Chapter 613: Enter the Village

Mao Ying and Chen Hong were very curious how the fake Daoist had deceived people.

But the villagers stopped them and refused to let them in.

The expert took one look and said, "Good grief, you've even stopped my boss—what am I still busy for?"

He immediately stopped, turned around, and walked toward the village.

The villagers still wanted to use this capable Daoist to cause trouble for another Daoist, thereby saving a lot of money.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have just said the village's Daoist was a fake, a monster.

It's not really their fault; there have simply been too many scams.

They've tried fake Daoists, spirit mediums, and monks, spending plenty of money, yet nothing has changed.

Just now, when the expert showed that trick, they could tell he was someone with genuine ability.

But the ritual of the Daoist on the other side should also be finished.

It's time to pay.

What should we do? Give the money to the other side?

Then what about this genuinely capable Daoist—do we have to pay another sum?

Wouldn't that make them suckers?

Since we don't want to be suckers, naturally we'll give money to whichever of the two Daoists has real ability.

Anyway, they will only pay out one share.

Don't even talk about playing tricks on immortals.

This is quite normal; even when consulting a spirit medium, one haggles over price.

Some charlatans wander around, sometimes deceiving people, even making the deceived followers lame, and then having them sleep with the women in their households as a blessing.

(In the countryside, such things are very common, especially in the 80s and 90s, when there were too many swindlers—you name it, they had it.)

When encountering such things, some locals will seek help from a brothel madam.

It's all you deceiving me, I deceiving you.

Both sides think they've gotten the better deal.

What happened when the two Daoists competed?

Their calculations were precise, but the expert turned and walked away, leaving them dumbfounded.

Just moments ago the matter was urgent, but in the blink of an eye they stopped caring.

The accompanying personnel and the health bureau officials saw nothing but a black line.

The thinking of these lowly villagers is seriously problematic.

Right in front of them they started banning superstition, yet as soon as someone hoodwinked them they fell for it.

It turns out there are so many swindlers because there are too many fools—there aren't enough swindlers to go around.

(Feudal superstition is a big business, especially in the countryside—not only do we have local spirit mediums and charlatans, but also wandering deities' spokespersons; I know of several waves. When these people arrive somewhere, it's all kinds of deception, healing, etc.; earning a few hundred or a few thousand per person is normal, a highly profitable trade—fake Daoists and spirit mediums are small-time, because they still have to mix locally, so they must watch their image, but those itinerant ones are outright swindlers, willing to do anything.)

Seeing the expert about to leave, the villagers couldn't agree—after all, you've just performed a miracle; that's literally a lifeline.

"Master, Master, where are you going?"

"The monster is in the village."

The expert snorted.

"These two ladies are my lucky stars; if the lucky stars don't enter, then I, as a Daoist, cannot enter either."

"Heavenly Venerable of Infinite Blessings and Virtue."

The villagers were dumbfounded.

What should we do? It's quite urgent……

Over there they're about to ask for money.

The leading villager gave someone a glance, and that person ran toward the village.

He then chased after the expert and came back to the outskirts of the village.

"Master, our village has had a ghostly head-shaving incident; it happened only after this … woman arrived."

"How could she be a lucky star? Master, have you made a mistake? Otherwise, go take a look and then speak."

The expert is very professional; he placed his hand behind his back, adopting the air of an accomplished Daoist.

"You're blinded; this is a living Bodhisattva."

"Miss Mao, over the years she's traveled everywhere doing good deeds—who knows how many schools she's built, how many people she's saved."

"She only brings blessings; how could she bring disaster?"

"Alas, you don't even recognize a living Bodhisattva—you truly are karmic obstacles."

"Alright, no need to say more; the old Daoist won't save those without affinity."

"What does that mean? The villagers were dumbfounded—how could they have no affinity?"

But those with quick wits instantly grasped the key point.

Letting these two ladies in means there is affinity; not letting them in means there is none.

What to do?

On one hand they consider women taboo, believing they bring misfortune; on the other hand they are true immortals who have attained the Dao.

Letting them in would create affinity, but it would make the whole village uneasy.

Not letting them in means no affinity; they'd only be able to pay the bill and miss out on the great immortal.

The leading elder pulled everyone aside for a discussion; in the end the villagers felt their bottom line could be a little flexible.

As long as they don't come into contact with those women, it'll be fine.

Sigh, they really have no choice; faced with the ghostly head-shaving, any taboo or prohibition can be set aside for now.

The head brother was very anxious, afraid they'd give all the money over there.

"Master, we agree to let them into the village; this should work, right?"

"However, they cannot speak, nor can they get too close to our altar."

The expert looked at Mao Ying, and Mao Ying nodded.

As long as we can film, that's enough.

Finally they will also debunk the superstition; by then we won't know what expression these villagers will have.

Just thinking about them makes me want to laugh.

Chen Hong felt a bit uneasy; she herself came from the village, so she understands these people's behavior.

It's precisely because she understands that it hurts; after fighting superstition for so many years, I never expected the countryside not only to have changed little, but to be getting even more intense.

No wonder Yang Qing's two funds are both about education.

Moreover, it's children's education, because these adults are beyond help.

All we can do is look to the children.

This might be the significance of the education fund.

Only by educating the children well can we fundamentally change this situation.

Don't believe me? Look how many years anti-feudal superstition has been going on—what results have there been?

Education is the most important support of a country.

The several billion that Yang Qing poured out instantly became incredibly glorious.

Perhaps only one's own man in this world can truly understand ordinary people so deeply.

The expert saw Mao Ying nod, then turned and walked back toward the village.

In the village.

Square altar.

The old Daoist and his two disciples have finished their work and are packing up.

Yet the village head still hasn't shown up with the money.

He had no choice but to approach the village head and make a salute.

"Venerable, the rites are already completed."

The village head, having received the villagers' notice, naturally could not give the money.

"True Person, please wait; a fellow Daoist will arrive shortly and wishes to meet you."

Upon hearing this, the old Daoist knew there was a fellow Daoist.

He spoke a bit angrily.

"Patron, one matter should not trouble two Daoists; this is the rule."

"Since you have already invited this humble Daoist to perform the rites, why seek others?"

"The Infinite Heavenly Venerable."

"Everyone, this is deceiving the gods and cheating the ghosts; I fear you will invite great disaster."

The old Daoist has wandered the martial world for many years, very rich in experience.

And you really think they are pious men and women?

They also have quite a few means when it comes to retaliation.

Public opinion, contagious disease, poison...

They know a bit of each.

Whether it's curing disease or spreading it depends entirely on your performance.

If your performance is poor and you provoke the other side, giving you a profound lesson is also a common occurrence.

Some people are even more ruthless; human trafficking is also quite common.