Ita Era

Chapter 11 Peach Blossom Village (Part 9)
The clan head of the Wang family strode to the gate, inquired about the situation, and then turned his gaze to Zhao Liu. As Grandma Wang's closest godchild, he not only had to handle Grandma Wang's funeral arrangements but also had to keep vigil for her for three nights.

Ding Shi clapped his hands in his heart. That's right, Zhao Liu failed to fulfill his duty as his grandson and now he must pay the price.

Ding Shi was about to leave when he saw Zhang San and Sun Qi heading towards the Wang family. He immediately went up to them, briefly explained the situation, and said, "Zhang San, remember to offer incense to Third Sister. Your death is a small matter, don't drag me down with you."

Zhang San was a little unhappy: "You don't need to worry about my affairs. I know what I need to do."

Ding Shi chuckled: "Sorry, I was just being nosy."

Sun Qi said with a wry smile, "What am I going to do? I can't complete any of the seven tasks."

Ding Shi looked at Sun Qi and said, "Good luck, goodbye. Go back to sleep, and good luck to you."

Sun Qi jogged a few steps: "Wang Wu, give me some advice." She had visited seven families without any success, so she went to Zhang San this morning. Zhang San told her that sincerity can move mountains, and that she should use her sincerity to move the parents—a bunch of nonsense.

Ding stopped and, after listening to Sun Qi's complaints, gleaned some information about the family's situation. He said, "Tell the parents who are reluctant to spend money that students who pass the midterm exam can get $10."

Sun Qi asked, "Do they believe it?"

Ding Shi said, "You write a guarantee for them."

Sun Qi said, "I didn't have 10 cuts."

Ding Shi said, "You're really honest. We'll be leaving in a few days. For those who carry their younger brothers to school, have their older sisters pinch them. If they cry as soon as their older sisters hold them, their parents won't feel comfortable entrusting their precious sons to their sisters who have the lowest status. As for those who don't pay their tuition fees on time, tell them that the fees will increase next month. Try it whether it works or not, you won't lose anything anyway."

Ding Shi waved his hand: "I'm leaving."

Back in the village chief's guest room, Ding locked the door and fell into a deep sleep on the bed.

He slept straight through until 5 p.m., washed up, and tidied his messy hair, and a handsome young man reappeared.

After dinner at seven o'clock, Ding Shi accompanied the village chief to Grandma Wang's house. Poor Zhao Liu knelt in front of the coffin, burning paper money in the brazier, while the Wang clan chief watched from the side.

The village chief and the clan chief shook hands. The village chief said, "Wang family, if you need any help from the village committee, just let us know. Don't be shy."

Ding cursed inwardly, but smiled outwardly.

The clan chief said, "There really is. During the day, we had to find someone to invite Blind Zhao to come and see what was going on, or at least perform a ritual for a whole day. Unexpectedly, Blind Zhao still remembered something from 30 years ago, saying that he had no further dealings with the Wang Zhu family and that we should find someone more capable."

The village chief turned to look at Ding Shi: "Xiao Ding, remember to handle this matter. Is there anything else?"

Ding Shi is well-mannered and doesn't swear.

The clan chief said, "Wang Nai's family hasn't sent anyone yet. I'm thinking of having Wang Nai's grandson wear mourning clothes tomorrow and go there in person. We won't trouble the village office with this matter."

"Okay." The village chief looked at Ding Shi.

New task: Persuade Blind Zhao to help with Grandma Wang's funeral arrangements.

Ding Shi smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

Ding Shi held a flashlight in his left hand and rode his bicycle with his right, following the route he had inquired about beforehand. Half an hour later, he arrived at Zhao the Blind's house. Zhao the Blind's house was in the east, in a rather remote location, with the nearest neighbor more than 300 meters away, making it seem out of place.

Ding knocked on the door: "Uncle Zhao, it's me, Xiao Ding from the village office. Could you please open the door?"

"You're here." Zhao the Blind Man was in his fifties, not blind, but he liked to wear sunglasses. Of course, he wasn't wearing them now. After opening the door, Zhao the Blind Man looked Ding Shi up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, and asked, "From the Wang family's side, right?"

"Yes."

"Go back."

Ding Shi hurriedly said, "Uncle Zhao, as long as you give the village chief some face, the village chief promises to let you eat state-provided food."

Blind Zhao asked, "What do you mean?"

Ding Shi said, "If you help with this, he'll apply for welfare for you next month." (He meant, "You're ordering me around, you're ordering me around.")

Zhao the Blind was clearly persuaded, but still hesitated, saying, "This job with the Wang family is not easy." Ding Shi was puzzled.

Zhao the Blind waved his hand: "Alright, alright, I'll just make the trip since we're all from the same village. I'll go get the things."

Blind Zhao quickly pulled out a canvas bag, the kind of schoolbag that was standard issue for students back then. Blind Zhao got on the back of the bicycle: "Let's go."

Ding Shi rode off on his bicycle and asked, "Uncle Zhao, what's so hard to do?"

Zhao the Blind said, "It's alright, I can handle it."

……

Zhao the Blind entered the mourning hall and first offered incense, his eyes fixed on the three burning sticks. Seeing that he remained silent and so solemn, the clan chief and the two elders couldn't help but feel nervous.

Then a miracle happened: the incense stick in the middle burned very quickly, only slowing down when it was halfway burned.

The clan chief's expression changed drastically: "Two long and one short?"

Zhao the Blind Man said calmly, "If it's not two shorts and one long, there's still hope."

Ding Shi: What are you talking about? It's not what I'm thinking, is it? No way? No way?
Zhao the Blind glanced at Zhao Liu, who was sitting exhausted on the ground with a numb expression, and said, "Your Highness, you have to keep vigil by yourself tonight. If you see her, ask her what she's doing. If she doesn't answer, follow her and see what she's doing."

Zhao Liu looked up and asked, "What?"

Zhao the Blind looked at the burning incense and said, "She has an obsession, and we must dispel it. Every day we delay, the danger increases."

Zhao Liu asked in surprise, "The 'she' you're talking about, you don't mean..." He looked at the coffin.

Blind Zhao: "No."

Zhao Liu and Ding Shi both breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao the Blind said, "That's just her remains."

Ding Shi said, "Uncle Zhao, can't you explain it more clearly?"

Blind Zhao said, "I don't talk about people during the day, and I don't talk about them at night..."

Ding Shi asked in surprise, "Is it the one I understand?"

Zhao the Blind said, "Well, Grandma Wang is usually gentle and kind, so there's nothing wrong with her. It's just that she has some unresolved matters on her mind."

Zhao the Blind looked at Zhao Liu: "You'd better find out what her unfulfilled wish is tonight. Otherwise, I can't guarantee she won't hurt you tomorrow night. Don't even think about escaping. You're the closest person to her in the village now, she'll definitely come looking for you."

Zhao Liu's expression shifted unpredictably as he tentatively asked, "You mean she'll come back as a ghost to find me?"

Zhao the Blind's expression changed drastically: "I've already said what I needed to say. Take me back."

The clan chief quickly stopped Zhao the Blind, saying, "Uncle Zhao, you can't leave."

Zhao the Blind said, “Not only do I have to leave, but you all have to leave too, otherwise she won’t come tonight. If she comes tomorrow night, it could be fatal. I’ve already told you the plan. Find out the details tonight, and after everything is settled, I’ll perform a ritual so she can be laid to rest.”

Ding Shi felt no sympathy for Zhao Liu; this was the consequence of lacking a sense of contract. His assistant's work was plentiful, but even if he didn't do it, the village chief's satisfaction rating would at most be reduced. Sun Qi's task was difficult, but there was no punishment for failing to complete it.

Zhao Liu's task was to deliver a jar of pickled vegetables on time every day. After that, he could eat meat, spend time with Cuihua next door, or lie down and sleep to pass the time.

Casual dungeons – don't be reckless! The simpler the task, the harsher the penalty for failure.

Are there really ghosts? Ding Shi believes that there really are ghosts in the Ita world.

Most importantly, the incense that Zhao the Blind Man lit was placed on the platform, not brought by him himself. Ding Shi watched the entire process of him lighting the incense and did not detect any cheating. Since science could not explain why that incense burned so quickly, only metaphysics could be consulted.

Ding Shi suddenly remembered the book "On Ghosts" in the library. However, the library was closed today, so he could only borrow it tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)