Chapter 23: 22. Playing God and Ghost

22、Playing God and Ghost

The young boy's face showed a fox-like cunning, and even his voice had become sharp and seductive, as if a fox spirit had possessed him!

The two rot-faced men stood by the fermentation pit, watching as Shi Danzi seemed possessed by something sinister; on their rotting faces, clear panic was visible!

Even Qian Chaodong's body stiffened, and he dared not step forward!

Given Shi Danzi's current bizarre state, none of these people dared to act rashly.

Zhou Chang looked at the grain piled on both sides of the fermentation pit; not a single strand of delusion fungus had grown in the grain piles. He then turned his gaze to Shi Danzi in the coffin, who was still "seeking recognition" from everyone.

He now had a clear idea, so he fixed his eyes on Shi Danzi and called out to Qian Chaodong: "It seems my junior uncle's madness hasn't improved at all. He must continue to be locked in the pit, with increased intensity—

For now, just seal him back in the coffin and lock him up for three days first."

"Yes! Yes!"

Qian Chaodong instinctively nodded. His eyes hesitated as he looked at Shi Danzi in the coffin, who still looked like a ghost-possessed figure. He waved at the two rot-faced men: "Go, seal the coffin!"

The rot-faced men, who had previously acted ferociously, now cowered in fear. Only under Qian Chaodong's intimidating gaze did they slowly lift the coffin lid.

Shi Danzi, inside the coffin chamber, saw he was about to be sealed in the coffin again. A flash of anxiety crossed his eyes; suddenly, he kicked his leg, tilted his head, and his whole body convulsed violently!

"What's happening? What's happening!"

Qian Chaodong and the two rot-faced men were terrified and quickly retreated, moving away from the fermentation pit.

Only Zhou Chang stood by the pit, quietly watching. After Shi Danzi finished convulsing, his previously lifeless eyes gradually regained some spirit.

Shi Danzi looked at Zhou Chang with a blank gaze: "What happened?"

"Your madness hasn't been cured; you must continue treatment." Zhou Chang's expression was heavy. "For now, you must be locked alone in this cellar. Only when your illness is cured will you be allowed out."

The young man looked at Zhou Chang's solemn expression; his eye twitched violently.

His panic was impossible to suppress and was already evident on his face.

"I—I'm not sick!"

"No, you are sick. Just now, the Great Yellow Immortal possessed you. Steward Qian, while he has just regained consciousness, quickly seal his coffin!"

"I-I-I—Junior Uncle Zhou—Brother Zhou, I really am not sick!

I was just pretending just now!

I just wanted to scare them so they wouldn't lock me up again and would kick me out of this cellar..." Shi Danzi, with a tearful face, poured out his entire scheme in one go.

Hearing Shi Danzi's words, Zhou Chang suddenly curled his lips and let out a silent, wide grin.

Then, he quickly composed himself, returning to a blank expression.

Qian Chaodong and the two rot-faced men, who had been retreating in fear, heard the conversation between Zhou Chang and Shi Danzi, finally understood the situation, and immediately surged forward with renewed aggression.

"You bastard, you dare pretend to be a ghost to scare me!

I'll beat the shit out of you!"

Qian Chaodong's fleshy face trembled; he crouched down, grabbed Shi Danzi's clothes with a fist like a vinegar jar, and yanked him out of the coffin chamber. His other fist was about to smash down on Shi Danzi's head!

This seemingly kind and broad-shouldered fat man suddenly went berserk, giving the impression of revealing his true, vicious face!

Terrified, Shi Danzi's face turned pale; he closed his eyes tightly, and two tears immediately squeezed out from the corners.

"He came down into the pit based on the work ticket given by the Wen family.

His master has a good relationship with the Wen family—If you hurt him, his master will surely go to the Wen family to demand answers." Zhou Chang stood beside Qian Chaodong, like a wooden stake, his voice so quiet it seemed to have no presence.

However, this chilling voice stopped Qian Chaodong from going berserk further.

Qian Chaodong turned his head, glared viciously at the expressionless Zhou Chang, then grunted, lifted Shi Danzi, and threw him onto the edge of the fermentation pit.

He even reached out to smooth out the wrinkles in Shi Danzi's clothes that he had grabbed: "You don't have a madness illness. Don't come tomorrow."

Hearing this, Shi Danzi was both shocked and delighted.

"You continue tomorrow." Qian Chaodong pointed at Zhou Chang's face and repeated the words he had said to Zhou Chang earlier.

"Good."

Zhou Chang readily agreed.

Led by Qian Chaodong, the group walked up the winding, crooked slope.

Along the way, the rice graves and grain mounds on both sides of the slope were dug open, and men, women, old and young climbed out of the coffins, standing on both sides of the slope.

Only when Qian Chaodong led the people upward did these dull, soulless people seem to find a leader, following behind Qian Chaodong.

Watching the people beside him, who swayed their arms and walked slowly, Zhou Chang could no longer find any spirit in their eyes.

These people came to the winery to treat their madness and delusions. Now, they indeed showed no signs of madness—but each of them seemed to have had their souls drained, turning into idiots...

Is this considered curing the madness?

Then why—why is Shi Danzi still able to jump around lively, showing no signs of turning into an idiot for now?

Zhou Chang's own situation was special and could not be compared with these people. Although Shi Danzi pretended to be a ghost to scare others, he was ultimately a normal person. Why didn't he become like a walking corpse, just like the others in the wine cellar?

The crowd was silent like sheep, driven by an invisible force, and filed out of the rice graves one by one.

Inside the dimly lit inner room of the flat shed, Zhou Chang suddenly felt a sensation of being watched. He lowered his eyebrows, and at a certain moment, abruptly turned his head to look at a specific spot—

In the crowd, the two rot-faced men were walking side by side.

As Zhou Chang abruptly turned his head, they instinctively shifted their gaze away, then immediately glared back at Zhou Chang even more fiercely.

At this moment, Zhou Chang had already turned his head back and continued walking forward.

Why were these two people watching him?

What secrets did they carry?

The only black lacquered wooden door in the inner room was unlatched by Qian Chaodong, who pushed it open just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.

The daylight from outside seeped in.

The winery official who had previously escorted the two of Zhou Chang into the inner room was already waiting outside the door.

"You go out first."

Qian Chaodong gave Zhou Chang a push.

Zhou Chang slipped through the crack in the door, hearing Qian Chaodong say to the brewery manager, "His madness hasn't healed yet; make sure he comes again tomorrow."

The brewery manager looked at Zhou Chang thoughtfully and responded with a flattering, "Good."

Afterwards, Qian Chaodong pulled Shi Danzi over and shoved him outside the door crack.

He beckoned the brewery manager to lean close and whispered a few words to him.

Zhou Chang's ears twitched slightly, yet he heard the words clearly: "This child is smart! Clever!

Among so many people, only he and the one who was originally catatonic and paralyzed can still jump around. Jade Maiden Pool is short a water watcher; offer more money and hire him to work there."

The brewery manager nodded, then turned and glanced at Shi Danzi without showing any expression.

He then led the dazed crowd through the brewery's rear courtyard and out through the main hall entrance.

Beneath the towering gatehouse of Wen Yongsheng Brewery, a long line waited to buy wine, people sold themselves for a mouthful of wine, and others stretched their necks trying to inhale the floating wine scent in the air... far more than in the morning.

The crowd roared with noise.

Some who had been waiting right in front of the gatehouse saw the brewery manager leading a group out of the main hall and immediately surged forward in a large swarm.

They competed to recognize those among the group behind the manager who had entered the wine cellar to cure their madness.

"Father, do you feel better?"

"Did you see that flowered-padded-jacketed face-stealing fox again?"

"Manager, why does my wife seem to have become foolish and doesn't recognize me?"

"Yes... my son can't speak anymore..."