The Shaolin Abbot Born in the 1980s

Chapter 8: Who Is the Shady Businessman?

Qian Delu considered himself a shrewd businessman. Setting aside other places, he was absolutely the most astute merchant in Green Leaf Town; when it came to doing business with others, he’d never once come out on the losing end. He’d originally thought that dealing with a monk would be a piece of cake—once the story was finished, he’d simply give him thirty or twenty taels of silver, and that would be enough to send him on his way. After all, monks generally value their reputation highly and are rarely greedy. Qian Delu’s abacus was clacking away—he had long recognized the story’s potential. Whether he used it for storytelling or turned it into a book to sell, it would be well worth the investment; he was even confident he could make over ten thousand taels of silver. But he never could have imagined that this young abbot was a wolf who devours people whole—leaving not even a bone behind! "How can this monk be such a skilled haggler?" he said. "He insists on selling the whole story in installments—fifty taels of silver per episode—or else, no deal." Qian Delu had intended to refuse—he’d come here to listen to the story and then write it down from memory once he got home—but the abbot was talking so much, and there were so many unfamiliar terms in the story that he simply couldn’t remember them all. With no other choice, Qian Delu agreed to Huo Yuanzhen’s request. He’d originally thought the story would be just eight or ten episodes long, but to his surprise, the abbot said there were a hundred episodes. However, this didn’t worry Qian Delu—the more episodes, the better; he’d be able to sell it for more money later. The two discussed it for quite a while, and in the end, Qian Delu agreed to Huo Yuanzhen’s proposal for installment payments. This was the first time Qian Delu had ever heard of such an arrangement: he would first pay the Abbot Yi Jie the equivalent of thirty episodes; after the first thirty episodes were told, he would pay the equivalent of forty episodes; and finally, once the entire story was finished, he would pay the equivalent of thirty more episodes. Although this arrangement was novel, Qian Delu had to admit that it was excellent and reasonable, providing security for both parties. After reaching an agreement, the two signed and sealed the contract. Huo Yuanzhen, beaming with joy, tucked the contract away and then insisted on inviting Qian Delu to tour his Yuzhai Mountain. Yuzhai Mountain was rugged and steep, with no accessible climbing routes around it—there was only one path leading up the mountain. According to Huo Yuanzhen’s memories from his previous life, the Shaolin Temple was located at the foot of another peak, but after being transported here, he discovered the advantages of Yuzhai Mountain. Easy to defend, hard to attack—it was the ideal location for a headquarters. The mountain offered vast open terrain where he could grow his own crops, and with a lake nearby, it was entirely self-sufficient. Should his sect ever attract unwanted attention in the future—whether from the martial arts world or the imperial court—this rugged peak would easily hold them off for a year or two without any trouble. After leading Qian Delu for a while, Huo Yuanzhen said, “Qian, the Benefactor, what are your thoughts on the future development of our Shaolin Temple?” Qian Delu looked at the abbot—a man not yet old, but with a shrewd expression, as if the words “sly merchant” were carved right onto his forehead—and sighed, saying, ““Shaolin Temple sits atop a treasure trove, and with an abbot as gifted as you at the helm, its future prosperity is assured. Though I am no martial artist myself, I can still surmise that Shaolin’s achievements will be extraordinary. If the abbot also possesses profound martial arts skills, then becoming a major sect in the martial arts world is by no means a pipe dream.” “Oh, then I wonder how Qian, the Benefactor, views the teachings of Shaolin?” Shaoshi Mountain is home not only to the Shaolin Temple but also to the Zhongyue Sect and the Dharma King Temple. Although the Shaolin Temple is the smallest, it enjoys a good reputation. Qian Delu was somewhat familiar with the Buddhist teachings preached by the Shaolin Temple and replied, “The Shaolin Temple advocates saving all sentient beings and practicing compassion; naturally, it will be welcomed by the common people. However, its current fame is still limited. If it were to make a name for itself in the martial arts world, its popularity would surely flourish.” “Thank you for your insights, Qian, the Benefactor. This Humble Monk has a tentative idea.” “Please speak, Abbot.” “This Humble Monk’s thoughts align perfectly with those of Qian, the Benefactor. I, too, believe that our Shaolin Temple will surely flourish and grow in prominence. However, there are still many obstacles to a rapid rise—such as funding… the issue of silver.” Upon hearing Huo Yuanzhen mention money, Qian Delu immediately grew wary and did not respond right away, fearing he might once again be led astray by this abbot. Huo Yuanzhen was in no hurry. He walked slowly with Qian Delu to the edge of the mountain. From this vantage point, the view was expansive—they could look down upon the entire valley below, and from the valley, this spot was the first thing one saw upon approaching the mountain, right where the path leading up began. “Please look, This Humble Monk,” Huo Yuanzen said. “This Humble Monk intends to build a mountain gate here, but this path is in disrepair and requires silver for repairs. I also plan to erect a surrounding wall and pave the ground with blue stone—all of which requires silver. Yet as a monk, I have very little to my name.” Qian Delu curled his lip in disdain, thinking to himself, “Thank goodness you’ve taken monastic vows—otherwise, would there even be a place for me in Green Leaf Town?” Huo Yuanzhen seemed completely oblivious to Qian Delu’s reaction and continued, “Therefore, This Humble Monk would like to propose a deal to Qian, the Benefactor: using the future revenues of the Shaolin Temple as collateral, I’d like to borrow some silver from your money house to fund the construction of the mountain path and the temple’s facilities. What do you think, Qian, the Benefactor?” “Guaranteed by future profits?” Qian Delu was at a loss—he’d never heard of such a form of collateral before. “That’s right—secured by future revenue,” Huo Yuanzhen said with a smile as he looked at Qian Delu. “Abbot, forgive my boldness, but I don’t believe there’s a precedent for this. Although I expressed confidence in Shaolin’s future earnings just now, that’s ultimately just a guess. Who knows if it will actually come true? What if, once the temple is built, it fails to turn a profit? Wouldn’t I lose my entire investment?” “Don’t worry, layman. In fact, you’ve already expressed confidence in the future prospects of my temple. It’s just like when you see a business opportunity—who can know for certain whether something will turn a profit? You have to give it a try to find out. In a way, isn’t this also a business opportunity?” “Master, I understand the logic you’re presenting, but this idea of using future profits as collateral is something I’ve never heard of before. I simply can’t put my mind at ease.” “Benefactor, let’s put it this way: if our temple fails to turn a profit in the future and is unable to repay your silver, This Humble Monk will tell you another story for free—one I guarantee will be just as thrilling as *Journey to the West*.” “Master, you have more stories?” Qian Delu looked at Huo Yuanzhen in disbelief. He couldn’t even fathom how Huo Yuanzhen had come up with that story in the first place—how could he possibly have another one? And one that’s just as captivating, no less. Huo Yuanzhen laughed heartily, sat down right where he was, and began recounting *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* to Qian Delu. As he spoke, Qian Delu listened intently. He continued until dusk fell, reaching the Battle of Guandu before bringing the story to a close. Looking at Qian Delu, who had been listening spellbound all afternoon, This Humble Monk Huo Yuanzhen smiled and asked, “Qian, the Benefactor, what did you think of this story of mine?” “Ah… Great! Absolutely great—fascinating!” Qian Delu clapped his hands and leaped to his feet, his face beaming with excitement. “Master, you absolutely must sell me this story.” “No, let’s set aside the question of selling it for now, but please do consider the matter This Humble Monk mentioned.” “Fine, no need to think about it. I’ve always been optimistic about the Shaolin Temple’s future, and now that Master’s story serves as a guarantee, there’s naturally nothing to worry about. I wonder how much silver Master intends to borrow from me?” “Not much—ten thousand taels will suffice.” Qian Delu looked troubled: “Abbot, I’m afraid I can’t come up with ten thousand taels right now. Besides, I still have to pay you for thirty episodes, so I’m a bit strapped for cash. How about this: five thousand taels. If the Shaolin Temple doesn’t turn a profit in the future, then this story of yours will be worth five thousand taels.” Huo Yuanzhen had been asking for a fortune, so five thousand taels actually satisfied him; he nodded in agreement. So the two signed another contract. The rights to the thirty-episode *Journey to the West* were sold for 1,500 taels, with future profits from the Shaolin Temple serving as collateral at an annual interest rate of one fen; he also borrowed another 5,000 taels from Qian Delu. A total of 6,500 taels of silver—Qian Delu agreed to deliver it to Huo Yuanzhen the very next day. Huo Yuanzhen also asked Qian Delu to help him find craftsmen. Since there was stone right on the mountain, this saved a great deal of costs—he would only need to pay the labor fees. He needed a sufficient number of craftsmen; now that he had the funds, Huo Yuanzhen planned to thoroughly repair the mountain path, the temple grounds, and the surrounding walls. As a merchant, Qian Delu had no trouble handling these matters; he readily agreed and left the Shaolin Temple. After seeing Qian Delu off, Huo Yuanzhen returned to his room. With the financial matters settled, Huo Yuanzhen began sketching out a blueprint for the Shaolin Temple’s future in his room. Yikong and the other three had returned long ago. Huo Yuanzhen had sent them out to wander around for the day, and they had now gone to sleep. Huo Yuanzhen had also intended to rest, but suddenly Yikong got up. Getting up in the middle of the night to relieve himself, Yikong saw that the light in Huo Yuanzhen’s room was still on, so he walked over. “Is the Abbot still awake?” “Ah, I’m just studying the Dharma. I’ll be going to sleep soon,” Huo Yuanzhen replied, putting on an air of solemnity. “Abbot, your dedication to Buddhist affairs—staying up late into the night—truly inspires This Humble Monk’s admiration.” Ever since the two new monks arrived, Yikong had sensed a threat, and his attitude toward Abbot Huo Yuanzhen had done a complete 180-degree turn. Huo Yuanzhen didn’t reply, but Yikong continued, “It’s past midnight now—it’s the Dragon Boat Festival. When dawn breaks, I’d like to go down the mountain to buy red dates and glutinous rice to make some zongzi. Abbot, you’ll need to give me some silver for that.” “Oh, it’s the Dragon Boat Festival. That’s only fair. Come see me at daybreak to collect it.” Only then did Yikong take his leave, quietly calculating in his mind whether he could line his own pockets and save a few copper coins as he walked away. Huo Yuanzhen was just about to rest when he suddenly sensed a slight fluctuation in the Abbot System within him. He hurriedly closed the door to check. “Dragon Boat Festival—one extra draw chance!” Seeing the system notification, Huo Yuanzhen was overjoyed. Who knew there were such perks—did they even have promotions during holidays?