. They sat down and discussed what they were going to do in the future—whether they were to farm, get a job, or learn a skill.

They learned how to live their lives for the first time…

After Li Xueying left, Fangzheng did not leave. He took in everything and smiled before leaving.

When he left, Fangzheng dispelled A Golden Millet Dream. He had been casting it for so long that he was exhausted.

At that moment, Glasses mumbled, “I never expected a rich celebrity like Sis Xueying would have such troubles…”

Fangzheng said with a smile, “Every family has its hardships. No matter how strong a person is, a kind heart means a weakness.

“However, as long as her kindness is strong enough, she would be invincible!

“If one’s heart is full of beauty, then there is nothing to be vexed about. If one’s heart is full of goodness, then there is no one to hate;

“If the heart is of simplicity, then all the conflicts in the world become empty. When one is a good person, the body is straightforward, the heart is at peace, and the spirit rests in safe dreams;

“Doing benevolent deeds, heaven is aware, the earth testifies, and gods and demons alike offer their respect.

“The world is no longer cold when you stop your doubt;

“People are always around if you do not choose to leave.

“Your heart gets warmer once you put down your hatred;

“The universe works peacefully if you quit the complaints…”

As he spoke, Fangzheng left.

When Glasses heard that, he suddenly turned his head and saw a white figure slowly leave. He then exclaimed, “It’s Abbot Fangzheng!”

Unfortunately, there was no one beside Glasses to hear his shout.

On the way, Fangzheng saw Li Xueying, who was waiting for Fangzheng by the roadside. Li Xueying smiled. “Master, want a ride?”

Fangzheng smiled. “Of course.”

Li Xueying sent Fangzheng back to One Finger Monastery before rushing off to fly overseas. She began her busy working lifestyle again.

As for Fangzheng, he sat in the backyard and recounted his experiences to his disciples.

After the recount was over, Squirrel ate the snacks in his mouth as he said, “Master, I never expected a celebrity like Patron Li to have so many troubles despite being so rich. I thought that with money, one could do whatever they wanted.”

Red Boy said, “Look at what you’re saying. You will definitely be happy with money?”

Squirrel said, “I thought I would be happy…”

Fangzheng said, “I don’t know if having money will make you happy, but I know that life is hard without money…”

Fangzheng recalled his poor days when he was young and felt a little wistful.

As the snow stopped, the dark clouds scattered. As the sun shined down on the ground, One Finger Monastery’s devotees began to return. The wisps of incense smoke mixed together, turning into columns of azure dragon that soared into the sky. It became a must-see scene for people who came to One Finger Monastery.

Many people asked Red Boy how One Finger Monastery did it.

Red Boy would always laugh out loud. “There’s a smoking addict Bodhisattva above. She’s sucking from above every day.”

Red Boy was just joking, but someone actually believed him. It even spread… Instantly, someone began consecrating a smoking Bodhisattva at home. Some people even sold the figurines of a smoking Bodhisattva…

When Fangzheng heard the news, all he could do was smile bitterly…

On this day, Fangzheng lost sleep.

“Master, why aren’t you sleeping?” Lone Wolf crawled out of his kennel out of curiosity.

Fangzheng narrowed his eyes and said, “I don’t know. In the past two days, be it striking the bell, striking the drum, or striking the wooden fish while chanting the Buddhist scriptures, I’m always panicking inside. It’s as though something big is about to happen.”