Chapter 266: 266
"Abbot Fangzheng, where did this bamboo forest come from?" Wang Yougui ate the bamboo shoots as he closed his eyes to fully enjoy the taste . The bamboo shoots were too delicious, much better than anything he had ever eaten!
Fangzheng looked up into the sky . "From where it should . " There was no other way about it . Certain things could not be explained so he gave a vague answer .
"Uh . . . Kid, to think you are beating around the bush . Fine, I won't ask . Let's talk about serious matters . . . "
Fangzheng smiled . "Patron, you must be here for the bamboo forest, right?"
"That's right . This bamboo forest is too beautiful . Ignoring the bamboo shoots, just the bamboo itself is valuable . I've compared various kids of bamboo but no bamboo is as crystalline . It's like they are made of jade . Furthermore, and most importantly, they are delicious!" said Wang Yougui .
"And?"
"Abbot Fangzheng, do you think our village should develop the bamboo forest? We can sell some bamboo and bamboo shoots . It will definitely be very profitable . Bamboo grows fast and they regrow once they are chopped . . . " Wang Yougui rubbed his hands, smiling in embarrassment . The mountain had been given to One Finger Monastery as though it was a barren and desolate mountain . Here he was, now that there was something to profit from it . He felt that even his skin was not thick enough .
Fangzheng smiled . "Patron, the mountain is One Finger Monastery's . The bamboo is also One Finger Monastery's . "
Wang Yougui felt a little embarrassed when he heard that, unsure how to respond .
Fangzheng continued, "However, This Penniless Monk is indebted to the villagers . It's only fair for This Penniless Monk to return the favor . Still, cutting down the bamboo forest is definitely not allowed . It will affect the tranquility of the monastery . Besides, chopping bamboo on the mountain is too inelegant . Instead you can dig up the bamboo shoots . The bamboo grows fast and it will probably reach the mountainside in a few days, where the spring source is there's a piece of flat land . The villagers can dig up the bamboo shoots and chop the bamboo there . This Penniless Monk thinks that would be a good compromise . "
"What about those at the mountaintop? Do we just leave them here? That . . . that's such a waste . " Wang Yougui looked at the emerald-green bamboo forest and felt his heart ache .
"Patron, greed can never be satisfied . As for this bamboo forest, it should be able to attract quite a number of visitors . "
"Oh . . . " Wang Yougui was taken aback before he smiled . He slapped his thighs, "That's right . I was overthinking the issue . The scenery will be affected if the bamboo forest undergoes chopping . With this bamboo forest, it will definitely attract a large group of visitors who wish to hike . When the time comes, our village will be able to develop tourism . Heh heh . . . That's a good sustainable and environmentally-friendly business . "
Fangzheng returned the smile . It would only spell trouble for him if Wang Yougui insisted on chopping down the bamboo . Although monks spoke of being completely indifferent to worldly temptations and severing karma, how could one be truly empty while living in the world? Many of the daily necessities were interrelated . If one truly could empty out everything, they would have become Buddha .
After sending Wang Yougui off, Fangzheng headed to the bamboo forest and found the mother bamboo . He let it grow its roots down the mountain . Fangzheng was not one to monopolize . The villagers did not treat him as an outsider even when he was young . His board and lodging were accommodated and they gave him clothes and other necessities . Now that he had something worth sharing he would freely do so . With a thought Fangzheng decided to allow the Frost Bamboo's roots to spread towards the back mountains . It reached straight into Mt . Tongtian and become part of the Changbai mountain range! As long as he controlled the growth radius, it would not affect the local ecological balance .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login