c1 (1/2)

Chapter 1: The Human Realm

In the human realm, the G.o.ds are efficacious and bring salvation to all living things.

Yet humans do not know that G.o.ds also have troubles. You and other mortal beings. You ask for a high position and handsome salary, you ask for wealth and success, you f*ckin want to be the emperor.

Exactly who is having to be the little mortal here?

It is the public G.o.ds that face the people who pray and burn incense, hoping for good fortune of all sorts. If G.o.ds are oblivious to what is happening to the outside world and stay in their own place, only then do they not have to bless anyone.

Humans do not know the worries of G.o.ds and still go about with their own ways.

……

January 18th. Tian Yun Country, State of Liang, Hang Shan Prefecture. Within Cheng Yang County.

On January 18th, there were rumors that it was the birthday of the s.h.i.+nto G.o.d of Longevity. The believers all set out in hope of increasing their lifespan and praying for everybody to have a long life, without any diseases or disasters.

There were too many travelers and so the roads were all crowded. The business was good and the bosses selling incense all had blooming smiles, counting money until they got hand cramps.

Everyone thought that praying to the G.o.ds added a few years of longevity and so they also laughed heartily.

Within this Cheng Yang town, there was no one who wasn’t happy, no one who wasn’t laughing.

“If the G.o.ds really are efficacious, what is the point of seeing the doctor when ill? What is then the point of burying the dead? Pray to the G.o.ds to completely get rid of illnesses and troubles, pray to the G.o.ds to bring people back to life. If it was so, how would there still be roots of trouble and hearts of sorrow in this world?”

There stood a youth on the avenue. The youth had a slender physique, yet didn’t appear to be thin. A handsome appearance, yet not dazzling. He was gentle-looking and wore a cyan-colored Confucian robe.

There was a faint smile upon his face, as if he were playing some sort of relaxing game.

The youth’s surname was Chen and his name was Guhong, also known as Ziyu. He was a local. Both of his parents had died, and so he currently lived with his sister and brother-in-law. This time’s outing to wors.h.i.+p the Longevity G.o.d was upon orders from his sister.

Within Tian Yun Country, the Imperial Examinations were prevalent. It was stressed that all things were beneath contempt and only studying was worthy.

Within books there are golden houses, within books there are beautiful women.

Chen Guhong was also a young examination candidate: at the age of five, he began studying, and at the age of thirteen, he partic.i.p.ated in the test for boys. This year he was twenty, but he had not been able to repeat the test. He did not become a scholar, but rather a disqualified scholar, and so he was currently still a candidate.

Nevertheless, in the whole of Cheng Yang County, there were many others like Chen Guhong, which made him stand out less.

Of course, Chen Guhong also had his own little secret. He was a person who had pa.s.sed through from another world.

In his past life, he was an unemployed youth who spent the whole day feeling anxious, looking for a job, looking for a girlfriend, rus.h.i.+ng towards that bright future. He already did not know how many years he hadn’t enjoyed himself, how many years he hadn’t laughed.

Gradually though, he lost that nature and became an open youth who was part of society.

“Although this world has some ridiculous absurdities, compared to life in my previous world, it can be considered as heaven.”

Chen Guhong stretched and with the mentality of playing a game, he bought the incense, prayed to the Longevity G.o.d and then walked home swayingly in a leisurely manner.

He lived on Chen Qu Lane in a small, normal house, with neighbors who were also only commoners.

Recently there had been children frolicking around; whenever they saw Chen Guhong, they would bow compliantly like little adults. There was nothing he could do about it. Although he was still only a candidate, Chen Guhong’s social standing was still quite high.

He nodded towards those few children before striding into the house.

His sister was called Chen Xiuxiu, a housewife.

His brother-in-law was called w.a.n.g Zhengdang, the owner of a small grocery store.

When Chen Guhong returned, Chen Xiuxiu had just been preparing to go out and buy some soy sauce to use for cooking. She saw her little brother, revealed a smile and said,

“Little brother, was the Temple of the Longevity G.o.d any fun?”

Since both parents had died, Chen Xiuxiu pampered her only little brother a lot. This time, making her little brother go pay homage to the Longevity G.o.d was really an excuse for letting him go outside and play. She had even secretly given him 50 coppers for him to buy some food.

“Everyone was very happy, I was also very happy.” Chen Guhong’s heart was aware of his sister’s concern: he also revealed a smile and spoke cheerfully.

“Hehe. As long as you’re happy.” Chen Xiuxiu’s smile became greater and then she explained, “Big sister is going to buy soy sauce, you stay by yourself. If you’re hungry, there’re still some cakes in the kitchen.”

(Note: Chen Guhong is twenty, yet he still gets this sort of treatment. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.)