Chapter 342: Do Your Best Is Enough

Mourning period and the others followed the crowd to the Mountain God Temple, where they immediately spotted the place distributing blessing bags; the children hurriedly clustered around Old Yu and lined up ahead of her.

Old Yu hurriedly said, "First, pay respects to the Mountain God."

The children reluctantly followed Old Yu to pay homage, and as they neared the entrance, Mourning period spotted Pan Yun's silhouette flash by and pointed excitedly, "It's our benefactor!"

Everyone turned to look, but only caught a glimpse of Pan Yun's hem vanishing.

Pan Yun took the magistrate of Ming County to observe the free clinic site.

Tao Ji was absent; Wang Feiyin presided over the clinic, Wang Cong oversaw herbal management, and together with Miao He, the herbal apprentices brought by the physicians, two monks, two nuns, and four young Daoist priests, they rapidly ground and dispensed medicine.

"These are fellow cultivators from nearby who came to help; we're fortunate the magistrate of Ming invited Great Physician Sheng and others—otherwise we'd be overwhelmed."

The magistrate of Ming paused to observe; he saw most patients wore patched clothing, some even tattered, and sighed, "The people's hardships are great."

Pan Yun nodded. "We need more officials like you to strive harder."

The magistrate of Ming: "... That's true, but coming from you, it somehow feels different."

Pan Yun protested: "I'm such a good person..."

"Little Daoist Pan!" A high, excited voice interrupted her; Pan Yun turned to find it and instantly abandoned the magistrate, stepping forward eagerly, "Master Qian!"

The old man and the young woman clasped hands, both faces filled with gratitude.

One said: "Little Daoist Pan, you're truly remarkable—such a small sum, yet you've accomplished so much. I've walked around today; you've helped countless people. This temple fair has earned great merit."

Another said: "It all depends on the kindness of benefactors; without Master Qian leading the way, this temple fair might never have happened. We're deeply indebted to you—and all the benefactors."

Pan Yun noticed the men behind Master Qian; the magistrate of Ming saw them too, and his lips curled slightly as he stepped forward.

Master Qian didn't see the magistrate, but the officials and gentry behind him did, and they all bowed deeply, "We pay our respects to the County Magistrate."

Only then did Master Qian notice him; he quickly released Pan Yun's hand and bowed.

The magistrate of Ming smiled and waved. "Today is my day off; I'm merely a common scholar come to enjoy the festivities—not the magistrate. No need for formalities."

Pan Yun internally grumbled: If you're so capable, don't call yourself 'this county' then.

Others may have thought otherwise, but on the surface they all showed heartfelt obedience; yet when speaking to the magistrate of Ming, they remained polite and proper.

Still, few paid any attention to Pan Yun.

Even though she was the organizer of this temple fair and the temple's caretaker, apart from Master Qian, no one approached her voluntarily.

Wang Cong noticed this and frowned, ready to step forward to help, when Wang Feiyin, who was still seeing patients, called out to him: "Go around and direct the villagers into orderly lines—don't let too many crowd together. It's nearly noon, more people keep arriving; if those inside the temple don't want to leave, send them to the old family estate for vegetarian meals—divert the crowds. Crowding risks accidents."

Wang Cong: "Seeing Miao Zhen is over there—she'll handle it. My little master aunt..."

Wang Feiyin snapped: "Do you think they'll eat your little master aunt? She's in charge. If I don't go, and you don't go, they'll only speak to her—and they'll still look down on her."

He said: "Go confidently. With Master Qian, a faithful believer, by your little master aunt's side, she won't be wronged—and the magistrate of Ming doesn't look down on her either."

One is the largest landowner in the county, the other the highest official; even if they despise Pan Yun, they must hold their tongues.

He intends to make everyone understand: Pan Yun deserves to be the temple caretaker.

True, these gentry only speak to Master Qian and the magistrate of Ming, flattering the two—but this is Mount Sanqing. This is the Mountain God Temple. This is Pan Yun's domain.

Pan Yun quietly followed a few steps before Master Qian pulled her to his side; the magistrate of Ming also inquired about the temple fair's arrangements.

Pan Yun walked them through it all.

First, safety: knowing the crowd would be large, Pan Yun prioritized safety above all.

So she had long consulted with the villagers, deciding the event's grounds would span the entire Fen Shui Village and half of Mount Sanqing.

Not only did the villagers of Fen Shui volunteer to help, but the workers who had long labored for her returned to the village and brought back many strong young men.

Devotees arriving before entering the village were channeled from three directions toward the Mountain God Temple; once within the Qingshan Realm, they could first pay homage to the Mountain God, or first collect blessing bags, or first receive cold-prevention herbs and medical consultations...

In short, each route had its own focus.

Not all devotees chose to pay homage to the Mountain God Temple first.

After completing one task, they proceeded to the next: after paying homage, they walked northeast up the mountain, turned onto another path halfway up, then descended slightly to the herbal distribution point, where wooden benches and meditation mats lined the way.

To prevent them from catching cold, free ginger tea and rice gruel were provided along the route, all paid for by Pan Yun and prepared and tended by villagers.

This was only half the fair; after completing all activities, devout devotees unwilling to leave could stroll through the village.

Many vendors had set up stalls along the way, selling goods cheaper than at regular markets.

Some of these items had flaws, priced slashed again and again—so cheap they were unbelievable.

Perfect for poor families.

Pan Yun had also arranged vegetarian meals at her senior brother's old estate, with help from the villagers.

Hungry devotees could eat a bowl of vegetarian meal—though it was plain: just a bowl of rice and a bowl of vegetable soup.

Wealthier devotees chose to eat freshly cooked meals at villagers' homes.

Pan Yun even arranged latrines: besides allowing use of villagers' outhouses, she had designed thirty latrine points along the route—simple triangular structures.

Built from a few wooden beams, covered with straw, with deep pits beneath and wooden doors only chest-high, split into two: one on the left, one on the right.

Thirty points meant sixty latrines.

Even the magistrate of Ming, along with the landowners and officials following him, stared in stunned silence.

Master Qian praised without restraint, raising his thumb: "Little Temple Keeper Pan has thought of everything."

The magistrate of Ming couldn't help but nod and asked: "And after this, how will these latrines be handled?"

Pan Yun said: "Tear them all down."

The magistrate of Ming frowned. "They look quite clean; thick wooden blocks were placed on both sides. Why not keep them for future use?"

Pan Yun: "Feces are fertilizer. These people hold their bowels until they get home to their own latrines. After the fair, who will use these?"

She paused, then added: "Of course, if the villagers want to keep them, I have no objection."

The magistrate of Ming thought her words crude, yet undeniably true; after a pause, he said: "Then next year's fair—won't you have to rebuild them?"

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Pan Yun waved her hand: "Whether there's a fair next year isn't even certain. Next year's problems can wait until next year. These latrines are the simplest and easiest—just a few wooden beams, quick to build, convenient."

The magistrate immediately said, "I think your temple fair is no worse than the usual ones—why not hold it again next year?"

Pan Yun: "It's exhausting and drains too much energy. This year, I organized the fair only because the weather was poor—I wanted to create some festivity to pray for heaven's blessing."

She had accumulated too much karmic debt and too much merit recently; both were leaking out simultaneously, and she needed to withdraw and consolidate. She had not yet found a good solution, but her intuition told her that seeking her master's help would be useful.

Adding to the merit for Pan Gong was a promise she had made long ago, which is why she held this temple fair.

Unless she achieves similar success next year, she should just live quietly.

In fact, there are many ways to accumulate merit, some of which are not tiring—though they require more money.

Once she earns more money next year, she won't be so exhausted and can still perform great merit.

Everyone present caught her implication; several elders exchanged glances.

Although they were cautious about spending money to accumulate merit, they still liked good people.

Otherwise, how could they have so much trust in Elder Qian?

I am not a good person myself, but I still like to be friends with good people.

At this moment, their impression of Pan Yun rose slightly—they now classified her as a virtuous person, just like Elder Qian.

Though she is young, from her explanations and arrangements along the way, she is clearly capable.

To be so capable at such a young age, she will surely achieve great things in the future.

A virtuous person with great potential—yes, worth associating with.

Some among them decided to forgive her for meddling earlier, which had exposed their hiring of laborers.

Pan Yun accompanied them on a tour, spending less than an hour, then let them wander on their own while she returned to the shrine to resume her duties as shrine attendant.

As shrine attendant, she must answer believers' questions, bless them, and fulfill their wishes…

It's also very busy.

By afternoon, people gradually left; by sunset, crowds thinned, yet new believers still arrived.

The physicians packed their things and returned to the villagers' homes where they had lodged; monks, Taoists, and others nearby went back to their own temples, while those from afar lodged at Mount Sanqing's monastery or the shrine.

They were packing their belongings.

Pan Yun stepped out and asked the weary travelers, "Where are you from?"

Someone replied, "From Miao Kou Village."

That was a village under Yushan County, very far away—walking truly required a full day.

Seeing their straw sandals and thin clothing, Pan Yun stepped aside to let them enter the shrine to warm up.

No sooner had she moved aside than another dozen or so arrived together, saying, "We are from Guixi County."

Pan Yun was astonished. "You walked all this way?"

They bowed respectfully, "We heard Mount Sanqing's shrine is highly efficacious, so we came to seek the deity's aid."

Pan Yun worried for her master—could He possibly fulfill all their wishes?

Pan Yun stepped aside, letting them enter the shrine to burn incense and make vows.

Wang Feiyin lounged lazily, unconcerned; he said to Pan Yun, who looked anxious, "Birth, aging, sickness, death, wealth, power, beauty—people seek too many things in life. Your believers' wishes pass through us first; we solve what we can, and what we cannot, our master will handle."

"The divine light pervades all—how far it can assist depends on our master's magic power and sincerity. This is not our concern," he said. "In this world, just do your best."

Pan Yun murmured, "Just do your best?"

(End of Chapter)