Unaware of the Great Changes

The innkeeper chatted with several guests in the main hall for a while, and Song You sat nearby, quietly listening. By the time the innkeeper had more or less finished telling of the immortal and the noodle soup, the guests had eaten most of the noodle soup before them and entered the stage of lowering their heads to drink the broth.

The innkeeper went to take another look in the kitchen, then returned to tell the Taoist that they would have to wait a little longer.

"No matter, no matter."

The Taoist said this as ever, most amiably, then took the opportunity to ask him, "Just now, I heard the innkeeper mention that there was a great philanthropist named Master Li in the city. He was once an evil man and had some connection with immortals. Yet the immortal of legend left Southern Painting seventeen or eighteen years ago. How has that great philanthropist Master Li fared since?"

"Hahaha, sir, since this humble one calls him Great Philanthropist Li, you know how it ended." The innkeeper laughed, treating it as something to accompany the guests' meal and pass the time. "A philanthropist, a philanthropist—one whose heart and deeds are kind."

He paused slightly as he spoke:

"Ever since he encountered the immortal, Master Li turned over a new leaf. He repented and made amends. Strange as it may sound, ever since Master Li stopped bullying merchants and monopolizing markets, seizing wealth through clever tricks and force, he actually became even richer. Master Li originally bought himself a minor idle post in the yamen, but now he has risen to the rank of judicial thousand-household commander."

"He was promoted and made a fortune?"

"That is the meaning of it." The innkeeper said, "Our Southern Painting cloth was famous to begin with.