The atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Jin Shanyao wanted to say something joking to ease the tension... but she couldn't come up with anything pleasing.
The two remained silent for a long time.
Wu Shaoyang said disappointedly, "So, you can't do it either?"
"Yes... but it'll cost extra!"
Meng Anzhi hid outside the door, then slapped her forehead... Oh dear... My aunt really dares to take on any job! This person was about to commit suicide, and instead of trying to dissuade her, she wanted to make another quick buck.
Meng Anci's eyes were deep and unfathomable. "An aunt is indeed an aunt... Those who do great things must be ruthless."
Two children, holding oil lamps, stood on either side of the doorway, listening intently to the two men's conversation.
Wu Shaoyang didn't have much money on him, so he tentatively asked, "How much does it cost to 'Soul Dispersion'?"
"One thousand taels."
"So much?"
"Hmm... Besides being utterly destroyed, I can also add the bonus of having your bones crushed to ashes, leaving you with no complete corpse."
Wu Shaoyang became increasingly agitated as he listened, repeatedly muttering, "It's good to die a horrible death, it's good to die a horrible death..."
His eyes gleamed as he stared at the Jin Shanyao and voiced his wish, "How about this: after I die, you steal my body, burn it to ashes... scatter them all. Then, make sure my soul is completely annihilated, how about that?"
Jin Shanyao solemnly, "As long as you have money, this is no problem... but the premise is that you have to earn the money yourself, otherwise I won't take this job."
Upon hearing this, Wu Shaoyang's smile vanished. "A thousand taels is no small sum. My entire fortune is only five hundred taels."
Jin Shanyao forced a smile, "That's too little... I should have asked for three thousand taels."
"Doing big things inevitably takes time. Go back and deposit the money first, then come back when you've saved enough..."
She held Wu Shaoyang's hand and earnestly advised him, "Don't worry, we've been through thick and thin together. No matter when you die, I'll wait for you."
Wu Shaoyang grasped her hand in return, their eyes met, and his gaze was filled with gratitude. "A friendship that transcends life and death."
"Yes, a life-or-death friendship."
After saying that, Jin Shanyao him up and led him to the door. "Your constant thoughts of dying are affecting the progress. So, come here every day and drink two bowls of medicine. After a month, go out and earn money."
"Save up a thousand taels... and I'll watch you die, how about that?" Jin Shanyao saw his conflicted expression, wondering what he was thinking, and slapped him on the shoulder with her backhand.
"Young man, pull yourself together... You can't control the first half of your life, and you might not be able to control the second half, but you'll still have control after you die. If you don't work hard now, what will you use to be scattered to the winds and reduced to ashes later?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Shaoyang was greatly encouraged and was unknowingly pushed out the door.
" Shopkeeper Jin's words were a revelation to me. Don't worry... even if it means dying, I will live on with all my might."
Jin Shanyao looked at him with eyes full of satisfaction, "That's right... People should live life to the fullest, even in the face of death. I have faith in you..."
Wu Shaoyang nodded emphatically, thinking that the five coins were well spent; his affairs after death were settled. It was rare to find a true friend in life, especially one who was so devoted to his death.
Wu Shaoyang walked home, glancing back every few steps, while Jin Shanyao waved her fist at him, "Don't forget our goal... to be utterly destroyed, reduced to ashes."
Wu Shaoyang imitated the Jin Shanyao, clenching his fist in the air, and confidently declared, "Souls scattered, bones crushed to ashes."
After seeing Wu Shaoyang off, Jin Shanyao a long sigh of relief. As she closed the door and turned around, she saw the two little ones holding oil lamps and looking at her with complicated expressions.
Jin Shanyao, with one arm around each of them, led them back, saying, "Why aren't you asleep so late?"
Meng Anzhi held the oil lamp and Jin Shanyao's way. "Auntie... Wu Shaoyang is quite ill. Will he be able to come for his medicine tomorrow?"
"Yes... because he wants to decide what happens to him after he dies."
Meng Anci puzzled, "They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but he's crying..."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "You little devil. If crying worked, he wouldn't want to die. So everyone's emotions should be taken seriously. But I've learned a lesson from this."
The siblings exclaimed in unison, "What kind of logic is that?"
Jin Shanyao's gaze was deep and her tone firm, "Don't talk to strangers, don't go with strangers."
The siblings exchanged a glance, their lips twitching slightly... Auntie, the lesson you've learned... is quite practical.
The next day, Wu Shaoyang sat at the dining table and said, "Mother, give me ten taels of silver."
Mother Wu paused in her eating, wondering why her child, who had never asked for money before, was suddenly asking for it. "What do you need the money for?"
Wu Shaoyang, shoveling food into his mouth, mumbled, "Who's paying for lunch?"
Mother Wu exclaimed, beaming from ear to ear, "My son... you've finally come to your senses! Here's fifty taels for you, take good care of yourself."
Holding the bowl and chopsticks, Sister-in-law Wu asked suspiciously, " Shaoyang... are you really going to go for the matchmaking?"
"Hmm..." Wu Shaoyang nodded, "Sister-in-law, give me five taels of silver too."
"Why should I...? You're getting married, not me, so why should I give you money..." Sister-in-law Wu was shocked. Her brother-in-law had suddenly become obsessed with money after waking up from his nap.
Brother Wu said in a deep voice, "If he wants it, just give it to him..." Before he could finish speaking, Wu Shaoyang said, "Brother, don't forget about sister-in-law, you have a share too, give me ten taels of silver."
Then he turned to Father Wu and said, "Father, give me fifty taels."
"Bang! "Father Wu slammed his chopsticks on the table, displeased. " Wu Shaoyang, do you think money grows on trees? You're asking for over a hundred taels of silver!"
Wu Shaoyang put down his bowl and chopsticks, slumped back in his chair, and said dejectedly, "I'm not going..."
"Here, here, here..." Mother Wu glared at Father Wu, "What's wrong with the child spending a little money? Why are you making such a fuss..." After saying that, she looked at Wu Shaoyang, "Son, come and eat... Mom made your favorite zucchini and egg stir-fry."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in Wu Shaoyang's bowl. Wu Shaoyang stared at the zucchini and scrambled eggs and smiled!
After the meal, he arrived at the Anzhi Hall as promised.
" Shopkeeper Jin..."
Jin Shanyao looked in the direction of the sound, and secretly gasped when she saw who it was. Her deceased friend had arrived.
After putting away the ledger, a bright smile appeared on her face. " Young Master Wu is here. I'll have Xiaosi take you to the backyard for a while. The medicine will be ready soon."
Wu Shaoyang nodded and said, "Thank you for your Shopkeeper Jin." After saying that, he followed Zhou Xiaosi to the backyard, where a young boy was reading a book on a recliner under the ginkgo tree.
Beside him sat a chubby little boy, pen in hand, intently working on a math problem. Seeing him approach, the boy pointed to another recliner, "Lie down there and soak up some sun; your medicine will be ready soon."
Wu Shaoyang glanced around before sitting down in the chair, his gaze falling on the child's notebook.
To make one paper lantern, you need four bamboo strips. If you want to make seven paper lanterns, how many bamboo strips do you need in total? There was a blob of ink after the question. He asked curiously, "You don't know how to do this?"
Xiao Huzi looked up and exclaimed, "Hey!" Someone had appeared beside him. Xiao Huzi glanced at Wu Shaoyang, then at the question, "Didn't you see my answer?"
Wu Shaoyang pointed at the blob of ink and asked uncertainly, "The answer?"
"Yes."
"With your writing like this... how is anyone supposed to know what you've written?"
Xiao Huzi was puzzled. "My answer... I know it myself, why should I let others know? Besides, the answer is for those who understand."
After saying that, he asked Meng Anci, "Brother Anci, can you see my answer?"
Meng Anci glanced at it indifferently, a smile playing in her eyes, and said, "Twenty-one."
Xiao Huzi tilted his head at Wu Shaoyang, "Look... those who understand you will naturally understand your answer, and those who don't... well, they just don't understand." After saying that, he continued to write the question.
Wu Shaoyang couldn't help but laugh, "If you keep doing this, won't the teacher beat you?"
Xiao Huzi glared at him. This guy really knew how to rub salt in the wound. "In the world of martial arts... if you're afraid of getting beaten up, then you shouldn't stick to being yourself. What's the difference between you and a tamed horse?"
Xiao Huzi's words stunned Wu Shaoyang on the spot.