The surrounding Taoists’ eyes all turned red – this was truly not opening for three years, then eating for three years once opened. Seeing Wealthy Zhang being so cooperative, the fat Taoist even gave him a house protection talisman, which was his privately treasured good item. Usually, without two taels of silver, he wouldn’t bear to part with it.
After finishing the ritual, the fat Taoist bid farewell with an air of profound mystery. But he was detained by Wealthy Zhang’s main wife, who wanted to consult him about something. When the fat Taoist went over, the main wife said, could he make the Jade Rabbit reincarnate into her belly! That concubine was originally arrogant – if she gave birth to another child, who knew how wild she’d become.
When Taoist Zhang heard this, he smiled and said: “This is the way of heaven, not something I can control. However, I can give Madam a karmic connection talisman.” When the main wife heard this, she rewarded him with several more taels of silver.
Getting that talisman to wear on her body, she then had the small kitchen stew deer penis, as she wanted to reminisce with the master tonight.
The fat Taoist then left with He Zifeng and the others. The surrounding neighbors all told their families about the fresh happenings here, and the more they told it, the more mystical it became.
They had never seen paper offerings that looked like real houses people lived in, with bridal sedan chairs and horse carts that were all lifelike. The paper lotus flowers looked just like real flowers. After burning, they quickly turned into wisps of green smoke, and the graceful curling smoke really seemed like it could reach heaven directly.
Wealthy Zhang’s family actually had celestial fate – even the little Jade Rabbit from heaven was playfully running toward his house. Just hearing about it was delightful.
The fat Taoist left together with several other Taoist friends. They returned to Bingzi’s idle residence and began dividing the money. Two paper bridal sedan chairs for ten taels of silver, two horse carts for four taels of silver, two paper large mansions for twenty taels of silver, plus various lotus flowers – altogether thirty-eight taels of silver. Half of that was nineteen taels.
The fat Taoist also gave suggestions: “Besides these, we also need paper clothes, quilts, fruits, pastries, peony flowers, auspicious clouds and such – the more the better. Oh right, you’d better rent a shop in the county. Then when we need something, we can send Taoist boys to ask you for it in advance.”
Having earned money today gave him an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. Wandering Taoists like them who had no fixed residence encountered many wealthy landowners. He was also familiar with nearby counties. Doing four rituals a year would ensure he wouldn’t worry about food and clothing for the whole year.
The other Taoist masters also wanted to cooperate. They wanted their paper offerings to be as exquisite and detailed as possible – this way it was also convenient to fleece the local rich.
The Lingshan Village chief agreed. After several Taoists left, they looked at this silver somewhat dazed. Yesterday they were still worrying about making a living, and today money was flowing in like water.
Lingshan Village wanted to divide the money directly. Nine and a half taels of silver to He Zifeng and the others, with the remainder being theirs. He Zifeng had twenty percent, which was more than three taels. Each of their officer group could divide nearly one tael.
But He Zifeng said not to divide this money yet. He had Lingshan Village use this money to get more paint, organize shops, and buy some good paper – all of these needed money. The village chief probably wouldn’t dare cheat them out of their money either.
The Lingshan Village chief was very grateful for He Zifeng’s understanding. They agreed to divide money once on the fifteenth of each month and would record each income and expenditure in a small booklet.
He Zifeng nodded. Then they spent five taels of silver a month to rent a nice storefront in the county. After simple renovations, they were ready to open.
The other officers were also quite shocked today. Who would have thought Lingshan Village was quite clever? This way, they didn’t need to worry about their tax payment problem.
Although He Zifeng said not to divide the money yet, seeing Lingshan Village’s business going so well, their hearts were also burning. If they divided money in the future, it wouldn’t just be a matter of one tael of silver. Those people who wanted to leave for just one tael of silver – who knew if they’d regret it in the future.
He Zifeng said: “Don’t spread word about this matter yet.” Those who hadn’t left all smiled meaningfully: “We know.” They were all smart people and understood after thinking a bit. Instead, they somewhat looked forward to what those people at the government office who were laughing at them would think in the future.
After Lingshan Village tasted the sweetness, they even specially sent their village’s smartest children to learn the craft. Since they had decided to do this in the future, they needed to be more professional. They paid to learn the craft, which was different from traditional apprenticeship.
Traditional apprenticeship required staying at the master’s house for three years, then learning things after three years, and graduating after mastering it. They just learned one or two specialties from the old masters. Each paper craft master had more than ten specialty skills in their lifetime, so having people learn one or two wasn’t much.
But they hadn’t expected Lingshan Village to send people everywhere to learn. Each person learned one thing, and this way, all those essentials were learned by people.
Ever since Wealthy Zhang’s incident became famous that day, there really were people coming to find them, looking for tribute paper offerings. When they entered, their eyes were dazzled. They had never known paper offerings had such rich varieties – everything related to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
There were even ladies’ vanity tables, cricket boxes that men loved, and bird cages. Every kind of thing that existed in the human world could find its counterpart here, making people’s eyes dazzle.
Moreover, the prices weren’t as scary as rumored. Ordinary people could get some decent paper offerings starting from two taels of silver. The more expensive, the rarer. Like the rumored exquisite mansion – although it was paper craft, every detail was in place. Being expensive had its reasons.
Moreover, those feng shui masters and Taoists, as long as they were listed and consumed here, were given half the profits. For a time, guests gathered like clouds.
In just ten days, Lingshan Village completely changed appearance. Everyone in the village was splitting grass stalks, drying grass, grinding lacquer and paint. Regardless of age, everyone moved into action.
Everyone had to work and eat from big communal pots. They didn’t need to cook at home anymore. It was better than eating at home, with oil in the dishes that smelled delicious. Regardless of gender, adults got five steamed buns a day, children got three. If they couldn’t finish, they could take them home. There were always some people at home who really couldn’t work, so saving a bite was convenient for feeding them.
When Sanshun saw He Zifeng now, he looked at him like seeing reborn parents: “Brother He, you came?” His tone was full of intimacy.
He Zifeng said: “How have things been recently? Is there anything that needs help?” This paper offering and incense shop had found several clever young men from the village to work as shop assistants. Money flowing in every day was like a dream.
Sanshun said: “Nothing needs help. Just grateful that you thought of this path for our village.” They had never earned such easy money in their lives. Those elders in the village – the small white rabbits they made some time ago became popular in the shop. Everything was recorded for extra silver distribution at year’s end.
Seeing this, others also began innovating. A few days ago, when those young people sent out to learn skills returned, combining techniques with ideas, the things they made now were much higher grade than before and sold better.
Sanshun then presented one hundred taels of silver to him. He Zifeng said: “What’s this for?”
Sanshun said: “This is dividend money. My father said that without your help, we couldn’t have done so well. Now income and expenses are balanced, and there’s silver in the accounts. We wanted to give this money first. Next month on the fifteenth, we can give another payment. I calculated it won’t be less than this amount.”
Looking at Sanshun again, in just half a month, his temperament had changed once more. Since they said so, He Zifeng stopped declining and accepted it.
Sanshun said: “In a few days, we want to redeem the other people from our village.” Calling He Zifeng over was for these two matters. First, to give him dividends, and second, to talk about this village matter.
Now that the village’s paper offering business was thriving, they needed people everywhere. Even sixty-year-old elders in their village had to work – they really lacked manpower. And their village’s most capable young people were all still detained at the mine.
He Zifeng said: “Alright, I’ll go ask first.” Sanshun was overjoyed and knelt on the ground wanting to kowtow to He Zifeng. He Zifeng quickly helped him up.
He Zifeng took the one hundred taels of silver. He would take forty taels, and the remaining sixty taels would be divided among six people. Then he gathered everyone and called them to Bingzi’s house.
These days, they acted low-key, but in crowded places, there were inevitably some gossip. However, they were well-taught by He Zifeng and didn’t clash with people.
He Zifeng then called everyone together and gave each person ten taels of silver, saying: “Everyone is brothers in the same camp. When there’s money, we share it. When there’s wine, we drink together. This is dividend money from the incense and paper offering shop. Count it.”
When these people received it and looked, they were all excited. Ten taels of silver was really not a small amount. Even Zhou Hao and Lin Feng, who had relatively good conditions, were excited, let alone people like Bingzi, small officers who usually had no way to make money and had never seen so much money.
They increasingly felt comfortable being He Zifeng’s subordinates – even silver actively jumped into their arms.
“Wow, this money is earned comfortably.” Without them doing anything, they got so much for free.
“Our leader really has a plan!” Zhou Hao flattered from the side.
He Zifeng said: “This is just one month’s money. There will be more later.”
“If they need any help in the future, have them come directly to me.”
“Right, we can’t just take money for nothing.”
“Brothers, I propose we go to Juxian Tower for drinks today.”
The biggest worry recently was being afraid they couldn’t collect taxes. Now that Lingshan Village had good business, this biggest problem was solved. He Zifeng could collect taxes, so his position as the county’s fourth-ranking official was set in stone. Drinking now was like celebrating in advance.
Usually He Zifeng didn’t fool around with them, but today seeing everyone so happy, he couldn’t bear to spoil everyone’s mood and agreed.
The advisor at the government office quickly heard they had gone to drink at a restaurant. The disdainful expression at the corners of his mouth became even more obvious: “Let them be happy. These officers only have brute force and not a bit of brains!”
“Exactly. This time when He Zifeng can’t collect taxes, I’ll charge him with incompetence.” The advisor’s subordinates had even thought of the charges and were waiting to show their power.
