txolops Chapter 49 A Box of Gold
Chapter 49 A Box of Gold
"Lord, these are the believers who have been selected from various places today to devoutly offer sacrifices to God."
Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), as usual, a young priest led thirty believers to Li Yue's courtyard.
Without Li Yue giving any instructions, Xiao Zhu had already ordered people to set up tables and chairs, and the thirty people lined up in front to wait.
Li Yue remained silent, sat down in the chair, and summoned the Ruyi Scepter with a flick of his wrist.
Among these thirty believers, some were receiving the blessing for the first time. This single act of "retrieving objects from a distance" left them speechless, and they wished they could prostrate themselves in worship.
"What do you want?"
Since the selection process had already been completed by various parties, Li Yue no longer needed to verify anything and could directly inquire about their needs.
"Reporting to the Grand Master, I wish to pray to the Five Gods to bless me with abundant wealth."
A man dressed in luxurious clothes, adorned with gold and silver jewelry, and looking like a businessman, said with a broad smile.
Li Yue tapped him with the auspicious and inauspicious charm, then waved his hand and said, "Next."
The second was a beautiful woman, also dressed in fine clothes, with a plump and radiant appearance, clearly someone who had lived a life of luxury.
This one, however, is seeking a marriage partner, what she calls her "ideal husband".
Judging from her age and figure, she is neither an unmarried girl nor a widow. It seems that she is another woman who longs for love outside the marriage.
Li Yue also used the "Good Fortune and Misfortune" tool to click on the next one.
The next few people, judging from their clothes and appearance, all came from wealthy families. It seems that Qianqian was right; now, to receive blessings, one must give money to the junior and senior priests.
Poor people who can't afford to spend money naturally won't be selected.
While it's true that "too much clarity leaves no room for fish," they can't be allowed to run rampant. After all, Li Yue wants quantity, and the wealthy are always a minority. He couldn't help but think that he needed to find an opportunity to give them a warning and make them behave themselves.
"Reporting to the Grand Master, I request wealth."
As he pondered, another person stepped forward, this time a middle-aged man.
Li Yue glanced at him and was somewhat surprised. Dressed in coarse cloth, he didn't look like a wealthy person. How did he get selected?
However, he was too lazy to think about it further. He tapped the "Good Fortune and Misfortune" button, waved his hand, and moved on to the next one.
There were thirty people in total. They just needed to take the auspicious scepter and tap it once. It didn't take long, just a moment, and today's blessing was over.
Xiao Zhu hurriedly ordered people to carry away the tables, chairs, and other furniture, then bowed obsequiously to Li Yue before leading his men out of the courtyard.
They were selected from various places, and some were not even from Hedong County. After leaving Li Yue's courtyard, they bowed to Xiao Zhu and then dispersed.
"grown ups."
As the middle-aged man in coarse cloth clothes turned a corner, several burly martial artists immediately came to greet him.
One of the men, who was holding a feather fan, couldn't help but ask.
"Sir, have you ascertained whether Shen Taizhu truly possesses divine abilities?"
"Divine communication?"
Chen Shouzhou gave a cold smile and snorted disdainfully.
"What kind of supernatural powers? He just knows a few magic tricks to fool people."
"In that case, then we..."
"Let's go back to the county government office first."
Chen Shouzhou didn't say much. He raised his hand and, escorted by his subordinates, returned to the Hedong County government office.
Although it has been determined that this cult is nothing more than a bunch of charlatans who pretend to be gods and ghosts to fool the people, it has gathered thousands of believers, and if not handled properly, it could cause unrest.
The masses are ignorant and foolish, lacking any ability to discern right from wrong. They are not only easily swayed and believe everything they hear, but are also easily incited.
Chen Shouzhou pondered, deciding that if he were to act, he would do so swiftly and decisively, apprehending the ringleaders of the God-Worshipping Cult. Without these high and low priests, the believers would be scattered and disorganized; with gradual indoctrination, they would naturally disband.
The problem is that the cult has four senior priests and forty junior priests, some of whom also keep unruly servants. If they want to arrest them all at once, the manpower in the county government is slightly insufficient.
If even one or two leak out and incite believers to cause trouble, resulting in some major chaos, not only will they have accomplished nothing, but they will also be punished.
After some deliberation, Chen Shouzhou immediately wrote an official document and submitted it to the government office, explaining the matter clearly and requesting the government office to send troops to help suppress the God Worshiping Cult.
Whether the prefectural government sends more personnel is not important; what matters is that he has already reported the matter. If it really causes unrest, the prefect will take the blame, and he, a mere county magistrate, will not be held responsible.
Planning before acting, considering both advancement and retreat—this was Chen Shouzhou's method of self-preservation during his more than ten years in officialdom.
"That will do."
The official document was written and placed on the desk for the time being. It is already late today, so I will send someone to deliver it tomorrow.
Chen Shouzhou couldn't help but smile before getting up to rest in the back office.
"Where has the lady gone?"
In the past, when Chen Shouzhou returned from his official business, his wife would always come to greet him and help him change his clothes. But today, she was nowhere to be seen; only his personal maidservant was there to serve him with his clothes.
Chen Shouzhou couldn't help but ask a question casually, and the maid's expression immediately changed, and she lowered her head and remained silent.
"Um?"
Chen Shouzhou hadn't paid any attention at first, but seeing the maid's appearance, he instantly became suspicious. He suddenly grabbed the maid's wrist and shouted sternly.
"Aren't you going to tell the truth? Do you really want me to send you to jail for severe torture?"
"Master, spare me! Master, spare me!"
The maid was so frightened that she trembled all over and could no longer hold on. With a cry, she knelt down on the ground.
In the northwest corner of the back office, in a small hut filled with miscellaneous items, Liu was holding a small box in her arms, which was full of gold ingots.
He picked them up one by one, put them in his mouth and bit them, then rubbed them repeatedly in his hands before reluctantly putting them back.
Then he looked around and found a place to hide.
I thought I'd hide here for now and then find another safe place.
Clang!
Before they could find a place, the door was suddenly kicked open, and Chen Shouzhou walked in with a gloomy face.
"……master."
"shut up!"
Seeing the box full of gold in Liu's arms, Chen Shouzhou shouted and walked up to it, snatching it away. He picked up a piece of gold from the box and weighed it in his hand; it was worth at least twenty taels.
There are a total of ten gold ingots in this box, which is two hundred taels of gold!
It should be noted that as a county magistrate, his annual salary was only equivalent to four or five taels of silver.
Just a small corner of this gold ingot would be enough for his salary for two or three years!
"Nonsense!"
Enraged, Chen Shouzhou raised his hand and slapped Liu across the face.
"That's a notorious bandit who committed murder and arson, already sentenced to death and beheading. How dare you accept bribes to guarantee his life! Do you have any respect for the law? Do you have any respect for me?!"
"Master, I..."
Liu covered her face, looking terrified, and dared not utter another word.
"There's a saying that a virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband, but you're pushing me into a fire pit!"
Chen Shouzhou frowned as he looked at the box of gold.
Those people were all desperate criminals. Now that we had taken their gold, they wouldn't let it go if we couldn't rescue the person.
This isn't gold; it's practically a red-hot branding iron.
He was filled with resentment. He had been married to Liu for more than ten years, and Liu had always been dutiful. How could she suddenly be so bewitched as to accept bribes from those wicked people?
"……Um?"
Upon realizing this, Chen Shouzhou was suddenly startled.
According to the maid, the gold was received by the madam in the afternoon, while he was in Yunqi Town in the morning, where the Taoist priest prayed that he would become rich.
Could it be that……
Chen Shouzhou's heart skipped a beat, and the box in his hand clattered to the ground, scattering gold all over the floor.