It is said that when the villagers of Gao Village heard that Ao Tu’s land was being sold for only one qian of silver per mu, they all rushed to buy it.
Alas, there were many people and little land, so it was impossible to satisfy everyone.
The villagers could not help saying, “Holy Monk, how can this little bit of land be enough to divide among us? Since you are willing to do good deeds, why not see it through to the end and have that disciple of yours reclaim more fertile fields for us?”
Ao Tu smiled and said:
“Easily done, easily done. This humble monk’s disciple possesses vast divine powers. Reclaiming several thousand mu of land in a single day will be no problem. You may hand over the money and each register your name; once the land has been reclaimed, it will be distributed to you!”
The moment these words were spoken, Bajie could no longer sit still.
He was Marshal Tianpeng descended to the mortal realm, enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin to protect the scripture-seeker on his journey west. How could he do hard labor?
Ao Tu gave Bajie a meaningful look.
Bajie recalled Ao Tu’s earlier instructions and could only endure it without making a sound.
After hearing Ao Tu’s words, the villagers were all overjoyed, though they still had some worries, fearing that Ao Tu would take the money and break his promise.
Seeing their concerns, Ao Tu said:
“This humble monk is willing to write you a deed as proof. We master and disciples will first stay here in the village and leave only after the land has been reclaimed.”
When the villagers heard this, they all happily went back to fetch their money.
Ao Tu specifically chose a poor household to lodge in.
Before long, each family brought up their silver coins. Ao Tu wrote a deed for every household, limiting each to the purchase of ten mu of land, recording the deadline, signing the name, and inscribing three large characters: Chen Xuanzang.
Thus every family was delighted.
The news quickly spread to nearby villages and towns. The common folk there also came over, wanting to buy this cheap land, kneeling and begging Ao Tu to show mercy.
Ao Tu refused no one. He took the money and signed the deeds.
In this way, people came and went without cease. From the Hour of Chen to the Hour of You, several hundred households came by, and several thousand mu of land were sold, bringing in six hundred and sixty-eight taels of silver.
When night fell, Ao Tu closed the door and declined visitors, stopping the sale of land. Yet there were still many people waiting outside the door, thinking to ask Ao Tu to sell them some land the next day.
Inside the house, Bajie leaned against a corner of the wall, sulking.
Seeing that Ao Tu had finally stopped selling land, Bajie said:
“Master, you’re far too untrustworthy.”
Ao Tu said, “Wretch, why are you cursing me?”
Bajie muttered:
“It isn’t that your disciple is cursing you, but Master, what you’ve done is far too improper. If you were short of silver, you could have told me, and Old Pig would have found a way to get some for you. Why did you deceive me, and even sign deeds with people, making Old Pig go do the work of plowing and harrowing fields?”
Ao Tu said, “When did I ever say I would make you plow and harrow fields?”
Bajie said:
“Wasn’t it you who said, ‘This humble monk’s disciple possesses vast divine powers. Reclaiming several thousand mu of land in a single day will be no problem’? Weren’t you talking about me?
Now you’ve taken people’s money and signed deeds as proof. If you fail to deliver the land when the time comes, won’t they report us to the authorities and have us arrested?”
Ao Tu said:
“I did indeed say those words, but I was not speaking of you. There is something you do not know. Before you, your master had another disciple, your senior brother.
He too is a divine being from Heaven descended to the mortal realm, enlightened by Bodhisattva Guanyin to protect me on the journey west for the scriptures. He once managed agriculture and livestock in the Heavenly Court; in terms of official rank and grade, he is even higher than you.
It is only because his nature is flighty and he would not focus on the road that I left him behind. When he arrives, I will have him cultivate these fields, and you need not lift a hand!”
After hearing this, Bajie was somewhat skeptical and said:
“Those who manage agriculture and livestock in the Heavenly Court are all petty little officials. How could any of them hold a higher rank than Old Pig? Master, could you be deceiving me?”
Ao Tu said, “Fool, monks do not tell lies. I am your master—how could I deceive you? Your senior brother said he knew you when he was in Heaven!”
Bajie said, “He knows me? Master, what is Senior Brother’s name, and what sort of deity is he?”
Ao Tu said, “You will know when he comes.”
Hearing this, Bajie thought it over and over but still could not figure out who it might be, so in his heart he remained somewhat doubtful.
As master and disciple were speaking, an old woman came in carrying a basin of vegetable porridge, with a child of five or six following beside her.
“Honored elders, please take your meal!”
The old woman placed the vegetable porridge on the table.
The household Ao Tu had borrowed lodging from was a poor family he had specially chosen. There was only an elderly woman in the home, with a little grandson of five or six, and their days were extremely difficult.
The child looked at the steaming vegetable porridge on the table, swallowed his saliva, tugged at the old woman’s clothes, and asked, “Grandmother, what are we going to eat?”
The old woman said, “Do not be rude. The two honored elders are guests. Let the guests eat first.”
Ao Tu looked at the vegetable porridge. It was all coarse rice and wild greens. He said:
“This porridge is far too plain. Old benefactor, is there any other vegetarian food in your home?”
The old woman said, “Honored elder, there truly is no other vegetarian food in this old woman’s home. This is already the best we have. Please do not disdain it.”
Bajie, on his own, ladled himself a bowl of vegetable porridge and said:
“Master, just make do and eat it. This family is already so poor—how could there be any other vegetarian food?”
Ao Tu shook his head and said:
“Bajie, this meal does not suit your master’s appetite. Go buy some good grain.”
When Bajie heard this, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and said:
“Master, buying grain is easy, but your disciple has no money. What am I supposed to buy it with?”
Ao Tu pointed at the bits of silver received that day and said, “Is this not money?”
Bajie rubbed his hands and said, “I dare not use this silver to buy it.”
Ao Tu said, “Why do you not dare?”
Bajie said:
“Because that senior brother Master spoke of—who knows if he is real or fake? Master also refuses to say his origins.
If he is real, then all is well and good. But if he is fake, and when the deadline comes we cannot hand over the land, won’t you and I, master and disciple, be taken to the yamen?
At that time, even if it does not warrant the death penalty, we will still be sentenced to military exile. If Old Pig returns this money to them, the crime will be lighter; otherwise, we will surely be severely punished.”
Ao Tu shook his head and laughed. “You fool, do you distrust your master so much?”
Bajie only lowered his head and said nothing.
Ao Tu said:
“You need not worry. On those deeds your master signed, I signed only my own name and did not mention your surname. If it truly turns out as you say and a lawsuit arises, I will write a document ordering you to return to lay life, so that you will not be implicated.”
Hearing this, Bajie said happily, “Master, is what you say true?”
Ao Tu deliberately meant to tease Bajie and said:
“Naturally it is true. If such a day truly comes, since you and I have been master and disciple, I will not treat you poorly.
I have one brocade kasaya and one nine-ringed monk’s staff, both gifts from Bodhisattva Guanyin.
The former is worth five thousand taels, the latter two thousand taels. I will give you one of them, as repayment for your service. Which one would you like?”
Hearing this, Bajie was moved to tears and said:
“Master, you truly are faithful and righteous. If such a day really comes, your disciple is willing to take the lesser share. I only want the monk’s staff; leave the kasaya to you.”
Ao Tu laughed inwardly, though nothing showed on his face, and said:
“Very well. Go buy the grain.”
Bajie asked, “Master, what grain should I buy?”
Ao Tu said, “Rice, broomcorn millet, foxtail millet, wheat, and beans—buy two hundred jin of each.”
Bajie said, “Master, buying so much—can you eat it all?”
Ao Tu said, “If I cannot finish it, then leave it stored here. When I return, I will eat it then.”
Bajie said, “Master, you are joking again. From here to the Western Heaven, who knows how many tens of thousands of li it is? By the time you return, the grain will have long since gone bad.”
Ao Tu said, “Do not concern yourself with that. Go purchase it at once. Remember, speak politely with the merchants and do not startle them. If the shops are closed, then spend a little more silver and have them open their doors.”
Bajie gave an acknowledgment, picked up the silver, and left.