「December 31st, 2023. New Year’s Eve.」
"Feng, why don’t you bring your girlfriend home for the New Year? You’re not getting any younger. It’s time to settle down. Your mother and I are waiting for grandchildren."
"Dad, what girlfriend? She left me for a rich guy a long time ago. In this day and age, who’s willing to struggle with you if you don’t have money..."
"..."
In his tiny, few-square-meter studio apartment, Chu Feng hung up on his parents, a self-deprecating smile on his face.
He sat on the edge of his bed, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag before slowly exhaling. Smoke swirled through the cramped room.
He gazed out the window, lost in thought as he watched the brilliant lights of the street and the endless flow of cars and people below.
Five years ago, fresh out of college, Chu Feng had come to this city with his girlfriend to make a life for themselves, full of aspirations for success in the big city.
But reality had slapped him hard in the face. Five years of working menial jobs had worn away all the sharp ambition he’d had right after graduation.
A few days ago, the girlfriend he’d been with for five years had left him for a rich man, disgusted by how little money he made.
As for his parents’ suggestion to come home for the New Year, Chu Feng couldn’t even bear to think about it.
Staying alone in this unfamiliar city, despite the immense pressure of living expenses and the lonely lack of support, was at least manageable.
But if he went back to his hometown, he would have to face his parents’ expectations, the competitive boasting of his peers, and the cold remarks from relatives.
It was all something Chu Feng was unwilling to confront.
There was an old saying, ’Whether you’re rich or poor, go home for the New Year.’
But as an ordinary working Joe, how many people could truly face all that with a calm heart?
"The New Year holiday is still over half a month away. Why think so much? It’s just needless worry."
"I’ll go offer some incense to the God of Wealth. Tomorrow’s a new year. God of Wealth, you have to bless me. Help me land a big deal so I’ll have money for the holiday."
Chu Feng stood up and took two steps toward the northeast corner of the room. There, a small altar held a statue of the God of Wealth.
Although he said these things, deep down he knew he was only seeking a bit of psychological comfort.
As a young man of the 21st century, how many people really believed in this stuff anymore?
Nevertheless, he skillfully pulled out three incense sticks from below the altar, lit them, raised them above his forehead, and bowed respectfully three times.
Wisps of incense smoke slowly drifted upward.
"Oh, God of Wealth, I’ve been worshipping you for over a decade. If you can hear me, you have to help me get rich. A believer as devout as me is a rare find in this world."
"I hear you’re even handling Elder Yue’s matchmaking business these days. I hope you can set me up next year. I want to find someone young, beautiful, with a great figure, a good temper, and who’s also very rich. My stomach’s a bit weak—I’m only suited for living off a woman."
At this, an inexplicable anger welled up in Chu Feng’s heart.
"I hope my ex-girlfriend ends up with a total scumbag and gets dumped, so she can feel the pain of being abandoned too!"
The woman he’d dated for five years not only dumped him but also ran off with his entire savings of a few tens of thousands of yuan. She even maxed out his credit cards.
During those five years, Chu Feng had never let her get a job. He supported her completely, came home after work to cook for her, and waited on her like she was a queen.
For five years, Chu Feng had spent all his money on her, and this was the reward he got.
In this day and age, a man without money was like a spineless invertebrate.
As Chu Feng muttered on to himself, he failed to notice that the color of the three incense sticks had quietly changed.
The eyes of the God of Wealth statue suddenly twitched.
"Hiss—did my eyes just play a trick on me? Why did I think I saw the God of Wealth’s eyes move?" Chu Feng was shocked. A horrifying sensation made the hairs on his body stand on end.
But when he looked closely again, the God of Wealth statue was motionless.
"God of Wealth, was that you just now? Did you hear what I said? You have to help me! After all, I’m your loyal fan," Chu Feng continued to ramble.
"So noisy!" an ethereal, yet angry voice resounded.
"Holy shit! The God of Wealth is alive?" Chu Feng jumped in fright, staring in terror at the statue.
"You’re not some kind of spirit possessing the God of Wealth statue, are you? I’m telling you, whatever demon or monster you are, get out of here right now!"
"Demon my ass! This god is the mortal world’s God of Wealth! If I weren’t taking into account the fact you’ve worshipped me for over a decade, I would’ve sat on you and crushed you flat long ago!"
"You’re really the God of Wealth? Holy shit, the heavens have truly opened their eyes! They let you, the God of Wealth, descend to the mortal realm?" Chu Feng was in a daze, wondering if he was dreaming. He couldn’t quite believe it.
"The heavens opened their eyes my ass! This god descended to the mortal realm centuries ago! If I could return to the Celestial Court, would I still be here listening to you blabber? Even if I wasn’t about to fade away, you’d prattle me into oblivion!"
"The Celestial Court now... I fear a great cataclysm has occurred. There’s been no news for centuries. But I think I’m starting to understand what might have happened."
"Sigh... Forget it. I won’t explain these things to a brat like you. Consider yourself lucky. In light of you having worshipped me for over a decade, before my true spirit dissipates, I’ll grant you a great opportunity!"
"If I had any other choice, this god would absolutely not pick a chatterbox like you. You talk way too much nonsense. But I have no choice. Who else but you has worshipped me so devoutly for so many years?"
It wasn’t hard to tell from the God of Wealth’s words that he really disliked Chu Feng. But because Chu Feng was the only one who had worshipped him so devoutly for so long, he had to grant him an opportunity before his true spirit faded away.
It was Chu Feng’s devout worship just now that had allowed his true spirit to absorb the power of faith, enabling him to hold on a little longer. However, the power of faith was only effective when the worship was consistently devout.
When ordinary people prayed for wealth, how many were truly devout?
Most didn’t even know the proper way to burn incense and pay respects.
"Hiss—an opportunity? God of Wealth, are you going to help me become a god?" Chu Feng’s eyes gleamed. This was the God of Wealth! With the God of Wealth’s patronage, wouldn’t he be destined to soar to the heavens?
"Become a god? In your dreams! It might have been possible back when I first descended, but don’t even think about it in this Dharma Decline Era. Even if I helped you become a god, you wouldn’t be able to join the celestial ranks. Sooner or later, you’d just get struck by lightning!"
"Becoming a god means getting struck by lightning? Then never mind." Chu Feng immediately shook his head in refusal. He hadn’t lived long enough yet.
Although he was dirt poor and tens of thousands in credit card debt, he wasn’t suicidal.
"Shut up! Let me finish. My true spirit is about to dissipate. I’ve spent hundreds of years pondering and have developed a method that allows mortals to cultivate for longevity. I’m giving it to you!" the God of Wealth said gravely.
"Huh? Longevity? Why not give me a few mountains of gold instead?" Chu Feng said, a little dumbfounded.
"How vulgar! How can mountains of gold compare to longevity? In this Dharma Decline Era, the ability to cultivate for longevity is a blessing countless people could only dream of!"
"He who holds my Token can perceive the fortunes of others and can ward off disaster. If you punish evil and promote good, you can collect Merit!"
"Merit can be used for Cultivation, allowing you to embark on the path of cultivation and eventually attain longevity!"
Chu Feng listened on, completely bewildered. ’This stuff is so esoteric.’ He hadn’t understood a single word.
"Idiot! It means you punish evil, promote good, and do more good deeds to earn Merit! And that Merit lets you practice Cultivation and become a Cultivator!" The God of Wealth was so exasperated he could have coughed up blood. He roared in frustration.
"A Cultivator? What’s that?"