The oxcart stopped in front of the Ji Residence. The old ox was so frightened by the black fog in front of it that it trembled uncontrollably, its eyes filled with terror.
If it weren't for the sun hanging in the sky, it would have thought it had arrived at the home of Ox-Head and Horse-Face... The old ox, its legs trembling, slowly approached Dahuang and Xiaoli.
Not wanting the cow's Xiaoli to be trampled hard, it looked up at the old cow's eyes and said in a sinister tone, "Coward... dare to back up even half an inch, and Dahuang and I will eat raw beef tonight."
The old ox swallowed hard, moved closer to Jin Shanyao, and tried to burrow into her arms with its two horns, but Jin Shanyao its forehead with one hand, preventing it from getting any closer.
Qiao Qingran instructed the coachman, "Take the oxcart to the stable to rest, and remember to add plenty of hay."
The groom stepped forward at the sound of his voice, pulled on the ox rope, and headed towards the stable. But the old ox refused to move, clinging to Jin Shanyao's back with its neck tugged at.
The coachman was sweating profusely with anxiety, but his repeated pulling was to no avail.
Jin Shanyao glanced helplessly at the old ox and said to the coachman, "Push the cart to the stable first, and the ox will come with me."
The coachman looked at Qiao Qingran uncertainly, Qiao Qingran nodded, "Do as Miss Jin says."
Once freed, the old ox rushed to Jin Shanyao in a few strides, cautiously looking around.
The Xiaoli was so angry its fur stood on end, and it cursed, "Coward, you've disgraced your master... What use are you?"
The old ox mooed as if it hadn't heard, and followed closely behind the Jin Shanyao. It dared not stay alone in this dark and sinister place.
Jin Shanyao as he carried a cloth banner, two little guys carried bundles on their backs, and the cat and dog followed behind with their heads held high and chests puffed out, looking majestic. Old Niu's legs were shaking like noodles, and he wished he could just die on the spot.
Qiao Qingran, carrying Jin Shanyao, passed through the hanging flower gate, but instead of going any further, she turned and entered through a side gate. Passing through the side gate, a quiet and secluded courtyard suddenly appeared before her.
She stopped in the courtyard, turned around and smiled, "I'm sorry to have troubled you these past few days, Miss Jin. Although this courtyard is on the outer edge, it's the quietest."
The Jin Shanyao in the courtyard, its Spiritual Power already sweeping across the entire Ji Residence.
The main house of the Ji Household is a large courtyard with three sections, and her small courtyard is a side courtyard of the second section, which can be considered an outer residence.
Even so, the beams, pillars, doors, and windows of this courtyard were still the best Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci had ever seen.
The two children tried their best to appear worldly-wise, standing obediently beside their aunt and listening to her chat with Qiao Qingran.
"Miss Jin, I don't know what's wrong at home. I'll have to trouble you for the next few days," Qiao Qingran said, then added, "Just tell me what you need, and I'll get it for you."
Jin Shanyao gazed at the black mist that clung to him like a maggot, and slammed the cloth banner on the ground. "Three thousand taels..."
"What?" Qiao Qingran didn't react.
Jin Shanyao smiled and said, "Your house has a big problem, with far-reaching implications. It can't be resolved without three thousand taels of silver..."
"Oh my, what a big mouth you have... Sister-in-law, why do you bring just anyone home? Tsk tsk..." The second wife of the Ji Household waved her hand in front of her nose.
"Even though this is an outer courtyard, we can't let cats, dogs, and cows all come in, can we?"
She had just heard from the gatekeeper that the third son's family had returned from inspecting the shops, bringing a bunch of random people into the mansion. Second Madam Ji scoffed at this.
Being a merchant by birth, she was utterly hopeless. She wanted to see who this man had brought back this time, but before she even entered the courtyard, she heard Jin Shanyao say that there was something wrong with the house and that he wanted three thousand taels of silver. Wasn't this obviously a scam?
Second Madam Ji's gaze swept over the banner, her eyes fixing on the words "divination and diagnosis," and she feigned shock, "Oh my, who do we have here? Turns out you're a wandering fortune teller."
"Sister-in-law, have you lost your mind? Just because the child cries a couple of times, you're asking for talismans and consulting fortune tellers. Are you afraid something bad will happen to your family?"
"And this young lady, do you know how much three thousand taels is? That's the combined annual income of all the branches of the Ji Household. You don't really think it's just a few pieces of paper, do you?"
Jin Shanyao stared at her opening and closing mouth and said apologetically, "I didn't expect the Ji Residence to be so poor. Why don't you all chip in? Everyone has times when they're short of money. Don't worry, I won't laugh at you."
"You..."
"Second sister-in-law..." Qiao Qingran interrupted, secretly composing herself.
She had previously heard Fu Congxi mention her skill with the Jin Shanyao, and she had only invited her over from afar because she had no other choice.
But she had already witnessed the extent of Jin Shanyao's popularity at the city gate. She had gone to great lengths to invite her into the mansion, and she couldn't let that clueless fool from the second branch of the family ruin everything.
Jin Shanyao an eyebrow and looked at the Qi Ingestion Second Madam Ji, "Madam, I see your face is dark and your steps are unsteady, which is caused by long-term nightmares. I have some calming and sleep-aiding talismans here, fifty taels each."
Second Madam Ji skipped a beat. No one knew that she had nightmares for years, so how did this girl know? Second Madam Ji looked at her suspiciously.
Are you trying to trick me?
Jin Shanyao curled her lips into a smile, "You woke up startled last night and bumped your left foot on the chair when you got up to get a drink of water, didn't you?"
Second Madam Ji's eyes widened suddenly as she looked at Jin Shanyao in disbelief. Could this person truly possess such skill that she even knew she had fallen last night?
Second Madam Ji looked somewhat embarrassed. She cleared her throat and said, "Um... my husband needs to see me, I'll be going now." Without pausing, she ran off to the main courtyard to find her mother-in-law.
If this girl is very capable, her family's three thousand taels of silver are probably doomed.
Seeing her second sister-in-law leave, Qiao Qingran bowed to Jin Shanyao and said, "As long as Miss Jin finds out the problem, I will give you the three thousand taels in full." She then called over a maid and instructed them to take good care of the distinguished guest.
Before leaving, she told Jin Shanyao to speak up if she needed anything, as she hadn't yet told everyone that she had asked Jin Shanyao to exorcise the ghost.
I need to talk to my mother-in-law first, and then use a more tactful approach to avoid frightening her.
In the main courtyard, upon hearing the price of three thousand taels, Old Madam Ji hesitated, saying, "Isn't that too much?"
Second Madam Ji said, "Isn't that right? I had the same reaction as you at first, thinking she was a fraud. Who knew she could predict that I have nightmares every night, and even that I tripped and hurt my foot yesterday? Isn't that amazing?"
Old Madam Ji: "Oh... that amazing?"
"Of course it's true, but..." Second Madam Ji, this person was invited by the third son's family, so she has to pay."
Qiao Qingran's family were wealthy merchants; three thousand taels was nothing to them. Old Madam Ji thought for a moment, "Your father-in-law favors the two children from his third son's family the most. If he finds out about this..."
Second Madam Ji whispered, "We just won't let him know." Just then, a maid came to report, "Madam, the Third Madam has arrived."
Old Madam Ji sat up straight. "Let her in."
Qiao Qingran entered the house, bowed to Old Madam Ji, and got straight to the point, "Mother-in-law, I've invited a fortune teller to examine the feng shui of our courtyard so that my father-in-law's career can advance further."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Ji smiled with satisfaction, "Third son's wife, you're so thoughtful."
"It's what I should do. My father-in-law's birthday is in a few days, and I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate it."
Second Madam Ji quickly chimed in, "Since it's a birthday celebration, shouldn't the third branch of the family pay for it?"
Old Madam Ji looked at Second Madam Ji with displeasure. Her second daughter-in-law was good in every way, except that she couldn't keep a secret and couldn't hold her temper.
Seeing that her mother- Second Madam Ji awkwardly stopped smiling.