The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 198: Joys and sorrows, the growing boy
The lobby is decorated in a subtle manner.

After the host and the guest were seated and took a sip of tea, Xuanming explained the purpose of his visit, which was mainly to bring his apprentice back to meet his parents and maintain family ties, and the free food and accommodation was just a convenience.

Li Daniu and his wife then turned their eyes to their son.

Li Zizai, who had just stepped over the threshold, was suddenly in a state of confusion, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He didn't know whether to be happy that they finally noticed him, or to be sad that they only noticed him now.

"You little brat, you came back without even saying a word."

Li Daniu complained hypocritically.

Li Zizai: “Squeak!”

Li Daniu suddenly felt itchy.

Mrs. Li: ...

My dear, just get used to it!

Xuanming: ...

This is definitely not what I taught!
However, this shameless look is quite consistent with the character who has come down from the mountain to enter the world this time!

The atmosphere was awkward for a moment.

Li Zizai insisted that as long as I am not embarrassed, others will be embarrassed. He took a few steps forward and bowed: "My son greets his father and mother."

Li Daniu hummed proudly.

Madam Li glanced at her husband, then turned around and said with a loving smile: "My son, please get up quickly."

She was very emotional and wanted to stand up to help him, but Li Zizai caught her first and said kindly, "Mom, you are not feeling well, please don't get tired. I have missed you so much these years."

Mrs. Li enjoyed her eldest son's closeness, but she said, "You rascal, you tease your father when you come back."

Li Zizai massaged Madam Li's shoulders and legs while raising his eyebrows and said, "Mother, I am following Father's instructions. He is very happy. Right, Father?"

Considering that his wife was pregnant, when she looked at him, Li Daniu squeezed out a word of "yes" from between his teeth, but cursed in his heart:

"You big-headed ghost, you piss me off as soon as you come back!"

Ignoring the eye contact between her husband and her eldest son, Madam Li stroked Li Zizai's chubby face, and said with satisfaction and gratitude, "This child has been spoiled by us since he was young. I'm afraid the Taoist priest has been worried about him a lot in the mountains. I would like to thank you."

Xuanming would not let a pregnant woman worship him. A stream of magic power fell gently, and Madam Li sat still on the chair. She said, "Madam, please don't be so polite. This child is innocent and lively and easy to raise. Besides, since he has worshipped me as his master, I will take good care of him."

It’s really thoughtful!
I recalled the days when I often suffered from the cold in the Taoist temple and had to use my magic power to resist.

Li Zizai had a hard time expressing his grievances.

Xuanming didn't disturb their family reunion too much.

After chatting for a while, he walked out of the hall and strolled around the courtyard accompanied by the butler.

---

Li Daniu has been rich for only a dozen years, but his mansion does not have a strong nouveau riche style, but rather emphasizes practicality.

Although there are pavilions, towers, rockery, flowing water, flowers, plants and trees in the two courtyards, the materials used are not luxurious, but just above average.

In the words of Li Daniu:
Money should be spent wisely. As long as you have the ability, people will look up to you even if you live in a thatched hut, eat simple meals, and wear coarse linen clothes.

He chose to travel the world as a sloppy old Taoist, in order to see the world from a different perspective, to experience the warmth and coldness of human nature, the joys and sorrows of life, and this was similar to what Li Daniu did.

However, Xuanming was more concerned about the porridge stall at the corner of the back alley. On the sixth day of every month, the Li family would give out porridge and clothes at the door to accumulate virtue and do good deeds.

In addition, two orphanages were established in Fuyun County to take in homeless elderly people and children, and people were sent to teach them skills on a regular basis.

Li Daniu also set up a pharmacy, a workshop, etc. to teach skills for free. After all, giving a man a fish is only a temporary good deed, while teaching a man to fish is a long-term merit. Only by doing good and accumulating virtue can it be put into practice.

Xuanming knew all this very well.

If they continue like this, a hundred years later, Li Daniu and his wife, with their profound merits, will not only bless their descendants, but will also have the opportunity to become ghosts and gods and embark on the path of Shinto.

This is what it means to be rewarded with good deeds.

After the tour, Xuanming returned to the guest house.

---

Rich families are different from ordinary people. The latter have two meals a day, while the former have three meals a day. At noon, Li Daniu's family prepared a banquet and warmly entertained Xuanming. The banquet was rich in delicacies from mountains and sea, and the aged wine was mellow and rich.

In addition, there was a two-year-old girl who was pretty and cute. She was Li Zizai's sister.

"This is?"

"This is your sister!" Li Zizai:!!!

So, the baby in my belly is my third child!

And why does this sound a bit weird?

Looking at their son's frightened expression, Li Daniu and his wife felt a little guilty.

After their eldest son went to the mountains to practice Buddhism, they were left with no children. Also, they knew they could not rely on their eldest son to support them in their old age, so they needed to train a new heir. After two months of hard work, they finally gave birth to a little girl.

The chance to become an immortal is hard to come by, so in order to prevent their son from being distracted from his practice, Li Daniu and his wife did not tell him the news.

After giving birth to a little girl, they had not planned to have another child. The third child was an accident caused by a fire among the dry wood.

After their eldest son came back today, Li Daniu and his wife were busy trying to get along with him and temporarily forgot about their little girl until this moment.

"Zizai, listen to me..."

After understanding the whole story, Li Zizai had a complicated expression, mixed with sadness and joy. Fortunately, three years of practice had made him mentally stronger. In just a few breaths, he suppressed his disappointment and smiled:

"I won't be able to be with my father and mother often in the future, but I can rest assured knowing that my younger sister is by their side and taking care of them."

A wise child is better than his parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Li Daniu knew that although this was what their eldest son said from the bottom of his heart, he was probably feeling bad at the moment.

He wanted to comfort her but Li Zizai got there first:
"Mother, what's your sister's name?"

"The autumn water of Nanhu Lake is smokeless at night, and one can ride the current straight up to the sky. My daughter's name is Li Qiushui."

"Li Qiushui, that's a good name."

Xuanming: It’s indeed a good name!

Seeing that their son always changed the subject intentionally or unintentionally, Li Daniu and his wife looked at each other and understood what he meant.

While they were both pleased and distressed that their son was sensible, they tacitly agreed not to try to comfort their son. The couple each toasted Xuanming, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

While drinking and chatting, Li Daniu and his wife shared with Xuanming many of Li Zizai's embarrassing childhood stories.

For example, when Li Zi was a child, he was playing with firecrackers and almost set the study on fire. Afterwards, he was afraid of being punished, so he hid in the doghouse for several hours. From then on, his son Wangcai would lie still when he saw this kid, and would never give him the chance to occupy the doghouse.

For example, when Li Zi was a child, he stole goose eggs from Wang Yuanwai's house next door. He was chased all over the street by the goose in his neighbor's house. From then on, they became enemies. Every time they met, the man and the goose would fight for three hundred rounds. The goose became more and more courageous, but this kid kept fighting despite repeated defeats and often took the initiative to provoke the goose.

At the dinner table, Li Zizai felt embarrassed and annoyed.

Seeing that his parents showed no sign of stopping, he hugged his sister and hurried away on the pretext of strengthening the sibling relationship.

Three unscrupulous laughs were heard behind me.

---

The next morning, dawn broke.

After collecting the purple energy of the morning sun, the master and disciple said goodbye and left under the reluctant gaze of Li Daniu and his wife.

Li Zizai was walking with his donkey, feeling depressed.

When he was almost at the alley entrance, he suddenly became excited, turned around, waved his hands, and shouted:
"Mom and Dad, please take care of yourselves.

Dad, please drink less.

Mom, don’t have any more children after the third one.

When I return from my travels with Master, I will definitely come home to see you."

After thinking for a while, he continued:

"Don't let Nannan forget me as her brother.

If the third child were a boy, if he didn't listen, he would be severely beaten. Don't be such a bastard like me.

Don't worry, I will take good care of myself and Master.

There’s more!
Dad, thank you for the parting gift."

The words fell.

Li Zizai turned around and strode forward, leading the donkey. The sunlight shone on him and his smile was as bright as the morning sun.

(End of this chapter)