Chapter 2, Qinghe Palace (Part 2)

She called over another girl, and as they passed by Zhang Rongfang, she didn't even glance at him. It was as if he didn't exist at all

In the memories of its predecessor, the Great Spirit was merely an ordinary ancient dynasty, devoid of cultivation, spells, or monsters, resembling the environment of ancient Chinese dynasties.

There are rules governing clothing, food, housing, and transportation, which can be quite cumbersome

At that time, I will find a way to obtain the identity of a training disciple... then I can openly test the effects of attribute enhancement skills...

"Either send money, or someone has to look after us..." the female Taoist sighed. "If we are driven down the mountain, we will definitely be unable to return home, and we will be regarded as fourth-class people..."

Zhang Rongfang is well aware that if he wants to live a more comfortable life, he can only persist in his path until the end

The two exchanged a glance and quietly followed Zhang Rongfang while holding a broom.

Therefore, no matter how tired or苦 it is on the mountain, no one wants to descend the mountain

Zhang Rongfang has only just become aware for a short time, and naturally does not possess this ability

Zhang Rongfang paused his movements and came to a stop

Zhang Chunsheng is notoriously obsessed with money; as long as the information is confirmed to be true, it may be possible to offer gifts in exchange for securing a spot.

Even if one can still hold on, with various tax systems pressing down, the fourth-class barbarians will instantly find even basic sustenance a problem

Zhang Rongfang had many thoughts in his mind; he was also a servant disciple. There were too many servant disciples in Qinghe Palace, and it was time to begin the process of reducing their numbers.

Zhang Rongfang has just exited the residence management office and has not walked far

This place is narrow and sparsely populated, and I do not have many friends who are loyal enough to come to my aid, making it unlikely to preserve this little money of mine

Without mentioning anything else, the daily practice of reciting scriptures in the morning and evening, as well as the etiquette of greeting others, all have established details and regulations

Being a Taoist is not an easy task, especially in this era, particularly for the Taoists of great spiritual power

Moreover, the melody was composed by his predecessor, and he himself is not capable of writing it. The melody of Da Ling is not a modern version; it adheres to numerous strict rules. It is not simply a matter of casually singing in vernacular.

"Last night, those who were arranged to descend the mountain included Chen Dashan and Zhang Shitou... There is no need for so many miscellaneous disciples on the mountain, so they were naturally dismissed," another female Taoist sighed.

In the Great Spirit, as a person of the fourth rank, it is truly difficult to live with dignity

You two! Xiao Qingying ignored Zhang Rongfang and instead fixed her gaze on the two tall and sturdy Taoist priests

Zhang Rongfang stumbled forward after being hit

The only difference is the realm of the Great Spirit, which is vast beyond imagination

Zhang Rongfang's expression gradually transformed from a state of numbness to one of determination

Being expelled from the mountain and having one's monastic status revoked is a very troublesome matter

He suddenly recalled his predecessor's sister, Zhang Rongyu. He thought of the words she had said in the past

The Pingyu Road here has an area comparable to that of a large province from a past life

Without official government certification, no matter how skilled you are, you can only earn a meager amount of money

"When are you going back? I thought only Li Yunchang was sent back." A somewhat anxious young male voice said. It sounded like he was just over twenty years old

He steadied himself and turned to look behind. Just then, two Taoists rushed up, surrounding him from the front and back.

He raised his hand, moving his ten fingers

Although he has been here for about ten days, he still feels a sense of unreality

Now, upon seeing Zhang Rongfang, the two realized that he was not one of those disciples with a background they had previously encountered, and they understood the situation in their hearts

It is a pity that the little money he has saved is about to be gone again

The income from composing music is also a matter of luck; it took more than half a year to hit the jackpot once, earning a mere one hundred wen. To think one can rely on this to make a living is nothing but a dream

One of the delicate-looking girls with a red-haired bun is the one who just spoke

In the past ten days or so, he was too busy to think about this issue. Now that he has finally found some leisure time, this question has surged up in his mind again.

First, set a small goal: to break free from being a menial disciple, and focus on having enough to eat and wear. The current living situation is too unsafe

In Daling, changing the industry you are engaged in is not as simple as you might think; you must apply to the authorities, otherwise, it will be considered illegal work, resulting in extremely low income

The three individuals quickly walked into the alleyway between the two grand halls

The gaze, once vacant, gradually became focused.

Forget it, regardless of what happens in the future, at least for now I must first take better care of myself

Zhang Rongfang expressed his gratitude to Senior Sister Xiao. He did not pay attention to the other party's attitude; regardless of the reasons behind Xiao Qingying's actions, her assistance was still assistance to him.

Having someone in the family obtain official status can exempt one from a considerable amount of official taxes and also from military service, so even if it is just for menial tasks, many people are willing to send someone here. As long as they can send someone from the family who is not urgently needed, they can enjoy numerous benefits. Who would not want such a good deal?

These two individuals are tall and muscular; their pretense of sweeping the floor is merely a facade. Their true purpose is to lie in wait and observe which disciples come to offer gifts.

As soon as the eyes close and open, one finds oneself in the presence of Zhang Rongfang, a miscellaneous Taoist priest of the Qinghe Palace

If I cannot go back, then here, what do I want to do? What can I do?

But with the ability of his attributes, he believes he can carve out a path for himself

As they were walking, one person suddenly bumped into Zhang Rongfang's back from behind

Zhang Rongfang sat down against the headboard, feeling somewhat bewildered

After a moment of silence, Zhang Rongfang suddenly raised his right hand and reached for the hairpin.

He touched the one-hundred-wen banknote, which bore intricate manufacturing details, anti-counterfeiting marks, and the official title established by Emperor Ling: Lingyuan Universal Currency.

Zhang Rongfang followed the other person's gaze and glanced at his own chest, realizing the other person's intention

The money accumulated previously, along with the one hundred wen just received, totals two taels of silver, which is equivalent to two thousand wen. This wealth was saved over a long period by the previous generation.

Recently, the prices in the market have risen again, with rough rice costing twenty wen per pound. ... This one hundred wen ... . ... If taken out individually to improve living standards, it is indeed of little use

Two figures dashed out of the alley and the library in a flash, and in an instant, they disappeared without a trace

Zhang Rongfang carefully placed the one hundred wen banknote together with the rest of his saved money, and then carried it all on his person.

Zhang Rongfang was in a state of confusion; he did not know what he could do or what he was supposed to do in this world

At the same time, people are classified into four categories based on ethnicity: Ling people, Hu-Xi people, Northern people, and Barbarian people

He clasped his hands together and deeply bowed in the direction where the two individuals were leaving

Once the news spread, those who had connections reached out to their contacts, those who were preparing funds gathered their money, and those who did not have enough funds naturally had to resort to some dubious means

Behind him, two sweeping Taoists, their gazes wandering, paused their actions as they swept over his bulging chest

Puff

Two Taoist priests were about to pounce, but they also came to a halt

This is the decision passed down by the highest overseer, aside from the palace master, and no one can alter it

Bypassing the main hall of the Qinghe Palace, find your room in the disciples' dormitory area at the back.

Although there is a leader for reciting the scriptures, unfamiliarity can still lead to issues. Similarly, although the auxiliary staff perform miscellaneous tasks, many tools and items are not used properly, which can also cause problems

"Sigh... so how do we retain people?" the male Taoist asked

As he was walking straight ahead, Zhang Rongfang suddenly heard, from a distance on the right side ahead, some faint voices coming from the corridor outside the dojo.

Leaving the disciples' dormitory, he walked straight to the laundry room, which is the place for washing clothes

You little rascal, you stole my money and still dare to show your face here!" shouted the tall man with darker skin, pointing at Zhang Rongfang.

The two individuals in front of him are both taller and stronger, facing him directly, and it is evident that he is not their match

Qinghe Palace is located in the south, and most of the servant disciples are actually barbarians. Zhang Rongfang was originally considered a northerner, but after he and his sister drifted to Pingyu Road, he was also regarded as a barbarian.

Zhang Rongfang's hand unconsciously rubbed against the wooden edge of the bed, the rough and cold texture of the wood slightly calmed his mood

It is his turn to rotate this month

The grand theater is not merely a place for men and women to seek pleasure; it is more about various performances such as singing and variety shows.

He walked past the two individuals in silence, remaining calm, while the two of them were completely oblivious to him, still trying to figure out how they could stay.

Which disciples in the palace have backgrounds, and which do not? They have all secured their positions well

This is the income earned from composing music in the past

However, there is quite a significant gap between an ordinary office worker and a Taoist priest in a temple

As a Taoist priest, even as a servant, one can occasionally receive a small reward from some generous guests

Be careful to keep the banknotes safe, Zhang Rongfang folded the letter and placed it in the inner pocket of his clothing

However, before arriving at the washing room, Zhang Rongfang took a detour and first went to the registration management office

Before the conversation was finished, the two individuals sensed danger and immediately turned to flee

Having finally adapted to the rhythm, today another task of clearing some minor duties has unexpectedly emerged

Zhang Rongfang did not continue to listen, but his heart was filled with a sudden chill

I am now in a precarious situation, and the meager meals provided for free each day do not even meet my basic physical needs, let alone allow me to accumulate attribute points. I have to perform a large amount of miscellaneous tasks every day, and I only have a little time to rest in the evening

He also diligently observed and learned, and with the integration of a portion of the memories inherited from his previous self, he was finally able to settle down in the Qinghe Palace without causing any disturbances

The Great Spirit divides the people into ten ranks according to their professions: officials, clerks, monks, Daoists, physicians, artisans, craftsmen, courtesans, Confucian scholars, and beggars

A well-operated theater can generate substantial income solely from performances

In this world, the class hierarchy is extremely strict, and the fourth-class barbarians face significant restrictions, being limited to performing only menial labor and hard physical work

Three people turned their gaze towards the sound, and at the entrance of the alley, two young girls, one tall and one short, walked in briskly

This has also instilled a sense of crisis in him; while others can return to farming after being dismissed, he does not know how to farm

Therefore

Two individuals closely followed Zhang Rongfang, the distance growing shorter and shorter.

He originally planned to wait until his break to go down the mountain and purchase some good items to replenish his body, and then convert them into attribute points.

The room contains only one wardrobe, one bed, and one wooden stool, on which there is an oil lamp

However, I just overheard the conversation between those two people; he plans to use it as a gift for the Taoist priest from the Pipe Clan

He still has to do today's miscellaneous tasks

After passing by the two individuals, Zhang Rongfang could still faintly hear the voices behind him

Money can be earned again in the future, but if the opportunity for the Dao is missed, it may become very difficult later on

Two individuals are dressed in long cyan skirts, with white short jackets draped over them. A strand of long hair sways gently behind them as they quickly exit the alley

Regaining his composure, Zhang Rongfang stood up and checked the cash on him, preparing to go out

And now, staying on the mountain, one can enjoy free food and accommodation, and many families can also live without worry about food and clothing

Fortunately, his real name is also Zhang Rongfang, so there are no issues with the name itself

The more money he saves, the better his life will be at Qinghe Palace

Xiao Qingying still wanted to chase after them to teach them a lesson, but in the blink of an eye, they had disappeared from sight, which made her stomp her foot in anger

The managing Daoist priest Zhang Chunsheng is not present. After inquiring about Zhang Chunsheng's schedule, it was learned that he would come in the evening, which reassured Zhang Rongfang.

In his previous life, he was merely an ordinary office worker, earning a few thousand yuan a month. He was unmarried and planned to save money to take out a loan to buy a house, but as a result, he fell asleep one night.

Sister Xiao!" Zhang Rongfang recognized the other party as the only daughter of the master responsible for transmitting teachings to the miscellaneous disciples, Du Nü—Xiao Qingying

Zhang Rongfang had a good foundation in this area, and he was honest and unassuming. His gaze was always steady, which contributed to his satisfactory returns

What are you doing? Suddenly, a clear female voice came from behind.

There has never been a great spirit dynasty in history... It seems I have arrived in another world

The news that has spread from Qinghe Palace has reached them all

The fourth class of barbarians is restricted from entering many industries in the Great Spirit. Once they are driven down the mountain, they cannot reduce taxes to alleviate their labor obligations. Perhaps a single conscription for government labor service could lead to the destruction of their families.

However, in the Qinghe Palace, both accommodation and meals are free of charge, so perhaps spending 100 wen to buy meat and eggs to nourish oneself could still yield some benefits.