How to become a Taoist priest starting from a brothel

After three heavy snowfalls, Huaicheng finally welcomed sunny days. The busy people took this opportunity to start a big shopping spree. Especially since this year's business was quite good, and with Liu Jianniang's fame spreading far and wide, attracting many literati and scholars, Huaicheng was naturally much more lively.

Especially in the outer towns and villages, which are far from the capital and have a hard time making ends meet, many people used to sell their children. But this year, because so many people have come from far and wide, they have set up tea stalls on both sides of the road. In just half a year, everyone has made a lot of money. Not only have fewer people sold their children, but with the New Year approaching, they are also willing to spend money to buy some things for their children.

"Father, Father, can I have a new hair tie?" The pretty little girl's face was still thin, but her eyes were clear and bright.

"Okay, this year Daddy will buy you even more bright red hair accessories to wear." The man holding the little girl looked at his daughter's affectionate behavior with eyes full of love.

"Yay!" the little girl exclaimed. In previous years, she wouldn't even have a new hair tie, let alone a new hair flower. With joy in her heart, she remembered what her parents had said, and a childlike thought sprouted in her mind: "We should thank Master Liu. She has made our lives better."

"Yes, thank you." The man stroked his daughter's head, his heart filled with gratitude towards Liu Dajia.

Back then, his family was extremely poor. His wife gave birth to a young daughter, and his mother fell seriously ill. This forced him, a strong and upright man, to almost sell his children. Fortunately, a storyteller's tale called "Candy" woke him up. Not only that, he later borrowed money to set up a tea stall on both sides of the main road. Because it was the first one, it made him famous. Now, although his family is not very wealthy, they can at least eat their fill.

The conversation between the father and daughter reached the ears of those around them. They exchanged a glance and smiled similarly. This year was indeed a good year, and the people of Huaicheng were truly grateful from the bottom of their hearts for having such a person as Master Liu who attracted everyone to Huaicheng.

The sound of horses' hooves, "clatter, clatter," came from afar, and everyone looked over. They saw a line of soldiers entering through the city gate, and they had no choice but to quickly move to the sides of the road.

"This is..." someone asked curiously.

"I wonder if something bad has happened during the New Year?" The old man thought of the chaos of many years ago and couldn't help but feel scared. He quickly gathered the New Year's goods he had bought, carefully checked that he hadn't forgotten anything important, and left the city early to go home.

Some people who didn't understand were curious, some were terrified and couldn't avoid it, and naturally, there were also those who knew the news and sat calmly watching from the sidelines.

"Has the truth come out?" A young man dressed as a scholar sat in a teahouse by the roadside, watching the soldiers' departing figures with a puzzled look.

"I see that the soldiers all came from outside the city, I'm afraid it's not..." The other boy at the table frowned slightly, his mind already full of speculation.

"These bullies got such a fate; it's truly a case of evil being punished and karma coming full circle," another young man at the table couldn't help but say.

"What do you think of Mo Zhu? Is it really possible for the Prince of Anle's Mansion to..." Zhang Ziheng was also sitting in the teahouse at this time. He had naturally seen the soldiers and, thinking of the news he had heard, couldn't help but ask.

Looking at the departing soldiers, Li Mozhu thought, "It seems the Anle Prince's Mansion is doomed this time."

"That's great news! That young master has committed many evils, so this is his just desserts." Zhang Ziheng was overjoyed and clapped his hands in approval.

“Yes…” Li Mozhu’s face showed no joy. He looked at the happy people shopping outside and thought of the scene he had seen when he went to study a few days ago. He couldn’t help but feel a little doubtful. “With the Anle Prince’s Mansion gone, will the people’s lives be better? Is what I’ve been studying so hard really meaningful?”

He said what he was thinking, and Zhang Ziheng's face changed slightly after hearing it. He looked at Li Mozhu with a wry smile and said, "Mozhu, if people from poor families like us don't study and cultivate our reputation to be noticed and recommended by aristocratic families, how can we protect our families?"

Li Mozhu stared silently at the tea in his hand, then glanced at the people on the street, his face growing increasingly bewildered: "I don't think the world should be like this..."

"The powerful families control the entire bureaucracy, from top to bottom, and even the emperor has become their puppet. As for us, we bow and scrape for our own revenge, while the common people are nothing more than ants in their eyes..."

"Mo Zhu!" Zhang Ziheng looked around nervously before saying, "Mo Zhu, walls have ears."

Li Mozhu stopped talking, looking out with a sense of bewilderment. Although he came from a poor family, there were actually many people in the world who were worse off than him. He had studied the classics and wanted to educate the people and look forward to a world of great harmony, but now he was just someone who was busy making a living in the arena of fame and fortune.

“Mo Zhu, I feel like you’ve become increasingly withdrawn lately.” Zhang Ziheng looked at him with concern. “I think you should take a good rest for a while. This isn’t right of you. Be careful not to cause trouble for the family.”

Li Mozhu hesitated for a long time before taking out a book from his pocket. It was the latest volume of "Biographies of a Hundred Flowers" written by Liu Yin. Because it was the New Year, the Zhang family and the Shen family jointly released an extra volume for the New Year.

"This is the latest volume! I didn't expect you to get it, Mozhu. You should have told me earlier, then I wouldn't have had to have people waiting around every day." Liu Ziheng took the book from his hand with delight and began to read it with great interest.

"Go read the last story." Li Mozhu pointed to the book, indicating that he should turn to the last story.

"The Flower of the Beloved Woman?" Zhang Ziheng quickly flipped to the last page, glanced at the story title which seemed a bit strange, but didn't pay it any mind and started reading.

His face went from astonishment to regret, then to a deep frown filled with worry. He looked at Li Mozhu and pointed to the book again: "You mean this story that alludes to the previous dynasty?"

“Yes, the literary inquisition in the imperial court has now spread to all parts of the country. Which scholar is not trembling with fear? And yet, Master Liu’s work happens to involve the royal family…” Li Mozhu’s eyes were full of worry.

"This... it's about the past dynasties, it has nothing to do with our current dynasty..." Zhang Ziheng hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

"That depends on who's doing the job," Li Mozhu sighed.

"Which one?" Zhang Ziheng asked curiously.

“Li Linfeng,” Li Mozhu uttered a name.

"It's him!" Zhang Ziheng's expression changed drastically, then he panicked. "Then let's hurry and go find Lady Liu to warn her."

“It’s too late…” Li Mozhu sighed deeply. “I went to the Liu residence when I found out, but the books had already been sent out by the Zhang and Shen families. Especially the Shen family, you know how fast they are. They sent them out overnight the day before yesterday, so now I think they’ve spread to at least seven or eight cities…”

“Then…” Zhang Ziheng frowned.

Li Mozhu shook her head, took a sip of her tea as if making a decision: "Now we just have to see if anyone will report us on purpose. We need to be prepared."

"What do you want to do?" Zhang Ziheng felt a sense of foreboding as he looked at his friend's expression.

"I want to..." Li Mozhu ignored her friend's changing expression from surprise to affirmation and told her about her plan.