My Years in the Folklore World

Chapter 85: Childbearing Temple

"You came to the fertility temple in the north of Guandong City."

"This temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Childbirth, and she is very popular in Kanto."

"It is said to be very effective. Many couples who have not been able to have children have made a wish here and soon returned home to have children."

"You walked through the vermilion temple gate and saw two pale yellow prayer flags hanging from the beams. Amid the mist, a clay sculpture of the Goddess of Childbirth sat cross-legged on a lotus pedestal."

"Looking up, you will see the Goddess of Childbirth with a compassionate face. In her hands are thousands of red strings, at the ends of which are tied small clay dolls. The sounds of children's laughter are endless."

"But you also noticed that many of the red strings in the hands of the Goddess of Childbirth fell to the ground, and the doll on the other end had disappeared."

"That's because all the clay dolls were taken away by believers who came to pray for children."

"The Temple of Childbearing is a place where the Goddess of Childbearing prays for many believers. As long as you worship the Goddess of Childbearing and take away a childbearing doll, and then go home and burn three sticks of incense in the morning and evening to offer it, you will be able to have a precious child and your prayers will be answered."

"But the human heart is unpredictable. Although many people come to ask for fertility dolls, very few return them."

"These little clay dolls are the source of the Goddess of Childbirth's power and the foundation for the continuation of her life."

"If no one comes to fulfill their vows, the power of the Goddess of Childbirth will become weaker and weaker until the day she dies."

"You found the old priest of the fertility temple."

"When the old temple keeper knew your purpose, he readily agreed to your request."

"But there is a condition. You must retrieve those dolls for the Goddess of Fertility. As long as you can retrieve the dolls that she gave away, she will give you the guinea fowl she raises."

"Do you accept the conditions offered by the old temple keeper?"

Looking at the pop-up game text, Jiang Xinghuo had no reason to refuse, so he simply clicked on the screen and chose to agree.

"You have accepted the commission from the old temple priest."

"You have obtained the wish list of the Goddess of Childbirth (0/10)."

"The roster of the Goddess of Childbirth (common item), which records all the people who have asked for dolls from the Goddess of Childbirth temple but have not returned to fulfill their wishes. You can find them more efficiently."

Jiang Xinghuo looked at the mark on the back of the roster. He had to find 10 vow-fulfilling dolls before he could get the guinea fowl from the old temple keeper. It was really a thankless job.

"You left the fertility temple."

"You followed the records in the register and came to the old butcher's home. He asked for a baby for his son several years ago, but he never went back to fulfill his wish."

"You knocked on the old butcher's door and explained your purpose, but the old butcher was unwilling to do so. He gestured with the butcher knife in his hand and told you to get out of here as far as you could."

"You have no other recourse but to resort to violence."

"You took out the Qiankun Stick."

"You struck, old butcher."

"You have received incense +100."

"You walked into the old butcher's house, explored it carefully, and finally found the clay doll in the bedroom."

"You have obtained the Fertility Doll (1/10)."

In addition to the fertility doll, Jiang Xinghuo also found a lot of odds and ends at the old butcher's place. Unfortunately, they were of no use to him, so he had to throw them into his magic bag to gather dust.

"You left the old butcher's house."

“You have come to Mr. Shu’s private school again.

"Mr. Shu is the most famous teacher in Guandong City. After learning your intention, he tapped his forehead and quickly asked someone to fetch the fertility doll and asked you to return it to the temple."

"You have obtained the Fertility Doll (2/10)."

Jiang Xinghuo was a little surprised. He didn't expect that this Mr. Shu was so easy to talk to. It saved him any more effort.

In the following time, Jiang Xinghuo followed the map and began to collect the fertility dolls one by one according to the map branch options given by the game. "There is a boy in the grain shop on Kushui Street who has not yet fulfilled his wish. You can go and explore."

"There is a proprietress at the Western Watch Shop on Sifang Street who has not yet fulfilled her vow. You can go explore her."

"In the two houses at the end of Leather Pants Alley, there are two widows who have not yet fulfilled their vows. You can go and explore."

"In the bun shop outside the Great Sacrifice Temple, there is an old woman who has not yet fulfilled her vow. You can go explore it."

"There is an unmarried woman at No. 13 Rouge Lane who has not yet fulfilled her vow. You can go there and fulfill your vow."

"........."

"........."

One morning.

Jiang Xinghuo basically revolved around this task. After dying several times, it was not until after one o'clock in the afternoon that he got the 10 fertility dolls needed to complete the task.

"You have obtained the Fertility Doll (10/10)."

"You returned to the Birth Temple."

"When the old temple keeper saw you retrieve the fertility dolls, he smiled from ear to ear. He immediately tied the dolls to red ropes and went to the back to get you the guinea fowl."

"You have obtained the Pearl White Phoenix Chicken."

"Pearl White Phoenix Chicken (Ordinary), a large rooster of a different species, with feathers as white as snow, and pearly keratin protrusions on its body, which can ward off evil spirits. When it cries, the whole world will be white."

Jiang Xinghuo took a look at the text. The black dog and the white chicken were finally in his hands this time. He hoped that the old man could give him some good things, otherwise he would have worked in vain for the whole morning.

However, just as Jiang Xinghuo was about to leave, the game text suddenly changed again.

"The Goddess of Childbirth thanks you for your kindness in retrieving the doll for her, and decided to give you some small gifts as a souvenir."

"You have obtained the Little Longevity Lock."

"Small longevity lock (common item), a longevity lock worn when a baby is born, can protect the newborn from disease and help him grow up safely."

"You've earned it, little bellyband."

"A small bellyband (common item), a small bellyband with the magical effect of keeping warm in winter and cool in summer."

"You have been awarded the little rattle."

"A small rattle (a common prop) is a small toy that can help babies fall asleep quickly, and can also slowly nourish the spiritual strength of newborns."

"You've got it, crib."

"Baby bed (common item), a baby bed made of bamboo and rattan, which can prevent mosquito bites and help newborn babies fall asleep quickly."

Jiang Xinghuo took out a few things and took a look. They were all props for children and had no effect on adults.

He doesn't need it for the time being, let's wait until he has children.

Jiang Xinghuo shook his head, stuffed the things into the magic bag, and then controlled the game character to leave the Songzi Temple and head straight to the Shaoxiang Hutong in Shili Street.

Soon, he arrived at his destination.

"You have come to Shaoxiang Hutong."

"You followed the address that the old man told you earlier and found the old man's secluded residence in Shaoxiang Hutong."

"This house is located at the innermost part of Shaoxiang Hutong."

"You walked up and knocked on the door, and a voice responded from behind the door."

"..."

(End of this chapter)