The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism

The woman shook her head. “Just braised pork.”

Then, the woman said to the child, “Son, be good. Mommy is not feeling well recently and can’t eat fish. Shall we eat braised pork?”

The child looked at the woman and the woman looked at the child. After a long pause, the child finally nodded and smiled. Clearly, this child really liked braised pork.

When the woman saw this, she smiled as well.

The waiter left helplessly. When he walked to the kitchen, he mumbled, “I can’t figure it out. It’s all free. Why only request for one dish and two bowls of rice? They don’t even want some drinks. Those lucky customers in the past would order all the delicious food they can until they can’t move…”

At the same time, Salted Fish asked the same question. “That Number 88 had ordered a huge table of food and got his friends to come eat with him. But for them, they’re asking for so little… I can’t figure it out.”

Fangzheng chuckled. “You are talking about the happiness of an ordinary person, but what they show is the backbone and conscience of a poor person. Free does not mean wastage. Free does not mean you can be greedy.”

Salted Fish smacked his lips, seemingly understanding, but not understanding at the same time.

Very soon, the braised pork was served. The braised pork in this restaurant was almost the same as the stewed meat in the northeast, not the recipe of Mao’s braised pork in the south. There were meat and potatoes in the braised pork. Mother kept putting meat into her son’s bowl, while her son quickly placed another piece of meat into his mother’s bowl.

“Alright, you’re still growing. Eat more meat. Only when you’re strong will you be able to protect Mom,” said the mother with a smile.

His son quickly gestured with his hands and said: “Mommy, you should eat more too. Mommy only comes home late at work every night. You need to nourish yourself. I can be filial to you when your body is better in the future.”

Many people didn’t understand sign language, but those who understood it quietly explained it to everyone.

After everyone heard that, they shook their heads and sighed. There was a hint of joy amidst their sympathy.

Who wouldn’t like sensible children? Even if he was disabled, a mentally-fine person was more precious than a physically-able person…

The mother and son enjoyed the meal, and very quickly. Clearly, the mother was occupied with the thoughts of finishing her meal quickly to get back to work. Everyone paid attention to her for a while before they felt that it was a bit inappropriate to keep watching her eat, so they stopped looking and started chatting.

After they finished the meal, the mother left with their child. Everyone turned to look at the mother and son’s back, hearts filled with emotions.

At this moment, the waiter exclaimed, “Boss!”

The boss asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Look!” the attendant exclaimed as she pointed at the loose change on the plate.

The boss hurriedly ran over and picked it up to take a look. He counted it. Although it was made up of ten yuan, one yuan, and five yuan, when combined, it happened to be 37 yuan!

The boss subconsciously said, “35 yuan for braised pork, one yuan per bowl of rice. This…”

The attendant said, “Boss, why did they give us money?”

The waiter fell silent. Everyone present fell silent…

Fangzheng stood up silently and prepared to leave.

“Master, why did she pay?” Salted Fish continued asking with a voice transmission.

Fangzheng muttered to himself, “People might be poor, but they are not poor in their ideals. The mother is teaching her child with her actions. No matter how poor they are, they will not eat free food, even if it’s given by others.”

At that moment, there was silence in the restaurant. Fangzheng’s words jolted everyone awake. They could not help but let out a long sigh. “I never expected that we aren’t even comparable to someone who processes cotton…”

The boss nodded as well. He raised the money up high and said loudly, “Everyone, take a look at this 37 yuan. It’s all here! I’ll use this money as the seed money for a foundation, and its name will be the Braised Pork Foundation! In the future, we’ll hold a Braised Pork Festival every year and welcome everyone to eat for free! Don’t thank me. Thank this 37 yuan!”

Everyone cheered when they heard that.

“You don’t have to make it free, but we’ll definitely be here for the festival!”

“I want to celebrate how I’ve matured a little today. Cheers!”

“You can always learn something from others. The ancients do not lie! Cheers!”

…

“Boss, the food at that table wasn’t touched.” At this moment, the waiter found the boss again.

The boss was taken aback. He looked over and saw that there was a plate of stir-fried vegetables and a bowl of rice on the table. However, the vegetables and rice were not touched at all! On the table, there were words written with flair: “Amitabha. This Penniless Monk didn’t eat it. Patron, please take it back. Don’t waste it.”

The boss was stunned once again before shaking his head slightly. “I never expected him to be a monk. However, this monk’s words are indeed deep.”

“A monk? It’s no wonder I heard him mutter to himself. What he said makes sense,” said a customer with a smile.

“Eh? Why don’t I remember what this monk looks like? Do you remember?”

“I remember too.”

“What the… What the hell? No, I think someone did that before.”

“Abbot Fangzheng!”

“No way. Didn’t Abbot Fangzheng ascend?”

“That is Abbot Fangzheng’s successor!”

“It’s possible…”

…

No matter how people guessed, Fangzheng, who had a calm expression, walked out of the restaurant with his head held high. He did not look good for more than three seconds before he held his stomach and said, “Aiyah, I’m hungry…”

Salted Fish scoffed and said, “Master, can we take into consideration our stomachs the next time we act cool? We’ll do such things when we’re full, alright?”

Fangzheng rolled his eyes. “They pay for their meals even when they are so poor. If we eat and not pay, won’t you feel ashamed?”

Salted Fish said, “Not at all! What’s there to be ashamed about? We are much poorer than them!”

Fangzheng thought about it and realized that Salted Fish was speaking the truth…

Immediately, Fangzheng felt like crying.

Salted Fish said, “Therefore, let’s not pity others first. We should be pitied by others the most. Master, I’m hungry…”

Fangzheng looked up at the sky and said, “Open your mouth.”

“Is there food?” Salted Fish asked excitedly as he opened his mouth.

Fangzheng turned around and got Salted Fish to face the northwest, “It’s windy. Eat as much as you can. There won’t be any wind soon.”

Salted Fish: “Master, I don’t know if I should say something.”

“Do you remember what happened when your senior brother returned to the mountain?”

Salted Fish: “Then let’s not talk about it.”

“Good…”

…

Unlike the past, Fangzheng did not immediately choose to return to the mountain. Instead, he continued wandering outside. Although he was hungry, he had to continue wandering around like this. The reason was simple—three acts of kindness, three chances at the draw could exchange for one chance to treat his disciples! That was all!

Although Salted Fish said that he was hungry, he wasn’t a human to begin with. Even if he were to starve for a decade, he wouldn’t die.

Fangzheng, on the other hand, felt extremely hungry. He found a bench in the park and sat there motionless.

“Master, are you planning on starving to death here?” Salted Fish asked bitterly.