LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 11:
Chapter 11: Creating Gods:
“You dare!” Lin You, Jueming, and Xuanzhi exclaimed in unison. “Are all the men in this family dead? Do you want a girl like you to go out and make money?”
Lin You sighed deeply and gestured for everyone to sit down. He took a deep breath and began, “Master, Xiao Ming, Xiao Hui, listen to me—”
“Don’t listen!” Jueming and Minghui covered their ears, shouting, “Either we all go, or none of us do. We’ll figure out the money ourselves.”
Lin You felt helpless but tried to reason with them. “Please, calm down. Let’s think practically. I’m the eldest son of this family. Someone has to take responsibility. Both of you have excellent grades. My academic performance over the years has been mediocre at best.”
He paused, letting his words sink in. “If we’re being realistic, I’m the one who should drop out. My grades don’t justify the cost.”
“What’s so great about being the eldest?” Jueming retorted, refusing to back down. “You’re not taller than me, and you’re not stronger than me. If anyone should sacrifice, it’s me. Your grades only dropped because you were stuck with the Lin family.”
He crossed his arms defiantly. “If it’s so hard to decide, let’s draw lots. Let fate choose!”
Lin You shook his head, realizing further discussion would only escalate matters. Jueming and Minghui’s resolve wouldn’t let them focus on their studies if he continued.
“Fine,” Lin You relented, “I won’t drop out. But you have to listen to me now.”
Xuanzhi, who had been quietly observing, coughed lightly and said, “Go on, tell us.”
Lin You looked at them earnestly. “Have you ever wondered why we’re so poor? Why is our life so difficult?”
Xuanzhi opened his mouth to respond, but Lin You interrupted. “Master, I know you’re going to say the world is balanced—that we’re poor now because we’re rich elsewhere. But I don’t agree.”
He leaned forward, his voice steady. “We don’t have to live this way. We’re sitting on a goldmine yet begging for scraps.”
Jueming’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “What do you mean? This temple?”
Lin You nodded. “Exactly. But technically, this isn’t our property. It belongs to the Bureau of Culture and Education—we’re just tenants. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t maximize its potential.”
Juehui tugged on Jueming’s sleeve, urging him to let Lin You finish. “Second brother, let him talk.”
Lin You continued, “You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘If the mountain is not high, the presence of immortals makes it sacred; if the water is not deep, the presence of dragons makes it magical.’ Our temple’s problem isn’t just its remote location—it’s also because it lacks anything that draws people here.”
Xuanzhi sighed, his expression heavy. “Do you think I haven’t tried? I’ve gone to the Bureau of Culture and Education and the Tourism Bureau countless times. They won’t allocate funds for development or even repairs. But they’re always eager to collect incense money.”
“That’s exactly why we can’t rely on them,” Lin You said. “We have to create something ourselves—something mystical.”
Everyone sat up straighter, intrigued.
Lin You turned to Xuanzhi. “Master, you’re a monk. In this field, you should be an expert. You’ve interpreted hexagrams and drawn lots for visitors before. I’ve seen it—your skills are remarkable.”
“But I’m not an eminent monk,” Xuanzhi protested weakly. “I’m just an ordinary person. Few wealthy people come here, and I lack the aura of divinity.”
“That’s okay,” Lin You replied, smiling. “We live in an era of information and viral trends. It’s all about creating hype.”
Lin You had been reborn for a year, and although he had glimpses of the future, they were limited to events related to himself. The grand economic trends and specific financial opportunities like stock surges or buried treasures were out of reach. So, he decided to focus on what was around him.
Jueming furrowed his brow. “What are you suggesting? A gimmick? A live broadcast?”
Minghui perked up. “I’m good at that! My copywriting even won citywide awards.”
Lin You shook his head. “No, we don’t need copywriting. What we need is… a spectacle.”
“A spectacle?” the three echoed.
“Yes,” Lin You said, his eyes gleaming. “Drawing from my four years of experience with the Lin family, I’ve learned one thing: at the peak of wealth lies metaphysics.”
“When people become rich, they start worrying about everything. They seek out the mysterious and inexplicable. Remember the businessman who visited the infamous fortune teller? After one session, he became a firm believer.”
Lin You grinned mischievously. “We’ll call it ‘curiosity.’ And we’re going to create a god.”
“A god?” Xuanzhi asked hesitantly. “What kind of god?”
Lin You pointed at him. “You, Master. You’re the god.”
Xuanzhi looked startled. “Me? What’s the attribute of this god?”
“Foreknowledge,” Lin You declared confidently.
Xuanzhi hesitated. “You mean divination? Isn’t that deceitful? It could be considered fraud or even sacrilegious.”
Lin You’s smile faded. “Master, did the Bodhisattva pay off our debts? Did the Bodhisattva take you to the hospital when you were gravely ill? When I was beaten to pieces in the Lin family, did the Bodhisattva step in to help?”
“Buddhas test the good, and ghosts haunt the weak. In today’s world, being a monk is more of a profession than a belief.”
Xuanzhi fell silent, unable to refute Lin You’s words.
Lin You softened his tone. “I have other plans, but I’ll wait until I graduate college. For now, I’ll focus on the college entrance exam. There’s still time to aim for a top university and secure a scholarship, which would ease our family’s burden.”
He was determined. Despite the years wasted in the Lin family, he believed he could make up for lost time. Qingbei might be out of reach, but other top universities were still possible.
The four of them began discussing details. The plan was straightforward: they would hire someone to visit Dinghui Temple for a divination or lot-drawing session. The encounter would be recorded and uploaded to social media, showcasing exaggerated reactions like shock, awe, and disbelief.
By creating a sense of mystery, they could attract attention and increase the temple’s popularity.
Lin You decided to enlist his classmates to act as visitors. Though he was an inconspicuous figure at school, he had a few reliable friends who could help bring his vision to life.