Yao Chushun hesitated for a moment, then immediately laughed and said, "This is all thanks to President Zheng!"
Zheng Ronghua smiled and waved his hand.
"Mr. Gu, let Mr. Zheng take a look at those antiques that arrived the day before yesterday upstairs." Xu Zhengyang said calmly, "If Mr. Zheng takes a liking to any of them, well, I can't bear to part with more than one. If it's just one, let's give it to Mr. Zheng as a gift to express our feelings."
Yao Chushun nodded and said, "Alright! Brother Ronghua, please come upstairs."
Zheng Ronghua neither refused nor immediately stood up. Instead, she smiled at Xu Zhengyang and said calmly after a few seconds, "It would be impolite to refuse."
Xu Zhengyang squinted and gave a simple, honest smile.
Zheng Ronghua and Yao Chushun went up to the second floor together, but Xu Zhengyang did not follow. He sat alone in the inner room, looking out at the hall through the open door. Jin Qiming was standing in front of the counter, introducing several small jade items to two customers.
Nowadays, Xu Zhengyang is indeed willing to give away antiques worth tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even more as gifts.
It wasn't that he became more generous or less stingy after getting money. On the contrary, when Xu Zhengyang said he wanted to give Zheng Ronghua an antique, he was actually inwardly agonizing over the cost. An antique that Zheng Ronghua would even fancy... would have to be worth at least tens of thousands of yuan. Of the porcelain and jade pieces he'd acquired a few days ago, Yao Chushun said only one porcelain vase was worth over two hundred thousand yuan.
It's really not easy! This is the only good thing we have, and we're going to give it away for nothing.
But there was nothing he could do; Xu Zhengyang didn't like accepting too many favors from people. He believed that the hardest debt to repay in this world was the debt of gratitude owed to others.
Failing to secure the ancient jade for Zheng Ronghua was already somewhat infuriating. Yet Zheng Ronghua seemed unconcerned, instead prioritizing Gu Xiangxuan's interests and acting as its protector, which puzzled Xu Zhengyang. Could it be that he truly wanted to be Gu Xiangxuan's first choice buyer for any rare and unique treasures in the future? Or was it because of his friendship with Yao Chushun?
Whatever the reason.
Anyway, let's repay this favor first...
Given Xu Zhengyang's current perspective and mindset, shouldn't 200,000 yuan be enough to repay such a favor?
After lighting a cigarette and taking a few puffs, Xu Zhengyang put aside his doubts and picked up the county record. In his mind, the record flashed with light, showing a scene of Tian Qing and Xing Yufen in the detention center.
Damn it! Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but curse inwardly.
How much time has passed? Even though Hao Peng confessed that his cousin and his wife were involved in drug trafficking, Tian Qing and Xing Yufen have never admitted it, and the police have not been able to obtain more evidence to confirm it... How long will it take to get a result?
Mr. and Mrs. Cheng Jinchang don't have much time left to live!
Xu Zhengyang took out his phone and dialed Zhong Shan's number to inquire about the matter between Tian Qing and Xing Yufen, asking when there would be a result.
Zhong Shan said irritably, "Why do you care about them every day? Are you afraid they'll run away? This kind of case isn't as simple as you think. Putting aside the fact that the couple refuses to admit their guilt and there's no solid evidence, even if they did admit it, don't even think about waiting for a thorough investigation and a verdict in this kind of case—it will take at least half a year!"
Zhong Shan is telling the truth, but the problem is, Xu Zhengyang doesn't know any of this.
No way?
Xu Zhengyang stared in surprise, his mouth slightly agape, muttering a curse, "This is fucking..."
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 76: Cui Yao's Rebirth
It was past 1 a.m.
Outside the emergency room on the third floor of the county hospital. In the corridor, two middle-aged men, whose clothes clearly indicated they came from the countryside, were pacing anxiously back and forth. On a nearby chair, a boy who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old had a worried expression, but he had to suppress his grief and comfort his mother, who was still sobbing.
The door at the other end of the corridor was closed, and through the glass window on the door, you could see a young man of about twenty years old standing under the window at the entrance of the corridor.
He was wearing a light gray short-sleeved t-shirt, black casual trousers, and a pair of ordinary white sneakers.
In the early hours of the morning, ordinary people who can't sleep while standing in the hospital corridor are usually those whose relatives or friends are injured, sick, or hospitalized. They can't settle down and stand here alone, looking anxious or worried, smoking to relieve their boredom.
But the young man showed no sign of displeasure from his calm expression.
He faced the open window, one hand casually resting on the windowsill, the other holding a cigarette to his lips, occasionally taking a puff and exhaling puffs of smoke that drifted out the window and disappeared into the hazy night outside.
Outside, two rows of streetlights on Ping'an Avenue cast a dim yellow light that stretched into the distance; there were few vehicles on the street, and most of the shops on both sides had their doors closed. The dark windows and various signs looked somber and desolate under the dim yellow light of the streetlights.
Even now, Xu Zhengyang still has some hesitation in his heart.
Although the county record does not express any emotions or attitudes, the answer it gives makes Xu Zhengyang realize the seriousness of the situation: it violates the heavenly rules!
What are the consequences of violating the heavenly rules?
Xu Zhengyang inquired with the county clerk, but the clerk did not provide an answer.
This made Xu Zhengyang increasingly uneasy and annoyed... So, by doing this, he was undoubtedly taking a gamble. He was betting that all the gods and Buddhas had already disappeared, and that he was the only god in the Three Realms. In that case, the so-called heavenly laws and rules would become empty words in the face of him, the only god.
But... everyone has a selfish side. What if? Would they risk their lives just for Cheng Jinchang and Cui Yao?
A while ago, when Xu Zhengyang was considering having Cheng Jinchang and Cui Yao possess his body so they could be reborn as humans and live in the world, he said, "If you can continue to live as humans in this world, you will have to shoulder more responsibilities and take care of more people..."
Yes, it's undeniable that when Xu Zhengyang thought about this, he did feel a bit sentimental and compassionate. He knew that while Tian Qing and Xing Yufen were hateful and despicable, their young child was innocent and pure, and their kind parents were also innocent, honest and kind people: they always kept the saying "good deeds bring good rewards" on their lips, in their hearts, and in their lives.
Therefore, Xu Zhengyang would tell Cheng Jinchang and Cui Yao in advance that they would have to shoulder more responsibility to take care of more people, and that they would also have to make a decisive choice to give up hatred.
After being reborn, Cheng Jinchang and Cui Yao will not only have to take care of the relatives and family of the person whose body they possessed, but they will also have to take care of their original relatives.
This adds a layer of responsibility and pressure...
Of course, as the saying goes, no one gets up early without a reason. Xu Zhengyang wasn't simply a good person doing a good deed, risking violating divine laws to do such a good deed. Xu Zhengyang wasn't that great. The so-called benefit was that if Cheng Jinchang and his wife were reborn, they would surely know clearly that gods exist in this world, and that they must respect gods. They must understand the simple yet rarely truly comprehended saying, "There are gods watching over us."
So, what kind of shock would it bring when two strangers, a man and a woman, suddenly appeared in front of Cheng Jinchang and his wife's relatives, claiming that they were the deceased Cheng Jinchang and Cui Yao?
They will definitely not believe it at first, but they will eventually believe it.
At that time, the spread of rumors will lead more people to believe in God's existence, thereby revering and fearing Him. In daily life, they will naturally be more fearful in their dealings with others, especially when they want to do evil. They will have concerns and anxieties, and thus choose to abandon evil thoughts.
That's not the point. The point is... the power of faith can expand infinitely!
Xu Zhengyang's divine power will become more and more abundant!
Therefore, although possession and body-stealing consume a considerable amount of divine power, it is definitely a worthwhile deal.
Well, don't look down on Xu Zhengyang's mentality. I've emphasized it many times before: Xu Zhengyang comes from a small business background, he's very shrewd and calculating, and everyone is selfish. Xu Zhengyang isn't as noble and righteous as some people think. Only a fool would do a losing business without any profit, especially one that involves selfless sacrifice and the enormous, unknown risks of divine retribution.
Clearly, Xu Zhengyang is neither a saint nor a fool.
It's a pity. Time waits for no one. Tian Qing and Xing Yufen don't even know if they'll come out alive, and Cheng Jinchang and his wife don't have much time left to live.
Xu Zhengyang flicked his cigarette butt out the window, summoned the county clerk, and said softly with narrowed eyes, "Contact the judge or the City God again..."
The county directory flashed with light, then flashed again, and displayed: Contact failed.
"Oh, then don't blame me for breaking the rules on my own. I wanted to ask my superiors for permission, but they weren't here." Xu Zhengyang shrugged, which was a good excuse to give himself some peace of mind.
Xu Zhengyang retrieved the county record into his body, turned to the windowsill, and looked through the window in the stairwell at the anxious and grieving families outside the emergency room. He said softly, "Cui Yao, this time you have been reborn in another's body. I will expend a great deal of effort on you. I hope that after your rebirth, you will do good deeds and not do evil, so as not to disappoint me. If I discover that you have committed any evil deeds... I will definitely cast you into the eighteenth level of hell, never to be reincarnated."
"Thank you, Lord Gongcao." Cui Yao prostrated herself at the door, sobbing, "But when will my husband be able to return to life? If this is the only chance, I am willing to give it to my husband."
"You don't need to worry about that. In a few days, you and your husband will be reunited in the mortal world." Xu Zhengyang waved his hand and said, "Although you couldn't see my face clearly when you were a ghost, after all these days, you should be able to guess that I am also a person in this mortal world, and you should know my home address and name. But after you are reborn, you must never reveal my identity."
"Yes, yes. I know that heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, I absolutely will not." Cui Yao kowtowed repeatedly to ensure.
"Don't be too cautious. If you encounter evil people doing evil deeds, you can still find ways to punish them. It's also about doing good. For example, since you were resurrected this time, you should do something for this girl named Deng Wenjing."
"I... I'm slow-witted, please enlighten me, Lord Gongcao."
Xu Zhengyang paused for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "Go ahead and think about it slowly. I'll make the arrangements."
"Yes, sir." Cui Yao prostrated herself on her knees, then floated through the doorway and drifted towards the emergency room.
At the same time, the door to the emergency room opened, and two doctors came out, shaking their heads helplessly and saying something to the family. Although the distance was far and the door was soundproof, Xu Zhengyang couldn't hear what they were saying, but he guessed it was something like, "We've done our best, we're sorry."
The men stood there dumbfounded.
The woman's piercing cries spread rapidly through the corridors, filling the entire county hospital, drifting and echoing into the night sky.
Suddenly, two nurses rushed out of the emergency room, calling out in surprise to the two doctors who had already shaken off the family members and were leaving with a sigh of resignation: "The patient is awake! He's awake! He's breathing again, his heart is beating again!"
The two doctors turned around abruptly and ran back almost without hesitation, shouting, "Prepare for resuscitation immediately! Hurry! Hurry!"
The patient's family members were all stunned, looking hopefully at the tightly closed door of the emergency room.
Xu Zhengyang lit a cigarette, leaned against the window, and watched the other side through the glass. His expression seemed calm, but in reality, a layer of cold sweat had already formed on his back.
His mind was already observing the scene inside the emergency room through the records stored within his body.
Just as Cui Yao's soul entered the body of the deceased Deng Wenjing, Xu Zhengyang exerted his mental power. The instant he issued the authorization, he felt all the blood in his body rush to his head, then burst through the top of his head and be drawn out by an invisible force. His legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground, feeling dizzy and his stomach churning. He forced himself to stand, leaning against the windowsill and supporting himself on the wall, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
In just a few brief seconds, Xu Zhengyang experienced a terrifying journey from life to death and then back to life.
Since he acquired his divine office and became a god, no, since he had lived his entire life, Xu Zhengyang had never experienced anything that made him so terrified.
Fortunately, when Cui Yao's soul quickly possessed Deng Wenjing's corpse, the powerful divine force forced the corpse's stopped heartbeat and lung breathing to slowly resume, and Xu Zhengyang finally jumped out of that demonic state.
The doctors and nurses were all busy...
On the emergency table, Deng Wenjing remained motionless, like a corpse.
But the doctors and nurses were all surprised to learn a fact that astonished and seemed unbelievable to them.
Deng Wenjing has been rescued.
Unbeknownst to them, at this moment, within Deng Wenjing's body, a soul that originally did not belong to this body was gradually adapting to it, adapting to her thoughts, her memories, everything about her...
Finally, Deng Wenjing opened her eyes. Seemingly used to the darkness for a long time, she felt that the light was still a bit dazzling. She quickly closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again, looking at the light above her. On both sides stood doctors and nurses with relaxed smiles and joy on their faces.
Two strings of crystal-clear tears streamed down Cui Yao's face. She knew that she had been reborn!
As she was wheeled out of the emergency room by the nurses, her family, both familiar and unfamiliar, swarmed around her, weeping and calling out softly…
Cui Yao, or rather, Deng Wenjing, struggled to look up at the two closed doors at the end of the corridor.
Through the glass, she finally saw the man. He was young, with a thin face, squinting eyes, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and he was calmly watching her.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and Deng Wenjing no longer had the strength to prop her face up with her neck to look at the young man a few more times.
I lay down listlessly, my consciousness sinking into a weary daze.
The crowd pushed the cart into the elevator.
Xu Zhengyang calmed himself down, took a few puffs of his cigarette, and then, with heavy steps, slowly walked down the stairs, holding onto the handrail.
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 77: An Unintentional Change
Xu Zhengyang never intended to position himself as a great, righteous, and upright saint. This did not conflict with his duties as the local official in Cixian County, who also served as the land god of nine towns and ten villages.
However, now that he was in a clerical position, he felt he had to do something.
At the very least, he had to fulfill this responsibility. Although Xu Zhengyang still wasn't entirely clear on how he should perform his duties as the Earth God and the Chief Clerk, or what responsibilities he should bear, one thing was certain: gods must be fair. Otherwise, why would people, even in today's atheistic society, still involuntarily utter curses like "God is blind" or complain "Heaven is unjust," "Oh God..." when they encounter injustice?
Perhaps people today are unaware that when they utter such words, they are actually venting their resentment and praying to a heaven that they themselves believe cannot exist, to help them save themselves and uphold justice.
However, in this vast world, unfair and immoral things happen all the time, and Xu Zhengyang alone is ultimately unable to be in two places at once, making it impossible to manage everything comprehensively. Moreover, Xu Zhengyang doesn't believe that when there were gods everywhere, they were capable of personally handling every single detail.
First, they are too busy to handle everything;
Secondly, Xu Zhengyang vaguely noticed from the descriptions and records in several books that each book seemed to emphasize one point: the gods of the heavens try not to interfere in the affairs of mortals; the human world has its own rules, and the gods are merely beings who transcend the world, serving only to intimidate people.
This has created a rather troublesome contradiction.