For thirty years, he has roamed the Northeast, his divine might overwhelming all immortals under hea

"Who's so heartless as to kill our chickens?"

"If I catch you, I'll skin you alive."

I got up early today, or rather, I was woken up by this shouting and cursing.

"Dad, what's that widow Wang shouting about so early in the morning?"

"Didn't you hear? Her chickens died."

"The chicken is dead, but there's no need to shout like that. Who would go to her house and kill the chicken?"

My mother shook her head, but her hands were busy.

They're putting pancakes into the pan.

"You son of a bitch, whoever did it, come out here if you dare! You did it but don't know how to admit it?"

"You're so damn cool, you've ruined your ancestors eight generations ago!"

"Pooh."

Widow Wang was still cursing when I finally got out of bed.

"Thirteen, get up."

"Um."

"Dad, hurry up and eat a bite, then you still have to go to the construction site."

"Ten yuan a day is quite a lot."

My mother urged my father to eat, and my father, having heard about it, put down his eye bags and started eating heartily.

Three cornbread cakes were gone in the blink of an eye.

"Alright, I'm leaving. It would be a real shame not to earn 10 yuan a day."

My dad said that, picked up a shovel, and went out the door.

After I sorted out the water ghost incident, the village has been quiet for the past few days, and my dad has also made money at that construction site.

Money is truly a wonderful thing.

After we started making money, my parents argued less.

"Hey, Widow Wang, what are you shouting for so early in the morning?"

"Hey, who do you think you are? Mind your own business."

"You...you old woman, you don't know what's good for you."

"Get out of here! My chicken died, can't I even say a few words? But you, you're here first thing in the morning looking for a scolding, aren't you just asking for trouble?"

I stood at the door, watching Widow Wang and Old Party Secretary Chen arguing, and I wanted to go up and break them up.

But Widow Wang is a really shrewish woman. If I were to go up and break up the fight, I would probably be bombarded by her.

"Widow Wang, I don't have time for you."

Old Party Secretary Chen flung his hand and stormed off toward the west end of the village.

"Tch, you old codger, he'll die sooner or later."

Widow Wang cursed at Old Man Chen's retreating figure before closing the door.

I smiled.

"Folks, I have an announcement to make. The dilapidated temple at the west end of our village has been approved by the higher-ups for a wealthy businessman, as you've all seen. Construction has already started these past few days. It's a huge project; they're going to build some kind of winery. I know some people from our village have already gone to work on the construction site, but we still don't have enough manpower."

"The boss said that it used to cost 10 yuan per jin of pork every day, but starting today, it will cost 15 yuan per jin of pork every day."

"Anyone who wants to work on the construction site should register in the village now."

"Play it again..."

Building a winery is a big undertaking.

Zhujiakan has a large area of ​​arable land, mainly used for growing corn and sorghum, and there are also fruits on the mountains.

If there were a winery here, the people wouldn't have to worry about selling their grain.

I'm thinking that if the distillery is built, should I also work there as a worker?

This way, one can be both a worker and a shaman.

Wouldn't that make life incredibly wonderful?

I sat by the door, lost in thought.

"Thirteen, what are you doing? You're smiling like an idiot!"

I was stunned. Who had the audacity to call me stupid?

But when I saw the person in front of me, I was stunned.

"You are... Brother Sanlv?"

"Haha, Thirteen, you still recognize me?"

Brother Sanlu came up and hugged me.

Brother Sanlu is five years older than me and was my childhood playmate. Although he was older than me, he never bullied me. The year I became mentally impaired, he left Zhujiakan with his parents, saying he was going to work elsewhere.

Back then, I didn't understand and had no concept of separation. I never imagined that after so many years, I would still be able to see him again.

"Brother Sanlu, what brings you back?"

"Judging by your outfit, you must have made a lot of money outside."

Brother Sanlu was dressed in a suit and leather shoes that were very shiny.

He was also holding a handbag.

"Hehe, of course I made some money. It's nothing much. I heard you were a bit slow, but when I saw you today, you're not slow at all! Aren't you a pretty energetic young man?"

"I'm all better, Brother Sanlv. Come on in, come on in."

"Mother, Third Brother Donkey is back."

I quickly welcomed Brother Sanlu into the courtyard.

When my mother heard me calling, she also came out of the house.

"Wow, Sanlv, you've really made something of yourself! That outfit must have cost a lot of money."

"Not much money. Where's my uncle?"

"Isn't this the factory that's going to be built at the west end of the village? They pay 10 yuan a day, and your uncle went there to work."

"Has Sanlu eaten yet? Auntie just made these pancakes this morning, they're still warm."

My mother turned around and went to get the pancakes.

"No need, Auntie, I've already eaten."

"Brother Sanlu, please sit down. You've made it big now, why did you come back?"

"Isn't this why we're back to build a factory, right here in Zhujiakan?"

"What?"

"What did you say, Brother Sanlv?"

"So the big boss the secretary was talking about is you."

I looked at Brother Sanlv in surprise.

This is truly an unpredictable world; I never imagined that Brother Sanlv would become a big boss.

"Sanlv, are you telling the truth?"

Obviously, my mother heard what Brother Sanlu said earlier.

"To be precise, not really. I was sent here by the company to build the factory, so I guess you could say I was in charge."

"My goodness, Sanlu, I always felt you were destined for great things, and now you've truly lived up to that."

My mother was also happy. Back then, Brother Sanlu was one of the few kids in the two villages on either side of the road who didn't bully others.

"Sanlv, so you're eating delicacies every day now, right? This pancake..."

My mother didn't finish her sentence, but I understood what she meant, and so did Brother Sanlu.

"Hey, Auntie, you don't know, you can't buy this kind of pancake anywhere else."

Brother Sanlu picked up a pancake and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Mmm, delicious. This tastes just like the food I had when I was a child. It hasn't changed."

Watching my brother Sanlu eat, my mother also smiled.

"Sanlu, stay for dinner. Let's treat Shisan to a better meal and kill a chicken."

"Auntie, no need. I have other things to do over there. I just came to see Thirteen. I heard that Thirteen had gone mad. I should have come to see him as soon as I got back, but I had too much to do."

"I didn't buy anything for my aunt and uncle. Here's 200 yuan. Aunt can buy whatever she likes to eat."

As he spoke, Brother Sanlu took out two hundred yuan from his bag and stuffed it into my mother's hand.

Two hundred yuan, that's two hundred yuan.

My mother quickly pushed it back.

"Sanlu, this won't do. You're a big boss now, and I'm so happy that you still remember your aunt. How could I possibly take your money? Besides, two hundred yuan can buy a lot of things. It's not easy for you to earn money outside. I can't accept it."

"Yeah, Brother Sanlu, stop tearing it up and just put it away. You're being unethical."

Brother Sanlv nodded and then put the money away.

"Sanlu, you must stay for dinner. I'll kill a chicken right away, it'll be quick."

After my mother finished speaking, she went to catch the chicken.

"Auntie, no need, really no need."

"Hey, you've finally come back, why don't you stay for a meal? Even if you're a big boss, you still have to eat, so don't refuse."

"Brother Sanlu, why don't you stay for a meal?"

Brother Sanlu paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Thirteen, you're eighteen now, right? Have you thought about what you should do? How about you become the manager of the winery once it's built?"

"Huh? Manager? That's a very high-ranking position!"

My three soul-searching questions left Brother Sanlv momentarily speechless.

"Forehead………"

"He's a pretty high-ranking official."

"Ha ha……"

"Thirteen, thirteen, come and see my Uncle Lin, he's talking nonsense!"

I was having a pleasant chat with Brother Sanlv when an old lady pushed open the door and ran into the house.

"Aunt Lin, I'm here."

I stood up and called out.

Aunt Lin turned around as if she had seen a savior.

"Thirteen, come with me quickly! Your Uncle Lin is talking nonsense at home, what should we do?"

When did this happen?

"He went fishing this morning and came back like this. You know, your Uncle Lin is usually quite long-winded and talks to himself, so I didn't pay much attention. But this time, he can't control himself. It's really scary. His eyes are even red."

The more Aunt Lin talked, the more bizarre it became.

"Let's go."

"Hey, Third Brother, I'll be right back."

"Hey, why don't I just go with them?"

I nodded and followed Aunt Lin hurriedly to her house.

Aunt Lin's house is on the same row as mine; mine is in the middle, and hers is at the east end.

It was only a three- to five-minute walk before I arrived at Aunt Lin's house.

The gate to Aunt Lin's courtyard was ajar, and from inside came intermittent, indistinct mutterings in a strange tone.

"Uncle Lin?"

I pushed open the courtyard gate and called out.

In the courtyard, Grandpa Lin stood straight with his back to us.

He was wearing a tank top and shorts, the shorts covered in mud and seaweed.

He gripped his precious fishing rod tightly in his hand, the fishing line dragging on the ground.

Hearing the noise, he turned around abruptly.

My heart skipped a beat.

Aunt Lin wasn't exaggerating. Uncle Lin's usually cloudy eyes, which now always seemed to have a hint of a smile, were now filled with terrifying blood vessels, with almost no whites visible. They stared straight at us, but his gaze was unfocused and frighteningly empty.

His lips were purplish-black and trembling slightly; the strange mutterings from earlier had come from there.

"I deserve to die... I deserve to die..."

"Old man, what did you say?"

Aunt Lin stepped forward to pull Uncle Lin away, but I stopped her.

"Aunt Lin, where did Uncle Lin go fishing?"

"I don't know. What does this old man usually fish for when he has nothing to do?"

I frowned. There are several rivers near Zhujiakan, including the Blackwater River and several tributaries of the Yalu River.

The Blackwater River is off-limits. Grandpa Lin is usually a bit timid, and he would never dare to go there.

That's another place, the closest one being the river between Jizhujiakan and Majia Village to the south.

I didn't hear anything wrong with that river.

"I deserve to die..."

As he spoke, Grandpa Lin picked up the fishing line and began to wrap it around his neck.

"Old man, stop right now!"

I rushed forward and grabbed Grandpa Lin's arm.

Grandpa Lin suddenly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot and his face deathly pale.

It's too late to say.

Grandpa Lin suddenly lunged at me and bit me.

At that moment, I didn't care about the age difference anymore and kicked Grandpa Lin in the stomach.

This kick further widened the distance.

"Master Li Shisan, the shaman, is here."

"Little brat, how dare you call yourself a shaman?"

Suddenly, a woman's voice came out of Grandpa Lin's mouth.

"snort!"

I snorted coldly. As the sun set, its warm rays shone on the ground, and my shadow transformed into the shape of a weasel.

"You...you are Huang Jiaxian?"

His voice was filled with surprise, and Grandpa Lin stopped what he was doing.

"Hmph, at least you know what's good for you. Are you going to leave on your own, or should I see you off?"

"I'll go by myself, I'll go by myself, but I'm not convinced."

"This old man hurt my son, look."

son?

Hearing the word "son," my imposing aura weakened somewhat.

A boy who looked about three or four years old walked out of Aunt Lin's house. He had a long scar on his face.

The boy's entire appearance was barely visible.

"Is that your reason for clinging to him?"

"Yes, he deserves to die."

"Alright."

"I'll cure your son, you just need to leave Grandpa Lin's body."

Without further ado, I raised my hand and drew a talisman in the air, then flicked it towards the little boy.

The talisman instantly merged into the little boy's body, and the wounds on his face were completely healed.

"Now, is there anything else to say?"

As soon as I finished speaking, a wisp of blue smoke drifted out from Grandpa Lin's body.

It landed next to the little boy.

"Haohao, let Mommy see!"

"Mom, it doesn't hurt anymore, you can see now."

Grandpa Lin lost control of the female ghost and collapsed to the ground.

"Thanks!"

The female ghost bowed deeply to me.

"Forget it, why don't you enter the cycle of reincarnation? Why do you wander in the mortal realm instead?"

I am very curious about what happens after a person dies: their soul goes to heaven and their body goes to earth.

They should have entered the cycle of reincarnation long ago, but this mother and son are still wandering in the world.

That is clearly incorrect.

"We don't have to pay the toll!"

When the topic of toll money came up, the female ghost started crying, but how could a ghost have tears? It was just empty rhetoric without any real tears.

"What?"

"Toll?"

I was extremely shocked. What the hell was this toll?

To be reborn in the Pure Land, one does indeed need to pay some fees, which are part of one's karmic debts.

However, these are things that need to be paid when one passes away in the afterlife. Even if one doesn't pay them initially, they can be paid after death.

I've never heard of having to pay a toll halfway through the journey.

"The City God at the City God Temple five miles away asked me for money to travel on the road, but I didn't have any money to pay for it. So I could only wander around in the mortal world."

City God?

The City God shouldn't be like this, right?

The position of City God is not one that just anyone can hold.

The City God is in charge of the registers of the dead. All the souls of the dead within his jurisdiction must report to the City God and be recorded before they can enter the underworld for reincarnation.

Although they wielded considerable power, they also had opportunities to extort and demand bribes.

But I think that such a thing will never happen.

The City God is mainly composed of officials who were honest and upright in life, and who are subjected to various tests in the underworld after death.

How could someone who was honest and upright in life, after becoming the City God, ask the ghosts of the deceased for money to travel to the city?

"You mean...which City God Temple?"