Chapter 88: The Clay Effigy of a Deity

A simple home-style meal left everyone who ate it exclaiming in delight, thoroughly refreshed and satisfied.

The various dishes, unlike anything this world had ever seen, astonished everyone again and again.

Especially Qian Dagui and Deng Hetong, who were tasting such fare for the first time and could not stop marveling aloud.

Even the usually taciturn Fang Baoliang ate with brightened eyes.

As for Ren Junlin, he was the most straightforward of all; he said nothing and simply ate, and a large portion of the feast ended up in his belly.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Ren Junlin patted his stomach and said, “Fang Yue, I’m going to have to come by often and eat at your place from now on.”

Fang Yue laughed. “Then you’ll have to pay for your meals.”

After chatting idly for a while, Fang Yue said to Fang Baoliang, “We’re planning to expand the market toward Banshan County. I was thinking of sending Fang Baochen there to study while I’m at it. You’re his older brother, so I wanted to ask for your opinion.”

At this, Fang Baoliang’s wooden face rarely showed a trace of pleasure. “I have no objection.”

What he cared about most now, perhaps, was his family.

Fang Yue said, “After you go back, talk it over with Baochen as well. Ask him whether he’s willing to go.”

But Fang Baoliang said, “It’s a good thing. There’s no need to discuss it again.”

Clearly, he felt that going to Banshan County to study was a good thing, something beneficial for his younger brother Fang Baochen. Since they had already decided, there was no need to ask Baochen’s opinion again.

He had originally been the sort of man as pliant as dough, to be kneaded however others pleased; but now, as his body changed, his temperament had grown stubborn and obstinate as well.

Fang Yue shook his head, thinking he would find a time to ask Fang Baochen privately whether he was willing to go to Banshan County to study.

...

The afternoon was gentle and mild beneath the autumn sun.

At the east end of town, before the Sea God Temple, a large crowd had gathered.

Today was the day the new statue in the Sea God Temple would be unveiled, and many townspeople had come to watch the excitement.

At the same time, they also wanted to take the opportunity to enter the temple and pray for peace.

Among the fishermen here, the Sea God was endowed with many duties: escorting voyages, granting blessings, suppressing demons, and more. Even those seeking recovery from illness, children, or wealth would come to the Sea God Temple.

It could be said that, as a seaside town, the Sea God Temple was the most important shrine in Fishhead Town.

Fang Yue came before the temple and looked up at the shrine standing by the shore. Blue bricks, white walls, and red tiles gleamed in the autumn sunlight.

Several willow trees had been planted on either side, and their long branches swayed with the sea breeze in a scene of easy grace.

So many people. What a lively crowd.

Xing'er followed beside Fang Yue, excitedly watching the bustling throng. She rather liked being where the crowd was thickest.

“Master Fang, please come inside with us to unveil the statue,” Deng Hetong said politely.

Fang Yue nodded, and the group moved forward, threading through the crowd and heading into the temple.

“It’s Scholar Fang.”

“Look, that’s Scholar Fang.”

“It was he who saved me from the sea bandits that day.”

...

When Fang Yue entered the temple, the first thing that caught his eye was the tall clay statue at the center upon the altar, its upper body covered by a large piece of red cloth. It towered at least three or four heads above an ordinary man.

Looking to either side, he saw a row of shrimp soldiers, crab generals, and a turtle prime minister, making this Sea God resemble the Dragon King of the sea.

Some of the shrimp soldiers and crab generals on the sides had also been remade, apparently because they too had been damaged in the sea bandit attack that day.

Though fashioned from the same clay as the Sea God statue in the center, once shaped, they had been assigned rank and worth.

Deng Hetong lowered his voice. “Master Fang, would you like to say a few words first?”

Fang Yue turned back and looked at the Fishhead Town residents gathered at the door, all gazing at him with anticipation.

His feelings were somewhat complicated. Turning back, he said, “Unveil it.”

He had only come to go through the motions. As for ghosts, gods, and spirits, he did not wish to entangle himself with them too deeply for now.

In a world where demons and ghosts ran rampant, Fang Yue could not be certain whether deities truly existed, so he kept his distance.

He walked up to the altar and drew away the red cloth covering the Sea God statue. Outside, thunderous applause erupted.

Before him stood the Sea God, wielding a great saber, his face stern and imposing, a long beard hanging from his chin. Carved from clay and painted with color, he looked startlingly lifelike.

For some reason, Fang Yue felt the statue’s appearance was vaguely familiar. He looked at it twice, but did not think much further.

Outside, the crackle and pop of firecrackers rang out.

Deng Hetong offered him three long incense sticks. Fang Yue took them, bowed to the statue, and then walked to the doorway, where he inserted the incense into the huge burner placed at the entrance.

After that, he smiled and nodded to the people waiting outside before stepping out of the temple.

The crowd then surged inside in a flood, busily burning incense and praying for peace.

Xing'er also followed the crowd in to offer incense. After coming out, she said to Fang Yue, “Young Master, don’t you think that Sea God statue looks a lot like you?”

Fang Yue thought about it carefully, and it really was so. No wonder the statue had seemed strangely familiar just now; it turned out it was modeled after him.

Although the expression, beard, and age seemed different from Fang Yue’s, the features of the face were clearly carved after his likeness.

Fang Yue frowned. A thought flashed through his mind, and he more or less understood: Deng Hetong had taken it upon himself to curry favor.

No wonder he had specially gone over to invite Fang Yue to attend the unveiling. So that was his real intention.

It had to be said that Deng Hetong was quite skilled at flattery, but unfortunately he had misread Fang Yue’s temperament, and the compliment had landed badly.

Especially now, when Fang Yue was deeply wary of matters concerning deities and preferred to keep them at arm’s length.

Yet Deng Hetong had gone so far as to fashion him into a god.

This only strengthened Fang Yue’s resolve to replace Deng Hetong as town magistrate as soon as possible. Originally, he had intended to let him remain for a while longer.

When Deng Hetong finally emerged from the temple, he saw Fang Yue’s darkened expression and instantly sensed trouble. He hurriedly said with care, “Master Fang, is there something you are dissatisfied with?”

Fang Yue said coldly, “What is the meaning of this fine work of yours? What is with that statue?”

“So Master Fang was referring to that. People speak of the Sea God’s legends, but no one has ever actually seen what the Sea God looks like. In the past, when statues were carved, the artisans relied entirely on imagination, so every Sea God statue in every place looked different. One town, one appearance.

“So no one really cares what the Sea God looks like. What people care about is the title of Sea God, and whether the Sea God can bless them with safe voyages and peace at home.”

Deng Hetong pointed at the people in the temple burning incense and worshipping. “The Sea God has simply changed his appearance, but look at them—who among them cares?”

Fang Yue also looked into the temple and indeed saw the crowd holding incense, kneeling before the statue, murmuring prayers, their faces full of devotion.

He turned back to Deng Hetong, a little surprised, not having expected that this sycophantic fellow, who knew only how to flatter others, could also have such insight.

Deng Hetong continued, “Master Fang has saved all the common people in our town this time. It would not be an exaggeration to call you a living Buddha to ten thousand households. Some townsfolk even wanted to build a shrine for you. After thinking it over, I realized we were just about to remake the Sea God statue anyway, so I simply had it fashioned in Master Fang’s likeness.

“If Master Fang feels it is inappropriate, I will have people dismantle it and carve a new one. And if you fear the gods will take offense, then all the blame is mine. I was the one who ordered the statue made, so naturally I should bear the responsibility.”

Fang Yue was silent for a moment, then said, “Forget it. Leave it as it is.”

He was wary of deities because he treated them as possibly powerful beings; if one were to say he feared them, that would not quite be the right word.

After Fang Yue and Xing'er left, Deng Hetong rolled up his sleeves and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking, At least I’ve passed this test, right?