Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

Fu Tieshan gave a heavy "hmm," his dark face flushed with excitement. He had only hoped for a slightly better harvest than in previous years to make the winter easier for his family, but he never expected that the harvest would be more than double that of previous years! The yield of beans was even more astonishing, with plump and round beans.

The family of three worked tirelessly for three whole days to harvest all the crops in the field. In the yard, golden corn cobs were piled up like a small mountain, and several large mats were covered with dried bean pods.

Next came threshing and drying. While other families in the village were still busy with their meager harvest, the Fu family had already begun this tedious yet joyful task.

Looking at this substantial and far-than-expected harvest, Fu Tieshan and Yang's fatigue from the past few days vanished, replaced by a radiant smile they had never shown before. This meant that they would not only be able to easily pay their rent (based on the yield of their land) this year, but also have enough food to last until next summer, and perhaps even some surplus!

The news spread like wildfire throughout the village. People finally stopped just watching from afar and couldn't resist coming to "visit." Looking at the golden cornfield in the Fu family's courtyard and listening to Fu Tieshan and Yang's humble yet proud introduction, the villagers felt a mix of emotions.

"Tieshan, your house... is truly amazing!"

"Pingwa, tell your uncle, what other methods did Grandpa Mountain God teach you?"

"Sister Yang, your beans are really good. Can I borrow some as seeds? I'll trade you something in return!"

Faced with a steady stream of villagers, Fu Tieshan, following Fu Shaoping's prior instructions, did not reveal the specific methods of "laying grass to fertilize the fields," but repeatedly emphasized that it was due to "the protection of the mountain god" and "the child's good luck." He also politely declined the request to exchange seeds, saying only that the seeds were borrowed and needed to be returned. He was well aware of the principle that possessing a treasure can be a crime.

Fu Shaoping remained quietly in the corner, watching his parents handle the neighbors with ease, seeing the genuine, respectful, and envious glow on their faces. A sense of peace settled in his heart. This was what he wanted to see: for his family, for his parents, to regain their dignity and hope.

After the joy of the harvest comes the practical consideration. With more grain, storage becomes a problem. In previous years, when grain was scarce, any jar or earthenware pot could be used to store it, but this year, with so much, it is easily susceptible to dampness, mold, or being stolen by rats.

Fu Shaoping offered his suggestions again. He instructed his father to build a simple "grain storage" in the house, half a foot off the ground, using wood and mud. He lined the bottom with dry lime and mugwort to prevent moisture and repel insects, and sealed the edges with mud. He also suggested that his mother thoroughly dry the beans and then seal them in burlap sacks treated with wood ash.

These methods, too, stem from his experiences in his previous life and his reflections in this one; they are simple yet effective.

After properly storing the grain, the Fu family faced a "happy" choice—what to do with the surplus? Keep it all? Or exchange some for something more needed?

Fu Tieshan and Yang discussed for half the night and finally decided to keep enough food and seeds to last until the new grain was harvested next year, and take the remaining 30% of corn and beans to town to exchange for money or urgently needed supplies.

The night before going to the market in town, Yang called Fu Shaoping to her side, stroked his head, and said with slightly red eyes, "Pingwa, thanks to you, our family is doing well this year. Your father and I have discussed it, and we'll go to town tomorrow to buy you some new cloth and make you some clothes." The tattered cotton-padded jacket Fu Shaoping was wearing was patched and sewn together, and it was much too short.

Fu Shaoping felt a warmth in his heart, but shook his head: "Mother, I'm not in a hurry. Let's buy Father a sturdy pair of shoes first; his shoes are all worn through. Then buy some salt and lamp oil, and if there's any money left... just buy me a small hoe." He wanted a farming tool of his own so he could more easily conduct some small-scale "experiments."

Hearing her son's sensible words, Yang finally burst into tears and hugged him tightly, saying, "Good child, good child..."

The next day, Fu Tieshan borrowed an oxcart from the village, took some grain, and set off for the town dozens of miles away at dawn. He didn't return until evening, his face covered in dust, but his excitement was undeniable.

He not only got enough salt and lamp oil, but also bought a cheap wooden hairpin for Yang, a small but sharp hoe for Fu Shaoping, and even... he gritted his teeth and bought two half-grown piglets!

“I saw that pork prices in town are not low. Our family has a surplus of grain this year, and we can even make ends meet with bran. So I was thinking of catching two piglets to raise. We’ll slaughter them at the end of the year, keep some meat for ourselves, and sell the rest to make some money.” Fu Tieshan explained nervously, rubbing his hands, but his eyes were bright and full of plans for the future.

Yang was startled at first when she saw the two squealing piglets, but then she laughed and said, "Good! Let's raise them! Now we have the confidence to raise them!"

Fu Shaoping watched his parents excitedly planning for the future, and a slight smile appeared on his lips as he looked at the two little pigs that symbolized even greater hope.

The autumn harvest brought not only grain, but also the family's renewed confidence and courage to move towards a better life.

His centuries of spiritual practice seemed to have drawn unique power from this simple joy of harvest. It wasn't an increase in spiritual power, but rather a deeper, more grounded understanding of concepts like "creation," "hope," and "protection."

Winter has not yet arrived, but the autumn in the Fu family is already as warm as spring.

Spring breezes once again turned the mountains and fields of Wangshan Village green, and the Fu family's life had entered a busy and hopeful phase. Following last year's experience, Fu Tieshan began early to cut grass and collect humus to apply as green manure to the fields. This time, no one mocked him. Instead, several villagers who were on good terms with the Fu family, or who had witnessed the miracle last year, such as Gouwa's father, began to follow the Fu family's example and spread grass on their own fields. Fu Shaoping was happy to see this change. He didn't keep anything secret; when someone asked, he would have his parents relay some basic points, such as which grasses decomposed more easily, how thick to spread, and remind them that this method was time-consuming, slow to show results, and required patience. He still attributed everything to the "mountain god's guidance," maintaining a childlike "ignorance" and "good fortune."

His "experimental field" has been expanded. The wild ginger transplanted last year successfully overwintered and sprouted new shoots. He took good care of it, trying different methods of composting and mulching, and observing its growth. He also introduced a type of purslane with thick leaves and a smooth texture from the mountains. This wild vegetable has extremely strong vitality; even if you pinch off the tender leaves, it will grow back, making it an important supplementary vegetable in the summer.

The two piglets in the family grew rapidly under careful feeding, becoming plump and strong. Following the methods Fu Shaoping had "heard," Yang regularly cleaned the pigsty, kept it dry, and used herbs such as mugwort and calamus for fumigation to prevent disease. The two pigs were almost never sick, which made other pig-raising families in the village envious, and they all came to learn from her. Yang also honestly shared her experience, and the Fu family's reputation in the village grew better and better.

Fu Shaoping realized that relying solely on planting and animal husbandry would limit their ability to withstand risks. He began to think about how to increase his family's "cash flow." Wangshan Village was isolated, and the only thing that could be exchanged for cash was the produce from the mountains.

He set his sights on the underutilized resources of the mountains. Besides continuing to collect wood ear mushrooms and bracken, he began to look for plants with specific uses. For example, he discovered a highly resilient kudzu vine; after peeling off its outer bark, soaking and pounding it, he obtained tough fibers that could be used to make ropes, straw sandals, and even to try weaving rough linen. He also discovered several plants with natural pigments or fragrances, which he tried using for dyeing or making simple insect-repelling sachets.

These explorations were mostly small-scale and the finished products were rough, but he enjoyed them immensely. He shared these ideas and discoveries with his parents through "questions" or "accidental discoveries." Fu Tieshan was skillful with his hands and very interested in weaving, so he began to study how to weave more sturdy and durable baskets and straw sandals from kudzu vines. Yang, on the other hand, focused on dyeing and making sachets. Although the things she made were not very marketable, they could still earn some pocket money in the village and nearby markets.

What Fu Shaoping cared about most was his knowledge of "herbal medicine." He still used the excuse of being "given a dream by the mountain god," but began to guide his parents more systematically in identifying and using several common and safe herbs. He taught Yang to identify "small thistle" which could stop bleeding, "dandelion" which could clear heat and detoxify, and "sour jujube seed" (from his dried sour jujubes) which could calm the nerves and help with sleep. He even took his father to find a small patch of wild "perilla" in the mountains, which could be used to treat common colds.

This knowledge of herbal medicine was especially precious in the remote mountain village where medical resources were scarce. Initially, when a neighbor, Gouwa, sprained his ankle, the Fu family gave him some crushed elderberry leaves as a poultice, and the swelling and pain subsided quickly. Later, when a child in the village cried incessantly at night, Yang brought him some jujube seed soup, and the child slept soundly that night. Word spread quickly, and the Fu family, especially Fu Shaoping, gradually gained a reputation for "knowing herbal medicine."

Villagers began coming to the Fu family seeking help with minor ailments. Fu Tieshan and Yang remembered their son's instructions and only provided herbal remedies that they had confirmed were safe and simple, repeatedly emphasizing that "the methods taught by the mountain god may not work for everyone; for serious cases, we still need to see a doctor." They never asked for payment, but the kind-hearted villagers would always give them a few eggs, a bunch of vegetables, or a small bag of grain as a token of their gratitude.

This silent accumulation subtly changed the Fu family's status in the village. They were no longer just an unlucky poor household, but a family with a certain prestige and respect. Even if someone in the clan chief Fu Laoshuan's family was unwell, he would humble himself and ask the Fu family if they had any traditional remedies.

Fu Shao calmly observed all of this. He guided his family to improve their lives not for fame or fortune, but as part of his spiritual practice. Seeing the radiance on his parents' faces as they helped others, and witnessing the quiet improvement in the quality of life in this small mountain village due to these small changes, he felt a sense of satisfaction different from the growth of power.

One day in late summer, Fu Tieshan returned from town with some news. The owner of the grain store in town had heard that the grain grown by the Fu family in Wangshan Village was of exceptionally good quality, and he specifically asked someone to inquire about it, expressing his willingness to purchase the Fu family's new grain this year at a price 10% higher than the market price.

This news caused quite a stir in the village. It meant that the Fu family's farming techniques had gained recognition from the outside world!

Fu Tieshan and Yang were excited but also a little apprehensive, so they went to their son to discuss it.

Fu Shaoping pondered for a moment and said, "Father, Mother, this is a good thing. It shows that our method is indeed good. However, we can't sell all the grain; we need to keep enough for ourselves. As for the farming method..." He paused, "We can tell the clan chief and let him decide whether to try promoting it in the village. But we need to make it clear that this method is labor-intensive and requires a lot of effort, and we also need to see if the land is suitable for it."

He knew that technology diffusion needed to be gradual and that it required a respected person to lead it, and that his own family should not take the lead in this regard.

Fu Tieshan agreed wholeheartedly and went to see the clan chief, Fu Laoshuan, the next day.

Soon after, at the clan chief's call, the village held a meeting and decided that Fu Tieshan would take the lead in selecting several plots of land of different types in the village to conduct a small-scale demonstration of the "green manure planting method." Fu Tieshan was a little nervous, but with his son's encouragement, he carefully explained the key points such as laying straw, composting, and intercropping.

Because of the variable that is Fu Shaoping, agricultural production in Wangshan Village has begun a quiet transformation.

Standing in his courtyard, Fu Shaoping watched the villagers gathered around his father, discussing animatedly, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. Like a gentle rain nourishing the earth, his second life was leaving an ever-deepening mark on this land in this way. His path, in its protection and creation, grew ever more profound and solid.

Time flies, and Fu Shaoping has entered his third year in Wangshan Village. Today, the Fu family is one of the wealthiest families in the village. The granary is full, there are pigs in the pen, and chickens in the yard. Fu Tieshan has become a recognized "farming expert" and "half a hunter" in the village. Yang is also good at managing household affairs and raising livestock. She occasionally helps her neighbors with herbs and is highly respected.

Fu Shaoping, this eight-year-old child, became increasingly mysterious in the eyes of the villagers. He remained taciturn, spending most of his time tending to the strange and unusual plants in the "experimental field" behind the house, going up the mountain with his father, or walking quietly alone by the river or in the woods. The villagers had long been accustomed to his unusualness and privately called him "Little Master" or "Mountain God Child."

That year, the farming in Wangshan Village was much better than in previous years because some of the crops adopted the "green manure method" passed down by the Fu family. Although it was not as amazing as the Fu family's harvest, it still gave many families hope. Fu Tieshan's influence in the clan also increased significantly.

However, Fu Shaoping was not satisfied with this. He knew that the lack of knowledge was one of the root causes of poverty in the mountain village. Most villagers were illiterate, needing help even to do simple accounting, let alone read agricultural or medical books or acquire more advanced knowledge. Although he could not directly impart profound knowledge in this life, perhaps he could plant a seed. (End of Chapter)