Amid the vast expanse of heaven and earth, there was a Taoist who harbored a fervent aspiration for the Great Tao. With a backpack on his back, he bid farewell to the familiar Taoist temple and embarked on a long journey of traveling around to study Taoism. He wore a green robe that, though already somewhat worn out, was neatly tidied up by him. The straw sandals on his feet, covered with dust from all directions, witnessed his footprints spreading across mountains and plains.

This Taoist lived an extremely simple life, often having to endure hardships outdoors and having no fixed place to stay. He had very little money with him. However, his heart was filled with peace and tranquility. Whenever he came across poor people in any place, he would not hesitate to lend a helping hand. He would give away his only dry rations and clothes, with a faint smile on his face, as if giving was more satisfying to him than receiving.

One day, he reached a deep mountain. The mountain towered majestically, with clouds and mists lingering around its waist. The mountain forest was thick, and ancient trees reached up to the sky, seemingly hiding endless mysteries. The Taoist found a quiet place and began his cultivation. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated his mind, attempting to connect with the energy of heaven and earth and feel the power of the "Tao" in the unseen.

Just as he was immersed in the selfless state of cultivation, a faint sound of footsteps came. The Taoist slowly opened his eyes and saw a mysterious old man standing in front of him. The old man had snow-white hair, yet his face was as ruddy as a baby's. His eyes were deep and bright, exuding an otherworldly aura. He was dressed in a plain white long robe that fluttered gently in the wind, seeming to blend in with the mountain forest.

The old man smiled at the Taoist and slowly stretched out his hand, holding an ancient gem in his palm. Under the sunlight, the gem emitted a strange and charming glow. Its color was warm and smooth, and its texture was delicate, as if it contained the precipitation of years and the essence of heaven and earth. The old man said softly, "This gem is a wealth bestowed by heaven. It's fated to be given to you today. But you must remember that the real wealth is not this external treasure but the peace and tolerance in your heart. Only when your heart is clear and not disturbed by external things can you understand the Great Tao and enjoy lasting blessings."

The Taoist respectfully took the gem, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew deeply that this gem was not just a precious item but also an expectation and enlightenment from the old man. He bowed deeply to the old man and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Reverend. I will surely keep them in mind."

The Taoist continued his journey of traveling around with the gem. Along the way, he often took out the gem to examine it. The dazzling light made him think about the true meaning of wealth. He had seen too many people in the world who resorted to unscrupulous means in pursuit of wealth, getting trapped in endless disputes and troubles and finally losing their inner peace and true selves. Now, although he had obtained this precious gem, he was not bewitched by it.

He still maintained his previous way of life. When passing through those poor villages, he would still distribute his remaining supplies to the villagers, use his medical skills to treat the sick, and comfort those in trouble with warm words. When interacting with others, he paid more attention to the peace and tolerance in his heart. No matter what kind of difficulties or misunderstandings he faced, he always took them calmly and resolved them with kind thoughts.

As time went by, the Taoist's cultivation advanced day by day. His understanding of the "Tao" became deeper and deeper in his cultivation, as if he could touch the mysterious power hidden behind all things in heaven and earth. His moral character and self-cultivation also spread continuously. Gradually, his reputation spread in the surrounding areas. Some people who heard of his deeds were attracted by his noble moral character and profound cultivation and came to follow him one after another, hoping to learn the true essence of Taoism under his guidance.

At first, there were just a few people. They sat around the Taoist, listening to him tell the classic teachings of Taoism and sharing his experiences and insights during his travels. The Taoist always patiently answered their questions and guided them on how to understand the "Tao" through self-cultivation. As the number of followers increased, they began to build simple shelters in a relatively open place and formed a small Taoist courtyard.

In the Taoist courtyard, the Taoist not only taught the believers the classic knowledge of Taoism but also led them to participate in labor, cultivate the fields, and be self-sufficient. He told the believers that labor was also a form of cultivation. Through hard work, they could temper their bodies and minds and understand the difficulty and preciousness of life. Under his leadership, the atmosphere in the Taoist courtyard was harmonious and friendly. The believers helped each other and cared for one another, just like a big family.

As the Taoist courtyard developed, more and more people came to visit and consult. There were people suffering from serious illnesses who hoped to recover with the Taoist's help; there were those who had lost their way in the mortal world and were eager to find spiritual comfort and guidance here; and there were those who were curious about Taoist culture and wanted to have a deeper understanding of its mysteries. The Taoist always showed compassion and did his best to help them.

He used his medical skills combined with the herbs in the mountains to treat patients. Many people tortured by diseases gradually recovered under his treatment. He had in-depth conversations with those who had lost their way, guiding them to reexamine their lives with Taoist thoughts and helping them find their inner direction. For those interested in Taoist culture, he explained in detail the classics, rituals, and the philosophical thoughts contained in Taoism, enabling them to have a more comprehensive understanding of it.

As the Taoist's influence continued to expand, some wealthy believers, in order to express their respect and gratitude to him, donated property to the Taoist courtyard one after another. The arrival of these properties enabled the Taoist courtyard to expand further in scale. More spacious halls, comfortable residences were built, and a large number of books and cultivation supplies were purchased. The Taoist's career had developed tremendously inadvertently, and his wealth also grew continuously.

However, the Taoist always kept in mind the teachings of the mysterious old man. He was not complacent because of these external successes. Instead, he paid more attention to his own self-cultivation and inner peace. He used the wealth of the Taoist courtyard reasonably. Part of it was used to improve the living and cultivation conditions of the believers, part was used to relieve the poor people around, and part was used to spread Taoist culture, such as building Taoist temples and holding Taoist activities.

Under his efforts, Taoist thoughts were spread more widely in the local area. More and more people began to get in touch with and understand Taoism. And the Taoist also became a highly respected and virtuous figure. His life was like a melodious Taoist song, passing down continuously in the long river of time. He used his own experience to interpret Taoism's unique understanding of wealth: Wealth is not the ultimate pursuit of life but an adjunct in the process of pursuing inner peace and moral cultivation. When a person can adhere to inner peace and tolerance, not be burdened by wealth, and treat all things in the world with kind thoughts, wealth will naturally gather inadvertently. More importantly, in this process, he will understand the true essence of the Great Tao and achieve the sublimation of the soul and eternal blessings.