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

"Brother Sanlu, come here for a second."

I winked at Brother Sanlu, then got up and walked towards the outside of the courtyard wall.

Brother Sanlu was stunned for a moment, then realized what I meant and followed me out.

We walked to a large willow tree outside the courtyard wall. This tree was over a hundred years old, with lush branches and leaves, its shade blocking out the sun.

I looked around to make sure no one else was there before I lowered my voice and asked Brother Sanlv.

"Brother Sanlu, you and her...do you two have some kind of special relationship?"

My question was very direct and presumptuous, but I had to get to the bottom of it.

Although Huang Dalang said that Zhu Xiaoxiao was carrying a ghost child, Sanlu's reaction just now was really too agitated. It didn't seem like a normal boss and subordinate, nor did it seem like a normal friend.

"Hey, Thirteen, I won't lie to you."

Brother Sanlu's face immediately turned red. He scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly.

"I had...we had one. It was when we first came here, the land was approved, we went to celebrate, we drank too much, and...and something that shouldn't have happened happened."

"Then this woman started clinging to me."

"But Thirteen, don't get the wrong idea!"

Brother Sanlv quickly added.

"We only had sex that one time, and ever since then, no matter how much she bothered me, we haven't had any intimate contact. Most importantly, the timing of her pregnancy doesn't match the time we spent together! The doctor said she's five months pregnant!"

"And another thing, how can you be so lucky as to hit the target on the first try?"

I nodded, believing what Brother Sanlu said.

He's not the kind of person who lies.

I patted Brother San on the shoulder and said in a serious tone.

"Brother Sanlu, the spirits behind me have already seen through it. This woman is not carrying an ordinary child, but a ghost fetus! We must deal with it as soon as possible, otherwise she will die when the ghost fetus is born at full term. Moreover, this ghost fetus is filled with resentment."

"What? Thirteen! You mean a ghost... a ghost fetus..."

Brother Sanlu's eyes widened instantly, like copper bells, and his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg. His body trembled violently, and the color drained from his face, making him even paler than Zhu Xiaoxiao.

"What...what should we do now?!"

"Thirteen, you must save Xiaoxiao! She's a good girl, she can't just die like this!"

Seeing Brother Sanlu's panicked state, I felt a heavy weight in my heart.

"Don't worry, Brother Sanlu, I will definitely help you. But I need to go and check where she lives. Ghost fetuses are not ordinary evil spirits; they won't easily target people."

"Ah... well... I'll go talk to her about it."

After finishing his sentence, Brother Sanlu walked into the courtyard. Perhaps he was too anxious, because he stumbled over a stone on the road.

Zhu Xiaoxiao had already stood up from her chair, and the fear on her face had lessened, replaced by a resolute determination.

She took out a wad of money tied with a rubber band from her handbag, walked quickly to me, and stuffed it into my hand without saying a word.

"Mr. Thirteen, please save me. Here's 2000 yuan, please accept it as a small token of my appreciation."

This time, I was genuinely stunned.

2000 yuan!

For me, it's an astronomical figure!

The able-bodied men in the village go to construction sites in the county town to carry bricks, earning only a few cents a day. They work themselves to the bone all year round, but they can't save much money.

I had absolutely no concept of 2000 yuan, let alone how thick or heavy it would be if all that money were stacked together.

Today, this is merely the amount of payment.

"This...this is too much!"

I instinctively wanted to push the money back, but when my fingers touched the edge of the stack of bills, I felt a heavy weight I had never experienced before.

"Mr. Thirteen, this isn't much money."

Zhu Xiaoxiao's voice was calm, even carrying a hint of unyielding force.

Her emotions were much more stable than before, and her voice revealed a strong will to survive.

"I'll reward you handsomely if you get this done. I'm willing to pay any price to save my life."

Looking at Zhu Xiaoxiao's face, which was mostly covered by sunglasses, and then at the 2000 yuan in my hand, I knew in my heart that this money was not so easy to take.

Dealing with a ghost child is a life-or-death situation; this money is for risking one's life.

"So you agree to let me visit your place?"

I stopped refusing and put the money in my pocket. The wad of money was pressed against my chest, and I felt it was very hot, so hot that it made my skin feel tight.

"Um."

Zhu Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, her voice trembling slightly, yet incredibly firm.

"Alright, I'll tell my mother. Third Brother, please wait a moment."

I took the 2000 yuan and hurried into the house. My mother was busy in front of the stove, holding a broom and sweeping the ashes from the firewood next to the stove.

"Mother, I need to go to the county town with Brother Sanlu to take care of some things. We might be back in a day or two, or maybe three to five days."

I walked over to my mother, took out the 2000 yuan note from my pocket, and handed it to her.

"Here's 2000 yuan, Mother, please keep it safe."

"What? 2000 yuan?"

My mother's eyes widened instantly, and the broom in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

With trembling hands, she took the stack of money, gently stroking it with her fingers while muttering to herself.

"My God, how many bills are there! Thirteen! That's too much! Our Li family has never seen so much money in all our generations!"

"Mother, please keep it."

I sighed and said calmly.

"This is hard-earned money."

There is absolutely nothing wrong with what I said.

This time, I'm dealing with a ghost fetus, which is a hundred times harder to deal with than the corpse poison at Teacher Wang's house. If I'm not careful, I'll lose my life in the county town.

That 2000 yuan was truly earned at the cost of my life.

"Thirteen, you'd better be careful!"

My mother's eyes reddened, and she gripped my hand tightly. Her hands were rough like old tree bark, yet they carried a comforting warmth.

"The county town isn't like our Zhujiakan; it's a melting pot of all sorts of people. You absolutely mustn't be reckless. If things get complicated, come back right away. We may not have money, but we can't risk our lives!"

"Also, bring some money with you."

"A poor home is a rich traveler. When you're away from home, having money in your pocket makes you feel more at ease. It also helps you cope with any difficulties you encounter."

As my mother spoke, she stuffed all the money into my hand.

I wanted to take the money out and return it to my mother, but she kept shaking her head, her eyes full of determination.

I know my mother is worried about me. If I refuse, she will definitely be too worried to sleep.

"Then I'm leaving, Mother."

I hugged my mother and turned to walk out the door.

This is the first time I've ever held her since I grew up.

I could feel my mother's body trembling slightly.

Be careful! Come back soon!

My mother's voice came from behind me, tinged with a sob.

I quickly went out the door and immediately saw Brother Sanlv and Zhu Xiaoxiao standing next to a black car.

The car was gleaming, with smooth lines, and it shone brightly in the sun, making my eyes pop out.

In Zhujiakan, bicycles are a rare sight all year round, and cars are a rare breed, let alone cars.

This is the first time in my life I've been this close to a car.

"Thirteen, get on the bus!"

Brother Sanlu waved to me.

He stood beside the car, his back ramrod straight.

"what!"

I responded, but my steps faltered.

I stood there, eyes wide open, staring at the tightly closed car door, unsure how to open it. I dared not touch it, afraid of damaging this precious thing.

Finally, it was Brother Sanlu who realized what was happening. He smiled, shook his head, and quickly walked around the front of the car to open the door for me.

"Come on, get in the car."

Brother Sanlu didn't say anything else; I know he didn't want me to feel too awkward.

I smiled a little sheepishly, lowered my head, and got into the car.

Sitting in the car, I instantly felt extremely comfortable.

The seat beneath me was soft, and after sitting for a short while, I felt a warm sensation spreading from my bottom throughout my entire body.

I just stared wide-eyed at the interior of the car, curiously observing the smooth dashboard, the shiny steering wheel, and the little ornaments hanging in front of the car—all of which filled me with wonder.

"Thirteen, is this your first time riding in a car?"

Brother Sanlu started the car, and the engine emitted a low roar.

He glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

"first!"

I nodded honestly, my eyes full of envy.

"Brother Sanlv, you're really amazing! That car must be expensive, right? It must have cost a fortune!"

"Hey, it's not expensive at all!"

Brother Sanlu waved his hand.

"Thirteen, with your abilities, it's only a matter of time before you drive a car like this, or even a better one!"

The car slowly started and sped off on the bumpy dirt road.

The roads in the countryside are inherently uneven, full of potholes, so cars inevitably experience a lot of bumps when driving on them.

I sat in the back seat, my body swaying back and forth with the car's bumps, and my stomach churned violently, as if a hand was stirring it inside. Several times, I felt the contents of my stomach about to rise, but I forced them back down with all my might.

That sour, bitter feeling traveled from my throat all the way to my stomach, and it was very unpleasant.

I felt dizzy, as if my head was filled with lead, so heavy that I could barely open my eyes.

"Thirteen, are you feeling unwell?"

Brother San saw in the rearview mirror that I was pale and sweating profusely, and he quickly asked me with concern.

I waved my hands repeatedly, forcing a smile.

"It's alright, Brother Sanlu, I'm fine, I'm just a little unaccustomed to it."

"Mr. Sun, Mr. Thirteen is probably carsick."

Zhu Xiaoxiao, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly spoke up.

After hearing what Zhu Xiaoxiao said, Brother Sanlv finally realized what was going on.

He slapped his thigh and said in frustration.

"Oh dear, look at me! How could I forget that! Thirteen, open the window, it's that crank handle next to you, turn it a few times and the window will open. I'll drive slower so you'll be more comfortable."

After Brother Sanlv finished speaking, he indeed slowed down the car considerably.

I quickly followed Brother Sanlu's instructions, grabbed the crank handle beside me, and started cranking it vigorously.

With a few creaking sounds, the car window slowly rolled down.

A breath of fresh air rushed in from outside the window, carrying the scent of earth and the sweet fragrance of crops, and felt wonderfully cool.

I took a deep breath, and the fresh air rushed into my lungs, instantly making me much more awake. The churning in my stomach also lessened considerably, and I didn't feel as uncomfortable as before.

After bumping along the dirt road for more than half an hour, the car finally drove onto the asphalt road in the county town.

The asphalt road was flat and wide, and cars drove on it as smoothly as if they were gliding on ice.

I stared wide-eyed at the skyscrapers and bustling crowds rushing past the window.

The bustling atmosphere in the county town was something Zhujiakan never dared to dream of.

The shops along the roadside were lined up one after another, and the shop windows displayed all kinds of goods, which dazzled me.

"Thirteen, are you hungry?"

Brother Sanlu suddenly spoke up and asked.

"Let's not go to Xiaoxiao's place yet. I'll take you to get something good to eat. There's a new barbecue restaurant that just opened in town, and it smells amazing!"

I touched my stomach; I was indeed a little hungry.

Zhu Xiaoxiao nodded, indicating that she had no objection.

After making several turns, Brother Sanlu finally stopped his car on a bustling street.

There was a small shop by the roadside with a sign that read "Old Northeast Barbecue". Several grills were set up at the entrance, and lamb skewers, beef skewers, and grilled corn were being grilled on them. A rich aroma of meat wafted over, making my mouth water.

"Let's go inside!"

Brother Sanlu pushed open the car door and stepped inside first.

Zhu Xiaoxiao and I followed him into the barbecue restaurant.

The store was very popular, with almost every seat filled.

Brother Sanlv found a seat by the window, picked up the menu, and started ordering.

"Boss, give me twenty skewers of lamb, twenty skewers of beef, two grilled mackerel, a few slices of grilled mantou, a plate of smashed cucumber, a dish of peanuts! And three bottles of ice-cold beer!"

"Okay!"

The boss responded and turned to get busy.

The skewers were served shortly afterward.

The lamb skewers were grilled to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, sizzling with oil, making them incredibly tempting just to look at.

I picked up a skewer of lamb and took a careful bite. The meat was tender and juicy, not greasy at all, and the aroma of cumin and chili exploded in my mouth. The taste was absolutely amazing! I've never eaten anything so delicious in my life.

"Thirteen, eat more, and order more after you finish."

"Yeah, Brother Sanlu, this is my first time eating out. I used to be silly, my parents never took me when they came to town."

"Hey, let's not talk about the past. Thirteen, you're a shaman now, you'll never have to worry about the future."

I nodded.

"Brother Sanlu, actually the place you want to build the factory isn't very good. It used to be a dilapidated temple, and there are rumors that it was haunted."

"Hey, Thirteen, I've heard about this. I used to be afraid, but what am I afraid of now? My own brother is a shaman, so all the demons and monsters have to step aside."