Greed Is Like a Shadow

"Greed" is a novel with the theme of "greed", divided into three volumes and an epilogue. The first volume, "The Way of Hungry Ghosts," tells the story of farmer Zhao Laoshuan who killed people for food during the famine, and eventually starved to death on the roadside; the second volume, "The Way of Shura," tells the story of Chen Zhiyuan, a poor boy from a poor family, from his determination to serve the people to accepting gold moon cakes, and finally being devoured by greed and heading to the execution ground; the third volume, "The Way of Heaven," tells the story of the eminent monk Huiming's diligent practice throughout his life. The three people seemed to have different identities and different destinies - one died of hunger, one died in the law, and one died in a Zen monastery. However, when they met in the underworld, they found that they were no different from each other: Zhao Laoshuan was greedy for food, Chen Zhiyuan was greedy for money, and Huiming was greedy for becoming a Buddha. Greed wears different clothes, but its essence is the same. The novel reveals how greed can grow and spread from subtle points, and eventually devour a person's life. It does not provide answers, but only presents the struggle and ups and downs of three souls in desire.