Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

"Well... I might not be in the house often. If you want to find me, Daoist, you can go to the market in Taipei this morning. My father and I will go there to do some business with the merchants in the city."

"Wouldn't that mean you'd always have to wait for me there? That would be too much trouble for you."

"It's not much trouble."

How often do you usually go to Taipei?

"I go about once every two or three days."

"Then please wait for me in the North Market every six days, Brother Chu. I will definitely come early."

And so they agreed to meet every six days, not at the entrance of Taipei City, but in front of the paper shop inside Taipei City.

If Zhuang Xing can't come, he'll ask the old man who sells paper in Beishi to pass on his message, so Chu Sheng won't have to wait for him.

Yidu is very large, and Zhuangxing only visited a small part of it today.

He wanted Chu Sheng to show him around some more. Having finally arrived in a new place, he naturally wanted to experience the local customs and culture as much as possible.

He treats his trip as a vacation, except when he's out exorcising demons.

The two parted ways at the city gate, while people came and went beneath the white, misty city walls.

Zhuang Xing carried the two pickled fish and parted ways with Chu Sheng. Before dark, he returned to the small courtyard to start a fire and cook.

The White Horse Temple actually provided them with free porridge, which included meat and vegetables, but... well, it wasn't that bad, just bland and tasteless.

Zhuang Xing used to think that monks couldn't eat meat, but the monks at Baima Temple told him that monks were forbidden from eating fish, which meant strong-smelling seasonings like onions, ginger, and garlic.

They are allowed to eat meat; they only advocate not killing, but when they go to the butcher shop to buy meat, it is called "three-fold pure meat".

Besides, how could someone who practices spiritual cultivation not eat meat?

If you don't eat meat, you won't get enough nutrition, and you won't even be able to cultivate your true qi.

However, Zhuang Xing simply couldn't get used to the porridge and dishes that were almost entirely boiled in plain water with very little salt.

After eating it once, he decided to cook for himself from now on.

Moreover, temples have a rule of not eating after noon; people only eat breakfast and lunch. If you try to get porridge from a monk in the evening, they will only tell you that there is no porridge available.

As a foodie, Zhuang Xing gets hungry if he doesn't eat dinner.

Just then, Chu Sheng delivered some pickled fish. He put the fish in the rice cooker, topped it with scallions and soy sauce, steamed it briefly on a bamboo steamer, and then stir-fried a plate of greens. That's how he prepared the meal.

It's simple, but it tastes so much better than the porridge at Baima Temple.

Zhuang Xing served the food and sat down to eat with the old Taoist priest.

The pickled fish wasn't just salty; it also had a sweet and sour taste, like plum. It tasted a bit like braised pork with preserved mustard greens, and it was very appetizing. He ate several bowls of rice with it.

"Where did you buy this fish?" Even the old Taoist priest couldn't help but ask.

"I didn't buy it; it was a gift from a friend," Zhuang Xing said.

"Is this Chu Sheng, the one you mentioned during the day?"

"Yes, the fish were delivered from their home."

The old Taoist priest took the last piece of fish, chewed it carefully, and watched with a smile as Zhuang Xing cleared away the bowls and chopsticks.

"good."

...

The next morning, the sky finally cleared up.

A heavy snow fell last night, and after the snow stopped, the dark clouds that had been hanging over the place for days finally began to disperse.

Zhuang Xing practiced in the courtyard. The early winter sun shone down, but it didn't bring much warmth.

He went to Taipei to pick up his new clothes. In that shop, he changed out of his Taoist robe. There was a bronze mirror in the shop, which, although not large, was enough for Zhuang Xing to see his appearance.

He tugged at his sleeves, looked them over, and found that the clothes fit him quite well and were suitable for him.

Although the shopkeeper told him that the clothes in their store had been priced the same for many years, and that local fabric merchants were having a hard time making ends meet.

However, he will not buy clothes from this store again in the future. There is no particular reason; it's just too expensive.

He wrapped up his Taoist robe, and on the way back, the gazes directed at him lessened considerably.

At least there weren't as many people looking at him from behind anymore, and he felt much more relaxed. Being a public figure is indeed quite stressful.

Back in the small courtyard, he found that guests had arrived.

An elderly monk in his robes, accompanied by a young monk, entered the courtyard.

Master Qingxu and the old monk were sitting in the main room, drinking tea.

Zhuang Xing knew that this was the Taoist priest's friend, and that this must be Abbot Yin Chan.

The abbot is arguably the highest-ranking person in a temple. This Abbot Yinchan looked a few years older than Daoist Qingxuzi, but Zhuang Xing could sense the profound aura emanating from him, indicating that he was a senior with profound cultivation.

When elders arrive, Zhuangxing naturally needs to show them proper etiquette.

After being introduced by Daoist Qingxuzi, he bowed respectfully.

"You've found another piece of jade," the old monk said, scrutinizing Zhuang Xing.

This time, the old Taoist priest didn't feign modesty: "This child is indeed very good."

"By the way, what kind of ritual did you go back to perform? Why did it take you so long?"

"It was the prefect who asked me to perform a religious ceremony..." The old monk picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "These past few years, the snow has been falling earlier and earlier, and the weather has been getting colder and colder. You should know that, right?"

"I do have that feeling, but in previous years, there have inevitably been times like this."

“This time is different.” The old monk shook his head. “The astrologers in the capital observed the stars at night and said that the celestial phenomena had changed drastically. For the next few decades, winters will come early and go late. Last winter, even the south, where it never snows, had snow.”

"The people there don't store food for the winter like we do here. Although the government responded quickly by opening the granaries and distributing relief grain, some people still froze and starved to death."

"The Emperor recently issued an edict of self-reproach, hoping to quell the severe cold. The government has also made some preparations. The prefect summoned me to perform a prayer ceremony..."

"But you and I both know that a religious ceremony can't possibly change the will of Heaven," the old monk sighed. "This year we still have surplus grain, and the government has even prepared some warm clothes, but if it's like this next year, and the year after that, I don't know how many people will die..."

"Is it really that serious?" the old Taoist priest frowned.

"His Majesty has issued a new decree to all cities and prefectures, seeking talented individuals to help resolve this predicament," the old monk said. "Notices will soon be posted in Yidu City, stating that regardless of background or status, anyone who can solve the problem of keeping warm during the winter in the north and south will be highly commended."

"White Horse Temple has no other solutions. I would also like to ask you to go back to Xuanqing Temple and see if any Taoist priest has a way to alleviate the disaster a little."

"It's hard to say..." the old Taoist said, "But if it's really as you say, the snow is falling heavier and heavier, and it might even block the roads..."

The old monk sighed again and took a sip of tea.

Zhuang Xing stood behind the old Taoist priest and listened silently to the entire conversation.

Although he sensed that the weather was a bit abnormal, he did not expect that there would be a disaster in the south last year.

Will it get colder and colder for decades to come?

"Hopefully we can find some solutions..." the old monk said.

Items to keep warm...

Winter food...

Wheat is a type of grain that can survive the winter. At least the wheat cultivated by Yunling can survive the winter. They tried it last year, allowing the wheat to sprout before the snow, and the seedlings could survive the winter and be harvested in March or April of the following year.

Cotton, a crop that has not yet spread widely, can be used to make quilts and cotton clothing to help people get through the winter.

Upon hearing about the disaster, Zhuang Xing thought how desperate it would be if his father, mother, and younger sister were in such a situation, with no food to eat and no clothes to keep warm.

In history books and in other people's words, the number of people who froze or starved to death was just a number.

But each of them is a living, breathing human being, like Zhuang Xing, capable of both laughter and tears.

“Abbot Yin Chan, I have something I would like you to see,” Zhuang Xing said.

The old monk looked at the old Taoist priest, who asked, "Is there anything you'd like to say?"

"I do have something to say, but words are not enough. Please allow me to fetch that item first," Zhuang Xing said.

"Go on, child." The old monk was very patient with Zhuang Xing and did not look down on him because of his young age.

It's possible that the disaster situation is truly dire. Baima Temple is located in a bustling area, and Abbot Yinchan seems to have a close relationship with the prefect, perhaps already knowing many undisclosed secrets.

If we can persuade Abbot Yinchan, we can definitely spread the word about wheat and cotton sooner.

With this in mind, Zhuang Xing took the flour and placed it on the table.

Fortunately, he hadn't used it all up. He had originally planned to use the flour and bake another cake when Yan Huai'an returned.

"What is this?" The old monk saw the white powder for the first time, rubbed it between his fingers, and sniffed it.

“This is flour,” Zhuang Xing said. “It’s flour made from wheat.”

"What is your purpose in bringing this item?"

The old monk was puzzled. He didn't farm and didn't understand the matter of grains. Even farmers didn't know the characteristics of wheat. In those days, wheat was only grown in a few places, and it wasn't for human consumption but for livestock feed.

Even when officials collected taxes, they refused to accept wheat.

The artisans who make maltose don't use wheat malt, but barley malt, which shows how much it's disliked.

“Actually, wheat is a type of grain that can survive the winter,” Zhuang Xing said. “I know of a batch of wheat seeds that can survive the winter. As long as the wheat is planted before the snow, it can ripen in March or April, and that is a type of grain that can survive the winter.”

"If we promote the cultivation of this wheat and let people in the south grow it, there won't be such a food shortage."

"Really?" The old monk's eyes lit up.

“Absolutely no adulteration,” Zhuang Xing said. “Actually, I’ve been eating this wheat at the temple for two years now. Xuanqing Temple also has a lot of grains made from wheat now.”

"Although cooked wheat grains are hard to eat, as long as they are ground into flour with a stone mill, they can be kneaded into dough to make flatbread, pulled into noodles, or even baked into cakes with eggs. They taste great."

"So that's why you grind the wheat into flour?" the old monk said.

“Yes, the Taoist priest can also testify for me.” Zhuang Xing nodded.

"Really? Qingxuzi?" The old monk looked at the old Taoist priest. "You really saw these things he mentioned in Xuanqing Temple?"

"Yes, I have seen it." The old Taoist nodded. "Noodles and baked flatbreads—a chef in the canteen made them this year, and I personally quite liked them. But... Zhuang Xing, how do you know so much about these things?"

"Actually, I and Yunling were the ones who first made the flour," Zhuang Xing said. "When I was a child, we had a stone mill at home. My father and mother used the stone mill to grind soybeans into a paste and make tofu. I wondered if wheat could also be ground into flour and made into delicious things, so Yunling and I tried it together."

"Later it actually worked. In private, Yunling and I cultivated a wheat field and hired someone to take care of it."

"But...how many wheat seeds do you have?" The old monk still looked worried.