Chapter 469: Opening the Mountain
Biquan Village.
The sun is shining brightly, it is a sunny day after the rain.
A group of villagers, holding chisels, hoes and other tools in their hands, followed the village chief and Zhu Lan out of the village and headed towards the foot of the mountain in the east.
Lin Sanlang frowned slightly, a trace of uneasiness flashed in his eyes, and he whispered to Zhu Lan to confirm:
"Are you sure? If we don't find anything, I won't be able to explain to the villagers."
Zhu Lan nodded to him, showing that he had confidence.
Ah Chong is young and energetic. He ran forward for a long distance and then turned back with excitement and anticipation on his face.
He came up to Zhu Lan carrying a shovel and asked, "Do you think there are really no ghosts or gods in this world?"
This was the eleventh time he had brought up this question, and Zhu Lan smiled at him.
"It's okay, I believe you!" A Chong said very righteously.
“People in the village don’t usually have meat to eat, but every year they have to offer lots of wine and meat to worship the mountain god.
I felt that the meat would go bad every time, which was a pity, so one time I secretly hid a pig's leg.
When grandma found out, she almost beat my legs into pieces.
Humph, I have disliked that mountain god for a long time. He looks weird. Which god looks like that?
Don't worry, Brother Chong will definitely help you this time!"
"Okay, then thank you, Brother Chong." Zhu Lan smiled at him easily.
People's fear comes from the unknown. When they encounter inexplicable phenomena, they can only attribute them to ghosts and gods.
Today, she is going to completely uncover the mystery of Biquan Village!
Soon, the exceptionally emerald green lake appeared before everyone’s eyes. Dozens of pairs of eyes were staring at Zhu Lan, as if waiting for her to speak.
Zhu Lan looked up at the surrounding mountains and terrain, pointed to several directions along the lake, and said something to Lin Sanlang.
After hearing this, Lin Sanlang nodded and divided the villagers into several teams, and sent them to the places pointed out by Zhu Lan.
Everyone was in place. Lin Sanlang glanced at Zhu Lan, and finally made up his mind. He took a deep breath.
"dig!"
At this moment, an old and anxious voice sounded.
"You can't dig, you can't dig!!!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw the hunched figure of Grandma Sun catching up from behind the team. They had no idea how she could run so fast when her body usually trembled when she walked.
When A Chong saw her, he was stunned and then hurried forward to support her.
"Grandma, didn't I tell you to rest in the house? Why are you here?"
When Granny Sun saw the scene, she slapped her thigh in anxiety and rushed to Lin Sanlang and said:
"This is where the mountain god lives. If you do this, you will offend the mountain god and bring punishment upon our village!"
After hearing this, many of the villagers looked hesitant and looked at each other.
Grandma Sun grabbed Lin Sanlang's arm and said, "Sanlang, you are the village chief, you can't be confused!"
“Think about it, why is it that so many people who come to the village are possessed by evil spirits, and some are even frightened to death, but only our villagers have never been in trouble?
The county magistrate is right, if this isn’t the blessing of the mountain god, then what is it?
The mountain god statue in the village was found in this mountain. You are offending the mountain god and are in trouble now!"
Ah Chong was a little anxious, "What the county magistrate said may not be true!"
Grandma Sun glared:
"How can a county magistrate, such a high official, deceive us?
You are a child and don't know any better. Go home right now!"
Some of the villagers have already put down their tools, looking hesitant.
Yes, it was the county magistrate who proposed it back then. Villagers were required to worship the mountain god frequently and be grateful in order to continue to receive his blessings.
Can the county magistrate lie?
"Grandma!"
Ah Chong saw that he couldn't make sense, so he became anxious and angry. He pulled Zhu Lan over and pointed at her and said:
"He used to be a high-ranking official in the capital. What was he...what was he?"
Zhu Lan saw that everyone's eyes were on him. He knew that if he couldn't convince everyone now, it would be even more difficult to gather everyone together next time.
Since the villagers here trust the government so much, I have no choice but to be thick-skinned.
Zhu Lan walked up to Grandma Sun, bowed gently, and said:
“Grandma Sun, I once served as the Chief Censor in the capital, and I have seen many strange things.
Please be patient, I will prove to you what the so-called "curse" in Biquan Village is all about."
A trace of confusion flashed across Grandma Sun's face.
"What...what is it, Prime Minister?"
She looked at Lin Sanlang, who was also a little embarrassed and laughed dryly:
"In any case...in any case, he should be an official higher than our county magistrate. After all, he is from the capital."
Zhu Lan said to everyone seriously:
"Fellow villagers, in order to worship the mountain god, Biquan Village has to offer sacrifices every year and pay extra taxes. If the county magistrate is really a good official who loves the people, how could he propose such a waste of money and labor?
What's more, the village is located on the only road in and out of Nanzhou. Because of the so-called "curse" that has caused panic among the people, foreign merchants are unwilling to enter Nanzhou, making it difficult for the people of Nanzhou to become prosperous.
If I can solve the mystery of this curse today, the villagers can save money on sacrificial offerings in the future, and I can also open up the lines of communication between Nanzhou and other prefectures and counties. Isn't that good?"
These words touched Lin Sanlang's heart.
Ordinary people worship gods and Buddhas in their homes voluntarily and according to their ability.
Out of fear of the mysterious power, everyone in Biquan Village would never neglect the offerings to the mountain god even if they could not afford to eat at home.
As the village chief, he is well aware of the burden this sacrificial activity brings to the village, but he is powerless to do anything. As long as everyone believes in the "curse", the sacrifice will not stop.
"A Chong, take Grandma Sun back." Lin Sanlang gritted his teeth and said in an unquestionable tone.
Ah Chong nodded vigorously, trying to pull Grandma Sun away.
"I won't leave. I can't watch them do something so outrageous—"
Before Grandma Sun finished her words, she felt her body lighten and her face turned pale with fright.
Ah Chong carried Grandma Sun on his back and turned around and shouted:
"Village Chief, keep going, I'm waiting for your good news!"
After Ah Chong finished speaking, he carried the screaming Grandma Sun on his back and ran towards the village.
Zhu Lan looked at Lin Sanlang and nodded to him solemnly.
Lin Sanlang was heartbroken:
“Start digging!”
At Lin Sanlang's command, the villagers immediately waved their tools and started working vigorously.
The tools collided with the rocks, making crisp "ding-dang-dang" sounds that echoed in the valley for a long time.
Half an hour later, a villager raised the object in his hand and shouted excitedly:
"Sanlang, come and see if this is it!"
Lin Sanlang was cheered up and immediately rushed over with Zhu Lan to check it out.
The villager was holding a small piece of green stone in his hand. The color was similar to turquoise, but brighter.
Zhu Lan took the broken piece and weighed it in his hand; it was very heavy.
"What is written in the book is indeed correct..."
After seeing this stone, Zhu Lan became more certain of his guess.
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