As the year approached, Qin Liuxi was swamped with chores, refining dicine and educating believers. She had a discussion with Qi Huang about the accounts of Feichang Dao, dividing the profits into three parts—one part for her own private stash, one part for the main branch’s private stash, and another sent to Qingping Temple.
When Qing Yuan received the silver note worth twenty thousand taels, he grinned from ear to ear, joyously placing the silver note before the Grandmaster’s statue. He lit incense and chattered nonstop, "Our Junior Temple Master is growing up, becoming promising. This main hall must have an auspicious beast to guard it, put on a new coat of paint, and replace the incense burner with a brass one to make it look majestic and imposing."
Wuwei lent a hand nearby, and occasionally glanced up to see the corners of the Grandmaster’s mouth seed to lift slightly, with the incense burning faster than usual.
This must be from being hit by the incense money.
After finishing the incense ritual, Qing Yuan weighed it carefully and then went to talk to Master Chi Yuan and Qin Liuxi.
"It’s just ten days until the New Year and it’s cold now. The farrs have no work in the fields and are mostly idling at ho. The disciple thought since we have to build the Scripture House and expand the Daoist School for believers and layn to stay temporarily, we need to add another two-story Daoist house in case other fellow Taoists co to visit," Qing Yuan flipped through his notebook and said, "It would be inconvenient to start construction after the New Year with believers constantly visiting to offer incense. Why not take advantage of the winter downti to close the temple temporarily for renovation and get craftsn to start building?"
Qin Liuxi, who only cared about providing funding without involving herself in the details, was nonchalant and casually said while eating pine nuts, "You handle it as you see fit."
Although Qing Yuan was a Taoist, he was also equivalent to the Grand Steward and accountant of the household; such detailed tasks were naturally his responsibility.
Seeing his evil disciple behaving improperly, Master Chi Yuan told Qing Yuan, "Do as you propose. There is so timber still stored on the back mountain. Use all that up, and if it’s not enough, get so more from surrounding villages. The farrs are indeed free this New Year, make sure they are well-compensated and fed, it’s too cold to work outside these days."
"Alright, I’ll arrange it then." Qing Yuan responded with a smile on his face, walked a few steps, but then turned back to Qin Liuxi saying, "There’s a lot to renovate this ti, new buildings to raise, which must be delicately constructed. It seems like a lot of money, but we need to keep granary reserves for charitable deeds next year. Spending carelessly can drain funds fast, you’ll need to earn more incense money, Elder."
Cough, cough.
A pine nut went down the wrong pipe, making Qin Liuxi cough and glower at Qing Yuan, "You’re sitting on over twenty thousand in silver notes, talking about running out of money, are you planning to gild all the temple’s bowls and plates? How could you say such things without feeling ashad?"
Qing Yuan sighed, "Elder brother, you don’t know the cost of household expenses when you’re not managing it. At the end of next March, it will be the Emperor’s 500,000th Longevity Festival. rchants and powerful people are already seeking Longevity gifts in the populace, causing the prices of many things to rise. Additionally, I’ve heard rumors that after the Longevity Festival, there might be a draft for the imperial selection, and next year there’s also the Imperial Examination. All these events happening together will naturally drive up prices."
Qin Liuxi’s face darkened.
What does the Emperor’s Longevity Festival have to do with her, a person of the Mystic Sect? Yet his celebration will hike up prices, and she, forced to keep her business running?
Master Chi Yuan frowned, "If that’s the case, just the Longevity Festival and the draft might force many officials to exploit the common people, making their lives difficult next year."
These events all need money, and where does the money co from? Scraped up layer by layer.
The common people might not have money, but so households may have family heirlooms, particularly auspicious items. To obtain these, so people might resort to unscrupulous ans.
Such things had happened before.
Qin Liuxi was visibly upset.
This annoyance persisted until her trip up the mountain to dig up wine, spotting a red shadow sneakily trying to disappear.
"If you dare leave, I’ll burn all your fur!" Qin Liuxi shouted sternly.
Just as Feng Xlyou was about to leap away, his back foot froze mid-air, gently landing on the snow as he turned around, "Look who it is, isn’t it our little family ancestor? Are you here for Body Refining?"
Qin Liuxi looked at the tree where she buried the wine, angrily noticing so digging marks still not covered up, she sneered, "Hand it over if you know what’s good for you, or today I’ll try what fox leg tastes like."
"Don’t be like that, we’re all friends here, it’s just a jar of wine," Feng Xlyou took out the wine he just dug out, laughing playfully, "I was just thinking of looking for you to have a few drinks, didn’t expect you to show up, what a coincidence!"
Qin Liuxi glared at him, folded a paper figure to do the work, dug up the buried drinking spot, out of ten jars of wine, only five remained, her gaze sharp as a blade shot towards Feng Mi.
You damn fox!
Feng Mi imdiately raised his paws and swore,"I only dug up two jars, and I was planning to share one with you. If I tell half a lie, may I never be able to lift anything for the rest of my life!"
Qin Liuxi: "..."
That’s so like you!
That vow is really self-damaging!
Qin Liuxi glared at him a few tis, let the paper figure bury the wine, and slowly walked up to the pavilion.
Feng Mi followed her, sitting together in the pavilion, he magically produced two wine cups and a jug, was about to crack open the seal, thought for a mont, had nothing to accompany the drink, suddenly disappeared, and not long after, ca back holding two grey rabbits dug out from who knows where, set up a rack beside the pavilion, peeled the skins, and started roasting the rabbits.
He opened the seal on the wine jar, poured it into the jug, filled both their cups, and said, "You look upset, who has provoked you?"
Qin Liuxi picked up the wine cup, tilted her head back, and drank it all, saying, "It’s all because of poverty."
After three cups of wine, she began to open up and complain, "The Emperor’s birthday causes suffering to the common people, and even I have to struggle to gather silver for repairing the temple and doing good deeds; it’s really annoying."
Feng Mi’s eyes sparkled, "If you’re annoyed, shall we stir up so trouble? How about we start a rebellion?"
Qin Liuxi gave him a look, Idiot!
"Can’t we? If the nation’s fortune shifts, then it’s ti for soone else to take the seat."
Qin Liuxi said, "If it’s soone even more incompetent who takes over, causing the people to suffer miserably, the karma that befalls us, death won’t even be enough to repay."
Feng Mi looked embarrassed, "Then shall we empty their national treasury?"
"Enough, enough, stop giving reckless suggestions. It’s still a ti of peace and prosperity after all, wouldn’t creating trouble disturb the peace?" Qin Liuxi said irritably.
"But you said you were upset, right? If you’re upset, let others be upset with you; that makes sense, doesn’t it?"
Thanks a lot!
Feng Mi flipped the rabbits, took a sip of wine, and said, "Didn’t you ask your old man why he insists on you doing ritorious deeds? And why he doesn’t allow you to take shortcuts, but instead to accumulate it slowly through hardships?"
Silver, they could easily earn a lot of it.
Qin Liuxi paused: "Why should I ask?"
"Aren’t you curious?"
Holding the wine cup and staring into the void, Qin Liuxi looked sowhat absent-minded: "Maybe I did sothing unforgivable in the past?"
It seems like she did sothing, but she can’t rember.
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