NOVEL NEXT Chapter 255:
Underground Street, Paper Mache Shop.
Ever since the Wu Family turned the shop over to Xu Qing, this Paper Mache Shop has become the Xu Family shop's proxy for after-sales services.
When Xu Qing was not around, almost all funeral businesses were handled by Gu Zixu, who led the team from the Incense and Candle Shop, Shouyi Shop, and others to complete the tasks.
Sometimes, when business boomed and several funerals clashed together, even the shopkeepers from the carpenter shop at the street's end and the general store at the street's east had to instruct apprentices or family idle hands to lend a hand.
The reason wasn't complicated; they were major clients for the carpenter's coffins, and the glue, paper patterns, and paint needed by the Paper Mache Shop were bought from the general store, so they naturally had to maintain good relations.
Moreover, no matter about business, someday neighbors might pass away suddenly, and they'd still need to ask someone to help arrange the funerals, wouldn't they?
Nowadays, the shops on the funeral street, led by the Xu Family shop, understood this and were happy to assist.
When Xu Qing returned, Gu Zixu from the Feng Shui Hall had organized all matters perfectly and kept the accounts clear, recording both the living and deceased details in the ledger.
Xu Qing inspected each hall's work, feeling both comforted and not forgetting to motivate everyone.
"Old Gu, now don't get complacent. Your daughter Qiao'er is still young, and there will be plenty of places for incense offerings in the future. You're at the prime age for striving; keep pushing forward. Remember that thinking for the future generation is essentially thinking for yourself."
Gu Zixu, though aged, confidently assured this, feeling filled with energy!
Old Rat Spirit knew very well; when others paint bread, you can only see it but not eat it, whereas the Sect Leader's painted bread is truly edible.
After finishing with the Feng Shui Hall, Xu Qing specially pointed out a few things to Huang Xiaoliu from the Transmission Hall and gave him plenty of elixirs as snacks.
This little guy was lured from Old Huang Mustache and was reliable, quick-thinking, and diligent. When Old Huang Mustache passes away, all the Yellow Weasels of Yellow Stripe Mountain will be his Cat Immortal Hall's informants and messengers, then not only Linjiang County but all Jin Sect affairs will be under his gaze.
After handling hall matters, Xu Qing turned to observe Bao Sheng Temple through the Blood Lake Dharma Realm.
In Bao Sheng Temple, a white snake as thick as an arm was nodding and bowing before the Bao Sheng Goddess statue.
This little white snake accustomed to poverty with Liu midwife never knew what good days were like, but now with Xu Qing, having chosen the Jin Clan to go forward, the incense offerings received were enough to buy its previous life.
Xu Qing painted the bread with incense, making the little white snake feel so invigorated it wished to split itself in two to pour all its youth into Bao Sheng Temple.
Like humans, immortals too, when they have hope, they possess endless energy!
Except for the Embroiderer and Chasing Mourning Horse.
These two don't need Xu Qing's motivational bread; the former doesn't want to repay Xu Qing as an ox or horse in the next life, thus lingering in the world, every day waiting in the separate courtyard for the stars and moon, hoping for the day master may come to assess her work.
As for the latter, already being a horse, what more can be done?
After wrapping up city matters, Xu Qing went to Chaotic Stone Mountain, insisting Xuan Yu accompany him for his duty as the General Hall Master of the Cat Immortal Hall overseeing his hall.
Xu Qing did not expose Xuan Yu's small intentions, bringing him along for the trip.
With Crow Lord away on official business and yet to return, the management of Chaotic Stone Mountain's crows fell to Xu Qing.
Fortunately, crows are inherently wise birds, able to speak human words, supplemented by Xu Qing's occasional feeding of various elixirs, making many crows enlightened enough to converse fluently with humans.
These are the vital forces of Crow Hall. Xu Qing had previously advised the crows if they wanted to progress and learn human speech, they should seek unorthodox schooling.
Crows, being small, move freely, learning from the front, roof, and window of a school without tuition fees.
After two years, the average cultural level of Crow Hall had already surpassed other halls.
These crows could even use claws and beaks to write and draw on the ground, but, unfortunately, Crow Lord wasn't present to witness Crow Hall's flourishing scene.
Xu Qing mounted a blackboard and held sacred ruler, lecturing for several days at Chaotic Stone Mountain, during which Xuan Yu frequently sought excuses to manage the Funeral Shop but was refused without mercy.
Coming with righteous excuses, now wanting to leave upon hearing lessons? Too late!
Xu Qing taught from "One Hundred Rules for Monsters and Humans" to "Weaknesses of the Demonic Nature," then discussed energy-based cultivation and precautions for demons during catastrophes.
When discussing the three calamities, he asked Hall Master Xuan Yu, who had just passed the Thunder Disaster, to personally speak on the horrors of Thunder Disaster and the importance of virtue and incense.
Overall, as long as the little immortals in Crow Hall diligently cultivated, striving for their hall, and accumulating incense, they should not fear future calamities — this is the confidence brought by Jin Sect's top hall.
Crows have the duty of reciprocating, horses don't betray their mothers.
Before Xu Qing left, a group of crows brought several fruits like chestnuts, pine nuts, trilobate seeds, and walnuts, offering them to him.
Xu Qing was delighted; the squirrels in Chaotic Stone Mountain swore angrily.