Chapter 758

Madam?

=> "Madam?" or "My lady?" In context, they address a deity? Probably "My lady?" We'll translate as "My lady?" Keep short.

This form of address is quite strange.

=> "This form of address……is really strange."

Tang Tang wondered, "Who is your madam? Are there still places in the Nether Realm that use ancient titles?"

=> Tang Tang wondered: "Who is your lady? Does the Nether Realm still use ancient titles somewhere?"

The ghost official smiled, didn't answer the question, just gave Xiao Jiu a meaningful glance, then turned and left.

=> The ghost official smiled, didn't answer the question, just gave Xiao Jiu a meaningful glance, then turned and left.

Xiao Jiu suddenly understood and tightened his grip on the pouch.

=> Xiao Jiu suddenly understood, his hand gripping the pouch tightened.

Tang Tang was bewildered: "Hey, why did he leave? Did I say something wrong?"

=> Tang Tang was bewildered: "Hey, why did he leave? Did I say something wrong?"

Xiao Jiu lowered his voice: "It's Lady Hou Tu."

=> Xiao Jiu lowered his voice: "It's Hou Tu Niangniang."

Tang Tang's eyes widened, her slender fingers pressed to her lips, she looked around, then leaned close to Xiao Jiu's ear and whispered: "Lady Hou Tu probably didn't hear what I just said, right? She's magnanimous and won't hold it against me."

=> Tang Tang's eyes widened, her long fingers pressed to her lips, she looked around, then leaned close to Xiao Jiu's ear and whispered: "Hou Tu Niangniang probably didn't hear what I just said, right? She's magnanimous, she wouldn't quarrel with me over such a trifle."

Xiao Jiu patted Tang Tang's hand and reassured her: "No, Lady Hou Tu governs both yin and yang realms; she is truly the Mother of Earth. In her eyes we are all children, so even if we make mistakes, she won't blame us."

=> Xiao Jiu patted Tang Tang's hand, comforting: "No, Hou Tu Niangniang governs both yin and yang realms, she is truly the Earth Mother; in her eyes we are all children, so even if we make mistakes, she won't blame us."

Tang Tang patted her chest to calm herself: "All right, all right."

=> Tang Tang patted her chest to calm herself: "All right, all right."

Xiao Jiu put the pouch away, waited until the wedding ended, returned to the pawnshop, and everyone enthusiastically discussed the highlights of the ceremony before finally dispersing, still wanting more.

=> Xiao Jiu then put the pouch away, waited until the wedding ended, returned to the Dang Pu, where everyone enthusiastically discussed the wedding's highlights before finally dispersing, still reluctant to leave.

In the end, only Liu Junyan, Xiao Jiu, Hui Mo Xiong, and Li Qingying remained in the pawnshop.

=> Finally, only Liu Junyan, Xiao Jiu, Hui Moqiong, and Li Qingying remained in the Dang Pu.

Xiao Jiu then took out the pouch and placed it on the table.

=> Xiao Jiu then took out the pouch and placed it on the table.

Hui Mo Xiong was the most curious, happy tonight, and had a few drinks.

=> Hui Moqiong was the most curious, he was happy tonight and drank a bit more.

He flushes when he drinks; his face is still red, especially the large area around his eyes, which is as red as blood.

=> He flushes when he drinks; his face was still red, especially the large area around his eyes, which was as red as blood.

Perhaps the alcohol made his face feel hot; feeling uncomfortable, he turned his head, pressed half his cheek against the table, and glanced sideways at the pouch.

=> Perhaps the alcohol made his face feel hot; feeling uncomfortable, he turned his head, pressed half his cheek against the table, and glanced askance at the pouch.

After a few glances, he shifted his cheek slightly against the table edge, then turned to the other side, pressing his cheek to the table, his eyes never leaving the pouch.

=> After a few glances, he shifted his cheek slightly against the table edge, then turned to the other side, pressing his cheek to the table, his eyes never leaving the pouch.

Li Qingying was both annoyed and amused, scolding him for drinking so much while going to make sobering soup.

=> Li Qingying was both annoyed and amused; she scolded him for drinking so much while going to make hangover soup.

Hui Mo Xiong was drunk and dazed, hunched over the table like a child, looking at Xiao Jiu from the corner of his eye and asked: "Xiao Jiu'er, what is this?"

=> Hui Moqiong, drunk and dazed like a child, hunched over the table, glanced at Xiao Jiu from the corner of his eyes and asked: "Xiao Jiu'er, what is this?"

Liu Junyan also looked at Xiao Jiu with an inquiring gaze.

=> Liu Junyan also looked at Xiao Jiu, her eyes questioning.

"It was sent by Lady Hou Tu's yin messenger," Xiao Jiu said. "The messenger didn't say anything; at the wedding there were many people and distractions, so I didn't open the pouch to check, and thus I don't know what's inside."

=> "It was sent by Hou Tu Niangniang via a Yin emissary," Xiao Jiu said. "The emissary said nothing; at the wedding there were many people and eyes, so I didn't open the pouch to check, thus I don't know what's inside."

Hui Mo Xiong eagerly said: "Can I help you open it?"

=> Hui Moqiong eagerly said: "Can I help you open it?"

Xiao Jiu nodded.

=> Xiao Jiu nodded.

Having received permission, Hui Mo Xiong sat up straight, reached for the pouch, gently opened it, and took a look inside.

=> Having received permission, Hui Moqiong sat up straight, reached for the pouch, gently opened it, and took a look inside.

He immediately frowned, puzzled: "It looks like just a handful of dirt."

=> He immediately frowned, puzzled: "Why does it look like a handful of dirt?"

Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu immediately looked and saw that the pouch indeed contained a handful of dirt.

=> Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu hurried to look; the pouch indeed contained a handful of dirt.

The dirt is black; you couldn't feel much through the pouch, but once opened, a strong yin chill emanated from it.

=> The dirt was black; through the pouch you couldn't feel much texture, but once opened, a strong Yin Cold Qi emanated from it.

"This is yin earth," Liu Junyan said. "If I'm not mistaken, it comes from Lady Hou Tu's domain. Lady Hou Tu gave you this yin earth, Xiao Jiu—do you know what it signifies?"

=> "This is Yin earth," Liu Junyan said. "If I'm not mistaken, this Yin earth should come from Hou Tu Niangniang's domain. Xiao Jiu, do you know what it signifies that Hou Tu Niangniang gave you this Yin earth?"

Xiao Jiu shook his head.

=> Xiao Jiu shook his head.

He had a vague guess but dared not delve deeper.

=> He had a vague guess, but dared not delve deeper.

Liu Junyan, however, declared firmly: "This is Lady Hou Tu's affirmation and support for your management of the pawnshop and even the yin pawn trade."

=> Liu Junyan, however, declared firmly: "This is Hou Tu Niangniang's affirmation and support for your management of the Dang Pu and even the Yin Dang Hang."

The pawnshop renovation is nearly complete.

=> The renovation of the Dang Pu is nearly complete.

Regarding the new business rules after the pawnshop's reform, everyone has already drafted a rough outline.

=> As for the post-reform business rules of the Dang Pu, everyone has already worked out a rough outline.

Reopening the pawnshop, or rather the yin pawn shop, is imminent.

=> Reopening the Dang Pu, or rather the Yin Dang Hang, is imminent.

At this crucial moment, Lady Hou Tu's gift of yin earth to Xiao Jiu carries deep significance.

=> At this critical moment, Hou Tu Niangniang giving Xiao Jiu a handful of Yin earth carries deep significance.

Upon hearing Liu Junyan's words, Hui Mo Xiong sprang to his feet, instantly sobering: "After the pawnshop's renovation, we moved the main door to the center; entering brings you to the shop's high counter, with funeral goods on the east and a conference hall on the west. The basic layout is set, except we haven't decided: should the door have a threshold?"

=> Upon hearing Liu Junyan's words, Hui Moqiong sprang to his feet, instantly sober: "After we renovate the Dang Pu, we'll move the main door to the center; entering through it you'll see the Dang Pu's tall counter, the east side sells funeral supplies, the west side is the conference hall— the basic layout is set, only one detail remains undecided: should the door have a threshold or not?"

Yes.

=> Yes.

The pawnshop renovation is essentially finished; after discussion, only this point remains disputed.

=> The Dang Pu renovation is essentially finished; after discussion, only this point remains disputed.

The pawnshop's main door originally had a high threshold, but the southern study used for pawnshop purposes had no threshold.

=> The Dang Pu's main door originally had a threshold, and it was quite high; however, the Nan Shu Fang side used for pawnshop purposes had no threshold.

Because it involves yin pawn business, a threshold would block yin entities from entering.

=> Because it involves the Yin Dang Hang, a threshold would block yin entities from entering the Dang Pu.

Now that we must change the business rules, focusing on the principle "Yin beings with requests must not be refused,"

=> Now that the business rules are to be changed, mainly targeting the principle "Yin beings with requests must not be refused,"

Therefore some members argue that, since we are changing this rule, we should install a threshold to deter ill‑intentioned yin entities.

=> some members think that since we are changing this rule, we should install a threshold, which would be aimed at ill-intentioned yin entities.

But others oppose, saying that after renaming the shop the Yin Pawn Shop, putting up a threshold for yin entities would be self‑contradictory.

=> but another faction opposes this, arguing that after renaming the Dang Pu as the Yin Dang Hang and hanging its sign, to then put up a threshold against yin beings would be self-defeating.

The business rules are being amended from the pawnshop's original rules, not abolished, nor discarded over a minor issue.

=> The business rules are being amended based on the Dang Pu's original rules, not abolished, nor discarded over a minor issue.

Both sides have valid points, so the threshold question remains unresolved.

=> Both sides have valid points, so the threshold question remains unresolved.

At this moment, Lady Hou Tu gave Xiao Jiu a handful of yin earth, which is a hint to him.

=> At this moment, Hou Tu Niangniang sent Xiao Jiu a handful of Yin earth, which is her way of guiding him.

Xiao Jiu immediately decided: "We will not install a threshold; instead we will bury this yin earth beneath the doorway where the threshold would have been, to deter malevolent yin beings."

=> Xiao Jiu immediately decided: "The Dang Pu will have no threshold; we will bury this Yin earth beneath the door threshold's intended spot, to deter malevolent yin entities."

Liu Junyan and Hui Mo Xiong support Xiao Jiu's decision; Li Qingying brings the sobering soup, learns of this, and wholeheartedly agrees: "As Xingchen said earlier, Lady Hou Tu thinks highly of our Xiao Jiu; running the yin pawn shop is a heavy responsibility, Xiao Jiu needs experience, he has settled down during this time and passed Lady Hou Tu's test, so she also wishes to give him a boost."

=> Liu Junyan and Hui Moqiong both supported Xiao Jiu's decision; Li Qingying brought the hangover soup, and upon learning of this, she wholeheartedly agreed: "It seems Xingchen was right— Hou Tu Niangniang thinks highly of our Xiao Jiu; running the Yin Dang Hang is a heavy responsibility, Xiao Jiu needs tempering, this period he has thoroughly settled, passed Hou Tu Niangniang's test, so she also wishes to add a boost, giving Xiao Jiu a push."

Hui Mo Xiong cupped Li Qingying's cheek and gave her a quick kiss: "Qingying, you always speak so nicely; say more when you can; today everyone is happy."

=> Hui Moqiong cupped Li Qingying's cheek and gave her a quick kiss: "Yingyingzi, your words are pleasant; speak more if you can, everyone's happy today."

Li Qingying frowned, covered his mouth and pushed him away, then shoved the sobering soup into his hands, scolding: "How much have you drunk?! You're starting to act drunk all day, never sober! Drink!"

=> Li Qingying, disgusted, covered his mouth and pushed him away, then shoved the hangover soup into his hand, scolding: "How much have you drunk?! You're starting to act drunk, never sober! Drink!"

After the sobering soup was ready, Li Qingying added a few ice cubes to cool it; it's no longer hot.

=> After the hangover soup was ready, Li Qingying added a few ice cubes to the bowl to cool it; it's no longer hot now.

Hui Mo Xiong cradled the bowl, gulped it down, set the bowl on the table, and walked out.

=> Hui Moqiong cradled the bowl, gulped it down with glug-glug sounds, set the bowl on the table, and walked out.

It was late at night; Li Qingying, uneasy, shouted: "Where are you going?"

=> At that point the night was deep; Li Qingying, uneasy, shouted: "Where are you going?"

Hui Mo Xiong glanced back at her with a flirtatious look and said: "I'm going to the car to get something; I'll be back soon."

=> Hui Moqiong turned his head, gave her a flirtatious glance, and said: "I'm going to fetch something from the carriage; I'll be back soon."

It turned out he had left something in the car.

=> As it turned out, something had fallen in the carriage.

Li Qingying cleared the dishes, while Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu continued studying the yin earth.

=> Li Qingying cleared the bowls and chopsticks; Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu continued studying the handful of Yin earth.

After a while, Hui Moqiong's footsteps sounded, coming in from outside, holding a bouquet of flowers…