Huang Huai and Chen Wei were responsible for the side halls to the right of several main halls in Xunzhen Temple. They housed five statues in total: Holy Lord Emperor Guan, Guanyin Who Sends Children, and the Three Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity. The side halls on the left housed several statues, including God of Wealth Zhao Gongming, Matchmaker God, and Maitreya Buddha.
Just as Chen Wei had said earlier, the number of tourists coming to Xunzhen Temple to offer incense and worship the gods had surged in recent days. From the moment the temple opened, tourists streamed in and out without end.
Chinese people believed that one could never be too polite, and offering incense and worshipping the gods was no exception. It was hard to say that everyone who entered the halls would offer incense, but nearly half of them, even if only seeking spiritual comfort, would earnestly bow before the statues and present incense and candles.
Huang Huai kept handing out incense and candles while observing which gods the tourists worshipped. The statue of Guanyin Who Sends Children clearly received the fewest visitors; those who worshipped her were mostly young couples. The Three Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity were mainly worshipped by older visitors. The statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan, however, served many purposes and drew the most worshippers, young and old, men and women alike.
The day passed in a flash. By Huang Huai's count alone, no fewer than one or two hundred people had entered the side halls to burn incense and worship the gods. He and Chen Wei were truly exhausted.
Looking at the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan amid the swirling incense, Huang Huai couldn't help but marvel. The temple housed many statues, but when it came to receiving the most incense, perhaps only the towering statue of True Warrior Great Emperor in the main hall, several meters tall, could compare.
If this were the World beyond the portal, he wondered how the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan, worshipped with such abundant Incense and Fire Prayer Power, would compare to the statue of the Three-Eyed White Lotus Goddess worshipped by Seventh Elder of the Great River Sect.
For some reason, that thought crossed Huang Huai's mind. Remembering the thoughts that had kept him tossing and turning half the night before, he looked at the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan before him with an unmistakably different expression.
Chen Wei, who was with Huang Huai, noticed him standing there, staring blankly at the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan. Huang Huai's dazed look made Chen Wei nudge him and tease, "What are you spacing out for? Could it be that Old Master Guan has shown his divine power?"
Coming back to himself, Huang Huai shot Chen Wei a look. "If Old Master Guan really did show his divine power, you'd be the first he struck down..."
Just then, his senior brother's call came from outside. Huang Huai answered and left the side hall. Chen Wei hurried after him, calling, "I've offered incense to Old Master Guan too, at least. If the old gentleman really showed his divine power, he wouldn't strike me down first..."
At dusk, the gates of Xunzhen Temple closed. After dinner, everyone went off to rest, while Huang Huai headed to Great Daoist Master's quarters.
In the room, True Person Datong, nearing sixty and ruddy-cheeked, looked at Huang Huai. "Oh? Xiao Jiu, did you come to see me about something?"
Huang Huai smiled. "Can't your nephew come visit his uncle even when he doesn't need anything?"
True Person Datong glanced at him. "All right. If you didn't need something, you wouldn't come looking for me. So, what is it?"
Huang Huai grew serious. "While tending to the side halls today, I noticed that the gold lacquer on part of the back of the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan seems to be peeling—maybe because it's been there so long, or for some other reason. I plan to take the statue down the mountain tomorrow and find someone to repair it."
Hearing Huang Huai bring up the matter, True Person Datong pondered briefly. "If I remember correctly, your father paid a hefty sum for that statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan. He had it carved and polished from the finest red sandalwood, and you personally brought it up the mountain. That wood alone, weighing more than ten pounds, was worth a fortune. There's no problem with you taking it down the mountain for repairs, but make sure no one cheats you out of the statue."
As he spoke, Great Daoist Master seemed to think of his clansman and chuckled. "Your father treasures it. He's told me more than once that Holy Lord Emperor Guan watched over you all these years, letting you grow up lively and well. If you damage or lose the statue, you'd better watch out for your father's fists!"
Huang Huai grinned. "Uncle, don't listen to my dad's nonsense. Holy Lord Emperor Guan did watch over me, sure, but you deserve no small amount of credit for keeping me healthy with your years of care. Dad's got a few jars of good tea stored away. If he brings it up again, don't be shy about asking him for some..."
Great Daoist Master burst out laughing and waved Huang Huai off. "Fine, I'll remember that. If your father has good tea and doesn't share it with me, I'll let him have it next time. But be careful on your way down the mountain, and come back early."
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Huang Huai paid his respects to the statue of Holy Lord Emperor Guan, then carefully placed it in a backpack. The backpack already held the books and bundle he had brought back two days earlier. With the statue packed in as well, it was quite heavy.
After saying goodbye to Chen Wei and the others, Huang Huai left Xunzhen Temple and headed down the mountain path.
In Shiyan, a taxi pulled up in front of a lavishly decorated jewelry store. A young man with a backpack got out, looked at the shop, then strode inside.
As soon as Huang Huai entered, a young saleswoman with delicate makeup and a professional skirt hurried over, her long, shapely legs striding toward him.
"Hi, handsome. How can I help you?"
A faint scent of perfume drifted toward him. Seeing her warm smile, Huang Huai said, "My surname is Huang. I reserved a batch of silver bars yesterday. Could I speak with Manager Chen Hong?"
The saleswoman immediately smiled. "You're looking for Sister Hong? Follow me!"
Huang Huai followed the saleswoman.
At an office door, she knocked. "Sister Hong, your customer, Mr. Huang, is here about his reservation!"
"Come in!"
A soft, melodious voice answered. Only then did the saleswoman open the door and nod to Huang Huai. "Mr. Huang, please come in."
Huang Huai entered the office and saw a figure sitting there, apparently looking through something. Since she had her head down, he couldn't see her face clearly. But her long hair fell over her shoulders, and though her professional outfit concealed little of her curvaceous figure, she still had a certain charm.
Chen Hong raised her head to look at Huang Huai. A smile spread across her oval face as she stood. "You must be Mr. Huang Huai. The ten kilograms of silver bars you ordered in advance are ready. Would you like to take them now?"
Huang Huai nodded. "Yes."
Chen Hong smiled at him. "Today's silver price at our shop is 5.1 yuan per gram. But you asked for them to be made into silver ingots in two sizes, one tael, or 50 grams, and ten taels, or 500 grams. According to our policy, there's a processing fee of two yuan per gram. That brings the total to 7.1 yuan per gram, or 71,000 yuan for ten kilograms!"
Huang Huai promptly took out his bank card. "Charge it."
Chen Hong immediately called out to the doorway, "Xiao Yue, take care of Mr. Huang's paperwork, and remember the receipt."
With money, things got done quickly. The jewelry store worked with impressive efficiency, and in just over ten minutes, Huang Huai had the goods he'd asked for.
By the time Huang Huai left the jewelry store, his backpack was packed with ten kilograms of silver. Its weight had suddenly increased by twenty pounds, making it feel much heavier on his back.
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