Reborn as a Cube Man in the Late Ming Dynasty

Hancheng.

A month ago, the county government issued an order to build twelve new palaces in the city. The people understood what was going on and waited excitedly.

Three days ago, Licheng delivered several truckloads of wooden crates, all filled with job-changing blocks.

Shi Fengtai immediately mobilized manpower to deliver the blocks to the academy, the agricultural college, and the pastoral college. The craftsmen worked through the night, and the last block was finally completed late the night before last.

Today, Han Cheng officially began the job change process.

As soon as it was light, the streets were packed with people.

"Did you hear? You can change jobs today!"

"I heard about it a long time ago, so I got up before dawn."

"I don't know if it will work out."

"As long as I can become a Celestial Farmer, that's all that matters. Those Celestial Farmers from Licheng can grow Celestial Wheat! If I can grow it too, will I ever have to worry about going hungry again?"

Bai Li hovered in mid-air, gazing down.

This job transfer is crucial. It's the first time the job transfer block has been sent down to another county. Whether it can operate smoothly, whether the people are willing to accept it, and what will happen after the transfer all need to be seen with our own eyes.

Hancheng is the largest county town in the vicinity, so naturally we need to keep an eye on it.

In front of the academy.

Shi Fengtai was followed by Liang Dasong, the clerk.

Even Shi Fengtai, who was used to seeing all kinds of storms, couldn't help but feel a little nervous at this moment. After all, this was a celestial post.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward.

In the bronze mirror, he saw a hat on his head, then relaxed his shoulders and let out a sigh of relief: "It's done!"

Shi Fengtai raised his hand and clenched his fist; the strength was no different from before.

Hancheng is too far from Licheng, so the celestial light cannot reach it, and the benefits after job change cannot be obtained.

He sighed, but then rallied.

However, it would be good if it could be accomplished.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Liang Dasong was still standing in the same spot, so he turned his head away.

Liang Dasong was seen with his head down, staring at his empty head in the bronze mirror, his face full of undisguised disappointment.

"It didn't work out?" Shi Fengtai asked.

Liang Dasong shook his head with a wry smile: "I was thinking that if I could get into the academy, I could share the burden for you in the future."

Shi Fengtai comforted him, saying, "These things are not something we can decide. Just because it didn't work out today doesn't mean there won't be another chance."

Liang Dasong nodded.

The two left the academy.

People lined up outside in long queues, creating a noisy atmosphere, with the queue winding from the bottom of the stone steps all the way to the street corner.

Shi Fengtai stood at the door, his gaze sweeping over the area, his brows furrowing inwardly.

Too many people are changing jobs today; if order isn't maintained, chaos will break out soon.

He beckoned to several constables: "Divide the crowd into several lines, and assign someone to each line to maintain order. Anyone who dares to cut in line or cause trouble will be recorded first, and repeat offenders will be taken away immediately!"

When the constables looked up and saw the hat on Shi Fengtai's head, they felt a sense of awe and left to carry out their orders.

The people then saw the stone phoenix platform that had emerged and the illusory hat, and their previous pushing and shoving subsided considerably.

At this moment, Shi Fengtai was no longer just a county magistrate of the imperial court; his prestige had returned.

As the crowd gradually calmed down, Shi Fengtai felt more at ease.

Bai Li looked down from mid-air, his focus remaining on the Academy and the Pastoral Academy.

Among them, pastoral colleges are what he cares about most, because nowadays, very few people can actually become pastors.

Hancheng is indeed a large city. One Taoist priest successfully changed his profession, but as for the monks, there wasn't a single one.

Bai Li muttered, "Not bad, at least there's one. But these monks, have they failed to succeed at all?"

As he was thinking, he saw a group of monks surrounding an old monk with white hair and beard by the roadside leading from Hancheng to the Little Twelve Temples, talking all at once.

Bai Li moved closer.

"Master, why don't you give it a try?"

"Yes, Master, the Shepherd's Academy is right in front of us. If you enter the academy, you might even receive divine blessings."

The old monk sat cross-legged under an old elm tree, twirling sandalwood prayer beads, and said unhurriedly, "I'm not going."

"Master~"

"I have cultivated for decades in order to distance myself from the mortal world and purify myself," he said, raising his eyes. "But now, all of you, upon seeing that celestial position, are eager to descend the mountain and enter the world."

"Master, we disciples are not after a celestial position," a middle-aged monk said with a wry smile. "As you can see, the people of Hancheng are all flocking to the City God Temple these days."

A few months ago, people were still coming to the temple to listen to sutras and worship Buddha, but these past few days it's been deserted. If this continues, we won't even see anyone. How can we then spread the Dharma?

The old monk slowed down his finger-pinching of the prayer beads a little.

Another monk chimed in, "And another thing, Abbot! So far, everyone who's entered the academy is a Taoist practitioner; not a single Buddhist disciple has entered. If you don't go in, there will be no place for a Buddhist disciple in the academy in the future."

The old monk raised his eyes: "So you think this humble monk should also go in?"

The monk said in a low voice, "I just feel that if people only know about Taoist priests and not about Buddhist monks in the future, that will be a real problem."

The old monk stopped holding his prayer beads and sighed.

"You've become attached to appearances." His voice wasn't loud, but it was grating to hear. "You've become attached to the appearances of celestial duties, the appearances of the mortal world, and even more so to the appearances of the rise and fall of Buddhism."

"When the incense is burning brightly, people think Buddhism is flourishing; when it's fading, they think Buddhism is dying. Have all these years of chanting scriptures been for nothing?"

None of the monks uttered a sound.

The old monk closed his eyes: "Those who cultivate themselves simply need to guard their original intentions. Even if everyone in the world stopped burning incense at the City God Temple, what difference would it make? If the Buddha's teachings are in your heart, where is not a place of practice?"

The monks looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a long while, a young monk spoke up: "But Master, Buddhism teaches compassion and how to help others."

The old monk opened his eyes.

The young monk gripped his sleeve tightly, his voice trembling slightly: "While it may be peaceful to hide in the temple chanting sutras and reciting Buddhist prayers, what the people lack now is food, clothing, and the means to survive."

Look at those who have become Immortal Farmers; they can grow Immortal Wheat from now on.

The Muyuan Academy and Redstone were tied together, and many things that were unthinkable before, such as paper candy, were made by Redstone.

Our Buddhist community has several priests; perhaps they too have received those divine gifts.

These things can truly reduce hunger and cold among the people, so why don't we go? Master, isn't Buddhist practice about saving people and helping them overcome suffering?

The old monk stared at him for a long time.

Finally, he got up and went to the pastoral compound.

The disciples quickly followed, trailing behind a few steps behind.

There were only a few dozen people outside the pastoral compound. When the old monk arrived, the people in front of the compound disappeared, and he went straight inside.

He stood still, clasped his hands together, and recited a Buddhist chant.

Then, he donned a purple robe.

He showed neither joy nor sorrow, but his disciples were all extremely excited: "It's done! Master has really succeeded!"

done?

Bai Li's lips curled up: "There really are people who are dedicated to cultivation. This is great, we'll have an extra amount of red stones every day."

He looked at the old monk with respect, and his impression of Buddhism softened considerably.

The job change lasted for most of the day.

By the afternoon, the lines had thinned out.

The area outside the academy and pastoral college was completely deserted; those who could change jobs had basically done so.

There was a long queue outside the farm.

Shi Fengtai stopped outside the boundary between the Muyuan Academy and the Shuyuan Academy, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so people who had gathered in front of him.

An old monk with his hands clasped in prayer, a Taoist priest, and the rest were all from the academy.

Gao Yu was also in the crowd, standing towards the back.

Shi Fengtai stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting: "Congratulations everyone. Now that you have received your celestial positions, you have embarked on a new path."

Everyone returned the greetings, some bowing, some putting their hands together in prayer, and some making hand gestures in response.

Shi Fengtai, the righteous deity, said, "Now that you have obtained your celestial positions, you are all under Young Master Bai's command. As Young Master Bai has ordered, you must set off immediately for Li City to meet the immortal."

The crowd fell silent for a moment after those words were spoken, then erupted in a buzz.

"To Licheng?"

"Will we be able to see Young Master Bai?"

"My God, that's a real fairy!"

The crowd paced back and forth, or clenched their fists, unable to contain their joy.

Gao Yu stood at the edge of the crowd, her heart pounding.

Shi Fengtai raised his hand to suppress the urge: "The county government will make unified arrangements for the journey. Everyone, go back and pack your things. You will arrive at Longmen Ferry in two hours."