The First Volume of Qinghe County

  "The master will arrive shortly, wait for me to inform the teacher to come out and greet him." The little Taoist priest bowed and left quickly.

  Ximen Qing looked again at the Taoist temple, and indeed it was a good place to purify one's mind and cultivate the Tao! The noise of the front hall had already become faint and imperceptible here. Inside the courtyard were some pine trees and clusters of green bamboo, which rustled softly in the wind.

  No wonder Taoism was once popular, people were busy making a living in the mundane world, but when they looked back and saw the serenity of nature, how could they not be delighted?

  Ximen Qing walked slowly forward while admiring the scenery in the courtyard, fiddling with a sheep fat white jade pendant in his hand, and suddenly became clear-headed.

  In front of the three large rooms, a middle-aged Taoist slowly walked out from the central room, bowed and greeted: "I don't know that County Magistrate has arrived today, I'm late to welcome you, please forgive me!"

  Ximen Qing thought to himself: This Wu Daoguan is indeed clever and quick-witted, and has already begun to address him as "County Magistrate" after only a few days in office. He's come running out here to greet him with a fawning expression.

  "This official came without prior notice, what crime does Wu Daogui have?" Ximen Qing smiled and said: "Recently I've been feeling anxious, thinking of sitting in Wu Daogui's place for a while to calm my mind."

  Wu Daoguan saw that his flattery was just right, and Ximen Qing accepted it calmly, feeling delighted in his heart. He hastily invited Ximen Qing into the main house and busily ordered Dao Tong to bring tea for them to drink.

  Ximen Qing happily entered the inner room, where Wu Daoguan usually did his homework. The interior was neatly arranged, with a picture of the Jade Emperor hanging on the wall, flanked by the Purple Mansion Star Officers, and on either side were the four great marshals Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Guan.

  Although Ximen Qing had never believed in gods and ghosts, since he was thrown into this era, his heart still wavered slightly. He walked to the Jade Emperor's position and prayed silently: "I don't care which god threw me here, but since you've done it, you have to take responsibility to the end. I won't mention making a fortune or getting promoted, at least let me live stably in this era."

  After finishing his prayer, Ximen Qing turned around and saw that the Daoist priest had already presented him with incense and tea. Wu Daoyi waved his sleeve and invited Ximen Qing to sit down and chat.

  Ximen Qing took a sip of tea, and indeed Wu Daoguan valued his dual identity as county lieutenant and local landlord, even the tea was the best, one mouthful went down with endless aftertaste, teeth and tongue lingering fragrance, if in later generations, this tea leaves at least worth three hundred to five hundred taels.

  "What instructions do you have for me this time?" Wu Daoguan asked cautiously after accompanying him in a sip of tea.

  "Not busy." Ximen Qing smiled and said: "First get the account book for incense oil. The official has not come to this temple for many days, first add some money for incense oil and then talk."

  Wu Daoguan saw Ximen Qing say this, and hastily ordered Dao Tong to bring the account book of incense oil. He took up his pen and ink and asked: "Sir, if you often come to my humble abode, it's already a great honor for me, why do you need to give me money for incense oil?"

  Ximen Qing saw him pretending to be so serious and couldn't help but laugh inwardly. If what he said was true, why would he need someone to fetch the incense oil account? Just now he himself had prayed for a bit, naturally wanting to add some incense oil money, which wasn't just polite talk.

  Money can make a ghost grind a millstone.

  Ximen Qing looked at the account book of fragrant oil and saw that most of it was only a few hundred coins, and even if more, it would not exceed three to five strings of coins, which were already left by several local wealthy landowners.

  "Wu Daoguan, just write me a 50 taels IOU." Ximen Qing directly pulled out a 50 taels IOU from his sleeve and put it in front of Wu Daoguan.

  When Wu Daoguan saw such a large amount of incense money, his hand holding the brush trembled slightly. He coughed twice, composed himself, and with a flick of his sleeve, he discreetly took the IOU without revealing anything. Only then did he speak: "Your Excellency is so generous, I will certainly set up a longevity plaque for you and worship it day and night!"

  These fifty taels are intimidating, but compared to the wealth Ximen Qing obtained by cheating the Wu family, it's like a single hair from nine cows.

  Ximen Qing is generous with his money, not stingy, but today he wants to ask Wu Daoguan to get a crucible, so he can tinker with that distiller, first bribe him with some money, naturally it will be easier to talk.

  There has never been anyone in this world who is not greedy for wealth.

  Wu Daoguan accepted the fifty taels and was overjoyed, picking up his brush to carefully record the transaction in the account book before calling for Dao Tong to take it away.

  "Did Master just mention about clearing one's mind, perhaps due to some difficulties?" Wu Daoguan asked: "I can help Master decipher a sign and take a glimpse at the heavenly mechanism."

  "Oh? Alright!" Ximen Qing, who was originally going to mention the alchemy furnace, suddenly became interested and looked at this era's Taoist priest who would often give fortunes to wealthy people. Since he had already bled, he called out to Wu Daoguan to ask for a divination as well.

  Wu Daoguan personally took the signing tube, closed his eyes with a flourish, muttered to himself, and Ximen Qing pricked up his ears to listen for a while. It was nothing but the usual clichés like "Taishang Laojun's urgent decree".

  Wu Dao Officer nodded and seemed to have communicated with the gods, opened his eyes and asked: "I don't know what you want to ask, sir?"

  Ximen Qing thought for a moment: "No matter what, bring me the divination slips and let's take a look!"

  Wu Daoguan nodded, shook the tube back and forth, and after a while, a bamboo slip fell onto the table. Wu Daoguan put down the tube, picked it up to take a look, and first burst out laughing: "Your Honor, this is an extremely auspicious sign! I offer my congratulations!"

  Then Wu Daoguan handed over the bamboo slip: "Please, sir, take a look."

  Ximen Qing took it with interest and glanced at it. There were only a few words on it, very straightforward, no need to interpret the sign.

  "Spring in March. Good marriage."

  What does this sign mean? My own wife just passed away, and now I get this sign, am I supposed to remarry?

  Ximen Qing was lost in thought, when Wu Daoguan laughed and said: "Sir, a match made in heaven is not to be missed!"

  "What's wrong with Wu Daoguan?" Ximen Qing looked at Wu Daoguan who was even more excited than himself, dancing with joy, and asked in puzzlement.

  Wu Daoguan mysteriously approached: "Yangchun in March. Good marriage."

  "This divination stick, at the beginning of the month, was also given to a female benefactor." Wu Daoguan's face was full of peach blossoms: "There is only one such divination stick in this tube. After it was given to that female benefactor last time, the stick mysteriously disappeared. Presumably, that female benefactor had taken it by hand."

  "What does this have to do with me?" Ximen Qing looked at Wu Daoguan in front of him, who was having a seizure, and was bewildered.

  "What's the connection? Until yesterday, when Xiaodao was counting, he found that this signature was missing. He just added it in, and today you came to ask for it. You say there's no connection?" Wu Daoguan smiled.

  "What the heck, do you think this is a game of Concentration? So what if I draw two identical lots?" Ximen Qing grumbled to himself, convinced that Wu Daoguan was trying to take advantage of him again.

  "Wu Daoguan continued: 'Sir, guess who that female donor is?'"

  "How am I supposed to know?" Ximen Qing glared, thinking: "Who knows who that female benefactor of yours is? What if she's some kind of Phoenix Sister or something, wouldn't that be a disaster for me?"

  It seems that Wu Daoguan has seen through Ximen Qing's thoughts, and he mysteriously smiles: "That female donor is young and beautiful, unparalleled in Qinghe County!"

  "Go on!" Since it wasn't Feng's sister, Ximen Qing became interested. Which beauty in Qinghe County was destined to be with Ge? Would it be possible to simply take a token and bring the beauty home directly?

  "This benefactress lives on Imperial Street, surnamed Pan, named Jinlian, also known as Sixth Lady." Wu Daoyuan saw that he had piqued Ximen Qing's interest and revealed the answer.

  "What!" Ximen Qing's reaction was greatly beyond Wu Daoyuan's expectation, not only did he not show any excitement, but instead furrowed his brow.

  Wu Daoguan had no idea what Ximen Qing was thinking, and since he had taken over Ximen Qing's body, he had been constantly on guard against getting too close to Pan Jinlian. Who would have thought that they would run into each other everywhere, even when going to draw lots together?

  Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian, are they really a match made in heaven?

  Ximen Qing now has no choice but to start believing a little, whether it's the red thread or ghosts and gods, there is always some kind of power that pulls him and Pan Jinlian together. Even if Ximen Qing moves house, it's likely that Pan Jinlian will move over too after a few days, and they'll still run into each other on the streets.

  Forget it, I don't care! Ximen Qing cursed all the gods and Buddhas in heaven to death, not even sparing the God of the West. Since that's how it is, I'll openly be with Pan Jinlian, satisfying your wishes!

  When a cart comes to the foot of a hill, it will always find a way. I don't believe there's anything in this world that can stop me!

  As soon as Ximen Qing had this idea, all the obstacles in his chest disappeared, and his mind seemed to have opened up a lot. He simply put away the bamboo slip and smiled at Wu Daoguan: "Since it's a heavenly marriage, I will definitely follow it. This bamboo slip of Wu Daoguan, I'll take it first, it can be used as evidence."

  "It doesn't matter!" Wu Daoguan smiled and said: "Even if the master takes away the entire signing tube, I have no opinion. Not to mention the signing tube, but anything in the Taoist temple, as long as the master likes it, just take it away."

  "Haha!" Ximen Qing laughed loudly towards the sky, it's really a good sleep, and the pillow is delivered.

  "Wu Daoguan, don't be polite, I really like this thing."

  "No problem!" Wu Daoguan patted his chest very confidently: "Your Excellency, just speak! As long as Xiao Dao has it, he will never be ambiguous!"

  "Good!" Ximen Qing's eyes lit up, and he stood up to warmly shake Wu Daoguan's hands: "Wu Daoguan, may I borrow the alchemy furnace for a use?"

  "Alchemical furnace?" Magistrate Wu's hands were tightly grasped by Ximen Qing, or else he would have had the urge to dig his ears. You're a good county magistrate and a wealthy owner of a Chinese medicine shop, what do you need an alchemical furnace for?

  "Alchemical furnace!" Ximen Qing nodded affirmatively: "It's the kind of alchemical furnace you Taoist priests use to refine cinnabar."

  "Sir, what are you doing with the alchemy furnace?" Wu Daoguan didn't expect his few polite words to lead to such a strange thing: "Alchemy is a Daoist's business!"

  "Don't ask," Ximen Qing replied, "In short, I have a use for him."

  "Alright." Wu Daoguan had no choice but to agree.

  Ximen Qing then let go, patted Wu Daoguan's shoulder: "It's settled, you send someone to deliver it to my door, and return the original within two months."

  After all, the dan furnace is quite heavy, Ximen Qing is too lazy to move it, Wu Daoguan not only wants to borrow it but also has to deliver it to his doorstep.