Oliver Xie really wanted Tyler He to bring his classmates to eat melon seeds and drink tea. He recently bought some tea leaves and put some tables and chairs in the front yard for people to rest, order tea and melon seeds, and chat while eating.
Alas, not many people come to burn incense, so this is the only way I can make some extra money.
Although he felt a little upset, Tyler He thought that this was indeed easier than asking people to burn incense, so he decided to go back and recommend it in a different way.
...
Because life in the Taoist temple is relatively tight, Oliver Xie has not asked his family for money since college, and now it is even more impossible for him to ask his father to subsidize his living expenses. It was even worse before, but now he can eat meat more often and sell sunflower seeds to increase his income.
Oliver Xie thought about it and decided to use the land in the backyard to grow some vegetables. Any money saved was a good thing. He would save the money saved by Uncle He.
Before this land was left barren, it was Nathaniel Wang who took care of it, growing melons and vegetables. Oliver Xie had helped with the work and knew a little about it.
When there was nothing to do in the front yard, Oliver Xie would farm in the back, comforting himself that being hardworking and simple was a good style.
When he was busy, an aunt came over and called him: "Xiao Xie, Xiao Xie, come quickly, your colleague is here."
My colleague? How can I have a colleague?
Oliver Xie was puzzled. He was watering the plants, so he put down the kettle and wiped his hands. He went out and saw a Taoist priest in a Taoist robe standing in the front yard. He was about thirty years old, with a small mustache and a few sparse beard on his chin. His hair was tied into a bun on top of his head and he was holding a bag in his hand.
The Taoist priest with a small mustache saw Oliver Xie coming out with his aunt and walked in front of him. He was still in a daze and asked in confusion: "Hello, I want to find the master of this temple."
"There is currently no abbot in the temple. If you have anything to say, just tell me." Oliver Xie looked the Taoist up and down and felt that his beard looked a bit shabby.
The Taoist priest with a small mustache said hurriedly, "Excuse me, I want to place an order here."
As long as you are a Taoist priest, you can stay in a local Taoist temple when you go to another place. This is called "hanging a sign". The rules have changed from ancient times to the present. In modern society, regular Taoist priests who have obtained a Taoist certificate can use the certificate to stay and eat for free in other Taoist temples for three days. If you stay longer, you have to pay the temple.
Oliver Xie also knew this rule, but it was the first time he encountered it. There was an extra room in the backyard, but it was not cleaned up. He said politely: "Then Taoist priest, come with me to put the luggage first, and I will clean up a room for you."
"Thank you, thank you young man." The Taoist priest with a small mustache expressed his gratitude.
Oliver Xie asked casually as they walked: "I don't mean anything else, but in our local area, Taihe Temple is much more famous, why don't you go to Taihe Temple to hang up your sign?"
Not only is it more famous, but the accommodation there is definitely better.
The Taoist priest with a small mustache stammered, "This... Taihe Temple is too far away..."
Oliver Xie was suspicious and looked at the Taoist priest with a small beard for a few more times. He suddenly stopped and said, "Are you kidding me? The conditions in our Taoist temple are so poor, and you are still cheating me for food and drink?"
He lifted up the clothes of the Taoist priest with a small mustache, and there were clearly a few blurry words on the inside of the hem, which could be clearly seen as "Longhu Scenic Area", which were vaguely visible when he walked.
---Longhu Scenic Area is a tourist attraction in Yang City. There is no Taoist temple inside, only an antique market. The staff inside are all dressed in ancient costumes, and there are also actors such as scholars, beggars, fortune tellers, etc. on the streets to increase the sense of reality.
Oliver Xie had always thought that the material of his clothes seemed to be of poor quality. Now that he thought about it...of course the performance clothes must be of poor quality!
"No, no, you misunderstood!" The Taoist priest with a small mustache didn't know whether to press his clothes first or take out his ID first. "I am a real Taoist priest. I just worked there!"
Oliver Xie: "???"
What the hell, are you a real Taoist priest working in the Longhu Scenic Area?
Oliver Xie suspiciously checked the Taoist certificate of the Taoist with a small mustache, and it turned out to be real. "What's going on? You are not an actor."
The Taoist priest with a small mustache said dejectedly: "But I am poor."
Oliver Xie: ...
Oliver Xie: "Is this true? How poor can you be? You don't even have a place to live?"
The Taoist priest with a small mustache raised his head and told a very sad story.
His real name is Zhang Daoting, which is only one character different from the legendary founder of Tianshi Dao, Zhang Daoling, but their fates are completely different.
He had no father or mother and became a monk at the age of eighteen. Within a year, the temple had fewer and fewer visitors and he could not even get enough food. He was asked to leave by friendly friends and everyone had to find their own way out.
I never expected that I would be laid off in a Taoist temple.
Over the next eight years, Little Mustache went to many places, but any Taoist temple where he officially worked usually fell into decline for various reasons and he could not even afford to eat.
Last year, Xiao Huzi was stranded in Yang. This time, he did not go to the Taoist temple, but went to work in the scenic area. Because he had an advantage over those actors, he could recite some Taoist spells and classics, so he was successfully hired. He just sat in the scenic area every day and took pictures with tourists. The company provided food and accommodation.
However, the good times did not last long. A few days ago, he was complained by tourists for sleeping during working hours, and it happened that a senior leader was inspecting, so he was fired.
In fact, the man with a mustache had been to Taihe Temple before. He stayed there for three days and stayed there for one day because he had no money to pay for food and accommodation. Then he came out and saw Baoyang Temple.
After hearing this unfortunate story, Oliver Xie looked incredulous: "You became a monk at the age of 18 and have been a monk for eight years, so you are only 26 now??"
But he looks like thirty-six!
Moustache: ...
The man with a mustache touched his beard and said awkwardly: "This is the requirement of the scenic spot... No, you are focusing on the wrong thing, right?"
Oliver Xie said awkwardly: "How could you be so unlucky?"
"I want to know, too. My master told me that my fate is too bad. Maybe my parents abandoned me because of me." The man with a mustache said, "Well, little brother, can I stay here for a few days? I will go find another job."
Oliver Xie asked curiously, "Find another job. Aren't you going to go to the Taoist temple?"
Little Mustache: "I'd better not hurt anyone..."
When Oliver Xie thought about his experience, he felt that it was bad enough, and he felt that something was wrong. "Wait, your company provides food and accommodation, so you don't have any money saved? You can't even pay for the bill?"
Living in a Taoist temple is cheaper than living in a hotel or renting a house.
"Oh..." The man with a mustache scratched his head, "I donate most of my salary to the welfare home. I grew up without a father or a mother, so I know how difficult it is."
Oliver Xie was stunned.
He took a closer look at the mustache and found that although the man's mustache was untidy, his eyes were centered, his nose was straight, and his eyebrows were pointed downwards, indicating a sincere and reliable face.
The man with the mustache turned around and said, "You guys also planted vegetables, hey, let me help you water them."
Oliver Xie looked at him with a complicated expression, "Master Hu, actually our temple doesn't have a single Taoist priest right now. If you don't mind, you can stay."
Moustache: "...My last name is Zhang."
Oliver Xie: ...
Oliver Xie: "I'm sorry I remembered it wrong. Well, the conditions here are not very good. If you are willing, the cost of food and accommodation is 800 per month, and the ritual is extra. Is that okay?"
The single fee is equivalent to the basic salary of the Taoist priests. Excluding those large temples with very good incense, the single fee of ordinary Taoist temples actually starts from a few hundred to one or two thousand. If you go out to perform rituals, you will be charged separately, just like a commission.
Baoyang Temple is now poor, so poor that Oliver Xie has to farm to save money, but there is still some money left from Uncle Tyler He, which can last for a while. He dared to spend this money because a Taoist temple must have Taoist priests, which is a necessary investment.
As for the other questions...
Little Mustache: "I'm so unlucky, aren't you afraid?"
"Don't be afraid. A master once told me that I have the material to become a god and can lead the people around me to great heights." Oliver Xie said indifferently, "I don't think you are so unlucky that you can defeat me."
Moustache: ...
And to be honest, if Xiao Huzi hadn't been so unlucky, he might not have been able to recruit any Taoist priests. People always want to move up, and Xiao Huzi still has a Taoist priest certificate, which can only be applied for after eight years of ordination.
Oliver Xie was not afraid, so what was there to be afraid of with a mustache? He immediately said, "Then I'll ask for your guidance in the future!"
...
Oliver Xie and Little Huzi cleaned up the room together. He went to make a bowl of noodles for Little Huzi. When he came out of the kitchen with the noodles, he saw Little Huzi watering the vegetable garden. He actually took the initiative to work.
"Let's eat first." Oliver Xie called out.
The man with the mustache stood up and put down the kettle. He raised his head and startled Oliver Xie. "Who are you?"
Mustache... can't be called mustache anymore. Zhang Daoting touched his face and said, "I shaved my beard, so I can't recognize you?"
"I now believe that you are really twenty-six years old." Oliver Xie spoke after a long while.
Zhang Daoting's mouth twitched.
After he shaved off his slightly unsightly beard, his overall appearance and temperament improved dramatically, and he looked fresh and handsome.
---But this also shows how unlucky he is. For example, Oliver Xie is good-looking and likable, so the uncles and aunts in the front yard are happy to chat with him. When he worked in the past, he had many clients and high commissions.
Oliver Xie was originally thinking about how to properly deal with this guy's dark history working in the scenic area. Now, it seems strange that he can still be recognized!
While eating noodles, Zhang Daoting took the time to answer Oliver Xie's questions.
As a certified Taoist priest, he had also been in various Taoist temples for six or seven years. He was familiar with Taoist classics and norms, and had learned some rituals from his master and teacher, but he had never presided over a ceremony himself.
Oliver Xie: "Can you draw talismans?"
Zhang Daoting said nervously: "No."
He had been to several Taoist temples and worshipped at least three masters, or worked as a handyman for others, but because the sun was not long, he learned a lot and was not proficient. The runes were too many and complicated, and he didn't understand them very well.
He has been traveling to Taoist temples in various places over the years, and given his own bad luck, he deeply feels that there are some things that science cannot explain. The more he comes into contact with science, the more he is impressed by its profoundness.
Oliver Xie didn't mean anything else and said casually, "It's okay, I can do it."
Zhang Daoting: ...
"By the way, come here and let me touch it." Oliver Xie said.
He planned to test Zhang Daoting's physique. This person's fate was not very good, but his character was good. If he was not too stupid, he might not be able to be one of his uncle's disciples, but he could also teach him some other skills depending on the situation. After all, he was now a member of Baoyang Temple.
"???" Zhang Daoting swallowed a mouthful of noodles with difficulty and said weakly, "Why..."
"Just touch it casually." Oliver Xie said casually, not mentioning the inspection for the time being. However, touching Zhang Daoting is much more convenient than touching Shi Changxuan. Zhang Daoting is now a member of their Baoyang Temple.
Zhang Daoting nodded timidly: "Oh."
After Oliver Xie felt around, he had a rough idea of what was going on, and he continued, "I'll tell you about the history of Baoyang Temple and some things to note later."
Of course, what is more important is to discuss how to attract believers.
...
...
Regular visitors to Baoyang Temple have noticed that there is suddenly a Taoist priest here. But this is normal. It would be strange if there were no Taoist priests in a Taoist temple. No one knew where the Taoist priests in Baoyang Temple had gone before, but now they finally appeared.
This young Taoist priest is quite young and good-looking. After Xiao Xie's introduction, he greeted everyone and introduced himself as Zhang Daoting.
Most of the people here were tea drinkers who came to fetch water, or nearby residents who came to chat. Seeing that Zhang Daoting was so young, they were quite interested and asked about what life was like as a Taoist priest.
Zhang Daoting talked about his daily life such as doing homework, and then turned the topic to Baoyang Temple itself.
Speaking of Baoyang Temple, everyone can't help but say: "Baoyang Temple seems to be quite old, but I have lived in Yang for so long, and I don't know exactly where it came from."
Zhang Daoting couldn't help but smile and said, "Our Taoist temple was first built in the Ming Dynasty, destroyed in war, and rebuilt once in the Qing Dynasty. The main deity enshrined in the temple is Taiyi Leishen Yinghua Tianzun Wang Lingguan."
"Wang Lingguan? Which deity is he? Aren't you worshipping the Three Pure Ones?" someone asked.
Zhang Daoting explained about the Taoist temple's main deity, Wang Lingguan.
Some honest people said: "To be honest, I haven't heard of it much."
In the minds of ordinary non-believers, the powerful and famous gods worshipped in Taoist temples are all like Zhenwu Emperor and Lu Dongbin. Wang Lingguan, although he is said to be a guardian god, is not very famous. Moreover, when Zhang Daoting said that every Taoist temple would worship Wang Lingguan at the mountain gate hall, it sounded like he was just a gatekeeper.
The lack of incense in Baoyang Temple may have something to do with the fact that the ancestor they worship is Wang Lingguan. There are very few Lingguan temples in Queshan Province. Nowadays, people prefer to worship the famous gods.
"Wang Lingguan is the Taoist guardian deity who drives away evil and suppresses evil. You may not have any idea about this, so let me give you an example," said Zhang Daoting.
"Everyone should know about Journey to the West. When Sun Wukong was making trouble in the Heavenly Palace, no one could stop him. He fought to the Lingxiao Palace. It was Wang Lingguan who stopped him. The two fought to a draw. Although Journey to the West is a novel, why did the author set Wang Lingguan and Sun Wukong to a draw? It is because Wang Lingguan is indeed a very powerful god in Taoism!"
Wang Lingguan only appeared once in "Journey to the West" and people don't have much impression of him. However, when we check according to what Zhang Daoting said, it is indeed the case, which makes people feel as if they have suddenly realized something.
They were not familiar with Wang Lingguan, but everyone was familiar with the story of Sun Wukong's rampage in Heaven, and they immediately had a concrete concept of it.
I didn't expect Wang Lingguan to be so powerful. His fighting ability is among the best in the entire Taoism. No wonder Baoyang Temple worships him.
After Zhang Daoting's in-depth and easy-to-understand explanation, everyone felt relieved and no longer felt that the main deity of Baoyang Temple was not impressive.
"In addition to subduing demons and monsters, Wang Lingguan actually has other duties. He is also the god of thunder and fire. He brings rain and clears the sky, eliminates plagues and poisons, and corrects the mistakes of the world. During the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yongle believed in Lingguan the most and even enshrined Lingguan statues in his bedroom." Zhang Daoting said, "If there are weak patients at home, they should often chant Wang Lingguan, or burn incense and invite Lingguan talismans back home."
At this point, things become a little mysterious, and it falls into the category of if you believe it, it exists; if you don’t believe it, it doesn’t exist.
Many people in Baoyang Temple often draw water here. Of course, they won't say anything bad if they don't believe it. Some people who are usually interested in these things are willing to continue listening because Baoyang Temple finally has a Taoist priest.
For example, Mrs. Wang, the neighbor of the newsagent store owner Mr. Turner and a friend of his mother, Mrs. Sun, listened and asked questions.
Zhang Daoting smiled slightly, and chatted with Old Lady Wang about how to chant the Lingguan Mantra and what the key points were, teaching her sentence by sentence.
Old Lady Wang nodded repeatedly after listening to this, and finally asked what kinds of Lingguan Talismans there were and how much they cost, but it was just a question. She thought the Taoist was too young, and she had just asked for talismans from Taihe Temple during the Chinese New Year.
She lived close to Baoyang Temple, but she had never come here to worship before. These days, she came here for a walk with her friends and offered incense to the Three Pure Ones twice out of courtesy. To her, Taihe Temple was still a better name.
While talking to Zhang Daoting, Old Lady Wang scratched the places on her body where she was bitten by mosquitoes.
Zhang Daoting took a look and asked, "Auntie, are there many mosquitoes in your house?"
Old Lady Wang said, "Yes, I live on the first floor, and there are many mosquitoes. I can't get rid of them all."
Zhang Daoting smiled again, "If there are too many mosquitoes, you can buy a mosquito repellent talisman."
...The others who heard it were a little speechless. What the hell? It's okay if you said it was a talisman, but why is there also a mosquito repellent talisman?
Even the superstitious old lady Wang couldn't help asking: "Will this work?"
What are the amulets, lucky charms, and mosquito repellents that are sold in Taoist temples now? I have never seen them before. Why do they seem so unorthodox?
Zhang Daoting asked back: "Do you see any mosquitoes in our Taoist temple?"
Everyone was stunned for a moment. It seemed that there were no mosquitoes in Baoyang Temple these two days!
If Zhang Daoting hadn't said anything, they wouldn't have felt it, but once he said it, they felt it deeply. Especially those who had been sitting here for several hours felt it the most, "I was wondering why there were no mosquitoes!"
Even so, it is still difficult for most people to believe that the mosquito repellent talisman that Zhang Daoting mentioned is effective.
In the end, only Old Lady Wang and three or four tea drinkers were willing to ask for a mosquito repellent talisman to take back. Zhang Daoting spoke so confidently that Old Lady Wang began to believe it a little.
Others were interested and thought, anyway, this talisman is not expensive, only twenty yuan, just treat it as entertainment. Apart from anything else, they usually get less free well water here? Return the favor and consider it as supporting this very poor Taoist temple!
...
Zhang Daoting went to the back to get talismans for everyone, but he walked to Oliver Xie and said, "Boss, three mosquito repellent talismans."
He used to call Oliver Xie "Brother", but later when he found out that Baoyang Temple belonged to Oliver Xie, he changed his words silently.
"Oh, I knew that mosquito repellent talismans would be more popular in summer." Oliver Xie quickly picked up his pen and drew three mosquito repellent talismans. This was one of the results of his study during this period, and it was also the reason why there were no mosquitoes in the Taoist temple these two days.
The last incident with the curse and the well water made Oliver Xie feel that at the current stage, these daily life techniques could better help their small Taoist temple with few believers, so he focused his efforts on this aspect.
For example, most Taoist priests probably don't know about this mosquito repellent talisman. It was researched by a Taoist priest named Wang Ziran in the Ming Dynasty. He is more famous for his ability to drive away thunder and rain. He also worships Wang Lingguan, so he may have some unclear relationship with Baoyang Temple.
The mosquito repellent talisman is actually a miscellaneous talisman. As the name suggests, it is a talisman that can only solve a few miscellaneous problems. Modern formal Taoist temples basically do not sell this kind of talisman, which gives people the illusion that it is not serious.
A mosquito repellent amulet only costs 20 yuan, while other amulets such as amulets for praying for children usually cost between 50 or 60 yuan and 300 to 500 yuan, referring to the prices in other Taoist temples.
Zhang Daoting arrived just in time, as Baoyang Temple finally had a Taoist priest who could receive believers.
Oliver Xie also went with the flow and asked Zhang Daoting to sell the talismans. After all, it was more likely that a Taoist priest would do it. He would remotely control the production of the talismans from behind. With his speed, no matter what kind of talisman it was, he could make it in three to five minutes.
---This period of time also became a major reason why Oliver Xie was later called the Yang Human Flesh Talisman Printing Machine.
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