Gold earrings

"": 200,

"": "",

"": "When he returned home, Luo Bin found that Gu Ya had tidied the courtyard until everything was in perfect order. Breakfast was still on the table, and smoke was already rising from the kitchen. It was almost noon.

Luo Bin was about to go eat. His stomach was empty by now.

Gu Ya called from the kitchen, "Lunch will be ready soon. Don't eat that cold porridge, Xiao Shan."

Then Gu Ya hurried out and cleared breakfast off the table.

She seemed uninterested in what had happened that morning, neither asking nor commenting.

"The Spirit Medium will come this afternoon, and so will the Village Chief. After lunch, go rest a little longer. The most important thing over these next two days is to conserve your strength. Don't let anything else distract you," Luo Feng reminded Luo Bin again.

"I know, Dad," Luo Bin replied.

Old Kong relied on preconceived impressions, while Luo Feng was meticulous. Luo Bin still had some trouble managing his expressions and emotions, and his thoughts could show through.

That was why Luo Bin had not even asked why the exorcism and blessing would take place at home rather than at the Spirit Medium's place.

Luo Feng went over to the threshold on his own and started sharpening his blade again.

His daily life was monotonous. Unless something happened in the village that required his help, he was always honing that machete.

Luo Bin walked over to the well. He had rolled the sack in his hands into a ball and tossed it on the ground for the moment.

He drew some water and washed his face, feeling much more alert and refreshed.

"Xiao Shan, don't leave things lying around. Put rubbish in the bin." Gu Ya came out of the kitchen carrying a large basin of stew and glanced toward the rubbish bin by the entrance.

Only then did Luo Bin realize what he had done. He had been the same in his previous life, taking a flyer on the street, rolling it up in his hands, and carrying it all the way home.

There had really been no point in bringing this sack back.

He picked it up and was about to throw it away.

Suddenly, something fell out of the sack.

Luo Bin gave a soft murmur of surprise and picked it up.

It was a small floral earring made of gold.

Gu Ya was carrying dishes into the main room, urging Luo Feng to stop sharpening his blade and wash his hands for lunch. Luo Feng did not notice what Luo Bin was doing either; he merely stood up.

Luo Bin did not throw the sack away. He turned and went into his room.

"Xiao Shan, why are you bringing that dirty thing inside?" Gu Ya turned back and called out again in surprise.

"Mom, I need it," Luo Bin replied before closing the door.

He faintly heard Luo Feng say, "That's the sack they put over Xiao Shan's head when they beat him. If he wants to keep it, let him. It'll serve as a reminder."

Luo Bin set the sack on his desk. Rather than inspect it immediately, he placed the earring beside it and went out to eat.

"Little Ling came by earlier and brought some herbs she picked at the foot of the mountain. I'm brewing them now. Don't refuse to drink them because they're bitter, Xiao Shan. Your sister Ling is as kind as she is pretty. She said the herbs reduce inflammation and will help your injuries." Gu Ya placed a piece of meat in Luo Bin's bowl.

"Mm-hmm." Luo Bin nodded.

Zhang Yunling really was a good person. She had mended his clothes and gone to gather herbs for him.

"Xiao Shan has grown sensible. You used to run out of the house whenever you heard you had to drink herbal medicine." Gu Ya smiled, her expression and voice softening further.

Then she glanced at Luo Feng, as though hinting at something.

Luo Feng kept his head down and shoveled rice into his mouth, apparently oblivious.

"Eat that fast and you'll choke." Gu Ya tapped the rim of his bowl with her chopsticks.

Luo Bin understood.

It was still about scouting the route.

Gu Ya was cautious and put safety first, while Luo Feng was determined to make some headway.

Each member of the family had their own thoughts during that meal.

As for Luo Bin, his thoughts remained on Gu Yiren.

The villagers' attitude threatened her safety, but Gu Yiren was useful and very unusual. Nothing could be allowed to happen to her.

How could he change the villagers' opinion of her and get her out of danger?

After lunch, Gu Ya said she was a little tired and told Luo Feng to clear the dishes.

Luo Bin offered to do it, but Gu Ya stopped him. "Your dad has energy to spare every day. Let him do it. Go back to your room and rest."

With no other choice, Luo Bin returned to his room.

He sat beside the desk, spread out the sack, and searched it thoroughly.

This time, he found nothing. There was nothing else in the sack.

He stared at the small floral gold earring for a while, then hefted it a couple of times with a sigh.

In his previous life, this would have been at least two or three grams of pure gold-a decent little windfall.

Would this thing be worth anything in Cabinet Mountain Village?

Over the past few days, he had not seen any shops in the village.

He recalled Village Chief Zhong Zhicheng saying that resources were limited, and every household had to send one person to work in the village to receive the corresponding ration supplies.

Exchanging labor for food and daily necessities made sense.

Still, Luo Bin stood up, intending to ask Luo Feng whether he could trade this for some meat, eggs, or rice for the family.

Just as he was about to open the door, Luo Bin's pupils contracted slightly, and he stared at the earring in his hand again.

Images flashed before his eyes.

At the foot of the Mountain God Temple, Zhu Qianqian had hurried out and stopped in front of Luo Bin, gratitude in her eyes.

"You're a good person."

"Gu Yiren isn't feeling well... we're members of the archaeological team... could you help us get our vehicle back... and drive us away?"

As his memories replayed, Luo Bin studied Zhu Qianqian's face closely, especially her ears.

Her short hair had not covered her earlobes, and he could see a small floral gold earring hanging from each one.

The images replayed again.

By the roadside, the Village Chief had scooped up Zhu Qianqian's gnawed-off head with a shovel.

Luo Bin had not paid particular attention to that detail at the time.

Now, he focused intently on Zhu Qianqian's ears.

The small floral gold earrings on both ears had disappeared.

His heart pounded wildly.

Goosebumps spread over his entire body.

Luo Bin swallowed hard, his gaze turning grim.

This... was actually Zhu Qianqian's possession.

And now it had become something left behind by the dead?

His hand stopped opening the door.

Luo Bin returned to the desk and sat down. After a long, long time, he opened a drawer and placed the small floral gold earring inside.

As for the sack, since Luo Feng had already misunderstood, he decided not to throw it away either and put it in the drawer as well.

He took a brief afternoon nap before Gu Ya's knock woke him.

When he left his room, there were two more people in the courtyard.

A man stood beside Zhong Zhicheng. His back was slightly hunched, his eyes narrow, and his nose faintly curved. The top of his head was somewhat bald, but the hair on either side was long and coiled around his head. His slightly pointed chin, together with a small goatee, gave him a gloomy air.

Luo Bin had always thought the Spirit Medium would be an old woman.

He had never expected a man.

"Ahem... ahem..." The Spirit Medium coughed and thumped his chest.

Luo Feng was standing before the two men, with Gu Ya moving forward. Luo Bin followed her over.

Suddenly, the Spirit Medium took a bottle from inside his clothes. Several willow twigs stood in it. He drew them out and flicked droplets of water over Luo Feng, muttering words that were somewhat indistinct.

Soon, he had lashed Luo Feng all over with the twigs, then repeated the process with Gu Ya and Luo Bin.

Luo Bin heard him clearly. First, he recited "A Hundred Ghosts Shall Not Enter the Home" and "Evil Spirits Stay Far from the Door," then three more lines: "First Strike: Clear Skies and Bright Earth," "Second Strike: Evil Spirits Vanish Without a Trace," and "Third Strike: Blessings, Longevity, Health, and Peace."

Then the Spirit Medium stopped before the three of them and took out another bottle. He pulled out the stopper, worked a finger into it, and withdrew it coated in thick, dark-red blood.

"Hold out your hands!" The Spirit Medium's voice grew forceful and slightly shrill.

Luo Feng and Gu Ya held out their palms, and Luo Bin naturally did the same.

The Spirit Medium quickly drew a talisman on each of their palms.

Finally, the Spirit Medium looked toward the Village Chief.

The Village Chief took out a bottle of oil and handed it to him.

Taking the bottle, the Spirit Medium poured a circle of oil on the ground. Then he actually tipped a mouthful into his mouth.

He swept his hand past his mouth and spat forcefully with a whoosh. A great flare of fire erupted, and the lamp oil on the ground blazed fiercely.

A scorched smell immediately filled the air, and a blackened ring appeared on the ground.

The Spirit Medium spat three or four times in succession to clear out the remaining lamp oil, then went to draw water from the well and rinse his mouth.

Afterward, however, he headed toward Luo Bin's room.

"The exorcism and blessing are finished. The Spirit Medium will also ward off evil and dispel baleful influences in our home once more, as compensation for our family scouting the route," Luo Feng explained at just that moment.

Luo Bin felt deeply uneasy. He quietly committed that information to memory while watching his bedroom door out of the corner of his eye.

Zhong Zhicheng said gravely, "You'll set out at dawn the day after tomorrow. I'll come to see you off. The talismans on your palms can restore your senses once at a critical moment."

"You'll be safer when the three of you stand together."

"When you enter the Treehouse that serves as a stopping point in the mountains, remember to tie a bundle of willow branches above the door."

"Understood, Village Chief," Gu Ya said softly. "Why don't you come inside and rest for a while?"

"No need. We'll leave as soon as the Spirit Medium comes out. There are some problems with that Gu Yiren," Zhong Zhicheng replied.

Luo Bin's heart jolted again.

It was not only because Zhong Zhicheng had mentioned Gu Yiren. The Spirit Medium had been in his room for two or three minutes. Why had he still not come out?

There was still lamp oil hidden... in the wardrobe.

Another five or six minutes passed before the Spirit Medium came out and headed into Gu Ya and Luo Feng's bedroom.

Only then did Luo Bin let out a breath. Sweat had already begun to dampen his back.

Thank goodness nothing happened...

Still, Luo Bin silently resolved to divide the lamp oil among several containers. He could not keep all of it in his room.

Besides, Luo Bin could not help glancing again at the oil bottle in Zhong Zhicheng's hand.

There had been quite a few bottles of lamp oil in the wooden hut's cabinet in the mountains, but only a third of them remained. The rest were empty.

Was that all the lamp oil they had? What would the village do if it ran out?

Would they lose their ability to ward off evil spirits and have to hide in sealed-off corners, as he and Gu Yiren had before? Or did Zhong Zhicheng have another source of lamp oil and simply had not replenished what had been used yet?

Luo Bin did his best to suppress his racing thoughts.

The most urgent matter was still Gu Yiren!

Just then, the Spirit Medium came out of Luo Feng and Gu Ya's room.

As luck would have it, he walked over and stopped in front of Luo Bin.

Luo Bin's heart lifted slightly with apprehension.

Zhong Zhicheng's gaze also settled on Luo Bin. He glanced at the Spirit Medium out of the corner of his eye, seemingly waiting for him to speak.

Luo Bin: "..."

Was something off about me?

Zhong Zhicheng had noticed him before, and the things he had said had caused some complications.

What had the Spirit Medium spotted now?