Explore Chapter 19 of 'Moment in Peking' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
After being pardoned in Shouzhou, Niu Sidao, the Ox 'God of Wealth,' returned to Beijing and continued his reign of tyranny, bullying the people at will. Backed by foreign influence, he ran gambling dens, peddled opium, seized farmland-there was no evil he did not commit. Yao Si'an kept to himself in the Yao residence, devoting himself to spiritual cultivation and paying no heed to worldly affairs. But Niu Sidao, nursing a grudge because the Yao family had once offended him, always sought an opportunity for revenge.
One day, Yao Si'an was alone in the mountains enjoying the scenery when suddenly the sky changed, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled. He saw a dilapidated temple in the mountains and went inside to take shelter from the rain. The temple housed a statue of the Thunder God, but the incense had long been extinguished. Yao Si'an sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and meditated. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the temple roof and struck down directly inside the temple, but Yao Si'an remained unharmed. He opened his eyes and, seeing the shattered statue of the Thunder God, was inwardly startled.
At the same time, Niu Sidao was hosting a lavish banquet in his city mansion, feasting and carousing with a pack of shady cronies. Suddenly, a thunderclap crashed through the roof and struck Niu Sidao directly on the head. He fell to the ground on the spot, spewed black blood, and died instantly. The panic-stricken guests fled in every direction. After the thunderstorm passed, Niu Sidao's corpse was charred black and disfigured beyond recognition. When the common people heard this, they rejoiced and applauded, declaring that this was Heaven's justice made manifest and retribution never missed its mark.
Yao Si'an walked out of the ruined temple and saw black smoke rising in the direction of the Niu residence at the foot of the mountain. He understood what had happened. Returning to the Yao residence, he told his family about the incident and sighed, "Good and evil are repaid as surely as a shadow follows the form. Niu Sidao committed many evils and finally met Heaven's punishment. Let us take this as a warning: accumulate virtue and do good works, so that our house may prosper long."
When Mulan heard of this, she was deeply moved. She recalled the principle her father often spoke of: as men sow, Heaven watches. From then on, she believed even more firmly in cause and effect, and treated everyone with kindness. Meanwhile, the Niu family's power crumbled into dust, allowing the Zeng and Yao families to live in peace.