"My goodness, you almost scared me to death!"
In the middle of the night, Magistrate Chen got up to use the restroom, but before he could even pull up his pants, the window was opened and Luo Yong, dressed in hemp clothing, rushed in.
He initially thought a thief had broken into his house, and his legs were shaking so badly he almost fainted. But when he saw who it was, he was furious.
"County Magistrate, there's no time to explain! We have to hurry and leave, or we'll miss those people!"
When Luo Yong left, he secretly listened in Linjia Village for a while and learned that those people were going to worship the gods on the barren mountain the next morning.
Those people are definitely worshipping the Goddess of Fertility. There might even be many pregnant women who have been kidnapped there. He will absolutely not let those people succeed, nor will he let that hateful Goddess of Fertility gain more power!
Luo Yong had learned martial arts since he was a child, and he was quite strong. He simply grabbed the county magistrate and jumped out of the courtyard.
"No, no, no, don't be so hasty, let me pull up my pants first!" County Magistrate Chen was so ashamed and indignant that he wanted to die.
After finally managing to pull up his pants, he was pulled along by Luo Yong in front of him, and they ran forward like the wind.
"Hey, hey, hey, why did you drag me out here in the middle of the night before dawn? What case is it that's worth going to such lengths for?"
Magistrate Chen asked breathlessly.
He had never done this much exercise before; his calves were trembling, yet Luo Yong ahead of him still didn't stop.
"Where are we going? Why do we have to run? Can't we just ride a donkey?"
Although Huangxian is poor, it's not so poor that it doesn't even have a single donkey!
Luo Yong shook his head firmly: "No, the donkey cart is too slow, it's easy to spot, and it's also difficult to park!"
The county government only has one donkey. What if he loses it?
County Magistrate Chen: "..."
So, he's very fast?
"Shh, it's the middle of the night, let's be careful what we say, don't let anyone find out," Luo Yong cautiously reminded him.
Magistrate Chen was practically spitting blood. What on earth was going on? Could it be that in the middle of the night, the magistrate was having an affair? It couldn't be anything serious, otherwise why would they be sneaking around like this!
Is he really going to become a part of their game?
The county magistrate stared wide-eyed at his rather plump belly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Your Excellency, what are you thinking about? We need to go to the village, don't go the wrong way!" Luo Yong turned his head and found that the county magistrate was going further and further off course.
"What, go to the village?" County Magistrate Chen was even more stunned.
While the two were running, the villagers of Linjia Village had already gathered on the other side.
Some of them carried torches, some carried grain, and some carried fresh fruit they had prepared...
Several villagers who had left halfway a few days earlier were also there, looking remorseful as they stood with their relatives.
"Is everything clean?" Old Mrs. Gongsun tapped her cane as she carefully inspected the items.
She asked not only about the fruit, but also about the villagers.
Before worshipping the gods, one must bathe and burn incense. Although the village doesn't adhere to such strict rules, one still needs to be clean enough to please the mountain goddess.
"They're all washed clean!" Some of the men blushed.
Come to think of it, this is the first time they've ever washed themselves this clean.
There was no way around it; the women in the family took this worship ceremony very seriously. They wanted to clean the entire place inside and out, and the yard was covered in layers of dust!
"Very good, light the torches, let's go up the mountain!"
Grandma Gongsun, also carrying a torch, took the lead and stepped forward.
Behind her was Ning Xiangqiao, who was holding a child.
Lin Anniang and Zhang's wife followed at the back, protecting the villagers behind them.
"Madam An, what other ways can I use this ability? I've tried so many things." Even now, Madam Zhang is still very excited.
Lin Anniang thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we try stitching up someone's wounds? Your ability is so powerful, it should be able to make the wounds heal faster, right?"
Mrs. Zhang trembled slightly: "Can you really sew stitches for people? That's a person, after all!"
Lin Anniang thought for a moment, then nodded firmly: "I think this is how it should be used. Why can't human wounds be stitched up? You can try it on some animals first?"
In any case, any ability bestowed by the Mountain Goddess is bound to be useful!
Zhang's wife finally made up her mind, clenching her fist tightly: "You're right. The Mountain Goddess has bestowed such a powerful ability upon me, I absolutely cannot waste it. I must put it to good use so as not to let down the Mountain Goddess's trust in me!"
Having previous experience, the group moved very quickly this time and soon arrived near the mountain god temple.
The long table was brought over again, and fresh wild fruits and grains were laid out.
The villagers of Linjia Village knelt on the ground, and the head of the group, Granny Gongsun, washed her hands with a wooden basin and lit the three incense sticks she had prepared.
He raised the incense sticks to his forehead with both hands, bowed respectfully three times, and then knelt on the prepared prayer mat.
"Respect the gods and tidy your clothes."
The old lady Gongsun's authoritative voice rang out.
The villagers of Linjia Village behind them subconsciously straightened their clothes.
"Kneel and bow three times!"
A group of people touched their foreheads to the ground and knelt down three times.
Grandma Gongsun was the first to stand up. She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together.
"We hope that the Mountain Goddess will bless the villagers of Linjia Village so that they may all be healthy and safe in the future."
Grandma Gongsun didn't pray for much, because wishes for favorable weather and abundant harvests were simply unrealistic.
Before those disasters struck, she hoped that the villagers of Linjia Village could survive safely.
…
At the foot of the barren mountain, Luo Yong also found this place.
Looking at the torches faintly lit on the mountaintop, he knew he was too late and felt extremely regretful.
"Let's go up the mountain!"
The county magistrate standing nearby was already panting heavily and almost foaming at the mouth. Hearing that they were about to go up the mountain again, he was completely dumbfounded.
"We...we...have to climb the mountain again?"
"You, you want to work me to death?!"
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