On the winter solstice, as the end of the year approaches, snowflakes still flutter down under the gray sky, covering the world in silver, with a palm-thick layer of ice and snow on the ground, and everything is desolate.
In this freezing weather, the county town was deserted, let alone a small village like Fengjia Village. After clearing the snow from their doors and having nothing else to do, everyone huddled at home around the fire pit, chatting about everyday matters.
"Time flies! A year has almost passed in the blink of an eye!"
"Yes, the year is almost over. I wonder when Zichuan will be back this year?"
"When they come back and see the changes in Xiaowen and the house, they'll probably be shocked."
The old man smiled and looked around at the furnishings of his home. The old house was still the same old house, and at first glance, nothing seemed to have changed. But upon closer inspection, one would find that everything that could be replaced had been replaced.
"Yes, there have been so many changes at home this year, especially Wen'er."
At this point, both elderly people fell silent for a moment, as if they had both thought of something.
"Have you prepared all the incense and paper money for the offering?"
"It was prepared long ago."
"I'll take Wen'er to the City God Temple to offer incense before the New Year!"
"..."
The warm hall fell silent again, broken only by the crackling sound of the wood burning in the brazier.
"Going to the City God Temple to burn incense is also a good idea, to bless Wen'er with peace and good health."
As they talked, the two elderly people resumed their conversation about everyday matters, such as who got married in the next village, and who had a grandchild. They could chat about even the most trivial things.
Meanwhile, in a secluded room on one side, Feng Bingwen, under the pretext of reading, sat cross-legged on the bed, looking out the wide-open window at the fluttering snowflakes and appreciating the winter snow scene.
"I wish we had underfloor heating!"
Feng Bingwen, who was no longer afraid of the cold wind and snow, sighed. He was not afraid of the winter snow, nor were the elderly in his family. But for most of the elderly, the snowy winter was like the Grim Reaper coming to claim their lives.
"I had those guys prepare firewood and send it to poor elderly people in the county. I don't know how many people it will help get through."
Feng Bingwen pondered silently. In the blink of an eye, the Heavenly Book appeared in his mind. Within the myriad rays of light, the Heavenly Book was opened, revealing his current good deeds and evil deeds.
Name: Feng Bingwen
Good deeds: Eight thousand six hundred and fifty-three
Misdeeds: 366
"There are already eight thousand!"
Looking at the good deeds he had painstakingly accumulated over the past six months, Feng Bingwen couldn't help but feel a little proud. These were all things he had painstakingly built up bit by bit.
Because of his actions during this period, the appearance of Qingshan County has undergone tremendous changes. There are no hooligans wandering the streets and alleys, nor are there any idlers. Even those involved in shady businesses such as gambling dens are humble and polite to people and dare not overstep their bounds in the slightest. It can truly be described as a place with simple and honest folk customs.
However, even if Feng Bingwen were given the same amount of time, he would not be able to accumulate eight thousand merits in Qingshan County, because many of them were bought with a single blow. For example, when he set rules for the gambling den, the Heavenly Book gave him twelve thousand merits!
Unless his suppression is gone, those shady dealings in Qingshan County will remain unchanged. But such things cannot be done intentionally. If one indulges in evil with the intention of exploiting others, it is blatant disrespect for the Heavenly Book. And yet one expects good deeds? Boundless karma will befall you and kill you.
"Since there are such numbers, there's no need to wait any longer."
Gazing at the enormous amount of merit recorded in the Heavenly Book, Feng Bingwen took a deep breath and decided to make the wish he had long considered.
"I am willing to expend 8,100 merits to find a master who can guide me onto the path of cultivation and show me the way. This master must be open-minded, of noble character, unmoved by worldly things, naturally protective of his own, and generous in giving..."
This time, unlike previous wishes, Feng Bingwen not only specified the good deeds he was willing to perform, but also made detailed requirements regarding the master he wanted, including his character, strength, and even knowledge.
After he silently expressed his wish to the heavenly book, his face flushed slightly for a moment, and he felt a little embarrassed.
He wasn't looking for a master; he was practically asking the celestial book to find him a father. And a perfect one at that, flawless without a single imperfection.
Faced with his ridiculously long wish, the Heavenly Book remained silent for a while. Just when it thought Feng Bingwen had failed and was about to try a simpler one, a golden flame ignited on the line of merit points.
"It's done!"
Feng Bingwen's eyes lit up; he found it truly unbelievable that there was actually someone in the world who met his requirements.
He had long since discovered that what he received from praying to the Heavenly Book were all things of this world; the Heavenly Book would not conjure things out of thin air for him.
He wished to the Heavenly Book for such a master, which means that there is a being in this world who perfectly meets all his requirements. This being will inevitably appear before him at some point in the future and take him as a disciple.
"Huh!"
Just as Feng Bingwen was overjoyed, he suddenly noticed something was wrong: the burning golden flames were about to go out, and the merit points had dropped from four digits to three digits.
He previously possessed over 13,000 merits. He made a wish to the Heavenly Book to become stronger. The merits on the Heavenly Book burned for nine days and nine nights before being completely extinguished. Then, the dragon pearl, whose origin he still does not know, fell from the sky.
But in such a short time, all the good deeds he had made were burned up, leaving only a pitiful 553 good deeds on the Heavenly Book.
"this……"
Feng Bingwen sat up abruptly in bed and walked quickly to the window, subconsciously thinking that the wish he made to the Heavenly Book was about to appear. However, he stared out the window for a long time, even trying to sense the floating water vapor in the sky, but he did not perceive any special presence descending.
"I was too impatient!"
After his anxious heart calmed down, Feng Bingwen chuckled and shook his head, sitting back on the bed. He pondered the unusual noise from the Heavenly Book.
"I wish to have such an extraordinary and talented person as my teacher. Is this little bit of good deed not enough?"
"That's not right. If it's not enough, the Heavenly Book won't even bother with me."
Feng Bingwen rejected his earlier guess. He had already tried it, and the Heavenly Book disdained to pay attention to some absurd and nonsensical wishes, such as becoming an immortal or ascending to heaven.
"But this time the merit points were used up too quickly!"
After thinking it over and over, Feng Bingwen still couldn't figure out why the Heavenly Book's flames had gone out so quickly this time. His previous hundred merits hadn't burned up this fast either.
"Sigh, there's no point in thinking too much. Let's just wait and see. The Heavenly Book shouldn't disappoint me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com