669: Chapter 658: Worshiping the Gods 669: Chapter 658: Worshiping the Gods Manbao not only paid her respects to the Heaven Master at ho but also went to the Daoist temple on the mountain to offer her prayers.
The Daoist priests at the temple were particularly welcoming to Ms.
Qian and her daughter, mainly because Ms.
Qian would always bring a basket of chicken eggs on each visit and, with the publicity from the Zhou family, the temple had gained a considerable reputation in the area.
On holidays and festivals, the number of people going up the mountain to pray to the deities surged.
Those who encountered difficulties also frequented the temple more often.
With more people, the incense offerings beca abundant.
As the incense smoke thrived, their livelihood improved significantly.
Consequently, the temple even started business dealings with the local doctor below the mountain; sotis, the priests would give dicinal herbs to the faithful to take ho when they ca to pray about illnesses.
As the number of visitors increased and the available dicinal herbs were not enough, and since they rarely went to the county town and rarely dealt with the pharmacies there, they collaborated with the local doctor.
After all, the dicine the doctor used at ho was either picked and prepared by himself or purchased directly from other herb farrs, and he would only buy from the county town if the local farrs didn’t have what he needed.
But since he was a regular custor, he could get his dicine at a price cheaper than the Daoist priests could.
Because of this series of changes, the Daoist temple was very happy to go along with Ms.
Qian and include Manbao as one of their group, even going so far as to help promote her.
So now, it wasn’t just a few neighboring villages around Qili Village that knew about the reincarnation of a fairy from the Zhou family, but even families as far away as White Horse Pass town had heard about her.
As soon as Manbao went up the mountain, she drew a crowd.
Then, the old Daoist Shouqing quietly asked Ms.
Qian, “Ms.
Qian, Manbao is nominally thirteen years old, isn’t she?”
Ms.
Qian smiled, “She was born late; she is thirteen.”
“It’s ti to talk about marriage,” Shouqing sighed and then brought up a family from White Horse Pass town, smiling, “…their family has land and a shop, a single cherished son, and they are looking for a lucky daughter-in-law.”
Ms.
Qian declined subtly, “There are quite a few children with spiritual and good fortune in our town, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one.”
She continued speaking about Manbao, “This child enjoys reading and is currently studying in Yizhou City with her Fourth Brother, under the tutelage of their teacher.
We think she’s young, especially her father, who is very fond of his oldest daughter and wants to talk about marriage after her ‘coming of age’ ceremony.
And even after a proposal, she would stay with us for another two or three years.”
Shouqing understood.
Manbao was nominally thirteen but wouldn’t truly be twelve until the winter.
She was still young; if they waited until her ‘coming of age’ to discuss marriage, and even if they could agree upon it that year, she would remain at ho for another two years…
The son of that family in the town might well be old enough to “fetch soy sauce” by then.
But actually, there were quite a few families who had inquired about Manbao through him.
That family was a bit too eager, but there might be others…
This is what happens when a daughter is sought after by many; if not set early, a good girl could be snatched away by others.
Therefore, Shouqing was not discouraged; instead, he stroked his beard and smiled at Ms.
Qian, inquiring, “Then Ms.
Qian, have you thought about what kind of son-in-law you’d want in the future?”
He laughed, “In the last year or two, the incense at our Daoist temple has thrived, and more people have co to offer incense.
Occasionally, so from the county town visit too, and they’ve heard a thing or two about Manbao’s good fortune.
They can’t help but ask around…”
Ms.
Qian understood his implication and laughed, “Since when did the Daoist priest also start playing matchmaker?”
She thought for a mont before saying, “Our family’s requirents aren’t too high, just soone of good character, from a harmonious family.
We aren’t particular about the specifics, but there’s one thing: our Manbao has been reading since she was young, so of course, it would be best to match her with soone literate.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have much in common in their married life, and that would be quite distressing.”
Shouqing’s mouth twitched.
Not too high of requirents?
Setting aside the softer criteria of good character for the mont, a harmonious family was a tall order—it called for a loving father and obedient son, a harmonious mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, respectful brothers, and amicable sisters…
This single requirent would dismiss many families.
And yet another, being literate.
Those who could afford education surely ca from well-to-do families; moreover, they had to be smart enough to receive it.
They would have to keep studying, keep going, at least up to the level of the county town, right?
Shouqing assessed in his mind, repeatedly eliminating the families that had signed up with him until only a few remained, and those were families from the town or the county.
And this was just from cutting down based on literacy.
Taking into account the previous two criteria…
Shouqing felt overwheld.
Why was matchmaking so difficult?
Daohe was talking with Manbao, squatting in the Daoist temple’s backyard garden.
He had grown a lot and was now a teenager.
He looked at his forr playmate and said, “My master wants to find you a marriage match.”
Manbao was eating a pear that he had shared with her, and nearly choked on the juice.
She pointed incredulously at her own nose and asked, “?”
Daohe nodded, “Many families inquire about you when they co to offer incense.
So are rely curious, while others want to take you back as their daughter-in-law.
Uncle Master Shoufang says they covet the fortune you possess.”
Manbao said, “Even Sixth Brother isn’t betrothed yet.”
“What does that matter, it’s not like you have to marry right away?”
Manbao shook her head, “I don’t want to be betrothed.
Marriage sounds so boring.
I’m still a child.”
Daohe watched her without speaking.
Manbao glared back at him.
Daohe had no choice but to look away and asked, “What about your two Junior Brothers?
Are they betrothed yet?”
Manbao shook her head, “No, they’re still children too.
With such aggressive pilgrims at your Daoist temple, have even they beco targets?”
Daohe shook his head and said, “Not them, it’s you.”
He continued, “I think you might as well choose one of them to be betrothed.
Uncle Master Shoucai often says it’s better to ‘deal with the familiar,’ and you’re not lacking in any way.
Just pick one from them.
Last ti I saw you, you were even beating them up, so I thought, with your feistiness, you wouldn’t be bullied after getting married.
But it would be different if you marry into another family.”
Manbao was stunned, “You, you’re only two years older than , right?
How can you think so much?”
Daohe sighed, bowed his head in reverence and chanted, “Imasurable Heavenly Lord, the more I’ve seen, the more I’ve thought.
You are my good friend, otherwise I wouldn’t discuss this with you.”
Manbao asked, “What have you seen?”
Daohe then looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, sighed sorrowfully.
Daoxu ca over carrying water to tend the garden, and upon seeing them, he laughed and said, “Manbao, pay him no mind, his little head is just filled with too many thoughts.”
He continued, “This year, Uncle Master Shoucai took him to learn how to receive guests at the front, and that’s when he caught this sentintal affliction.”
“It’s not being sentintal, it’s having genuine feelings,” Daohe pulled back his gaze from the sky, turning to Manbao said, “You don’t know, among the pilgrims who offer incense, eight out of ten are won, and what they ask for is nearly always family harmony.”
“They pray for children, for their husbands to be successful, for filial grandchildren, for their families to be safe, and for their children to prosper.
It’s all about seeking family harmony.”
Manbao, puzzled, asked, “Isn’t that pretty normal?”
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