Chapter 95: Offering Prayers to the God of Wealth on the Nineteenth of September

The afternoon sky was as gloomy as Lu Jiu’s face—dark and heavy, yet not a single drop of rain fell.

Lu Liaoliao and Gu Xihua stood in the guest room; one played the flute by the window, while the other gently plucked the strings of a zither. Their music harmonized perfectly, punctuated by lingering glances and the unspoken affection of a devoted couple, living in blissful ease.

Without even a knock, Lu Jiu, having rushed all the way from Chang'an, burst into the room. Her beautiful eyes narrowed in fury as she glared coldly at Lu Liaoliao.

Lu Liaoliao remained unflustered, his eyes slightly closed as his fingers danced across the strings.

A faint, elegant, and ethereal fragrance drifted toward Lu Jiu. She couldn't help but wrinkle her delicate nose, casting a suspicious gaze at Gu Xihua by the window.

"What is this? Why does it smell so good?"

Gu Xihua set down her jade flute and looked at Lu Liaoliao with a face full of happiness. She smiled brilliantly but said nothing.

"It’s something for women. Why do you ask so many questions?" Lu Liaoliao, annoyed at having their duet interrupted, retorted with a biting, sarcastic tone.

"Tell me, or else!" Lu Jiu’s temper was nearly at its breaking point.

"It’s a secret essence from the Wanhua Valley. If a woman adds a drop or two to her bath, the fragrance clings to her skin. Xihua is wearing it now, which is why you smell it." Since his lifeline was firmly in Lu Jiu’s hands, Lu Liaoliao dared not offend her too deeply and quickly provided the answer.

Lu Jiu’s heart stirred, and she asked nonchalantly, "Where did you get it?"

Lu Liaoliao sighed, helpless, and recounted the origin of the scent.

"The formula!" Lu Jiu reached out her hand without ceremony.

"You!" Lu Liaoliao was exasperated. After locking eyes with her for a moment, he finally lowered his head and, gritting his teeth, handed over the recipe.

"Gu Xihua, you step out first. I have a few accounts to settle with him," Lu Jiu said, tucking the formula into her robes and turning toward the resigned Gu Xihua.

"Sigh." Gu Xihua breathed a soft sigh. It was her own lack of caution that had led her into Lu Jiu’s trap, saddling them with a debt that would take a lifetime to repay, ultimately forcing her man into this corner.

Facing Lu Jiu’s murderous glare, Lu Liaoliao put on an innocent expression. "I know what you want to say, but I really had no choice."

"Ha! Hahaha!" Lu Jiu looked at Lu Liaoliao and sneered. "You promised me with such certainty that you could easily solve the problem of fertilizing the Wang family’s fields. I bore huge losses just to lend you Yela, the star of the Tianxian Pavilion, for ten days. And you? You turned around and gifted the idea to your elder at the Yuzhen Temple. Lu Liaoliao, do you have any integrity at all?"

Lu Liaoliao stood up and gestured toward the golden rice fields outside the window.

"Because of my method, the Yuzhen Temple’s harvest has been bountiful year after year. Everyone sees it and remembers it. Don’t forget, that Princess at the Yuzhen Temple has the Sage standing high above her, and he owns vast imperial estates. Even the family of that favored Imperial Consort holds countless farmlands.

"Now, all the night soil in Chang'an is being collected by the imperial authorities. Even my elder at the temple had to swallow her pride, forcing me to come up with new ideas every day. I gave her the idea for building public latrines, and the moment she mentioned it to the Sage, he greedily claimed it for himself.

"Nowadays, any bustling place in Chang'an must have these latrines, which they call 'official facilities.' If even that Princess at the Yuzhen Temple couldn't win that battle, how could you? A thin arm can never twist a thick thigh."

Lu Liaoliao finished speaking and spread his hands, showing he was truly powerless.

"I don't care. Since you promised me, you must come up with another way," Lu Jiu insisted stubbornly.

"Hey, hey! Your tone is exactly like that elder of mine at the Yuzhen Temple. You make it sound so easy—do you really think I’m an all-powerful immortal? How can I just conjure up a new plan on the spot?" Lu Liaoliao was infuriated, his frustration mounting with nowhere to vent.

"Fine! Let’s set that aside for now. How did my father offend you? He comes from a family of merchants in Shu; he never had a lowly name like Wang Ergou. Yet, not only did you invent a story about him being a lowly peddler from Chang'an, but you’ve also made him carry that wretched name for the rest of his life!" Lu Jiu’s angry finger nearly touched Lu Liaoliao’s nose.

*Hmph! It’s not just for this life,* Lu Liaoliao thought to himself, feeling quite pleased. *As long as people worship the God of Wealth, he will carry that name for lifetimes to come. That old man is a wicked one; he dared to scheme against me, so I’ll make sure he pays for it.*

"Well, well! What he’s called doesn't matter. What matters is that on the nineteenth of the ninth month, every household that worships the God of Wealth in Chang'an and the surrounding prefectures will want to go to the Taiyi Hall on Mount Zhongnan to pray before his statue. Just imagine—with so many people traveling to and from Dayu Town, it would be impossible for the town not to become prosperous. The townspeople will be so grateful to me that I’ll easily defeat that Young Master Ruochen of the Qin Marquis’s estate." Lu Liaoliao looked confident and relaxed.

Lu Jiu had been in business since childhood; she immediately understood the immense commercial opportunity hidden within. She grew to appreciate the man she had chosen even more. After staring at him, stunned for a while, she finally spoke.

"Firecrackers ring, the doors swing wide, the God of Wealth steps inside. The God is an immortal from the sky, living on Mount Wusong in Zichuan. He is a man of Quzhou, a deity of both heaven and earth. Left holds the Ruyi, right holds the gold ingot; wealth comes, luck follows. Left green dragon, right white tiger, fortune and longevity enter my gate. Managing officials and commoners alike, he governs wealth and luck. Scatter gold, scatter silver, scatter the money tree and the treasure basin. Guaranteed bountiful harvests, guaranteed success for all five sons."

Lu Jiu recited the folk rhyme, shaking her head and sighing endlessly.

"Lu Liaoliao, oh Lu Liaoliao, do you know what kind of consequences you've caused by having every beggar in Chang'an sing this 'Welcoming the God of Wealth' rhyme and spreading rumors about how my father made his fortune?"

"It’s just bringing more incense, more believers to the Taiyi Hall on Mount Zhongnan, and more guests to Dayu Town. What’s the big deal?" Lu Liaoliao said dismissively. At this moment, he had no idea of the immense power of propaganda and public opinion.

Lu Jiu clutched her forehead in a headache, hardly wanting to look at him anymore.

"All one hundred and eight wards of Chang'an are singing stories of my father being blessed by the God of Wealth and becoming the richest man in the city. On the nineteenth of the ninth month, I don't know how many thousands of families will be fighting to burn a stick of incense and kowtow at the Taiyi Hall. Add in the nearby counties, and Dayu Town and the Taiyi Hall will be so overcrowded it’s unimaginable. If there’s a riot, can you take responsibility for it?"

"No way, it’s only been a few days. How did it spread so fast?" Lu Liaoliao’s eyes widened in shock.

"You ask me? Who should I ask!" Lu Jiu was so distressed she didn't know what to do.

Thinking of how he had personally instructed Guo Yan’s Beggar Sect, the Qingyun Society of the West Market, the transport guilds, and the Cao Gang of Gaoling County to spread the news, Lu Liaoliao clamped his mouth shut, feeling as if the sky were collapsing.

"Sigh!" Lu Jiu sighed. "It seems I have no choice but to have my father offer more treasures to the palace and inform the Sage. Maybe we can limit entry through the gates of Chang'an on the nineteenth to reduce the flow of people and prevent a catastrophe."

"To avoid public dissatisfaction, I’ll have the beggars sing some folk rhymes about welcoming the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the first lunar month to divert the crowd. Perhaps then there won't be so many people at Dayu Town and the Taiyi Hall on the nineteenth." Lu Liaoliao’s mind raced as he came up with a new plan, looking at Lu Jiu with a sheepish expression.

Lu Jiu looked at him with a complex expression for a long while before waving her hand weakly, wishing he would disappear from her sight.

Lu Jiu had barely found a moment of peace when Lu Liaoliao poked his head back in, acting timidly. "Uh... Xihua and some of her sisters from the Tianxian Pavilion have been discussing putting on a performance in Dayu Town on the nineteenth to raise funds for orphans. If the crowd isn't too large that day, do you think you could allow it?"

"Lu Liaoliao! Are you never satisfied? You won't be happy until you’ve driven me to my grave, will you?" Lu Jiu slammed her hand on the table and stood up, furious.

"Raising funds for orphans is a great act of charity. If you agree, you’ll earn merit, so why be so angry?" Lu Liaoliao muttered stubbornly.

"Get out! Get out right now!" Lu Jiu pointed at him and shouted.

Lu Liaoliao lingered, not moving an inch.

"Why haven't you left yet!" Lu Jiu finally exploded.

"This is my and Xihua’s room. Where do you expect me to go?" Lu Liaoliao smiled imperceptibly.

"If you won't leave, then I will! I never want to see you again, you annoying man!" Lu Jiu slammed the door behind her.

Sitting at the zither, Lu Liaoliao stared blankly out the window. In the autumn wind, the golden rice fields surged in yellow waves. His fingers plucked the strings unconsciously, the "A-weng, A-weng" sound dull and monotonous.

Gu Xihua floated over lightly, wrapping her arms around him from behind. She leaned her beautiful face against his head, one hand plucking the strings, the clear notes harmonizing with the low, repetitive sound.

The two didn't speak; at this moment, their hearts were one, inseparable.

"Do you think the God of Wealth really exists to grant people endless riches? If so, why are there more and more orphans who can't even get a bowl of porridge a day?"

"I don't know if the God of Wealth exists, but you have your man, Lu Liaoliao, by your side. Don't worry, I will make sure you get to perform and raise those funds on the nineteenth. Xihua, you’ve taken in hundreds of orphans from all over; I hate seeing you work so hard." Lu Liaoliao reached out, caressing her face with tenderness.

"As long as we raise enough to keep those children from hunger and cold this winter, no matter how hard it is, I am happy."

Gu Xihua smiled, more beautiful than ever before.