In the Qingping Township, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters and resembling a paradise, there lived an honest and simple villager, Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu's family had been farming for generations. By his generation, seeing the young people in the village going out to make a living, either engaging in business or learning skills, and living prosperous lives, he also had the urge to change his family's financial situation.

Therefore, Uncle Liu took out his family's savings over the years and borrowed some money from relatives and neighbors. Then, together with several fellow villagers, he plunged into the timber business. At the beginning, with his hardworking spirit and preliminary understanding of the market, the business was fairly smooth. Although he didn't earn much, it was enough to give him hope for a better life. He was full of anticipation that as long as he worked steadily, he could surely provide a good life for his family.

However, good times didn't last long. As the market competition became increasingly fierce, Uncle Liu gradually felt out of his depth. A batch of timber was soaked by heavy rain during transportation and was completely ruined. The buyers returned the goods one after another, and the capital chain suddenly broke, leaving him heavily in debt. Misfortunes never come singly. Immediately after that, several forest lands he had high hopes for, which he thought could bring him a large profit, could no longer be developed due to policy changes, and all the upfront investment was wasted.

For a while, Uncle Liu was plunged into extreme difficulties. He was frowning all day long and sighing. The atmosphere at home also became depressing and dull. His wife often cried secretly, and his children's eyes were full of worry. The originally warm home seemed to be shrouded by dark clouds, without a glimmer of light.

One day, Uncle Liu was selling some of the remaining agricultural products at the market to earn some money to subsidize the family. While he was busy, he happened to overhear the conversation between two old men beside him.

"Have you heard? There was a family in the neighboring village. They were extremely unlucky before, and nothing went well. Later, they somehow got a Qingming Talisman and worshiped it piously every day. Before long, their luck changed and their business thrived."

"Is it really that miraculous?" The other old man looked surprised.

Uncle Liu's heart skipped a beat, as if he had caught a glimmer of hope in the dark. He quickly grabbed one of the old men and eagerly inquired about the Qingming Talisman. Seeing his sincere expression, the old man told him everything he knew and also said that this talisman had to be drawn by a Taoist priest with profound skills to be effective.

After returning home, Uncle Liu thought it over and decided to visit Taoist Priest Xuanqing, who was famous in the township. Taoist Priest Xuanqing lived in a quiet Taoist temple outside the township. Usually, he answered questions and solved problems for the villagers and was highly respected.

With a nervous heart, Uncle Liu walked along the winding mountain path and came to the Taoist temple. Inside the temple, incense smoke curled up, and bells and chimes rang. The Taoist priests, dressed in Taoist robes, were either chanting scriptures or sweeping the floor, presenting a peaceful and serene scene. After seeing Taoist Priest Xuanqing, Uncle Liu bowed respectfully and told him about his bumpy experiences in business over the years. His words were full of helplessness and bitterness.

Taoist Priest Xuanqing looked at him gently and nodded slightly, saying, "Benefactor Liu, you have really had a hard journey. All things in the world have their causes and effects. Your current predicament is due to blocked fortune and the accumulation of yin qi. However, there is a way to break the spell."

As he spoke, the priest picked up a piece of yellow paper and showed it to Uncle Liu, "This is the Qingming Talisman. It contains the clear and pure qi of heaven and earth and inherits the spiritual power of the patriarch. It can dispel the haze, dispel disasters and misfortunes, and bring you good fortune."

Uncle Liu's eyes were full of anticipation, and he quickly asked, "Priest, how should I use this talisman?"

Taoist Priest Xuanqing solemnly instructed, "Every morning, you need to place this talisman on the altar table in the main hall of your home. Put fresh fruits, vegetables, and clear water as offerings and worship it sincerely. When worshiping, you need to close your eyes, concentrate, and silently recite what you desire and your gratitude to the gods. Remember, don't interrupt. Only by accumulating over time can good fortune come naturally."

Uncle Liu took the talisman with both hands as if it were a precious treasure. After thanking the priest profusely, he carefully put it away and returned home.

The next morning, before dawn, Uncle Liu got up early. According to Taoist Priest Xuanqing's instructions, he placed the Qingming Talisman solemnly on the altar table in the main hall. Then, he carefully selected several big and red apples grown by himself, a basket of fresh green vegetables, and a bowl of clear well water and placed them neatly. After that, he washed his hands, burned incense, and knelt down piously in front of the talisman. Closing his eyes and concentrating, he murmured, "Gods above, disciple Liu XX is now deeply in trouble. Please have mercy and, with the power of this Qingming Talisman, help me resolve the bad luck and enable me to revive my family business. If my wish is granted, I will be deeply grateful and offer sacrifices often..."

In the first few days, there seemed to be no obvious changes, but Uncle Liu was not discouraged. He firmly believed what the priest said and still carried out the worship ceremony unshakably every day.

Unconsciously, more than a month had passed. One day, Uncle Liu went to the market to look for business opportunities as usual. By chance, he met an old friend he hadn't seen for years. His old friend was now doing well in the building materials business in the city. After chatting for a while, the old friend learned about Uncle Liu's recent situation and couldn't help feeling emotional.

"Old Liu, I'm just worrying about not being able to find a reliable partner! You're so familiar with timber. Why don't we join hands and do something big? I have the channels, and you have the experience. It's sure to succeed!" The old friend patted Uncle Liu's shoulder enthusiastically.

Uncle Liu could hardly believe his ears. He widened his eyes and was stunned for a while before coming to his senses. His voice trembled with excitement: "Really... really? That's great!"

Immediately, the two discussed the cooperation details in detail. Uncle Liu gave a lot of constructive suggestions based on his years of experience, and his old friend appreciated him even more.

With the deepening of the cooperation, the business gradually got on track. Batches of high-quality timber were transported to various places, orders poured in like snowflakes, and funds began to flow back continuously. Uncle Liu not only paid off his previous debts but also saw an improvement in his family's living conditions.

When the villagers saw that Uncle Liu's life was getting better and better, they were all very surprised. At first, everyone just talked about it privately. Later, several curious villagers couldn't help but come to Uncle Liu's door to inquire about the reason. Uncle Liu was an honest person and didn't hide anything. He told them all about the Qingming Talisman.

Hearing this, everyone was amazed at the miraculous effect of the Qingming Talisman. Some villagers who were also in trouble followed Uncle Liu's example and went to the Taoist temple to ask Taoist Priest Xuanqing for the talisman. For a while, Taoist Priest Xuanqing and his Qingming Talisman became famous in Qingping Township, and the mysterious talisman technique in Taoist culture also made the villagers more in awe.

Uncle Liu knew well that his turnaround today was certainly due to the protection of the Qingming Talisman, but more importantly, he had never given up his efforts and had always maintained his kindness and perseverance in the face of difficulties. He often took his family back to the Taoist temple to express his gratitude to Taoist Priest Xuanqing. At the same time, he also shared his insights with everyone: "Although this talisman is miraculous, we still have to be down-to-earth and have a kind heart when we do things. Only by conforming to the way of nature, borrowing the power of the gods, and adding our own hard work can we truly get out of difficulties and welcome good fortune."

Under Uncle Liu's influence, the atmosphere in Qingping Township became more and more simple and kind. When facing setbacks in life, the villagers no longer just sighed but had an extra courage to face them actively. Also, the mysterious and profound Taoist thought, like spring rain moistening things, integrated into every corner of this land, nourishing people's hearts and helping them move towards a better life.