"Butler, you said that Kong Yiji's life has started to get better recently?" This morning, Ding Juren asked the butler with a frown.

The butler nodded and replied: "That's right, since the last time you asked me to go to him to the house to copy books but he refused, he seems to have changed as a different person, writing couplets to various shops everywhere, although he doesn't make much money, but his life is indeed much better than before." ”

"It's weird, with his temperament, he shouldn't be able to do such a thing. Butler, go check if something happened to Kong Yiji recently? Ding Juren commanded.

The butler first nodded in agreement, and then asked with some apprehension: "Master, I don't understand a little." In fact, there is no need to be so troublesome to deal with a Kong Yiji, just let a few nurses beat him up, and even if he is killed, there will be no problem. ”

Ding Juren shook his head with a grim expression and said, "You don't understand, I don't want to kill him, I want to make him ruined and worse than dead!" ”

Looking at his master's expression, the housekeeper knew that he couldn't ask any more, but he was still a little curious, how could he make the master hate him to such an extent, did he have the ability?

Just as the housekeeper was about to retreat, suddenly a housekeeper knocked on the door and came in, and said to Ding Juren: "Master, that foreign monk and Kong Yiji are outside asking to see you." ”

"Foreign monk? When did Kong Yiji get involved with him again? And why did they come to see me? Ding Juren asked puzzled.

However, when he asked, he stopped the family, only to see him scratch his head in embarrassment and say: "This, this villain doesn't know, or I'll say you're not there and send them away." ”

Ding Juren thought for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "No need, let them wait for me in the living room, I'll see what their purpose is." ”

"Master, you, do you want to see Kong Yiji in the living room? This、This is too much for him, right? The butler said puzzled.

Ding Juren scolded: "What do you know? I'm giving Kong Yiji face, I'm giving face to that priest, you must know that the last thing you can offend now is the foreigner, and I also want to know how this Kong Yiji got involved with the foreigner. ”

After a while, the family took Father William and Kong Yiji to the living room, and as soon as they sat down, Ding Juren asked Father William, "This foreign priest, may I ask what you have to do with me?" ”

"Mr. Ding, I am here today to spread the glory of the Lord to you, and I look forward to you throwing yourself into the arms of the Lord!" Father William said enthusiastically with open hands.

"What glory? What embrace? I—Why don't I understand what you mean by that? Ding Juren asked puzzled.

At this time, Kong Yiji interjected on the side and said: "Father William means that he hopes that Ding Juren can join Christianity. ”

"What?! Let me join the foreign religion? This—how is this possible! Ding Juren said in shock.

"What's impossible about this, Ding Juren, you are not an official of the imperial court, and you are not subject to this restriction." Tang Ning pretended to be confused.

Hearing Tang Ning say this, Ding Juren was so angry that he was almost speechless, and pointed his finger at Tang Ning and reprimanded: "Kong, Kong Yiji, you can be regarded as having read the book of sages all your life, how can you say such a thing!" ”

Tang Ning unceremoniously retorted: "The book of sages doesn't say that you can't believe in religion, so are there still few Confucian disciples who believe in Buddhism and Taoism?" Why can't you believe in this foreign religion? ”

Father William also chimed in for some reason: "Yes, Mr. Ding, religious belief does not conflict with what you have learned. ”

"Go, go, go, what do you know, the old man will never believe in you, a foreign religion, you should leave quickly. Butler, send-off! Ding Juren impatiently kicked Downing and Father William out.

As soon as he went out, Father William said to him with a depressed face: "Kong, what can I do about this?" I don't think this Mr. Ding has any intention of believing in religion at all. ”

In fact, when he didn't come, Tang Ning knew that he would definitely be kicked out, because although Ding Juren was not an official, more than half of his power base came from his identity as a lifter, so he would not believe in Christianity if he was killed, let alone help missionary, and the reason why Tang Ning did this is to provoke him so much, so that he could do some irrational harm to William, so that he would have an excuse to suppress him with the help of foreigners.

So when he saw that Father William was a little depressed, Downing immediately persuaded: "Father, how do I feel that you are a little withdrawn? How can the road of spreading the gospel of the Lord be smooth? It must be full of thorns and twists, and this is the Lord's test for us. Father, are you going to back down when you encounter a little difficulty? ”

Downing can be said to have seen that Father William was a devout Christian, so he used this kind of words to stimulate him, and sure enough, hearing him say this, Father William immediately stood up and shouted: "Kong, you can question everything about me, but you can't question my loyalty to the Lord!" Now I have decided, I must show this Mr. Ding my persistence, and from this day onwards, I will come here every day to admonish him until he becomes religious! ”

Tang Ning, who had achieved his goal, hurriedly applauded: "Father, I believe that Ding Juren will one day be moved by your persistence and persistence, and thus throw himself into the arms of the Lord, come on!" As he spoke, he raised his fist and made a gesture of encouragement.

Although Father William didn't understand the meaning of this gesture, he still understood the meaning of Tangning's words, so he nodded vigorously and said, "Kong, thank you for your encouragement!" I also firmly believe that I will definitely impress him! But before that, I'm going to make arrangements for the church, Kong, can you start explaining the doctrine tomorrow? ”

"No problem, you'll see me tomorrow." Tang Ning replied confidently.

Two days later, Father William said to Downing with satisfaction: "Kong, you are a very capable preacher, and I have decided to hire you as a deacon from tomorrow, with a salary of five taels of silver per month, are you satisfied?" ”

Hearing this long-awaited invitation, Tang Ning hurriedly nodded and agreed: "Of course I am satisfied, it is my honor to be able to contribute to the spread of the gospel of the Lord!" ”

PS: Since I am not a believer myself, I will not make up the part about explaining the doctrine, so as not to cause misunderstanding among religious readers. In addition, I'm a standard atheist, so whether it's the treatment of Christianity in this copy or the treatment of Buddhism and Taoism in the later copies, it's all based on the needs of the plot, without any other purpose, please understand.