Chapter 495: The Great Filial Son

Zhang Deben heard the surrounding murmurs, mostly from villagers of the same village as Wang Jin; they seemed to be introducing Wang Jin's situation to others, but were actually speaking to him, their gaze toward Wang Jin full of admiration, and said:

"In principle, after this divine rain baptism ends, there must be a period of recovery before the next divine rain can fall!"

He had lived in Zhang Family Village for many years, and before he ever lay on a bed, he often roamed around, having seen both the beauty and the evil of the mortal world.

Things like supporting one's parents have both good and bad aspects, but the good is scarce and the bad abundant; besides heartless children, most of it stems from impoverished couples' endless woes.

Being able to support bedridden parents for three to five years qualifies one as a great filial son, and beyond feeding and drinking, one must also tend to their toileting.

Someone like Wang Jin, who has cared for over ten years, remains hopeful, yearning for a divine rain baptism to cure his mother's illness; it's not that none exist, but they are exceedingly rare.

"Can there be another one?"

Wang Jin's eyes instantly brightened, his gaze toward Zhang Deben full of anticipation; he forced down his excitement, his voice trembling as he said:

"Mountain God, I don't know, I don't know when the next divine rain will be?"

"In a year..."

Zhang Deben hadn't finished speaking when Wang Jin's startled exclamation rang out, his face showing only disappointment as he said, "In a year?"

"What, is there a problem with a year later?"

Zhang Deben asked.

"Mountain God, not to hide from you, I have a mother who has been bedridden and immobile for over ten years; I came this time intending to pray before your statue for my mother's illness to be healed.

Never did I imagine, Mountain God, that your ascension ceremony would bring a divine rain, and anyone who receives its baptism would be free of disease and disaster, living a hundred years!"

Before he could finish, with a 'slap!' Wang Jin suddenly struck himself across the face; the crisp sound left a red, swollen mark, his eyes glistening with tears as he regretted,

"If only I'd known, if only I'd known, I should have brought my mother here!"

Zhang Deben comforted, "It's okay, another divine rain baptism will come after a year!"

"Mountain God, you don't know, not long ago, Cai Yishi came to our village and gave my mother a free consultation; he told me personally that even if I care for my mother well, it will eventually reach its limit.

She, she, she cannot hold on much longer; at most, at most, only two or three months of life, not even a year!"

Wang Jin went 'thump!' and knelt before Zhang Deben, pleading bitterly:

"Mountain God, I know, I know, I am a lowly commoner, unable to offer any Imperial Attendant to you, but may I beg you for mercy, could you, could you save my mother?"

"This, this, this..."

For a moment, Zhang Deben was torn.

Zhou, Village Chief whispered to Zhang Yongde beside him, "Zhang, Village Chief, this is the best moment for your family's Mountain God to shine, won't you go up and persuade?"

"Persuade?"

Zhang Yongde smiled lightly, then said seriously, "This matter, Zhang Deben will decide for himself; how could I interfere in his affairs?"

He might not know Zhang Deben's thoughts, but he knew what kind of person Zhang Deben was; he greatly admired filial sons like Wang Jin.

But he worried that Zhang Deben had just become the Lion Ridge Mountain God, possessing little divine power; even if he wanted to save Wang Jin's mother, he might be unable.

He certainly didn't want good intentions to backfire!

As for why Zhou, Village Chief asked him to step forward and persuade, what was his motive? He couldn't be unaware: first, he sympathized with Wang Jin and admired such filial sons; among their elderly, who wouldn't like a son like Wang Jin. Second, he wanted to use Wang Jin's case to snag a divine rain baptism for himself and the whole village.

He likewise felt sympathy and admiration for great filial sons like Wang Jin, but he would not act in a way that would embarrass Zhang Deben over Wang Jin's matter.

Moreover, their whole village had just received a divine rain baptism; a second one would bring little benefit, so why would anyone step forward as a trailblazer?

"Zhang, Village Chief..."

Zhou, Village Chief wanted to say more, but seeing Zhang Yongde unmoved, he glanced at the other village chiefs of Shizi Ling nearby.

Among them was the chief of Wang Jin's village, who gave a subtle look, intending to have them step forward together to persuade Zhang Yongde, making Zhang Yongde the trailblazer.

A stray glance suddenly caught the Mountain God's Wife Li Ping emerging from the crowd, walking toward the spot where Zhang Deben and Wang Jin stood.

Seeing this scene, a flash of insight sparked then vanished in Zhou, Village Chief's mind; he forced down his excitement and whispered:

"Zhang, Village Chief, the Mountain God's Wife coming over now wouldn't be to speak for Wang Jin, to persuade Zhang Deben, would it!"

"How could I possibly know?"

Zhang Yongde snorted, but when his gaze fell on Zhou, Village Chief and other prominent villagers nearby, his eyes held only envy.

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Envy those damn things, their whole village can snag a divine rain baptism in a short time, without waiting another year.

What kind of people Zhang Deben and Li Ping are, he couldn't not know; Li Ping walking toward Zhang Deben now was nine or ten times out of ten to speak for Wang Jin.

"Little brother, stand up!"

Li Ping came to Wang Jin, reached out and pulled him up; Wang Jin did not struggle.

He recognized Li Ping's identity; he knelt before Zhang Deben to ask for his great mercy, not to force him by kneeling; if Zhang Deben didn't answer, he wouldn't stay on his knees forever; he wasn't that reckless rogue.

Nevertheless, Wang Jin, while Li Ping helped him up, trembled and pleaded:

"Mountain God's Wife, please help; let the Mountain God save my mother. My mother has never had a good day since she gave birth to me; as long as I can save her, I'm willing to do anything, even give up my own life, I have no problem!"

"Little brother, look at what you say; our Zhang Deben is the Lion Ridge Mountain God, not a demon god, how could he demand your life?"

Li Ping looked at Wang Jin with admiration; she also liked filial sons, and said:

"I could say a few words for you, but whether our Zhang Deben can agree, you shouldn't have too much confidence; after all, this divine rain doesn't fall casually, there are many stringent conditions!"

"I understand, I understand!"

Wang Jin nodded frantically, excitedly saying, "Mountain God's Wife, if you could say one thing for me, I would be completely satisfied!"

Divine rain.

Anyone who receives the divine rain baptism becomes free of disease and disaster, living a hundred years; if this divine rain had no stringent conditions, chaos would have ensued long ago.

He still understood this principle.

(End of Chapter)