Chapter 1, Witchcraft and Pottery

Tao Xiaowu weighed the money pouch in his hand, estimating that it contained over a hundred wen, and a smile appeared on his face: "Prepare the ink, brush, and clean water!"

Not only is the inner wall constructed neatly, but the inner wall, which is over seven feet high and built with rammed earth, is also topped with tiles to prevent rainwater.

Therefore, the primary task of these great sorcerers is to write the contracts of the dead

With such thoughts in mind, Tao Xiaowu was already calculating how much to ask from this family

Although there are some regrets in my heart, I do not express them outwardly

Wu Tao has arrived, Wu Tao has arrived

In any case, Tao Xiaowu picked up the brush and began to write on the wooden board

Holding a funeral is for the living to see; it is unclear whether it serves any purpose for the deceased

There, he shouted loudly; he was the head of a li, equivalent to a village chief in later times.

However, as Tao Xiaowu danced for a while, a wind unexpectedly arose in the surrounding courtyard, and a whirling gust began to swirl around.

In the distance, the villagers made way, with the village head and several elders coming forward to greet Wu Tao, saying: "The great shaman has arrived, please enter the village!"

In summary, being willing to provide a deceased person with a brand new set of burial clothes indeed indicates that the family's financial situation is relatively good

In summary, regardless of the circumstances, Tao Xiaowu now has an identity, which means he will no longer have to wander outside and suffer from hunger

Do you think this is the end? Naive.

He wore a blank expression, politely welcoming the villagers waiting for him, and amidst the respect and distance from the people in the village, he walked into the green bamboo grove.

Although he harbored such mercenary thoughts in his heart, Tao Xiaowu nonetheless asked, "Is the coffin prepared?"

He recalled these memories, yet his expression revealed not the slightest hint, presenting a demeanor of indifference and lack of emotion

In the end, it still needs to be made smaller for the children to wear

As for whether the things created by Tao Xiaowu are useful... it is still the same statement as before

In this world, as discovered by Tao Xiaowu, there seems to be no concept of reincarnation.

Tao Xiaowu had no identity and was expelled by the officials. He was beaten by the villagers and wandered aimlessly.

"Preparations are already underway, and the carpenter Zhang's family is working hard!" the family respectfully replied

The so-called shaman is actually a young man in his twenties, dressed in black, wearing straw shoes, and holding a wooden staff.

A document of this kind is equivalent to a pass or a letter of introduction in the earthly realm

Tao Xiaowu's gaze flickered, and he thought to himself: "This family should be relatively wealthy, so the fees can be a bit higher this time!"

The corpse is lying on the door plank in the courtyard, already dressed in a new set of clothes

However, the customs of this world are ancient and simple, and there are many dangers, whether from wild beasts or other threats

It was the same until he was led to a certain place!

For instance, this time, if we were to hire other wizards, it would cost at least 300 coins, and in some cases, it could even reach as high as 500 coins

In simple terms, what Tao Xiaowu needs to do now is to perform a rite for the deceased, which is precisely what monks and Taoist priests did in the world he traversed before

Upon arrival, a money pouch was presented, filled to the brim with copper coins. It was handed to Tao Xiaowu with a smile, saying: "This time, I invited the great shaman here because I needed his assistance in writing the underworld contract!"

Beyond the courtyard walls, the onlookers seemed to sense the unusual change in the wind, falling silent one by one, and even dragging their children back home.

If he behaves in a lively and cheerful manner, people will instead suspect whether he is a wizard and if he truly possesses any real skills

Moreover, even a tattered garment can last for three new years, three old years, and with mending and patching, it can last for another three years

Of course, Tao Xiaowu is a false wizard

In a world with such extremely low productivity, there is no cotton, and silk cannot be afforded

All the necessary items have been prepared for Tao Xiaowu, who will wash her face and hands with clean water, and then take out the wooden board, ink, and other materials

The female children of this family also came out, dressed in hemp mourning garments, clearly indicating that someone in the household has passed away

Many ordinary impoverished families prefer to seek his services at their doorstep

Tao Xiaowu only charged a little over 100 yuan, which can truly be considered a low price

Tao Xiaowu sighed inwardly, lamenting that in this era there are no professional coffin shops. It is all just carpenters doing the work

Although it is still a burial garment, the willingness to provide the deceased with new clothes indicates that this family is relatively generous and affluent

Regardless of urban or rural areas, the common people reside in clusters, constructing walls for protection against dangers

The entire yard, both inside and out, seems to have suddenly turned cold and eerie

This area is renowned for its bamboo craftsmanship, with nearly every household possessing exquisite skills in bamboo production, and the conditions are quite favorable

In the community, matters such as weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies require the assistance of the village head for organization and management, and he has long been very experienced in these affairs

Ordinary people can at most wear linen garments

At first glance, this shamanic dance appears to resemble a cramp or an epileptic seizure

Tao Xiaowu began to dance like a deity, putting on a show with exaggerated movements

Even he, Tao Xiaowu himself, cannot articulate it clearly

The term "Mingqi" is merely a general designation, encompassing two elements: one is the land deed, and the other is the land purchase certificate

The so-called "li" refers to the neighborhood.

And in this world he is currently traversing, it is precisely the role of a wizard like him to fulfill

It is written for the underworld's messengers, detailing the deceased's name, place of origin, date of death, cause of death, and so on. At most, it may also include a few lines about the virtuous nature of the family, stating that they have never committed any crimes or offenses.

This is akin to mentioning in a letter of introduction that the person being introduced has good character

The primary task undertaken by the companions of the previous life was to perform rituals for the deceased, urging them not to linger in the mortal realm, but to transition to the afterlife and be reborn into a wealthy family in their next life

He knows that the villagers are most fond of this approach

Otherwise, if it were like in later generations, it would be appropriate for his type of yin-yang master, coffin shop, and incense shop to closely cooperate with each other

The so-called wizards and later geomancers, as well as practitioners of yin and yang, may be considered peers, but in reality, the tasks they perform are quite different

With such thoughts, one has already been welcomed into a household

However, the green coins spent are clearly visible

He is a physical being, yet this world is characterized by a strict household registration system, with meticulous management of household registrations

A place enclosed by walls, where hundreds of households reside together

Even Tao Xiaowu himself felt a bit creeped out

Moreover, Tao Xiaowu works very diligently, and during the performance of the shamanic dance, he is more captivating than others, usually leaving the host family very satisfied

The roads within the village are particularly neat, with every household having a courtyard that is about half a person high. In the courtyards, one can see piles of bamboo, or bamboo baskets, bamboo tubes, and splint baskets that are either completed or in progress.

As for whether these things are useful or not

His fees are inexpensive, costing more than half less than those of the local shamans

Highlight the key points, wealthy, generous

And Tao Xiaowu has come for this purpose

Ultimately, relying on some observations from before the crossing and a certain understanding of this world, I began to impersonate a wizard, engaging in deception and trickery

After all, such mystical matters often serve merely as a comfort for the living, and whether they are truly effective remains unknown to anyone

It is truly beyond repair, yet it can still be made into socks, diapers, or even rags.