Where the wind chimes sound, there is a god

Chapter 60: Water God Temple
Perhaps everything you drink and eat in this world is predestined.

Chen Beimo used to think that he had achieved immortality and could see all that the world has to offer, but now he realizes that fate is as sharp as a knife.

He sighed and picked up the Silver Moon Wheel. This wheel was refined with some kind of spiritual object from heaven and earth. It could fly and hide, yet it was extremely sharp.

His Bi Shui Han sword has become more powerful since it was washed by the heavenly thunder, and it kills with lightning speed.

Now that I have refined this treasure, I can make up for the deficiencies.

The snow in Yunzhou City melted completely on the fifth day of the first lunar month, and on the ninth day some people returned home and entered the city.

Starting from the twelfth day of the first lunar month, many people returned home, cleaned their houses, and prepared to spend the Lantern Festival at home.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, fireworks all over the city completely dispelled the cold energy of Yunzhou City, the yang fire of the earth rose, and the sky gradually warmed up with the sunrise.

On the 18th day of the first lunar month, government officials returned and everything in the city gradually returned to normal.

Only Yushuiyuan lives up to its past.

On the 23rd day of the first lunar month, the imperial court issued an edict, in which a scholar named Chen Beimo in Yunzhou City protected the people of the city with his own life, calmed the wind and snow, drove away the cold, and rescued the people. He was moved by the will of heaven and felt pity for the people. When the Emperor of the Great Jin heard of this touching deity, he specially ordered him to be named the Water Official of Xiayuan, honored him with the status of a god, and allowed a temple to be built for him to be in charge of water laws and protect the people!
By the time the imperial edict arrived, it was already the end of the first lunar month.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the government would open a temple to offer incense and sculpt the deity's body for the Lower Yuan Water God.

On the second day of February, many people in Yunzhou City came to Yushui Garden, waiting for the prefect to personally unveil the plaque of the Water Official Temple.

Among the bustling crowd, there were many villagers who came to watch the fun, as well as poor people who had received kindness from Chen Beimo, and neighbors and relatives.

In short, hundreds of people gathered in front of the gate of the former Yu Shui Garden, now the main gate of the Water Official Temple.

That’s right, the mansion that Chen Beimo built with his own money is gone.

Nowadays, the prices in Yunzhou City are high, and there are few wealthy relatives willing to donate money to build a temple. A small temple was hastily built before, but now it is the imperial decree to confer gods, and the small temple is really simple. After much thought, Fu Zhiliu thought of Yushuiyuan.

Anyway, this is the owner's house, and the temple is built on the owner's house. There's nothing wrong with that, right?

In this way, Fu Zhiliu saved several thousand taels of silver.

Many wind chimes were hung on the eaves of the tall and imposing temple. The people had already knelt on the ground and dared not look up as they watched the prefect open the imperial edict and read it. They could only hear Fu Zhiliu's loud voice echoing in front of the temple.

"It is God's destiny. Emperor Zhao said:

Today, there is a man from Yunzhou City, the great man Chen Beimo, who, with his humble body...

When heavy snow falls, the people are worried. I hope the gods will come down and give me peace.

I have sent an official to offer sacrifices and animals to you, hoping that you will protect me and that there will be no disasters in the four seasons. I am grateful for the grace of God, so why should I be selfish? Your way is gentle and your actions are wise. You will transform the world and bring peace and tranquility back to the beginning! "

After the imperial edict was issued, a temple priest led a group of temple servants and children to receive the imperial edict. The temple priest was a man in his forties with a peaceful face. He smiled and asked, "I hope to receive the blessing of the prefect and unveil the plaque of the Water God Temple!"

"The Water Officer and I have known each other before, so it should be like this." Fu Zhiliu took the big red brocade with a smile and pulled down the red brocade covering the plaque.

The four large golden characters "Water God Temple" immediately appeared, and a group of officials, yamen runners and gentry naturally clapped and cheered.

"Everyone, follow me into the temple and worship!"

Fu Zhiliu led the way, passing through the modified Yushui Garden and arriving at the main courtyard.

In the originally empty courtyard, in the center of the large Tai Chi fish-eye formed by a circle of shallow canals, stood a six-meter-tall white jade statue. It was so tall and mysterious under the bright sunshine that everyone's heart trembled when they saw it.

In front of the statue stood two three-meter-high stone statues, which were carved exactly according to the previous small temple. They were two divine pythons, one blue and one black.

On the left is an extremely powerful black python, coiled at the feet of the statue with its head held high.

On the right is a green python with a human head and a snake body. The human head is a beautiful woman with an obvious smile on her face, but her eyes do not show any smile at all, which makes people feel weird when looking at it.

The statue was tall and majestic, overlooking the people below. The mask on the water official's face had been removed, and the statue was carved according to the face that Chen Bei had seen before.

The statue of the God of Water holds eighteen golden bells in his left hand and a cold sword in his right hand. In front of him lies the Black Python, who is holding an unopened treasure umbrella. In front of the Green Python on his right is a round gem.

Fu Zhiliu stepped forward and saw the divine tablet under the Second Snake Lord, and read: “Beichen Yaoyu Snake Official, Yuanze is grateful for the Snake Official.

Yes, the temple keeper is very thorough. Even the snake god in front of the water god was so pious to make a statue and ask for a name. "

The temple keeper Sun Xingyi was somewhat puzzled when he saw these two lines of words. It seemed that the craftsman who carved the statue was quite skilled and could give it such an elaborate name.

However, he naturally did not refuse, and only smiled and said: "The Water Officer was created to save the people. We are grateful for the grace of God, and it is not too much to be sincere to God."

After a round of polite conversation, everyone, led by Prefect Fu, offered incense and knelt down to worship. The prefect did not kneel down, but only bowed after offering incense, and the people behind him naturally kowtowed to the ground, and some dignitaries also perfunctorily followed suit.

After all, this so-called Water God was just a talented person they met not long ago.

After everyone finished paying homage, the temple keeper took everyone on a tour of the temple's courtyards, and then the group of dignitaries dispersed.

Only after they leave can it be the turn of the common people to burn incense.

In addition to pilgrims who come to burn incense, there will also be government officials staying there. Temples, Taoist temples, and the like, as well as any government-run temples, will receive permission from officials appointed by the court to stay there.

After all, Yushui Garden is quiet and elegant, and is a good place for many scholars to go outing and recite poetry.

There weren't many pilgrims at the Water God Temple today. After the temple opened, many people came in to watch the fun and stroll around, but not many people showed any reverence.

It was because many people in Yunzhou City knew a lot about the Water God. The more they knew, the less they feared him. So they couldn't help but wander around, thinking that there might be gold and silver treasures in the mansion that they hadn't taken away.

The temple keeper stood beside the statue, looking at the people wandering around impatiently, and ordered: "Sun Ruiqi, take the temple servants and children and drive those poor beggars out.

This is the residence of the gods, how can it tolerate these people doing this?"

"Yes! Temple priest!" The young man beside him hurriedly called three or five temple servants and children to chase people away.

At this time, a group of ragged pilgrims came to the door. When they saw the statue in the courtyard, they bowed down and cried bitterly.

The temple keeper was worried that the dignitaries came but didn't even donate any money. How could he collect a lot of money from ordinary people?

Now he was frightened by the screams of the group of people and shouted angrily: "Where did you beggars come from? How dare you be so disrespectful in front of the statue?

Come quickly, drive them all out!"

Immediately, several temple servants came and tried to drive the group of people out.

A group of people were pushing and shoving, and many pilgrims nearby started to watch the show.

One of the young men angrily yelled, "What kind of temple priest are you? Why are you chasing away pilgrims?"

"Pilgrims? You poor-looking bunch, do you have money for incense?" The temple keeper stood on the steps condescendingly and said disdainfully.

"You...how can you be so arrogant?" An older man nearby shouted, "This was originally our master's house. Now we are strangers after returning home?"

"That's right! Our current boss is the disciple personally accepted by the God of Water. How dare you, a temple keeper, treat us like this?"

The pilgrims nearby could not help but talk about it, and some recognized this group of people and sympathized with them. The temple keeper saw that he could not end the situation, so he quickly changed his face and said with a smile: "Oh, so you are the disciples of the God! I am short-sighted and can't recognize people."

Wang Chengze wiped the tears from his face and said, "I am going back today to burn incense and take away some of my master's old belongings. I hope the temple priest will be lenient.

"

"What? Now the Water God Temple is under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, and all its matters should belong to the imperial court. I'm afraid this will be difficult to handle!" The temple keeper Sun Xingyi said in embarrassment.

"Temple keeper, even though I am just an ordinary person, if I come to the government office, the prefect must grant my request for the sake of my master.

Mr. Temple Keeper, you don't want me to go to the prefect's office again, right?"

Wang Chengze said with a calm face.

"This..." The temple keeper hesitated for a few seconds, and then said, "If that's the case, then follow me!"

So, the group followed the temple keeper into the house. Wang Chengze walked in front and looked at the past scene. He was moved by the scene and couldn't help crying, saying: "My hometown is no longer my home."

The temple keeper couldn't help but sigh when he heard this, "It's good that you don't know. The dead can't be resurrected, and the gods are gods. They have no connection with mortals like you. Take back the old things you see. In the future, there will be no Yushui Garden in the world, only the Water Official Temple."

Old Wu shed tears and collected some things from Dongmei Garden. "This is the celadon teacup that the young master used to love the most, this is the folding fan that the young master loved the most, and this reclining chair..."

Standing in the Tingyu Pavilion, Wang Chengze looked at the lounge chair under the persimmon tree. A gust of cold wind from early spring blew, and the wooden chair swayed, as if the master was still lying on it as usual, taking a nap with his face covered by a book.

Dabao, Xiaobao and others packed up their things, took some old items, and looked towards their current employer.

"Master, are we going back to Fan County or somewhere else?" Old Wu asked tentatively, "This Tingyu Pavilion was passed down to you by the first master. The title deed must still be there. Why not stay here and resume your old business?"

"Forget it, let's go back to Fan County. We can't stay here." Wang Chengze came back to his senses from his reminiscence and continued, "Staying here will only remind me of the past. Besides, you know how our master died and how our grandmother passed away. I know it too, and the rich and powerful officials in Yunzhou know it even better!

If we, the master's old followers, stay here, they will only remember the master's death, and they may feel guilty and take better care of us.

But as time goes by, this guilt will turn into disgust. It is better to save this love for the future, either to soar to the sky or to survive in death!"

"Yes! Young Master!" No one mentioned staying anymore.

In front of the Water God Temple, pilgrims came in and out from time to time. In the middle of the gate, Wang Chengze brought Lao Wu, Dabao, Xiaobao, Dawang and Xiaowang, and the six of them bowed in tears in front of the temple, bowing three times and kowtowed nine times.

After the ceremony, the group turned around and walked away in tears, carrying their luggage amidst the surprised or puzzled gazes of passers-by.

Wang Chengze walked a few steps, and looked back reluctantly again. In front of the door where people came and went, suddenly that extremely familiar face appeared. He was wearing a blue shirt and had gentle eyes. He smiled and waved goodbye to him in the sunshine.

Wang Chengze's heart skipped a beat and he stopped abruptly. His eyes were blurred with tears. He wiped them with his hands and when he looked again, the figure in front of the Water God Temple was no longer there.

The sky gradually darkened. On the evening of February 2, the sky was as red as fire. The people of Yunzhou City looked up at the sky and said that the sunset was particularly charming.

The temple attendant stood in front of the door. He couldn't help yawning after a day of hard work and stretched his body. A monk on the long street knocked three times with a wooden fish and then shouted, "Four quarters past five in the evening! Go home at sunset!"

"It's time to close the door." The temple attendant muttered to himself, slowly closed the vermilion door, bolted it, and prepared to go back to the house to wait for dinner.

When passing by Xialin Garden, I inadvertently glanced at the vine corridor there, thinking about the early-ripening melons in summer.

But unexpectedly, when I looked up, I noticed a slender figure in green slowly walking into the deep corridor.

At this time, it was dusk and the sky was dark. The temple boys and servants were all wearing gray clothes. Even the temple keeper was only wearing a gray robe embroidered with gold lace. Where did the green-robed pilgrims come from?

Is this a ghost?

Thinking of this, he was so frightened that he shuddered and ran to the Orchid Garden in a panic. Now the garden has been converted into a kitchen and a place for the temple people to eat.

He ran into the garden and saw seven or eight temple attendants waiting for food at the tables and chairs. Only then did he feel relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Zhao Youzi, what's wrong? Why are you so flustered? Are you afraid that if you close the door you won't be able to eat?"

Several temple attendants laughed.

"Go, go, let me tell you, I just met something that I don't know whether it was a human or a ghost. It was in the corridor of Xia Lin Garden." Zhao Youzi explained.

"What? I walked past there when I got up in the dark this morning. Don't tell me that!"

Some people were startled. After all, they were all young punks in their twenties, and they all had some guilty consciences. They got this job and were working in a temple, so naturally they would think about ghosts and spirits.

"Damn thing!"

A curse was heard, and it turned out to be the temple priest who arrived.

Everyone stood up and stopped laughing and playing.

Sun Xingyi said with a dark face: "We are the ones who gather incense and offer sacrifices to the God of Water. Why should we be afraid of ghosts? Are there any evil ghosts or monsters in the temple?

"Zhao Youzi, if you keep talking nonsense, I will definitely deduct your monthly salary!"

"Yes, temple keeper, I understand. I will never speak nonsense again." When Zhao Youzi heard that he was going to be fined, he begged for mercy and apologized.

"How much incense money have you collected today, including the money collected in front of the main gate, the Siying Pond, and the statue in the main courtyard?" Sun Xingyi stared at the three disciples in the clan who were responsible for collecting the incense money.

"The total amount in front of the main gate is three taels, seven coins and twenty-four coins."

"One ounce, two coins, and nine coins for a four-ying pond."

"The total amount before the God is twelve taels, eight qian and thirty-seven wen."

The three temple attendants reported it one after another.

"Well, the number does match." Sun Xingyi took out an abacus from the side and calculated for a while before saying, "Today is the day when the God opens the temple, so there is so much silver. In the future, no matter how much money there is, if any of you dare to take even a penny, even if I can forgive you, the God will not forgive you!"

"Yes, Master Temple Warden!"

Everyone responded.

into the night.

A temple boy was holding a lantern to lead the way for Sun Xingyi. There was no one around, so the boy said with a smile, "Uncle, you are making a fortune today! It is indeed a good job!"

"Hahaha, these are all the titles of the Supreme God." Sun Xingyi stroked his beard proudly and said with a smile: "This is the incense money in the temple. The Supreme God is a god, how can he be stained with such money? Since the Supreme God doesn't need it, then we, the temple servants, can only take care of it for the Supreme God."

"roar~"

The two were walking past the stage outside the statue in the main courtyard, and while they were chatting and laughing, they heard a sound like the growling and panting of an animal.

They looked around for the source of the sound. Sun Xingyi looked up and saw a giant black python with shiny skin and translucent scales coiled on the six-meter-tall statue. The snake's body was crawling over the palm of the statue. A huge snake head came out from behind the statue's head, and its emotionless pupils stared straight at him.

Sun Xingyi screamed in fear and collapsed to the ground. His limbs were so frightened that he had lost all strength and could not escape. He could only watch as the giant python's body was still wrapped around the statue, but its upper body and head were looking down at him.

(End of this chapter)