Chapter 25: Playing the Child Is Tiring; Playing the Good Person Is Even Tiringer

Daxiangguo Temple is a sacred place in Buddhism. Normally, it collects countless offerings from devout believers, and during times of disaster, it certainly doesn’t skimp—offering porridge, old clothes, renting out its own fields to those whose leases have been revoked, or hiring staff in its inns… In short, even if it isn’t a charity organization in this era, it wears the guise of one, and this time is no exception.

After a night of wind and rain, two to three hundred fifty people had gathered under the shelter in front of Daxiangguo Temple. Many of them went in all directions to gather information, bringing back various news. For example, the examination hall in the northeast corner of the city had been flooded, the rice shops in the northwest had been robbed, and some wealthy households had been looted… In short, although other higher-lying areas might not be in danger for now, the fact remained that water had entered Kaifeng. Thinking of their homes and possessions submerged in water, people couldn’t help but complain endlessly.

So when the tightly closed temple gates opened and several young monks who hadn’t yet taken monastic vows stepped out wearing conical hats, everyone was stunned. Amidst the puzzled gazes of over a hundred people, these young monks solemnly handed out numbered wooden plaques. Those who received them were confused, not knowing what they were for.

Only after everyone had a plaque did one of the young monks clear his throat and say, “Dear fellow villagers, the abbot says the flood won’t recede anytime soon. Everyone rushed out of home in a hurry, so even if you brought some dry food, it’s not much. Starting today, we will distribute porridge according to these numbers.”

Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed, even those who still had enough dry food to last a few days. After all, free three meals a day was undoubtedly a blessing for poor families. Immediately, all over a hundred people, regardless of whether they believed in Buddhism or not, clasped their hands in reverence, acting like devout believers.

“Normally, monks should uphold compassion. If more people arrive in the future, Daxiangguo Temple should treat them equally. But since our food supplies are limited, we can only take care of those here today. If too many more people come, each of you will only get half a bowl of porridge. We ask for your understanding…”

Before the young monk could finish speaking, a thin man cut him off abruptly: “It’s already a great act of kindness and mercy from Daxiangguo Temple to provide porridge to us. How can we allow others to disrupt such a wonderful act of goodness? What this young monk said makes perfect sense. From now on, everyone must take good care of their identification cards. This area in front of Daxiangguo Temple will be under our joint control!”
People are selfish. Those with families thought only of ensuring their own survival, leaving no time to consider others. Thus, they all agreed unanimously, determined to prevent outsiders from entering by any means necessary. Some even discussed how to keep trouble out in advance or how to send messages to drive outsiders away.
After the young monk turned around and shouted, two huge wooden barrels were carried out from Daxiangguo Temple, and bowls of steaming porridge were distributed to everyone. Though the porridge was pitifully thin, it was better than nothing during such a time of disaster. Moreover, the monks who served the porridge filled each bowl to the brim, satisfying everyone, and strengthening their resolve to stop outsiders from taking their food.
Seeing everyone’s faces filled with happy, contented smiles—though this happiness likely came at the expense of others’ suffering—Zhang Yue couldn’t help but smile bitterly inwardly.
He wasn’t an emperor or an official; he might not even have the ability to protect his own family. Surely he couldn’t think he could help the whole world. It was enough to maintain the current situation. Though it’s said that it’s better for everyone to cry together, it’s still good to have some joy among them.
Seeing that some in the crowd were keeping order and everything was running smoothly, he led a few young monks toward the mountain gate. Yet before he could reach it, a sharp voice rang out behind him.
“The nephew of a noble duke, the third son of the Zhang family of Xiangfu—when did you become a little monk at Daxiangguo Temple?”
Zhang Yue wore a conical hat and a raincoat, but his real purpose wasn’t to avoid the rain—it was to prevent people from recognizing him. In fact, if he hadn’t failed to teach those young monks his tactics, he wouldn’t have shown himself in public at all. This wasn’t something to be proud of. Why would he show off?
At that moment, without even turning around, he could feel countless piercing gazes burning his back. If curses could kill, he was sure that wretched guy had died a hundred or eighty times already.

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he quickly regained his composure, turning to gaze intently at the stranger who had suddenly appeared. It took him some time to realize that this man was one of the apprentices at the clan school—a good-for-nothing who still liked to ingratiate himself with others.

“When did I say I was from Daxiangguo Temple?” Before the man could answer, he smiled and bowed to the crowd, saying seriously, “Dear fellow villagers, I am indeed the third son of the Zhang family. I’m here at Daxiangguo Temple seeking refuge as well. Seeing that the abbot was troubled by the issue of distributing porridge, I volunteered to help, so that no one would go hungry. If you don’t trust me, you can ask those young monks or the master in charge of distributing porridge.”

Nobles couldn’t be trusted, but could a ten-year-old child be trusted?

The people, who had been somewhat shaken by the reputations of the Duke of Yingguo and the Zhang family, turned to the abbot and the monks for confirmation. Of course, they received only one answer—everyone in the temple had seen the abbot and Zhang Yue come out together and approve of Zhang Yue’s plan. Realizing they owed their survival to him, their complex expressions instantly changed.

He was their savior! Besides, the Zhang family had a good reputation—maybe they could even build some connections?

Seeing the troublemaker drowned in the crowd rushing forward, Zhang Yue was shocked. After stepping back several times, he noticed that everyone approaching him was expressing gratitude, even hinting at something more. He finally relaxed and, with a friendly expression, called out to uncles, aunts, and elders—after all, even if he wasn’t really a child anymore, calling them so wouldn’t cost him anything.

Though he wasn’t a delicate, beautiful child like Zhang Jiu, at such a critical moment, his role as a kind-hearted boy far surpassed that of a famous prodigy. Soon, women brought their children to him, asking him to touch their heads for blessings. After an entire hour like this, he finally managed to return to the temple safely, his back completely soaked.

He truly understood one thing—playing a child was tiring, but playing a good person was even more exhausting. After all, he wasn’t a child at heart, nor was he a good person.