Chapter 2: Seeking the Dao

Suddenly, the countryman cursed loudly and ran off in the direction the Daoist had left.


Xu Xian turned his head and saw that not a single pear was left on the cart, and even one of the cart handles was missing, with fresh chisel marks—he finally understood. The countryman had just been watching the Daoist perform his magic along with the crowd and had actually forgotten about selling pears. Only after did he realize that all the pears on his cart were gone, and even the cart handle was missing.



Not long after, the countryman came back carrying a cart handle, cursing nonstop as he walked. The people at the market all burst out laughing. The countryman, both angry and cursing, suddenly began to wail and cry, this burly man sitting on the ground bawling like a child. It was so comical that the laughter of the crowd grew even louder.



Xu Xian’s heart stirred. He looked back and saw the Daoist standing at a distance, smiling, but in the exact opposite direction from where he had left earlier. The Daoist bowed to Xu Xian, then turned and strode away. The market was crowded and chaotic, but no one else seemed to notice him; they were all too busy laughing at the countryman.



Xu Xian gritted his teeth, grabbed the soy sauce bottle, and hurried after him. The Daoist’s figure seemed both fast and slow, but in the crowded throng he moved like a fish in water, not the least bit hindered. No matter how Xu Xian chased, he couldn’t get close.



The Daoist suddenly turned a corner. Xu Xian grew anxious and sped up, but when he rounded the corner, he found the dead-end alley completely empty. Xu Xian, panting, leaned against the wall to rest, his heart full of frustration.



Suddenly, someone patted him on the shoulder, startling Xu Xian. The Daoist’s voice came from behind, “Little benefactor, is there something else?” The laughter in his voice finally put Xu Xian at ease.



“Daoist grandpa, you should give the money back to that man!” Xu Xian said, slightly out of breath.



The Daoist was stunned. He had thought the child was just curious and wanted to learn his magic. He hadn’t expected Xu Xian to chase after him for this reason. He couldn’t help but look again at the not-so-handsome, patchwork-clad child before him.



The Daoist smiled and said, “I don’t have any money. That man was miserly and got what he deserved. Why bother yourself with this?”



“You know magic, so you must be rich. Besides, the pears belonged to him. If he didn’t want to give you one, that’s his right. Those pears were grown with his hard work, and now they’re all gone. What will his family do? This all started because of me—how can you say it’s not my business?”



Xu Xian’s words were reasonable and well-argued, and because they were selfless, they seemed even more upright.



The Daoist was stunned again. Looking at the young but determined face before him, he couldn’t help but sigh, “Yes, he’s not the only miserly one. Everyone tried to persuade him, but only you were willing to help. But I really don’t have any money. How about this: I’ll give you a Daoist scripture, and we’ll call it even, all right?” As he spoke, the Daoist took a book from his robe.



Xu Xian’s heart leapt. Who hasn’t dreamed of meeting a peerless master, obtaining a secret manual, and soaring to greatness? But Xu Xian shook his head hard, pushing those thoughts away. “No, no, you should just give the money back! You must have some.”



The Daoist suddenly grew angry. “A monk does not lie. Could I really trick a child like you? I wander the world, I don’t rob or steal. Where would I get a lot of money?” With that, he shoved Xu Xian away.



Xu Xian fell lightly to the ground. When he looked up again, there was no alley, only a wall of blue stone. He vaguely recalled that when he was talking to the Daoist just now, it was clearly in the bustling market, but in the alley it had been as quiet as another world.



Xu Xian stood up in dejection, patted the dust from his clothes, and slowly walked back, feeling both regretful and annoyed. He had wanted to help the countryman get his money back and maybe learn some magic, but as always, whether in his past or present life, he accomplished nothing. All his worries finally turned into a long sigh.



When he returned, he saw the countryman still sitting on the ground, wiping his tears. Passersby who didn’t know what had happened kept asking, and everyone who heard the story couldn’t help but laugh. Xu Xian felt in his pocket—he still had the pear the Daoist had given him.



After thinking for a moment, he walked over, handed the pear to the countryman, and said, “Here, take it. It’s getting late, you should hurry home!” After all, it took a lot of time to push a cart all the way from the countryside.



The countryman looked up, his foolish face streaked with tears. Xu Xian felt both amused and sympathetic. If only you’d been a little more generous, would it have come to this? There’s truth in the saying, “The pitiful must have something detestable about them.”



Suddenly, the countryman jumped up and grabbed Xu Xian, shouting, “You’re the one who bought the pear! You must be in league with that Daoist! Pay me for the pears, pay me for the pears, or I’ll take you to the authorities!”



Xu Xian smiled bitterly and tried to explain, but the countryman, as if grabbing a lifeline, refused to listen and just kept pestering him. Most of the people on the street knew Xu Xian, and now they gathered around, all talking at once about how the countryman was in the wrong. The countryman’s momentum immediately faded, and he let go, but then, heartbroken over his cart and his pears, he started crying again.



Xu Xian looked at the bruises on his arm and felt angry, wanting to just walk away. But seeing the countryman’s pitiful state, he cursed himself in his heart: Xu Xian, Xu Xian, you’re just a hopeless do-gooder, doomed to die this way! Wasn’t dying once enough?



But then he thought about how much hope the countryman must have pinned on that cart of pears—he was just acting out of heartbreak. Xu Xian smiled wryly and thought, If once isn’t enough, then let’s do it again!



Not for any reward, not for any gratitude—this was just Xu Xian’s nature. As the saying goes, “Rivers and mountains may change, but a person’s nature is hard to alter.” Maybe not even transmigration could change that!



Xu Xian smiled and cozied up to a vegetable-selling aunt nearby, “Auntie, why don’t you give him the money for the pears? Look how pitiful he is—who wouldn’t be anxious in his situation?” “Uncle…” “Grandpa…”



As the sun set, the crowd at the market gradually dispersed. Xu Xian weighed the bag of money in his hand—he’d only managed to collect a little over half. Some people had just watched the commotion and left, some flatly refused to pay, but there was nothing more he could do. At least it made up for some of the loss.



Xu Xian borrowed some tools as collateral, and the countryman’s cart was finally repaired. He handed over the money, then thought for a moment and took out a few more coins, saying, “I already gave you back that pear.” He felt a little proud—who says I always lose out when I do good deeds?



The countryman nodded dumbly, just repeating his thanks over and over, unable to say anything new.



“Hurry home! It’s already late. Be more generous next time!” Xu Xian waved goodbye to the countryman. The setting sun stretched his shadow long and thin. Xu Xian was immersed in a happiness that belonged only to him, all his regrets already left behind. But this happiness didn’t last long—suddenly, Xu Xian cried out, “My soy sauce!”



The unqualified soy sauce errand boy, Xu Xian, grabbed the soy sauce bottle and ran all the way.



At the soy sauce shop.



“Brother Chen, give me a bottle of soy sauce, quick, quick!”



In an old, shabby house.



“You little brat, where have you been all afternoon! Just wait till I get my hands on you, and you’re still running!” A woman chased Xu Xian around with a broom, making chickens and dogs fly. Her face was just as plain as Xu Xian’s—not handsome, but decent.



“Sis, stop hitting me, I was wrong, okay? Please don’t cry!”



“Who’s crying? I’ll beat you to death!”



“The soy sauce spilled, the soy sauce spilled!” Xu Xian suddenly shouted.



“Where, where!” The woman immediately stopped, worried.



“Fooled you! I’m starving, let’s eat! You’ll have more strength to beat me after you’re full! Wow, it’s taro! My favorite!”



“All you know is eating.” The woman said this, but her heart felt warm. In a poor family, they always ate the cheapest food, and it was never very fresh, but whatever she made was always Xu Xian’s favorite.

n

A faint glimmer of oil, not as bright as the lamps in a wealthy home. Eating the bland, barely oily food, who could say that Xu Xian was far from happiness at this moment?



The stars filled the sky. On the stone bridge in front of the house, a Daoist stood, gazing at the light coming from Xu Xian’s home. So close, yet it felt as far as the ends of the earth. Had he ever had such times himself? Even he couldn’t tell. The autumn wind brushed the river’s surface, and with his cultivation, he still felt a slight chill.