A shiver ran down my spine, and goosebumps rose all over me.
"But for that moment when I saw her, I would have never believed that something went wrong with Lao Qin's funeral procession."
If I walk back, the consequences could be unimaginable!
"Show your divine form, it's late at night, you should go home."
The heavy sound echoed once again, but it gradually faded away.
Perhaps she realized she couldn't fool me anymore, and the ghostly shadow slowly faded away.
I slowly retreated, covering about fifty meters, and confirmed that she hadn't followed before turning around to continue walking out.
In the still night sky, the sounds of insect chirping lingered continuously.
I walked for about an hour before leaving the rural highway and arriving on the national road.
The night was too deep, and the vehicles were too sparse.
I was lucky and flagged down a taxi returning from its route.
The driver chatted with me casually, asking why I was dragging luggage on the road in the middle of the night.
I didn't say anything, just kept looking out the window, staring in the direction of the village...
Not until we crossed the mountain pass did the village silhouette finally vanish completely.
About an hour later, I arrived at my destination.
Behind a wooden archway with worn-out marks, there was a commercial street transformed from an ancient street.
It is said that the houses on the ancient street have at least two or three hundred years of history, and there is an old county office in the center of the street, which has been transformed into an attraction.
Here and there, some shops were lit with signs, and every now and then, you could see a courtyard, with a wooden plaque indicating it was a private residence.
The Xu family lived on this street.
In the past, because my parents were too busy, they often sent me to stay with the Xu family during winter and summer vacations.
The couple in the Xu family were particularly friendly and close-knit.
Their daughter Xu Nuannuan was three years older than me and played with me every day.
Actually, back then, the Xu family was the first to come to adopt me, but it was rejected by the police because it didn't meet the relative requirements.
Shortly thereafter, I stopped in front of an old house.
There were two stone lions standing at the entrance, a flight of steps made of green stone, and the main gate was a dark brown color, with the words "Xu House" written in flowing dragon and phoenix characters on the plaque.
I went up and knocked on the door, the sound of the knocker reverberated through the street.
The door opened a crack, and the security guard poked his head out, asking warily who I was.
I smiled and said, "My name is Luo XianShen, and I would like to ask if Xu Uncle is at home."
The security guard looked doubtful and asked me to wait, and then the door was closed again.
About two minutes later, the gate was fully pushed open!
The security guard watched me with respect and caution.
"XianShen!" The excited voice was heard first, followed by a middle-aged man with a square face, walking towards me in large strides from inside the house!
…
Living room of the Xu family.
Xu Fangnian was sitting beside me, holding my hand tightly, his face radiating with joy.
In the past ten years, except for a few more strands of white hair on his temples, he had changed almost nothing else.
"XianShen, Uncle Xu still believes that he will never see you again in this life."
"How did you just run away from home all of a sudden back then?" Amidst his joy, Xu Fangnian asked me with confusion.
I immediately understood that this was my uncle's public explanation!
The Xu family was going to adopt me, so they would definitely keep an eye on me.
If my uncle can't provide a reasonable explanation, it won't be easy for him to appropriate my parents' inheritance.
Just my uncle's family isn't simple, I can't involve the Xu family in this!
Therefore, instead of answering Xu Fangnian's question, I said, "Over these years, I've been following Lao Qin head, and he took me as his apprentice."
"Qin WeiZi!"
Xu Fangnian's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed enthusiastically!
He then looked forward with anticipation and asked, "So, have you learned his fortune-telling techniques now?!"
I smiled wryly and shook my head.
"Uh..." Xu Fangnian's eyes showed obvious disappointment, and he repeated the question eagerly, "What did Qin WeiZi teach you over these years?"
Lao Qin head had a big reputation in Jin Yang City!
Back then, only my parents could hire him.
The wealthy families, no matter how much gold and silver they offered, Lao Qin head might not have even deigned to visit.
I was silent for a moment and answered, "Shaving, making coffins, making paper people, dressing for burial, and even pointing stars to control ghosts... Well, I'm good at a few of the popular skills of the Qin era."
"Bullshit!" Xu Fangnian's face turned bright red.
Next, he seemed to realize his outburst and toned down his tone, asking, "Where is Qin WeiZi?"
"He left."
"Left? To where? This matter, he has to give me an explanation!" Xu Fangnian's anger rose again!
"Dead." My mood sank, and my eyes turned red.
Xu Fangnian was taken aback.
For a moment, the living room was so quiet you could hear a needle drop.
I took a deep breath, changed the topic, and took out the marriage contract and handed it to Xu Fangnian.
"Uncle Xu, it was the old man who told me to come to you."
When Xu Fangnian received the marriage contract, he was momentarily stunned, and his brow quickly furrowed!
"Old Qin head, did he really not teach you fortune-telling? Besides this marriage contract, did he give you anything else? Like, did your parents leave any relics behind?"
Xu Fangnian asked three questions about the important matters.
I shook my head and truthfully replied that there were no relics left.
Xu Fangnian crossed his arms behind his back and tucked the marriage contract away.
"XianShen, back then, your aunt and I wrote this marriage contract in a moment of impetuosity. Times have changed, and arranged marriages by parents' command and matchmakers are outdated. You've been a clever child from the start; you understand your uncle's position, right?"
"Well, you can wait here for a bit? Wait until she wakes up and asks her opinion, or let her talk to you." Xu Fangnian suggested again.
I was taken aback.
Before I could reply, he yawned and said drowsily, "Haha, as I've grown older, I can't keep up with the young ones. Uncle will go back and have a nap first."
Xu Fangnian left.
There was only me left in the living room.
The warmth in my heart that had just risen had cooled considerably.
Xu Fangnian was so agitated when he saw me!
Although the old man has left, there are still people in this world who are good to me.
I didn't expect that Xu Fangnian knew that I had not learned fortune-telling, and the attitude of the old man's death would change so much!
In fact, I should leave now.
But Old Qinhead was very clear that if the Xu family broke the engagement, I would no longer have a chance to regain my lifespan, and there would be a matter that could endanger my life!
I clutched at a thread of hope.
Xu Fangnian might think that the Luo family has fallen into decline, and I have no potential in fortune-telling.
But if I tell them that I can read fortunes after marriage, could they reconsider?
So, I waited all night.
By the time the sun came up, there was no one in the living room, and I waited until evening, a full day!
Finally, a girl walked into the living room.
She had an egg-shaped face with a prominent and arched nose, smooth and fair skin, and a pair of peach blossom eyes that were clear and full of emotions, subtle in their seductive charm.
She was wearing a long dress with a silk ribbon tied around her slender waist, which could be grasped in one hand, and her milky white legs were faintly visible.
Girls change dramatically at eighteen, and Xu Nuannuan really grew up to be graceful and elegant!
"Mm? A whole day has passed, and you haven't left yet?" Xu Nuannuan was slightly surprised.
"I... I..." I stood up and was about to speak.
No matter how I said it or negotiated, I had organized my thoughts.
"Don't call me your 'Nuannuan sister'. Don't flatter yourself with family ties." Xu Nuannuan's attitude was unfamiliar.
"Oh, are you talking about the marriage contract?"
She smiled as if the spring breeze brushed against her face.
I was about to nod.
But she bent down and picked up my cup of cooled ginger tea.
Whoosh, the tea water poured onto me!
The cold tea liquid spread instantly from my face, seeping into the collar, soaking half of my body.
"The Luo family is long gone."
"Ruo XianShen, you have great ability and courage. Just relying on you? The marriage contract?"
"What makes you think you're a grasshopper when you're not?!"
"My dad said you were a smart person, hehe."
My body trembled slightly, and I closed my eyes.
I wasn't unable to avoid the first hit.
I didn't expect her to actually pour it on me.
She was really nice to me a few years ago. She fed me food by mouth-to-mouth and let me sleep in her room.
She was the last person I should have directly faced off against.
But now, she was turning her back on me completely!
The marriage contract is finished.
Bowing my head, I open my eyes and pull my suitcase out.
Xu Nuannuan's cold laughter came from behind me.
"Back then, when your Luo family was at its peak, everyone revolved around you. But today, Ruo XianShen, you're a stray dog without a home. Put away your false hopes! I tell you, the Xu family looks down on you, and none of the people who used to know your family think highly of you!"
"Whomever you seek, it will be in vain!"
"I find it hard to believe that you can live until today, given the evil deeds your parents did."
I suddenly stopped, turned around, and glared at Xu Nuannuan.
The Luo family has fallen, and I acknowledge that.
The Xu family is toadying and turning their backs on people, I acknowledge that as well!
Xu Nuannuan's words not only pierced my heart but also defamed the souls of my deceased parents!
In the nine professions, respecting the dead is paramount. She is truly uneducated!
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and leave!" Xu Nuannuan looked down on me with arrogance.
