Chapter 257: Penniless, Contributing Money and Labor
Although skilled craftsmen are good, human power is limited after all, while the laws of Tao are infinite.
What's more, there are ready-made laborers, so why go far away?
Gong Mengbi said, "Xiao Qian, grind some ink for me. I need to write the invitation."
The invitation was naturally for the fox spirits near the county town. After all, when I summoned them to drive away rats last time, I promised to invite them to visit Lanyin Mountain.
After writing the invitation, ask Wenxiu to pass it over.
Xiao Qian asked, "How should we entertain them when they come as guests?"
Zhu Zheng said worriedly, "We have to entertain more than fifty foxes. How can we handle this? Otherwise, we should go to the city to buy some food."
Gong Mengbi said, "Just buy some food as a token of your appreciation. The hospitality can be kept simple and economical. We are all family, so don't be so formal."
Chen Jiayu chuckled: "Teacher, is this how you treat your students?"
Gong Mengbi said, "Don't talk nonsense. They are not students yet. I am very poor now. I am short of both people and money. I have to rely on them to do more work."
Chen Jiayu took a look at Lanyin Temple and found that it was indeed bare and empty.
Gong Mengbi was originally rich, but the Fox Temple in Wuning County cost a huge amount of money, much of which was due to the Shen family's generosity. Later, although the Tianhu Temple provided public funds, Gong Mengbi exchanged it for the Chunsheng method and cultivated the fourth tail.
Now, we have to trouble the Shen family for relief and also to pay for the construction of the Lanyin branch, which is a bit unreasonable.
Although the situation in Fox Courtyard is urgent, it is not as urgent as providing relief. We can only ask the foxes to do more of the work themselves.
After much thought, Gong Mengbi felt that he had been too cautious in the past and did not dare to let the Shen family prosper too quickly for fear of others, but now that he was already a sixth-rank family, he could loosen up a little.
He and the Shen family complement each other. The bigger the Shen family becomes, the more things they can do for him.
But these are all things to come. For now, let’s focus on the Taishan Niangniang Temple.
Of course, one should not be too stingy. If the hospitality is not good enough, one should make up for it in other ways. For example, when discussing the Dao and teaching the Dharma, one should first establish a master-disciple relationship.
The next night, the fox spirits who had received the invitation from Gong Mengbi rushed to Lanyin Temple from all directions.
When they arrived at Lanyin Mountain, they were a little nervous, fearing the rumors that had been spread in the mountain. They did not feel relieved until they saw no unusual signs in the Buddhist temple on the mountain.
Xiaoqian bought some snacks during the day and added some wine and drinks to make the meal look pretty good.
The fox spirits arrived one after another and saw Gong Mengbi standing in the courtyard, looking as if he were floating in the air.
A beautiful female ghost was guiding them in the courtyard, an ugly pig demon was resting under the eaves, and on the roof of the western Buddhist temple, a young man in yellow clothes was leaning on his arm and looking down, like some kind of ferocious beast spying on its prey.
The foxes felt like they had entered a den of tigers and wolves, treading on thin ice, and were worried about breaking some taboo.
Fortunately, the young man in yellow on top of the Buddhist temple soon lost interest in them. He just looked at the bright moon, squinting his eyes and daydreaming.
Seeing that all the fox spirits who had received the invitation had arrived, Gong Mengbi said, "Last time when I sent you to the county town to drive away rats and promote the reputation of Queen Taishan, I said I would invite you to be my guests. Now I have fulfilled my promise."
The fox spirits had no idea what he was up to, so they only said something nice: "It is our honor to work for Master Hu Zheng and bring fame to the Empress. How dare we take credit for it?"
Gong Mengbi said, "Achievements are achievements, how can I not show my appreciation? I'm short on money, so I don't have anything nice to offer you. I'll just treat you to some snacks and some light wine, but I do have some insights into my cultivation that I can share with you."
As soon as these words were spoken, the fox spirits could no longer sit still.
No matter how good the wine and food are, they cannot compare to the temptation of Taoism.
There was a fox spirit saying: "Thank you, sir!"
Gong Mengbi took advantage of the moonlight to explain the principles of moon worship and spiritual practice. He had once discussed these with the foxes in Yongkang County, and now he could imitate them with ease.
The foxes that dared to cultivate in the county town were all quite capable, either possessing exceptional agility or possessing powerful magical powers. The strongest among them had already reached the rank of rank, and were even more formidable than the foxes in Wuning County.
But apart from his magical powers, there was really nothing to praise about him. His energy was impure, his spirit was weak, and he only knew some sorcery and magic, which was enough for him to travel around the world, but if he continued to practice, he would not be able to achieve immortality.
When Gong Mengbi preached, it was like a sudden enlightenment, freeing the lost from the wrong path, and the fox spirit shed tears on the spot.
True transmission can be conveyed in one sentence; false transmission requires ten thousand books.
Another fox spirit asked, "Why are you crying, sister?"
The fox spirit had a heavy air of worldly affairs about it. It slowly shook its head and said, "I simply lament the difficulty of cultivation. I also vaguely understand that I've gone astray. I'm afraid there's no way back, and I'll waste my life."
Gong Mengbi glanced at her and said, "You've reached the ninth level through your Qi-gathering skills. You're quite talented. There's no need to be sad. There are still ways to turn back. I'm just afraid you can't make up your mind."
The fox spirit said, "If there is a true Dharma ahead, why would I take this crooked path? As long as there is a way back, I can go through mountains of swords and seas of fire."
Gong Mengbi said: "If you really have the heart to pursue the Tao, I can give you a chance."
The fox spirit prostrated itself recklessly, its silken garments swirling in the dust, and said, "I have a heart that seeks the truth. Please show me the way."
Gong Mengbi said, "I originally opened the Fox Academy in Wuning County, teaching wild foxes the principles of cultivation. Now that I'm the Fox Master of Dongyang County, I've come to Lanyin Mountain to open another academy. If you are inclined towards the righteous path, I'm willing to teach you cultivation. If you can't stand the constraints, then go back to where you came from. As long as you don't harm others with evil methods, I won't interfere."
The fox spirit was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly: "My student's heart is on the right path. Please guide me, teacher."
Not only her, but all the fox spirits in the field also bowed down and said: "My student's heart is on the right path, please guide me, teacher."
I have seen such scenes before.
Gong Mengbi felt relieved, now it’s done!
He soothed her, "Don't worry. I've borrowed the Lanyin Temple to use as a school, but it still needs to be renovated, and I also need to build a temple for the Goddess of Mount Tai. Once everything is arranged, I'll start teaching."
The fox spirits, who all had their own little tricks, immediately jumped up and said, "Is there anything we can do to help?"
Gong Mengbi pondered and said, "It's not that I don't want you to contribute, but I'm broke now and can't afford to pay you."
The fox spirit who bowed first laughed and said, "Sir, I am deeply grateful for your guidance and enlightenment for wild foxes like us. How can I ask you for money?"
"I have lived in the human world for many years and have accumulated a small amount of wealth. I also have some strength left. I would like to donate this to you, sir, to build an academy. If you are kind enough to teach us more about the principles of cultivation, I would be deeply grateful."
The foxes didn't want her to get the credit alone, so they all started clamoring to contribute money and labor, and took on all the work of building the Fox Courtyard.
Gong Mengbi couldn't refuse their kindness, so he had to accept it.
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