In ancient times, they secretly became gods in the deep mountains.

Chapter 62 The Infested Cloth, Gu Yuexi Emerges from Seclusion

When it comes to serving Lady Jin Sheng, the villagers are all very enthusiastic. Their eyes light up, and they say without hesitation that Lady Jin Sheng is greater than His Majesty the Emperor in their hearts.

“Building the altar will definitely require a lot of manpower. Please take the time to tell the villagers in the other villages about this and ask for their opinions.”

He Jinzong had heard Luo Yousong say that the eight villages at the foot of Qihuang Mountain had all received the same favor from the Golden Saint Goddess.

If other villages also participated in building the altar, the more people involved, the more efficient the work would be. Therefore, he suggested that the villagers invite people from other villages to join in.

"Your Excellency, please rest assured. The Golden Saintess has shown immense kindness to the villagers of the eight villages at the foot of the mountain. They certainly won't miss this opportunity to repay her kindness."

"That's right, that's right. The Golden Saintess saves people from suffering. If we can contribute to her future incense offerings, that would be a tremendous opportunity for us. Who would be foolish enough to refuse?"

"Perhaps the altar we built will be recorded in history, passed down through the ages, and known to future generations thousands of years from now!"

Everyone chimed in with their opinions.

They became more and more excited as they talked.

"Then it's settled. We'll start construction after the busy farming season!" He Jinzong said with a smile.

“It’s nothing, let’s not disturb the villagers’ busy farming season. Brother Luo, let’s go back.” He Jinzong noticed that the villagers were somewhat afraid of him, and they felt uncomfortable with him staying.

"Yes!" Luo Yousong nodded.

Having achieved his goal, Huowa escorted the two back to the Luo family and the county magistrate's residence, respectively.

Zhang Youhe relayed their words to the villagers in other villages. Upon hearing that the county magistrate and Master Luo had placed the statue of the goddess in Peach Blossom Village, everyone flocked to Peach Blossom Village to pay their respects.

The crowd was amazed and thrilled as they looked at the snow-white statue at the foot of Qihuang Mountain.

"Once the altar for the goddess is built, we can worship the goddess in Peach Blossom Village."

Wild beasts roam freely in the deep mountains. The villagers respect and worship the goddess, but they are also afraid of provoking the wild beasts and losing their lives.

With the statue of the goddess in Peach Blossom Village, they can worship the goddess there.

"The prerequisite is that we must first build the altar for worshipping the gods."

Zhang Youhe said, "The grain seeds bestowed by the Empress have all yielded grain. After the autumn harvest, every household in our village will surely have a bumper harvest this year. We will have surplus grain to fill our stomachs, and then we will have the strength to work."

“Yes, yes, yes!” Grandpa Zhou said enthusiastically, “I planted the seeds bestowed by the Empress. One of them is a grain called potato, which not only tastes great but is also very filling. Sweet potatoes, which are similar, also have a filling effect, but eating too many sweet potatoes will cause bloating.”

Before the Great Xia Dynasty, the country was considered prosperous and the people lived in peace and contentment. However, the variety of grains available for consumption was limited, and the yield was also low.

The powerful and wealthy people in the storybooks loved to eat meat.

People who can afford it eat vegetables and brown rice, and occasionally have chicken, duck and pork.

As for white rice, that's something even the powerful and wealthy might not be able to eat every day.

People are consuming more rice bran throughout the year.

If it weren't for the Golden Saintess, they wouldn't have such a fresh and abundant food to eat as they do now.

"The Empress has saved us from suffering and brought us a life we ​​never dared to dream of before the drought," Zhang Youhe exclaimed.

“Therefore we must not forget our gratitude. We should finish the busy farming season as soon as possible and build an altar for the goddess so that she can enjoy the incense offerings as soon as possible,” Grandpa Zhou said with a smile.

Zhang Youhe and Grandpa Zhou found a few nimble teenagers, gathered the village chiefs together, and delivered the county magistrate's message.

No one objected after hearing this.

At the foot of Qihuang Mountain, several villages are bustling with the busy farming season.

Upon returning to the magistrate's residence, He Jinzong bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Immortal Boy, for escorting me home."

"Immortal Child, when will Her Majesty emerge from seclusion?" He Jinzong asked.

Huowa shook his head: "The day when Her Majesty will emerge from seclusion is uncertain, I don't know either."

After saying that, he transformed into a beam of light and flew away.

Suddenly a man ran in, knelt on the ground, and reported to He Jinzong: "Sir! Someone from the yamen has beaten the drum to report to the authorities."

He Jinzong was taken aback when he realized that he hadn't held court for three years.

"I will go immediately."

He Jinzong went to the front hall, sat at the head of the table, and spoke to those below with an air of authority.

"Whoever reports to the authorities, please bring the complaint to the authorities."

The clerk quickly presented the complaint to He Jinzong.

"My lord, I beg you to do me justice. I bought cloth and clothes from the Wu family, hoping for good fortune after the drought ended. But the heartless Wu family sold me clothes infested with maggots."

Below the hall, a man and a woman were kneeling.

The man wept bitterly, while the woman looked on with worry. Outside, those listening in pointed and whispered amongst themselves.

“The Wu family, with their black hearts, actually sold goods infested with worms to the people. My son happily went to school wearing his new clothes, but his classmates said he smelled strange on him.”

"He lifted his clothes and was almost scared to death. There were plump, white, sticky maggots growing inside his clothes."

"The maggots looked awful and smelled like dead fish. They almost made my son sick, and he ran home crying."

“I also bought new clothes from Wu’s shop, and there were indeed maggots in them.”

The people outside the hall deeply resented and criticized the Wu family.

"Snapped!"

He Jinzong slammed the paperweight down, and the noise from below immediately ceased.

He questioned the man, "Maggots bite? Where did you get that idea?"

"My lord, I dare not lie. My body is covered with countless bloody holes from maggots. It looks terrifying."

The man who reported the incident to the authorities burst into tears.

After three years of drought, his family, which originally consisted of sixteen people, was left all alone once the drought ended. Today is his birthday, and in previous years his family would celebrate with him at this time. This year, however, he has lost his parents, grandparents, and siblings. He planned to buy some new clothes to make do, but he ended up being scammed.

I was also bitten by maggots.

He took off his coat, revealing a body covered in bloody holes from insect bites, like needle pricks, a horrifying sight.

“This…” He Jinzong was startled.

Was this caused by maggots?

"pat-"

A bunch of white insects, each the size of a grain of rice, suddenly fell from the man's clothes to the ground.

The stench of dead fish permeated the surroundings.

"vomit--"

Someone outside couldn't help but bend over and vomit.

He Jinzong covered his mouth and nose.

"I, Zhang San, beg you, Your Excellency, to do me justice!" Zhang San cried bitterly.

"Are you Wu Minmin, the young master of the Wu family?"

He Jinzong asked the kneeling woman.

The woman kowtowed: "This humble woman, Wu Minmin, greets Lord He."

He Jinzong's voice was menacing: "Wu Minmin, can you deceive the people with old cloth and clothes?"

"I did not!"

Wu Minmin calmly explained, "Please, Your Honor, understand that the fabrics and garments in the shop are all newly arrived goods, transported from the south by my father. They were well preserved and have not been damaged by insects at all."

"How do you explain the maggots on Zhang San and the other people?" He Jinzong asked again. "They all bought your family's cloth or clothing."

"Please grant me a few days, Your Excellency. I will investigate the matter thoroughly and bring justice to the people," Wu Minmin pleaded anxiously.

She didn't know why the fabrics and clothes in her house had a problem; overnight, insects appeared, and these insects could reproduce on people and even bite them.

The material was clearly transported from the south by her father himself after the drought ended.

How could it get infested with insects?

"I beg you, Your Honor, to do me justice! Do not listen to the slander of those unscrupulous merchants. I have not uttered a single lie," Zhang San declared, making a vow.

Wu Minmin insisted, "There is absolutely no problem with the cloth and clothes in my house!"

"What do you mean? Do you think I've wronged you? Why don't you listen to what other people have to say?" Zhang San was displeased when she denied it.

He didn't intentionally frame anyone.

Zhang San and Wu Minmin started arguing in the hall.

"Snap!" With a slam of the paperweight, He Jinzong said, "Guards, detain Wu Minmin first. I will make a decision after I have investigated the truth. The Wu family's cloth shop must compensate the people for their losses."

In court, the two sides argued and pulled at each other, but in the end, He Jinzong ruled that the Wu family should compensate the people for all their losses.

Although the matter is not over, it has come to a temporary close.

He Jinzong sent officials to the Wu family to investigate the situation.

A strange movement occurred at Seven Emperors Mountain; Gu Yuexi had emerged from seclusion.