Lin Fang had been urging her parents to buy as much of the wasteland around Lin Village as possible during this time, and the monk Zixing strongly supported her proposal. Chen Dong also entrusted three hundred taels of silver to Dalang, asking him to purchase a piece of wasteland adjacent to Lin Village on her behalf. Although Dalang was puzzled, he still bought nearly a thousand acres of wasteland with some skepticism. After all, acquiring more land was never a bad idea.
When Dalang took Chen Dong to the government office to process the land deeds, Chen Dong’s appearance had already returned to the beauty Sima Rusu was once known for. The rumors of her suffering from an incurable disease, with skin as white as a ghost, had completely vanished.
Those who saw her along the way were astonished. When asked how Miss Sima had been cured, she promoted that it was in Lin Village where she recovered. Not only was the land and water there nourishing, but there was also an enlightened monk who had treated her illness. The monk even claimed that the medicinal herbs from the mountains of Lin Village were more potent than those from other places. Her complete recovery, she said, was due to the monk’s herbal prescriptions from Lin Village’s mountains, combined with his spiritual practices.
Soon, rumors began spreading in the town. When the Lin family’s mistress first arrived, she was said to be extremely ugly—her skin dark and coarse, with unibrows that made her look frightful. Now, it was said, her appearance had transformed: her skin was fair and smooth, and her unibrows were gone. Similarly, the Lin family’s young daughter, who had arrived with blood tumors on her face and a twisted nose and mouth, was now described as beautiful, with her tumors gone and her features delicate. She was also said to be exceptionally intelligent, far surpassing ordinary children.
Some were skeptical and went to the Lin family’s shop to inquire. The shopkeepers naturally spoke highly of their masters. When villagers from Lin Village were questioned, they confirmed the rumors were true. They added that the young Lin daughter, though not yet nine years old, had even started a school in the village and was remarkably knowledgeable. The villagers themselves admitted that since moving to Lin Village, they felt their minds had become sharper.
“Uncle Qi, if the local government or the county authorities try to compete with the people for profits, can the Qi family suppress them?”
“Does the Sixth Young Miss mean that after turning Lin Village into a blessed land, the government might come to seize the benefits?”
Lin Fang chuckled. Oh, so my plan is child’s play in your eyes? No need to expose it so bluntly, right?
Heh. After all, she’s still a young girl, not deeply scheming—easily tricked into revealing her thoughts. Steward Qi laughed inwardly but kept a calm expression as he replied, “Not just the county government, even the provincial authorities wouldn’t dare compete with the Qi family for profits.”
Ha, that’s excellent! Then I have nothing to worry about. I was originally considering whether to involve the government as shareholders for protection. In my past life, my second brother did business, and as it grew, he paid the government annually to operate under its name. That way, if troublemakers arose, the government would step in, reducing many hassles.
“Since Uncle Qi knows my plans, why not buy more wasteland too? It’s cheap now. Once my plans succeed, the price will skyrocket—possibly several times higher.”
“Rest assured, Sixth Young Miss. This old servant has already bought nearly a thousand acres of wasteland around Qi Village to follow your lead and reap some benefits.”
The little girl’s large eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. Even the usually composed Steward Qi felt a ripple of emotion in his heart. No wonder the young master doted on the Lin family’s sixth daughter—she truly resembled the eighth young miss in her childhood: precocious, kind, and resilient.
Lin Fang’s grand plan for wealth, as Steward Qi had guessed, was to transform Lin Village into a blessed land, attracting outsiders and gradually developing it into a tourist destination. The allure of this “holy land” would be its nourishing environment, beauty-enhancing properties, and the presence of the enlightened monk—renowned for his medical skills and spiritual wisdom.
After rumors spread in town, some had already begun visiting Lin Village to seek treatment from the old monk.
Before becoming a monk, Zixing had served as a royal physician, traveling extensively and encountering rare illnesses beyond the experience of ordinary doctors. After renouncing worldly life, he wandered further, broadening his knowledge. His prescriptions often included unusual herbs or formulas unfamiliar even to seasoned physicians, yielding unexpectedly effective results. Those who sought his treatment left satisfied and spread word of his prowess.
Coincidentally, the government’s road construction was nearing Lin Village, fueling speculation. Why would such a remote place warrant a government-built road? Could the rumors be true—was Lin Village truly a blessed land, even attracting official development?
Lin Fang understood that initially, she and her mother might become the center of attention, as would Chen Dong and the monk Zixing. But over time, as Lin Village gained fame and followers willingly spent money there, the focus would shift. The once-obscure farming village, now radiating an aura of mystique, would eclipse their personal stories. People would remember only Lin Village itself, while Monk Zixing would fulfill every monk’s dream—to be revered as a spiritual master.
That day, after leaving Chen Dong, Lin Fang had sought out the monk to discuss the “blessed land” plan. The monk knew the truth behind Li Cuimei and Lin Fang’s transformed appearances, and he had personally treated Chen Dong’s recovery. Lin Fang’s scheme was, in essence, baseless. Yet, human nature being what it is—once someone starts a trend, others will follow, and the snowball effect would turn fiction into fact.
The monk was confident in his medical skills and spiritual stature. Moreover, Lin Fang’s plan harmed no one; instead, it promised prosperity. While the Lin family stood to gain the most, visitors would also find solace and hope in this “blessed land.”
The monk, too, had his motives. Though he cherished freedom, he also desired reverence—a common aspiration among monks. Was it worldly? Yes. But so what? He harmed no one and even brought benefits. If a little manipulation was needed to achieve fame, so be it.
Thus, the monk and Lin Fang reached an agreement. Lin Fang and Chen Dong would create the hype, while the monk provided the “miracles.” The plan took shape. As a respected elder in the eyes of Dalang and Li Cuimei, the monk strongly endorsed Lin Fang’s ideas. Knowing his genuine abilities, Dalang and his wife were heavily influenced by his words.
Though Dalang and Li Cuimei recognized their daughter’s scheming, as locals, they found the rumors plausible. How else to explain their own transformed appearances or Chen Dong’s recovery? Even the monk’s exceptional skills couldn’t account for such drastic changes.
One detail Lin Fang avoided exploiting involved the Lin family’s past and Dalang’s pain. Before moving to Baishui Town, Dalang had been devastated by his father’s rejection on his deathbed, his hair turning nearly white. Now, his hair had darkened, and his face glowed with vitality—a rejuvenation he attributed to no medicine, further reinforcing the belief in Lin Village’s blessed nature.
Regardless of their private thoughts, Dalang and Li Cuimei foresaw the business opportunities. An urgent matter demanded immediate attention: the lack of lodging for visitors.
The government road remained unfinished, and the detour path was long and rough. Fast travelers took half a day to reach Lin Village; if treatment went smoothly, they could return to town before dark. Slower arrivals reached the village by afternoon or evening, making return impossible—especially for the sick, for whom hurried travel worsened their conditions. Yet Lin Village had no inns.
The monk’s small mountain hermitage lacked extra space. Occasionally, he yielded his own quarters to patients needing observation, but this wasn’t sustainable. With winter hardening the ground, building new structures would be costly and slow.
After deliberation, Dalang and Li Cuimei decided to rent out their newly built compound, divided into smaller courtyards for guest preferences. Once proper inns were built next year, the family would move into the new compound, renting out their current home. The villagers’ old houses, now owned by Dalang, could house poorer guests, segregating them from wealthier patrons to avoid conflicts. Future inns would offer tiered accommodations—luxury, standard, and budget—plus private courtyards for discerning guests.
Dayi would dispatch a team to set up a temporary kitchen in the new compound, addressing immediate dining needs while training another team for the future inn’s restaurant. The three workshops’ sample stores would display Lin family garments for out-of-town visitors, with custom orders delivered for a fee.
Thus, Dalang resumed his old trade—landlord. The monk’s hermitage would also expand, adding guest courtyards for patients and spiritual seekers.
As for the future, flexibility was key. The Lin and Qi families had already secured most surrounding wasteland, ensuring first-mover advantage over outsiders eyeing the opportunity.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage