Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. After seeing off the last guest, Meng Anzhi casually remarked, "Auntie, I heard from Niu Dadan that the Zheng Household in Hexi Village is causing quite a stir."
The woman with the Jin Shanyao in her hand, which was pounding medicine. "What do you mean?"
Niu Dadan also heard it from his fellow dockworkers, who said that Boss Zheng always went to Zheng Laosi's house to cause trouble, so Old Man Zheng and Old Woman Zheng would take a kitchen knife and guard their door.
Unable to snatch the child or obtain the land deed, Boss Zheng spread rumors that Chen Maimiao was immoral and seduced him, and that Zheng Laosi was a cuckold who refused to lay eggs.
They even claimed that Chen Maimiao gave birth to his child, but the Zheng Household insisted that the child was born to Chen Maimiao and Zheng Laosi, and even threatened to drag Boss Zheng to the authorities. You know how temperamental Lord Su.
Boss Zheng wouldn't dare go to the government office; the situation is still at a stalemate. But I heard from Shopkeeper Wang that Scar from Heaven-Reaching Gambling House went to Boss Zheng with four or five thugs, and they came back with blood-stained sticks."
She curiously leaned closer to the Jin Shanyao, "Auntie, do you think Boss Zheng was beaten to death?"
"He'll be dead soon, even if he doesn't die now," Jin Shanyao said to Meng Anzhi, wrapping up the crushed medicine paper. "Notify Tao Yunshan and Wu Yong to check the farm tools. Sharpen what needs sharpening, replace what needs replacing. Don't delay the harvest just to save money."
"Okay, Auntie."
A desolate cemetery.
Ghost One crawled out of the grave, a hand grabbed her ankle. She kicked it, saying, "Do you still want to be reincarnated? Come out with me tonight..."
Tang Qiao drifted lazily out of the grave mound, straightening his clothes. "Okay, okay... I'll do whatever you say."
With Ghost One drifted directly towards Hexi Village. She thought she could scare him every day, and who knew that one day Boss Zheng might lose his mind and fall to his death.
They had a good plan, but when they arrived at Boss Zheng, they saw that Boss Zheng's legs had been broken, and he was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) covered in sweat, talking nonsense.
Ghost One was curious about what he was saying, and just as he leaned closer, he saw Boss Zheng suddenly open his eyes, and their eyes met.
Ah... A scream pierced the night sky, then abruptly ceased.
The Ghost One, terrified, hurriedly waved its hands, "It wasn't me, it wasn't me! I didn't do anything, he died on his own..."
"Watch out..." Tang Qiao grabbed Ghost One and kicked Boss Zheng, who had just floated out of his body, and kicked him back into his body.
Uh... Boss Zheng took a deep breath and actually recovered.
Ghost One and Tang Qiao exchanged a glance, then squatted down on either side of Boss Zheng's head, and said in a sinister tone, "Astral projection, how did you do that? Die again and let me see?"
Boss Zheng stared at the two ghosts, trembling with fear. Just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard Ghost One, "If you dare to sleep, I'll drag you out and drown you."
Startled, Boss Zheng quickly opened his eyes. The two ghosts didn't say a word, just stared straight at him like hawks at night.
After midnight, the two evil spirits gradually disappeared, and only then did he dare to close his eyes. But once he closed them, he never woke up again.
The following night, in the backyard of the Anzhi Hall.
Ghost One was waving the Jin Shanyao in front of him, desperately trying to explain.
"Boss, Boss Zheng's death has nothing to do with me. He was still alive and kicking when I left. I really didn't scare him to death. This shouldn't affect my reincarnation, right?"
Ghost One was extremely aggrieved. "When I arrived, he was delirious with fever, and his broken legs were infested with maggots. Even without me, he wouldn't have lived long."
Jin Shanyao interrupted her complaining, " Ghost One, do you want to be reincarnated tonight?"
Ghost One's eyes lit up instantly. She thought she had messed things up and lost her chance to be reincarnated, but she didn't expect the boss to be so kind-hearted. She was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
His head bobbed incessantly like a chick pecking at rice. "Let me think... Boss, can I be born into a wealthy family? Preferably one where parents love me, brothers are indulgent, and I'll never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of my life."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "Your virtuous deeds aren't as numerous as those of the previous Ghost One and Ghost Two, so these requests... might be a bit difficult. However, I can put in a word with the ghost officials and arrange for you to be reborn into a well-off family."
The Ghost One quickly replied, "Okay, okay... as long as I can be reincarnated."
Tang Qiao tugged at her hand, Ghost One glanced at him with some reluctance. "Boss, can I take Tang Qiao with me to be reincarnated? He's my precious darling, I can't live without him."
The Jin Shanyao, "You two are both ghosts who died violent deaths. With your current level of wickedness, taking him to the Underworld will only result in being reborn Animal Realm..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Ghost One kicked Tang Qiao away. Men... well, we don't need them.
"Boss, everything's settled. I'm going to reincarnate myself now," Jin Shanyao, staring blankly at Tang Qiao Tang Qiao, who seemed to have suffered a tremendous blow.
Staring at Ghost One with disbelief, she asked, " Yingying... last night in the coffin... what did you promise me?"
Ghost One turned his face away coldly, "You actually believe what a woman says in bed?"
Tang Qiao suddenly laughed, a hint of sadness creeping into his eyes...
Jin Shanyao, who didn't understand the emotions between animals, said, "If you keep talking like this, you'll only be able to be reincarnated tomorrow?"
Ghost One immediately floated into the air. "Boss, let's begin." She said, eager to try, just waiting for the gates of hell to open so she could rush towards a happy life.
At this moment, Tang Qiao suddenly spoke up, "Boss... Tian Yingying is using your name to indulge in debauchery at the mass grave. She's flirted with every handsome male ghost she can find... mmm..."
Ghost One covered Tang Qiao's mouth with a quick, embarrassed laugh, "Boss, I have some things to take care of. I need to go back to the mass grave first..."
As she spoke, she dragged Tang Qiao away. "You evil spirit... you dare ruin my plans, you're dead..."
Jin Shanyao didn't go back to her room to sleep. Instead, she stood barefoot beside the ginkgo tree, with dense roots sprouting from the soles of her feet and constantly burrowing into the ground.
She didn't know what was wrong with her; she just felt a tightness in her chest and a sharp pain in her heart, as if only the ground beneath her feet could soothe her emotions...
At the end of November, medicinal herbs were being dried on Hat Mountain. Jin Shanyao had changed into men's clothing for convenience and stood at the shop entrance waiting for Zhou Xiaosi to bring the oxcart.
There were many unfamiliar faces on the street. Qingzhou Prefecture was located on the border, and it was not unusual for foreigners to come here to do business, but it was rare to see such a large-scale event.
"Hey... Old Wang, what's going on?"
Shopkeeper Wang was wiping the door with a rag when she asked him a question.
He casually remarked, "These are envoys from Silla. They pass through here every five years, rest for a few days, and then head to the capital to pay tribute. Willow and Poplar County is next to Silla, and you didn't know that??"
Jin Shanyao has only been in the human world for a few years, and besides, different worlds are different; how could she understand these messy things?
A piercing sound suddenly rang out from the bustling street.
"Let me go! What are you doing?"
"Why are you hiding? You're dressed so brightly and you're bumping into me, aren't you trying to seduce me?" The man spoke in broken Sheng Dynasty dialect, his eyes lecherously fixed on the girl.
The girl screamed in terror, "Ahhh... Let go of me... You bumped into me, not me!"
At this point, what's the point of reasoning with him? Jin Shanyao stepped forward, but was grabbed by the arm by Shopkeeper Wang.
"These are Silla people. Do not act rashly. If you cause war between the two countries, your entire family will be executed."
Jin Shanyao frowned. "What do you mean?"
Shopkeeper Wang handed her a rag, saying, "Here, cover your face," and then shoved the fork into her hand, "Go on..."