Chapter 46

"Brother Xiaoyuan, Runsheng, I think my eyes must be playing tricks on me, otherwise how could I see two people sitting on the dam at the entrance of Zhou Yong's house?"

Tan Wenbin rubbed his eyes vigorously, then continued to look.

The more he looked, the more he hunched his body, and the more he shrank back, silently shielding Runsheng behind him.

Seeming to feel that wasn't enough, he wanted to continue shrinking behind the boy.

When he lowered his head, however, he discovered the boy was watching him.

Feeling the awkwardness and embarrassment of being caught in the act, Tan Wenbin immediately puffed out his chest and paced forward in small steps, eventually standing back in a position side-by-side with Runsheng, though his calves were still trembling.

He actually had a relatively strong tolerance for things like corpses, given his family background, but his family learning was not in metaphysics.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't speak; after glancing at Tan Wenbin, he picked up the Luo Pan again.

The Luo Pan showed that everything was normal, without even a hint of a pull.

Although there was a distance between them, it shouldn't have been completely unresponsive, because Feng Shui acupoints are things that are said to be difficult because they change in a myriad of ways, yet simple because where the evil spirit stands, that is the Yin Sha position.

The village chief came over, climbed out of the vehicle, and asked, "Master Runsheng, have you still not found them?"

Runsheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan whispered, "Soon."

Runsheng immediately replied, "We already have a lead, it'll be soon, don't worry, Chief."

"Really?" The village chief breathed a sigh of relief. "Then find them and fish them up quickly, don't scare anyone else. Those in the village who saw them were so scared they got fevers as soon as they got home, and they've been on IV drips at the clinic for the past two days."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Zhou Yong."

Runsheng asked, "Chief, where did Zhou Yong go?"

"Master Yong? Master Yong should be watching people play cards right now, why?"

"He's still playing cards?"

"He likes to stand on the side and watch others play; he doesn't sit at the table himself."

"Oh, I see."

"Farm work in the fields always has a time when it's finished, and the work of laying nets and fishing in the river isn't there every day. When he has nothing to do, Master Yong goes to watch people play cards. People, no matter how bitter their lives are, have to find some joy for themselves; who wants to walk around with a gloomy face every day?"

"Mm, true."

"It's just that Master Yong, how should I put it, he's really something else."

"I heard he donated a bridge?"

"Mm, that bridge was donated by him. Originally, there wasn't much need to build a bridge there, and not many people walked that way, but he insisted on donating it, saying it was to accumulate virtue and pray for his wife and children."

I really couldn't talk him out of it, so we raised a little in the village, added his share, and built that bridge. I reckon that once the roads are repaired more in the future, there should be more people walking across that bridge."

"I don't understand why he did that."

"It's right that you don't understand. Master Yong is a good person, and he's well-liked in the village, but ever since his wife and children got sick, he's become a bit superstitious. Apart from when he's watching cards and can be quiet, at other times, if you say a few more words to him, he'll lead you into that ghostly nonsense. I don't know whose soul-stealing soup he drank."

Logically speaking, it's a good thing for someone to donate money to build a bridge, but I advised him at the time, I said: Master Yong, with this money, you should either tear down your house and rebuild a brick one, or buy your wife and children something good to eat, drink, and wear. Our village isn't lacking that bridge, and your family is in urgent need of this money to make life a bit more comfortable."

Heh, he wouldn't listen, saying if the village didn't agree to build it, he'd find a construction team himself. Master Runsheng, you tell me, what other way did I have?"

I've been having a headache over this matter for the past few days. I kindly helped his family apply for a subsistence allowance and some subsidies, and with him donating money to build a bridge, good heavens, he directly put me on the fire to be roasted."

Damn it... sigh, never mind. Master Runsheng, let me know once you've fished them up. When the work is done, I'll set up a small drink for you and your grandfather at my place, and the village will provide a red envelope."

"Mm, you go ahead and get busy, Chief."

After the village chief left, the mother and daughter on the small dam were still there.

Li Zhuiyuan took a step and walked toward Zhou Yong's house; he wanted to verify his guess.

Seeing this, Runsheng naturally walked in front of Xiaoyuan again.

Tan Wenbin stood stunned for a few seconds, then lowered his head and followed quickly. Although he didn't dare to walk side-by-side with Runsheng, he at least managed to walk in front of Xiaoyuan.

The closer they got, the clearer the mother and daughter on the small dam became.

The woman was sitting on a stool, and the girl was snuggled in her arms. The mother and daughter were chatting and laughing, looking very warm.

Cold sweat began to pour from Tan Wenbin. He would occasionally raise his head to look, and after one glance, he would immediately lower his head again.

In his mind, all he could see were images of the girl curled up in the rice jar and the woman lying in the cotton batting.

When they reached the section of the road near the house entrance, Li Zhuiyuan stopped.

Finally, Li Zhuiyuan stopped.

"Brother Binbin, you continue walking forward."

"Ah? Okay."

Tan Wenbin hugged his arms, kept his head down, and continued walking forward. When he reached the front of the dam, he stopped and looked at the house, discovering that it was empty, and the mother and daughter from before had also disappeared.

"There's no one..." Tan Wenbin turned around, showing a very puzzled expression.

Li Zhuiyuan waved at him, signaling him to come back, and Tan Wenbin sprinted back.

Looking at the dam again, hey, that mother and daughter had actually appeared there again.

"This..."

"Brother Runsheng, you walk forward."

"Okay."

Runsheng walked forward, reached the position where Binbin had stopped, and turned his head to look at the dam.

Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin, who were standing behind, saw Runsheng awkwardly raise his hand and wave at the dam.

"Runsheng can see them?"

"Mm, because Brother Runsheng is from this village."

"It can be like this?"

"Because he doesn't want others to know that his wife and children are already dead."

"He, are you referring to Zhou Yong?"

"Mm."

"But, Brother Xiaoyuan, since his wife and children are here, then who is the one swimming in the river?"

"Zhou Yong, probably."

"Ah? But didn't the village chief just say that Zhou Yong was watching people play cards?"

"Dead things can move, you know."

"A dead thing going ashore to watch people in the village play cards, is it that outrageous?"

"Didn't you just eat the food made by a dead thing? Remember that plate of blanched shrimp on the table? You were the one who ate the most."

"I... I didn't know."

Runsheng walked back and said, "Just now, they waved and greeted me."

"Mm."

Runsheng pulled the Yellow River shovel out of the sack and asked, "Should I smash it over there?"

"No need, actually there's nothing there."

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the well covered by a large bamboo hat on the dam—a reflection in the mirror, a moon in the water.

He couldn't help but think about how he would set it up if he were doing it himself. At the very least, he wouldn't make it so low-level. At a minimum, he would set up a miasma to lure people passing by outside to the inside.

Like dropping dumplings, luring them one by one into the well.

Li Zhuiyuan took a breath and reached out to pat his own forehead: Sigh, Wei Zhengdao, you really aren't a decent person.

"Let's go, Brother Runsheng, let's go find Zhou Yong."

Runsheng scratched his head: "But I don't know which hall Zhou Yong is watching cards in."

"Just go to the biggest one. Even if he's not there, it's convenient to ask people. Mm, it's the one where we won money last time."

The three of them walked along the village road and soon arrived at that hall.

The short, fat Zhou Fabao was standing at the edge of the dam, with his back to the road, pulling out his bird, humming a song while fertilizing his small vegetable garden.

Turning his head, he saw three people walking toward here, and he subconsciously accelerated his process, wanting to arrange for the guests.

But looking closely, he discovered it was Runsheng, and looking at that boy, it was the same one from last time.

Zhou Fabao was so scared he shuddered and hurriedly shook his bird.

"Ah, what are you guys doing?"

The people had already stepped onto the dam, but Zhou Fabao didn't welcome them; instead, he stood there, half-blocking them.

Last time these two came to his place to play cards, they ended up smashing his table, and the cups and ashtrays were shattered all over the floor.

Although they were very reasonable and paid for the damages, he was doing this kind of business that couldn't see the light of day, and what he feared most was making a scene. He didn't dare let these two play cards at his place again.

Runsheng asked, "We aren't here to play cards; we're here to find someone. Is Zhou Yong here at your place?"

"Master Yong?" Zhou Fabao smiled. "He didn't come to my place today; he should be watching cards at someone else's place."

"Oh." Runsheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan. "Xiaoyuan, Zhou Yong isn't here."

"The boss is lying."

Zhou Fabao: "..."

Last time when they came here to play Fried Golden Flower, Li Zhuiyuan had memorized the physiognomy details of everyone at the card table. Because the boss would come to serve tea and water and collect lucky money, he counted as half a person at the table, so Zhou Fabao's physiognomy was also "recorded" by Li Zhuiyuan.

Although he wasn't at the card table now, Li Zhuiyuan could still tell the boss was "deceiving"; his micro-expressions didn't match his "card type."

Runsheng turned his head to look at Zhou Fabao and asked again with a heavier tone: "Is Zhou Yong really not here?"

Zhou Fabao waved his hands non-stop, while showing an extremely aggrieved expression: "He's really not here, why would I lie to you? What benefit would I get?"

Li Zhuiyuan was just about to remind Runsheng to recall the scenes of threatening people in movies, but Tan Wenbin's movements were faster.

He had a faux-leather wallet, took it out, opened it, and pulled out a family photo where all the men except him were wearing police uniforms.

He placed the photo in front of Zhou Fabao and asked: "Speak, is Zhou Yong here at your place or not!"

Zhou Fabao swallowed with some difficulty: "He is."

"We have something to ask him."

As he spoke, Tan Wenbin walked straight inside, his shoulder bumping into Zhou Fabao, who immediately dodged.

Runsheng sighed in his heart: Sure enough, Xiaoyuan was right, there's no future in mixing with the underworld.

Inside the house, seven or eight gambling tables were in progress, and the scene was very lively.

Tan Wenbin walked in, hands on his hips, his gaze sharp; for a moment, it was as if his own father had descended and possessed him.

His gaze swept over everyone in the room once, twice, three times...

Finally, he couldn't hold on anymore.

Because he didn't know what Zhou Yong looked like.

After Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng entered, half the people inside stopped their card games and looked over. Some who were unaware immediately asked those around them, and upon learning their identities, they also looked over.

No one here hadn't heard of that evil Fried Golden Flower game, and everyone had already made up their minds that wherever this child sat, they would immediately leave the table.

Li Zhuiyuan asked Zhou Fabao: "Where is Zhou Yong?"

"Master Yong... he was just here, where is he now? Maybe he went to the back to eat something. He's my clansman; when he has time, he comes to my place to watch cards and helps burn water and pour tea, and I also treat him to a meal."

Zhou Fabao led the three of them to the back, where several old people were sitting there drinking tea and chatting.

Zhou Fabao asked: "Auntie, where is Master Yong?"

"Master Yong? I just saw him here, don't know where he went now."

Zhou Fabao turned around and said helplessly: "I'm really not lying to you guys, I really don't know where he went now. Why are you looking for him? Did he owe money?"

"No, just wanted to find him to ask about someone. Sorry, Boss, for disturbing your business. We're leaving."

Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the hall and onto the road.

Runsheng rubbed his nose and said: "Xiaoyuan, it's very strange, I didn't smell the scent of a dead thing inside just now."

"That's not strange. Some dead things have special abilities and can separate their spirit from their body. Remember that cat-faced old lady last time?"

"Cat-faced old lady?" Tan Wenbin showed a surprised expression. "Did I miss some important program by coming late?"

Runsheng's eyes revealed solemnity: "If that's the case, Xiaoyuan, this Zhou Yong will be harder to deal with."

Tan Wenbin rubbed his hands excitedly and nodded in agreement: "Yeah, it's more troublesome now."

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "It's not necessarily that we have to fight. He hasn't harmed the villagers yet; if he just likes to swim in the river and go home to be with his dead wife and children, we have no reason to have to go against him."

We just need to remind him not to surface and be seen by the villagers, plus ask who taught him these methods, and that will be enough."

In essence, we can live in peace with him."

"Ah? We can still live in peace?" Tan Wenbin said, puzzled. "Shouldn't it be that good and evil are incompatible, humans and ghosts cannot coexist, and we must suppress and kill him?"

"Brother Binbin, that would be very tiring."

"Uh..."

Just like little Huang Ying, after she took her revenge, she didn't continue to harm people, and my great-grandfather treated it as if she didn't exist, not even thinking about continuing to deal with her.

"Then... where are we going to find Zhou Yong now? Should we go to his house or go to the riverside again?"

Li Zhuiyuan smiled, looked at the rice fields in front, and said:

"Maybe he's standing somewhere right now, staring at us."

Even if he's deliberately hiding from him, Li Zhuiyuan isn't panicked; he has plenty of ways to force him out to talk.

But before that, he needs to solve another thing, which is that it's about to get dark.

Li Zhuiyuan touched his pocket, took out money, and handed it to Runsheng: "Brother Runsheng, go buy more high-proof white liquor and cooked food; it's time for us to have dinner."

When they returned to Shan Shan Daye's house, the two old men were sitting in the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder, smoking and chatting.

"Master Sanjiang, the hardest thing in my life was meeting you."

"Fool, you gambled away your family fortune yourself, don't pin the blame on me."

"Heh, I didn't pin it on you."

"Yes, yes, you poured it into your own mouth."

"Beijing household registration, I heard that taking the college entrance exam in Beijing also..."

"Fool, if you bring that up again, I'll carry you on my back and throw you into your neighbor's ceramic jar to pickle you."

"Pah, you old thing, you're always so shameless."

Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin returned, and the two old men immediately asked about the situation.

"Great-grandfather, we've found the approximate location and caught it with a net, but it's too late, so Brother Runsheng plans to wait until the sun comes out tomorrow to fish it up."

"Look, you found it. See, Runsheng has made more progress following me than following you, right?"

Immediately after, Li Sanjiang nodded to Xiaoyuan: "Right, that's the logic. It's best not to do things at night; it's easy for things to go wrong. Sometimes an ordinary dead thing might start moving at night."

Runsheng bought the liquor and food back, and the two old men were definitely going to have a few drinks.

Plus, with Tan Wenbin, who had received instructions, livening up the atmosphere at the table, the two old men drank to their heart's content.

For the first five cups, Li Sanjiang still said it was getting late and he was going to take Xiaoyuan home, but after the next five cups, he and Shan Shan Daye were slumped on the table, dead drunk.

Runsheng moved his grandfather and Old Man Li to the bed, covered their stomachs with quilts, and even placed the spittoon by the bed for them to vomit in at night.

After doing all this, the three of them packed their things again and arrived at the riverside.

The atmosphere at night was indeed very different from the day, and Li Zhuiyuan was clear that his great-grandfather was right, but it didn't matter anymore, because Zhou Yong could not only scurry around, but could also find time to go ashore to watch cards.

Walking to the bridge, Runsheng waded into the water, released the Seven-Star Hook, swung it upward, caught a nail, and then began to exert force to pull it down.

After pulling out three nails in a row, Runsheng stopped, put away the Seven-Star Hook, pulled out the Yellow River shovel, and gripped it in his hand. Before long, the temperature of the river surface dropped.

Even Li Zhuiyuan, standing by the river, noticed that the night wind blowing here was wrapped in a chill.

Runsheng began to steady his breathing, focusing and staying alert.

The movement finally appeared.

Ten meters in front of Runsheng, a person's back slowly emerged on the river surface.

Tan Wenbin held Li Zhuiyuan's Yellow River shovel in his right hand, while his left hand kept poking Li Zhuiyuan's back.

Dead thing, dead thing, dead thing!

Heavens, Dad, your son has finally made something of himself; I've finally seen a dead thing!

Li Zhuiyuan looked back at him helplessly. Binbin's face was both excited and nervous, as if he were about to faint in the next second.

This couldn't help but remind Li Zhuiyuan of the fans at the concert held at the Workers' Stadium who were hysterical because they saw the singer.

On the river surface, the back began to gradually flip upward.

Soon, a human face was revealed. It was a very pale face, as if it had been coated with a layer of putty, sticky and white, and it was still dripping down the chin.

When he opened his eyes, streams of white, thick liquid overflowed from the corners of his eyes, completely obscuring his pupils.

Li Zhuiyuan pulled out two pieces of yellow paper and folded them into a bundle.

But Tan Wenbin beside him had already gone numb.

"Zhuangzhuang!"

"Yeah!"

Almost as a conditioned reflex, Tan Wenbin immediately took out a match, struck it, and helped Li Zhuiyuan light the yellow paper.

Li Zhuiyuan waved the burning yellow paper in his hand, muttered in a low voice, and finally stuffed the half-burned yellow paper into the sea bowl filled with yellow wine at his feet.

Tan Wenbin lit the small candles that had been set up in advance one by one.

The placement of each candle had been calculated, and the arrangement of the sacrificial positions could not be changed. Those three nails had been pulled out, but not all of them, so there was still room for maneuver.

This move was about giving a slap and then a sweet treat.

If you can talk, then let's talk; if you can't talk, then staying here will sooner or later drive you crazy and make you a disaster, so we'll just have to have a head-on collision.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up the wine bowl and sprinkled it toward the river surface.

Then he extended his left arm for Tan Wenbin to support him, while he closed his eyes, seeking the state of walking in the underworld in a half-asleep, half-awake state.

Many incantations are actually useful, including his great-grandfather's muttering and doggerel, but the purpose these incantations want to achieve is "communication."

But what other method could be better than walking in the underworld directly?

When you can directly use a formula, there's no need to painstakingly derive the process step by step.

"We have no malice; we're just here to talk to you. First, please don't surface and disturb the living; second, please tell us who taught you to set this up."

"If you cooperate, we'll nail the nails back for you, and we'll each walk our own path between Yin and Yang; if you don't cooperate, from tonight on, one of us won't have a path to walk."

When Li Zhuiyuan handed his arm to him, Tan Wenbin had been counting down in his heart. Finally, he finished counting, then immediately shook the boy vigorously.

Li Zhuiyuan was forcibly awakened, breaking the shallow state of walking in the underworld; this was an insurance policy he had set for himself.

Although he had already learned the method to control dead things, he was only a beginner, and he wasn't confident enough to use it now.

His head was a bit dizzy and a bit painful; this was a symptom of forcibly breaking the underworld walk with external force. Fortunately, with the splitting headache he had experienced at Ali's place before, this little bit was nothing.

The message had been delivered; now it depended on what Zhou Yong chose.

Zhou Yong slowly turned around, with his back to everyone, and then moved forward slowly in the river.

"Brother Binbin, why don't you go back?"

"No, impossible, I want to protect you."

"Oh, you chose it yourself, don't regret it."

"How could I regret it? I won't!"

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the setup on the ground, signaling Tan Wenbin to clean it up, and then followed along the shore, while Runsheng walked in the river.

Tan Wenbin used his hands and feet to pinch out all the candles, threw the bowls and dishes into a sack, then carried the things and ran to keep up. He didn't want to miss anything again.

Fortunately, Runsheng was in the river, and no matter how much of a brother Xiaoyuan was, he couldn't tie himself up and throw him into the reed marsh.

After walking a distance, Zhou Yong went ashore.

It was clear he was walking home.

Li Zhuiyuan pulled Runsheng's vest, signaling him to slow down. When the three of them slowed their pace, Zhou Yong, walking in front, also slowed down. He was waiting.

He wanted to lead the three of them to his house.

After clarifying his intention, Li Zhuiyuan patted Runsheng's back, and the three of them returned to their normal speed.

Arriving at the small dam of Zhou Yong's house again, the three of them stopped, and Zhou Yong stood in front of the door.

"Thump... thump... thump..."

He was using his head to gently bump the door.

Before long, the lights in the house turned on.

Through the thick crack in the door, one could see someone appear inside, followed by a series of crisp sounds of unlocking.

"Creak..."

The house door was opened.

Standing inside was Zhou Yong's wife.

The woman stood there quietly.

When he saw her during the day, she was lying in the cotton batting under the straw mat.

Although it was night now, borrowing the light in the house, he discovered that not only her eyes, but also her nostrils, ears, and even the gaps in her fingernails were all filled with cotton batting spreading out like wild grass.

It was as if this cotton batting wasn't stuck to her body, but was growing out from within her.

The woman stepped aside, and Zhou Yong walked in.

The woman continued to stand by the door without closing it, seemingly waiting for the guests to enter.

Runsheng looked at Li Zhuiyuan, who nodded.

They had come to make contact and talk, and since the other party had led them to their doorstep, there was no reason not to go in.

Runsheng, who had just entered the house, glanced to the right and then his body shivered, clearly startled.

This was the first time Li Zhuiyuan had seen Runsheng show such a reaction in this kind of scene. He also walked into the house and looked to the right.

The girl had already come out of the rice jar and was standing there, as if welcoming her father back.

The girl's eyes were wide open, and they were completely filled with densely packed rice grains.

At the same time, rice grains were also embedded in the arms, legs, hands, and feet exposed outside the girl's clothes.

These pure white rice grains were still falling off constantly, but the fallen parts didn't seem to decrease, as if rice grains were growing out one by one from the girl's pores.

Seeing this scene made Li Zhuiyuan's breathing hitch at this moment.

The last one to enter was Tan Wenbin, who had fallen behind because of cleaning up. Plus, it was night, so he very consciously protected Xiaoyuan with Runsheng, one in front and one behind.

After entering, Tan Wenbin also looked to the right, then opened his mouth. Before he could scream, he stuffed his hand into his mouth and bit down hard.

This was a real bite, and it even drew blood. There was no other way; at this moment, the intense fear made him not even feel the pain.

Zhou Yong walked to the dining table and sat down.

The dining table was old, and many boards had been nailed onto it for repairs. As for the chair, it was also somewhat rough and uneven.

However, because the ground was dirt, it was already uneven, so it didn't matter if the chair was level or not.

Li Zhuiyuan sat down opposite Zhou Yong, Runsheng sat on the left, and Tan Wenbin sat on the right.

The woman and the girl went to the kitchen.

Soon, the sound of the bellows being pulled and the sound of a spatula hitting a wok came from the kitchen.

But from the kitchen door, one couldn't see any firelight, nor could one see the heat of cooking.

Zhou Yong, sitting in the chair, kept his head slightly lowered.

"Drip, drip, drip..."

It was the sound of the pus from the corners of his eyes dripping constantly.

Because of the uneven mud floor, it was easier to accumulate into small puddles, so soon a crisper "drip-drop" sound came from below.

Li Zhuiyuan handed his hand to Runsheng, who understood and held it.

Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head and tried to walk in the underworld again.

Liu Yumei had once warned him that walking in the underworld too much was bad for people and easy to get lost in. He knew this himself, but he couldn't change it, just like advising a smoker to quit smoking or an alcoholic to quit drinking—they heard it, but they still smoked and drank.

Li Zhuiyuan succeeded in walking in the underworld, because when he raised his head again, he discovered that Runsheng and Tan Wenbin, who had been sitting on his sides, were gone.

But Zhou Yong was still sitting there with his head lowered, motionless, not speaking, not reacting, not showing anything.

The only dynamic change was that in the kitchen, one could see firelight and heat, and one could hear the "sizzle-sizzle" sound of stir-frying.

The smoke and fire of the underworld are the most terrifying to the human heart.

Li Zhuiyuan vaguely guessed that a very bad thing might happen next.

After waiting for a while longer, Zhou Yong still didn't speak, which meant that Zhou Yong didn't intend to communicate now.

He seemed to be waiting for a process, a very simple and hospitable custom:

To talk about business, eat first.

Intense pain came from his palm; Li Zhuiyuan knew that was Runsheng pinching him. He closed his eyes, sought the feeling of surfacing, and when he opened them again, he returned to reality.

He pulled his hand away from Runsheng and gently rubbed it to relieve the pain, which also served as a signal to Runsheng that he had returned.

Looking at Tan Wenbin on the right again, he saw him sitting bolt upright; if nothing else, he had never sat this straight in class.

At this moment, the expected development appeared.

The woman walked over, carrying two plates of dishes.

Both plates were meat, but he didn't know exactly what kind of meat they were made of. Li Zhuiyuan saw fur and tails on them.

The woman returned to the house and brought out two plates of vegetables. The color of the vegetables wasn't green, but rather looked like the shape of tender bamboo shoots stir-fried, and looking closely, one could even see forks.

Most people have had the experience of eating at home and finding their mother's long hair in the food.

But here, it was the cotton batting growing from the woman's body that had drifted into the food and been stir-fried into this shape.

Li Zhuiyuan began to miss the cat-faced old lady's birthday banquet. Although that food was truly terrible, at least it looked very good.

Looking at these four plates of food, just by their appearance, they were already very terrifying.

Even Runsheng frowned at this moment. One must know that Runsheng's requirements for food were very low, but no matter how low, there were still some minimal requirements.

Tan Wenbin's eyes were wide open, his gaze constantly scanning the four plates of food.

The woman brought out rice bowls—four large bowls, four small bowls, and four pairs of chopsticks.

The large bowls were filled with raw rice, presumably scooped directly from the rice jar.

The four small bowls were wine bowls, but the wine was pitch black, and in each bowl, something like a black earthworm was wriggling.

After distributing the large bowls and chopsticks to everyone, the woman went into the kitchen again; presumably, there were still delicacies.

The girl stayed here, putting her finger in her mouth.

Zhou Yong lowered his head and looked at his daughter.

The girl also raised her head and looked at her father.

Runsheng didn't understand, and Tan Wenbin had a confused look, not knowing what the father and daughter were communicating.

Li Zhuiyuan understood.

He stood up and said with a smile: "Let the child sit at the table and eat together, it's fine."

Runsheng and Tan Wenbin immediately understood.

Runsheng: "Right, sit at the table and eat together."

Tan Wenbin: "Right, right, right, eat together."

The girl walked toward the table while sucking her finger.

The boy noticed that she seemed to be walking toward him.

Li Zhuiyuan immediately pointed to the side of Tan Wenbin: "Come, little sister, sit with this handsome big brother."

Tan Wenbin: "..."

The girl paused for a moment and sat down on the bench next to Tan Wenbin.

Tan Wenbin only felt a chill from the back of his head to his tailbone.

Zhou Yong raised his chopsticks and pointed at a plate of food.

Li Zhuiyuan, Runsheng, and Tan Wenbin also raised their chopsticks, and everyone pointed at the food together.

A silent performance, like a mime, yet each could mentally fill in the dialogue that should accompany each action.

Zhou Yong picked up a mouthful, put it into his mouth, chewed, and then continued to point at the food.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a mouthful and put it into Binbin's bowl.

Tan Wenbin picked up the food in his bowl and sent it into the mouth of the girl sitting beside him. The girl opened her mouth and ate it.

He felt he was truly too smart, responding so wittily.

However, Zhou Yong personally picked up a mouthful of food and sent it into Tan Wenbin's bowl, then looked at the girl. The girl lowered her head, as if being scolded for being impolite.

Tan Wenbin looked at Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng for help, only to find that both of them had avoided his gaze.

There was no other way; Zhou Yong's diligent "gaze" was right in front of him, forming a huge pressure.

Tan Wenbin could only pick up his chopsticks and clamp the food in his bowl. When he was about to send it to his mouth, he suddenly realized that these chopsticks had just been used by him to feed the girl, and they were stained with the girl's saliva.

If this were normal eating, he wouldn't care about anything; he wasn't that delicate.

But the problem was, the girl's appearance... and he had to share a pair of chopsticks with her?

Zhou Yong spread his hands and lifted them upward.

Tan Wenbin smiled more uglily than he cried, tearfully sent the food into his mouth, and chewed.

Zhou Yong was satisfied.

The four wine bowls were already in front of him. He picked up a wine bowl and handed it to the guest, first handing it to Li Zhuiyuan.

Li Zhuiyuan stood up, pointed at himself, compared his height, and said: "Uncle, I'm still a child, I can't drink alcohol."

Zhou Yong nodded, then handed the wine bowl to Tan Wenbin.

Tan Wenbin could only take it and place it in front of him. He would absolutely not drink this stuff!

But the next moment,

Zhou Yong picked up his own wine bowl and clinked it with the wine bowl in front of Tan Wenbin.

Immediately after, Zhou Yong raised his wine cup and drank it in one gulp.

Then he turned the wine bowl upside down and pointed at it.

Tan Wenbin took a deep breath, reached out to pick up the wine bowl, and quickly pinched his pinky and thumb to flick the long earthworm in the wine bowl out.

Fine, drink it, go for it!

Just as he raised the wine bowl to gulp it down, the wine bowl was snatched away by Zhou Yong.

Tan Wenbin was overjoyed. Yes, he was also a child, a high school senior, his brain was very important, he couldn't drink.

Who knew, Zhou Yong placed his palm over the wine bowl and shook it. When he took his hand away, there were more than a dozen earthworms crawling around in the bowl.

Zhou Yong pushed the wine bowl in front of Tan Wenbin, extended his palm, and patted his own chest.

Tan Wenbin: "..."

(End of chapter)