Chapter 183

Early in the morning, Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes.

In this world, there is hardly anything more wonderful and pleasant than waking up after a good night's sleep.

If there is, it is waking up, opening one's eyes, and turning one's head.

Although the morning sun had not yet risen, a ray of warm light had already shone into his bedroom first.

A Li did not disturb the boy's sleep; she stood before the drawing table, painting.

The girl's long dress, white with green patterns today, gave a soft and hazy texture.

Yesterday, she had to go fishing and temporarily changed into a set of clothes; although today's was not the same set as yesterday's, it was a similar style.

Old Lady Liu was expressing her own unique stubbornness in this way.

Li Zhuiyuan woke up, then continued to lie on the bed, turning his head to watch.

When A Li dipped her brush, she turned her body and looked over here.

The girl's bright eyes met the boy's gaze.

Li Zhuiyuan felt embarrassed to continue lingering in bed.

He got up and washed.

If nothing unexpected happened, the boy should be playing chess with the girl next, waiting for breakfast.

But today there was an accident, and more than one.

Li Zhuiyuan went downstairs.

On the first floor, two coffins were placed; every time Tan Wenbin and Runsheng returned, these two coffins were their beds.

At this moment, Runsheng was standing by the coffin, looking at the situation in the neighboring coffin.

Li Zhuiyuan walked over.

Just as he approached, he sensed the intense resentment emanating from within the coffin.

It was condensed but not dispersed, stored but not released, like the cover used on the dining table in the village to cover food and block flies.

Tan Wenbin inside had a face as white as if it had been powdered, yet his lips were exceptionally bright red.

Generally, in this situation, the coffin could already be carried out and buried.

Li Zhuiyuan reached his hand into the coffin and tapped Tan Wenbin's glabella lightly a few times with his fingertips; the touch was ice-cold.

Then he followed the trend downward to touch his breath; it was as thin as a thread.

The situation was very bad and very serious, but not dangerous.

Because when he made contact, Li Zhuiyuan sensed the aura of two resentful infants trembling in fear.

Like children at home who had made a mistake, huddled in a corner, fearfully waiting for their parents' severe punishment.

The two resentful infants should have awakened from their overstuffed digestive state.

When sleeping last night, Tan Wenbin sensed the awakening of their consciousness.

Then, Tan Wenbin went to actively make conscious contact with them.

Standing from the perspective of an "old father," this act was very normal, just like opening the door to welcome his son back from boarding school, opening his arms, wanting to hug them as usual.

But the problem was, after the two resentful infants were full and digested, they grew up and became heavier.

But whether it was the two of them or Tan Wenbin himself, they did not have this consciousness yet, or rather, they did not have a relatively clear sensitivity.

The conscious contact Tan Wenbin actively made with them was equivalent to actively picking them up, and then... fiercely twisting his waist.

His current state was a feigned death caused by his body being unable to bear the impact of such rich resentful ghost Qi for a time.

If he had been influenced by other evil spirits, Tan Wenbin would already be in dire straits, but fortunately, the two resentful infants already knew they had caused a great disaster and had long since exhausted themselves to shrink their own resentment.

Tan Wenbin only needed to lie down and sleep for a few days, and his vital signs would gradually recover.

Although he did not intend to do so, this could be considered a baptism of resentment for himself.

His two god-sons had a full meal, and he, the godfather, also went up to lick the plate.

After experiencing this, the awakened Tan Wenbin's constitution would be more inclined towards a Yin spirit, which is the kind of person naturally suited to be a fortune-telling blind man.

In the future, his perception of evil spirits and the use of some techniques, including the most basic Yin-walking, would also be smoother; after all, his body was more adapted.

It could also be considered a blessing in disguise.

It was just that no one dared to replicate it, because if these two resentful infants had even a trace of distraction or other intentions in their hearts, then Tan Wenbin would surely die.

The two of them only needed to hook their fingers lightly now to complete a "borrowing the corpse to return the soul" on Tan Wenbin.

Li Zhuiyuan did not intervene.

He could forcibly strip the two resentful infants from Tan Wenbin now to ensure absolute safety.

But he knew that Tan Wenbin would definitely not be willing; he truly trusted these god-sons he had spent a long time with day and night, and he was also sincerely good to them.

Every time he flipped through the "Evil Book," he was extremely cautious, and he would try his best to avoid any possible risks in any adventurous acts in his daily life, but his team partners were all brave enough to fly.

To put it nicely, it was called forging ahead and pioneering;

To put it not nicely, it was called ignorance is fearless, not knowing what it is, and even less caring.

But one by one, he still had to clean up their mess.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Runsheng.

Runsheng understood what Xiao Yuan meant, turned around, and lit incense to eat.

"Brother Runsheng, help me find seven candles, and then set up a small offering table here at the head of the coffin."

"Okay!"

Runsheng immediately prepared the things.

Li Zhuiyuan first pressed his fingers on the inkpad, drew patterns on the coffin lid, and then placed the seven candles in the corresponding positions.

He waved his arm over the candles, and all seven candles ignited spontaneously.

This was the "Seven-Star Soul-Returning Lamp."

Helping Tan Wenbin stabilize his soul and mind could help him wake up and recover earlier.

Li Zhuiyuan tapped on the coffin lid with his fingertips and said, "Close the coffin lid, so as not to expose it and scare people."

"Alright."

Runsheng first carefully pushed the coffin lid, and seeing that the seven candles on top did not move at all, he increased his strength to let Tan Wenbin rest in peace.

At this time, Li Sanjiang yawned and walked down from upstairs to prepare for breakfast.

Seeing this posture, he asked with some confusion, "Lighting so many candles, what is this for?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "A method Brother Binbin heard of; doing this is equivalent to warming the house, and it will be more comfortable when living in it after a hundred years."

Li Sanjiang: "Where is this method from?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Rich old people in the countryside in Jin Ling all do this."

Li Sanjiang nodded: "Good, very good."

Of these two longevity coffins, Tan Wenbin was sleeping in Li Sanjiang's, and Runsheng was sleeping in Old Man Shan's.

Li Sanjiang: "Eh, where is Zhuangzhuang?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Zhuangzhuang went to Shigang to see his grandparents, saying he would stay there for a few days; he just left."

"Oh, this is as it should be." Li Sanjiang lit a cigarette for himself, as if he remembered something else, and hurriedly said to Runsheng, "Runsheng Hou, light candles on that coffin of yours too; let's warm the house for Shan Pao too."

"Alright."

"Runsheng Hou, what do you think of your Uncle Li? I really keep that Shan Pao in mind for every good thing."

"It's true, it's true."

"Being able to know me is the greatest blessing of Shan Pao's life."

"Right, right."

"Hehehe."

Li Sanjiang held the cigarette and waved at Li Zhuiyuan: "Xiao Yuan Hou, come here."

Li Zhuiyuan followed Li Sanjiang out.

Runsheng first closed his own coffin lid and also placed seven candles.

He tried to learn from Xiao Yuan's previous actions, waving his hand at the seven candles, then waving again.

Then he silently took out matches and lit the seven candles one by one.

Immediately after, he brought over a small fire basin and took some underworld money from the pile in the corner.

Nowadays, this kind of "Heaven and Earth Bank" money was still precious, and it was not used much in the countryside, so there was no inflation.

The face value was still one hundred yuan, fifty yuan, ten yuan; there were not many exaggerated zeros.

Runsheng found a small stool, sat down, and started burning paper for Zhuangzhuang.

On the dam, Li Sanjiang said to Li Zhuiyuan: "Xiao Yuan Hou, Great-Grandfather is going to Shigang Town this morning; do you... do you have anything you want to buy? Great-Grandfather will buy it back for you."

"Great-Grandfather, I don't have anything to buy; we have everything to eat and drink at home."

"Oh, hmm."

Li Sanjiang originally wanted to take Li Zhuiyuan to Shigang Town to draw a lottery; there was an event there this morning.

But on second thought, he shouldn't take a child to play with this kind of gambling-natured thing.

In Li Sanjiang's creed, the money in his hand, taking it to buy wine and meat to eat into his stomach, that is real; taking it to gamble is no different from taking it to burn.

But he really couldn't hold back, thinking of buying a scratch-off; when he dreamed last night, he even dreamed that he had won; he felt this was a good omen, a hint.

Drawing a lottery without any premise is gambling; drawing a lottery with a clear dream hint is called stocking up.

Approaching breakfast time, Qin Shu came back carrying a hoe.

When Qin Shu left here because of the Bai Family Town matter, Great-Grandfather felt sorry for a long time; after all, Qin Shu was really too capable.

Even ordinary farming families would not go to the fields so early.

Qin Shu basically finished the work in the fields using the morning and evening time, and went to deliver goods in the middle time.

Li Sanjiang simply couldn't like this kind of mule that knew how to allocate its own time to work enough.

However, every morning in the past, Xiong Shan would follow Qin Shu to have breakfast together.

Qin Shu went to the fields so early, and he, Xiong Shan, was also embarrassed to sleep in, and even more dared not sleep in.

But this morning, he didn't see Xiong Shan.

Qin Shu: "A Ting, I won't have breakfast; I have to go out."

After speaking, Qin Shu rode his bicycle and left.

Liu Yumei lived here; some tea snacks, tea leaves, and custom-made clothes in daily life all needed Qin Shu or Liu Yi to pick up.

Not long after Qin Shu left, Xiong Shan ran over, as if he had something to do.

Li Zhuiyuan walked over and listened to his whispered report:

"Brother Xiao Yuan, Brother Lin Shu You had an accident."

"What happened to him?"

"His body is a bit uncomfortable..." After a pause, Xiong Shan added, "My fault."

Lin Shu You originally had a bed here too, which was also a coffin, but that coffin was sold the day before yesterday, so he didn't have a bed.

Before Yin Meng made a new coffin, he had to go to Big Hu Zi's house to temporarily sleep in a separate, spacious large bed room.

Li Zhuiyuan followed Xiong Shan to Big Hu Zi's house.

He went to the second floor, pushed open the door, and saw Lin Shu You leaning against the bed holding his stomach, cold sweat streaming down his face.

After seeing Li Zhuiyuan enter, Lin Shu You shrank his neck, looking like he was afraid of being scolded.

Before sleeping last night, he sat downstairs chatting with Xiong Shan, and casually asked Xiong Shan for a few Chenzhou talismans, wanting to stick them on himself to try the effect.

He wasn't bold and confident enough to improve the Guan Jiang Shou system like Brother Xiao Yuan; he just thought about whether Chenzhou talismans could be used in conjunction with spirit-possession to improve combat power.

Unexpectedly, after sticking them on and possessing, the boy descended quickly and left quickly.

The Chenzhou talismans stuck on his body were also burned along with it, and the whole person made a "thump" sound, jumping up and down, dizzy, and immediately after, he started vomiting and having diarrhea all night.

It made him, a perfectly good martial artist, almost collapse.

Li Zhuiyuan walked in front of Lin Shu You and said, "Lie down."

Lin Shu You obediently lay down.

Li Zhuiyuan placed his finger on Lin Shu You's glabella.

Xiong Shan stood by and whispered, "I am shallow in learning; I checked him several times, but I never found any residual talisman paper aura."

Xiong Shan thought it was the chaotic effect of the Chenzhou talismans that had affected Lin Shu You's body.

Li Zhuiyuan moved his hand from Lin Shu You's forehead to Lin Shu You's abdomen.

"Does it hurt here?"

"No."

"Does it hurt here?"

"Yes."

"Did it hurt here from the beginning last night?"

"No, it seems to have changed position; it was lower down at night."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Seeing this, Xiong Shan let out a long sigh of relief, and then subconsciously asked, "Did the talisman paper effect remain here?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "No."

Xiong Shan: "Then it is..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You should send him to the town health center now."

Xiong Shan said in surprise, "Send him to the health center?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Hmm, he has acute appendicitis."

However, the inducing factor was not purely natural.

First, Chenzhou talismans form their own school and are not the same thing as the talisman paper Li Zhuiyuan used for Lin Shu You before.

Secondly, Lin Shu You forgot that this was not Li Sanjiang's house but Big Hu Zi's house; he actually dared to possess spirits facing the peach forest.

This made the Bai He Master Master Tongzi very difficult to handle.

Subject to the oath and admonition he gave the boy last time, the Bai He Master Master Tongzi dared neither to descend nor not to descend.

Therefore, after discovering that he himself was not here and there was no actual danger nearby, the boy came for a "quick descent and quick ascent."

He descended, and he left quickly.

This made Lin Shu You unable to complain to the boy, saying he didn't descend.

This descent and ascent, combined with the special effect of the Chenzhou talismans, was equivalent to fiercely shaking Lin Shu You's internal organs.

His body was indeed good and durable, but he was also shaken into trouble, inducing acute appendicitis.

Xiong Shan carried Lin Shu You downstairs, ran out of the house, and carried Ah You to cut his appendix early in the morning.

Seeing Li Zhuiyuan return, Liu Yi shouted, "Breakfast is ready!"

A Li was already sitting there waiting for him, and Li Zhuiyuan sat down beside the girl.

Runsheng walked out; he had just deposited more than one hundred thousand in the underground for Tan Wenbin in advance.

However, after coming out, Runsheng looked left and right: "Where is Mengmeng?"

In the past, Yin Meng would get up very early every day.

After all, she couldn't cook, but if eating wasn't punctual, it would look too bad on the face, especially since the one cooking every day was her master.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze fell on the west room with closed doors and windows.

He thought: Is there another living treasure?

Li Zhuiyuan stood up, walked to the door of the west room, stopped for a moment, and seeing Liu Yi still bringing out porridge, he knew that it was safe inside and the door could be opened.

Even, Yin Meng should also be safe.

When living at Great-Grandfather's house before, Liu Yi and Qin Shu would be very cautious, fearing being backlashed by Great-Grandfather's good fortune; now add another himself who walks the river...

Moreover, when he spoke to the spirit tablet yesterday, Liu Yi beside him seemed to be injured,

So, they could only be more cautious now.

In non-essential moments, they would not reveal extraordinary coping methods.

But Liu Yi would definitely not sit idly by and watch Yin Meng die under her nose.

Without knocking, Li Zhuiyuan pushed the door and entered directly.

In the room, Yin Meng was in a coma, and the side was filled with dense jars and cans, making Li Zhuiyuan not know where to step for a while.

Runsheng came to the door, and Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, signaling him not to enter first.

Immediately, Li Zhuiyuan bent down and very carefully put away these poison bottles.

After dealing with the surroundings, he walked to Yin Meng's side, checked her state, and found that it was very similar to her condition when she was poisoned and comatose last time.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to a small basket, in which were some antidote bottles; their quantity, relative to the poison bottles in the whole room, was like "a drop in the ocean."

Yin Meng seemed to only like studying poison and was too lazy to tinker with antidotes.

Li Zhuiyuan found the antidote with an emetic effect from last time, handed it to Runsheng, instructed him to brew it with hot water, feed it to Yin Meng three times a day, and by the way, instructed Runsheng to run to the health center to send some change of clothes for Lin Shu You.

After doing these, Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the west room, came to the well, squatted down, picked up soap, and started washing his hands over and over again.

Li Sanjiang asked with concern: "What happened to Meng Hou?"

"She has a cold, not serious; Runsheng fed her medicine."

"Oh, this season, it is indeed easy to catch a cold."

After Li Zhuiyuan washed several times, he still felt it was not safe enough, so he simply went upstairs and took a bath early in the morning.

A person like him, even if he had just killed a dead-fall, could sit down and eat safely beside it without feeling unlucky.

But Yin Meng's poison was different.

After taking a bath and coming down, Liu Yi brought the porridge that had been heated again.

When Li Zhuiyuan took the porridge bowl, he asked: "What is the harm of cold porridge?"

Liu Yi smiled: "Anyway, it won't kill anyone."

Li Zhuiyuan was relieved.

A Li handed over a peeled salted duck egg.

It should be that when she was waiting for him earlier, she had nothing to do, so she simply peeled the eggshell clean.

Li Zhuiyuan took a bite, and there was a feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry in his heart.

His team almost finished collectively in one day.

This is actually an inevitable phenomenon, because their strength and development have reached a certain level; wanting to pursue rapid improvement in the short term must be accompanied by greater risks.

However, they really cannot be allowed to mess around anymore; freedom also has limits.

It's time to set some rules; they can be allowed to have their own ideas, but before trying, they must report to him first and let him review it.

Fortunately, it is now in a short-term period of nothing after a wave.

When Li Zhuiyuan was eating, he saw Great-Grandfather preparing to go out.

But just as Great-Grandfather walked to the edge of the dam, he saw a young man in his early twenties riding a bicycle over.

"Uncle Li, Uncle Li."

"Who are you?"

"I am from Sanxin Village, I, the third Hou of the Wu family in Sanxin Village."

Third Hou means the young man is the third in the family.

"Oh, Third Hou, what's wrong, what happened?"

Li Sanjiang didn't know him.

Generally, people he didn't know who came to find him were for that kind of matter.

"Someone in the family passed away, wanting to invite Uncle Li to make a trip."

This was business coming.

Li Sanjiang: "What date?"

Wu Jianhua: "Just today, Uncle Li, if you have nothing to do now, go with me, and I will send you back."

"Today?" Li Sanjiang responded, "Did a child in the family die prematurely?"

Generally, only when a child dies prematurely will it be buried hastily, and there will be no grand funeral.

"Hmm. My eldest brother's child died prematurely."

"That's fine, I'll make a trip."

Li Sanjiang turned back and looked at the house.

Runsheng went to send things to Lin Shu You after breakfast, Xiong Shan was accompanying Lin Shu You at the health center, Qin Shu also went out, and Zhuangzhuang "returned to his hometown."

This house suddenly became empty of mules.

Li Zhuiyuan finished the porridge at this moment, stood up and said: "Great-Grandfather, I will accompany you."

Li Sanjiang hesitated for a moment; he wouldn't usually call Xiao Yuan Hou to go out and work with him, but this time he really lacked a helper.

Forget it, anyway, it's not a complicated matter; handle it quickly and return quickly.

"Xiao Yuan Hou, let's go."

Wu Jianhua: "I'll carry you, the child sits on the front bar, Uncle Li, you sit in the back."

Li Sanjiang: "I still have to bring the tools; you can't carry them."

Li Zhuiyuan pushed out the tricycle at home.

After Li Sanjiang put the tools away, he said: "Xiao Yuan Hou, come, you sit in the back, Great-Grandfather will ride."

"Great-Grandfather, I can ride."

"Little Kangzi, how old are you, your body hasn't grown well, don't use up your strength, this way you will suffer in the future."

Li Sanjiang didn't understand martial arts, but in his long life, he had seen too many situations where children didn't eat well or did heavy work too early, leading to developmental problems when they grew up.

Li Zhuiyuan could actually ride, but he didn't argue with Great-Grandfather anymore and obediently sat in the back.

Wu Jianhua rode the bicycle in front to lead the way, and Li Sanjiang rode the tricycle behind.

The two rode side by side on the side of the road without any public morality, chatting by the way.

Li Zhuiyuan faced backward, looking at the vehicles.

After a conversation, the situation of the Wu family was made clear.

The old man of the Wu family was named Wu Changshun, and he had four sons.

The eldest and the second were born to the first wife; the eldest was almost forty this year, and the second was two years younger than the eldest, named Wu Youhou and Wu Yougen respectively.

The third and fourth were born to the second wife Wu Changshun married after his first wife died; the third was Wu Jianhua, and the fourth was named Wu Jianxin.

The eldest Wu Youhou was married, but his wife had been pregnant three times; counting this time, it was twice dead in the womb, once died prematurely.

The second Wu Yougen was also very old and had never been married.

Wu Jianhua said it was because this second brother of his, who had a different mother, had a dull personality, didn't like to talk, and had never been able to find a partner.

The third Wu Jianhua was twenty-three, and the fourth Wu Jianxin was twenty-one; both were married, and Wu Jianhua's wife was currently pregnant.

The reason Wu Jianhua came to invite Li Sanjiang this time was not entrusted by the family, but entrusted by his father-in-law and wife; the eldest's child died prematurely, so they invited Li Sanjiang to perform a ritual to remove the bad luck in the family, so as not to affect the child in Wu Jianhua's wife's womb.

Arriving at Sanxin Village, the Wu family was a courtyard house; Wu Jianhua rode the bicycle directly in, while Li Sanjiang parked the tricycle on the road opposite the door.

When taking things off the car, Li Sanjiang muttered: "This really is having a stepmother means having a stepfather."

Li Zhuiyuan knew what Great-Grandfather meant; if the second of the Wu family only had a dull personality, it wouldn't be to the point of not being able to find a wife; if the family had no conditions, the third and fourth born by the stepmother were so young but were already married.

The boy helped move things together and walked into the Wu family courtyard.

This was formed by an old bungalow and two new brick houses.

The third and fourth families each lived in a new brick house, while the eldest family and the unmarried second lived in the old house with the two old people.

The child's body was placed in a cabinet, set in the room.

The child was three years old and died of illness.

Li Zhuiyuan walked up and took a look; the child was relatively thin, and his face was deficient, meaning congenital insufficiency; in all likelihood, he was not well-nourished in the womb.

Old man Wu Changshun sat on the threshold of the old house smoking a water pipe.

The second Wu Yougen sat on the steps, not saying a word.

The eldest Wu Youhou stood by the cabinet, staring blankly at the child in the cabinet.

The child's mother was lying on the bed in the room; Li Zhuiyuan looked into the room from the doorway, the woman on the bed was very thin, and there was a rich medicinal smell in the room.

This couple was almost forty years old, and the dead child was only three; in the countryside, it was considered a very late child; moreover, there were two miscarriages before.

The couple made great efforts for the child, but now, it had all come to nothing.

Li Sanjiang held a peach wood sword, first slashed a few times on Wu Youhou, then patted him on the shoulder: "Condolences."

Wu Youhou sighed sadly, nodded very reluctantly, closed his eyes, and said: "Probably, I just don't have this fate."

Li Sanjiang held the peach wood sword again and entered the room; Wu Youhou's wife was not asleep, eyes open, should have just cried sadly, had shed all her tears, and was staring at the roof beam with a numb expression.

After slashing a few times on the woman with the peach wood sword, he started chanting, interspersed with several sentences of comfort.

Li Zhuiyuan held a flag for Great-Grandfather and followed Great-Grandfather.

The role of this flag was the same as the peach wood sword produced by the furniture factory in Great-Grandfather's hand, which was useless.

But after entering the room, Li Zhuiyuan raised his head and followed the woman's gaze to look at the roof beam.

The woman was just desperate spontaneous behavior, but Li Zhuiyuan truly saw three pitch-black things.

Was it an evil spirit?

But it didn't look like it.

Huddled into a ball, not yet formed.

Li Zhuiyuan focused his eyes and looked carefully; this time, he saw it more clearly.

It was two small and one large, three black shadows.

There was resentment, there was evil, but it didn't reach the level of an evil spirit.

This stage was like bubbles constantly rising before boiling water.

This was also the reason why Li Zhuiyuan couldn't sense their existence outside the room, because they were still in the embryonic stage now.

Under normal circumstances, this was impossible, but the facts were placed in front of him.

Li Zhuiyuan quickly thought of the reason; Sanxin Village was relatively close to Siyuan Village where he and Great-Grandfather lived, which meant it was very close to that peach forest.

With it there, other evil spirits nearby were naturally suppressed, either avoiding or dissipating; as for unformed ghosts, they were almost unable to form.

Therefore, these three black shadows in the room couldn't last long and would dissipate on their own.

Of course, the ones on Xiao Huang Ying and Tan Wenbin's shoulders were accidents; after all, they had the label of "one of our own" on them.

After receiving Li Sanjiang's ritual comfort, the woman on the bed seemed to have recovered a little bit.

She nodded to Li Sanjiang to express her gratitude, and then looked at Li Zhuiyuan who was standing by carrying the flag.

The emotion in the woman's eyes was very complex, as if she saw her own child in the boy; she once had the opportunity to be a mother three times, but none of them could last long.

"Come, little child, come over."

The woman beckoned to Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan leaned toward the bed.

The woman sat up with some difficulty; her clothes were very ordinary, and she was not yet forty, but there were already many white hairs on her head.

She reached out and opened the bedside cabinet; inside were a few pieces of cotton candy wrapped in shiny paper; she picked them up one by one and then handed them all to Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan reached out and took them.

Immediately after, the woman took out a very wrinkled piece of money from her pocket and handed it to Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't reach out to take it.

The woman stuffed the money into the boy's hand and said: "The little child is visiting for the first time, take it."

Li Zhuiyuan still didn't take it.

At this time, Li Sanjiang, who was still performing the ritual, said: "Xiao Yuan Hou, take it."

They were not visiting guests, so logically they shouldn't take it. So Li Sanjiang decided to deduct this money when calculating the "wages" later.

Since Great-Grandfather had spoken, Li Zhuiyuan reached out and took this money.

The woman smiled, and there was a feeling of relief on her face, which was relief in the literal sense.

"Heh, hmph!"

At this time, the old lady standing at the doorway kept making nasal sounds expressing dissatisfaction.

Her name was Luo Jinhua, and she was the second wife of old man Wu Changshun, and also the biological mother of the third and fourth.

She was dissatisfied because she saw the eldest daughter-in-law giving money.

Li Sanjiang glared back at Luo Jinhua standing at the doorway; damn it, who is this stinky old woman giving a face to!

However, Luo Jinhua kept staring at the eldest daughter-in-law on the bed and didn't notice Li Sanjiang's dissatisfaction.

Li Sanjiang came out of the room, set up an offering table in front of the small cabinet, and continued the ritual.

Li Zhuiyuan helped carry the flag, hand bowls, and send incense on the side.

Just helping out, leaving all the rituals to Great-Grandfather to do.

Midway, even if Great-Grandfather signaled him to insert the incense into the incense burner, Li Zhuiyuan pretended not to hear and let Great-Grandfather take it over and insert it himself.

Great-Grandfather's ritual was actually useless.

But the dead cannot be resurrected; no matter how powerful your ritual is, it has no meaning at this time.

However, Great-Grandfather comforted everyone in the family, although when some people were comforted, there was no sadness in their eyes at all.

Great-Grandfather also said some words to the child in the cabinet, instructing him that the road ahead was dark, so he had to walk well and walk slowly.

While saying these, the woman in the room also got off the bed, supported the door frame with her hand, and watched this scene.

Finally, Great-Grandfather finished the ritual fully.

Li Sanjiang sighed three times, like a storyteller clapping a wake-up wood, as a reminder to the host: the work is done, it's time to give money.

Old man Wu Changshun of the Wu family put away his water pipe and entered the inner room.

Luo Jinhua glared at the eldest daughter-in-law standing at the doorway and also entered the room.

Even the third Wu Jianhua, who originally called Li Sanjiang to perform the ritual, was carrying his pants and went to the porcelain vat to relieve himself.

Li Sanjiang sighed for the fourth time.

Generally speaking, funerals must collect a deposit in advance.

After all, in every industry, it is inevitable that there will be "runners."

But this time, considering the child died prematurely, he didn't care about this, handled the matter first, let the child be buried early, and let the child's parents be at ease early.

Who would have thought that he would encounter the link of asking for money again.

Li Sanjiang stood there without moving.

The eldest Wu Youhou ran into the inner room to find Luo Jinhua.

Soon, the sharp voice of Luo Jinhua came from the room:

"I have no money, where do I have money, why should I pay for the ritual done for your child!"

"Mom, isn't my money all with you? The money I earned from odd jobs, the money from the second brother farming and selling grain at home, isn't it all handed to you? Where do we have any big money?"

"You say you have no money? Then why does your wife have money to give to outsiders? I saw it with my own eyes; this is called having no money? I think she has a lot of money!

Phew, a money-losing item that can't lay eggs, wasting the family's food for nothing!"

The eldest Wu Youhou's face turned white with anger and he walked out of the inner room.

The second Wu Yougen, who had been sitting on the steps accompanying his nephew's body, emptied his two pockets, found some change, and gave it all to his eldest brother.

But this money was far from enough.

The woman walked out of the door, came to the small cabinet, sat down, reached out, and stroked her son's body.

Wu Youhou ran out of the house, should be looking for neighbors to borrow money.

Not long after, he came back with money.

In the countryside, being able to borrow money so quickly means that one's character is very good on weekdays.

Luo Jinhua walked out of the inner room and scolded loudly: "You borrowed the money, you pay it back yourself, don't think about taking it from the public account!"

Wu Youhou ignored her, organized the money, and handed it to Li Sanjiang.

Li Sanjiang could see that this family was not acting on purpose to not pay for the ritual.

The living state of this family was just like this.

Li Sanjiang pushed the money away and said: "The money, your wife has already given it."

Wu Youhou: "This won't do, this won't do."

Li Sanjiang pushed Wu Youhou away angrily; he didn't pity him, but was angry at his incompetence; since this family still had a public account, it meant they hadn't separated the family yet.

This man was too weak and too useless; he hadn't separated the family at his age; Li Sanjiang really looked down on him.

"Xiao Yuan Hou, let's pack up."

Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward to help pack things.

When collecting the incense burner, Li Zhuiyuan saw the woman leaning against the small cabinet, and there was an abnormal congestion in her eyes.

He walked up, reached out without hesitation, pulled the woman's eyelid, took a look, and asked:

"Did you drink pesticide?"

As soon as this was said, Wu Youhou and Wu Yougen jumped up anxiously and went forward together to check the woman's condition.

The woman wanted to push them away, but white foam began to spit out from the corners of her mouth.

Wu Youhou hurriedly picked up his wife and sent her to the village health center, and Wu Yougen followed closely.

Joy appeared in Luo Jinhua's eyes.

It was not captured by Li Zhuiyuan, but the old woman didn't restrain it at all.

"Sigh, what kind of thing is this."

Li Sanjiang let out another sigh.

At this time, Luo Jinhua said to Li Sanjiang again: "Must bury, you quickly find a place to bury it, so as not to leave bad luck here; there is still someone in the family with a big belly, can't be rushed by this short-lived ghost!"

Li Sanjiang really wanted to take the peach wood sword and whip this stinky old woman a few times.

Logically, he should be responsible for picking a place to bury the dead child, but he didn't even collect the money for the ritual, so theoretically, the following matters were not his business.

But looking at the child in the small cabinet, Li Sanjiang finally couldn't bear it, reached out and pointed at Wu Jianhua, signaling him to come over and carry the cabinet.

Wu Jianhua stepped back a few steps, showing obvious resistance.

"You invited me here, anyway I didn't collect money, at worst I'll just leave!"

Luo Jinhua immediately pushed her son twice and muttered: "Hurry up, at worst come back and take a bath to remove bad luck."

Wu Jianhua then walked over unwillingly and lifted the cabinet.

Next, the rest of the Wu family followed to the fields.

Li Sanjiang was an outsider after all, so he had to pick a location where the Wu family could bury, and couldn't bury randomly.

After a process, it was finally buried.

Li Sanjiang wanted to leave here early, so he pulled Xiao Yuan Hou and walked very fast; they had to return to the Wu family entrance to get the tricycle.

The other Wu family members who followed to bury the child fell behind.

However, Li Zhuiyuan's hearing was good, and what they said, even if it was very far away and there was wind on the road, could be clearly heard.

Wu Jianhua: "Mom, do you think she can die?"

Luo Jinhua: "Found too early, estimated she can't die, all blame that little bastard beside the old man for talking too much."

Wu Jianhua: "That's a pity."

Luo Jinhua: "What's a pity, even if saved, the person is completely useless, plus at such an age, it's impossible to get pregnant again."

Wu Jianhua: "Hmm."

Luo Jinhua: "This child was really not easy to get, but fortunately it died; at the beginning, the dosage was too small; if it was like the previous two times, it would have been much easier to flow out in the womb, wasting the family's food for several years for nothing."

Old man Wu of the Wu family said angrily: "What are you two saying!"

Luo Jinhua was not only not afraid, but complained: "What's wrong, there isn't even a ghost around here, are you afraid of people hearing?"

Wu Changshun: "Don't talk nonsense outside!"

Luo Jinhua: "If the eldest knew a little more, don't think about having children these years, why would I have to do this?

Old thing, I am also doing this for your own good.

The eldest is a coward, the second knows nothing but farming. The third is filial, the fourth sent money to the state-run factory, this is promising.

You say who should we rely on for old age?

Besides, when the eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant the first two times, the fortune teller invited said it was a girl; I said to give medicine to beat it off, didn't you agree too? This child who just died should have left in the womb, but it didn't beat off, resulting in a sick child; whose family can afford to raise it?

If you ask me, the eldest is just tossing blindly, not as good as the second; so what if he doesn't marry a wife; the land he farms, the money he sells, is to raise the third and fourth families. When the children of the third and fourth families grow up, won't they remember the kindness of their eldest uncle and second uncle, and won't they still support their eldest uncle and second uncle in old age?

What's the difference between a nephew and a son? This good nephew is even closer than a biological son!"

These words all fell into Li Zhuiyuan's ears.

Getting the tricycle, Li Sanjiang fixed the tools and rode it to carry Li Zhuiyuan away.

Li Zhuiyuan faced backward, watching the Wu family courtyard get further and further away from him; he knew what those three black shadows were; they should have been stimulated by resentment when witnessing their mother drinking pesticide.

However, they couldn't form and would soon dissipate.

When riding back to the village road of Siyuan Village, Li Zhuiyuan said: "Great-Grandfather, let me get off first, I want to go to Big Hu Zi's house to play with Benben."

"Continue sitting, Great-Grandfather will carry you."

Li Zhuiyuan heard this and didn't say anything else; after sending him to the dam of Big Hu Zi's house, Li Sanjiang rode the tricycle back.

The boy walked into the peach forest; Benben was still placed in the small fence in the peach forest, playing with peach blossoms.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a peach branch and started drawing on the ground.

He drew the location of the peach forest, drew the roads and rivers, drew the location of Siyuan Village, drew Shinan Town, and also drew Shigang Town; finally, he drew Sanxin Village.

The boy raised his foot and kicked up a pool of peach blossoms on the ground; the peach blossoms fell one after another, completely covering the map he had just drawn on the ground.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up the peach branch and hooked it lightly; the peach blossoms in a small area were lifted, and the location of Sanxin Village was revealed alone.

The meaning was very simple: withdraw the suppression on the Sanxin Village boundary.

Deep in the peach forest, a voice came faintly:

"Do you know that doing this... you will also be implicated..."

"I know."

"Why bother... there are so many things like this in the world..."

Li Zhuiyuan took out the wrinkled banknote from his pocket and slowly unfolded and smoothed it in his palm:

"No way, who told me to take people's money."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 184 =====