Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 8 Appearances of All Living Beings

I can still vividly recall Ma Xiucai's moved and ashamed face.

Chen Shunan pushed his cart and carried his load on a shoulder pole, weaving through the streets and alleys.

Chen Shunan had long since given up trying to persuade Ma Xiucai about his stubbornness and rigidity.

If he could be persuaded, Scholar Ma would have already spent money to pull strings and buy a position.

Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this point.

Many of Ma Xiucai's former classmates, even those whose talent and character were far inferior to his, have become high-ranking officials, such as instructors of the eighth rank or assistant instructors of the eighth rank.

That Instructor Shen was his former deskmate, with whom he used to have long talks and practice calligraphy.

Unfortunately, a single wrong decision can lead to a situation where the wealthy are besieged by the poor.

Chen Shunan's plan to amass blessings and reap the rewards of donations was based on the pretext of giving away 'blessed water'.

He personally subsidized the well and sold the murky water at a low price, thereby earning the gratitude of others!

In short, it's all about water distribution, spending money, and buying incense!
The Holy Dynasty of Changbai forbade the worship of evil gods and licentious practices. Apart from ancient temples like Tanzhe Temple, which were endorsed by the Holy Dynasty, any other folk beliefs spread privately were not only despised by the literati, but would also be met with a heavy blow from the Holy Dynasty!
Therefore, Chen Shunan would never even consider radical methods to drastically reduce the number of worshippers, such as compiling doctrines, erecting monuments and statues, or performing miracles in front of people.

I dare not even think about it now.

Haste makes waste; take things one step at a time, and eat one bite at a time.

As the Water Emperor, Chen Shunan decided to act expediently and make full use of the power of money in the early development stage.

Earning incense offerings is nothing to be ashamed of.

However, the recipients of the 'blessed water' must be carefully selected.

Those from wealthy families are unacceptable, as are those who repay kindness with enmity.

Fortunately, Chen Shunan, who has been delivering water for more than ten years, knows the temperaments of his customers very well.

After only a little thought, they preliminarily identified the first batch of believers who could be cultivated and developed.

...

In a hut built of branches and thatch.

A woman with a sallow complexion was carrying one child in her arms, another on her back, and another in her belly.

Her husband even said he wanted to have a few more children, believing that more children bring more blessings.

"Mr. Chen, what brings you here?"

When the woman saw Chen Shunan push the cart to a stop outside the shed, she paused for a moment, then tiptoed out of the shed, not daring to wake her husband who was lying on the thin bed board, snoring loudly.

"Did Little Confucius go catching scorpions and snakes again yesterday?"

Chen Shunan glanced into the shed.

It's not that this little Confucius is lazy.

Instead, his livelihood required him to work day and night in reverse.

Wuqing County is famous for several types of scorpions collectively known as "Big Green Scorpions," which are effective in traditional Chinese medicine for detoxification and dispersing nodules. Among them, the premium variety is an important ingredient in the preparation of "Five Poisons Cleansing Marrow Pills," a first-class elixir.

Every summer, after the hottest period of the year begins, the large green scorpions become quite plump.

Upon hearing the second watch drum sound from the watchtower, people would sling a clay pot over their waist, carry a lantern with excrement in their left hand, and hold bamboo tweezers in their right hand, and go in groups of two or three to the ruins of collapsed houses or the city walls to catch green scorpions.

Unfortunately, this business is one where you might not make a sale for three years, but once you do, you can live off it for three years.

It seems that Little Confucius Temple hasn't opened yet this year.

The woman forced a smile: "You know his stubbornness, he insists on catching that thousand-year-old green scorpion hidden in Wuqing County, according to his ancestral precepts."

Chen Shunan chuckled and shook his head, then turned to fetch a bucket and drain the water.

Upon seeing this, the woman immediately panicked.

"Uncle Chen! We don't buy water; the rainwater from the eaves is enough for us!"

Chen Shunan used the same excuse he had given to Ma Xiucai.

They learned that for just one coin, they could obtain a load of blessed water.

Even though the woman was somewhat reluctant to take advantage of Chen Shunan, she could only look at the children's soiled diapers and soiled cloth bags, and her eyes reddened slightly as she spoke.

"Thank you, Mr. Chen."

...

"Your old lady died? When did that happen? Wasn't she all smiles when I sang happy songs last time?!"

"Just last night. The old lady's uterus prolapsed and fell out, and she kept it a secret from us. She secretly cooked herself a bowl of brown sugar and eggs, then cut off her uterus with scissors, went to bed, and died."

Looking at the man in mourning clothes with a blank expression, Chen Shunan sighed, filled both of the man's two large water vats, and then took a coin before leaving.

Another old sage has passed away.

...

They went back to the well to draw water, loaded it onto a truck, and then used a wheelbarrow and a carrying pole to fill the vat.

All day long, Chen Shunan went back and forth between various customers in the well-dwelling area of ​​Weiheng Street.

In the end, only seven or eight households were selected as recipients of the blessed water.

Chen Shunan has a very clear understanding of his own position.

Better to have fewer but better ones; take the elite route first, selecting those with the potential to quickly develop followers.

Do not touch anything that is risky or could backfire and expose your own weaknesses.

After delivering the last trip, Chen Shunan stood at one end of a stone arch bridge.

Beyond the stone arch bridge, wine flags fluttered, and silk shops, leather stores, and pharmacies stood, their gilded plaques glowing crimson in the setting sun.

In the distance, one can still see the ferry dock dozens of miles away, with boats coming and going like clouds, a scene of unparalleled prosperity.

This street is a major street from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has one fresh water well and two muddy water wells, radiating to the left and right dozens of streets and alleys of various sizes, serving a total of thousands of households.

This section has detached from the gravel well segments and belongs to another well site.

In contrast, Weiheng Street has only one Zhuoshui Well, with a total of more than 200 households. Many of these households still have to buy their fresh water from Mingqing Street.

There are vast differences between wells.

Not to mention those who manage the sweet water wells.

“After all, a gravel well is just a muddy water well, and the area covered by the pipe is not large, so the customers’ desire to buy is limited. Even if I were to cut the best meat from the heron’s leg, it would be difficult to develop a large number of ‘welfare recipients’ in a short period of time.”

"It still has to be a freshwater well... But perhaps we can help the other brothers deliver water first and share some with the impoverished customers?"

Whether it's the promotion of Qingji, the selection of the next divine minister, or even the elevation of the herbal register...

Every aspect of life needs the power of incense offerings.

With a mixture of anticipation and envy, Chen Shunan gazed longingly at Ming-Qing Street.

They turned the car around and headed towards Weiheng Street.

……

It's getting dark.

Chen Shunan, dressed in a long gown, drank tea twice at the teahouse.
After hearing the storyteller recount the story of "The Emperor's Nine Great Military Achievements: The Battle to Subdue the Evil Sword of Mount Shu," he exchanged a few pleasantries with his tea-loving friends and then returned home.

In the past, after a day of delivering water, Chen Shunan would inevitably suffer from backache and sore waist, needing to smoke a whole bag of tobacco and sit in a teahouse for half an hour to relieve his fatigue. But today, Chen Shunan felt that he still had energy left, especially his Achilles tendon and 'Weizhong tendon', which felt as if they had been thoroughly trained, hot and burning, with a warm current flowing through them.

"Choosing Qing Ji as general, with legs adorned with armor, was indeed a wise choice!"

Chen Shunan sighed inwardly and then began to do the math.

The price difference for the blessed water was definitely paid out of Chen Shun'an's own pocket to make up for it with Inoue.

So today alone, I've spent over a hundred coins.

Because of its proximity to the capital, prices in Wuqing County, Tongzhou, were relatively stable; one tael of official silver could be exchanged for about 800 cash.

One tael of silver can buy two shi of rice, three cotton clothes, and 50 jin of pork.

The median daily income for ordinary people is around 60 coins, although artisans earn more.

Based on this data, the average person's monthly income would be 1.8 taels.

Living in the capital is difficult, with expenses everywhere and no stable income, so very little money can actually be saved.

So these hundred or so coins are not a small amount; over a month, they would amount to nearly six taels!
Chen Shunan's monthly wage is only about 5 taels!
Having calculated this, Chen Shun'an was heartbroken!

Fortunately, customers don't buy water every day; they usually buy it three times a week, or even less.

However, this would reduce the efficiency of obtaining wishes.

It's a dilemma.

Chen Shunan pushed open the courtyard gate with a thoughtful look in his eyes and saw Wan Niang collecting clothes.

Upon seeing Chen Shunan return, Wan Niang greeted him with "Brother~", and quickly folded the clothes and put them back in the bedroom.

Then they brought the still-steaming food from the stove to the table.

Chen Shunan washed his face, sat down at the table, and wielded his chopsticks with lightning speed, yet he chewed slowly and carefully, almost chewing up and swallowing every bone fragment.

Wan Niang did not sit at the table.

Seeing that Chen Shunan had almost finished eating, she took out a yellow brocade pouch from her bag, which was embroidered with the Bagua pattern.

“Brother, this is a Tai Sui amulet that Zhang Taimu got for you at Tanzhe Temple. She said it can ward off Tai Sui and protect you.”

Wan Niang noticed Chen Shun'an's expression and whispered.

The "Grandmother Zhang" that Wan Niang mentioned was the mother of Zhang, Chen Shun'an's fifth wife.

She is also Chen Shunan's mother-in-law.

Chen Shunan's relationship with the Zhang family was not harmonious, especially after Zhang's death, when it reached a freezing point.

For many years, Zhang's father had been working tirelessly to return to his ancestral home and be reinstated in the family genealogy. Naturally, he harbored the idea of ​​having Zhang marry into a good family of equal social standing.

Unfortunately, Chen Shunan appeared and ruined his own daughter's life.

Naturally, Mr. Zhang did not treat Chen Shun'an well, and even threatened to sever his relationship with his daughter.

During Chen Shunan's serious illness, Zhang's father never inquired about it.

Fortunately, Zhang's mother was soft-hearted, especially after learning about Chen Shun'an's difficult childhood and the many hardships he had endured, which made her feel even more sorry for him.

He would secretly help this small family from time to time, without his father's knowledge.

Wan Niang was a middleman who relayed the message.

During this serious illness, Zhang's mother secretly invited "Golden Needle Li," a famous doctor from Wuqing County who was skilled in internal medicine, to treat Chen Shunan.

Unfortunately, before Madam Zhang could give Chen Shun'an a son or daughter to ease the tension between the two families, she passed away.

Chen Shunan calmly accepted the Tai Sui pouch and said,

"Please tell the old lady that she is very grateful for her kindness and that I will definitely visit her to celebrate her 80th birthday."

Upon hearing this, Wan Niang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, right, Wan Niang."

Chen Shunan put down his chopsticks, went back to his bedroom, and came out again a short while later, carrying two money bags.

The copper coins clinked crisply and landed heavily on the table.

It's pleasing to the eye and delightful to look at.

"The one on the left is your wages for this month, half a string of cash and 60 coins. Use the extra to buy Chunhong a summer dress. Take a bolt of cloth from me. A girl can't be made up now that she's grown up."

"The one on the right is the meal plan for next month. Starting tomorrow, you must have lean meat twice a day, morning and evening, as well as fish, shrimp, chicken, duck, beef, mutton... I'll give you a list later. You must ensure you have enough meat every day."

Poor in literature and rich in martial arts.

Those who practice martial arts acquire strength and vitality through diet and medicinal supplements, not from thin air.

Previously, Chen Shunan's physical constitution was fixed, and his future was hopeless, so he naturally reduced his meat intake, only maintaining his basic needs.

Now that a smooth and easy road lies before him, Chen Shunan naturally needs to "make up for his shortcomings"!
I'm not saying we should eat three cows a day and have a lot of medicine with every meal, but for now, lean meat must be guaranteed.

Although, the expenses are getting bigger and bigger.

Although Wan Niang was puzzled, she sensibly refrained from saying anything.

He thanked Chen Shunan twice and happily accepted his allowance.

Wan Niang worked quickly, washing the bowls and chopsticks, and then washing the smelly clothes that Chen Shunan had changed out of that day before hurriedly leaving.

"It's so nice to have someone to serve you... If Wan Niang could also do massage and qi-regulating techniques, that would be great."

Chen Shunan, who had practiced his lightness skill in the courtyard for an hour or so, lay exhausted on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, feeling the soreness brought on by the tearing of his muscles.

It was both fulfilling and satisfying, yet also filled with grimace.

I haven't experienced this feeling in many years.

into the night.

A jade plate hangs high in the sky.

Vaguely, he heard whispers in his ear again—

"Brother Shun'an's gift of blessed water was a pretense; his true intention was to help me, Ma. Although this kindness is small, it should not be forgotten."

[Wish +2]

"Thanks to Master Chen's two loads of blessed water, otherwise we adults could endure it, but how could the two children endure it? They're almost covered in sores and scabies."

[Wish +1]

"Old Chen was a kind-hearted man. When my mother was alive, she often talked about him, saying that Old Chen was a respectable man. Alas, good fortune has come to me, but I have no mother now."

[Wish +1]

...

"Pah! What kind of bullshit is this? Two buckets of filthy water to fob me off?! Just give me the money directly! Let's keep messing around with Old Chen, why not take advantage of this opportunity?"

Bed.

Chen Shunan suddenly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

"Pan the Cripple? You've been hiding your true intentions well! I'll remember you."

(End of this chapter)