The Account of Favors

Paper Man Zhou, Bell Player Yang.

Both of these families were once prominent and well-known. They weren't quite as powerful as characters in a TV drama, but before the country implemented cremation, they controlled the entire funeral industry in Luo City. For any funeral, from the officiant to the paper figures, from the coffin to the bell player team, no one could bypass these two families.

With this business alone, the Zhou and Yang families, though not famous in the underworld, rapidly accumulated vast wealth.

Judging by this three-hall, two-wing mansion alone, it's not hard to see how wealthy the Zhou family was back then.

Even if they weren't considered prominent figures, they were far beyond the scope of ordinary people.

Xiao Ran was actually puzzled. In comparison, his own family was an outsider. After his parents passed away, his grandfather brought him to Luo City. Relying on his own skills, it took him a long time to slowly establish a foothold locally.

What could have happened to make the Zhou family, this local overlord, owe their family a favor?

"Bang bang!!"

The sound of a cane from behind the door made Xiao Ran look up. He recognized the figure emerging with just one glance; it was the Old Woman who had just left.

Although her clothes had changed and her white hair was now a bald head, her appearance hadn't changed at all.

The elder seemed to notice Xiao Ran's strange gaze, but simply smiled without offering an explanation.

A man stepped forward to support the elder's arm and asked with concern, "Dad, is Mom resting?"

The elder nodded. "Your mom likes sweets lately. Keep an eye on her; don't let her eat too much."

"Greetings, Old Master. My grandfather sent me to pay my respects. I apologize for disturbing your rest."

Xiao Ran stepped forward and spoke politely, his gaze scanning the Old Master from head to toe, but he couldn't discern anything. However, judging by his voice, it was clearly different from before.

"Ah."

The elder nodded, gesturing for Xiao Ran to sit down. His cloudy eyes scanned Xiao Ran from top to bottom, finally settling on his eyes.

"How is your grandfather?"

"He's well."

If it were another family, Xiao Ran would have explained that his grandfather had already passed away.

But this time was different. He had come under the guise of his grandfather, and saying he had passed away would be too complicated to explain.

The elder didn't ask further and directly asked Xiao Ran, "My wife just told me you're here to collect on that favor. We acknowledge the debt, but what exactly do you need?"

Seeing the elder's directness, Xiao Ran simply explained his concern that someone might use his birthdate to harm him, without going into specific details.

"My grandfather said this matter could only be brought to you. It concerns life and death, otherwise, I wouldn't dare to intrude."

Hearing Xiao Ran's words, the elder's expression relaxed. He grinned and said, "If it's about anything else, I can't say for sure, but this matter is quite simple. Wait here."

He then looked up at his son and said, "Take good care of this young man. I'm going to the back hall."

"Yes."

The man nodded carefully, supporting the elder as he stood up.

After the elder entered the back hall, the man turned to look at Xiao Ran. They stared at each other, and the atmosphere became awkward.

After a moment, Xiao Ran broke the silence, offering a way out, "I apologize for my earlier rudeness, Uncle. Please don't take offense."

"Good kid, you're quite capable for your age. Alright, it's our family's debt. I was wrong earlier. Young man, here's my business card. Call me if you need anything in the future."

The man took out a business card and handed it to Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran took it and his brow twitched.

[Agricultural Wholesale Market, General Manager, Zhou Shen]

Xiao Ran knew about the Agricultural Wholesale Market. A large portion of Luo City's fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat, and staple foods came from there.

"As expected, their foundation is still solid. Otherwise, how could they control such a large market?"

Xiao Ran understood that controlling such a profitable enterprise wasn't just about having money; relationships and strength were equally important. Without them, you wouldn't get to do this business.

Even though the Zhou family had lost the funeral industry, they had managed to take control of such a large wholesale market. He wondered if this was Zhou Shen's idea or the Old Master's strategy.

"Uncle Zhou, such a large market, there must be quite a few cattle, sheep, and poultry daily, right?" Xiao Ran asked casually.

Zhou Shen didn't think much of it and nodded. "Except for those going to the district, most of it passes through the agricultural market. We have a slaughterhouse here, so the meat is fresh."

"That's great. Then, could I buy some whole, un-butchered cattle, pigs, and poultry?" Xiao Ran explained, "You know, my family makes a living with our skills. My grandfather passed his skills down to me, but where can I find so many bodies to practice on? I was thinking if I could practice on these livestock, what do you think...?"

Zhou Shen's lips twitched. He thought, 'Good grief, he's really pushing his luck, and so quickly.'

However, he felt a bit embarrassed to refuse after bragging earlier. After some thought, he decided it wasn't a big deal. "This isn't difficult. You don't have to pay. I'll call the slaughterhouse later and find some bodies for you to practice on. As long as it doesn't affect sales, there's no problem."

Zhou Shen picked up the phone and, in front of Xiao Ran, called the slaughterhouse. Perhaps wanting to regain some face in front of Xiao Ran, he deliberately put it on speakerphone. The person on the other end heard Zhou Shen's request and immediately agreed without hesitation.

They only advised Xiao Ran to go around two in the morning, as this would not interfere with the shipment starting at three.

This was not a problem for Xiao Ran.

After they agreed on the time, Xiao Ran naturally offered some praise, which greatly improved Zhou Shen's mood.

"Zhou Shen!!"

At this moment, the elder's voice called out from the back hall.

Zhou Shen quickly stood up and said, "Let's go to the back hall. My dad has probably finished helping you by now."

"Okay."

Xiao Ran stood up and walked to the back hall. Zhou Shen didn't follow.

He passed through the main hall and living area, walked down the corridor, and then through another door to reach the back hall.

The back hall was filled with incense smoke. It wasn't large but was spacious. Three doors were open, and looking inside through the doorways, he saw a large offering table with the spirit tablets of the Zhou family's ancestors.

Xiao Ran walked in and saw the old man sitting in a chair, holding a teacup. He gestured to the side.

Xiao Ran looked closely and saw a paper figure about thirty centimeters tall.

What surprised him was that the paper figure looked exactly like him.

Its expression, hairstyle, and clothes were all of a miniature version of himself.

There was only one difference: the eyes were blank, with no pupils drawn in.

"Did you just make this?"

Xiao Ran looked at the old man in surprise.

He and Zhou Shen had only talked for less than fifteen minutes. Had it been made already?

But then he thought about it and felt relieved. After all, the old man had been a big shot in the funeral industry back in the day. How could his skills be bad?

"I'm old, and my skills are rusty. Child, take this paper figure with you. Dip its eyes with your blood, write your original Birth Numerology on the back, and then burn it. Remember, the time you burn it will be your new Birth Numerology. If you encounter any evil spirits or sorcery trying to harm you, it can also block one disaster for you."

"That's it?"

"It's that simple. However, your new numerology can only protect you from others harming you. If you encounter fortune-telling or divination in the future, you'll still need to provide your real Birth Numerology. Also, this new numerology can only protect you for one year. After that, it will be ineffective."

"Sigh, thank you, Old Master."

Xiao Ran nodded and noted it down. He held the paper figure in his arms. "Thank you for your trouble. I won't disturb your rest and will be going back now. If you ever need my help in the future, this junior will absolutely not refuse."

"Hahaha, good, good, good."

The old man smiled and nodded, then called out to Zhou Shen again, telling him to see Xiao Ran out.

It only took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea for Zhou Shen to walk back. He came to the back hall and asked with some displeasure, "Dad, I remember the Xiao family is from out of town, right? When did our family owe them a favor??"

It wasn't that Zhou Shen was unhappy. From the time he could remember until now, it had always been others owing their family, and it was still the same now.

He had never heard of their own family owing someone else a favor, let alone someone coming to their door to demand one.

The old man heard this, put down his thermos, and looked up at the spirit tablets on the offering table.

Although he didn't speak, his silent presence gradually made Zhou Shen afraid to say anything more.

After a while, the old man slowly spoke, "Xiao Zhenye is not from out of town. He just went into hiding for a while and only returned later."

"Then... our family..." Zhou Shen also heard that his old man seemed to have an unusual relationship with the person from the Xiao family. He carefully asked, "Do we still owe him a favor?"

"You only know that your mother is usually on me. You don't know why she is on me."

As he spoke, the old man stood up, unbuttoned his shirt, and pulled it open.

On his withered and shriveled chest, a woman's face was skillfully sewn. The tightly closed eyelids twitched a few times before slowly opening a slit, and a resentful expression appeared. "Old man, didn't I tell you not to tell the child about this..."