Zhou Rongzu was a scholar in Caozhou in the capital city, Bianliang, in the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD). His ancestors had accumulated considerable wealth. Zhou Rongzu's grandfather, Zhou Feng, had great respect for Buddha and Gods. He built a Buddhist institute, read Buddhist scriptures and chanted verses daily. He donated generously to help the poor. His family business prospered. Zhou Rongzu's father only attended to the family's business. He did not believe in the divine. He undertook a home improvement project. To avoid the expense of paying for wood, stone, bricks and tiles, he tore down the Buddhist institute for its construction materials. However, after the construction was complete, he fell ill. All treatments failed. He was bedridden and passed away. People figured that this was caused by his refusal to believe in Buddha.
 
After his father passed away, Zhou Rongzu took over the family business. He was a learned man and had passed the imperial exam at the county level. He decided to take the imperial exam in the capital city, hoping to land a government position. He took his wife and their infant son, Changshou, with him. He buried a large quantity of gold and silver that he had inherited in a cellar underneath a section of the wall in his backyard. Zhou asked one of his attendants on duty to take care of the house. He only took with him a smaller amount of gold and silver coins and left for the exam.
 
At the time, a very poor man named Jia Ren also lived in Caozhou. He barely made a living by hauling dirt and building walls. He lived in a deserted kiln. He often wondered why others unfairly lived extravagant lives while he was in such poverty. Whenever he had time, he would go to a temple to pray, "I hereby pray that being an ordinary man, how come I have to endure such poverty. In case I were to have a little wealth, I would show kindness to the widowed, the orphaned, the elderly and the poor. I beg mercy from Your Majesty!"
 
One day, after praying, he dozed off under the eaves of the roof. Suddenly he saw a spirit asking the deity in charge of incrementing people's blessings to review his stored wealth. The deity in charge of blessings replied, "Jia Ren, in his past lives, did not show respect to heaven and earth, nor to his parents. He slandered Buddha and badmouthed monks. He also killed people, wasted clean water, and wasted food. In this life time, he is destined to die in hunger and cold." Jia immediately begged upon hearing this, "Your Highness, please grant me a little clothing and food. I have also tried to be a good man. When my parents were alive, I showed respect for them and supported them the best I could." The spirit said, "We deities have inspected what Jia Ren did. Although not many good deeds have been recorded, we do know that he was obedient to and supported his parents. Given that he's suffering from hunger and cold, we will take into consideration his limited filial piety. We understand His Majesty's virtue in promoting growth and prosperity, let's take a look to see if there are some blessings that belong to other families, that are suitable for lending him to make up for his bit of filial obedience." The deity in charge of blessings said, "I have examined the book on the Zhou family in Caonan Village in the area, which in the past had accumulated enough blessings for three generations. Because of the disrespect to Buddha shown by Zhou Rongzu's father, the family deserves some penalty. I am now going to transfer the Zhou family's blessings to Jia Ren for 20 years. At the end of the 20-year period, Jia is to hand the fortune back to the original owner, the Zhou family. Wouldn't this work out well in both regards?" The spirit agreed, "You may do that." Jia Ren kowtowed to thank the deity for the blessings. When Jia woke up, he recalled the promise from His Highness that he was to be loaned blessings for 20 years. He was not sure whether he should believe his dream. The day before a wealthy family had given him a work order to build a wall. He decided to look for the bricks to get the wall built first.

因缘果报　丝毫不差 (上)
 
宋代时汴梁曹州有个秀才叫周荣祖，周家先世广有家财，祖父周奉敬奉神佛，盖了一所佛院，每日看经念佛，施仁布德，家业兴旺。到他父亲手里，只经营产业，不信神佛，为修理宅舍，不舍得另办木石砖瓦，就将那所佛院尽拆毁来用了，等到宅舍工完，得病不起，百般医治无效，人皆以为不信佛之过。
 
父亲死后，周荣祖掌管家业，因学业有成，想上朝应举，就带了妻子张氏和尚在溺褓中的儿子长寿同去。他把祖上遗下那些金银成锭的做一窖埋在后院墙下，随身只带些零碎金银，叫一个当值的看守房廓屋舍，就举家应试去了。
 
曹州有个穷汉叫贾仁，平时为人家挑土筑墙为生，穷困潦倒，在破窑中安身，常想：“为何别人那等富有，偏我这般穷苦！”心中怨恨不平，每日得闲便到东岳庙中苦诉神明道：“小人特来祷告：我贾仁也是一世人，为何这般穷困？小人但有些小富贵，也惜孤念寡，敬老怜贫，求上圣可怜！”
 
一日祷告毕，睡在廊簷下，忽然看到那殿前灵派侯正唤增福神查他衣禄食禄，增福神查了回复道：“贾仁前生不敬天地，不孝父母，毁僧谤佛，杀生害命，抛撇净水，作贱五谷，今世当受冻饿而死。”贾仁听了哀求说：“上圣，与我些小衣禄食禄，我也想做个好人。我父母在时，我也是尽力奉养的，也是个行孝的人。”灵派侯道：“吾神试点检他平日所为，虽是不见别的善事，却是奉养父母，也是有的。今日据著他正当冻饿，念他一点小孝。吾等体上帝好生之德，权且看有别家无碍的福力，借与他些。偿他这一点孝心罢。”增福神道：“小神查得有曹州曹南周家庄上，他家福力所积，阴功三辈，为他不敬神佛、拆毁佛地，一念差池，该受一时折罚。如今把那家的福力权借与他二十年，待到限期已足，著他双手交还本主，这个可不两便？”灵派侯道：“可以。”贾仁叩头，谢了上圣济拔之恩，醒来却是南柯一梦，想一想道：“刚才听上圣说，哪一家的福力借与我二十年，梦中之事不知是否可信。昨日大户人家要打墙，叫我寻泥坯，我还是寻泥坯去吧。”