From Celestial Official to Great Celestial Venerable

Chapter 41 Old things
As Qin Chuan and Elder Huo emerged from the office, Qin Chuan lightly touched his brow with his finger, sensing the newly descended celestial talisman within his Niwan Palace.

Old Huo chuckled and joked, "You're a ninth-rank child spirit talisman master. If you don't want to work in the county, please transfer to a lower-level position. You could become a village official."

Qin Chuan knew it was a joke, and replied with a smile, "It's good to be an official in the countryside, but for me, the county is still a much better place."

As a newly appointed official, he was merely a low-level clerk in Jiuchuan County, a position easily found in any government office.

But Qin Chuan knew that he had already boarded the big ship of County God Sun and was no longer an ordinary minor official, so how could he really go to the village to take up a post?
Old Master Huo then asked with a smile, "If you were promoted to deputy abbot and transferred to a township in the county to serve as abbot and preside over a region, what would you do then?"

Qin Chuan's heart stirred slightly, unable to discern for a moment whether his teacher was speaking casually or hinting at something else, suggesting his future prospects...

"Teacher is joking. I have only just been promoted to a full-fledged position. How dare I dream of the future? Right now, the most important thing is to take good care of those two acres of Ling oranges with you."

He had learned that Elder Huo had been promoted to the position of Abbot of the Imperial Observatory and concurrently served as the deputy head of the special affairs class.

In the future, the cultivation of Lingcheng oranges will no longer need to be carried out alone; teachers can legitimately be asked for guidance.

"I am not joking." Old Master Huo said solemnly, "Your talent is the best I have ever seen in my life, and now you have gained the favor of the County God. As long as you achieve results in the matter of the spirit orange, the position of deputy immortal is a sure thing. You will definitely become a confidant of County God Sun and will be highly valued in the future."

After yesterday's events, Old Master Huo realized that County God Sun was clearly planning a major overhaul in Jiuchuan. The old officials in the county were no longer suitable for important tasks, and in the next ten or even decades, he would definitely promote a group of young and capable cronies to form the core of the government.

Qin Chuan has the potential to become a key member of the county god's staff.

If that's true, their path of cultivation might far surpass that of this old man.

Although he has been promoted to Zheng Guan, he has reached his limit and it will be difficult for him to break through. Qin Chuan, on the other hand, is young and promising and has a bright future.

"Regarding the spirit orange, although I have made a solemn pledge, I still need more guidance from you, Master." Qin Chuan did not hide anything from his teacher and spoke the truth. After all, his teacher was the number one spirit plant master in the Jiuchuan region.

"What's there to be afraid of!" Old Master Huo, now in high spirits after his promotion, was quite spirited. "Now that I've joined this team, we'll work together as master and apprentice and we'll definitely be able to overcome the problem of the Heavenly Orange taking root!"

Inspired by Sun Qinghan's imposing manner yesterday, he also felt a surge of youthful pride. Coupled with Qin Chuan's achievements over the past two months, he truly saw hope.

If it can be accomplished, even if my immortal position has reached its end, it will be considered a great deed that benefits the people and the heavens for Jiuchuan.

"Alright! This disciple will do my best!" Qin Chuan was also inspired and full of enthusiasm.

"I still need to go to the county temple to perform the formal ordination ceremony. You should go and work in the fields first." Old Master Huo's ordination was no small matter and required a formal ceremony.

"Congratulations, teacher."

After seeing Elder Huo off, Qin Chuan headed towards the observation field.

Once he was ordained, and with the news of yesterday's events spreading, his status when he returned to inspect the fields was vastly different from before.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Qin, on your official ordination!"

Hong Zhu and the other Taoist priests who worked with fire all gathered around him enthusiastically, offering their congratulations, "Fellow Taoist Qin has not only been ordained and officially recognized, but has also gained the favor of the county god. His future is limitless!"

After yesterday's incident, all the field workers in these twenty acres of fields knew perfectly well that from now on, the second-in-command in charge of observing the fields would be none other than this young Taoist priest, and no longer the field workers of their rank.

Qin Chuan felt quite pleased with the change in his status after being promoted to a permanent position.

Who doesn't like to be respected?
He glanced around and suddenly asked, "Where is Zhong Ziheng?"

A few days ago, when he broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, this person was spreading rumors everywhere, saying that he had no chance of becoming a full-fledged Qi Refining cultivator.

He wanted to see how this seasoned veteran, who loved to bully newcomers, would react now.

“Zhong Ziheng…hearing that Brother Qin had been promoted, he came early this morning and is currently helping to weed those six acres of spirit fields.”

Hong Zhu said with a hint of sarcasm, "What a despicable person who is arrogant at first and obsequious at second."

"Help me weed?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan smiled knowingly and walked towards his six acres of land.

Sure enough, a figure was seen in the lily field, dressed in coarse farm clothes, bending over and working hard to hoe weeds, his chest and back soaked with sweat.

Who else could it be but Zhong Ziheng?

Qin Chuan crossed his arms and asked with a smile, "Brother Zhong, instead of working in your own fields, why are you helping me with the work?"

Upon hearing the sound, Zhong Ziheng, who was in the field, looked up and immediately forced a wide smile, as if he had just had a son. He exclaimed "Oh my!" and threw down his hoe to come forward and flatter him: "Brother Qin, congratulations! I heard that you have not only been officially ordained and received your ordination, but have also been admitted to the county god's special class. This is truly a great joy!"

Most of the fire workers standing nearby looked disdainful.

It takes a certain skill for someone to be so shameless.

Qin Chuan ignored his flattery and asked with a smile, "You haven't answered me yet, why aren't you busy with your own work?"

"What's a little work like mine? Let me take care of these chores for you first, we can finish them later." Zhong Ziheng bowed and chuckled obsequiously, his expression one of fawning.

Seeing how flexible and adaptable this person was, Qin Chuan felt a bit of admiration for him. His initial intention to punish him diminished considerably, and he simply said:
"Fellow Daoist Zhong, you should go about your own business. I can handle the work here myself. Besides..."

He glanced at the ground and added casually:
"You did this job way too roughly!"

"Oh dear, I am guilty, I am guilty."

Zhong Ziheng immediately reached out and lightly slapped his left cheek, then grinned, his face crinkling with wrinkles.
"Yes, yes, look at my skills, they're really clumsy. I originally thought I could help you weed, but I didn't expect to annoy you. I deserve to die."

Qin Chuan remained silent.

Zhong Ziheng said with a shameless grin, "Then I'll go back to my own field."

"Wait a minute," Qin Chuan suddenly called out to him.

Zhong Ziheng froze, his hands already sweating, thinking to himself, "Even after all this, they still won't let me go?"
Unexpectedly, when he turned around, he saw Qin Chuan throw a small amount of spirit money at him:
"Today I am officially ordained and officially recognized. Since all of you fellow Daoists are congratulating me, I must do my part. The sun is blazing, so Brother Zhong, could you please run an errand and buy some spiritual drinks for everyone to cool off in the heat?"

“Yes, yes, yes.” Zhong Ziheng quickly accepted the spiritual energy.

The other fire workers were also overjoyed upon hearing this. The spiritual drink was a refreshing and nourishing beverage that could also cool the body and replenish one's cultivation.

Although they could certainly afford it with their salaries, they all had the same reason as Qin Chuan: they couldn't bear to buy it, as a cup would cost at least twenty or thirty coins.

They all got excited:

Brother Qin is truly magnanimous!

Qin Chuan smiled. He would continue working in this field. After joining the special task force, there would definitely be many places where he would need these fire-working colleagues to help him. Treating these 'prospective subordinates' well and winning their hearts was the most basic thing to do.

On the other hand, Zhong Ziheng, who took the money to buy water, did not feel insulted at all by running errands. Instead, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with relief after leaving the house.

Thank goodness, Qin Chuan's first day after being officially hired has finally passed.

Although it was a temporary safety gained through groveling, it was still better than being punished by Qin Chuan.

Given this kid's current status and position, giving him a little hardship in the fields would be enough to make him suffer. If things were handled any more harshly, he might not even be able to continue working as a pyreer.

“No, given Qin Chuan’s current status, if I stay here observing the fields, who knows when he might get upset and pick a fight with me? I need to find a way to work as a fireman somewhere else.”

Zhong Ziheng knew his own abilities; it was unlikely he would be promoted to a permanent position within a few years.

There's definitely nothing we can do about Qin Chuan, who's now highly regarded by the county magistrate. The only thing we can do is avoid him if we can't afford to offend him. We should stay as far away as possible and not let Qin Chuan see him again, and preferably not let him even remember that there's such a person as him at Nongling Temple.

Not long after, he bought the water and distributed it to the others.

Qin Chuan chuckled inwardly as he watched Zhong Ziheng slink back to his field, looking ashamed and restrained as if afraid of attracting his attention.

Just as he was preparing to take care of his sacred field.

Suddenly, someone shouted from the paddy field ridge:

"Two temporary cooks, I need to help."

Someone asked, "What's the matter?"

These temporary firemen usually help out in the fields when they have nothing else to do, so the observation field has the largest concentration of them.

"The new abbot and deputy abbot will arrive in a few days. The office has ordered us to clean up the offices of Guo Shanshan and Liu Shichang. Throw away anything useless. We're too busy here, so we're looking for a few cooks to help with the cleaning," the clerk called out.

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan, who was tidying up the spirit field, suddenly looked up and his eyes lit up.

What old things that Guo Shanshan and Liu Shichang didn't want?
(End of this chapter)