Chapter 73: Disheng Debt

By now, even Su Tingting could hear that something was wrong; the troupe leader Bai had brought that child to the Feng Mansion 10 years ago, which basically matched the time the coachman had mentioned.

Moreover, that child was only 5 or 6 years old back then; if she were still alive now, she would be about 15 or 16. Ancient times were not like the present; it was very normal for a girl of this age to be discussing marriage, and the Second Young Mistress they had seen was indeed young.

At the thought that this noble Second Young Mistress of the Feng family might very well be Chun Jie's missing child, Su Tingting could not help but feel a wave of goosebumps.

But soon, reason took the upper hand, and Su Tingting realized a key problem: this didn't make sense. If the Second Young Mistress really was Chun Jie's child, why would Chun Jie's Resentful Soul still want to kill her?

The perilous situation on the lake last night was still fresh in her mind, and Su Tingting did not doubt for a moment that Chun Jie's Resentful Soul intended to put the Second Young Mistress to death.

This question also troubled Yang Xiao and Kuang Hongyi. The waters of the Feng family were too deep; as of now, they had not yet fully unraveled the secrets within, and they did not know how many more things Master Feng was hiding from them.

Seeing that Kuang Hongyi had something to say, Yang Xiao lowered the thick curtain on the carriage door, and the three of them huddled together. Kuang Hongyi lowered his voice, "Brother Chu, have you ever heard of a Disheng Debt?"

As soon as these three words came out, Yang Xiao's expression changed instantly, and that vague feeling from before quickly took concrete form, "Is the Second Young Mistress the Feng family's Disheng Debt person?"

Seeing Yang Xiao's expression change, Su Tingting knew that there was a lead, so she hurriedly asked, "What is a Disheng Debt? Please explain it clearly."

Originally, according to Kuang Hongyi's personality, he did not intend to waste his breath on Su Tingting, as it would be of no use, but thinking that he might later need Su Tingting to deal with the coffin shop's Shopkeeper Liu, he patiently explained: "The so-called Disheng Debt is a fringe rule in the Yin Hang trade. I don't understand the specifics too well myself, but I'll give you an example. For instance, if a small fishing village that relies on the water for its livelihood suddenly has a year where they can't catch any fish, the villagers might think they have offended the River God at the bottom of the water, so they organize the villagers to draw life-and-death lots. The family that is drawn must contribute a girl to be offered to the River God as a human sacrifice."

"If a poor family is drawn, then there is no help for it, and they have to offer their daughter. But once a wealthy family in the village, or a family with good circumstances, is drawn, they certainly won't be willing to offer their daughter. At this time, they will rack their brains to spend money and grain to buy a child from a poor family to replace their own child and offer it to the River God."

"But the ancients valued fortune above all else. Even if they spent silver, this was, in the end, using someone else's child to pay for their own family's life, which would ruin the family's feng shui. Thus, the concept of a Disheng Debt was born. The general meaning is that after using a poor family's child to pay for a life, the wealthy family must also return a child."

"However, it is just a saying, so don't take it too seriously. Which wealthy family would be willing to let their own child suffer with the poor? So later, an unwritten rule was derived: after every ritual, the wealthy family must find another child from a poor family to adopt."

"You aren't allowed to pick; whichever one the poor family gives you, that's the one you take. Even if it's the kind that is terminally ill or disabled and hanging on by a single breath, you have to accept it. Furthermore, you must take good care of them, raise them well, and provide for them as if they were your own child for their entire life. That counts as paying the debt for the child who died. That is why this rule is called a Disheng Debt, and the child who is lucky enough to be raised by the wealthy is called a Disheng Debt person."

This explanation left Su Tingting stunned. Whether it was Kuang Hongyi or Yang Xiao, the knowledge of these two was far beyond her own. Now, Su Tingting could not help but feel a bit fortunate that she had followed the right people; if it had been Shi Dali, her fate would likely have been no better than that of Shi Guanming or Ke Long.

"Brother Kuang, you are truly knowledgeable!" Su Tingting praised him from the bottom of her heart, while asking in a low voice, "So, does that mean this Second Young Mistress is the Bai troupe's Disheng... Disheng Debt person?"

Kuang Hongyi did not commit, his brows slightly furrowed, "This is just my guess. Whether it is or isn't, we still need to continue investigating."

Things had developed beyond his expectations, and they had to leave here as soon as possible. Not to mention that Chun Jie's Resentful Soul was stirring, even Master Feng had developed murderous intent toward them. If they delayed any longer, they might really never make it back.

After a bumpy journey, they finally arrived at Wohu Village. Yang Xiao did not let the Martial Master surnamed Zhao and his group follow. The three of them took several turns and finally arrived at the coffin shop.

Just as they walked through the door, the young assistant they had met once before was busy sawing wood with his head down. Upon seeing Yang Xiao and the others, he was stunned for a moment, then scurried off to scoop a ladle of clear water and ran over happily. Just as Yang Xiao was about to take it, he saw the young assistant hold the ladle out to Su Tingting, his attitude very good: "Senior Sister, drink some water, I'll go call Master!"

Yang Xiao: "???"

Kuang Hongyi: "Senior Sister?"

Yang Xiao soon figured it out: Shopkeeper Liu had taken Su Tingting as his foster daughter, so her seniority had risen instantly; it was no surprise that Shopkeeper Liu's apprentice would call her Senior Sister.

Kuang Hongyi was also a reasonable person. Seeing Su Tingting's seniority rise, he naturally smiled, "Miss Su, I will need your help later with Shopkeeper Liu. You know that there are some things that Brother Chu and I find inconvenient to ask."

"Su Tingting, watch my cues later. When I tell you to ask, you state the Birth Date and Time of Chun Jie and the Second Young Mistress. With Shopkeeper Liu's cultivation, he will know at a glance if they are biological mother and daughter." This was the plan Yang Xiao had come with.

If they could confirm that the two were mother and daughter, then things would be much simpler. As long as they returned to the Feng Mansion and found some excuse to get close to the Second Young Mistress, then handed Chun Jie's belongings to the Second Young Mistress, they wouldn't need to worry about what happened after that.

Their mission would be considered complete.

Hearing that Su Tingting had arrived, Shopkeeper Liu soon walked out with long strides, accompanied by the young assistant. Seeing Shopkeeper Liu again, Su Tingting was in a good mood, but a moment later she felt a bit embarrassed, "Foster Father, we came in a hurry this time and didn't prepare any decent gifts. It is truly rude of us."

Shopkeeper Liu waved his hand, signaling it was no matter, then those empty eye sockets looked toward Kuang Hongyi, his expression imposing without anger: "And this is..."

"Oh, Foster Father, this is Brother Kuang, he is also my friend and has helped me a lot." Su Tingting was busy explaining.

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Liu nodded and then turned his face away, "Did you encounter any trouble coming here today?"

It was strange to say, but Kuang Hongyi had just felt a cold gaze examining him, yet... yet Shopkeeper Liu clearly had no eyes. It wasn't until his face turned away that the shivering feeling of being stared at slowly faded.

It was also at this moment that Kuang Hongyi labeled Shopkeeper Liu as dangerous. These people in the Yin Hang trade were the most troublesome; although their methods were not exactly above board, they were all extremely eerie. To dare to open a coffin shop that accepted those who died unnatural deaths, he imagined his abilities were also extraordinary. Su Tingting had truly struck gold.