In the mist-shrouded and serene deep mountains, there stood an ancient and solemn Taoist temple. The walls of the temple were covered with vines that had witnessed the passage of time, and the black tiles glowed with a simple and rustic luster under the sunlight. Inside the temple, incense smoke curled up slowly, and the sound of bells and chimes echoed through the valleys, as if narrating the thousand-year-old Taoist wisdom.

In this Taoist temple lived a highly respected Taoist priest with the Taoist name of Xuanfeng. He wore a bluish-gray Taoist robe and a Hunyuan scarf on his head. Standing tall and straight, with a thin face yet emanating an air of peace and tranquility, his eyes were like deep, secluded pools, seemingly able to perceive all the mysteries of the world. Taoist Priest Xuanfeng lived an extremely simple life. In his living quarters, apart from a hard wooden bed, a shabby desk, and several yellowed volumes of Taoist scriptures, there was nothing else superfluous. However, both the pilgrims who came to seek the Tao and the woodcutters and hunters in the mountains unanimously regarded him as a wealthy man. His wealth was not manifested in the accumulation of gold, silver, and jewels but in a kind of inner peace and contentment, a spiritual abundance that transcended material possessions.

One day, as the sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves and fell on the courtyard of the Taoist temple, a merchant with a worried look on his face arrived at the temple along the winding mountain path. This merchant had been struggling in the secular business world for many years. Despite his best efforts, he had never been able to achieve the desired financial success. Having heard of the reputation of Taoist Priest Xuanfeng, he came specifically to ask for advice on how to change his current situation and attract good fortune in business.

Seeing the merchant's exhausted and anxious face, Taoist Priest Xuanfeng shook his head slightly and said softly, "Benefactor, do you know that fortune does not come from the pursuit of wealth or greedy acquisition but stems from inner harmony and tolerance? People in the secular world are often burdened by fame and fortune, and their hearts are full of strife and anger. In such a state, how can they attract good fortune in business? If you can treat others with harmony and kindness, with a heart full of good intentions, like a gentle spring breeze warming people's hearts, then wealth will naturally follow you like a shadow, quietly coming to your side."

After hearing these words, the merchant seemed to be deep in thought. He bowed deeply to Taoist Priest Xuanfeng and then turned around and went down the mountain. When he returned home, he began to seriously reflect on his past behavior. He realized that in his previous business dealings, he had always been too concerned about gains and losses, often lacking patience and tolerance towards his business partners and subordinates. The restlessness and anxiety in his heart had also caused him to lose his rationality when making business decisions.

Since then, the merchant was determined to change. He began to treat everyone around him with a peaceful heart. When negotiating business with partners, he no longer haggled over every penny but instead considered the other party's interests and needs more and sought win-win solutions with a sincere attitude. Towards his subordinates, he also became extremely caring, patiently listening to their opinions and suggestions and providing them with a better working environment and development opportunities. In daily life, he was even more actively involved in charitable and public welfare activities, helping the poor and extending a helping hand to neighbors in trouble.

At first, this change did not bring immediate results to his business. But the merchant was not discouraged. He firmly believed in Taoist Priest Xuanfeng's teachings and always maintained inner peace and kindness. As time went by, something wonderful happened. His business partners were deeply touched by his sincerity and tolerance and established deeper cooperative relationships with him. Not only did they give him more support and help in business but also introduced many new business opportunities to him. His subordinates, feeling the care and respect from their employer, greatly improved their work enthusiasm and efficiency and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the development of the company. Moreover, his good deeds in society won him a good reputation and word-of-mouth. More and more people were willing to interact with him, and his business became more and more prosperous. Wealth flowed into his pocket like a trickle of water converging into a river, continuously and steadily.

The Taoist thought contained herein is like the Polaris hanging high in the sky, guiding those who have lost their way in the vast secular world. The concept of "Fortune Follows Kindness and Wealth Accompanies Goodwill" deeply reflects Taoism's unique understanding of the relationship between humans and nature and between humans and society. In Taoism's view, all things in the world are interconnected and influence each other. Humans, as one of the myriad things in the universe, do not exist in isolation in the world. There is a subtle and close connection between the inner world of humans and the external material world. The state of one's inner heart will directly affect one's external circumstances.

When a person can uphold a harmonious and tolerant attitude and be kind to others, he or she will, invisibly, establish a harmonious relationship with the people and the environment around him or her. This harmony is like the spring breeze blowing across the earth, which can make all things revive and be full of vitality. In the business field, business partners will be willing to work hand in hand with such a person because they feel this harmony and jointly create wealth. Subordinates will be full of motivation and creativity when working in such a harmonious atmosphere. The general public will also support and trust this person because they recognize his or her virtues and behaviors. In this way, wealth will naturally come to him or her like the attracted flowers clustering around.

Throughout history, many examples can serve as powerful evidence of this thought. In the past, during the Han Dynasty, there was a man named Ji Bu, who was known for keeping his promises and being broad-minded. During the struggle between Chu and Han, he had helped Xiang Yu on many occasions. After Xiang Yu's defeat, Liu Bang offered a reward for his arrest. However, because he had always treated others kindly in daily life, when he was in a desperate situation, many of his friends risked their lives to protect him, enabling him to avoid disaster in the end. Later, with the help of his friends, he was pardoned by Liu Bang and became an official in the Han Dynasty, and his family thrived as a result. Ji Bu's experience fully demonstrates that those who are kind to others and have a harmonious heart can receive help from others even in difficult situations, thus changing their own fates and reaping wealth and glory.

Another example is Fan Zhongyan in the Northern Song Dynasty. He cared about the world and the common people all his life. When he was demoted and sent to work in remote areas due to an unsuccessful official career, he still actively worked for the well-being of the local people. He founded free schools, helped disaster victims, and built water conservancy projects, sharing joys and sorrows with the people. His good deeds won the heartfelt love and support of the people and also earned him a high reputation. Despite going through many hardships, he always maintained a peaceful state of mind and was not swayed by fame and fortune. Eventually, under his influence, his family produced many talented people and thrived for generations. Fan Zhongyan's story tells us that those who take kindness as their foundation and maintain a peaceful state of mind can not only achieve wealth and success in their own lives but also bring blessings to future generations and make their families prosperous.

In today's era, which is full of material desires and fierce competition, people often lose themselves in the pursuit of wealth and fall into the whirlpool of greed, anxiety, and strife. The Taoist thought of "Fortune Follows Kindness and Wealth Accompanies Goodwill" is like refreshing dew that can moisten people's parched hearts, reminding people to return to their inner selves and face everything in life with a kind and tolerant attitude. When we learn to be kind to others and view gains and losses, honors and disgraces with a peaceful mind, we will find that wealth is not an unreachable mirage but will, unexpectedly, like the gentle moonlight, fall on our shoulders and accompany us through the journey of life.