Chapter 8: It's Hard for the Poor to Obtain Scriptures from the Western Heavens.
"I'm tired of those storybooks, but Daughter heard that a hero recently eliminated the evil tiger from Qingping Mountain?"
At the mention of this, Zhang Qingyun's expression immediately changed.
Seeing his father's expression, Zhang Qing asked what else had happened.
Zhang Qingyun was also feeling depressed, so he casually recounted to Zhang Qing the story of how he invited Jiang Sheng.
After listening, Zhang Qing couldn't help but laugh, "Father, you were indeed wrong in this matter."
Zhang Qingyun was puzzled, "How was I wrong, Father?"
Zhang Qing smiled, "Father, Daughter once heard a story."
"It said that in the Great Western Continent, there was a Buddhist Holy Land, the Great Dragon Temple. One day, a novice monk from the Great Dragon Temple descended the mountain to preach to the ruler of a small kingdom and received three liters and three dou of gold dust."
"Upon his return, the novice monk thought he would be praised by the Arhat, but the Arhat said he had received too little, selling the scriptures too cheaply."
"Father, why do you think the Arhat scolded that novice monk?"
"That Daoist is not a Cultivator from our Qi Kingdom. Father, you might have overestimated yourself and underestimated that Daoist."
Zhang Qingyun came to his senses and couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.
Before, when he was in the Family, he didn't feel anything.
But after coming out, Zhang Qingyun also deeply felt the preciousness of Cultivators.
Cultivators with cultivation, apart from those Loose Cultivators with no background and ordinary Qi refining Cultivators with no hope of advancement, who would be attached to worldly prosperity?
And who would revere kings, marquises, generals, and prime ministers?
He had originally intended to invite a Cultivator to be his assistant, but now it seemed he had already offended the Daoist named Jiang Sheng.
Zhang Qing then asked, "What did Father intend to do by inviting that Daoist?"
"Daughter has heard recently that Father's policies have been frequently obstructed by the gentry and common people. Could it be that Father intends to use that Daoist as an aid?"
Zhang Qingyun sighed and said helplessly, "I indeed had that idea."
"Qing'er, you also know that I am new here. Whether it's the county town or the various towns, they all feign compliance with me."
"Those gentry and rich merchants control everything inside and outside the county town, and the common people only revere the River God and believe the instigation of those gentry and rich merchants."
"If this continues, won't I become a puppet in the hands of those gentry?"
Looking at his intelligent daughter, Zhang Qingyun suddenly asked, "Qing'er, in your opinion, what should I do next?"
Zhang Qing first dismissed the servants around them. After everyone had left, she smiled and said, "That depends on what you truly want to do, Father."
Zhang Qingyun was very puzzled, "What do you mean by that, Qing'er?"
"Father, do you intend to disrupt the Great River God Sacrifice?" Zhang Qing asked.
Zhang Qingyun frowned slightly, "I do have such an intention."
Zhang Qing then asked, "The Great River God Sacrifice, where six pairs of virgin boys and girls are offered annually in exchange for a year of favorable weather. As long as it continues, Father can smoothly complete his term in Qingshan County. Why must you disrupt it?"
Zhang Qingyun looked at his daughter and sighed softly, "The River God indeed only requires the sacrifice of six pairs of virgin boys and girls annually to ensure favorable weather in Qingshan County."
"But that River God is not officially sanctioned by the imperial court. He absorbs the incense of the common people and demands the sacrifice of virgin boys and girls. This is an illicit sacrifice!"
"Since it's an illicit sacrifice, he is not a god, but a demon!"
Saying this, Zhang Qingyun suddenly stood up, "Using six pairs of children under six years old from my jurisdiction each year to exchange for a so-called year of favorable weather—I naturally understand the principle of sacrificing the small for the greater!"
"But if I can kill the River God of Taiping River, eliminate his illicit sacrifice, and return the hearts of Qingshan County's people to the imperial court, that would be a great political achievement!"
"All thirteen counties of Dong County are sitting idly by while demons conduct illicit sacrifices, but I oppose illicit sacrifices. Then I can enter the eyes of the imperial court."
Zhang Qing looked at her agitated father and couldn't help but sigh.
She and her father were from a collateral branch of the Family and were not valued by the Family since childhood.
Her father had no cultivation, and her mother had cultivation, but even so, as a collateral branch, they were destined to toil for the main Family.
Her father had suffered for many years in the Family, constantly suppressed, and her mother was also continuously ordered around by the Family, eventually losing her life.
Once her mother, the Cultivator, was gone, they, father and daughter, were even more bullied.
These minor matters never caught the eye of the Family's high-ranking members, so their lives were once incredibly difficult.
Being able to come to Qingshan County as a county magistrate now was something Zhang Qing's mother had exchanged her life for.
Zhang Qingyun often told Zhang Qing that collateral branches like them didn't receive much support from the main Family. When they finally got an opportunity, how far they could go depended only on themselves.
Zhang Qing understood that her father intended to use this opportunity to turn his fortunes around.
"Qing'er, do you know that you also have the Aptitude for cultivation, but it has always been usurped by the main Family's direct line? The main Family doesn't want you to succeed in cultivation at all; they only want you to marry in the future and share the main Family's worries!" Zhang Qingyun then revealed another secret.
Seeing Zhang Qing's slight astonishment, Zhang Qingyun continued, "I was previously constrained and powerless. As long as I accomplish this current matter, then you and I, father and daughter, will be completely different from before."
"In the future, when the imperial court bestows rewards, Qing'er, you will also have resources to cultivate and will no longer be constrained."
Zhang Qing sighed softly, looking at her father, who was once full of youthful spirit but now had several strands of white hair prematurely, feeling a pang of heartache: "Daughter knew it would be like this."
Zhang Qingyun knew his daughter was extraordinarily intelligent, with the talent of a top scholar. Seeing her expression, he knew she must have an idea.
"This is one of our few opportunities, Qing'er. If you have an idea, please speak it. If I can do it, I will definitely do it!"
"You and I, father and daughter, must not be treated as pawns again."
Zhang Qing analyzed the situation, her thoughts racing: "Our Qi Kingdom has its own Dao Palace, with corresponding imperial Cultivators in each prefecture and county; and each prefecture and county also has Sects and cultivating Families."
"Their main role in various places is to maintain local stability and eliminate demons and illicit sacrifices."
Zhang Qingyun nodded. Indeed.
In the various counties of Dong County, everyone worships the so-called River God and offers virgin boys and girls. This matter only needs to be reported to the Prefect, who can then invite the local Sects and cultivating Families to take action.
And the cultivating Families and Sects in various places naturally dare not violate the imperial court's regulations.
Zhang Qing continued, "From the previous two county magistrates until now, it has been decades. Who would believe that the Sects and Families of Dong County know nothing of this situation?"
"But neither the Sects nor the Families of Dong County are indifferent to this. Why is this?"
Zhang Qingyun's brows furrowed deeply, "I hadn't thought about this matter."
Zhang Qing looked expressionlessly at her county magistrate father, "Father, this matter is of great importance and concerns both our lives!"
"If there are indeed some hidden secrets, our rash action against the River God could be more detrimental than beneficial."
Zhang Qingyun silently drank his tea and finally said, "This matter still needs to be done. As long as we make enough of a stir and attract enough people, we will have a chance to turn things around!"
Zhang Qing nodded, "If Father insists on doing it, then that Daoist from Qingping Mountain must be invited."
"Father, you must show sincerity."
This is the second chapter today. Please follow, collect, and recommend! My lords, the plot has unfolded, and the grand drama is about to begin. Please recommend, collect, and follow more. Linyuan is infinitely grateful and bows to all my lords.