Chapter 1478 - 743: Well Prepared
After leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Lin Beichen could only return to the Daoist Temple first before thinking of other solutions and making other plans.
But when Lin Beichen returned to the Daoist Temple, he learned that after recovering, Sima Li not only did not learn his lesson, but his reckless behavior intensified.
He paid no attention to the common people, and during this period, he rampantly ran wild in the city, acting as if no one else existed.
Another incident occurred that made Lin Beichen extremely angry.
While Lin Beichen was cultivating at the Daoist Temple, the City Lord and his men were wantonly irresponsible outside.
Recently, the price of grain in the city has skyrocketed, and it’s all because of the City Lord’s deliberate actions.
The grain prices are ridiculously high, making it impossible for the common people to afford them, adding much distress to their lives.
For a time, the city’s residents were filled with complaints, yet they dared not speak up.
They would rather starve than confront Sima Li. If Sima Li knew they had any discontent or resistance, he would undoubtedly deal with them more ruthlessly. The common people fear Sima Li immensely.
Upon learning of this matter, Lin Beichen was also very angry.
He even regretted having saved Sima Li in the first place, knowing what he knew now, he should have let him remain unconscious.
To prevent the city’s common people from suffering, but the incident had already happened, and regret was useless.
Lin Beichen was worried about this matter when suddenly there was a clamor outside the Daoist Temple.
Lin Beichen felt strange, not knowing who was causing such a commotion at the Daoist Temple, so he ignored it.
But faintly, he could hear what seemed to be the voices of the old village chief and the villagers outside.
Lin Beichen listened carefully and heard the villagers pleading desperately: "Old Daoist, please let us see Lin Beichen; ask him to uphold justice for us."
"If he doesn’t come forward this time, we’ll kneel here indefinitely. Anyway, we are dead either way, so it doesn’t matter to us."
"This Sima Li is truly overbearing, and the grain prices are just too high; if Lin Beichen doesn’t help us put a stop to this."
"Then there is no way for us to live; sooner or later, we’ll starve to death. You’ve seen the situation in the city: refugees are everywhere. We beg you, please."
Lin Beichen kept his eyes closed, not in a hurry to meet those people, continuing to meditate and cultivate.
The old Daoist hesitated after hearing the villagers’ requests.
After a moment of silence, the old Daoist said to the villagers: "Everyone, please be patient. I am aware of the current situation in the city, and I know life is tough for you all."
"But coming here to plead with him will do no good. He is alone, isolated, and weak. The City Lord’s forces are strong; what can he do?"
"I hope you can bear with it a little longer. I believe this matter will soon pass. Let’s not make things too big; try to turn big issues into small ones and small ones into nothing. Don’t escalate conflicts; you should go back."
The old Daoist’s actions were somewhat strange. He not only did not stand up for the common people but even hoped the old village chief and residents would let things be and said nothing further, turning away to inform Lin Beichen.
The villagers were somewhat disappointed at the old Daoist’s behavior.
They appeared anxious, discussing continuously among themselves.
"What’s going on? Why did the old Daoist leave without saying anything?"
"Is it because Lin Beichen is unwilling to help us, really leaving everyone to fend for themselves?"
"Could it be that we truly have no way out? Are we to starve to death?"
"Do we truly have to live in this dire situation, suffer their oppression, and not utter a single complaint?"
"Looks like our trip here was indeed in vain; they are all birds of a feather, who would care about us poor common people?"
The villagers were all extremely disappointed, initially hoping Lin Beichen would step up and find a way to solve this matter for them.
But now it seemed, that wasn’t the case at all.
The villagers were extremely angry, having borne so much, with nowhere to vent their discontent.
Originally, Lin Beichen was like their lifeline, but at this critical moment, they couldn’t even see Lin Beichen, making them very troubled.
As Lin Beichen finished meditating, he heard the clamor and noise outside.
This made him somewhat curious: why the old village chief and villagers were making such a loud ruckus at the Daoist Temple’s entrance.
What conflict had occurred, driven by curiosity.
Lin Beichen slowly got up, opened the door, and walked out.
He saw the old village chief and villagers still kneeling at his door one by one.
Lin Beichen looked at the old village chief in confusion and asked, "Old village chief, what is the meaning of this?"
"Why are you bringing everyone to kneel here? Is there anything you can’t say standing up? What kind of propriety is this?"
"Please, get up quickly, don’t do this, I’m really somewhat unable to bear this."
Only then did Lin Beichen successfully see the old village chief and villagers, wanting to inquire about the situation in detail.
The old village chief, looking troubled, said to Lin Beichen, "You don’t know; after you saved Sima Li, he not only showed no sign of repentance."
"He has now intensified his actions, not only rampantly running wild in the city but also harming the common people’s lives."
"To retaliate against everyone, he raised the grain prices extremely high, causing many common people to be unable to buy food."
"You don’t know, but the city is now filled with refugees, and people can no longer continue living. Many couldn’t withstand hunger and lost their lives."
"We came here today because we are truly out of options. If you don’t stand up for us, we really have no hope left; maybe all that awaits is a dead end."
Hearing the old village chief recount these things, Lin Beichen was infuriated.
He didn’t expect Sima Li to be this kind of person, and Lin Beichen felt some regret in his heart.
If he had known it would bring such suffering to the common people, he would never have agreed to the City Lord’s request to save Sima Li.