Chapter 163: Simple Folk Customs Shangyang County
"Junior brother, this is bad!"
As soon as he returned to the other world, Lin Ye heard Daogu's anxious voice.
Lin Ye pushed open the door. Daogu just walked to the gate. Seeing Lin Ye, he immediately shouted anxiously, "Junior brother, someone is here to challenge us."
"A door-to-door challenge?"
"Well, I just posted it, and I'm still in the Taoist temple."
Daogu held the note in his hand, but Lin Ye did not take it. Instead, he said, "For such a big matter, you should ask the master for help."
"Master is in seclusion now, and he also told me before he went into seclusion that all matters of the temple will be left to you, my junior brother, to handle."
Lin Ye: ...
He suddenly felt that he had been fooled by the old Taoist.
In order to confirm his guess, he asked, "Brother Daogu, has our master ever been in seclusion before?"
"No... no, as far as I can remember, this is the first time that Master has been in seclusion."
The case is solved.
Lin Ye was almost certain that the old Taoist did this on purpose. He definitely anticipated that someone might come to challenge him and chose to go into seclusion at this time.
What I realized...
He now recalled what the Taoist said at that time: Can one gain enlightenment just by drinking and going crazy?
Who would practice cultivation if it were like this, drinking every day?
I am stupid enough to fall for this.
"Junior brother, junior brother, your expression changes so much..."
Daogu looked at Lin Ye's changing expression, a look of gritting his teeth, and felt a little scared.
"Ahem... Senior Brother Daogu, who are the people coming to challenge us this time? How many people are there?"
Having been tricked, Lin Ye could only accept the reality. He knew very well that even if they went to the bamboo forest now, the old Taoist priest would probably not come out. Maybe after they left, the old Taoist priest changed the formation for entering the bamboo forest, so it was still uncertain whether they could get in.
"Two groups of people came to challenge each other. They represent Tzu Chi Temple in Liuyang County and Taoyuan Temple in Taihe County."
"Can you refuse?" Lin Ye asked.
"They said that our Qingfeng Temple is a Taoist temple with the word 'Qing' in it, so the Taoist teachings must be profound..."
Daogu looked embarrassed, and Lin Ye understood that he just couldn't refuse.
It’s just like running a martial arts school. If people want to come and challenge you, you have to let them come.
etc……
Don't let anyone come to your door.
Lin Ye's eyes lit up, and he said to Daogu, "Go tell them that our Qingfeng Temple welcomes them to come and exchange and learn, but the master is not in the temple today, so ask them to come tomorrow in the morning. To express our apology, arrange accommodation for them in a restaurant not far from our temple."
"Exchange and study, and also arrange accommodation for them?"
Daogu was somewhat reluctant. These people came here to cause trouble, so why should he be so nice to them?
"Yes, just reply like that. Go ahead and make sure to arrange accommodation for them."
Let Daogu reply to the person who sent the challenge. Lin Ye was not idle either. He took out a few silver bills from the drawer and put them into his sleeve, then left the house and went to the yamen.
Shangyang County Government Office.
When Lin Ye arrived this time, Captain Yang personally went to the door to greet him. His attitude was more enthusiastic than before, but Lin Ye could feel that Captain Yang was more respectful and distant towards him.
He could understand Captain Yang's feelings. In Captain Yang's mind, he was originally a rich young man worthy of association, and they treated each other like friends. However, An Zisheng's arrival changed Captain Yang's attitude towards him, and they were no longer equals.
"Mr. Lin, you are so honored. Please come in."
Captain Yang welcomed Lin Ye into the yamen and asked in a low voice, "Should we report this to the county magistrate?"
"No need, I came here specifically to look for Captain Yang."
"Mr. Lin, if you need my help, just ask. I will do my best."
Captain Yang patted his chest to show his attitude. Lin Ye smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's just that a few colorful glass beads were lost from my house, so I came here to report it."
"What, Master Lin, is there something missing from your house?"
Captain Yang put down the tea in his hand and stood up immediately. "That's too much. What kind of thief is so bold as to steal from your house, Master Lin? I will bring people to investigate and arrest all the thieves in the city for interrogation. I will definitely be able to recover the lost treasure for you, Master Lin."
Captain Yang and his fellow detectives knew exactly how many gangsters there were in the city. If someone's house was robbed, all they had to do was go to the gangster leader and ask for the person who had stolen the property.
As long as these gangsters want to continue to stay in the city, they dare not refuse to hand over their prisoners.
Lin Ye did not doubt what Captain Yang said. As the saying goes, humans have their own way and rats have their own way.
Many times, constables like Captain Yang and his ilk have an inseparable relationship with the lower classes, and this has been the same from ancient times to the present.
It can't be said that they are in cahoots, but there are endless of these things, so everyone just keeps it to themselves. As long as they don't go too far, the constables will turn a blind eye.
Lin Ye once heard a story from his roommate. An elder in his roommate's family worked in a government agency and was considered a leader.
In the 1980s, when there was a job transfer, one had to report to the new unit with one's file. If the file was lost, it would be a big trouble. His elder had his bag stolen by a pickpocket at the train station, and his file was lost as well.
There was no surveillance and no one saw it. Logically speaking, this thing should be impossible to find.
But his elder called a friend who was in charge of local security, and in less than half an hour, the file and the wallet were returned.
The reason is very simple. Every area has a boss in charge. If the government wants to find someone, they just have to , unless this boss doesn't want to stay in this area anymore. As for those who dare to commit crimes by roaming around or across regions, they will have their hands and feet chopped off if they are discovered.
"Ahem, Captain Yang, according to my analysis, the thief is not from this city."
Lin Ye stopped the excited Captain Yang and saw his puzzled expression. He said, "The thieves are likely from other counties. I just asked some neighbors. Taoist Dawu from Qingfeng Temple told me that someone from another county came to my area not long ago."
"So, Master Lin suspected that the man from another county stole something, so he should have left the city now. I will lead people to chase him immediately."
"No need to chase them. I heard from Taoist Master Dawu that those people did not leave the city, but stayed in the restaurant in our city."
Captain Yang's expression changed and he glanced at Lin Ye. He began to understand a little bit. It seemed that things were not that simple.
"Mr. Lin, I understand. I'll do whatever you say."
Captain Yang expressed his opinion, and Lin Ye also said with a smile: "Well, you can lead people to conduct a surprise search later to see if you can find the glass orb that I lost."
"Okay, then I'll come in two hours?"
"Um."
Lin Ye nodded and took out the hundred-liang silver note from his sleeve. If it were in the past, Captain Yang would have accepted it, but now...
"Take it. Captain Yang, if you don't want it, the brothers below can't work in vain."
"Thank you, Mr. Lin. I promise to do a great job on this matter."
"No need to send it."
Lin Ye walked out of the yamen with the respectful farewell of Captain Yang. Captain Yang returned to the room, picked up the silver note, and found a bead underneath the silver note.
Dazzling.
"This is the seven-colored glazed gem that Master Lin mentioned. How could Master Lin forget such an important treasure here? Captain, I'll go and stop Master Lin."
Captain Yang listened to what his deputy said and slapped him on the back of the head.
"You stupid idiot, this was left here specially by Master Lin."
"Ah, why did Master Lin keep this?"
"What?"
Captain Yang sneered and said, "Hide this orb. If you can't find it when you search the restaurant, you can put it in the other party's bag. Do you understand?"
"frame……"
Bang!
Captain Yang slapped his deputy again, suppressing his deputy's words.
"Just know it, don't tell it."
…
…
Guests are welcome!
The most luxurious restaurant in Shangyang City.
"Big Brother, this restaurant is more luxurious than the ones in our county town. I didn't expect that such a small Shangyang County town would have such a good restaurant."
"Yes, this carpet is so comfortable to step on. The names of the rooms in this restaurant are also very strange. They are not divided according to heaven, earth, black and yellow, but are divided according to presidential suites and executive suites."
"Big Brother, I just asked the waiter, and he said that there are only three presidential suites in the entire restaurant, and it costs fifty taels to stay in one night. Qingfeng Temple is really rich."
Several young Taoists looked left and right, and found the furniture in the room very novel.
"Why do I suddenly feel guilty? We came here to challenge them, but Qingfeng Temple treated us so well..."
"Me too."
The oldest middle-aged Taoist priest listened to his fellow apprentices and sighed, "Hey, challenging Qingfeng Temple and finding out the details of Qingfeng Temple is what the master ordered."
"Big Brother, why did Master ask us to find out the bottom line of Qingfeng Temple?"
"Not long ago, Master heard a rumor that the number of disciples at Qingfeng Temple in Shangyang County has dwindled, and it is said that only the temple master and a disciple are left. The name Qingfeng Temple has the word 'Qing' in it. If we defeat Qingfeng Temple, our Taoyuan Temple can also be named 'Qing', and the status of our Taoist temple will rise sharply."
"This always feels like taking advantage of someone's misfortune."
"Shut up, how can you talk nonsense about the master's plan?"
"Yes, then, Senior Brother, I'll go out for a walk first." The criticized young Taoist said angrily.
"Go ahead, and don't cause any trouble."
…
The same conversation was also taking place among the disciples of Tzu Chi Temple in another presidential suite.
The young Taoist priest always felt that his master was taking advantage of the situation, and that the people in Qingfeng Temple were so good to them. They knew that they came to challenge him, but still arranged such good food and accommodation for them.
Young people are thin-skinned and always feel guilty for repaying kindness with enmity.
"Little Master, Little Master."
The young Taoist priest had just walked out of the restaurant door and not far away when a young vendor with a very honest face walked towards him.
"Master, I have a relative who works as a waiter in a restaurant. I heard that the master from Taoyuan Temple in Taihe County moved into the restaurant, so I came here immediately. Master, are you the master from Taoyuan Temple?"
"Exactly. What do you want?"
"Great! I've heard of the reputation of Taoyuan Temple in Shangyang County. The masters there are all really capable. I would like to ask you, little master, for a talisman to drive away evil spirits. My family has been feeling a bit disturbed lately..."
A hint of pride also appeared on the young Taoist's face. He didn't expect that the fame of his Taoist temple would be known even in Shangyang County, which is so far away.
The talisman for exorcising evil spirits is not a very powerful one, but he has it with him.
The young Taoist priest took out the talisman from his pocket and handed it to the other party. The other party was very excited and took out a sachet from his pocket.
"Need not."
The young Taoist refused, but the other party stuffed the sachet into his hand and turned and ran away.
"Don't take advantage of the masters. This is a small token of my appreciation. You must accept it, Master."
Looking at the other person running away, the young Taoist priest smiled helplessly. The people of Shangyang County are really simple and honest.
