Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At that moment, the woman snapped out of her daze thanks to Fangzheng’s smile and stood up. “Thank you, Abbot Fangzheng.”
Fangzheng shook his head. “Patron, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Do you want to take a seat?”
When the woman heard that, she hurriedly shook her head and pleaded, “Abbot Fangzheng, please help me… I’m begging you.”
Fangzheng said helplessly, “Patron, if you don’t say anything, how can This Penniless Monk help you?”
The woman thought for a moment and said, “Abbot Fangzheng, my name is Cai Yufen. My father’s name is Cai Guohong. We are from Guangxi.”
Fangzheng nodded.
Cai Yufen continued, “But half a month ago, my dad suddenly died… He left just like that… Sob…”
At this point, Cai Yufen covered her face and began to wail.
Fangzheng was helpless as he handed her a handkerchief. “Patron, don’t be agitated. Speak slowly. Is there another reason for his death?”
Cai Yufen nodded and said, “I don’t know… I asked a lot of people, but no one told me. But I know that my father definitely didn’t pass away normally.”
Fangzheng said, “Can you be more detailed?”
Cai Yufen wiped her tears as she said, “A very big and famous estate developer came to our place. They got a very good piece of land and wanted to build the best residential area there. For this, they recruited a lot of workers. My father was a construction worker who was recruited.
“I originally didn’t agree to my dad going, but he said that it was the biggest project in our area. It was a famous Chinese developer. They wouldn’t drag out payment, so he could feel at ease working for them. Anyway, the work was the same no matter who he worked for. It would save him a lot of unrest if he worked with such a developer.
“Then, my dad left. Everything was fine, but a few days later, a piece of news came from the construction site and told us that my dad had passed away… Sob…”
Cai Yufen burst into tears again.
Fangzheng was puzzled when he heard that. Cai Yufen’s words did not reveal much.
Hence, Fangzheng asked, “How’s your father’s health?”
Cai Yufen sobbed and said, “My dad’s health was very good. He could carry three hundred-pound cement bags and walked like the wind. Besides, before going to the construction site, he had just completed a physical examination. He was very healthy in all aspects… However, when he went to the construction site, he suddenly passed away. The people at the construction site said that he fainted all of a sudden and he couldn’t be resuscitated. But, how is that possible?”
At the end, Cai Yufen gradually calmed down and continued, “I called the police. The forensic test results showed that his heart and lungs had ruptured… but my father’s medical report showed that his heart and lungs were fine.
“I asked the workers at the construction site how my dad died, but they all fell silent.
“I went to their company, but I couldn’t even get in the main door.
“The police went as well, but they couldn’t find anyone in charge no matter how hard they tried. As there was insufficient evidence, the police were helpless…
“I really don’t have a choice. I stood on a crane and threatened death before someone came out to answer me. They only said that they were willing to compensate 500,000 yuan. As for the cause of the accident, no one said a thing…
“Some people on the Internet said that he’s already dead. As a child, one should let them leave in peace. They claim that I’m causing a scene because of money. They say that to claim that the responsibility is someone else’s when an accident happens is only because I want money…
“But… Master, I really didn’t do it for that 500,000 yuan. I just want an answer. I just want to know how my father died! Is this wrong?”
Cai Yufen sobbed.
Fangzheng frowned when he heard that. “Patron, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But those people on the Internet don’t think so. Sob…” Cai Yufen cried.
Fangzheng shook his head and said, “They are just venting their frustrations without knowing the truth. The more it is like this, the stronger you need to be. At the very least, there are so many people who are paying attention to your matter. You aren’t the only one working hard, right?”
Cai Yufen was stunned…
Beside him, Salted Fish added, “That makes sense… For the weak, what one’s most afraid of is not being noticed. On the contrary, even if others are just watching and shooting their mouths, as long as there’s someone, it’s good news for you. There’s still a chance.”
Cai Yufen thought about it and agreed with him. She nodded and said, “Master, you are right.”
Red Boy asked out of curiosity, “Patron, how do you know we are here? How did you find us so suddenly?”
“How could it be finding us so suddenly? It’s as though she knew we were here. The moment she came up the mountain, she started shouting to meet Master. Since you aren’t home, it’s not good for any of us strange-looking fellas to come out. She cried in the monastery for an entire day… In the end, I was thrown out…” Salted Fish sighed helplessly.
“Why were you thrown out?” Red Boy asked out of curiosity.
Salted Fish sighed. “Isn’t it because I’m handsome…”
“We thought he looked frightening enough to scare off this patron, but… Sigh.” Squirrel came out.
Monkey added, “In the end, the moment this fellow was thrown out, he pretended to be a dead fish.”
Squirrel immediately said, “The patron imagined that a salted fish had fallen from the sky. She immediately set up a fire and prepared to eat some grilled fish… Only then did this fellow jump up and shout at her.”
Monkey said, “Then, we overestimated his looks. Not only was this patron not frightened, she even recognized Salted Fish. We were also exposed. After all, in the entire world, there’s only one salted fish that can jump around. There’s no other.”
Squirrel said, “Then, this patron knelt here and refused to leave. She didn’t eat or drink… If you had come back a little later, she would probably be dead.”
Fangzheng wore a look of surprise when he heard that.
When Cai Yufen heard that, she hurriedly knelt down and shouted, “Master, please forgive me for crossing you.”
When Fangzheng saw this, he hurriedly helped Cai Yufen up and said, “Patron, what are you doing? This Penniless Monk just entered deep into the mountains. It wasn’t to be isolated from the world and to not see anyone. Isn’t the path up the mountain still there? Since you can come, it’s fated. As for why you managed to come, This Penniless Monk doesn’t mind.”
“Master, you don’t mind?” Cai Yufen looked at Fangzheng in astonishment.
Fangzheng smiled. “Why should I?”
Fangzheng had gone out to put on a terrifying act. His goal was none other to allow himself to the world again. He wanted to earn money and do good deeds. He wanted to reach the pinnacle of his life. If no one came, Fangzheng would be depressed.
Cai Yufen opened her mouth, wanting to say something…
Fangzheng shook his head and said, “Humans live a tiring life because they bear too much burden and think too much. At times, this world can actually be simpler… This way, they can relax.”
Cai Yufen said, “Thank you for enlightening me, Master. Actually, the reason why I was able to come here was because the second time I climbed up the crane to seek the truth, a passerby told me about your matter. It was also because I knew that Master was still in the mortal world that I had the hope of continuing my efforts. I came to look for you because I hope that you can help me find out how my father died.”
