Chapter 486

Yes, yes, yes...... Village Chief Zhang, you are right to scold; it is I who measured a gentleman's belly with a petty heart, misunderstanding Mountain God Zhang!

Village Chief Zhou wore a fawning smile; although in his heart he had already cursed Zhang Yongde's eighteen generations of ancestors, at present he still needed Zhang Yongde's help, and he said solemnly:

"Village Chief Zhang, what conditions must our village offer so that Mountain God Zhang will be the first to come and take charge of our village?"

Zhang Yongde had not yet spoken when several other village chiefs rushed to speak first, saying: "What does it mean to be the first to come and take charge of your village? What conditions can your village offer? Could our village not offer any?"

"What is most important now is to begin preparing De Ben's god-ascension ceremony; as for the conditions you mentioned!"

Having said that, Zhang Yongde paused, glanced around at the village chiefs of the surrounding villages, his face full of arrogance, and said:

"Let's wait until De Ben's god-ascension ceremony ends before we talk!"

He is not Li Ping; how could he know what conditions De Ben needs?

He plans to consult with Li Ping later to see what benefits De Ben needs—money and wealth, which he knows, De Ben is not too concerned about.

If De Ben were the type to cherish talent, he would not have wholeheartedly helped that brother-in-law, who is worse than pigs and dogs, become rich and prosperous.

After he learns from Li Ping the detailed demands of De Ben, he will then step forward, speak on De Ben's behalf, to see whether he can squeeze some profit out of these villages, letting De Ben reap all the benefits.

Such scolding is naturally not something to let Li Ping or Zhang Chengze do.

The two of them are capable of representing De Ben; if they do such a thing, it will affect how the surrounding villages view De Ben.

Village Chief Zhou, seeing the other village chiefs open their mouths, as if wanting to say something, hurriedly spoke first:

"Village Chief Zhang, you are correct; what is most important now is Mountain God Zhang's god-ascension ceremony; as for what conditions Mountain God Zhang needs our village to offer in order to be the first to come and take charge of our village, we can discuss that later!"

"Later?"

He certainly could not wait; he planned to, during the village tour, secretly inquire of Zhang Yongde, preferably reach an agreement with Li Ping, work out conditions that satisfy Mountain God Zhang's demands, and then, once Mountain God Zhang agrees, be the first to have him come and take charge of their village.

After a long while.

With everyone's joint effort, they lifted the statue of De Ben the Mountain God onto an eight-person sedan chair.

At this moment.

Inside the Mountain God Temple, besides the original group, there was also a troupe wearing red clothes, carrying drums and gongs, performing dragon and lion dances.

Inside the Mountain God Temple, an elder of the Zhang Family Village raised his head, glanced at the sky, and said to Zhang Yongde: "Yongde, the auspicious time has arrived!"

Zhang Yongde nodded.

Those who had prepared to set off firecrackers did so, those who had prepared to beat drums did so, those who had prepared to strike gongs did so, those who had prepared to dance the dragon did so, those who had prepared to dance the lion did so—it was simply as lively as could be.

Leading the way was the sturdy man carrying the eight-person sedan bearing the statue of De Ben the Mountain God, who strode out of the Mountain God Temple.

Qi Wenshan followed beside the Zhang family members, behind the Mountain God statue, like a long dragon, as the procession walked out of the Mountain God Temple; out of the corner of his eye he saw inside the temple Zhang Guilian, face full of resentment, motionless, as if she did not intend to come out, and he asked puzzledly:

"Mountain God's Wife, it seems that the sister of Mountain God Zhang hasn't moved; is she not participating in this village tour activity?"

"Master Qi, I think this sister of the Mountain God is probably tired; just let her rest in the Mountain God Temple."

Li Ping had not yet spoken when Village Chief Zhou hurriedly stepped forward; he had not forgotten how, not long ago, Zhang Guilian had blocked them, spreading rumors about Mountain God Zhang, secretly inquiring through Zhang Yongde to find out what was going on. Regarding Zhang Guilian staying in the Mountain God Temple, not coming out to join this village tour, he was actually pleased.

Who knows whether Zhang Guilian, daring to spread rumors about Mountain God Zhang in front of outsiders, will cause trouble during this village tour?

He truly feels sorrow that Mountain God Zhang has such a sister.

From what he learned from Zhang Yongde, Mountain God Zhang has not failed her in the slightest; on the contrary, he has been extraordinarily kind to her and her family's men.

Her family's ability to become wealthy and establish a foothold in the county seat is entirely due to Mountain God Zhang's care, yet her family is nothing good; as soon as they prospered, they looked down on Mountain God Zhang.

After Mountain God Zhang died and was ennobled as the Lion Ridge Mountain God, her husband and son actually came up with the idea of stealing Mountain God Zhang's Mountain God Token.

They wanted to take his place and become the Mountain God of Lion Ridge themselves!

At that time.

When he received this news, if he were Mountain God Zhang, he would not only be unable to restrain killing intent toward her husband and son, but even toward her.

However.

Mountain God Zhang, being magnanimous, did not hold a grudge against her family; it was only his eldest son who asked the County Magistrate to properly discipline her son and husband, yet she still had the nerve to spread rumors about Mountain God Zhang here.

For a moment he didn't know how to describe Zhang Guilian; such beastly conduct is simply not human!

"Are you tired? I don't think she's just worn out."

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Qi Wenshan glanced oddly at the inside of the Mountain God Temple; regarding the motionless Zhang Guilian amidst the procession like a long dragon, he said suspiciously: "I actually suspect that her staying in the Mountain God Temple might mean she intends to do something bad."

"Master Qi, I think you're overthinking it; she doing bad things?"

Village Chief Zhou had not yet spoken when Zhang Yongde stepped forward, speaking sarcastically:

"It's not that I look down on her; it's that people like her, even if they want to do bad things, what bad things can they do—smash the Mountain God Temple? Before the temple is even smashed, they'd wear themselves out!"

Li Ping ordered: "Chengyong, for this village tour you don't need to follow along; just stay here!"

"Okay!"

Zhang Chengyong responded with a sound, showing no resistance; he understood his mother's meaning, but still worried that Zhang Guilian would do something bad.

Zhang Yongde said oddly: "Li Ping, you wouldn't really be worried that Zhang Guilian would smash the Mountain God Temple, would you?"

"Village Chief, look at what you're saying; Guilian is our family's De Ben's sister; although she has done many foolish things, I still believe she has a bottom line, knowing what she can and cannot do."

Li Ping smiled; although she said that, what she really thought, not just her but probably others around could see, she explained:

"I kept Chengyong here to look after his second aunt, lest she become distraught; lately her spirit has been somewhat unstable!"

Zhang Yongde agreed: "Indeed, the father and son Du Guan were arrested, and Guilian has suffered some blow."

Although what the Du Guan father and son did, even if they were merely arrested, let alone beheaded, they deserved it.

But no matter what, the Du Guan father and son are her husband and her son.

She couldn't possibly feel good inside; it's normal for her spirit to be unstable!

(End of chapter)