Why does Zhang Guolao, who doesn’t take the usual path, ride a donkey backwards?

Lu Ban said: It’s a joke, how many large and small cars pass by every day, how much does your little donkey wheelbarrow weigh? The immortal Zhang Guolao said: If the stone bridge carries us two, I will ride the donkey backwards and never look forward. So the bet was agreed upon. Zhang Guolao rode a donkey onto the bridge and secretly used magic to gather the sun, moon and stars, and put them into his trousers.

Zhang Guolao, whose original name was Zhang Guo, was a famous alchemist who lived in Zhangguzhai Village, Guangzong County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province today. He was hidden in Zhongtiao Mountain, Xiangyang. He was a famous Taoist priest.

In the twenty-third year of Kaiyuan, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty placed him in Jixianyuan and granted him the title of "Doctor Yin Qingguang". It is recorded in "Book of Tang" and "Complete Poems of Tang Dynasty".

According to Zhang Guolao himself, he was born in the era of the ancient Emperor Yao and worked as an attendant. By the Tang Dynasty, he probably lived more than 3,000 years. This legend is very shocking. Is it true that there are people who live as long as heaven? But some people also questioned, is there an old goblin who is more than 3,000 years old? So, how old is Zhang Guolao? Some people say that he is about 140 years old.

It is said that in ancient times, Lu Ban, a skilled craftsman, built a large stone bridge over the river in the southern suburbs of Zhaozhou City overnight. After the immortal Zhang Guolao heard about it, he rode on his donkey to watch. On the way, he met Lord Chai, the Lord of Fortune, and they went to the bank of the suburban river to watch the bridge together. After seeing the Zhaozhou Bridge, both of them secretly marveled at Lu Ban's superb skills.

Zhang Guolao is the most widely circulated among the Eight Immortals, and he is the oldest among the Eight Immortals. His real name is Zhang Guo. People add the word "老" after him. "Zhang Guolao" shows respect, he is also a Taoist! Legend has it that he has the secret of immortality. Even the emperor wanted to know his secret of immortality, so imagine his great influence!

The three of them came to the riverside on the outskirts of Zhaozhou. When they took a closer look, they couldn't help but secretly marvel. Look, Zhaozhou is like a black dragon flying, the crescent moon is rising from the clouds, and it is like a rainbow drinking from a stream, with half a jade ring. Shen, it's wonderful. The three people praised: "Luban's bridge construction is indeed well-deserved, it is really a miracle in the world!"

Chai Wangye and Zhao Kuangyin also used magic to move the five mountains and quietly put them on the wheelbarrow. Before walking completely to the middle of the bridge, the stone bridge couldn't bear it and began to shake. Seeing that something was not going well, Lu Ban hurriedly jumped into the river and used all his strength to hold up the bridge. Only then did he turn the corner. Zhang Guolao accepted his bet and began to ride the donkey backwards.