Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three: Rich but Not Giving to the Monks

The gatekeeper looked at Zhao Cheng in surprise. Why was the prince upset with the monks? Wasn't he afraid of divine retribution? He didn't know that Zhao Cheng didn't believe in such things. In his previous life, he had committed countless murders and arson, but the heavens hadn't punished him; instead, they had let him be reborn as a prince, albeit a rather unlucky one.

"Bang, bang, clang, bang, bang, clang." While the gatekeeper was lost in thought, another round of drum and gong sounds came. A few people, dressed in tattered clothes and with colorful faces, looked like ghosts. They were beating drums and gongs, and shouting wildly as they approached the gate.

"The night revelers are here!" The gatekeeper exclaimed and was about to close the door.

"Uncle Tian, why are you closing the door?" Zhao Cheng stopped him and asked.

"Second Young Master, they are poor beggars who can't make it through the year. Every year at this time, they dress up as gods, ghosts, judges, Zhong Kui, and kitchen deities, beat drums and gongs, and pretend to drive away evil spirits for the household, in exchange for some food and drink. One group comes after another, and it's very troublesome!" The gatekeeper explained hurriedly.

"Oh, then what are we waiting for! Xianxi, go get some money. Uncle Tian, go to the kitchen and get some Laba porridge. Tell the steward to give them some white rice." Zhao Cheng instructed after listening.

"Ah?!" The gatekeeper was stunned. Not giving money to the monks but to the beggars, what was the prince up to?

"What are you saying, hurry up!" Another older gatekeeper said.

"Second Young Master is—"

"Don't you know what kind of person Second Young Master is? He can't stand to see poor people. Look at our new clothes and the jingling coins in our pockets; aren't they all from Second Young Master?" The older gatekeeper said.

"Oh, right, Second Young Master is a good person who pities the poor!" The two gatekeepers rushed off to do their tasks.

The monks saw a group of people at the gate, beating drums and gongs out of tune, dancing off-beat, and shouting "Yeh Hu Ah." They all sneered, thinking, "We are genuine disciples of the Buddha, reciting the true Dharani Sutra. This family only gave us a few liters of rice, not even a single coin. You poor beggars probably won't even get white rice, just messing around!"

"Zhong Kui is here, the little ghosts run away."

"Kitchen deity is here, the household is peaceful." A few people jumped and sang auspicious words, making the scene more lively than the monks' side.

"In, in, everyone, you've worked hard. My master has prepared Laba porridge for you. Have a bowl to warm your stomachs!" The gatekeeper came out, followed by a few kitchen helpers carrying porridge buckets and holding a stack of bowls. Zhao Cheng instructed the gatekeeper to bring a table, set out the bowls, and serve the hot porridge, inviting them to come over.

In such cold weather, being able to drink a steaming bowl of porridge was a real treat. The "night revelers" were a bit hesitant, thanked him in unison, put down their instruments, and wiped their hands on their clothes before picking up the bowls to drink the porridge.

Zhao Cheng put on a curious look, went up to play with their drums and gongs, and called them "uncle" and "grandpa" affectionately. Before they finished their bowls of porridge, he had become familiar with them. "Grandpa, is the harvest good this year? How are you getting by?"

"Ah, young master, you don't know. Although the harvest is good this year, the previous years were plagued by locusts, and the fields were barren. We had to borrow money to survive. The grain we harvested this year isn't enough to pay off the debts. We had no choice but to come out and beg, or we wouldn't be able to make it through the year!" The old man sighed.

"Yes, although the harvest is good, the taxes have increased by thirty percent compared to previous years. I sold my ox to barely pay the land tax. I don't know what to do in the spring!" Another man said, shaking his head after taking a sip of porridge.

"Xianxi, give each of them two liters of white rice and a string of coins (100 coins)!" Zhao Cheng said. From their lives, he could see that his father had already escalated from small-scale corruption to rampant mismanagement, leading to a fiscal deficit and the need to increase taxes like Cai Jing.

"Thank you, young master, thank you, young master!" The "night revelers" took the items and thanked him repeatedly.

"That's not the young master, it's our master!" The gatekeeper reminded them.

"Ah?" They were surprised that the master was so young. "Young master, though young, has a compassionate heart. He will surely become a high-ranking official and ride a fine horse, living a life free of illness and disaster!" They immediately changed their words, showering him with praise.

"What compassionate heart? We stood here for so long, and they didn't give us a single coin. They sing a few lines and get rice and money, and the porridge smells better and more fragrant than in our temple." The monks grumbled, their anger rising as they chanted louder and hit the wooden fish more vigorously.

"Second Young Master, should we give them some money to send them away? So they don't bother us at the gate." Xianxi asked quietly.

"Why should we give them anything? It's free to listen to their chanting, which can bring blessings and ward off disasters!" Zhao Cheng rolled his eyes. Seeing that the prince was determined not to give them anything, Xianxi didn't argue further and just watched the commotion.

In the surrounding area, there weren't many wealthy households, and even fewer were willing to give money and rice. When the news of the Zhao family giving money and rice spread, the "night revelers" all came over. One group left, and another immediately followed, one after another. Zhao Cheng gave each person two liters of rice, a string of coins, and as much Laba porridge as they wanted. Later, as more people came, he had the kitchen set up two large pots at the gate to cook porridge, but he ignored the monks.

These monks were quite persistent. If you didn't give them money, they wouldn't leave, determined to stay. They didn't believe that the Zhao family would dare to disrespect the Buddha in front of everyone. However, they chanted until their throats were dry, their lips were chapped, their hands were sore, and their feet were numb, but Zhao Cheng ignored them completely, letting them do as they pleased.

The Zhao family had many people, and they had to buy food and supplies from outside. Gradually, a small market formed in front of their gate. After the morning, the weather warmed up, and people from nearby villages came out to do business. The crowd grew, and they were drawn to the continuous drum and gong sounds, gathering to watch the commotion and enjoy a bowl of porridge.

"Hey, you guys, they don't like you, so just leave. Don't embarrass yourselves!" A man who had finished his porridge, burped, and wiped his mouth, approached the monks and said.

"Yes, yes, if they give you something, just leave!" Others chimed in.

"Ah, these days, people's hearts are not as pure as before. Even monks are after money!"

"Just give them some money, why argue with them?"

People were discussing, some saying the Zhao family was stingy, others saying the monks were greedy, creating a chaotic scene.

"Little brother, don't tease these Buddhas. They've been standing here for a long time. Just give them some money to form a good connection!" An old lady interjected.

"We did give them, five liters of rice, and they still wanted money. They wouldn't leave, blocking the gate. This isn't begging; it's extortion!" Xianxi explained quickly.

"That's your fault. If they gave, they should leave. Why block the gate?" The old lady advised the monks.

"Amitabha, the Buddha is compassionate. This family is stubborn and will surely be punished by heaven. We must save them!" The monk holding the Buddha statue said, his voice filled with indignation. He had been seething with anger, seeing the beggars get food and money, but the Zhao family ignored him. Now, he finally found someone to talk to and couldn't hold back.

"What are you saying? Who will be punished by heaven? I think you monks are asking for trouble!" Xianxi knew that the prince had been expelled from the palace because he was called a monster. The monk's words hit a sore spot, and he couldn't help but jump out and shout.

"You don't believe in the Buddha, and you disrespect the Buddha. You will go to the Avici Hell and never be reborn!" The monk retorted, his eyes glaring.

"Hey, you're getting aggressive with us!" Xianxi, seeing the monk's words getting more offensive, jumped up. "Pan Long, Xue Feng, drive these bald monks away!" He shouted into the house. As soon as Xianxi finished speaking, two fierce, muscular men came out of the house. "Who dares to cause trouble here? I'll beat them until they poop!" Pan Long growled, his eyes wide and fierce. His voice drowned out all others, and the gate immediately cleared.

"These monks are extorting us and even dared to insult Second Young Master!" Xianxi pointed at the monks.

"Insulting Second Young Master? You're asking for it!" Pan Long and the others had been treated well since they came to the house, with good food and drink, but they hadn't been used yet. They were eager to show their strength and reached out to hit the monks. The monks, seeing them come out, were already scared. They hadn't realized that the Zhao family was just not bothering with them, not that they couldn't handle them. Now, it was too late to regret, and they closed their eyes, waiting to be beaten.

"Stop! Why are you picking on a few monks?" Zhao Cheng saw this and quickly stopped them.

"They insulted Second Young Master, they deserve it!" Xue Feng said in a deep voice.

"Ah, if a dog bites someone, can we bite back?" Zhao Cheng waved the ladle he was using to serve porridge.

"Haha, Second Young Master is right. We'll let them off today!" Pan Long laughed and stepped back behind him. The crowd found the young master's words amusing and laughed along. The monks were trembling with anger but didn't dare to react, seeing the two muscular men.

"Ah, why don't you do something else instead of being monks? You can't even get a wife. Now that you're monks, at least behave. Don't act like ruffians, eating for free in temples!"

"Little layman, we are spreading good connections and saving all beings. How are we ruffians?" A monk, seeing Zhao Cheng's "gentle" demeanor, mustered the courage to argue.

(To be continued)