The shopkeeper looked at Xia Feng with suspicion, seeing that he didn't know what a safety fee was.
Wasn't this utter nonsense?
Who came to Lingshan and didn't know about the safety fee?
"I don't know. I came from a very far place, I've never even heard of this safety fee," Xia Feng shook his head.
"Sir, this safety fee is an indispensable charge. It is collected by the Lingshan Buddhist Hall, and every person who comes to this border town has to pay it. Including all your consumption outside, such as shopping, accommodation, and dining, you need to pay a 30% safety fee. This safety fee is collected to protect you," the owner explained politely since Xia Feng didn't understand.
After all, Xia Feng was a guest who came to spend money, and he couldn't offend him.
As for Xia Feng's refusal to pay, he couldn't do anything about it. Anyway, no matter where you went in this border town, you had to pay this fee, unless you left the border town.
"Isn't Lingshan the birthplace of Buddhism? Why do they still charge this kind of fee?" Xia Feng was very displeased.
Buddhism preached universal salvation and detachment from desire. Yet, they exploited the poor by collecting this so-called safety fee. What was the difference between this and highway robbery?
Xia Feng wasn't unable to afford it; he just felt that Lingshan's practice was improper.
It was clearly preposterous.
"This... I can't really say. In short, it's indispensable, and you have to pay it wherever you go. We ordinary folk have no control over why the Lingshan Buddhist Hall collects this fee," the shopkeeper said, lowering his voice as if discussing something very important and daring not to speak further.
"I see. Lingshan is probably just a bunch of hypocritical bald donkeys," Xia Feng said, shaking his head after hearing this.
"Hush... Sir, please don't speak carelessly. Be careful of eavesdroppers. You can't say such things in Lingshan, or you won't even be able to leave this border town," the shopkeeper quickly made a shushing gesture, signaling Xia Feng to stop speaking nonsense, as saying the wrong thing could cost him his life.
Disaster comes from the mouth; one cannot be willful.
Moreover, Xia Feng's tone and words just now were all criticizing Lingshan. If the people from the Lingshan Buddhist Hall heard it, wouldn't they be beaten to death?
More importantly, Xia Feng had just insulted them by calling them bald donkeys, which was a grave offense.
After reminding Xia Feng, the shopkeeper's face turned pale because he saw that two monks were standing at the entrance, glaring at Xia Feng with anger.
It's over.
The shopkeeper's heart sank. He quickly expressed his stance: "Two masters, it has nothing to do with me. My warning him was useless."
Living in Lingshan, the shopkeeper dared not offend the monks of Lingshan.
The shopkeeper immediately distanced himself from Xia Feng's words, stating his position.
The two monks ignored the shopkeeper. They also knew the shopkeeper didn't have the guts.
However, Xia Feng had insulted them by calling them bald donkeys, which they had heard with their own ears. There was no use arguing.
Only then did Xia Feng turn to look. It was indeed coincidental that he met two monks right after saying those words.
But Xia Feng had said it and didn't take it to heart at all.
As for what they thought, Xia Feng didn't care in the slightest.
"How dare you insult us in Lingshan? Are you tired of living?" one of the monks, with a fierce expression, questioned Xia Feng.
Facing the monk's interrogation, Xia Feng smiled and said:
"I didn't say anything wrong, are you not bald donkeys?"
............