Xiang Shang came from a well-off family. In a way, the Xiang family was like Chen Miao's Elder Uncle, except they had taken a different path.
Back when their property was demolished, the Xiang family had also received compensation. But instead of buying property or stocks, Xiang Shang's father had pooled his money with a partner and bought a sand dredger!
The Xiang family had taken just three years to build up the capital that Chen Miao's Elder Uncle had spent nearly nine years accumulating!
Like Chen Miao's Elder Uncle, Xiang Shang's father had guts.
After the river management reforms, private sand mining was no longer allowed. Most sand-mining business owners either quit or moved to places the regulations had yet to reach and resumed their old trade.
Xiang Shang's father, however, had done something different. He had invested most of his earnings from those years of sand mining in a large vessel that met the requirements for river dredging, then affiliated himself with a company in that field.
And just like that, Xiang Shang's father had reinvented himself, going from illegal sand mining to river dredging.
Although he could only sell the sand he dredged up to the designated departments, and the price was low, the sheer volume and lack of competition more than made up for it!
That had sent the Xiang family's fortunes soaring.
With so much money, Xiang Shang's family had moved out of Tianmen County to expand their business in the city.
Over the years, their wealth had allowed them to branch out into various industries, leaving river dredging on the sidelines.
So Xiang Shang had no need to worry about how he would support himself for the rest of his life.
As his father put it, "I'll let you have your fun until you're thirty-five. If you haven't built a career of your own by then, you'll learn to run the family business."
He was a real-life case of someone who would have to go home and inherit the family fortune if he failed to make it on his own.
As for Xiang Shang and Chen Miao's relationship, it went back to the relationship between their fathers.
Even if Chen Miao had not entered the funeral industry, Xiang Shang's father could have arranged something else for him. But Chen Miao had still chosen what he liked.
Now, it seemed that passion had not let him down.
A little over ten minutes later, Chen Miao and Xiang Shang arrived in the north of town.
A motorcycle really was much faster than a car.
After arriving at the pedestrian shopping street, the first thing Chen Miao said as he got off was, "Unless you want me holding your memorial service, ride more sensibly next time!"
Xiang Shang went off to park, looking helpless.
I only got carried away because I just bought the bike!
Listening to Xiang Shang's thoughts, Chen Miao gained a better understanding of Heart-to-Heart.
Judging by what had happened with his Elder Uncle and Xiang Shang, Heart-to-Heart could not pick up much information. They might have a lot on their minds, but Chen Miao could only hear a sentence or two when their emotions surged.
Still, something occurred to Chen Miao. What could Heart-to-Heart do if he combined it with a Heart-Linked Talisman?
Soon, Xiang Shang finished parking and came over.
Chen Miao glanced at the bike and pointed at the two helmets on it.
"Aren't you bringing the helmets?"
"Nah. Too much hassle."
Chen Miao shook his head and said nothing. Xiang Shang had plenty of money anyway. If they got stolen, he could just buy new ones.
"By the way, what are you doing here?"
Xiang Shang asked as he idly twirled the bike keys around his finger.
"Buying a few things."
"What things?"
"I've been learning to draw talismans lately. I need some Talisman Paper and cinnabar. Got any connections?"
Chen Miao did not hide what he intended to do.
"Drawing talismans? Your funeral home offers that service now?"
Xiang Shang looked astonished.
"It's a personal hobby. Answer the question. Got any connections?"
"What sort of connections do you mean?"
"I want some good handmade wood-pulp yellow joss paper and high-quality cinnabar."
Chen Miao answered after a moment's thought.
"Oh... The cinnabar should be easy. A friend's family runs a traditional medicine shop in the city, so they should have a source. As for yellow joss paper, I don't know much about it. I'll ask my friends and see if they know."
Chen Miao nodded and walked into a shop selling incense, candles, and ritual supplies.
Thanks to the Old Mother Shrine on Jingshan in the north of town, Tianmen County had quite a few shops like this. The shrine allowed worshippers to bring their own offerings, so the shops at the foot of the hill often sold more than those up above.
Of course, selling more did not necessarily mean they made more money than the shops on the hill.
Once inside, Chen Miao headed straight for the incense counter. The glass display held all kinds of Incense Sticks.
Thick ones, thin ones, long ones, short ones; sandalwood, agarwood, cypress, Jiangzhen Incense, and more.
"What are you looking for, young man?"
Chen Miao pointed at the Jiangzhen Incense.
"How much for a bundle of this?"
"Fifty a bundle."
"Do you have anything more expensive?"
"Nothing cheaper... Huh? What did you say?"
The shop assistant stared at him in surprise.
"I asked whether you have anything of better quality."
Chen Miao smiled.
"Oh, yes. Yes, we do."
Looking a little embarrassed, the assistant went into the back to search.
He really had not expected Chen Miao to ask for something pricier. Whether it was Jiangzhen Incense or any of the other varieties, customers only ever asked if there was anything cheaper. He had never seen anyone ask for something more expensive.
Anyone who truly wanted high-quality incense should not have come here in the first place.
Fortunately, the owner still had some premium stock tucked away.
Before long, the assistant brought out another bundle of Incense Sticks.
Chen Miao picked it up and examined it. The quality was indeed much better than what was in the display.
"How much is this?"
"Five hundred a bundle."
"Anything more expensive?"
"No. We do have more expensive agarwood and sandalwood incense. I can fetch them if you want."
Chen Miao shook his head.
"I'll take this bundle, then. Could you throw in a bundle of red cord?"
Since Chen Miao was buying so readily, the assistant said nothing more and simply brought out a small bundle of red cord.
"Xiang Shang, pay up."
Xiang Shang, who had been fiddling with the shop's beaded bracelets, looked stunned.
"You're buying things, and you want me to pay?"
"Just tell me whether you will!"
Chen Miao smiled at him. That attitude left Xiang Shang unsure what to make of it.
Is he planning to treat me to a meal later? If I don't pay, will he refuse to treat me?
With that thought in mind, Xiang Shang decided to take a gamble. He pulled out his phone and scanned the payment code.
But even after Chen Miao left the shop with the incense, Xiang Shang heard nothing about being treated to a meal.
"Fuck!"
Xiang Shang hurried after him.
Before he could speak, though, he noticed a Peachwood Talisman tied with red cord in Chen Miao's hand.
"Here."
Xiang Shang took the Peachwood Talisman.
"What's this?"
"A Peachwood Talisman."
"This thing's worth five hundred?"
Looking at the crudely made Peachwood Talisman, Xiang Shang wore an expression that said Chen Miao must take him for an idiot.
"I made it myself. Just tell me whether it's worth it!"
"San Shui, when the hell did you get so shameless?"
Xiang Shang pocketed the Peachwood Talisman, stepped forward, and hooked an arm around Chen Miao's neck. But he never mentioned the money again.
After that, Chen Miao and Xiang Shang wandered around the pedestrian shopping street for a while.
Xiang Shang's unexpected appearance had made Chen Miao abandon his plan to visit the Yin-Yang Breaker Shop.
If anyone noticed him, Xiang Shang might get dragged into it.
What Chen Miao had not expected was for Xiang Shang to hurry off after less than ten minutes of walking around together.
When Chen Miao asked him why, he acted all mysterious, unaware that his thoughts had already given him away... He was off to fawn over a girl!
Still, as far as Chen Miao was concerned, his departure was a good thing.
He immediately took a cap and sunglasses from his bag, put them on, and headed into the alleys deep within the pedestrian shopping street.
The farther he went, the fewer people he saw.
Most of the buildings in these back alleys were still homes occupied by their owners. The occasional shops mostly sold essentials, such as tobacco, alcohol, and groceries.
After walking for a little over ten minutes, Chen Miao finally spotted the shop with the wooden sign that read "Sever Yin and Yang."
Below the words "Sever Yin and Yang," a bagua symbol had been carved into the wood.
It was only three in the afternoon, but the shop's door was firmly shut.
Chen Miao looked around, then walked over to a small key-cutting stall and took out the keys to his office and dorm room.
"How much to copy a key?"
"Five each."
"I need two."
The elderly locksmith took Chen Miao's keys and rummaged through his supplies. Soon, he found two uncut key blanks.
After comparing the grooves on the keys, the old man began cutting them by eye.
While he worked, Chen Miao was about to ask a question when he suddenly noticed someone walking toward the Sever Yin and Yang shop. The sight immediately caught his attention.
The man knocked a few times. When no one answered, he slapped the door a few more times.
Then, unexpectedly, he came over.
As he drew closer, Chen Miao got a clear look at him.
He wore thick, round-framed glasses and had a slightly bulbous, reddened nose, though it was not large.
His hair was short, with black and white strands mixed together.
His clothes hung loosely on him, giving him a somewhat scruffy appearance.
"Mind if I ask you something?"
After approaching, the middle-aged man in glasses offered the elderly locksmith a cigarette.
Only after the old man accepted it did he ask, "Do you know where the person from that shop has gone?"
The old man looked up and glanced over.
"No idea. It's been closed these past two days. But I've seen the lights on at night, so he probably only comes back in the evening."
"I see. Thanks."
The middle-aged man in glasses smiled. As he turned, his eyes briefly met Chen Miao's, and then he left.
The bespectacled man's gaze was calm, unlike that of the middle-aged man called Triangle Eyes.
"Here. All done."
As Chen Miao wondered who the bespectacled middle-aged man was, the old locksmith interrupted his thoughts.
Chen Miao took the keys and scanned the code to pay ten yuan.
As he was about to leave, he asked, "Sir, what does that shop do?"
Without even looking up, the old man replied, "Divination and spiritual consultations. The owner knows his stuff."
"Oh, I see. What's the owner's name? I could send people his way sometime."
"Zhong Fa."
Chen Miao repeated the name a few times, then turned and left.
PS: Today's update is going up early. Tomorrow's update will be at the usual time, 22:00.
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