The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 13 Seeking guidance from the Living Buddha!
Under the direction of Old Master Zhuang, the dealers were thrown into chaos.

However, they still quickly set off for Du Yuan with filial piety.

From afar, Du Yuan spotted Old Master Zhuang and his entourage.

Today, Master Zhuang had specially changed into a silver-gray Hangzhou silk robe, the collar of which was starched stiff. Several servants followed behind him, and the well-dressed man from before was also behind Master Zhuang.

He must be someone like the steward of the dealership.

Du Yuan also noticed that the servants were all carrying trays wrapped in red cloth.

I don't know what's inside.

After just a few glances, Du Yuan guessed that this must be the richest man in Qiaoshui Town that he was looking for.

Before Grandpa Zhuang could even get close...

Du Yuan heard him shouting at her from afar:

"It is truly an honor for the Living Buddha to grace our town with his presence!"

When he walked happily to Du Yuan's side, Old Master Zhuang first glanced at Zhou Da, who had already been carried back to the main room to be dressed in his burial clothes.

Then, with an even brighter smile, he cupped his hands to Du Yuan and said:

"My name is Zhuang Dacai, and I am considered the person in charge of this town. I heard that the Living Buddha was compassionate and performed a ritual to help Zhou Dalang pass on to the afterlife. Therefore, I have prepared a small token of my respect and wish to offer it to the Living Buddha."

As he spoke, the servants behind him lifted the red cloth on the tray, revealing twenty snowflake silver coins.

Each ingot is worth a full ten taels of silver!

Actually, Mr. Zhuang wanted to offer more as a token of his appreciation, but at the moment, he only had this many pieces available in complete sets and of good quality.

So after showing the silver, Master Zhuang hurriedly lifted the last tray himself, revealing the Ganoderma lucidum inside.

Lying in the lacquer tray was a palm-sized Ganoderma lucidum, entirely vermilion. What was most remarkable was that its cap was smooth and intact, without the cracks and fissures typical of Ganoderma lucidum. It looked more like a piece of ornament carved from a single piece of blood jade by a craftsman.

This item is so exquisite that it would be worthy of being a tribute even if it were sent to the palace, let alone appearing in such a small place.

This was originally something that Old Master Zhuang had gone to great lengths to acquire, intending to keep it for cultivating relationships.

At that time, it cost almost half of his family fortune.

Lao Senzi Ziyun Zhenren had also been eyeing it for a long time, but Old Master Zhuang had always refused to give it up.

Now, upon seeing Du Yuan, he took it out without hesitation.

It must be said that those who become local gentry are always discerning and decisive.

He was certain that today was the day to bring out this Ganoderma lucidum!
However, Du Yuan wasn't very interested.

After briefly examining the lingzhi mushroom, which was also a first for Du Yuan, she placed it back in its original position, much to the astonishment of Old Master Zhuang, and said:

"It's in excellent condition; Mr. Zhuang has acquired a treasure."

"Um, is the Living Buddha dissatisfied?"

Du Yuan shook her head and said:

"No, no, what is not mine cannot be taken!"

Master Zhuang said anxiously:

“Living Buddha, this is my offering to you, no, this is my offering to Buddha!”

Du Yuan no longer wanted to admit that she wasn't a monk.

He simply waved his hand and said:
"I have something I'd like to ask Master Zhuang."

Master Zhuang hurriedly nodded and said:
“Please speak, Living Buddha.”

Du Yuan pointed to the well-dressed man and said:

"Is this gentleman the one Master Zhuang sent to help Madam Zhou?"

Master Zhuang glanced back at his butler, then said, somewhat puzzled:
"Indeed, Living Buddha, is that what you're asking?"

Du Yuan glanced at the old woman holding Xiao Wu without saying a word and smiled:
"Mr. Zhuang must have spent a lot of money on this matter, right?"

Upon hearing this, Master Zhuang was immediately startled, realizing that Du Yuan might be referring to him.

After all, he was a local gentry, while Zhou Da's family were just farmers. Although they lived in the same town, they were ultimately from two different worlds.

The people on the north side of the bridge, not the wealthy people on the south side, were united as one.

Therefore, he would send his steward to help because Aunt Zhou was willing to transfer the Zhou family's land deed to him.

Therefore, he took care of everything.

Otherwise, Aunt Zhou wouldn't have been able to find so many monks and Taoists.

Du Yuan had pretty much guessed this after arriving at Zhou Da's house.

In such times, local gentry would certainly try every means to seize land.

It all comes down to who's kinder and who's ruthless.

Therefore, Master Zhuang hurriedly said:

"Oh, Living Buddha, well, well, this old man still believes it's a mutually agreeable arrangement, where each gets what they need!" Du Yuan nodded and said.

“I know, otherwise Zhou Da wouldn’t have been banging his head against the wall in the room.”

"what?!"

Master Zhuang and his servants were all startled.

They immediately turned their gazes toward Zhou Da's remains.

Du Yuan's voice rang out at the opportune moment:
"Otherwise, Zhou Da would probably have gone to your house long ago."

"Living Buddha, this...this...I...I...I!"

Master Zhuang was truly shocked and terrified; he had almost walked through the gates of hell!

Du Yuan patted Master Zhuang on the shoulder and said:
"I know what you did wasn't a crime, but does being without fault equate to being right?"

Every time Du Yuan patted Master Zhuang on the shoulder, Master Zhuang would unconsciously shrink a little shorter.

At that moment, Aunt Zhou, who had been silent all along, suddenly brought Xiao Wu over and bowed to Du Yuan, saying:
“Living Buddha, I know you have the heart of a Bodhisattva and are full of compassion, but our Zhou family also has a spirit to live. This matter concerning Old Master Zhuang was truly our own choice, and Old Master Zhuang purchased the land at the market price.”

Her previous silence was because she did not want to use the power of a living Buddha to coerce Master Zhuang into giving up the land deed.

I just didn't expect that the Living Buddha was indeed the Living Buddha, and that nothing could be hidden from him.

Grandpa Zhuang was almost moved to tears.

He can't be considered heartless when he's rich, but he's not exactly philanthropic either.

However, he knew that Du Yuan was definitely a true bodhisattva, and was probably just unhappy that he had taken the opportunity to annex the Zhou family's land and seize the Zhou family's foundation.

He was right in this matter, but he did indeed leave the Zhou family without their last support. From now on, they would either be slaves or starve to death on the streets.

If someone from the Zhou family could say a good word for him at this moment, he would surely be able to gain favor with the Living Buddha.

Du Yuan waved her hand and said:
“I know, I know, that’s why I said it’s not a crime. After all, there’s no reason to expect Mr. Zhuang to use his own money to help others.”

Master Zhuang was sweating profusely as he listened.

"Living Buddha, your teachings are correct. From now on, I will definitely mend my ways. Um, fellow villagers, I, Zhuang, will distribute this silver among you!"

The Living Buddha didn't say what he wanted to do, but at times like this...

Whether the Living Buddha speaks or not is his business; whether he does it or not is his own problem!

As he spoke, Old Master Zhuang wanted to take the silver and distribute it to the villagers.

But as soon as the tray reached his hands, Du Yuan raised her hand and pressed it down on him, saying:

"It's not like this."

"Ah, then, rest assured, Living Buddha, I will return the land deeds to each family as soon as I get back!"

Du Yuan continued to shake her head:
"Not at all."

Mr. Zhuang almost fainted.

He put down the tray and was about to kneel down, but Du Yuan raised her hand to stop him.

He could only weep and clasp his hands in a mournful manner, unable to kneel, and said:
"Living Buddha, please give this old man a straight answer. What should I do?"

Du Yuan looked at him and smiled:
"How much land have you accumulated over the years through similar means?"

Old Master Zhuang was about to recount everything in detail, but Du Yuan suddenly interrupted him, saying:

"Hey, there's no need to say it. You can judge this matter in your own heart."

"Although you are occupying a key position, you are ultimately leveraging resources rather than forcibly selling or buying. Therefore, you are both without fault and yet still have a fault."

"Because you have ultimately incurred the consequences of this."

It's hard to say whether Mr. Zhuang's actions were wrong or right. After all, they were limited by the times and by people's hearts.

Du Yuan could only compromise and try her best to make everyone happy.

“If this continues, you, the landlord, will naturally become very wealthy, but that’s all you will ever be.”

Upon hearing this, Master Zhuang, who had just been wailing, suddenly paused.

Because he sensed something amiss, he hurriedly asked:

"Living Buddha, are you saying that my three children will fail the imperial examinations because of me? That they will only be able to fail!"

Du Yuan did not answer, but simply smiled.

As for Mr. Zhuang, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. His greatest hope was the future of his three children. He worked hard to accumulate wealth so that his three children could achieve greater things and go further.

Fortunately, the steward was not in the mountains, so he was not misled.

So he hurriedly tugged at Master Zhuang's sleeve and whispered something in his ear:
"Master, the Living Buddha said there is no way to achieve liberation!"

Old Master Zhuang was immediately jolted awake.

"Please enlighten me, Living Buddha! I cannot harm my three children!"

(End of this chapter)