Chapter 194: Elder Xianhuan of Jinshan Temple

Then came the sound of crackling and popping; it was the sound of firecrackers being set off.

This was nothing else.

It was the "Jin Chan Bond Exchange" opened by the Golden Toad under Xu Jia's seat—though, of course, it was not called by that name; he had changed it to "Jin Chan Debt Pawn."

It was originally a gambling den, but now the gambling den boss had kowtowed to the Golden Toad, "Duobao Old Master," and had washed his hands of the business.

Nowadays, people came and went, and upon closer inspection, they were actually the same idlers, gambling addicts, and hooligans, though they had changed into new clothes and looked like decent people.

Jinchan Duobao had completely subdued and reformed them; in just one month, it felt as if a year had passed, and they were trained so that if he told them to go east, they dared not go west.

The original boss of the gambling den had turned into a pot-bellied squire; he had always been eloquent, otherwise he could not have started from scratch and held sway over both the underworld and the legitimate world in Yushan County, earning the nickname "Black-hearted Bigan." Bigan was the Civil Wealth God, a civil deity, and also the Prime Minister of the Shang Dynasty, possessing a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.

This Black-hearted Bigan held the bonds in his hand; while called bonds, they were actually chips. The chips here used "shell inlay," which was polished seashells glued with a layer of porcelain. The shell inlay had carvings on it, being one of the earliest forms of anti-counterfeiting, but the ones brought out now were also imbued with "Yin Debt" and the Dharma Power of the Wealth God.

"Walk by, pass by, don't miss out! Dear elders and fellow villagers, come quickly to take a look! A thing unseen since ancient times, the first time since the creation of the world! Use money to beget money, exchange capital for profit. Those with spare houses at home, those with five hundred thousand in savings, those with two carriages—all can come and take a look, come and see!"

"Ha! Tong Laoda, you've stopped running a gambling den and switched to lending?"

"What do you mean 'lending'? What do you know? This borrowing and lending has existed since ancient times and is the foundation of commerce. Uh, how does the rest go? Oh, I remember now: this bond of ours is born from traditional lending relationships and is a more stable and visionary method."

"Unlike traditional usury, a bond is a form of trust, a form of promise."

"Can a gambling den owner be trusted?"

"What? Do you not know the six principles of gambling? Trust is the first! Go ask around: when has my gambling den ever defaulted on a debt?"

At this moment, a "plant" arranged in advance went to ask him: "Is this bond of yours usury?"

"Usury is me lending money to you; this bond is you lending money to me."

"Who would dare lend money to you!"

"I, Tong, have been mixing in Yushan for many years, dealing with both the underworld and the legitimate world; I have a reputation to guarantee, so why wouldn't they dare? Besides, you aren't lending money to me, you are lending money to the Great God Golden Toad."

Having said this, he spat a small golden toad from his mouth; it had been raised by him to the size of an egg and sat on his palm.

The crowd was immediately attracted by the Golden Toad.

Seeing this object was pure gold and lifelike, yet it could jump and hop.

Suddenly, several people shouted: "Is that the Great God Golden Toad who cured Lan Shi Huo? He is the Wealth God! Last time we went to worship and prayed for wealth, we picked up a piece of gold as soon as we came down the mountain!"

Having said this, he held a piece of dog-head gold high above his head.

This person was also a plant, and not a real person, but rather Kan Yinwu, who intended to turn over a new leaf, in disguise.

Although this method was low-level, it was indeed very effective. And very straightforward.

How many years had it been? There would still be a large number of fools who believed that pies would fall from the sky, and they only believed what they wanted to believe; no matter how others tried to wake them up, it was just shattering their dreams of getting rich, whether they were being scammed or involved in pyramid schemes.

As soon as someone questioned them, they would reply: "So-and-so got rich relying on this," without considering the authenticity at all.

The Golden Toad established its Wealth God Foundation using the "Greed" poison from the Five Poisons, and furthermore, it controlled 7,200 debt-ghosts who owed many Yin Debts, sitting in a Treasure Basin and suppressing the Greed Yin Demon among the Buddhist Fifty Realms' Yin Demons; it was a precise grasp of human psychology.

"The bonds issued by our Jin Chan Bond Exchange have the Great God Golden Toad as the backer, and every copper coin invested has physical assets as proof; it is absolutely not a castle in the air or empty talk."

"The seven-day daily interest is as high as three percent; that is, for every ten thousand coins invested, after seven days, your principal will increase by thirty coins. Invest one hundred thousand coins, and you sit back and collect three hundred coins daily; in a month that is nine thousand coins, and in a year that is one hundred and eight thousand coins. And after seven days, you can withdraw at will, just bring the bond to the Money Shop to exchange it."

"Everyone who purchases our Jin Chan bonds is participating in the investment of the Great God Golden Toad. You are not only providers of capital but also sharers in future profits; the Great God Golden Toad will even bless your wealth and make your fortune flourish."

"A portion of this money will be used to invest in the public construction of Yushan County, and a portion will be used to expand the fixed assets that purchase our Jin Chan bonds—for example, buying a hotel or an inn; the daily revenue is everyone's dividend. Or perhaps buying a plot of land; everyone becomes the landlord of this land. Aside from paying grain taxes and the rations for the tenant farmers, this grain can also be distributed as dividends. Or textile mills and mulberry fields, distributing to everyone, or raising pigs and cattle... all can be shared."

Tong Laoda was intoxicated by his own speech, speaking with sonorous force: "Those of you older than me are my uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers; those around my age are my brothers and sisters; those younger than me are my children and nephews. You are all my family!"

"Family! Broaden your horizons, look to the future, and get rich! Nowadays, our Great Ning Dynasty enjoys peace and prosperity, and commerce is flourishing day by day. Investing in our Jin Chan bonds is not only for the growth of personal wealth but also a contribution to the prosperity of our Great Ning Dynasty."

"We merchants, though dwelling in the distant rivers and lakes, keep the high temple in our hearts, and wish to use these Jin Chan bonds to paint a picture of Great Unity with all you elders and fellow villagers."

"Here, I sincerely invite all people of insight to have sharp eyes, seize the opportunity, and join in this grand undertaking. Choose trust, choose the future, and let us witness the brilliance of this era together! Looking forward to joining hands with you all to create the future!"

Having said this, he raised his wine goblet high! Then drained it in one gulp.

"Well said! I have ten taels of silver here; how many bonds can I buy?"

"Today's silver-to-copper ratio is 820; one tael of pure silver can be exchanged for 820 Great Ning Currency, and ten taels of silver can subscribe to 8,200 in bonds. Come over here to sign two copies of the document, press your thumbprint, and take this Gold Toad Shell Inlay Bond Plate. From now on, you can freely buy and sell using this Gold Toad Shell Inlay Plate. Be careful to keep it safe; without the shell inlay plate, it cannot be sold if you are not there in person, or if you are there in person but don't have the shell inlay plate, it cannot be sold either. This shell inlay plate is a Magic Tool blessed by the Great God Golden Toad, which can be enshrined in the Wealth God position. This year's Wealth God position is in the east; you just need to enshrine it facing east..."

Xu Jia watched this operation, and soon men, women, old, and young were all attracted.

The Golden Toad only had 7,200 debt-ghosts, so it only made 7,200 shell inlay plates. Each debt-ghost was responsible for one investor; at least within the borders of Yushan County, these debt-ghosts were completely sufficient. Moreover, besides these dead debt-ghosts, the Golden Toad had many idlers and hooligans who had made wishes to it; they had all signed gambling agreements with the Golden Toad. Unless they fulfilled the wishes they had made, they would have to work for the Golden Toad even as ghosts.

The commoners here were packed shoulder to shoulder. At first, it was just the actors who came to buy, then the commoners, and word spread to the ears of the surrounding wealthy households, who, half-believing and half-doubting, also brought money. Of course, the ones who dared to invest the most were not these people; many saw through the tricks, such as the official and clerk group of Yushan County.

They certainly wouldn't say they wanted to shut you down, but to make a big haul and extort a sum was certainly normal.

The Golden Toad had its own methods to resolve these, and Xu Jia didn't need to handle them for the time being.

It was just that from the Dharma Realm, Xu Jia observed that the greed of all living beings was being absorbed. Even those who hadn't spent money to buy bonds, seeing others buy them, seeing the bond pawnshop's silver, copper coins, and even gold flowing in and out like water, in a short time, it swallowed and spat like a mythical wealth-attracting beast, only seeing it enter and never exit.

Having gathered this money, the Golden Toad was overjoyed and directly told people to take the money and buy, buy, buy. No matter what they bought, selling it off at a profit was a huge gain; this was the ability of the Golden Toad.

Xu Jia sent a voice transmission to the Golden Toad: "Restrain yourself a bit, don't go too far, otherwise it's easy to attract misfortune."

The Golden Toad naturally obeyed, and incidentally reported to Xu Jia: "Duobao has already refined the Golden Pool and seized control of the Treasure Basin. That Greed Yin Demon is now begging me to let him tag along; he has never seen such methods before. Not bringing him along to make money makes him feel like he can neither live nor die. Also, True Person, the disciple's Nine Great Wealth Treasuries have already filled the first one. I believe that soon I will be able to complete all nine, swallowing and breathing in wealth from all directions, entering the Second Realm of Wealth God Path you mentioned, rapidly expanding wealth, and even the third realm, completing the capital cycle."

Xu Jia nodded: "Remember not to get carried away. You must turn evil wealth into righteous wealth; take from the people and use it for the people. Don't say that when they first buy, it's profitable, and then a few days later, you roll away their principal and say it was lost and evaporated."

"Those in charge of grain also have Fire Dragon Burning Granary and Yin Soldiers Borrowing Grain!"

Speaking of this, the Golden Toad said: "True Person, can you lend me the Raw Rice Bowl to use?"

"What do you need that bowl for?"

"That bowl can make rice beget rice, and I can make money beget money. Rice and money are linked—a double insurance."

Xu Jia said: "This bowl can change into rice, so it must not be out of thin air; there are great hidden dangers. Do not mess around, otherwise it will be even more devastating than the Longevity Sect!"

"Disciple won't. I heard that Nanyang rice shipped by sea is much cheaper than Central Plains rice, and there is also Nanyang sugar, which is also very cheap. My next step is to trade our porcelain and silk for Nanyang goods."

Jiangnan West Circuit was indeed the land of porcelain and the land of fish and rice. Likewise, the Gan merchants of Jiangxi often loved to run to Nanyang. For example, "Wanshou Palace" was used for Jiangxi Guild Halls, used to connect fellow townsmen; it was a religious place, a commercial place, and even an academic place, because many Jiangxi Guild Halls had private schools inside, and merchants would also sponsor fellow townsmen scholars to take the imperial examinations.

Of course, this was also a sign of capital influencing politics.

Xu Jia nodded upon hearing the Golden Toad say this, and at the same time secretly thought: "That Longevity Sect established the Changsheng Dao Kingdom overseas; should I also conquer a piece of land in Nanyang and make a Dao Kingdom? Be the Daoist Monarch Emperor myself?"

However, this thought was quickly extinguished by Xu Jia; others became emperors and wanted to become Immortals, but he had never heard of anyone who became an Immortal and could still be an emperor.

However, imitating the Vatican, establishing an overseas Daoist Court, collecting the world's Daoist traditions, and turning it into a holy land for Daoist academics—that was something that could be done.

However, it needs to be done in duplicate; develop Yushan first before discussing overseas matters, to preserve the Incense Fire, and also to avoid having no offerings after ascending, or after failing to ascend and returning to the underworld.

"Nanyang is good, Nanyang is full of treasures, spices, and gemstones."

Xu Jia thought for a moment, then told Jin Chan several formulas, one being the method for firing glaze, especially the method for "Lead-containing Glass." Glaze and glass had been fired in ancient China long ago; during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, among the jewelry of noblewomen, there were things like "Dragonfly Eye," but glass with few impurities was rarely unearthed, though there were indeed glaze factories that specialized in firing ceramics.

When Xu Jia wrote novels in his past life, he could always see in historical power-fantasy stories that glass was sold as gemstones.

Xu Jia gave another bad idea: "Glaze, like gold and silver, is one of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism. Nanyang has many Buddha Kingdoms; you can use this glaze and glass to make ritual vessels for offering to Buddha, and exchange them for their gold, silver, and jewelry."

Jin Chan's eyes lit up immediately: "This is good!"

Xu Jia nodded: "The master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. I have already taught you the Wealth God Path completely. How you achieve in the future is not something I can interfere with. I hope you can truly achieve 'virtuous wealth'—take from the people, use for the people, and realize common prosperity for all under heaven."

"I certainly will!" Jin Chan said as if taking an oath: "If the money I earn is not virtuous wealth, let thunder strike me and fire refine me!"

True gold does not fear being refined by thunder and fire; the more it is refined, the more it glitters. This oath was as good as not making one at all.

However, it is very possible for thunder and fire to annihilate the spiritual nature of the Dharma Realm; by then, Duobao would truly become a gold ornament, rather than a golden living creature brought to life.

After exchanging what was needed with Jin Chan, Xu Jia left Yushan County and headed toward Shanju Guan.

Nothing strange happened along this journey.

Only when passing by Jinshan Temple did the abbess of the temple, an old nun known as Elder "Xianhuan" who claimed to be ninety years old, wait for Xu Jia on the road up the mountain.

He saw her holding a Buddha Robe in both hands, handing it to Xu Jia: "Benefactor, this Seven Treasures Cold Forest Kasaya was entrusted to this poor nun by Miaoren to return to you."

"Where is Miaoren?" Xu Jia looked at this kasaya, no longer feeling particularly moved or Joyous.

"She went to Jiuhua Shan to learn her craft," Xianhuan said. "I heard that you are going to hold an Altar Opening; I wonder if there is anything I can help with?"

This old nun was short and small, with shrunken teeth, estimated to be less than 1.2 meters tall, looking like a child, but she indeed walked as if flying, her breathing steady and long; she possessed cultivation.

Xu Jia originally did not want to say much to her, but considering that this old nun was also of the Buddhist school, and his father had a good saying—to use Magic to defeat Magic—perhaps Po Na Fa Wang's Intermediate Body Achievement would require some pointers from this old nun.

(End of this chapter)