Hence, Fangzheng said, "Patron, it's a good thing that you think so."
However, Li Xueying said with a bitter smile, "But that's where the trouble lies."
Fangzheng said, "Oh? There's trouble in doing good deeds? "
Li Xueying said, "Yes, I come from a farming family. Actually, I've always liked that village. If it's possible, I really don't wish to move out. It's quite nice to return occasionally. But everyone in the village knows that I'm a big celebrity and rich. "In the beginning, it was still alright. Only when I returned would my fellow villagers and relatives come to me, saying that they need to borrow money for their children's schooling, building a house, getting married, or for the elderly's illness.
"Back then, I thought that since we're fellow villagers, I should help them if I can, so I borrowed money.
"But from then on, more and more people came to borrow money. "Basically, every time I return to visit my parents, I don't even have a word with them. All I do is deal with them."
Upon saying this, Li Xueying sighed with a look of helplessness and grievance.
Li Xueying continued, "Later on, I didn't dare return. Sometimes, I would sneak back in the middle of the night. In the end, these people went overboard. They guarded my door every day … When I returned, not only did they borrow money, they even wanted me to help them guard the house and take care of the elderly! "
When Fangzheng heard that, he frowned.
Li Xueying said, "Although they went overboard, they are fellow villagers. They did help my parents a lot. They would carry some firewood and chat … But isn't it too much to ask me for money? I didn't hire them. "
Fangzheng nodded.
Li Xueying said, "That's not all. I became busier and busier. I couldn't return once or twice a year. They couldn't see me anymore, so I thought that this matter would slowly die down. I was still too naive. "I gave my parents ten thousand yuan a month for living expenses. I didn't dare give too much. It wasn't a good thing for the old couple to have too much money at home. "I originally thought that they would live quite comfortably, but one time, I didn't inform my family and secretly returned, hoping to give them a surprise. "I realized that the old couple was eating salted vegetables!
"I asked them why they weren't cooking. "When I opened the fridge, there was nothing! "When I asked them about the money, they told me that it had been borrowed by the villagers!
"The villagers knew when I transferred money to my parents. Almost every time I transferred money, they would come to borrow it. No, rather than borrowing, it was more like robbing!
My parents are honest people. They are afraid that if I don't lend them money, the villagers will say bad things about me and affect my reputation. So, every time someone comes to borrow money, as long as there is a slight threat, they will take out all the money … "
Speaking up to this point, Li Xueying's eyes became moist, and tears fell down her cheeks.
Fangzheng felt stifled when he heard that.
Although Fangzheng lived in a village, One Finger Village wasn't that complicated. Or rather, One Finger Village didn't have anyone like Li Xueying. As for Fangzheng? At first, they were even poorer than the villagers. Later on, Fangzheng's status rose before he had money. By then, the villagers had become rich thanks to Fangzheng. At this moment, who would come to find trouble with Fangzheng?
However, Li Xueying's situation was obviously different …
Fangzheng looked at the crying Li Xueying, but he did not show any pity. Instead, he pressed his palms together and asked, "Patron, do you know where you were wrong in this matter?"
Li Xueying originally imagined that Fangzheng would help her reprimand the villagers, but Fangzheng directly said that she was wrong! She was instantly taken aback, unsure of what Fangzheng meant. "Master, I've earned money. Is it wrong to lend it to them and help them?"
Fangzheng shook his head. "It's a good deed, but the method was wrong."
Li Xueying was even more confused. "What's wrong?"
Fangzheng stood up and said, "Patron, follow This Penniless Monk."
With that said, Fangzheng walked down the mountain. Li Xueying followed in a daze.
One Finger Village was at the foot of Mt. One Finger.
The present One Finger Village was a lot bigger than it was a year ago. As the youths who had gone out to work had returned, they had built new houses. Therefore, One Finger Village's permanent population had increased, making it livelier. Together with the construction of the school, One Finger Village looked more like a small town than a small village.
Upon seeing this prosperous scene, Li Xueying said enviously, "My hometown is rather poor. If only it could be this rich."
Fangzheng said, "The last time you came, this place wasn't this rich."
Li Xueying nodded. "That's right. How did they do it? Just because they are guarding your precious monastery? "
Fangzheng continued. "The last time you came, This Penniless Monk's monastery didn't receive any incense offerings."
Li Xueying frowned slightly. "Fangzheng, you haven't told me what I did wrong."
Fangzheng did not mention the matter. Instead, he wandered around the village with Li Xueying. When they arrived at Lame Ma's house, Fangzheng said, "This is Patron Ma's house. Patron Ma has no children and was very poor back then. This Penniless Monk chose a disciple to teach him carving skills, and he was chosen. Now, he has escaped poverty and is rich. Furthermore, it's said that he has a girlfriend. Who knows when he will get married. "
Li Xueying did not understand why Fangzheng was saying this.
Fangzheng continued walking and arrived at Mengmeng's house. "This is Mengmeng's house. It's that adorable little girl's house. Her family wasn't rich in the past, but later, with the Frost Bamboo forest as a landscape, they set up a farm. Now, their days are pretty good. It's said that they are discussing sending the little girl to school outside. "
Li Xueying did not say a word. Fangzheng continued walking and arrived at Dog Song's house. "Patron Song was a famous loafer in the village in the past. By chance, This Penniless Monk helped him. He thought things through and began to change his bad habits. He sweeps the village's streets every day and has become more diligent. Now, Dog Song is the village's role model.
The other villagers are about the same. They were very poor in the past. However, as One Finger Monastery becomes more popular, the Frost Bamboo's reputation increases. Their farm tourism also becomes more popular, and Frost Bamboo carvings sell better. Now, One Finger Village has already escaped poverty. "
Li Xueying was still puzzled when she heard that.
Fangzheng said, "Patron, follow This Penniless Monk up the mountain."
Li Xueying was dumbfounded. She did not understand what Fangzheng meant as she followed.
When they arrived at the monastery, Fangzheng pointed at the pile of coins under the bodhi tree. "Now, This Penniless Monk can be considered rich. However, no villager has ever borrowed money from This Penniless Monk or asked for money."
Li Xueying subconsciously said, "They are already rich and don't lack money. They naturally don't want you to borrow … Uh …"
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