Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Upon returning to their hometown of Hengyin, Jiang Xueming took Xiao Qi and rushed back to the Agricultural University campus without stopping.

Remembering that my sister-in-law had mentioned gifts last time, Xue Ming prepared milk and fruit well in advance, sealed two red envelopes, and told Xiao Qi not to seem too formal and to be as natural as possible.

The villas next to the artificial lake were originally damp and cold, giving off a ghostly atmosphere in early spring.

Xue Ming knocked on the door, and Ye Bei's warm greeting came from the lobby.

"The door's open! Just come in!"

Looking into the living room from the porch, there is a mahjong table. The two people on the east and west sides are the male and female heads of the household, Ye Bei and his wife. The two people on the north and south sides are Chen Fugui and Su Xingchen, Bei Zi's arsenal and intelligence agent.

Xiao Qi wasn't familiar with these people, so Xue Ming introduced them to each one.

"This is Brother Su Xingchen —he helped me a lot when I went to Red Star Hill."

"It's just a phone call." Su Xingchen said nonchalantly. Compared to Xue Ming's polite words, he was more concerned about the mahjong tiles opposite him. His reach wasn't long enough, so he couldn't draw any tiles no matter what.

Xue Ming: "This is my sister-in-law. You haven't met her before. When I used to deliver milk tea, she often helped pick up and drop off Bailu at school, and she also went to parent-teacher conferences."

Then Ye Bei saw the beautiful woman across the table look up, smile at Xiao Qi, and then grit her teeth and say to the player before her, "Can you please stop playing with me? I bet nine of a kind and you bet nine of a kind? I bet 20,000 and you bet 20,000? Are you doing this on purpose? Are you looking for trouble?"

Xiao Qi handed over a red envelope and very sensibly greeted her sister-in-law.

The woman didn't stand on ceremony; she opened the red envelope right in front of everyone and stuffed it into the money box on the mahjong table. Her bad mood from being teased by the player before her vanished instantly. "Go watch TV. There's food. Pour yourself some tea. I'm busy right now."

That's not a polite way of putting it—it's very honest.

Xue Ming pulled Xiao Qi around the mahjong table, then said, "You've already met Brother Ye Bei and Mr. Chen."

Xiao Qi greeted them one by one, "Hello, Uncle Chen. Hello, Brother Ye."

The two distinguished guests didn't offer any special response, merely giving perfunctory replies, seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer number of relatives and friends who had come to pay their respects over the past few days.

Xue Ming knew perfectly well what was going on, but Xiao Qi felt extremely uncomfortable and privately discussed it with her lover.

"Do they not like me?"

Xue Ming frankly admitted, "That's what happens when you're desperate to lose."

Xiao Qi: "Getting desperate after losing?"

Xue Ming pointed to the tense situation at the card table and explained—

"--The eldest brother and sister-in-law are a family. They may look like they're sitting in the east or west wind positions, but in reality, they're spending all the money in the house whether they win or lose."

He then pointed in Mr. Chen's direction.

"My older brother doesn't have much money. After receiving his year-end bonus, he'll probably donate it to charity to build schools and give red envelopes to the children in the village. He spent all his wife's money playing cards with his brothers during the New Year. Mr. Chen seems to have lost a lot, but he's in the business of dealing with the dead, so it's not appropriate for him to bring gifts when he visits. He just wanted to use the opportunity of playing mahjong to lose some money to Brother Ye Bei and his wife."

Xiao Qi asked in surprise, "There's such a saying?"

Xue Ming continued, "At this table, my eldest brother is the least intelligent. He kept trying to feed his wife cards, but his sister-in-law was winning her own money anyway. So in the end, Su Xingchen's eldest brother earned the most—everyone else was quite anxious, but Xingchen's eldest brother is very clever. He has a strong ability to memorize cards and do mental arithmetic, and he beat up those three who were playing the 'favor card' game."

Ye Bei said with a long face, "You haven't changed a bit, kid."

The older sister-in-law continued, "Go watch TV. We can talk about this later. This is a matter of grudges."

Su Xingchen explained solemnly, "If you just respected my height and pushed the deck of cards across the table a little bit closer to me, I would have gone easy on you."

Xue Ming led Xiao Qi to the coffee table in the living room and saw a girl sprawled on the sofa, holding a bucket of potato chips and a can of cola. She was dressed in a teddy bear pajama set, looking listless like an old man slumped over.

When Xiao Qi approached, she asked Xue Ming, "Would you like to introduce this person to me as well?"

Xue Ming, "He should be Brother Ye Bei's colleague."

He thought about it and remembered that when he worked at the bubble tea shop, the older brother often went out late at night, and he would occasionally see this woman picking him up. She was most likely an operator from Tian Shu.

"Happy New Year!" The girl waved, holding a potato chip between two fingers, as a greeting. "Xiao Jiang, you brought your girlfriend home?"

Jiang Xueming finally remembered the deity's name. "Sister Wang?"

This Sister Wang's full name is Wang Lingxi. She is a member of the Special Action Group of the Tian Shu Spirit Calamity Affairs Bureau. Ye Bei once talked about the methods of handling Spirit Calamity in the mortal world, which are similar to the duties of a neighborhood committee or a local police officer.

"Hmm." Lingxi straightened up slightly, going from being paralyzed to partially paralyzed, and said something completely unrelated, "A heater, TV dramas, potato chips, and cola will erode a warrior's will. I just can't get up. Hey, what's your name?"

Xiao Qi immediately said, "Just call me Qingqing."

At this time--

--It wasn't that Bai Ziqing was deliberately feigning gentleness and virtue, nor was she creating the persona of a girl next door.

However, the spiritual pressure from everyone in the room was quite strong, almost making it hard for her to breathe.

Brother Ye Bei was originally Chang Ghost, and according to the Spirit Calamity of the underworld, he was a blood-bearing monster of the same level Ming De's direct relatives.

As for the pheromones emanating from the eldest sister-in-law, they don't seem to be characteristics of Homo sapiens. Xiao Qi thinks they are a monster couple.

That Tian Shu intelligence agent had an extremely strong aura of resentment about him. Xue Ming had mentioned that this short guy had no Inspiration, yet he had been involved in the investigation of psychic matters, so he was clearly no ordinary person.

Xiao Qi had met the train conductor, Wood Plark, at the harvest season ceremony. Chen Fugui looked exactly like Wood Prak; their elemental qualities were similar, and their spiritual pressure was also extremely strong.

Xiao Qi's current transformation progress is in the [cocoon] stage -- being squeezed into such a family of butterfly species always feels a bit awkward.

But the naughty cat quickly broke the awkward silence.

A rustling sound came from the second floor, and the Qiongqi beast Qiongqi, who was on par with the BOSS, walked down step by step, holding onto the railing.

It stood upright on its hind legs, clutching its head as if it had drunk too much the day before and was still hungover. It cursed as it walked.

"Can you please keep it down! It's Chinese New Year, can't I even get a proper night's sleep?!"

It walked to the toilet on the first floor and shouted loudly to the people at the card table.

"Hey! I'm hungry! Servant! Get me some food! Get me some, get me some!"

The big white cat had its round belly sticking out, its fur on its face was bristling, and it looked fierce.

It saw Xue Ming and Xiao Qi in the side hall of the tea room. When its gaze finally settled on Xiao Qi, its eyes became suspicious. Then it slowly lowered its front paws and moved on all fours, symbolically waving its paws as if to say hello.

"Meow?"

Ye Bei: "They understand, stop pretending."

Qiongqi straightened up again, his face full of disgust. "No wonder you didn't tell me, the head of the household, that you had guests! The past few days were exhausting! So many kids came! My voice is hoarse from all the meowing!"

Xiao Qi stared blankly at the naughty cat.

Xue Ming whispered a reminder: "That's a ferocious beast, not a BOSS."

Xiao Qi asked expectantly, "Can I touch it? Can I? Can I?"

Before he could finish speaking, Qiongqi, looking impatient, slowly walked up to Seventh Brother and poked its head over.

"You can touch me, but only a few times. I need to go to the toilet right away, so hurry up."

Xiao Qi immediately reached out and rubbed the cat's head and neck.

Within seconds, Qiongqi frowned and said disdainfully, "What a terrible technique! Stop petting me! Go find a cat cafe and learn a few tricks from the staff. You shameless thing, you think you're worthy to touch me?"

After saying this, the noble beast walked heavily, moved a stool, stood on it, pulled the doorknob of the toilet, jumped onto the toilet, and vomited uncontrollably, trying to expel all the wine and meat from its belly.

Ms. Wang Lingxi, standing to the side, offered a weak reminder.

"Don't mind it, that's just its temperament. It's been like this for years and it hasn't gotten better."

Xiao Qi laughed awkwardly a few times, then remained silent.

After the ferocious beast finished vomiting up the leftover food and wine from the previous day, the big white cat was seen carrying a water glass and holding a toothbrush, brushing its teeth as it walked into the living room.

"Gurgle gurgle you. Gurgle gurgle, you little brat, I'm talking. Gurgle gurgle gurgle."

The big white cat tilted its head back, spitting out all the bubbles from its mouth, and finally got down to business with Xue Ming.

Have you figured it out yet?

Xue Ming: "Have you figured it out yet?"

Qiongqi placed the toothbrush and water cup on the table and said earnestly and confidently, "Yes, as I told you last time, you kill your older brother, and then you'll live with me—oh no, I mean, I'll live with you. How about it?"

Xiao Qi laughed heartily, "Is this Little Kitty here to bring us good luck during the Lunar New Year?"

Qiongqi rolled his eyes. "Do I look like I'm joking? This guy is perfect for being a bad guy! I love bad older brothers! ~ That scoundrel Ye Bei is too kind-hearted. I don't get along with him, and living with him would be the ultimate torture for me -- to ferry me across this sea of suffering to the other shore, it has to be you, Jiang Xueming."

Xue Ming: "Do you need chiropractic surgery?"

"Never mind, I didn't mention this." Qiongqi's expression changed, and he immediately became obedient. "Eat and drink well."

Before the cat could even sit down, it sniffed the air and immediately moved closer to Xiao Qi.

"Hey, you've got some good ideas, girl. It smells pretty good."

Xiao Qi immediately became alert--

--The big white cat jumped onto the sofa, nudged Seventh Brother's arm, and whispered instructions.

"You and this kid are getting married? I smell a tiny bit of a pleasant scent on you, but only a tiny bit. Looks like you've reformed. Interested in going back to your old ways? I guarantee that as long as you do what I say, this kid will be devoted to you. 'The younger sister may turn bad, but the older brother will love her even more,' you know that saying?"

Xiao Qi didn't answer, but Xue Ming quickly grabbed the ferocious beast and threw it into the cat's nest.

Xue Ming had witnessed twice how this ferocious beast in Beizi's house mentally corrupted psychics and acted as a pyramid scheme mentor.

When it was time to eat, Ye Bei's sister-in-law and the three guests who had come to eat with them went to the kitchen to get busy. Ye Bei then found Xue Ming alone and talked about the recent events. Most of them were about the Spirit Calamity in Xiangnan, and the conversation eventually turned to Xiao Qi.

"Should I handle the wedding arrangements?" Ye Bei said to Xue Ming, "As the eldest brother, I can be your father."

Jiang Xueming laughed and said, "Don't joke with me."

Ye Bei immediately said, "Then you'll have to give me an invitation, and I'll give you both red envelopes then."

Jiang Xueming: "Will Uncle Jiang come?"

Ye Bei: "I'll definitely come."

That's all for now--

--Ye Bei immediately leaned close to Xue Ming's ear and whispered.

Which table is he sitting at?

Jiang Xueming: "Let's have the relatives' table."

Although Xue Ming still didn't know whether Uncle Jiang was his biological father, it really didn't matter. Ever since Jiang Zhengchu talked to him about the warranty, maintenance, and repair of the dump truck's diesel engine, the two had developed a deep friendship.

Then they heard Su Xingchen shout from the kitchen, "Can I sit at the relatives' table? Ye Bei! I'm your father!"

Ye Bei scolded, "You're sitting at the kids' table! You have no manners!"

After reprimanding his own intelligence agent, Ye Bei started talking about family matters. He mentioned things he had already discussed, such as asking about Xiao Qi's family background and how she was doing in the Nine Realms.

Xiao Qi felt very uncomfortable when talking about these things.

Ye Bei is an upright and honest man, sharing the same trait as Qiongqi. He can detect lies, and it seems that no lie can be hidden from this elder brother.

Xiao Qi used to be a criminal, Ye Bei seemed to have guessed that as well.

"Xue Ming, you hate evil as much as you hate it."

Jiang Xueming had barely begun speaking when he decided to take the conversation with him.

"--The boss sent her to a labor camp, and I won't go into details after that. She's doing well now."

Ye Bei: "Oh, that's fine then."

Xue Ming: "Brother Ye Bei, you have time to take a vacation at home, so you don't need my help?"

Ye Bei's expression changed, his smile turning into a slightly awkward one, "No, please don't! The old house you demolished last time hasn't been restored yet, and the leaders from the Municipal Government's Cultural Bureau are constantly demanding answers from my superior. I dare not assign you any more tasks."

Xue Ming's methods for dealing with Spirit Calamity are too forceful and violent, which can easily cause large-scale and widespread destruction in busy urban areas, making him unsuitable for this line of work.

Ye Bei changed the subject. "However, Xingchen seems to have something he needs your help with."

At the dinner table, after all the dishes were served, everyone took their seats. When Qiongqi finally moved into his high chair, just as Brother Ye Bei had said—

--Su Xingchen talked to his younger brother Xue Ming about work.

"My colleagues in the Heavenly Secrets Department told me that you've made a name for yourself in the Nine Realms. There's a recent murder case in Huainan, and they might need your help."

Upon hearing Xingchen's instructions, Jiang Xueming immediately put down her chopsticks and took out her diary.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Xue Ming would clean up the food like she had done last time.

Jiang Xueming immediately asked, "Brother Xingchen, just say what you want to say. Your criminal investigators should be more capable than me. If you can't find any clues, is it related to the underworld?"

"That's right, we might need you to examine the body," Su Xingchen explained. "Ming De and I have inquired about your deeds—we hope you can find out the cause of death, after all, you are very skilled at killing."

Jiang Xueming: "You want me to handle something that even forensic doctors and criminal police can't?"

"The main reason is the victim's special identity," Su Xingchen continued to explain. "We've already identified a suspect; the murderer is a psychic, a new passenger who departed from the Nine Realms Station."

Jiang Xueming immediately said, "Was the deceased an Armadillo Hunters?"

"Yes." Su Xingchen narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Jiang Xueming: "How did you deduce that?"

Jiang Xueming analyzed the situation logically.

"If it was a hunter who committed the crime, you would definitely have handed it over to Qingjin to handle."

"If it's a regular criminal case, but the cause of death is rather suspicious, we can transfer it to the Provincial Public Security Bureau and find a more skilled forensic doctor, or have one of your Tian Shu's criminal investigation specialists for psionic disasters handle it. They should be able to find out most of the details."

"You tell me the murderer was a passenger. From my perspective, this person passed the BOSS's initial screening, all the readings on the Polarized Sextant were normal, he completed his mission, obtained the Universal Elixir, and returned home to fulfill his wish, but suddenly he went berserk and killed someone. Either the waiter didn't manage him properly, or the passenger killed the Armadillo Hunters —you want to hand this person over to me, send him back to the station to go through the procedures and make a statement."

Su Xingchen: "Things were originally very simple."

Jiang Xueming: "Man or woman?"

Su Xingchen: "Woman."

Jiang Xueming: "Where is the deceased?"

Su Xingchen: "Men."

Jiang Xueming: "The passenger's age?"

Su Xingchen: "At forty-one, you have to call me 'Auntie'."

Jiang Xueming: "Awakening psychic powers at this age, receiving a train ticket invitation, being able to return to one's hometown, and even turning the tables on the Armadillo Hunters —it sounds like something extraordinary."

Su Xingchen: "She denies killing anyone and refuses to return to the Nine Realms —she's unwilling to reveal any further information and doesn't trust anyone."

Jiang Xueming: "What was the deceased's age?"

Su Xingchen: "Thirty-eight years old, also a local of Huainan. We checked the files with the Lapis Lazuli Guards in your Arcane Library, and after verifying the DNA, it was confirmed that he is the Hunter."

Jiang Xueming: "That's the story of how Auntie was followed by a criminal, and in the end, she killed the hunter to uphold justice. It can be told in one sentence, so what do you need me to do?"

Su Xingchen: "Her emotions are very unstable. She's an eccentric and unapproachable person. Her waiters have repeatedly given up, hoping to find another employer. If you could personally conduct the autopsy, find out the specific cause of death, and give her some time to adjust her mindset, face her own abilities, and return to the station, I think that would be a good thing."

Jiang Xueming: "I think I understand."

Su Xingchen: "So, she's always thought she'd committed a criminal offense."

Jiang Xueming: "It was actually self-defense. The dead Armadillo Hunters cannot be called Homo sapiens. It received no humanitarian protection whatsoever, especially from the blood-receiving unit. These monsters do not deserve human rights."

Su Xingchen: "She doesn't trust her waiter, she's going through menopause, has a fiery temper, and a complicated family background. You'll need to get to know her slowly."

Jiang Xueming: "This is a good opportunity to hone one's skills, leave it to me."

Su Xingchen: "Wait a minute--"

"--You go ahead," Jiang Xueming replied immediately.

Brother Xingchen took out two documents from his briefcase: the location of the body and the basic personal information of the psychic.

"Take a look first, and be prepared. You call her 'Auntie,' but I have to call her 'Sister.' This 'Sister' is special. If you can figure things out and help her with this, she should be a good housekeeper. Your 'Nameless One' needs a housekeeper."

As he said this, Xingchen, an experienced intelligence officer, whispered to Xue Ming.

"You, 9527, and most of the passengers in the underworld are, in essence, high-attack, low-health Homo sapiens. No matter how miraculous your psionic abilities are, they can't protect your life at all times. This woman has a lot of social experience; otherwise, she wouldn't have had the chance to survive the Armadillo Hunters' pursuit. Having a good housekeeper can save you a lot of trouble when you travel."