Chapter 810
Well-informed
Chapter 810 Well-informed
The villagers were well-informed; even though they landed directly on the mountaintop and didn't come down, the whole village knew Pan Yun had returned the next morning.
So the villagers, carrying baskets and bags, climbed up the mountain early in the morning.
Pan Yun and the others had just finished their morning prayers when they saw the villagers, shrouded in morning mist, appear at the mountain gate, and they were stunned, their mouths agape.
"This is what you are doing?"
"We've come to pay our respects to the Three Pure Ones." This was just an excuse; in reality, they had come to inquire about Wang Xiaojing and the others.
After returning to Quanzhou, Pan Yun handed over Wang Xiaojing's letter and belongings to Wang Cong's steward, Ding, to deliver them back.
Each family received the documents, but they still wanted to know more from Pan Yun. For example, how far was it from here to Japan, how often would they be able to return home, how easy would the trip be, and how much would it cost?
What do they eat and drink in Japan? What's the climate like? Are they used to the accommodations there?
Pan Yun was the temple keeper of the mountain god temple, and the villagers loved and trusted her. Miao Zhen and the other two had been watched by the villagers grow up. Surrounded by them, no one could tell them a lie.
When the villagers heard that there were no houses to live in and that they would have to build their own, and that the winters were extremely cold, with the chill starting to rise right after the Double Ninth Festival, they couldn't help but wipe away their tears.
But when I heard that they also eat rice and noodles there, grow their own vegetables, and cook their own meals, I became happy again.
If you have rice and vegetables, and you cook it yourself, the food will always be to your liking, so you won't be depriving yourself.
Xiao Jingniang sat down next to Pan Jun and asked, "Temple keeper, are you still going to Japan after the New Year?"
Pan Yun turned to look at Wang Cong, and when their eyes met, she nodded slightly to Xiao Jingniang.
Xiao Jing's mother took her hand and said with a smile, "I will make two clothes and a few pairs of shoes for Xiao Jing. Please help me bring them to him."
Others with family members in Japan echoed this sentiment, and they all entrusted Pan Yun with things to take there.
Pan Yun readily agreed.
Since Wang Cong has made up his mind to take the path of maritime trade, as his senior sister-in-law, she should at least protect and support him for a while.
This will also let people in both the legitimate and criminal worlds at sea know that the Wang family's business and the Wang family's ships are under her protection!
So after the New Year, she will definitely make several trips to Japan.
Cultivation requires money, and Japan's silver mines and trade can make them money.
After receiving Pan Jun's affirmative reply, Xiao Jing's mother and the others spread the news. They didn't know how the villagers' news spread so quickly, since no one was specifically doing this.
But after they came down from the mountain, packed their things, and went back to visit relatives at the bride's parents' home, by evening, most of Yushan County knew about it.
During dinner that evening, the newly appointed Magistrate Wang overheard his wife, Pan Su, mention: "Pan Yun, the great philanthropist of Sanqing Mountain, has returned."
"Pan Yun? How did you know?"
"When the Liu family came to pay their respects for the New Year today, they casually mentioned that her family is from Leping Township. There is an aunt in the village who married into Yinjiang Village, and that aunt's sister-in-law married into Fenshui Village. Today, she went back to her parents' home, and just as she was leaving, she ran into her sister-in-law who was also going back to pay her respects for the New Year. Her sister-in-law mentioned that Pan Yun came back last night, and before dawn today, her parents-in-law went up the mountain to worship the Three Pure Ones. After they came down the mountain, they said that Pan Yun was going to Japan after the New Year. The people she took from the county are all mining in Japan."
Such a long speech would have left most people bewildered if it weren't for Magistrate Wang. He wasn't shocked that Pan Yun was going to Japan after the New Year; he was shocked by the source of the information about his wife.
"I didn't expect you to be so well-informed after only two months here."
Pan Su glanced at him and said, "You underestimate the backyard, don't you? Let me tell you, we wives aren't just sitting around doing nothing. If you men can't say something in front of us, we can. If you can't get the information, we can find out."
She lowered her voice and said, "I know that this Taoist priest Pan Yun is like an immortal in Yushan County. She has a great reputation. If she is willing to speak up for what the adults want to do, the matter will be half successful; if she opposes it, the matter will be half unsuccessful."
Magistrate Wang frowned in thought.
Pan Su nudged him and said, "What are you worried about? I've heard that she's young and spends most of the year studying and gaining experience outside the county. She doesn't come back to Yushan County often. Girls this age are kind and soft-hearted. You can get along with her by saying nice things. Isn't that more worthwhile than you lowering yourself to drink and eat with Master Qian and his family?"
Magistrate Wang said, "Letting monks and Taoists participate in government affairs will likely cause endless trouble."
Pan Su disagreed: "Monks and Taoists, gentry and so on, aren't they all human? They all have their own interests. How can it be that gentry and wealthy merchants colluding with you to abuse their power for personal gain is controllable, while monks and Taoists are considered to cause endless trouble? I think they are all the same. It's just that you look down on monks and Taoists just like you look down on us women."
"Oh dear, why are you bringing this up again, Madam? When have I ever looked down on women?" Magistrate Wang grasped her hand and said, "You are my female Zhuge Liang. Ten of my advisors are not as good as one of you."
Pan Su said, "Let's go to Sanqing Mountain to burn incense tomorrow. You can meet this temple keeper, Pan. The previous one, Cai Sheng, is still in jail. You'd better make sure you get on good terms with Sanqing Mountain."
Magistrate Wang felt that his wife had placed them in too low a position, and said, "Cai Sheng was imprisoned because Yu Qian accused him of forcing the people to rebel. The evidence is conclusive. I am their parent official. Shouldn't the people of Sanqing Mountain be trying to build a good relationship with me?"
Pan Su: "You're new here, what's wrong with being a little humble? Isn't this all for the sake of making a difference in Yushan County and for your future?" She paused and then said: "Fine, who told you to be the county magistrate, my nemesis? Just think of it as accompanying me to offer incense. I heard that the Sanqing Mountain God Temple is very efficacious. I'll go to pray for you and the child, and also ask for two peace talismans. I heard that the peace talismans personally drawn by Master Pan are sold through the Qian family and Wang family businesses, costing between fifteen and thirty taels of silver each, but at the Mountain God Temple, they only cost five taels of silver."
Even so, Magistrate Wang still thought it was too expensive, clicking his tongue and saying, "Other Taoist temples only charge around one or two taels for a peace talisman, right?"
“There’s a reason why it’s expensive. I’ve heard that this Master Pan is a disciple of the Mountain God and has a spiritual connection with the divine.”
Although Pan Yun was hailed as a god by the county residents, Magistrate Wang, who had received a Confucian education, remained a staunch atheist. His attitude towards gods and ghosts was the same as that of Confucius: respectful but distant.
Do not believe, do not slander, keep your distance.
Coincidentally, Pan Yun felt the same way about him.
Pan Yun was happy to befriend Ming Ren, who clearly knew something about the cultivation world and held a positive view of people like him, and it would be mutually beneficial. For details, see the relationship between Wang Cong and Ming Ren.
For someone as ignorant as Cai Sheng, who is obsessed with making money and power and has a wicked heart, it is only natural to do everything possible to crush him to the bottom of the pit. When there is a chance to swindle him, you must swindle him.
But Pan Yun hoped to keep a respectful distance from Magistrate Wang, a local official who was oblivious to everything and simply follow the rules and regulations.
She does not disrupt the operation of the government, and the government should not deliberately make things difficult for her.
They should just act as an ordinary official and commoner, following worldly customs.
Generally speaking, the third state should be the norm.
Only when the third state becomes the norm can the world develop in a healthy and orderly manner.
So on the third day of the month, Magistrate Wang accompanied his wife and children to burn incense. Pan Yun only glanced at their faces once, and knew how to treat them.
Pan Yun treated it as a normal occasion and received them with respect and courtesy.
This improved Magistrate Wang's mood considerably, and a smile appeared on his face. He then asked a few more questions: "How are Wang Xiaojing and the others doing in Japan?"
Wang Xiaojing and his group initially left in secret, but after several follow-up visits failed to find them, the county government learned of their whereabouts from some of their family members.
Magistrate Wang didn't know what Cai Sheng was thinking, but he seemed quite open-minded.
In his view, he could accept whatever these county residents who had been rebels did, as long as they didn't run rampant in the countryside or go to Fujian to join Deng Maoqi's uprising army.
Going to Japan to mine would be even better.
It's better for these troublemakers to go to foreign lands than to stay in the county, right?
However, since they are his own people, Magistrate Wang, as their parent official, still had to show some concern.
He hoped that Pan Yun could use her kindness and tolerance to influence them, so that when they returned, they could eliminate the hostility in their hearts and embrace love and peace. If she could also influence their families and neighbors, creating a peaceful and friendly Yushan County, that would be even better.
Therefore, he inquired in detail about Wang Xiaojing and his companions' living conditions in Japan, including but not limited to accommodation, food, and medical care.
Of course, the most important factors are their working hours and compensation.
Back then, wasn't the reason they raised the banner of rebellion precisely because mining took a long time and yielded very little reward?
So he kept asking about these two points, keeping a close eye on Pan Yun's expression, until he was sure that they really did offer good compensation, and only then did he feel relieved.
Finally, he asked, "If they decide to return to their home country, how will they get back?"
Pan Yun: "After the sea ban was lifted, there were ships traveling to and from Quanzhou Port every year between Onsenzu Port and Nanao Port. In the future, there should also be shipping routes to Fuzhou Port and Tianjin Port. If they want to come back, they can just go to the port to catch a ship."
Magistrate Wang: "Who will handle the return procedures? You took them out to sea before the maritime ban was lifted. Once they return, won't the Maritime Trade Office use this as a pretext to detain the people and their property?"
Pan Yun: "I have already obtained identity certificates for them from the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office. As long as they don't lose them, they can enter the country according to the laws of the Great Ming Dynasty."
Magistrate Wang then smiled and nodded, saying, "It's clear that Master Pan is genuinely looking out for them. He hopes they can truly repent and return safely to reunite with their families in the future."
Pan Yun smiled and said, "With a local official like Magistrate Wang who cares about them, I think they will change for the better and be more willing to come back."
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Wang lowered his eyes and pondered, saying, "The fault in the silver mine riot case does not lie with them. You can pass on my message to them, saying that I said that considering their hard work and the fact that they still have the emperor and father in their hearts, I will have the county government relax the surveillance on their families. However, the annual follow-up visits will still be conducted, and this year the county's labor service will also be reduced by 30%, including their families."
Upon hearing this, Pan Yun immediately clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings. My parents are kind and loving, and I thank you on behalf of everyone."
(End of this chapter)