What Gong Mengbi wanted to talk about was far beyond Shen Shan's imagination.
Shen Shan traveled all over the country and was well-informed, but when Gong Mengbi asked, "Master Shen, what do you think of the world today?" He didn't know how to answer.
I just thought about it and said, "The world is tough."
"Nowadays, the sky is unstable and the rivers and seas are unclear. Since I started on the trade route, I have encountered exploitation and banditry from all over the country without interruption."
"There are no refugees anywhere, and no one is dead anywhere."
Chen Shan could only speak to the point and did not dare to discuss government affairs unreasonably.
But he is a businessman, and his sense of smell is not bad.
A few years ago, Xianggong Wang said that he wanted to reform the law, reform the system, and change taxes. But now, the tomb of Xianggong Wang's soul has become deserted.
Another chieftain from the southwest rebelled and killed King Jiannan and proclaimed himself king.
The emperor's power to withdraw troops was not revealed. Jingbei General Yuan Fasheng escaped from the capital overnight, led troops to occupy thirteen counties in the northwest, and fought against the imperial court. Although he did not become king, it was only a matter of time.
The peace in the world now is like the rotting roots of trees. It looks prosperous on the surface, but in fact it's just that the skin has not been broken, and the pus and blood inside can't be seen.
Even in Wuning County and even Dongyang County, there are many people who do not know the current Holy Emperor, but only know King Wu.
Chen Shan did not dare to speak nonsense, and Gong Mengbi would not force him to speak.
Seeing that Shen Shan understood in his heart, Gong Mengbi stood up, pointed at the tiny sentient beings under the bright moon, and said: "The heaven and earth are the furnace, and all sentient beings are being tempered. In this world, the Shen family can still be prosperous, but if there is a storm, only I'm afraid the boat will be capsized easily, and peace will be hard to come by."
Gong Mengbi looked at Shen Shan with deep meaning, and Shen Shan was horrified.
Chen Shan quickly bowed down and said, "Please give me a clear explanation from the Fox Fairy."
Gong Mengbi helped him up, but refused to say anything. He only pointed at the sky and shook his head.
Shen Shan was frightened and paced continuously. After a long while, he finally came up with a trick: "My Shen family is just a small wealthy merchant, and we are just a small role in Wuning County. A small boat can easily be capsized. How about a big boat that can withstand the wind and rain? "
Gong Mengbi glanced at Shen Shan approvingly, "Then it depends on how capable you are and how big a ship you can build."
Gong Mengbi didn't say it clearly, but mentioned another thing: "That Xu Banxian told your fortune before, and he said that the Shen family has two precious lives. Although he was just bluffing you, he had no intention of breaking the secret."
"Whether it's Shen Qiao or Shen Yan, it's all precious life. You should be well-educated, but don't stay by your side.
In order for your precious life to grow up, you must go through disasters. Nowadays, the wind and clouds are meeting, and dragons and snakes will come out to stir up the wind and rain. Your boat is not small enough to carry them across the wind and rain, so you can only let them fight for it on their own. Otherwise, the boat will capsize. "
Chen Shan was both happy and worried at the same time. He was happy that his son would have a successful future, but he was worried that the future would be dangerous: "Although your life is good, I am more worried about their safety."
Gong Mengbi said: "So we have to work in two directions. On the one hand, we send them out to learn skills and fight for the crossing. On the other hand, we can build a big ship to protect the whole family and protect them from the wind and rain."
Chen Shan prostrated himself on the ground: "It's difficult to build a big ship, please ask the Fox Fairy to give you some guidance."
Gong Mengbi said: "It's not worth mentioning, it's just about wealth and power. If you want to do business, do big business, be an official, be a high official."
Chen Shan's heart was beating like a drum, and he felt that his brain was a little congested and it was difficult to breathe. He took a calm breath and sighed: "It's hard to do business now, and it's even harder to be an official."
Gong Mengbi: "The business of merchants is nothing more than buying and selling. Buying at low prices, selling at high prices, and exchanging what is needed. On the darkest day of every month, you can burn incense and worship me, and I will listen to you where the business opportunities are. Yes. If you have the money, you can find a way to donate to the official position."
A fire gradually burned in Chen Shan's heart, and with the help of the Fox Fairy, everything would be fine.
He suddenly knelt down in front of Gong Mengbi, bowed his head and said: "I would like to worship the Fox Fairy from generation to generation and build a temple and shrine for the Fox Fairy."
"You want to build a temple and a shrine, but not for me, but for Taishan Empress. Taishan Empress is my benefactor. You need to perform sacrifices diligently and you will have a spiritual response." Gong Mengbi said.
Chen Shan stretched out his hand and swore: "Taishan Empress is so kind and compassionate, so of course she is worshiping the main god, but the Fox Fairy is the benefactor of the Shen family, so we must invite the Fox Fairy to share in the sacrifice."
Gong Mengbi laughed. Although he had no plans for the sacrifice, Shen Shan's statement made him satisfied. However, he is satisfied, but he still needs to hammer on it: "You can make up your own mind. But let me say something ugly first. Accumulating wealth by doing business and accumulating virtue by doing good deeds are the foundation of your foundation. They are indispensable. Otherwise, the more yang wealth will be, the more yin wealth will be. If you lose, you will have your own consequences."
Chen Shan responded quickly: "I will do more good deeds in the future and will not sacrifice my righteousness for the sake of money."
"Okay." Gong Mengbi stretched out his hand, and a group of sparrows flew over and landed on the eaves of the pavilion: "From now on, we will get rid of poultry. You are not allowed to catch or harm birds in your home. If you encounter a bird begging for food, you must do it in time." worship."
Chen Shan looked at the group of sparrows and saw that the sparrows also tilted their heads and looked at him, very spiritually.
Chen Shan was surprised and said: "I will follow the instructions."
Chen Shan was about to continue asking when he suddenly heard a cock crow.
Gong Mengbi listened carefully, smiled, and said, "The time has come, I'll leave first."
Chenshan saw only the bright moonlight, and his eyes suddenly turned white.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already dawn.
Mrs. Shen saw him in a daze and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Chen Shan hid the strange dream last night in his heart and said, "It's nothing, I just had a dream."
Mrs. Shen shook her head, and the two of them washed up and went out. They saw a group of sparrows flying from nowhere, standing on the eaves and chirping.
When Shen Shan and Mrs. Shen came closer, they were not afraid of people. They even landed on Shen Shan's fingers and tilted their heads to look at him.
Mrs. Shen was surprised: "These little things are not afraid of people."
"Maybe I'm hungry," Chen Shan ordered people to take some millet and scatter it on the ground, letting the sparrows peck at it.
After a while, the full sparrow flew to nowhere.
It was almost time to eat but the two children were not seen. Shen Shan knew without guessing that they must have gone outside the east courtyard to say hello.
But before he could even sit down, he saw Shen Qiao running towards him in a panic, until he said, "Oh no! Dad, the door to the east courtyard is open."
Chen Shan was shocked, recalling last night's dream, but felt that it was expected.
He followed Shen Qiao to the east courtyard and saw the old wooden door wide open, revealing the mugwort and sedge hidden inside.
The sedge was so dense that there was nowhere to stand, and the mugwort was taller than a person.
A path emerged among the sedge, which was exactly where Shen Shan walked last night.
"It's really not a dream." Chen Shan sighed.
Shen Qiao was about to cry and asked anxiously: "What's wrong, has the Fox Fairy left our house?"
Chen Shan touched his head and said: "Last night I dreamed of the Fox Fairy. He was so valued by Empress Taishan that he has become an immortal. If you miss him, go to the sacred tablet and pray more often. He will bless us. of."
Shen Qiao looked at the empty deserted garden, and his heart overflowed with sadness. Although it was just a one-time encounter, Gong Mengbi left a profound impression on the two children.
From the bottom of their hearts, Shen Qiao and Shen Yan already regarded Fox Fairy as a very close person.
This farewell was a bit hasty. For the Shen family, it was still unfinished, but for Gong Mengbi, it was already too much.
After Gong Mengbi left, the East Garden of Shen Mansion remained as it was, not because it couldn't be used, but because it was Gong Mengbi's old residence, a humble and cozy place.
It is also one of their thoughts, hoping that the Fox Fairy will return one day and live here again.
