Chapter 103: Golden Millet Dream |
Tab 1
After starting to do these good deeds, the incense value changed from being continuously consumed to positive growth.
The alms at the restaurant, steamed bun shop, and cloth shop could obtain over a hundred points of incense each time.
At the pharmacy, poor families came to seek medicine every day, sometimes one or two, sometimes three or five.
Basically, one person could contribute one point of incense value. It seemed like a small amount, but its advantage lay in its persistence.
Calculating it this way, throwing in nearly ten thousand taels of silver, plus the feedback from the tenant farmers, could at least exchange for over a thousand points of incense value.
But it was still not enough.
After all, the silver in hand was limited. Only spending without earning was hard to sustain.
Soon it was the time of heavy snowfall.
A small mountain of three to four hundred meters, not considered too high.
A young hunter who went up the mountain to hunt hugged a tree trunk, struggling to move forward in the wind and snow.
The sudden heavy snow made the already difficult mountain path even more slippery.
Carrying two rabbits he had managed to hunt with great difficulty on his shoulder, this was the rare food for the end of the year.
He gritted his teeth, desperately encouraging himself.
His wife and the baby waiting to be fed were all waiting at home!
No matter what, he had to go back.
However, a few clusters of green light appeared in the forest ahead. The hunter's heart jumped, and he cried out inwardly, "Oh no! It's wolves!"
Wolves in winter were the hardest to deal with.
Food was scarce, and they were so hungry their eyes glowed green, daring to fight tigers for their lives.
If there were three or five people in a group, it would be better.
But now he was alone, and with the wind and snow, arrows would be blown off course and lose their force.
The young hunter gritted his teeth, put down the prey on his shoulder, and drew his machete from his waist.
He didn't want to die, and he couldn't die.
The heavy snow sealed the mountain. If he couldn't bring back the prey, his family would have nothing to eat.
"Come on, let's see whether you die, or I take you away as prey!"
He shouted in his heart, but also understood that this time it was fraught with grim possibilities.
Just then, the few hungry wolves suddenly let out wails and ran away with their tails between their legs.
The young hunter was stunned for a moment. After reacting, he hurriedly picked up the rabbits on the ground and ran down the mountain.
Even if he fell several times along the way, he couldn't care less.
When he returned to the foot of the mountain in a sorry state and saw the lights of the village from afar, he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Braving the wind and snow to return home, as soon as he entered the door, his wife, who had just finished nursing the baby, hurriedly pulled up her lapels and looked over.
Seeing that he brought back two rabbits, she couldn't help but say in pleasant surprise, "Such fat rabbits, this will be enough to eat for several days!"
The young hunter still had lingering fears and said, "Still, eat sparingly. There were a few hungry wolves on the mountain, I almost couldn't make it back."
Thinking of the previous danger, he rubbed his hands and face that were stiff from the cold, and couldn't help but look at the sleeping baby on the bed, his eyes revealing a trace of rejoicing after surviving a disaster and doting on the child.
His wife's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. She hurriedly pulled him to look left and right, "Are you hurt?"
"Just fell a few times, a little superficial wound, it's nothing. Fortunately, I don't know what happened to those hungry wolves, they actually ran away. That was close, so close."
His wife's eyelids twitched, and she said, "Could it be the Mountain God's blessing?"
"I don't know, maybe." The young hunter shook his head.
"Then hurry up and kowtow to the Mountain God Lord." His wife hurriedly pulled him to kneel down.
The young hunter didn't say much, obediently kneeling down with his wife, kowtowing towards the direction of the mountain forest in gratitude.
Chu Xun revealed his figure a hundred meters outside the house, sighing helplessly, "I even wanted to help you stop the snow for a bit, why run so fast."
He glanced at the information.
The incense value increased by three points.
Presumably, this person's lifespan was not meant to end, and his intervention just made things go more smoothly for him.
"At least my efforts weren't in vain." Chu Xun shook his head, took a step, and instantly disappeared into the sky full of wind and snow.
Finding pleasure in helping others to harvest incense value and offset the consumption of karmic fire had become something Chu Xun had to do recently.
At first, it was purely to gain some benefits for himself, but when he saw the commoners who survived disasters return home to reunite with their families.
The beggar children who couldn't get enough to eat and wear, rejoicing because their stomachs were full.
That kind of joy made Chu Xun also feel the same.
It was just that he always felt something was missing.
When returning from the mountain forest, he passed by a household in Pingshui Town.
Sounds of arguing came from inside.
"Why are you unwilling to test for an official rank! What's the use of studying medicine! If you dare to secretly hide medical books again, see if I don't beat you to death!"
Chu Xun looked towards the sound, his gaze penetrating the wall, and saw a white-haired old man coming out of the room huffing and puffing, holding a stack of medical books.
The face was somewhat familiar. After a slight identification, he recognized it was Li Chang'an, who had moved away from Pinecone Village a long time ago.
Even now, Li Chang'an had never forgotten about becoming an official.
It was just that he understood that as a mere Juren, if he wanted to be an official, he had to buy it.
But using silver to take the Juren exam back then was already his bottom line. To go buy an official position, he only felt it was better not to be one.
However, this obsession was never let go, only pressed onto his children and grandchildren.
His son was forced by him to study and test for an official rank.
Unfortunately, he wasn't cut out for it. After testing for many years, he didn't even pass the Xiucai exam.
Li Chang'an then pinned his hopes on his grandson. His grandson Li Changping was quite smart.
But for some reason, he was naturally interested in studying medicine.
Every time he was forced to study, he was obedient on the surface, but in reality, he was secretly reading medical books.
Saying he was going to the school, he actually went to the medical clinic.
After Li Chang'an discovered this several times, he was furious.
Hundreds of taels of silver were spent, yet you became an apprentice at a medical clinic?
He was almost angered to death!
He immediately found all the medical books his grandson had secretly hidden, fetched fire from the woodshed, and lit them in the courtyard.
In front of the window, the thirteen or fourteen-year-old youth watched the raging flames rise, his eyes full of stubbornness and grievance.
He didn't understand why his grandfather insisted that someone in the family become an official.
When the refugee army came, they even chopped off the County Magistrate's head. What was so good about being an official?
Whereas physicians, no matter what era or situation, were deeply respected by others. Wasn't that better than being an official?
The middle-aged man beside him gently placed his hand on his son's shoulder and sighed, "Your grandfather just has this one thought, he's thought about it his whole life, don't blame him."
The youth wiped his tears, looked up at his father, "But I still want to study medicine."
The middle-aged man comforted him softly, but his heart was full of bitterness.
When he was young, he also wanted to study medicine.
It was also a fire like this that burned all his thoughts clean.
In the courtyard, after Li Chang'an burned the medical books, he dragged out a corner of the medicine grinder, the guillotine knife, and such, opened the door, and was about to throw them out.
As a result, when he looked up, he saw Chu Xun standing there.
He was slightly stunned and subconsciously wanted to call out Chu Xun's name.
But looking closely, he realized that the young man in front of him only looked somewhat similar, not the person he had compared himself to in his heart for a lifetime.
Li Chang'an didn't look anymore, threw the things onto the street, turned back, and heavily closed the door.
"If you dare to buy those messy things again, I'll burn down the medical clinic!"
Bang—
The bedroom door was also heavily closed, and the courtyard was silent.
Chu Xun hesitated slightly, but still stepped forward and passed through the courtyard wall.
He glanced at the side room where candlelight was lit and two figures were scattered.
Then he slowly came to the main room.
He only heard Li Chang'an's muttering curses coming from inside. He had worked hard his whole life, accumulated so much silver, to support his son and grandson to study.
But each one was more useless than the last, each one more disobedient than the last!
He had wanted to be an official his whole life, especially after his grandmother, wife, uncle, and others passed away one after another, this obsession became even heavier.
After cursing for an unknown amount of time, the candlelight in the room finally went out.
Chu Xun reached out and pointed, and a wisp of spiritual light fell into the room.
"Golden Millet Dream, a dream, a blessing, a disaster..."
Subsequently, Chu Xun floated away.
Inside the room, Li Chang'an only felt sleepiness rush to his head, lay on the bed, and quickly fell asleep.
Waking up in a daze, he found himself back in Pinecone Village, and in the body of a youth.
Beside him, his grandfather Li Tianjian, grandmother, uncle's family, and parents were all there.
After several days of astonishment, Li Chang'an finally realized that he had returned to his youth.
Although he didn't know how he came back, his heart was full of lofty aspirations, and he was unbearably excited.
Relying on his understanding of the next few decades, he persuaded his family to raise silver for him and once again purchased the status of a National University student.
After the Lin family was executed to the ninth kinship, Li Chang'an had his family take advantage of the low prices to buy several shops.
When County Magistrate Tang Shijun took office, he successfully passed the autumn examination, becoming a Juren ten years earlier than before.
And he was even the Jieyuan!
Even Tang Shijun was surprised by this son's talent and learning, specifically calling him over to ask a few questions.
Relying on the title of Juren, Li Chang'an repeated his old trick, helping farmers and merchants evade taxes.
The silver earned was then used to buy shops in Pingshui Town.
At the same time, he did the questions of several spring examinations he could remember in his mind over and over again.
He had done this many times before, fantasizing about competing in the same hall with other Juren. He didn't expect it to be of great use now!
Relying on his "foresight" ability, Li Chang'an passed through the spring examination, actually winning Huiyuan and Zhuangyuan in succession.
Winning three firsts in a row, Emperor Taizu was greatly pleased, praising him as the number one talent of the current dynasty.
He was granted the position of Hanlin Academy Reader-in-Waiting, rewarded with a thousand mu of fertile land, and thousands of taels of gold and silver.
The granddaughter of the Duke of Zhen, young and beautiful, was matched to marry Li Chang'an.
For a time, the Li family's scenery was unparalleled.
At this time, Li Chang'an was only seventeen years old.
Chu Xun of Pinecone Village was still just an ordinary farmer.
Although he had some assets, he could no longer be compared with him.
In the thirty-second year of the Jing Kingdom, Li Chang'an served as a Secretary in the Ministry of Revenue.
In the following three years, the Jing Kingdom's people's livelihood became increasingly prosperous.
Li Chang'an was promoted to Director in the Ministry of Revenue. A year later, he was transferred to Mingxiu Prefecture to be the Prefect.
He originally thought he could fully display his talents and make some achievements.
Who could have known that there were so many things a Prefect needed to handle.
After working hard for three years, Mingxiu Prefecture's tax revenue was not as good as before.
Li Chang'an was forced by circumstances. For the sake of achievements, he had to increase the taxes on the commoners.
This caused the commoners to complain incessantly, and the number of refugees and mounted bandits also increased a lot.
Many people were watching him make a fool of himself. The number one talent in the world who became Zhuangyuan at seventeen, unexpectedly found it so strenuous to be a Prefect.
The more Li Chang'an thought about it, the angrier he got, but he gradually understood in his heart that his ability was at most up to here.
But he didn't want to be looked down upon. Knowing that Emperor Taizu would pass away in a few years.
He befriended the Crown Prince, who was the future Emperor Yongji, in advance.
In the forty-first year of the Jing Kingdom, Emperor Taizu passed away as he expected.
The Crown Prince succeeded to the throne, with the era name Yongji.
Li Chang'an got his wish and was transferred back to be the Vice Minister of Revenue.
This year, he had just turned twenty-nine and was already a third-rank official of the current dynasty.
The speed of his promotion was rare in history.
However, after this year, Li Chang'an's good days were considered over.
He was too showy, and all the civil and military officials in the court were jealous.
As the saying goes, the tree that stands out in the forest will surely be destroyed by the wind.
Someone brought out evidence of his crimes when he was Prefect, such as forcibly imposing taxes, forging account books, and helping to suppress it when tax officials caused deaths.
A perfectly good Mingxiu Prefecture was made into a foul atmosphere.
Emperor Yongji was pressured by the ministers and also had the intention to use this head to kill one as a warning to a hundred.
Thus, in the second year of Yongji.
Vice Minister of Revenue Li Chang'an was sentenced to have his entire family executed and all family property confiscated.
That day, he watched with his own eyes as his grandfather, grandmother, wife, and children were all tied up and dragged to the execution ground.
The executioner's face was full of fierce flesh, and the ghost-head broadsword in his hand seemed as big as a mountain.
Looking at his expression, it was full of indifference.
With one slash, he died with remaining grievances, watching his relatives' heads fall to the ground one after another.
An Underworld Emissary swept over from afar, holding a black chain and hook to catch him.
Li Chang'an fled in panic, and unknowingly, he actually ran back to Pinecone Village.
He saw that Chu Xun's house still hung the plaque gifted by the newly appointed Prefect of Mingxiu Prefecture, Tang Shijun.
While his house was sealed and investigated by official runners.
Chu Xun and Zhang Anxiu were weeding in the fields.
Li Shoutian squatted on the field ridge, smilingly smoking a dry tobacco pipe.
Second Uncle Li Guangmao held a wine jug in his hand, drinking while leading a group of half-grown boys fishing by the river.
The children in the village chased each other in the fields, their laughter like bells.
At this moment, Li Chang'an suddenly shed tears.
If he had stayed in Pinecone Village back then, he would definitely be the one everyone envied.
Carefree, enjoying wealth and honor.
Being an official for over a decade, he also tasted the sweetness, but in the end, his whole family, old and young, were murdered.
He was once wealthy and honored in front of others, admired by the people of the world.
But so what?
He had only reached the third rank as an official, and people were trying every possible means to murder him.
Virtue not matching the position, this was the end.
The Underworld Emissary's black chain and hook finally caught up, firmly locking his throat, causing excruciating pain.
Li Chang'an screamed in terror, "I won't be an official anymore! I won't be an official anymore!"
The Underworld Emissary was expressionless, his aura cold.
He could only cry and shout.
In an instant, a startling thunder sounded in his ears.
Li Chang'an suddenly let out a loud cry, opened his eyes, and sat up from the bed.
Looking left and right, it was still that room, unchanged.
He hurriedly reached out and touched his neck, his head was still there.
The door was pushed open, and his son Li Zaiming and grandson Li Changping hurriedly ran over.
One lit the candle, the other came to the bedside, asking with concern, "Grandfather, what's wrong?"
The candlelight gradually brightened, and Li Chang'an, covered in sweat, was stunned.
That was... a dream?
But the dream was so real, as if he had truly experienced such a life.
Seeing his son and grandson's faces full of concern, he couldn't help but think of the scene on the execution ground where his family was beheaded.
Dripping with blood, dying with remaining grievances.
Being an official, what's so good about it...
He could name eight hundred good things.
But he could also name eight thousand bad things!
"Grandfather?" Li Changping called out.
Li Chang'an came back to his senses, trembling as he reached out and touched Li Changping's head.
Very real, still on his neck.
He let out a long breath and said, "Tomorrow grandfather will take you to buy medical books."
Li Changping was stunned, not understanding the meaning.
Li Chang'an's voice gradually became firm, "Our family, will not be officials anymore. Whoever the hell wants to be one can be one!"
At the same time, Chu Xun, who had returned to Pinecone Village, had just entered the courtyard when he seemed to feel something.
At this moment, the incense value suddenly increased by a full eighty points, even more than saving Liao Shouyi.
[End of Chapter]