During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, there was a family named Pei in Chang'an, who lived outside Yanping Gate. The three Pei brothers are all famous for their loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, and are kind and generous. Although their families are poor, they often do their best to help those in need. Many people nearby have received their favor.
There is an old man who often comes to Pei’s house to ask for water, and his appearance and clothes are unique. The Pei brothers were very respectful to him and asked the old man what he did. The old man replied, "Selling medicine for a living." He asked about his family's situation, and the old man avoided talking about it. The Pei brothers thought he probably had no family anymore, so they didn't want to talk about it, so they took more care of the old man. Every time the old man comes, he is invited to live at home.
has been here for several years, and the relationship between the old man and the Pei family has become increasingly close. One day, the old man said to the Pei brothers: "I don't think your family is very rich, but being able to help others for so many years is really a kind family. All of them are loyal gentlemen, and they will be blessed in the future. I have lived in your house for so long and have received great favors from everyone. Let's do this, I will also prepare some wealth for you, one to repay you, and the other to help more people." The Pei brothers refused and respectfully thanked the old man.
Alchemy furnace
So, the old man asked the Pei brothers to get a few kilograms of charcoal, dug a pit in the north of the yard to make a stove, and asked someone to take a few bricks and tiles the size of a finger and throw them into the fire. When the bricks and tiles burned red, the old man took out a small bottle of medicine from his arms, poured out a little medicine powder from it, and sprinkled it on the bricks and tiles. After a burst of purple smoke, the bricks and tiles turned into yellow gold.
The old man handed the gold to the Pei brothers and said to them: "This kind of gold is more than twice the price of ordinary gold, which is enough for your family's three years of expenses. I will come again after using it."
The Pei brothers saw that the old man actually knew alchemy, so they realized that the old man was a stranger and was even more respectful to him. Thank you again and again. After the old man left, the Pei family exchanged gold for a large sum of money and hoarded a lot of food. The following year, it encountered continuous floods and droughts. The people around Chang'an suffered a lot. The Pei family was prepared for not only self-sufficient, but also surplus food to help the victims.
Three years later, the old man came as promised and burned another batch of gold for the Pei family. The Pei brothers are naturally very grateful. When the old man was about to leave, the third son of the Pei family wanted to go and have a look with him. The old man did not refuse and took the third brother of the Pei family to the west.
The two of them came to under a rock west of Taibai Mountain . There was a huge bluestone, and to the right of the bluestone was a stone wall that was smooth into the mirror. The old man knocked on the stone wall with his cane, and the stone wall opened with a bang, revealing a deep cave, and two children in the road dress came out to greet him.
The old father took the third brother of the Pei family into the cave. When I first entered, it was a little dark, and gradually became brighter, and a city wall appeared, with pavilions and towers everywhere. The jade girl and fairy boy shuttled through it, as if it was another world.
年0年中
Many Taoist or play piano, play chess, or talk big. The old man took the old man from the Pei family to salute everyone one by one, and introduced to the Taoists: "This is what I often say about the master of Chang'an who often entertains me." The Taoists were also very kind to Pei, so they kept him and prepared rare foods such as mahjong, elm jerky, and fairy wine for him.
The next day, the third son of the Pei family said goodbye and went home. The old man sent him out of the cave and gave him a lot of gold, silver and treasures. The old man said to Pei Laosan: "The time has not come, so I won't leave you to stay forever. Go back. Twenty years later, there will be chaos in the world. Come again at that time. This is Taibai Zuo Cave, and I will welcome you outside the cave."
Twenty years later, the Anshi Rebellion broke out. The Pei family went to Taibai Mountain to take refuge, lived in seclusion in the cave world for several years, and learned a Taoist technique. After the war was pacified, the three brothers came out of the mountains and entered the government again, and later they all became high-ranking officials. The Pei family, both the master and the servant, have to live long.(Released "The Original Record")
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