Chapter 292: All Beings Suffer

The shopkeeper beamed and laughed, "It's all thanks to your kindness. Wait till the grain shop makes a bit more profit—I'll open a branch right in the village."

The shopkeeper personally helped load the grain onto the cart and asked with a smile, "Reverend, why buy so much grain? Is there some great joy ahead?"

Pan Yun said, "On the twenty-fourth of November, the Mountain God Temple on Mount Sanqing holds its annual fair. This grain is for the devotees' blessing rice."

The shopkeeper suddenly understood, hurried inside, and brought out a small sack of red beans and a small sack of millet, smiling, "So it's temple blessing rice! It's our shop's fortune to have you visit. These two kinds of rice are my humble gift—please offer them before the Mountain God and then distribute them to the devotees."

Pan Yun accepted them.

Seeing Pan Yun and the other two leading their oxen away, the shopkeeper hesitated a moment, then called out to her, "Little Reverend, since you've come to the county town, why not pay a visit to those little beggars you helped?"

Pan Yun turned her head. "What happened to them?"

The shopkeeper smiled awkwardly. "Nothing, nothing at all. I just think this winter is unusually cold."

Pan Yun paused, then nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Shopkeeper."

As they walked further, the three couldn't help but observe the streetsides—they noticed fewer beggars in the corners, and those who remained huddled tightly, clutching their knees, pressing themselves backward as if trying to vanish into the walls.

Pan Yun frowned; Seeing Miao Zhen frowned too. "Looking at their clothes, they won't survive this winter."

"I remember last year the magistrate's office gave them houses for warmth. Hasn't this year's distribution started yet?"

Seeing Miao Zhen said, "It happens every year. I don't know if this year's cold came early or the aid came late."

Seeing Miao He: "Little Auntie, I've checked everywhere—none of the little ones are here."

Pan Yun thought a moment, then handed the rope to Seeing Miao Zhen. "You two go back first. I'll go check on them."

Seeing Miao Zhen and Seeing Miao He nodded. They were seasoned travelers who had roamed the world alone; the journey from county town back to Huishan meant nothing to them.

Since the cart carried too much grain, Seeing Miao Zhen and Seeing Miao He didn't ride—it was left to them to walk on either side. Once they were far away, Pan Yun turned and headed toward the street.

She walked the entire way without seeing even one of the fourteen children.

Frowning, Pan Yun went to Yu Popo's house and saw the wooden shed next door had collapsed.

She frowned slightly, stepped forward, and heard quarreling coming from inside: "You coming home is one thing, but bringing all these people with you? Are you trying to drag us to our deaths?"

"They'll only stay two days—once the shed's rebuilt, they'll move over. They don't need much space; just two nights in the ox stall is enough."

"No! Once people move in, who knows if they'll leave? You're my mother-in-law—I have no objection to you returning. But them? Absolutely not!"

Pan Yun halted her step, then pushed open the door.

The woman standing with hands on her hips spun around angrily. "Who dares push my door open without permission—"

Seeing Pan Yun in her Daoist robe, her anger faltered. She frowned. "Are you the Mount Sanqing Daoist who brought the grain?"

Yu Popo also recognized Pan Yun and rose quickly. "Has our benefactor returned from her studies?"

The children, huddled together nearby, instantly raised their heads. Seeing Pan Yun, their faces lit up with radiant joy as they rushed forward and surrounded her. "Benefactor! You're back!"

"Benefactor, you've changed a little."

Pan Yun's gaze swept over them all, then she nodded and smiled. "I've returned from my studies."

Pan Yun turned to the woman, whose anger had subsided, and bowed deeply. "I entered without permission. Forgive the intrusion."

The woman's expression softened, yet she still kept a stern face. "No need. You're here for my mother-in-law and these children, aren't you? Go discuss your business elsewhere—I can't host guests here."

Pan Yun smiled and nodded, then reached out to help Yu Popo to her feet and guide her outside.

The children followed in a rush, clearing the room instantly.

The woman stood still for a moment, then turned and walked to the door, leaving it half-closed—but she didn't leave.

Yu Popo looked ashamed and said to Pan Yun, "Forgive me for embarrassing you before the Little Reverend. My daughter-in-law isn't cruel—our home is just too poor."

Pan Yun nodded. "I know. Your daughter-in-law's face is upright—she's a good person."

She said, "Who in this world doesn't want to be a kind and generous person? But without money, without power, good intentions are all that remain. People like you, who give everything you have to help children with no blood ties—that's exceedingly rare."

Yu Popo wiped her tears. "Two nights ago, a fierce wind blew and thunder cracked—it knocked down the shed. The children huddled under the wall for two nights. It was too cold, so we…"

"My son went to find wood. Once we rebuild the shed, they can move back in. But I'm afraid they'll catch cold if they stay outside these next few days…"

In Great Ming, the death rate from chills was still very high.

Pan Yun glanced at the collapsed shed. "Since it's fallen, why not build two mud-brick houses? They'll keep out the cold better and be sturdier."

Yu Popo: "That'll cost a lot. One mud-brick house, not even counting beds, costs five taels. Two would be ten."

Pan Yun said, "I'll pay for it. But the land…"

Yu Popo hesitated. She did have land—but for Pan Yun to pay… "Little Reverend, we've already received so much from you. After you left for your studies, a young Daoist came every month to deliver grain. Then he stopped, saying he was taking an exam. After that, a villager from Fen Shui Village came, saying you'd paid him in advance. We've already received so much—now to ask you to build us houses…"

Pan Yun said, "This is the Mountain God's grace. I am merely his agent."

She said, "Yushan County lies within Mount Sanqing's domain, under the Mountain God's protection. He heard your prayers—and that's why I've come."

Yu Popo immediately clasped her fists to her chest and murmured, "Fusheng Wuliang Tianzun. May the Mountain God protect us. May the Mountain God be merciful…"

After she finished, Pan Yun continued, "I heard this winter is much colder than usual?"

Yu Popo nodded. "This year is colder than before."

"Then mud-brick houses are even more necessary. That wooden shed leaks wind everywhere. The elderly and children are weak—I fear you won't survive."

Yu Popo thought a moment, then said, "I have land."

She pointed to where the shed had collapsed. "This patch is mine. We can build here—this whole area is mine."

"Won't your son and daughter-in-law object?"

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Yu Popo shook her head. "This land serves no purpose. My late father-in-law marked it out years ago to build a house for his children. But I only had one son, so no expansion was ever needed."

"As long as we don't ask them for money to build, they won't interfere. They'll leave it to me."

Pan Yun nodded. "Good. Build two houses—one for the boys, one for the girls."

The children nearby listened, their eyes gleaming.

Pan Yun's gaze swept over them, then said to Yu Popo, "I know the grain I gave isn't enough. I'll bring more later. Find a place for them to become apprentices—learn a craft—or send them to school for two years."

Yu Popo stared at her, stunned. "This… this will cost so much. Why… why are you so kind to them?"

Pan Yun lowered her eyes for a moment, then raised her head and said, "Grandma, I am not that good to them. The help I give is all within my ability, and what I give up is very little to me. The one who has given everything to help them has always been you, Grandma."

"If you can help them like this, why ask me why?"

If a real answer is needed, it is simply a heart of compassion.

Pan Yun was once like them — an orphan too.

Only she had a country behind her back. She had lived well, never once troubled by food or clothing.

Seeing children in Great Ming who shared her orphan background living like this, apart from missing her past-life country unbearably, she felt only heartache, tenderness, and a softening of the heart.

She was willing to let this compassion spread, because she could afford to help.

Pan Yun said to them, "You must work hard, work hard to survive. Every year I will have someone give you a sum of money. Your food, clothing, and schooling will all be deducted from this sum. I hope that one day you will be able to live without this money — only then will you not fail Grandma's expectations of you."

Xiao Qi asked, "What about Sister then? What expectations does Sister have for us?"

Pan Yun smiled and patted her head, saying, "Live on. My expectation for you is to live well, to live brilliantly, to go see all the beauty in this world."

Xiao Qi nodded hard, and the other children followed suit, nodding one after another.

"Let's go, we'll find you a place to stay first." Pan Yun looked around, "Do you know where there are places to rent a house? Let's go rent one."

Grandma Yu sat restlessly and hurriedly said, "It's too costly. Let me go back and have another word with my daughter-in-law. If she knows you're willing to pay to build a house, she'll surely believe we only want to stay a few days and agree to let us settle down."

Pan Yun: "Living in a cowshed isn't good either — fourteen children, plus a cow, how could you all fit?"

She said, "Let's rent one instead. Xiao Qi, do you know any household nearby that rents out rooms?"

"I know!" Xiao Qi cheerfully led the way ahead, "Over there, their family rents out the whole place, they'll definitely be willing to rent to us."

Grandma Yu's expression turned a little unpleasant.

Pan Yun supported her on one side and laughed, "Grandma, your daughter-in-law is truly good. If it were me, I might not do as well as she does. I know you are a good person, but she is not a bad one either."

Pan Yun turned her head and said to the children, "You must remember not only Grandma Yu's kindness, but also Auntie Yu's kindness."

Xiao Qi: "I know. When people in the village scold us, Auntie Yu always scolds them back for us. With her around, no one in the village dares bully us. She's a good person."

Pan Yun smiled and nodded, "We must allow others to not help us with all their might, and even be tolerant of others not helping us at all."

Xiao Liu said, "It's the same principle as our begging — when we get something, we must say auspicious words and sincerely bless our benefactors; when we don't get anything, we don't get angry. Every household has hard times, and no one is obliged to help us."

Pan Yun nodded, "Right."

Good night.

(End of chapter)