His name was Old Stubborn Head. He worked as a boatman by the river, earning a few coins through hard labor to feed his family.
A figure walked in from outside.
Old Stubborn Head watched him warily.
At that moment, Li Qing exuded a hypnotic influence. Though Old Stubborn Head remained wary, his expression gradually softened.
"Lost lamb, I am a messenger of the Omniscient Lord."
"I can dispel your doubts and tell you the secrets you wish to know."
"Lost lamb, what troubles you?"
Old Stubborn Head seemed to remember something. He stared at Li Qing in surprise. "You're the messenger of the Omniscient Lord everyone's been talking about lately?"
Li Qing nodded with a faint smile. "That's right. I am."
Old Stubborn Head took a deep breath. A glimmer of hope appeared on his wrinkled face.
"I need money. Where can I earn some as quickly as possible? My family has a debt we must repay soon."
Li Qing smiled. "The Omniscient Lord does not give anyone money outright."
"But I can tell you a secret."
"In the sixth alley in the southwest of town, beneath an old stone statue, lies a gold ingot. A thief buried it there thirty years ago. It has no owner now."
Old Stubborn Head's eyes lit up. Li Qing quietly stepped back and disappeared through the doorway.
Old Stubborn Head shot to his feet, grabbed a crowbar, and called to his wife, "I'm going out. You all eat first."
With that, he hurried out without another word and headed southwest as fast as he could.
Soon he reached the southwest part of town and searched alley after alley.
In the sixth alley, he really did find a stone statue in a corner. It was a stone lion.
Time had weathered the lion