Chapter 1: Huangyu Village

When Lin Xiaofeng turned seven, despite his reluctance, Lin Fude contacted Master Mao and asked him to take Lin Xiaofeng away

Then do you know why

In the blink of an eye, Lin Xiaofeng turned seventeen

In a hurry, he asked: "Daoist, is there really no solution to this problem?"

On the fifteenth day of the ninth month in the Year of the Metal Horse, at noon, Master Mao calculated with his fingers and said to Lin Fude: "Village Chief Lin, I am uncertain whether I should speak or not"

Lin Fude felt a tightness in his heart; this was his only precious grandson. Could there really be any problems? Thinking of this, he urgently said to Daoist Mao: "Please speak freely, Daoist."

Your village has become this way due to other reasons, which I am not clear about. It seems that after fifty years, this boy has suddenly appeared, and he should be the key to solving the issues of Huangyu Village.

Upon seeing this, Master Mao furrowed his brow and looked Lin Fude up and down: "Village Chief, may I have the birth date of your grandson?"

Master Mao pondered for a moment and said: "However, my child, you are not easy to raise. I have just calculated that your grandson possesses the Ziwei destiny."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fude thought for a moment. The Taoist priest did not say that his grandson should leave immediately, but rather that he would depart at the age of seven. Moreover, this matter was related to his grandson's life.

The village chief is named Lin Fude. Despite his kind and gentle appearance, he was the most ruthless when dealing with those scientists who came to "investigate".

The surrounding villagers, upon hearing Daoist Mao's words, all displayed expressions of joy on their faces and began to discuss the child in hushed tones

The entire village is engaged in the business of the dead, dealing with sinister matters; which family has not encountered such things?

In the second half of 1990, the village chief's family unexpectedly welcomed the birth of a male child

Lin Fude heard that a Taoist priest had arrived, so he secretly took a glance. He found that although the priest was dressed in rags, his demeanor was extraordinary. He approached with his newly born grandson in his arms and smiled, saying: "Long life to you, Taoist. My grandson has just been born. Since you are passing by, would you mind helping me take a look at his facial features?"

The villagers of Huangyu Village were immediately delighted to see the Taoist priest and promptly welcomed him, inviting him to join them for a drink.

While the entire Huangyu Village was filled with joy and excitement, a shabby Taoist priest approached from outside the village

As for where Lin Xiaofeng and Daoist Mao went and what they did, no one is clear about it, and everyone has been waiting for Lin Xiaofeng to return from Daoist Mao's side

Lin Fude directly hired a theater troupe to perform, inviting everyone in the village to watch the show and drink on the night following the birth of his child, and the entire village was immersed in this joyous occasion

Master Mao drank some wine, and without delay, he glanced at the chubby little boy. To be honest, this chubby little boy was fair-skinned and plump, with his eyes closed, yet he did not cry or make a fuss

As time went on, even the people of Huangyu Village began to wonder whether the truth was related to the money they earned from the dead

Just after speaking, Lin Fude shook his head vigorously. In the entire village, there was only this one male child born; how could they possibly send him away to be raised by someone else

He hurriedly had someone write down his grandson's birth date and time in the form of the Eight Characters of Birth and handed it to Daoist Mao

Master Mao waved his hand and said, "They are just envious of your earnings, talking nonsense. The things you create will only make those spirits feel grateful. You are accumulating blessings; how could there be any retribution?"

Although Lin Fude led the entire village to prosperity, he knew nothing about this matter at all. He asked, "Master Mao, what is a Ziwei destiny? Why is it so difficult to support my grandson?"

Indeed. The Taoist priest Mao nodded.

Upon hearing this, Lin Fude felt somewhat suspicious. Clearly, it was about reading his grandson's fortune, so how did it come to this question? However, since the other party had asked, he nodded in agreement.

In Chongqing, there is a village called Huangyu Village, where since the 1950s, every household in the village has begun to produce items related to funerals, such as floral wreaths and incense.

Lin Fude was naturally unaware that this matter had long been a source of concern for their Huangyu Village. Upon hearing Daoist Mao's inquiry, Lin Fude replied: "People from outside are spreading rumors that we profited from the dead, and thus we are facing retribution"

Seeing Lin Fude looking relaxed, Master Mao said: "Don't be too happy too soon; countless demons and monsters dream of devouring those with the Ziwei fate."

Strangely, ever since Huangyu Village began engaging in this business of the dead, the entire village, consisting of one hundred thirty-six households, has seen that every child born is a girl, with not a single boy among them. Over time, the men in the village have mostly come from outside, marrying in.

The villagers of Huangyu Village, being engaged in the business of dealing with the deceased, inevitably encounter some peculiar occurrences, and thus often invite Taoist priests or Yin-Yang masters for assistance, resulting in a very favorable attitude towards these practitioners.

Upon seeing this, Master Mao smiled, understanding Lin Fude's intention, and said: "How about this, let you take care of this child until he is seven years old, and after that, I will raise him until he is twelve before returning him to you. Only in this way can we ensure his life; otherwise, he will not survive past the age of eight"

The one born through the back door does not count among them; this male child can be said to be the first male born in Huangyu Village in fifty years, and he is also a hefty baby weighing eight pounds

From time to time, the village girls would come over, curiously observing why this newborn was so fashionable, having such a grand display right after birth

The villagers nearby who are envious of Huangyu Village say that the people of Huangyu Village earn money that is ill-gotten, and thus they are facing retribution