Royal Gold Magistrate

The next day, some strange changes appeared on the streets of Banshan District.

Crowds of people surrounded the bulletin boards set up on the streets. Many commoners pointed at the notices and discussed them.

Some latecomers were clueless and curiously asked the interpreters.

“Oh? What’s written up there? Can you explain?”

The interpreters had beaming smiles. The government had given extra bonuses for this job today, so they explained with extra effort and patience.

They had already explained to several rounds of people since early morning and had drunk two pots of water.

Seeing more people come to ask, they enthusiastically explained, “Good news! This is good news!”

“Several eminent monks have taken up residence at Fuyun Temple in Banshan District. Today, to thank the commoners of the district for their incense offerings, the masters in the temple have decided to give a string of prayer beads to every temple visitor. Moreover, the eminent monks will personally hold the prayer beads and chant scriptures to bless them. It’s extremely efficacious!”

“Alas, if I couldn’t get away, I’d want to make a trip myself.”

After saying this, the interpreters shook their heads regretfully.

The person asking was delighted. “Really! There’s such a good thing?”

“Of course it’s true! How can matters of Buddha contain even half a bit of falsehood? And this is the government’s bulletin board. How can it spout nonsense? Hurry and go! You won’t be able to get in line later!”

“Thanks!” That person finished speaking and ran off like smoke. The surrounding people who heard also unhesitatingly rushed towards Fuyun Temple.

“Oh? What’s written up there? Can you explain?”

As soon as one wave left, another arrived. The interpreters went up to them again.

…

In less than half a day, the activity of the eminent monks at Fuyun Temple giving out prayer beads and blessing them on the spot for free had spread throughout the entire district and even the surrounding districts.

Countless commoners flocked to Fuyun Temple to receive the free blessed prayer beads.

What a great thing! Don’t refuse a freebie. Who would have thought that pie really does fall from the sky!

Abbot Hongcheng of Fuyun Temple naturally had no idea what was going on.

Recently, he had been in a very good mood. Someone paid him to send eminent monks to the temple. With such a good thing, he naturally agreed.

Sure enough, just as he expected, the arrival of several eminent monks immediately brought generous incense offerings to the temple.

For a time, the threshold of Fuyun Temple was almost worn out from being stepped on so much. The merit boxes were emptied again and again.

But just this morning, when Fuyun Temple opened its doors to welcome guests, countless commoners crowding outside the temple gate swarmed in.

At first, Abbot Hongcheng looked at the crowd with uncontainable joy, but he quickly fell into contemplation…

The dense crowd looked at him and said in unison that they wanted free prayer beads blessed on the spot.

Abbot Hongcheng was baffled… He had never heard of such an activity. Where did this rumor come from?

He wanted to explain, but looking at the fanatical crowd, he silently swallowed his saliva.

If he really said there were none, Fuyun Temple would probably have a big incident! Who exactly was spreading rumors outside!

Abbot Hongcheng forced a smile. “Since all you benefactors have come, this old monk should naturally give out prayer beads… The eminent monks will come out in a bit. Please line up, everyone!”

Hearing this, the crowd happily lined up. However, there were simply too many people in Fuyun Temple. No matter how they lined up, it was densely packed.

Some people in the back even started brawling due to the crowding.

Fortunately, the abbot’s mediation skills were profound, and he stopped the fights from afar.

Then Abbot Hongcheng ran back into the main hall with a cold sweat, gathering the eminent monks together.

“A major event has occurred in the temple today! If it can’t be properly handled, I’m afraid… our Fuyun Temple will have a great calamity.”

“I implore you eminent masters to give each temple patron a string of prayer beads and bless each string by chanting scriptures… I’m truly helpless and ashamed to trouble you eminent masters…”

After saying this, Abbot Hongcheng even performed a deep bow.

The eminent monks agreed without hesitation, but they felt a bit strange in their hearts.

It was just blessing and chanting scriptures. What was so difficult about such a small matter? Didn’t they do this normally? It was just more troublesome. In the past, they blessed in batches. Today, they had to do it one by one. It wasn’t a big deal.

The relaxed mood didn’t last long. When they walked out of the main hall, the eminent monks instantly broke down. Their faces immediately fell, and their hearts let out a silent scream.

My god! What’s the situation! Is there even a place to set foot in the temple?

Why are there so many people!

The number of people before their eyes had already far exceeded normal days! If they really had to bless them one by one, who knows when they would finish! Isn’t this a scam!

The cunning Abbot Hongcheng had already ordered the little monks to bring out all the prayer bead inventory in the temple.

A crate was placed in front of each eminent monk…

“Don’t rush, everyone! Now, please have the eminent monks bless the prayer beads. Come up one by one. Absolutely don’t make a mess!”

The eminent monks’ old faces twitched simultaneously. They were in a dilemma! What to do! What to do?

No way! It was already a dire situation!

The eminent monks could only put on a professional smile, start kneeling on the prayer mats, pick up a string of prayer beads, close their eyes, and begin chanting…

Time passed bit by bit… The familiar feeling of the prayer beads rubbing against their hands during normal days had begun to transform into a piercing pain.

However, the eminent monks had profound cultivation and still maintained a carefree expression, blessing the prayer beads with a serene demeanor.

The commoners who received the prayer beads naturally left with gratitude and joy.

However, even after half a day had passed, the stream of people coming to the temple for prayer beads was still endless.

The eminent monks didn’t dare look anymore. The Buddhist scriptures in their mouths gradually turned into rap through continuous acceleration.

…

Night finally arrived, but the line of people was still unending.

Seeing this, Abbot Hongcheng hurriedly jumped out. “Everyone… Our temple is closed for the night! Please go back, benefactors, so you don’t have a hard time walking when it gets too dark.”

Dissatisfied voices emerged from the crowd. “What! We’ve been lining up for a day! Now you just want to send us back. Is this reasonable?”

“Yeah! Yeah! You don’t keep your word. You still dare call yourselves monks?”

“Damn it, can’t you hurry up! I’ve already lined up for a day! If you keep doing this, I won’t come to your temple anymore. You’re all untrustworthy scoundrels! We won’t leave! You must give us a satisfactory explanation!”

“Can’t you damn baldies hurry up!”

“…”

Although everyone was a Buddhist enthusiast, their patience and cultivation had long been exhausted during the long queuing process.

The masters who were still frantically blessing nearly spat out a mouthful of blood when they heard them talking like this.

A day of crazy consumption had already left them tottering. They hadn’t even eaten breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Their lips were chapped, and their hands were all worn and blistered! They had suffered for a day, but in the end, they didn’t even get a bit of good.

Abbot Hongcheng was so anxious he was hopping on one foot. He could only say helplessly, “Don’t rush, everyone! Tomorrow! Come back tomorrow. Go back and rest early, everyone!”

“Will you still give them out tomorrow?” someone in the crowd asked.

Abbot Hongcheng gritted his teeth. “We will! We’ll give them out for another day tomorrow! But only for one day. The temple’s prayer beads are already running low. First come, first served tomorrow! We’re done for today!”

“Tsk~~”

Seeing the abbot’s resolute attitude… The crowd had no choice. They could only leave Fuyun Temple with bellies full of resentment.