Just as all the souls of the fallen heroes entered the Gates of Hell, Shi Dun suddenly ran back, knelt down on the Jin Shanyao his feet, "Girl, girl, I don't want to be reincarnated, I want to go home."
" Shi Dun, your lifespan has come to an end."
Shi Dun wouldn't listen to anything she was saying, crying out, "No... I can't be reincarnated... I still have a wife and children, I finally have a family, I won't be reincarnated..."
He reached out to pull the Jin Shanyao the hem of her robe, but it passed right through her body. His expression was one of shock and sorrow as he stared fixedly at the transparent hands.
"I was just transporting grain, how could I have died?! I have a family, my son is so young... Girl, can you just pretend you didn't see me?"
I want to go home, I want to be with them.
" Shi Dun, where vengeful spirits linger near loved ones, can cause unrest in the home, illness in wives and children, and a decline in fortune."
Jin Shanyao squatted down in front of Shi Dun and raised her hand to cover the corner of his eye. " Shi Dun, I have seen your wife and children. They almost froze to death by the roadside while looking for your body."
Everyone has their own destiny. Your life in this world has come to an end. Your wife and children still have their own paths to walk. Not disturbing them is the best protection.
If you really can't let go, you can find a job in the Underworld and wait until their lifespan ends, then you can reunite as a family.
Shi Dun's greatest regret in this life was losing his wife and children, and he would never hurt them. He looked at Jin Shanyao and asked, "Can we really reunite?"
"Of course... Remember, get a good job, buy a house in the Underworld, and wait for them to come to you."
Shi Dun covered his face and sobbed. After a long while, he took a deep breath and resolutely walked into the gates of hell. He dared not look back, for fear that if he did, the courage he had accumulated would crumble.
The moment the gates of hell closed, Jin Shanyao felt her Merit deepen, yet she couldn't feel happy at all.
Everything returned to calm. Pei Zheng solemnly bowed, and with a shout, the soldiers carried the coffin out of the farmhouse courtyard overnight.
Jin Shanyao called out to Shen Yan, "Hey... we're from the Anzhi Hall in Qingzhou Prefecture. Go there to find me if you need talismans or paper for the deceased."
Shen Yan staggered, almost falling. He turned around to reply when a medicine bottle was thrown at him. "Here... don't forget to apply the medicine."
Shen Yan clasped his hands and bowed deeply to Jin Shanyao. Jin Shanyao was stunned. She pointed at Shen Yan's back and asked Meng Anci, "Was his ritual just now a sacrifice to the dead?"
Meng Anci his head, "Auntie... he has very proper manners."
"Impossible... That's exactly how I bowed. Qing Yang said it was for worshipping the dead."
Meng Anci looked at her wistfully, "Auntie... I'm sleepy."
"Oh... go to sleep..." Jin Shanyao led the two children back into the house.
The three lay on the kang (a heated brick bed). In his drowsy state, Meng Anci seemed to hear his aunt say, "His rituals are like worshipping the dead."
The next day, under bright sunshine, the old ox galloped along the official road to Qingzhou Prefecture and finally entered the city gate of Qingzhou Prefecture at noon.
The oxcart slowed down and swayed towards the Anzhi Hall. A familiar manager saw them and greeted them with a smile, " Shopkeeper Jin is back."
"Oh... Shopkeeper Zhang, good afternoon..."
"Okay, okay..."
The oxcart continued on its way. " Shopkeeper Jin... I lost my silver bracelet during the autumn harvest. You have to help me find out where it is.
" Shopkeeper Bai, this happened before the New Year, why are you only contacting me now?"
Shopkeeper Bai chuckled twice, thinking to himself, "That's because you charge high fees."
The oxcart stopped in front of the Anzhi Hall. Jin Shanyao happened to see Shopkeeper Wang coming out to see someone off. "Hey... Old Wang... why have you gotten so thin over the New Year?"
Shopkeeper Wang looked closely and exclaimed, "Oh my... Shopkeeper Jin, you're finally back! Xiaohua is getting married next month and she was wondering if you could attend!"
Meng Anzhi got off the oxcart and replied, "Of course I'm attending! Where's Sister Xiaohua? I brought her a gift from the capital."
Shopkeeper Wang laughed heartily, "She's embroidering her wedding dress in the back courtyard; you can go find her there..."
At this moment, Jiang Jinshu from Brocade Workshop came running back, hanging a small purse on the wrist of the Jin Shanyao.
Looking up with her slightly flushed face, she said, "Auntie... where have you been? I haven't seen you since I came back for the New Year, which is why I haven't been able to give you my gift yet."
Madam Jiang hugged her daughter and laughed, "She's been peeking out the window every day, and as soon as she saw you come back, she ran out without even putting on her hat."
Jin Shanyao and cupped Jiang Jinshu's small face in her hands, laughing, "Wow... Auntie got a New Year's gift too, that's great!"
Jiang Jinshu held up her little hand and giggled, "I'll give you one again next year..."
"Okay... Auntie's waiting for your wallet..."
Hearing the commotion, Zhou Xiaosi ran out, his eyes filled with joy. "Master is back..." He took the ox rope and led the oxcart to the backyard.
Qing He and Qing Yang stood aside, watching their master exchange pleasantries and chat with everyone before Jin Shanyao stepped into the shop... A familiar feeling washed over them.
She looked around. "How's business lately?"
Qing Yang laughed, "Because you left in such a hurry, many patients came to find no one there. However, the face cream and anti-frostbite cream were unaffected because the estate was supplying them."
Meng Anzhi walked around the counter, pressed a drawer and opened it to take a look. The familiar scent of medicine calmed her restless heart. Home is the best.
Meng Anci went to the backyard early and moved the books he had bought into the study with Zhou Xiaosi, as he needed to prepare for the academy's opening soon.
After lunch, Anzhi Hall officially opened for business. Jin Shanyao stood outside the shop with her hands on her hips, her eyes piercing as she scanned everyone on the street.
Meng Anzhi crossed her arms and urged, "Auntie... let's come inside, it's too cold outside."
Jin Shanyao, with her back to her, stubbornly waved her hand, "No need for further words. Today, I will make sure the entire city sees that I... Jin Shanyao... have returned."
Unable to persuade her otherwise, Meng Anzhi had no choice but to go back into the house, retrieve a hand warmer, and place it in her hand.
A cold wind howled, and a tree's instincts kicked in. Jin Shanyao, embracing the hand warmer, bobbed its head, seemingly about to fall asleep standing up.
A clear, pleasant male voice rang out, " Shopkeeper Jin... I'd like to have my fortune told."
Jin Shanyao awake, instantly sober. She led the person into the shop, then pulled a divination tube from under the table and placed it on the table with a thud.
Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the man, "Shake it..."
The man stared at the divination stick container with a conflicted expression. " Shopkeeper Jin... where did you get this?"
"Oh... I went to the capital and found that fortune tellers on the street all have it. We can't fall behind, so I brought one back from the capital. You should try it..."
The man shook the bamboo container symbolically, then casually drew out a very auspicious stick. His eyes lit up, and he placed the stick on the table.
Jin Shanyao's gaze swept over the fortune slip gently, and she said confidently, "Such an auspicious fortune... it will surely grant your wishes."
"Shopkeeper, I haven't said what I'm asking for yet."
"Uh... so what are you asking for?"
The man's ears turned slightly red, and he hesitated before saying, "I've taken a liking to a girl, but I don't know if there's any future for us."
Jin Shanyao her finger on the bamboo skewer, her gaze fixed intently on the person opposite her. "Young master... it's all up to you. Go and express your feelings first, then we'll see if it works out."
The man swallowed hard. "I'm scared..."
"What's there to be afraid of..." Jin Shanyao his hand on the table, causing the bamboo stick container to tip over with a thud, scattering bamboo sticks all over the table.
The man glanced at the bamboo skewers, then at the Jin Shanyao; the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
"These are all top-tier fortune slips!"
"Isn't this unlucky?"
" Shopkeeper Jin..." the man paused, "Can I trust you?"
"Of course... I would never lie," Jin Shanyao, her eyes darting around as she placed the bamboo stick into the divination tube, leaving only the one the man had drawn.
She coughed lightly twice. "Still interpreting the fortune sticks?"
The man closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Release it."