The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 37 The Farmer and the Snake

The Songliu Water God Temple, covering an area of ​​several hundred square meters, sees a large number of visitors.

Zhang Anxiu also bought a few sticks of incense and pulled Chu Xun inside.

It was built by villagers from several villages pooling their money; it's not a very large project.

The ground was covered with gravel and compacted loess, and several rough wooden tables were placed on both sides for people to place incense and offerings.

Scattered on the table were some fruits and pastries donated by villagers, as well as several ceramic incense burners filled with incense sticks of varying lengths, from which wisps of smoke rose.

The walls inside the hall were made of adobe bricks and coated with white lime. They have been yellowed and mottled by smoke and rain.

In the corner, there are two large vats donated by villagers, used to collect rainwater.

Inside the hall, in the center, is a wooden statue of the Pine and Willow Water God, with an indistinct face, one hand holding a snake and the other stepping on a tortoise.

No one knows what the Pine Willow Water God looks like; they can only imagine it.

However, when someone saw the long white snake in the river again, they felt that the image was becoming more and more realistic.

Zhang Anxiu lined up, knelt before the statue of the god, and prostrated herself with her hands on the ground, praying sincerely: "May the water god bless my husband to live a long and healthy life, bless my family to be safe and sound, bless my brother's family to be safe and sound, and bless me... to carry on the Chu family line as soon as possible."

While praying, Zhang Anxiu looked up and saw Chu Xun still standing there. She quickly pulled him and said, "Why don't you kneel down and kowtow to the Water God? Be sincere, and it will surely be effective."

Chu Xun looked at the blurry face of the statue with a strange expression.

Do you kneel down and pray to yourself?

And wishing for a long and healthy life is purely a negative wish, isn't it?

He doesn't want to live to be a hundred; what's the difference between that and dying young?

But after being pulled several times by Zhang Anxiu, Chu Xun had no choice but to kneel down.

Before he could even kowtow, a crisp "crack" sound came from in front of him.

Looking up, I saw the pine and willow water god statue with a fine crack on its face.

Zhang Anxiu exclaimed in alarm, "The statue has cracked!"

Chu Xun's lips twitched slightly, and the group of people who had come to worship the Pine Willow Water God immediately started cursing.

They raised so much money, saying they'd use the best timber within a hundred miles, and this is the result?

There are gods watching from above, so don't be afraid of the wrath of the Pine and Willow Water Gods, who might flood your ancestral graves in the middle of the night!

Taking the opportunity, Chu Xun pulled Zhang Anxiu away. Zhang Anxiu was still somewhat unhappy: "That's a statue of the Pine Willow Water God! How dare they treat it like this!"

Chu Xun didn't know what to say. Whether the carpenter had been lazy or the statue was spirited and dared not accept his worship, he couldn't tell.

Back at the stall, I saw Zhang Sanchun staring straight in a certain direction.

Chu Xun followed the gaze and could only make out several burly figures' backs, so he asked, "What's wrong, Big Brother?"

Zhang Sanchun turned around and whispered, "It's that martial arts master."

Chu Xun was slightly taken aback. The only martial artist Zhang Sanchun mentioned was the one who had kicked Zhang Shigen to death during the water dispute years ago.

Many years ago, my family moved from Pingshui Town to the county seat and rarely comes back.

I heard that the martial artist's skills have improved in the past two years, and his sons are all promising martial arts talents.

The family's influence grew stronger and stronger, and they became very famous in Zhangnan County.

Perhaps it was because the Songliu Water God Temple Fair was so lively that I came to take a stroll.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Sanchun saw it.

Many years have passed, and although the martial artist has entered middle age, Zhang Sanchun will never forget his appearance.

He looked up at Chu Xun, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Chu Xun once said that this debt would be settled sooner or later.

But now that they're becoming increasingly prosperous, does that still count?

Chu Xun seemed to understand what he was thinking and nodded, saying, "Don't rush, there will be opportunities."

He is currently unable to seek justice for Zhang Shigen, who passed away many years ago.

Only after the Spirit Pearl Grass has fully matured and one advances to the Foundation Establishment stage can this be done.

It seems that no matter how powerful a martial artist is, they can't compare to someone in the Foundation Establishment stage.

Zhang Sanchun sighed. He didn't know where the opportunity would come from, and he felt that he was not capable of avenging his father, so he couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.

"Brother, it's alright," Zhang Anxiu comforted him softly.

She longed to avenge her father, but she couldn't do it herself, nor could she force her husband to do anything.

She can still distinguish right from wrong, and prioritize tasks.

After a long while, Shi Tou and Qi Er Mao had finished playing and came back, laughing and calling out to Uncle San Chun.

Zhang Sanchun chuckled and gave each child a handful of sunflower seeds, then filled his pockets with roasted peanuts.

A group of children were very happy, some playing, some eating, wishing there was a temple fair every day.

Seeing that it was getting late, the people began to leave in twos and threes, so Chu Xun and Zhang Anxiu took the child back home.

Zhang Sanchun wanted to stay a little longer. The temple fair only lasted three days a year, and if he went back later, he could earn more money.

Although the money owed to Chu Xun was paid off last year, who would complain about having too much money at home?

Before leaving, Huan'er pulled Chu Xun aside and insisted on asking him how to answer the question he had asked earlier.

Chu Xun said, "There is no way to gain favors without losing benefits."

Huan'er asked, puzzled, "No? Then why is Uncle asking me?"

Chu Xun said, "I just want you to understand that if there's no other way, you shouldn't have started this. That would be a case of being too clever for your own good. In life and in business, one should be careful with one's words and actions."

Huan'er was stunned for a moment. Chu Xun didn't say anything, just smiled, patted his head, and then left.

Zhang Sanchun chimed in, "Listen to your uncle, he's sure to be right. He's the smartest man in our county."

Huan'er hummed in agreement, then turned around and said with a grin, "Dad is the best at roasting peanuts in our county!"

Zhang Sanchun smiled憨憨地, his eyes full of loving kindness.

He didn't care what kind of person he was; as long as life got better and better and his wife and children had enough to eat and wear, that was the best thing.

After crossing the pine and willow stone bridge, Zhang Anxiu suddenly said, "Oh, I forgot to ask my brother, does my sister-in-law need someone to take care of her? You all go back first, I'll ask him and he'll come over."

"I'll wait for you here," Chu Xun said.

"Oh dear, who knows how long we'll have to wait for me? You guys should go back first," Zhang Anxiu insisted.

Chu Xun didn't say much, just nodded and led a group of children toward the village.

Zhang Anxiu walked towards the stone bridge, but after a few steps, she looked back somewhat guiltily.

Seeing Chu Xun walk further and further away, he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Once the stone bridge was out of sight, Qi Ermao finally spoke up and asked, "Brother Xun, is Aunt Anxiu really alright coming back alone? Otherwise, Brother Shitou and I can wait for her here."

Just as Zhang Anxiu worried that the children would get lost at the temple fair, these children were just as concerned about her.

Chu Xun shook his head: "It's alright, she knows what she's doing."

In fact, Chu Xun knew perfectly well that Zhang Anxiu hadn't gone back to ask if Lin Qiaoxi needed someone to take care of her, but rather to find that swindling old man who promised to have a son.

Even though she knew the other party was a fraud, Chu Xun still refused to stop them.

He knew better than anyone how much pressure Zhang Anxiu had been under over the past five years.

For her, grasping at a glimmer of hope is the best way to relieve stress.

As for safety, there's even less to worry about.

From the Songliu Water God Temple to the village, the snakes, insects, rats, and ants along the way are all familiar faces.

Anxiu was accompanied by several large crows, so nothing could go wrong.

Back in the village, the children went home one by one, and Chu Xun also pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside.

A crow landed on the roof in front of him, then spat out a roasted peanut and a small piece of silver that it didn't know where it came from.

ga-

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The crow cawed twice, then flapped its wings and took flight, before swooping down swiftly.

While cracking the roasted peanut in one bite, he snatched the loose silver coins back into his mouth.

Chu Xun frowned as he looked up at the crows circling in the sky.

These crows, who have been basking in the spiritual rain for many years, would never do something so inexplicable for no reason.

What is it implying?

Fried peanuts...

silver……

Chu Xun suddenly thought of Zhang Sanchun and asked in a deep voice, "Are you saying that someone wants to harm my elder brother for money?"

The crow nodded knowingly, and Chu Xun asked again, "How many people are on the other side?"

This time, the crow cawed three times.

"Three people?"

Before Chu Xun could finish speaking, a crow flew into the woodshed, then picked up a kitchen knife and threw it on the ground.

Chu Xun understood immediately: "You mean, they'll bring knives?"

ga-

The crow cawed again, and Chu Xun's expression darkened further.

Although we don't know who was so bold as to attack Zhang Sanchun for money, we can't ignore this matter no matter what.

But three thugs with knives are not easy to deal with.

After a moment's thought, Chu Xun said to the crow, "Go to Songliu River."

"Summon the White Snake and the Green Snake."

Some people are about to die, but they want to live a few more days.

Some people are still alive, but they should already be dead.