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

The commotion inside attracted many neighbors.

They gathered at the doorway, looking at Gou Dan, who had regained consciousness on the kang (a heated brick bed), and then at me, their eyes filled with shock.

"Is it really healed? Dog Egg is really awake?"

"My God! This kid Thirteen, can he really cure evil spirits?"

"I used to think he was a fool, but I never imagined he was such a master!"

In the past, they looked at me with disdain and contempt.

Now, they look at me with awe and surprise.

Grandpa Wang took a basket of eggs out of the house and insisted on giving them to me.

"Thirteen, take these eggs! They're not worth much, just a small token of our family's appreciation!"

"Here's 30 yuan. We understand the rules of you shamans. Take it, don't refuse."

I didn't refuse, so I put the money away and carried the eggs outside.

Thirty yuan, these days that's almost a month's wages for an average worker.

What's more, there's also a basket of eggs.

My second aunt squeezed in, her face beaming with smiles, and fawned over me.

"Thirteen, I never knew you were so capable! You're truly a hidden talent! If my family ever needs anything in the future, we'll have to trouble you!"

Looking at my second aunt's face, I sneered inwardly.

When I was considered mentally challenged, she despised me in every way.

Now that I can treat illnesses caused by evil spirits, she's changed her tune.

"We'll see."

The second aunt's smile froze on her face, but she didn't dare to say anything more.

After settling things with Aunt Wang's family, my reputation in Zhujiakan was established.

In the past, everyone called Li Shisan a fool. Now, everyone calls him a powerful shaman who can cure evil spirits and exorcise ghosts.

The villagers' attitude towards me completely changed.

People who used to avoid me now greet me warmly; people who used to call me an idiot now call me "Thirteenth Brother" or "Thirteenth Nephew."

Even Gou Sheng, who used to bully me the most, now acts like a mouse before a cat whenever he sees me.

When I got close to my house, I noticed a green bicycle parked in front of the door.

The bicycle is quite new and looks very well maintained.

This isn't a bicycle from our village. There are only three in our village, and I've seen them all.

One car belonged to Secretary Zhang, another to Accountant Sun, and the third to Teacher Zhao from the village primary school.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, I found two more people inside.

I've seen these two people before; they're Old Wang from the neighboring village and his daughter, Xiulian.

Old Wang stood in the middle of the courtyard, wearing a Zhongshan suit with the buttons fastened tightly.

Xiulian stood beside him, wearing a pink floral dress made of the most fashionable Dacron fabric at the time.

I remember it very clearly; my mother told me that.

My dad and Old Wang were very good friends.

Back then, when the production team organized a trip to reclaim wasteland, Old Wang accidentally fell into the Blackwater River behind the mountain. My father risked his life to save Old Wang.

The river was originally just an ordinary river, but it was very strange. Every year, people would drown. Over time, it became more and more eerie. The villagers said that there were water ghosts in the river, and that's how it got the name Blackwater River.

Old Wang was grateful to my father and said that his wife had given birth, and if it was a son, he would become sworn brothers with me; if it was a daughter, she would marry me.

I was only three years old when I said that.

After Old Wang's wife gave birth to Xiulian, my father and Old Wang got engaged.

My father took out 300 yuan, which he had saved for five or six years, as a bride price. My mother even personally cut a few feet of cloth and made a dress for Xiulian.

That cloth was my mother's dowry; it was lampwick cloth, and over the years, my mother herself had never been willing to use it.

My mother has mentioned this to me more than once.

But in the third year after I became an idiot.

Old Wang came and cancelled the dormitory reservation.

He said his daughter absolutely could not marry a fool.

My dad was furious and grabbed his pipe to hit Old Wang.

My dad's pipe was made of copper; if you really hit him, he'd be bleeding from a head wound.

Old Wang knew he was in the wrong, so he stood still, closed his eyes, and let his father hit him.

My dad just stood there holding the tobacco pipe for ages.

In the end, he didn't actually make a move.

This story has been going on for over ten years. What is this old man Wang doing here today?

"Mom, these eggs were given to me by Uncle Wang, and they cost thirty yuan."

I handed the eggs and money to my mother without even glancing at Old Wang and Xiulian.

"Thirteen, you cured Gou Dan?"

My mother still couldn't quite believe it. After all, I had been mentally challenged for so many years, and it was already a miracle that I had recovered. Now that I could also diagnose evil illnesses, it was really hard for her to accept.

"Mom, you have the money and the eggs, what do you say?"

My mother nodded, her movements somewhat stiff.

"Thirteen... Your Uncle Wang and Xiulian are here to discuss your marriage."

My mother spoke in a very low voice.

It was as if they were afraid of being overheard, or perhaps they themselves found it absurd.

"In Zhujiakan, once a boy turns eighteen, he's considered an adult and starts thinking about getting married and finding a wife."

"Xiulian is such a pretty girl, and she has a big bottom, so she's very fertile and will definitely give birth to a boy."

My mother really liked Xiulian, but I couldn't muster any interest in her.

I looked at Xiulian.

Indeed, Xiulian was very pretty, especially her big, bright eyes.

And on her face, there are two shallow dimples.

But it was indeed her father who came to break off the engagement back then.

Of course, my dad thought the same thing.

"Brother Li, look at what's going on with Thirteen. It's great news! His marriage to Xiulian is settled, which is another piece of good news. It's double happiness!"

Old Wang leaned close to my dad and pulled out a box of Daqianmen cigarettes.

This cigarette is the kind that only the village secretary smokes; it's a rare find.

But my dad ignored him completely and just kept smoking his pipe.

"Hey, Lao Wang, I remember you broke off the engagement back then, why are you bringing it up again?"

My father's words made Old Wang a little embarrassed. He couldn't offer the cigarette he had taken out, and he didn't know whether to hold it up or take it back.

Xiulian, standing to one side, had her face flushed red to her ears and her head bowed even lower.

"My thirteenth son is cured of his illness and is not ugly. Besides, now that he's involved, he's capable, and there are plenty of girls who want to marry him."

"You don't need to worry about this marriage."

After my dad finished speaking, he turned around and went to smoke, leaving only his back to Old Wang.

I chuckled to myself. It seems the old saying is true: thirty years ago, people looked to fathers for respecting sons; thirty years later, people look to sons for respecting fathers.

I haven't even lived for thirty years yet.

After being rebuffed by my father, Old Wang turned his attention to my mother.

"Sister-in-law Li, look at this. I was wrong back then, but we can't let my actions delay the marriage of our two children."

"In recent years, quite a few people have come to propose marriage, but Xiulian hasn't agreed to any of them. Why? It's because she still has her own secrets."

My mother favored Xiulian, and she was soft-hearted, so she listened to what Old Wang said.

My mother then said.

"Old Wang, look, let's not talk about it anymore. Thirteen and Xiulian's two children are grown up now, it's time to settle down, it's time to settle down."

"Thirteen, don't you think so!"

My mother's words made Old Wang beam with joy.

"Yes, yes, sister-in-law is right. We should look forward to this matter."

But my father suddenly stood up and slammed his pipe on the stone bench.

"What are you doing meddling in this mess, woman? Get inside, get inside!"

My father's brows furrowed, his face full of anger.

They looked like they wanted to eat my mother alive.

The veins on his forehead were bulging; it was the first time I'd ever seen my dad so angry.

My mother didn't dare to say a word. She glanced at me, then at Xiulian, and lifted the curtain to go back into the house.

In those days, men had absolute say at home. Although it was already the second year of reform and opening up, the spring breeze of reform had not yet reached my remote little village.

Women are said to hold up half the sky, but that's only in the fields. Back home, the men still have the final say.

Old Wang was made to look very bad by my dad's shout.

At this point, leaving is not an option, nor is staying.

"Father, let's go..."

Xiulian tugged at Old Wang's sleeve, her voice very soft.

Old Wang glared at Xiulian, then fixed his gaze on me.

"Nephew, take a look at this matter, and try to persuade your father."

"Uncle Wang, you should know my dad's temper better than I do, after all, I was naive a few years ago."

My voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"this………"

Old Wang was speechless for a moment, his wrinkled face turning bright red.

He wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

"Nephew, you and Xiulian's situation is your fault, you have to understand me. Back then, I was worried about my daughter, that was all my decision. I can't let my situation hold you and Xiulian back."

I nodded.

This means I understand.

Actually, I can really understand this situation. If it were me, I wouldn't want my daughter to marry a mentally challenged man either.

But understanding is one thing, whether or not one can forgive is another matter entirely.

"Our family doesn't want a bride price. Uncle will give an additional 300 yuan. Xiulian's dowry is also ready: a sewing machine, a bicycle, and two new quilts. Is that alright?"

Old Wang's words really startled me.

What does 300 yuan mean? If a family tightens their belts, it would take them three to five years to save it up.

That's a huge sum of money.

Xiulian suddenly raised her head; perhaps she hadn't expected her father to be able to produce so much money.

My father then turned around and looked at Old Wang. His eyes didn't seem as angry as before.

"Thirteen, you're all better now, go back to your room and rest."

When my father saw that Old Wang was bothering me, he also gave me an order.

My dad's voice wasn't as harsh as it had been before.

I know he was tempted by what Old Wang had said.

These days, who doesn't need money?

Not only did they not ask for a bride price, they also gave a large dowry.

But sometimes, I just can't bring myself to say it.

I shrugged and went back inside.

My mother was sitting in a chair, tears streaming down her face.

When she saw me come in, she quickly wiped away her tears.

"Mom, what are you doing? What's there to cry about? Old Wang brought this on himself."

"Thirteen, that's true, but your Uncle Wang's family is an honest family, and Xiulian is an honest girl who is good at both housework and household chores. She's also pretty. I think if we miss this opportunity, it won't be so easy to find a girl who suits us again."

"Besides, given what you did back then, wouldn't anyone think about their daughter?"

"Mother, what you said is true, and I understand it, but some things, once done, must have certain consequences."

"Thirteen, is Mr. Thirteen home?"

Just then, a series of urgent cries came from outside.

I came out when I heard the noise, but Old Wang and Xiulian were no longer in the yard.

Instead, an old acquaintance stood at the door – Accountant Sun.

Accountant Sun is a very good person. During all these years I've been foolish, he has never bullied me. On the contrary, he has occasionally given me candy when he sees me.

Sugar is not a common thing.

We can only buy some during the Chinese New Year.

"Uncle Sun, please stop calling me Mr. Thirteen. Just call me Thirteen. What's up?"

"Haha, Thirteen has finally grown up."

Accountant Sun patted him on the shoulder.

"Hey, Thirteen, there's a job I'm not sure if you'd take it."

Accountant Sun was deliberately keeping me in suspense; how could I not know?

"Uncle Sun, just tell me what it is. If I can do it, I certainly won't refuse."

"Thirteen, you're indeed straightforward. I'll just get straight to the point."

"Do you know that dilapidated temple at the west end of our village? Lately, people have been saying it's haunted, and they've even seen will-o'-the-wisps."

"Most importantly, the land has already been approved by the county for a big businessman to build a factory."

"I discussed with the Party Secretary whether we should resolve the issue of that dilapidated temple in order to ensure the stable construction of the factory."

I paused for a moment after hearing that.

Of course I know that dilapidated temple at the west end of the village.

It used to be a temple where a few monks lived. Later, as everyone's lives gradually improved, no one wanted to become a monk anymore.

After those monks died, the place fell into disrepair.

Later, rumors of it being haunted began to circulate occasionally.

Seeing my hesitation, Accountant Sun continued.

"Thirteen, this isn't a free job, there's a reward. I've discussed it with the secretary, and if you want to make this happen, I'll give you 300 yuan."

"300 yuan is quite a lot, you should think about it."

300 yuan! I was just worried about not having any money, and this money came to me.

300 yuan is enough to renovate my mud-brick house.

Just then, it felt like an electric current ran through my head.

Then a voice rang in my mind.

"Thirteen, there is a yellow demon in that dilapidated temple. This demon is connected to you, so do not kill it."

It was the voice of the White Snake Fairy.

Is it fate that brings us together? Could it be that I, a shaman, am able to lead a group of deities?

"Uncle Sun, don't worry, I'll take it. But are you really going to give me the 300 yuan?"

With the help of the White Snake Fairy, I was naturally not afraid, especially since she had already told me that we were destined to be together.

Since we are destined to meet, there should be no danger.

"This child, how could he be lying?"

"Accountant Sun, are you telling the truth?"

My father hadn't said a word until now, and he leaned closer.

"Brother Li, when have I, Sun Wantian, ever told a lie?"

"From now on, you can enjoy a life of luxury with Thirteen."

"Thirteen, it's settled then."

"Don't worry, Uncle Sun, I'll go check on it tonight."