[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-there-is-a-malevolent-spirit":3,"chapter-there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-19":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","There Is a Malevolent Spirit",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263125,4416,"Chapter 19","there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>18、「Wen Laozu」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning mist faded, but the streets of Qingyi Town were nearly deserted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating breakfast at home, Zhou Chang now lay on a flat cart, pulled by Zhou Sanji, heading west along the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rui walked beside the cart, leading Shi Danshi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because they had risen at dawn to chant sutras, none of them had much energy, and no one felt like talking—only heads down, pressing forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tattered padded jacket lay over Zhou Chang’s belly; his head rested on a block of wood, his eyeballs shifting constantly as he scanned the houses on either side of the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People hidden inside homes pressed their bodies against papered windows, peering at Zhou Chang and the others passing by; faint daylight and indoor lantern light cast dark, eerie silhouettes of them against the glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling of being watched clung to Zhou Chang’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every house along the street seemed like a pair of eyes, staring fixedly from shadowed corners at passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang turned his gaze to the silent Zhou Sanji, Yang Rui, and others—he suddenly realized their silence, their refusal to speak, was likely because under this “watchful gaze,” none of them felt like talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, oppressive atmosphere hung over the empty street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until faint, chaotic voices reached them from the street’s end; then, the faces of those beside the cart softened slightly, and they quickened their pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cart rolled over cobblestones, creaking loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They passed through this long street, and at its end, a towering gatehouse loomed before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Supported by six lacquered black wooden pillars, the gatehouse bore three hanging plaques: the left one read “Fame Spreads Southwest,” the right one “A Century of Legacy,” and the central one, unmistakably, “Wen Laozu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the suspended plaque reading “Wen Laozu,” another central gate opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above this central gate hung another plaque, inscribed with the four characters: “Yongsheng Winery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The towering gatehouse and spacious main hall of Yongsheng Winery stood in stark, unimaginable contrast to the low, dilapidated buildings surrounding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the open ground before the winery’s gate was packed with people—crowds surged, shouts and laughter filled the air like a bustling market, giving Zhou Chang a long-missed sense of liveliness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sell yourself! Sell yourself! Trade yourself for wine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd, Zhou Chang suddenly heard a hoarse cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to look and saw many people squatting in groups by the roadside, clutching straw tags, heads drooping, dazed and numb; only one old man with a full white beard raised his neck and shouted: “Who’ll buy me? Just buy me a flask of wine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the old man shouted, those around him, also clutching straw tags, seemed to receive a signal—each began hawking themselves to passersby:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buy me! Buy me! I’m younger than him—I only need half a flask!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buy me! I’m fair-skinned, soft and tender—I can be your young servant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people clutching straw tags were all here to sell themselves for wine!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang scanned the area—before Yongsheng Winery, on this open ground, there were no few who held straw tags, selling themselves for wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the winery’s right gate, people queued in long lines, buying wine from inside; many, once outside, immediately tore open the seals of their jars and drank greedily, their faces glowing with genuine satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others lingered near these drunken revelers, waiting until a drop or two of wine spilled; then they stretched out their tongues to lick the soil stained with wine, their expressions of secret delight utterly real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White steam rose from the winery’s back courtyard, carrying a faint scent of fermented grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold wind swept the thick steam forward, spreading it before the gatehouse; people stretched their necks, sniffing the wine aroma in the vapor, their faces etched with ravenous greed—Zhou Chang felt a chill of dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sss—” Yang Rui inhaled deeply, his face suffused with bliss. “Wine is medicine—it cures the heart’s sickness!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, just staying alive is a luxury; if you crave wine, then crave it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without wine, fear and despair swell uncontrollably…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words sounded like Yang Rui comforting himself—and also like advice to the relatively silent Zhou Sanji and Zhou Chang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Sanji turned his head, looked at Zhou Chang on the cart, his expression grave: “Wine—drink less.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Zhou Chang nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once you start drinking this stuff, how can you ever tell how much is enough?” Yang Rui patted Shi Danshi’s shoulder. “You decide for yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ” Shi Danshi lowered his head, his face calm, showing maturity beyond his years. Zhou Chang noticed his hands had quietly slipped into his sleeves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group arrived at the winery’s left gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the queue was no shorter than the one on the right—these people were here seeking employment at Yongsheng Winery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhou Sanji pulled the cart to the end of the line to wait, Yang Rui yanked him: “We have tickets—why queue? Come on, let’s go straight in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yang’s words, those in line turned to stare at Zhou Chang’s group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their stares were direct, filled with danger and envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Sanji pulled the cart again, following Yang Rui and Shi Danshi through the long queue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the back of the line to the front, the overseer’s haughty voice rang out steadily into Zhou Chang’s ears: “Listen up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who wants to work here must first pay one hundred copper coins to the winery!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you have the coins, stay in line. If you don’t—get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the overseer’s words, Zhou Chang and Zhou Sanji both turned their eyes to Yang Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Sanji tugged Yang Rui’s sleeve and asked: “Do we need to pay to enter the winery?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have tickets!” Yang Rui replied—but his tone lacked its earlier certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the left gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overseer glanced sideways at Zhou Sanji, one leg propped on the table, speaking in a dry, mocking tone: “This child is paralyzed—can’t move at all. Logically, the winery can’t take him. You understand, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Sanji nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with obsequiousness: “I know, I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overseer’s eyes rolled, then he smiled suddenly: “But since you have a ticket from the Wen family, the winery has no choice but to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take this paralyzed man to the cellar and have him lie there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See if his madness can help ferment the wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I’ll say this plainly—if he’s not actually mad, the winery will keep him no longer than three days!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, fine,” Zhou Sanji nodded again, still smiling obsequiously. After agreeing with the overseer, he turned to Zhou Chang: “So, Sun Er, you’ll stay here in the winery, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Zhou Chang nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overseer lowered his leg, stood up, and waved carelessly behind him: “Two of you—help carry this paralyzed man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his words, two strong young winery workers stepped forward and lifted Zhou Chang off the cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You too—come along,” the overseer pointed vaguely at Shi Danshi standing nearby, then turned and walked into the gatehouse, hands behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two workers carried Zhou Chang inside; Shi Danshi hurried after them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah Chang, take good care of yourself in there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zhou Sanji called out from before the gatehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang heard the old man’s voice but did not turn back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carried by the two workers, he passed through the main hall, lined with jars of varying sizes and wine qualities, and entered the winery’s back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The back courtyard was where Yongsheng Winery brewed its wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the vast yard stood several low, crude buildings, far simpler than the front hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empty wine jars were piled haphazardly against the courtyard walls; the entire yard reeked of slightly sour, fermenting grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls of the low buildings connected, forming an inner courtyard within the larger yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inner courtyard was walled high and locked; the overseer led Zhou Chang and the others in circles around the walls for a long time before finally finding an unremarkable corner with a black-lacquered wooden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered them to stop, then nervously knocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, a voice came from within: “Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me, Zhu Gui…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today I brought two people with work tickets stamped by the Wen family—they want to work in the cellar, hoping the cellar’s ‘Gan Chun Qu’ will cure their madness.” Zhu Gui swallowed hard and spoke quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice inside listened, then fell silent for a moment before replying: “If you have a ticket from the proprietor, let them in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes!” Zhu Gui hurriedly agreed. He glanced at Zhou Chang, then quickly added: “One of them is paralyzed—he can’t move. You see…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the cellar, they’re not allowed to move anyway. If he can’t move, that’s perfect.” The voice inside chuckled, slowly unlatching the door and opening it just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Gui shoved Shi Danshi through first, then, with the two workers, pushed Zhou Chang through the narrow gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-lacquered door slammed shut again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chang collapsed onto the slick stone floor; he lifted his eyelids and saw the entire inner courtyard was covered by wooden sheds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the clustered wooden pillars supporting the roof, a mound of grain—like a tomb—rose prominently in the center of the “inner chamber”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before that fungus-covered grain mound stood a tombstone—inscribed with the words: “Wen Laozu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wen Laozu is the finest wine our Yongsheng Winery makes,” said a fat, bare-chested man emerging from the shadows behind the door. Seeing the fear on Shi Danshi’s face, he smiled and explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pitch-dark, dimly lit inner chamber, the sound of rolling wheels echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrum… thrum… thrum…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy, muffled noise drew nearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more men pushed a cart bearing a coffin, approaching Zhou Chang and Shi Danshi.\u003C\u002Fp>",1631,"2026-06-19T18:47:42.084Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c31741d842371aaff460ea28545851c7854c9cb20ffac362903b8863cd15659f","there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-20","there-is-a-malevolent-spirit-chapter-18",209,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthere-is-a-malevolent-spirit-cover.jpg"]