PCJ – Chapter 105 Inviting God

After being treated in the hospital for many days with no effect, the money they had brought was exhausted. The family needed to harvest the late rice soon. The kind-hearted doctor also reminded Chen Jinrong that although facial paralysis isn’t a fatal disease, the treatment varies from person to person. Some people recover quickly, while others may never recover. Chen Yingang was young and should have recovered quickly, but since all methods at the hospital had been tried with no effect, continuing treatment was not very meaningful. They had the option to either go home or continue treatment at a higher-level hospital.

Chen Jinrong naturally knew that facial paralysis might affect his son for life, but with an empty wallet, he had no means to take a gamble on his son’s recovery. He could only choose the lesser of two evils. First, he would go home and harvest the rice, then see if he could borrow some money from relatives and friends to take his son to a provincial hospital.

Additionally, Chen Jinrong had a vague suspicion that the reason his son’s illness couldn’t be cured was that it wasn’t a disease at all but a punishment from the Meishan Patriarch. He feared that even a provincial hospital wouldn’t be able to cure his son’s illness.

Although Chen Yingang’s facial paralysis hadn’t been cured, it also hadn’t worsened. He just looked somewhat unattractive. After returning to Duimen Mountain, he didn’t dare leave the house and stayed home all the time.

The elders of Duimen Mountain suggested to Chen Jinrong, “To untie the bell, the person who tied it must do it. Since Gangzi’s illness is a punishment from the Meishan Patriarch, you should ask for the Patriarch’s forgiveness.”

Someone recognized the desecrated statue, “That’s the statue of Zhang Wulang, the founder of the Fanyan Temple. Zhang Wulang isn’t very strict. If you go and ask for his forgiveness, he might spare Gangzi.”

Chen Jinrong bought offerings and apologized to the statue with prayers and kowtows, but there was no effect.

Someone else said, “That’s not going to work. You’re not a Meishan shaman, so you can’t communicate with the Fanyan Patriarch. No matter how much you beg, the Patriarch won’t hear you. It’s all in vain. You need to find a shaman to plead with the Patriarch; that might work.”

After some discussion, Chen Jinrong’s family decided to hire a shaman.

The most famous shaman in Meizikou was naturally Daoist Ma, Ma Wulang. His name was even just one surname away from the Fanyan Patriarch. However, due to the snake disaster incident, the child from Meizitang, Zhang Jiaohua, had also gained some fame. Many people believed that Zhang Jiaohua’s spiritual power was higher than Daoist Ma’s. But since Zhang Jiaohua didn’t perform rituals, Chen Jinrong decided to invite Daoist Ma.

Daoist Ma hadn’t had any business for a long time. Although his main job was still farming, and he had fields to work, he hadn’t been able to improve his life for a long time. Performing a ritual not only brought a considerable income but also allowed him to eat well for a few days. The chickens and meat used in the sacrifices could be taken home as a shaman’s perk.

“This is a difficult matter! Your son offended the Patriarch, so it’s no wonder he’s being punished,” Daoist Ma said, having no confidence in curing Chen Yingang. But he didn’t want to lose this business, so he hesitated.

“Daoist Ma, you must help us! If my son doesn’t recover, his life will be ruined!” Chen Jinrong begged, thinking Daoist Ma was unwilling to help.

“Normally, as neighbors, I should help. But you offended the Patriarch. If the Patriarch punishes me, too, what then?” Daoist Ma shook his head.

“Daoist Ma, please. We’ve tried everything else. My son has been treated in the hospital for many days, spent a lot of money, but there’s been no effect. We’re desperate, Daoist Ma,” Chen Jinrong pleaded, determined to try everything for his son’s sake.

Daoist Ma snorted, “Offending the Patriarch, no hospital can cure him. I can help, but let me make it clear: you offended the Patriarch. I can invite the Patriarch here, but you have to apologize yourselves. Whether the Patriarch forgives you is not up to me. If your son doesn’t recover, don’t blame me for not trying.”

“We won’t, we won’t,” Chen Jinrong, though harboring some doubts, had no choice but to try.

Chen Yingang hadn’t returned to school yet, and the school’s foundation was nearly complete. Except for some blue bricks, no other items had been found at the site of the Fanyan Patriarch’s temple. It was unclear how the statue had been preserved. Perhaps because it was buried in the soil, it survived the years.

The story of Chen Yingang’s facial paralysis due to desecrating the statue spread in the school. All the students began to fear the Fanyan Patriarch’s temple and dared not desecrate the deity as Chen Yingang had.

Chen Santou brought new news to the school: Chen Yingang’s family planned to invite Daoist Ma to their home to perform a ritual and apologize to the Fanyan Patriarch in hopes of curing Chen Yingang.

“Jiaohua, do you think Chen Yingang will recover?” Yaba immediately sought confirmation from Zhang Jiaohua.

“How should I know? It’s up to the Fanyan Patriarch. If he forgives him, he might recover. If not, he won’t,” Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t very interested in the matter. He was more curious about the whereabouts of the Fanyan Patriarch’s statue.

The Fanyan Patriarch’s statue was placed on the incense table by Daoist Ma, surrounded by many offerings, including several mooncakes. Daoist Ma arranged them into a pile.

Chen Yingang knelt in front of the incense table, occasionally straightening his back and staring at the various delicious foods on the table. The mooncakes seemed to emit a fragrant aroma. Chen Yingang couldn’t wait to grab one and eat it, thinking that after the ritual, he should be able to get one or two.

“Great spirits of the treasured hall, glowing and radiant, all gods bow to the supreme leader. Heavenly kings guard the golden clouds. We respectfully offer this incense. May the spirits be pleased…”

Daoist Ma chanted incantations and began to dance in front of the incense table. Then he suddenly tapped Chen Yingang, who was staring at the offerings, on the head, “Hurry up and apologize to the Patriarch. Kowtow quickly!”

Chen Jinrong and his wife also urged Chen Yingang, “Quick, beg the deity for forgiveness! Do you want to be crooked-mouthed for life?”

Chen Yingang finally started kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, but in his heart, he thought, “The deity can’t eat mooncakes anyway. After the ritual, those mooncakes are mine.”