Chapter 2, if the spiritual veins are scattered, one will inevitably beg for alms
The Li family finally fell into despair. They surrounded Li Baoquan, watching how he would resolve the predicament before him
It is indeed possible to achieve great accomplishments by the age of thirty. This statement is quite accurate, and it is no wonder that it comes from the descendants of the Grand Master.
The men of the Li family have taken action again; they have lost interest in sleeping with their wives. If they cannot draw water tonight, it will mean that each trip to fetch water will require them to traverse Baima Mountain once.
When the sky began to brighten slightly, Lin Baoju set out from home and ascended White Horse Mountain
Old Chu could not help but sigh, seemingly lamenting Lin Baoju's fate. "Baoju, do you know why your health has been poor since childhood?"
"Forty... it's not bad to live to forty years old," Lin Baoju said with a bitter smile. "My father is a cripple, my grandfather is blind, and I have always thought that my health was poor, yet I considered myself relatively lucky. I never expected that fate had already made arrangements. In fact, when I think about it, it's not such a big deal. Didn't the ancients say, 'A great man achieves his ambitions by the age of thirty'? Living to forty is already quite good. Moreover, with today's advanced medical technology, there might still be ways for me to live a few more years." In fact, when I think about it, it's not such a big deal. Didn't the ancients say, 'A great man achieves his ambitions by the age of thirty'? Living to forty is already quite good. Moreover, with today's advanced medical technology, there might still be ways for me to live a few more years.
Lin Baoju heard the words "repay" and suddenly remembered that he had sold half of the cordyceps that Old Chu had given him yesterday. He said apologetically: "Grandpa Chu... yesterday, I sold half of the cordyceps you gave me to pay for my school fees. I am truly sorry..."
Lin Baoju took the brocade pouch, which surprisingly had a Bagua pattern embroidered on it. He weighed it in his hand and found it quite heavy, suggesting it was not an ordinary herbal medicine. Just as he was about to ask, he saw that Old Chu had already walked away along the mountain path.
Who exactly is this Grandpa Chu? Lin Baoju couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled. Grandpa Chu's way of speaking and acting was somewhat elusive. Lin Baoju thought that perhaps this is how capable experts are; Grandpa Chu is likely an old Chinese medicine practitioner skilled in his craft
The words of the ancestral teachings have finally come to pass. The water source of Baima Village has been cut off, because the descendants of the Li family did not honor their promise to treat the descendants of the Lin family kindly
"Who said you had to pay!" the old man exclaimed angrily, "How can the Lin family be so stubborn!"
"Baoyu, Grandpa Chu is unsure whether he should tell you, but when I took your pulse yesterday, I sensed that your lifespan will not exceed forty years." Finally, Old Chu spoke, but this statement was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Lin Baoyu
Unfortunately, the deeper we dug, the drier it became, and in the end, we even reached the stone.
Just as Lin Shisan was puzzled, Lin Baoju had already arrived at the White Horse Well behind the village
The old man first expressed a burst of joy, then shook his head and said: "No, no! hetushu.com. Since you are descendants of Tai Xuan Gong, with his abilities, how could he allow his descendants to suffer such calamities? This is truly a strange matter..."
Old Master Chu's ears twitched slightly as he handed a red silk pouch to Lin Baoju, saying: "Inside this pouch are precious herbs. Keep it with you; it will help replenish your energy, invigorate your blood, and strengthen your constitution, which is beneficial for your health. However, you must not open this pouch, or else the medicinal properties will surely be lost. Alright, Grandfather Chu will be leaving here for a while. Please come back to find me on the seventh of next month."
Silence
At this moment, Old Chu's expression became extremely serious, as if he were hesitating over something. Lin Baoju understood that what Old Chu was about to say must be very important, so he refrained from interrupting and waited for Old Chu to speak.
"Have you arrived? By the way, what is your name?" Old Chu turned his body.
Lin Baoju then remembered that he had not yet asked the old man’s name, and hurriedly called out to the old man’s back: "Old man, what is your surname?"
The faces of the Li family members present suddenly turned grim, as if they had just received a harsh slap in the face. Indeed, just over ten days ago, they had caused the Lin family to suffer great sorrow, and now, an even greater sorrow was about to befall them.
Both humans and livestock rely on this well for drinking water and irrigating farmland. This is a living well, containing a spring the size of a fist. Even after the well has been completely drained, the water will rise back to the edge of the well within just one night.
If Baima Village has no water source, it will become a wasteland
Elder Chu revealed a benevolent expression and said approvingly: "You have suffered since childhood, yet you are able to refrain from blaming heaven and others, which is truly commendable. However, things are not as simple as you imagine. Consider your ancestor, the Great Xuan, who was well-versed in metaphysics and possessed extraordinary abilities. However, your ancestor was too kind-hearted and soft, often acting against the heavens to benefit others. As a result, not only did he fail to meet a good end, but his descendants also suffered greatly."
Lin Baoju observed the old man, who alternated between joy, confusion, and deep thought, and could not discern what he was truly thinking. He said, "Grandpa, you haven't prescribed medicine for my father yet"
Tai Xuan Gong ... ... Yes, Lin Tai Xuan is our ancestor. The people of Baima Village all know this. '' When mentioning Baima Village, Lin Baoju couldn't help but think of those with the surname Li, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
However, Lin Baoju never expected that the one or two pieces of cordyceps would sell for over 2,000 yuan, and the owner of the herbal shop was grinning from ear to ear, clearly having made a substantial profit from Lin Baoju.
The sound is getting louder, and it seems that quite a number of people have already rushed to the edge of the well
***
Lin Baoju was just about to turn around and head down the mountain when he suddenly stepped on something soft underfoot, startling him. Upon closer inspection, he realized he had stepped on a frog. Looking around, he found that there was more than one in the grass.
Old Master Chu, seeing Lin Baoju's carefree demeanor, could not help but feel delighted. He said, "Rest assured, Grandpa Chu will definitely think of a way to treat you. Alas, it must be said that this is also too Xuangu's fault; in order to benefit others, he has caused his own descendants to suffer, which is rather... rather unwise." As he spoke, Old Master Chu's tone turned cold, "The Li family of Baima Village is truly outrageous, being so ungrateful. Since they have violated the ancestral teachings, they will surely face retribution! Once the spiritual vein is dispersed, the members of the Li family can just wait to beg for food!"
At this moment, a young man volunteered to go down into the well to investigate, while the villagers anxiously awaited the outcome
"I met him while gathering herbs on the mountain. He seems to be a very skilled doctor, and he is so kind-hearted. Upon hearing that my father was ill, he came to see him without charging any medical fees," Lin Baoju replied, feeling somewhat puzzled. He did not understand why that old man reacted so strongly upon seeing the ancestral spirit tablet.
"Drill again! Drill another well! I refuse to believe that we can't get water today!" shouted a man from the Li family, but everyone could hear the underlying fear in his angry voice
The well water has suddenly run dry, and Lin Shisan faintly senses that there is something strange about this situation
"Oh, right, the medicine." The old man picked out several herbs from his backpack, then took out a small bag of cordyceps from the cloth bag on his shoulder, and said to Lin Baoju: "Take the herbs and boil them to dispel the wind and cold for your father. This bag of cordyceps, use it to stew meat to nourish your father's body."
Everyone suddenly fell silent, their faces filled with worry and fear, while a few children, unaware of the situation, burst into tears.
At this moment, he finally exuded the aura of a village chief, and soon the strong laborers in the village gathered together to begin digging wells in front of and behind the village
Lin Baoju was stunned there, remaining silent for quite a while
Many hands make light work; by midnight, Xinling had already dug three to four zhang deep
Ten days later
Lin Baoju nodded, increasingly sensing that Grandpa Chu had an air of inscrutability about him, and said, "Yes, we should indeed express our gratitude to him"
Although it is the first time seeing this item, both Wu Cuilan and Lin Baoju can almost be certain that this is genuine cordyceps. A rough estimate suggests that it weighs at least 1.2 taels.
It is said that all the members of the Lin family are like this. Lin Baoju recounted the events of White Horse Mountain to Old General Chu, and then added, "However, I believe these legends have no basis; perhaps our Lin family has some peculiar hereditary disease that results in congenital deficiencies in the fetus"
Inside the paper bag, there were indeed slender objects resembling fine silkworms, yet their texture was akin to that of dried grass
How did these frogs run from the rice fields at the foot of the mountain to the top? Lin Baoju couldn't help but feel a bit curious. However, he was unaware that after he descended the mountain, the frogs, mountain snakes, and some insects and ants had gathered for quite a while before dispersing.
Many villagers have gathered here. Upon seeing Lin Baoju's arrival, they all wore indifferent expressions, for in their view, Lin Baoju was merely here to witness their misfortune
Oh my! Are you truly a descendant of the great Xuan Gong? How wonderful, how wonderful!
***
But now, what should be done?
At that moment, a rustling sound came from all around.
Lin Baoju's father has recovered from his illness and has begun weaving bamboo products at home, preparing to continue raising money for his son. Lin Baoju is also helping out, and the two of them have been weaving bamboo goods together for ten days.
Lin Baoju felt that selling things given by others seemed inappropriate, but he also knew that this was not the time to be concerned about appearances. His father had already humbled himself before others, so what did he have to worry about?
"Because your ancestors once bestowed great kindness upon me... my ancestors," Old Chu said, his face filled with gratitude. "Today, by the grace of heaven, I have encountered the descendants of Tai Xuan Gong. I, Chu Qingmu, am determined to repay the Lin family well."
Lin Baoju explained, "My father has trouble with his legs, so he hopes that my legs are fine, able to jump and run like a horse, which is why he gave me this name. However, I have not been in good health since childhood, and I am nothing like a horse."
Lin Baoju had just finished weaving a small bamboo basket and was about to place it into the storage when he suddenly heard an earth-shattering cry coming from behind the village: "Oh heavens! Avalokiteshvara, who has committed such sins! ... ... "
In that case, it also signifies the decline of Baima Village
Lin Shisan was well aware that for several hundred years, since the ancestors of Baima Village entered Sichuan and invited the ancestors of the Lin family to come to Jinma and settle in Baima Mountain, the water in the Baima Well had never run dry. During the several severe droughts experienced, the wells in surrounding villages cracked and dried up, yet the water in the Baima Village well showed no signs of diminishing. These 'glorious deeds' have been recorded in the Li family genealogy, and they are also inscribed clearly on the stone slabs at the edge of the well, visible to anyone who comes to draw water from the Baima Well. During the several severe droughts experienced, the wells in surrounding villages cracked and dried up, yet the water in the Baima Village well showed no signs of diminishing. These 'glorious deeds' have been recorded in the Li family genealogy, and they are also inscribed clearly on the stone slabs at the edge of the well, visible to anyone who comes to draw water from the Baima Well
It seems so, Lin Baoju said淡淡地, regarding the Li family, he no longer felt any sense of kinship. However, he quickly thought of the water tank at his home; if the White Horse Well were to run dry, wouldn't his family also be without water to drink
"Who was that old man just now?" Wu Cuilan felt that this old man was quite extraordinary, and she did not know where her son had found him.
After a while, the young man finally climbed up the well rope, his expression one of disappointment. He sighed to the crowd, saying: "It's over, this well is finished! There isn't a single drop of water below, and the bottom of the well has started to crack!"
In the evening, Lin Shisan's condition had noticeably improved. He said to his son, Lin Baoju: "Baoju... we really need to thank that old gentleman who came today. If it weren't for the prescription he provided, I'm afraid your father would have to stay in bed for a few more days."
Speaking, the old man shouldered his backpack and headed towards Baima Mountain
This old man is indeed generous, to give such a valuable gift. Wu Cuilan thought for a moment and said to Lin Baoju: "In the afternoon when it is cool, you should go to the town and buy a pound of meat to help your father regain his strength. Additionally, with so many caterpillar fungi, take half of them to the pharmacy in town to sell, so you can gather some funds for your tuition as well"
Lin Shisan said to his son: "Baiju, you should go take a look. If the White Horse Well has dried up, our family will also have no good days ahead. However, it is indeed strange; the White Horse Well has not run dry for hundreds of years, how could it suddenly dry up..."
"This is merely a trivial matter, why fuss over it?" Old Chu interrupted Lin Baoju, "Because the spiritual vein here is peculiar, I cannot stay for too long, so let us set aside these minor issues."
Lin Baoju was secretly amazed, just as Elder Chu had said, that his ancestor Lin Taiyuan had indeed been struck by lightning and had not met a good end. Unable to contain himself, Lin Baoju asked, "Grandpa Chu, how do you know so much about our ancestor's affairs?"
"Old man, you..." Lin Baoju did not understand why this old man was so agitated. Could it be that their ancestors had a feud with the Lin family's ancestors?
"The White Horse Well has run dry?" Lin Shisan suddenly exclaimed, putting down the work in his hands, clearly having heard Aunt Wu Er's shouts.
If nothing had happened, perhaps no one would care about those ancestral teachings or regard them as superstitions. However, now, the facts before us unconsciously evoke thoughts of the ancestral teachings from years past. At this moment, a sense of fatalism quickly dominates these uneducated individuals, causing them to become anxious and fearful.
Since hanging the brocade pouch given by Old Chu on his waist, Lin Baoju felt that his spirit seemed much better than before. Although he was curious, he remembered Old Chu's instructions and resisted the urge to open the pouch.
Upon seeing this, Lin Baoju had no choice but to accept it. However, he was unaware that such a small package of wild cordyceps was worth its weight in gold, and could not merely be described as precious.
Chu Qingmu
Lin Baoju hurriedly ran to the large water tank and, to his surprise, found it completely full. He couldn't help but sigh, "Fortunately!"
The white horse drinks water, sustaining a region, sustaining a region that... Li Laotou recalled the words his grandfather had said to him years ago, and he couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart. He associated it with the events that had occurred earlier, as well as Lin Shisan's expression filled with grief and indignation. He immediately pounded his chest and exclaimed: "It is all because of you unfilial descendants... I urged you to treat the descendants of the Lin family well, and this is how you have treated them. Now that the white horse well has run dry, it is truly retribution! 'If the spiritual vein disperses, one will surely beg for food.' White Horse Village, I fear, is finished like this... I urged you to treat the descendants of the Lin family well, and this is how you have treated them. Now that the white horse well has run dry, it is truly retribution! 'If the spiritual vein disperses, one will surely beg for food.' White Horse Village, I fear, is finished like this! Oh heavens, what should be done!
The next morning
After the old man handed the medicinal herbs to Lin Baoju, he said with a serious expression: "I cannot stay here for long. Tomorrow morning, you come to the place where you met me this morning, and I will tell you about your ancestors."
It was the voice of Aunt Wu Er. Lin Baoju immediately recognized it, for Aunt Wu Er was the most notorious shrew in Baima Village; her voice could carry from one end of the village to the other during her quarrels. Lin Baoju did not wish to pay her any mind and was about to continue with his work when he heard Aunt Wu Er continue to scold: "What a perfectly good well, how could it possibly be dry!"
The figure of Old Chu quickly disappeared into Baima Mountain. Lin Baoju gazed at Baima Mountain and couldn't help but exclaim that this old man had a truly remarkable physique, just like that of a young person.
"Dig a well!" Li Baoquan, who rushed over upon hearing the news, said in a deep voice
Ah!
I am going to prepare medicine for grandfather Lin Baoju picked up the herbs and casually handed the cordyceps to mother This package contains cordyceps, which was just given by Grandpa Chu, and he said it is to be used for stewing dishes to help grandfather recuperate
The old man then realized his loss of composure and released his grip, yet his expression remained very agitated as he asked, "Is Tai Xuan Gong truly your ancestor?"
Cordyceps? Lin Baoju seemed to have heard of this substance, which is said to be a very expensive medicinal material. He said, "Grandpa, how much does this cost? I heard that Cordyceps is quite expensive."
When he arrived at the Horse Tail Cliff on the back mountain, Old Chu stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the rushing White Water River. His pale hair and beard fluttered in the wind. In Lin Baoju's eyes, Old Chu possessed an indescribable aura.
"Cordyceps?" Wu Cuilan was taken aback. Although she had never seen Cordyceps, she had heard of it. After receiving the oil paper package from her son, she hurriedly opened it to take a look