Mr. Turner was thinking optimistically, but he failed to notice a little tail following behind him. William Turner, panting and out of breath, hurried all the way, but only caught up after his father had already arrived at the Tianfei Temple.

　　“Yier, what are you doing here?”

　　Mr. Turner quickly grabbed William Turner. He still remembered how angry the little guy had been yesterday and was afraid he’d come today to make trouble. He pulled William Turner under a big tree to the side, bent down, and looked his son in the eye.

　　“Yier, I know you care about your father, but aside from this, your father really doesn’t know how to do anything else. In the past, I never understood what it meant to bow your head when under a low eave, but now I do.”

　　There was probably no one else in the world like Mr. Turner, who would almost speak in a low, humble voice to his own son. William Turner felt a sourness in his nose. In his memory, his father had achieved success at a young age and was such a proud person. If it weren’t for him, would he be willing to endure the wind and sun, or even curry favor with the monks in the temple? Where would his dignity be!

　　William Turner was truly moved. “Dad, I’m not here to make trouble. I’ve come up with some ideas to make money, so you don’t have to work so hard anymore.”

　　Tianfei Temple was in the old city of Liuhe Fort, dedicated to the goddess Tianfei, Mazu, the sea goddess who protected countless sailors. Back in the Yongle era, the Ming Dynasty launched the unprecedented seven voyages to the Western Seas, leaving footprints across half the world. Before each voyage, the eunuch admiral Zheng He would always offer sacrifices to the sea goddess at Tianfei Temple in Liuhe Fort, praying for protection.

　　Judging by the success of the seven voyages, the goddess Tianfei was truly effective!

　　Under his father’s guidance, William Turner took a walk around the temple. Passing by the “Stele of Zheng He’s Overseas Deeds,” William Turner put his hands together and silently recited a prayer. After finishing, he turned and left. Returning to the writing stall outside the temple, Mr. Turner had been watching his son’s expression the whole way and couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “Yier, do you really have a way to get money?”

　　“What, you don’t trust your son?”

　　“Of course I do! Yier, you’re the best!” Mr. Turner gave a thumbs up, then said sheepishly, “Yier, I’ve racked my brains, but I can’t think of any way to make money. What’s your idea?”

　　“If you want ideas, I have plenty!”

　　William Turner’s eyes sparkled as he smiled. “Take Tianfei Temple, for example. The conditions are pretty good and there are plenty of worshippers, but it’s too monotonous and can’t meet the needs of worshippers at different levels, so the incense money isn’t much.”

　　Seeing his father’s confused look, William Turner couldn’t help but laugh. “Take the incense for worship, for example. There’s only one kind in Tianfei Temple. But some people have high status and are wealthy, and they want to be more devout—they don’t want to be the same as the common folk. What should they do? It’s simple: the incense should be longer, thicker, and bigger. Ordinary incense costs just a few copper coins, or even nothing. Two-foot-long incense costs one tael of silver, two and a half feet costs five taels, three feet costs twenty taels, and five feet… well, that’s just too outrageous, let’s forget about that.”

　　Mr. Turner’s eyes widened. He had long noticed his son was different, but he hadn’t expected the boy to have so many clever ideas.

　　Ignoring his father’s surprise, William Turner continued enthusiastically, “And for example, in the main hall, there’s only a little novice collecting incense money, right? Everything is recorded in a ledger. But some people are short on cash and can’t give much, and feel embarrassed to register it. What should we do? Simple: put merit boxes everywhere—at the entrance, by the incense burners, in front of the statues. No matter how much, it’s all a token of devotion. As the saying goes, grains of sand make a tower, and fur from armpits makes a fur coat—it all adds up.”

　　“Also, how can worshippers leave empty-handed? Why not make some small trinkets, like Buddha statues, prayer beads, or the Shurangama Mantra, and give them as gifts?”

　　“Gifts? How does that make money?”

　　“Hahaha, Dad, you’re too honest. They’re called gifts, but would worshippers dare take advantage of the Buddha? They’ll definitely donate even more! Oh, and for those who give a lot of incense money, you can give them Buddhist scriptures—those you can write yourself. Also, maybe set aside a side hall to specially enshrine memorial tablets for deceased ancestors, and have the masters chant sutras and pray for them every day. I bet those filial descendants would be more than willing to pay—do you think they’d be short on money?”

　　Mr. Turner was completely convinced. Thinking it over, his son’s ideas really made sense. It seemed he wasn’t just bragging—he was even being modest! For a moment, Mr. Turner didn’t know what to say. His son’s ideas were indeed much better than just selling calligraphy.

　　It was just that this would require cooperation from the Tianfei Temple, and he didn’t know if Edward Clark would agree!

　　“Yier, are you confident you can persuade Master Edward Clark?”

　　“Hehehe, Dad, I already thought of a plan when I walked around the temple just now. Why don’t we go see Master Edward Clark together?”

　　“Alright!”

　　When they reached the meditation room, William Turner stopped his father with a hand and smiled, “Dad, it’s best if you don’t listen to the next conversation. Let me handle it!”

　　“Are you sure you can do it?”

　　William Turner chuckled and turned to enter the meditation room. Mr. Turner could only pace back and forth at the door. He couldn’t hear what was being said inside. Suddenly, there was the sound of a table being slapped, making his heart jump into his throat. After a while, there was laughter. Just like that, Mr. Turner’s heart rose and fell. When he was about to reach his limit, the door swung open. William Turner walked out in front, with Edward Clark following behind.