Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 9, Exorcising the Demon at Gao Village (Part 4)
Meanwhile, the villagers of Gao Village, upon hearing that Ao Tu's land was only selling for one qian of silver per mu, rushed to buy it.

Unfortunately, with a large population and limited land, it is impossible to satisfy everyone.

The villagers couldn't help but say, "Holy monk, how can such a small amount of land be enough to distribute? Since you are willing to do good deeds, why not go all the way and have your disciple cultivate more fertile land for us?"

Ao Tu laughed:

"Easy, easy! My disciple is incredibly powerful. He can cultivate several thousand acres of land in a single day without any problem. Just pay your money and write down your names. The land will be distributed to you after it has been cultivated!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy immediately became restless.

He was the reincarnation of Marshal Tianpeng, who was enlightened and protected by Guanyin Bodhisattva on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. How could he do manual labor?

Ao Tu gave Bajie a wink.

Remembering Ao Tu's previous instructions, Bajie had no choice but to remain silent.

The villagers were overjoyed to hear Ao Tu's words, but they were still worried that Ao Tu might break his promise after taking the money.

Ao Tu noticed the worry on everyone's face and said:

"This humble monk is willing to write a written agreement for you as proof; my master and I will stay in this village for now, and leave after the land has been reclaimed."

Upon hearing this, the villagers all happily went back to get their money.

Ao Tu specifically chose a poor family to stay with.

Before long, each household brought money, and Ao Tu wrote a receipt for each household, limiting each household to purchasing ten mu of land, noting the deadline, signing their names, and writing the three characters "Chen Xuanzang" on it.

So every household was overjoyed.

The news quickly spread to nearby villages and towns, and the people from these villages and towns all came to buy the cheap land, kneeling and begging Ao Tu to have mercy.

Ao Tu accepted all comers, taking the money and signing a receipt.

This back and forth continued from Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Youshi (5-7 PM), with several hundred households coming and selling several thousand acres of land, earning 668 taels of silver.

As night fell, Ao Tu closed his doors to visitors and stopped selling land, but many people still waited outside, hoping to ask Ao Tu to buy some more land the next day.

Inside the house, Pigsy leaned against the corner of the wall, sulking.

Seeing that Ao Tu had finally stopped selling the land, Bajie said:
“Master, you are such a faithless person.”

Ao Tu said, "You wicked child, why are you cursing me?"

Bajie muttered:
"It's not that I'm cursing you, Master, but what you did was really dishonest. If you're short of money, just tell me, and I'll find a way to get it for you. Why did you lie to me and even sign a contract to make me do the work of plowing and harrowing the fields?"

Ao Tu said, "When did I ever say I would let you plow and harrow the fields?"

Bajie said:
"Didn't you say, 'My disciple is incredibly powerful; he can cultivate several thousand acres of land in a single day without any problem'? Weren't you talking about me?"
Now that you've taken their money and signed a written agreement, if you fail to hand over the land by the due date, won't they sue us and bring the case to court?

Ao Tu said:
"It is true that I said this, but I was not referring to you. You may not know this, but before you, I had another disciple, who was your senior brother."

He was also a celestial being who descended to earth, enlightened by Guanyin Bodhisattva, who protected me on my journey to the West to obtain the scriptures; he once managed agriculture and animal husbandry in the Heavenly Court, and in terms of official rank and title, he was even higher than you.

Because of his carefree nature and lack of focus on the journey, I left him behind. When he arrives, have him till this field; you don't need to lift a finger!

Bajie listened, somewhat disbelieving, and said:
"Those who manage agriculture and animal husbandry in Heaven are all minor officials. How could anyone have a higher rank than me, Old Pig? Master, are you trying to fool me?"

Ao Tu said, "Fool, monks don't lie. I'm your master, why would I lie to you? Your senior brother said he still knew you when he was in heaven!"

Pigsy asked, "Do you know me? Master, what's my senior brother's name? What kind of deity is he?"

Ao Tu said, "You'll know when he arrives."

Bajie listened and thought about it, but still couldn't figure out who it was, so he was still somewhat skeptical.

As the master and apprentice were talking, an old woman walked in carrying a bowl of vegetable porridge, accompanied by a five- or six-year-old child.

"Elders, please have your meal!"

The old woman placed the vegetable porridge on the table. The family that Ao Tu was staying with was a poor family that he had specifically chosen. There was only an elderly woman in the house, taking care of a five or six-year-old grandson. They were living a very difficult life.

The child looked at the steaming porridge on the table, swallowed hard, tugged at the old woman's clothes, and asked, "Grandma, what are we eating?"

The old woman said, "You mustn't be rude. The two elders are guests. Let them have their vegetarian meal first."

Ao Tu looked at the vegetable porridge, which consisted of coarse rice and wild vegetables, and said:

"This porridge is too bland. Do you have any other vegetarian dishes at home, sir?"

The old woman said, "Elder, I really don't have any other vegetarian food at home. This is already the best I can offer. Please don't find it offensive."

Pigsy ladled out a bowl of vegetable porridge and said:

“Master, please make do with this. This family is so poor, what other vegetarian food could we possibly have?”

Ao Tu shook his head and said:

"Bajie, this vegetarian food doesn't suit my taste. Go and buy some better food."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy put down his chopsticks and said:
"Master, buying grain is easy, but I have no money. How can I buy it?"

Ao Tu pointed to the loose silver he had received that day and said, "Isn't this money?"

Pigsy rubbed his hands and said, "I dare not use this money to buy it."

Ao Tu said, "Why wouldn't I dare?"

Bajie said:
"It's just that the senior brother that Master mentioned is not known to be true or false, and Master doesn't say what his background is."

If it's true, then everything will be fine. But if it's fake, and we can't deliver the land by the due date, won't you and I, master and apprentice, be taken to the yamen (government office)?

Even if it's not a capital offense, they'll still find a way to exile. If I, Old Pig, return this money, my crime will be lighter; otherwise, I'll definitely be severely punished.”

Ao Tu shook his head and laughed, "You fool, you really don't trust your master that much?"

Bajie simply lowered his head and remained silent.

Ao Tu said:
"You don't need to worry. The documents I signed only had my name on them, not yours. If it really is as you say, and we get into a lawsuit, I'll write a document to make you return to secular life, so as not to implicate you."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy exclaimed joyfully, "Master, is what you're saying true?"

Ao Tu, wanting to tease Pigsy, said:
"Of course it's true. If that day ever comes, we will be master and disciple, and I will not treat you unfairly."

I have a brocade cassock and a nine-ringed staff, which were given to me by Guanyin Bodhisattva.

The former is worth five thousand taels, the latter two thousand taels. I'll give you one as a token of my gratitude for your service. Which one would you like?

Upon hearing this, Pigsy was moved to tears and said:
“Master, you are truly kind and righteous. If that day ever comes, I would rather take less than you need, just the staff, and leave the robe to you.”

Ao Tu chuckled inwardly, but outwardly remained composed, saying:

"Alright, go buy some food."

Pigsy asked, "Master, what kind of food should we buy?"

Ao Tu said, "Buy two hundred catties each of rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans."

Pigsy asked, "Master, can you eat all of this?"

Ao Tu said, "If you can't finish it, leave it here and I'll eat it when I come back."

Pigsy said, "Master, you're joking again. We don't know how many tens of thousands of miles it is to the Western Paradise. By the time you come back, the food will have gone bad."

Ao Tu said, "Don't worry about it, go and buy the goods quickly. Remember to speak politely to the merchants and don't disturb them. If the shops are closed, give them extra money to make them open."

Bajie said yes and took the silver away.

(End of this chapter)