The poor girl from the 1970s was forced to kiss by the damp educated youth.

The bone whip was five or six meters long, but the courtyard in front of the small villa was not wide enough to use it properly.

Xi Lang took Chen Zhi to the outskirts of the city.

Chen Zhi hadn't expected that Xi Lang could wield a whip, and that he seemed quite skilled at it.

"I told you before, I know a lot of things." Xi Lang handed the bone whip to Chen Zhi, "Get a feel for it first."

The suburbs were deserted, with no one in sight and not even a bird in sight.

Chen Zhi held a bone whip in her hand, cracking it again and again in the wind. The whip snapped and whistled, its sound sharp and biting.

Xi Lang stood to the side with his arms crossed, a smile in his eyes, occasionally going up to offer a few words of guidance.

The two stayed from morning until noon, when the sun came out, before turning back.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll be working at the calligraphy association for a few days," Xi Lang said.

Chen Zhi was taken aback. "You're going to work?"

"There's no salary. It's just handling some miscellaneous tasks, getting to know the association's operations, and getting to know some people along the way. Besides, the Taoist Association's establishment has been approved, and I'll be busy for a while." Xi Lang paused, then said apologetically, "Won't you get bored being all alone?"

Chen Zhi shook her head, "I need to read, study, and practice whip cracking. I don't have time to be bored."

Xi Lang thought for a moment, "Then let's go buy a bicycle. It will be more convenient to go out with a bicycle."

As a result, the two not only bought a bicycle, but also a radio.

Xi Lang taught Chen Zhi to ride a bicycle. Chen Zhi had good balance, and with her long legs, even a heavy-duty bicycle was no challenge for her. Her long legs could easily touch the ground, firmly supporting the bicycle as it was about to fall over. In less than an hour, she learned to ride a bicycle.

Afterwards, Xi Lang taught her how to use the radio. Chen Zhi clearly preferred the radio to the bicycle. She fiddled with it all night, even turning it on while reading and practicing calligraphy.

Seeing her enthusiastic expression, Xi Lang thought that perhaps he could buy another television.

However, televisions are hard to buy now; even if you have the money, you can't buy one. You'll have to wait.

Xi Lang left early and returned late. Chen Zhi rode her bicycle out of town alone to practice whip cracking. She returned to town at noon, ate lunch outside, and then went home. After taking a nap, she started studying. After dark, she prepared dinner and waited for Xi Lang to return so they could eat together.

At the dinner table, Xi Lang would share about his work, as well as the people and events he encountered. His voice was deep and carried a natural coolness, which inexplicably calmed people down the moment he opened his mouth, making them want to listen attentively.

After dinner, the two would read together, with Xi Lang teaching most of the time and Chen Zhi studying.

This went on for a month.

On this day, Chen Zhi rode her bicycle out of town as usual. On the way, she met Yang Hong, who was carrying baskets into town. The two were stunned when they saw each other.

"I'm going to the countryside to buy some vegetables to sell in the city," Yang Hong said, without the slightest embarrassment on his face.

Chen Zhi nodded, "Not bad, quite an idea. How's business?"

When business was mentioned, Yang Hong became more confident, "It's not bad, I can earn two or three yuan a day."

He would never have dared to imagine this before.

Chen Zhi looked at the two large baskets filled with vegetables, which together must have weighed about two hundred pounds, bending Yang Hong's thin frame.

It's hard-earned money.

However, earning only two or three yuan a day adds up to forty to sixty yuan a month, which is more than what an average worker earns.

"That's not bad." Chen Zhi was genuinely happy for Yang Hong.

Yang Hong blushed slightly at the praise, "If you want any vegetables in the future, you can come and find me."

Chen Zhi: "Okay."

There are more street vendors now, and shops are gradually opening on both sides of the street.

Boss Xin has even taken over a two-story building, which is currently under renovation, with the intention of opening a supermarket.

"I think you're pretty smart, buddy. How about you come work for me? I'll pay you forty yuan a month," Boss Xin said to Yang Hong.

It's forty yuan a month, less than what I earn selling vegetables. But it's stable and not as strenuous.

"My younger brother can work now, would you like to take him in?" Yang Rong is 15 years old this year. He and his sister paste cardboard boxes at home every day. They don't come into contact with people and don't earn much money. Yang Hong wants to bring his younger brother out with him.

Boss Xin frowned. "You're really good at taking advantage of people."

"My brother is very capable and honest. You won't lose out by hiring him. How about this: you pay me thirty a month and my brother twenty. You only need to pay me ten more dollars, and you'll have one more worker. It's a good deal." Yang Hong looked at Boss Xin with anticipation. As long as her brother had a job, they wouldn't be a burden to their sister, and she wouldn't be looked down upon.

After thinking for a moment, Boss Xin said, "I can take you two brothers in, but I have a condition: you have to help me set up that girl from before."

Yang Hong shook his head, "I'm afraid that won't work, they're married."

Boss Xin was stunned. "Married?"

Yang Hong: "Yes. Her husband is tall and handsome, and most importantly, he's incredibly capable. Mr. Xin, you can give up on him."

Boss Xin was heartbroken.

Ever since that first meeting, he had been obsessed with her, waiting for her at the shop every day. He waited from before the Lunar New Year until after, but never saw her again. Now Yang Hong was telling him that she had already married?

How could he possibly accept this?

Chen Zhi sneezed. Who was cursing at her?

February in Beijing is still quite cold, especially when standing by the river, the wind is chilly and the cold seeps straight into your bones.

Chen Zhi had been standing by the river for about ten minutes. Her gaze fell on Ouyang Qiantong, who had arrived earlier than her. Now, Ouyang Qiantong's nose and ears were red from the cold, and her eyes were also red.

There's no one around. What is Ouyang Qiantong doing here?

Chen Zhi wanted to leave, but Ouyang Qiantong was not in a good state. She looked lost and listless, as if she had a death wish.

Chen Zhi thought of Liang Xiaoqiu. Was Liang Xiaoqiu like this when she tried to commit suicide?

But Liang Xiaoqiu did not die by suicide.

Later, the entire Liang family died, and their house was burned down. Where did Liang Xiaoqiu's ghost go?

Just as Chen Zhi was distracted, Ouyang Qiantong suddenly leaped into the air.

Before Chen Zhi could react, the bone whip in her hand flew out and wrapped around Ouyang Qiantong's waist. At the same time, with a splash in the water, a black thing stretched out a long hand and grabbed Ouyang Qiantong's clothes at the chest.

What is this?

Chen Zhi suddenly exerted force, and the black thing also exerted force, and for a moment, the two sides were deadlocked.

Ouyang Qiantong snapped out of her daze. She opened her tightly closed eyes and stared at the thing in front of her that looked like a human and a monkey at the same time. She was so frightened that she let out a sharp scream.

"If she was trying to kill herself, why did you save her?" the water monkey asked, its voice hoarse, its gaze fixed on Chen Zhi with hostility, its dark eyes flashing with cold light.

"I helped save her." Chen Zhi used her strength again to lift Ouyang Qiantong up.

"She doesn't want to live, but I do. Release her, and I'll grant you one request, how about it?" The water monkey changed its tone, its voice filled with endless seduction.

"No, no, I don't want to be your substitute! I want to live! I don't want to die!" Ouyang Qiantong cried out in fright. She remembered what this thing was—it was a water monkey! She had heard the legend of the water monkey, and she didn't want to be one.

If she's destined to become a water monkey after death, she'd rather live.

"Did you hear that? She wants to live," Chen Zhi said. "You can let go now."

"I finally got a substitute, and you want me to let go? No way!" The water monkey's voice suddenly turned sharp, and it reached out another hand to grab Ouyang Qiantong's hair.

"Ahhhhh—"

Ouyang Qiantong had been growing her hair for several months, and it had just reached her shoulders. When the water monkey pulled it hard, she felt like her scalp was about to be ripped off.

"Forced sales are not good!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Zhi used her strength again to throw Ouyang Qiantong onto the shore. Also on the shore was a wet, neither-human-nor-monkey-like monster.

The area seemed even darker, exuding an eerie and sinister atmosphere. Before the water monkey even landed, it pounced on Chen Zhi in mid-air.

Chen Zhi flashed and appeared three meters away.

The bone whip flung Ouyang Qiantong into the withered grass beside her.

"Your body is better than hers. She doesn't want to die, so you'll take her place."

A glint of greed flashed in the water monkey's eyes.

Chen Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly. "Want it? Take it with your life!"

The sharp bone whip swept towards the water monkey. At first, the water monkey didn't take the bone whip seriously, thinking it was just a whip and couldn't hurt it.

It reached out its hand, intending to catch the whip.

But it underestimated the power of the whip!

With a soft snap, its hand was wracked with pain as the skin was torn open, revealing the bare white bone!

How could this happen!

The water monkey loosened its grip on the whip, writhing on the ground in pain. Chen Zhi seized the opportunity and lashed out with the whip again.

This time, the whip struck its back, splitting its entire back open.

It has no physical form, but the damage it causes is very real.

The water monkey knew it had encountered a formidable enemy. It glared at Chen Zhi resentfully, then transformed into a cloud of black mist and plunged into the water, disappearing without a trace.

Ripples spread across the water's surface in concentric circles. Chen Zhi inserted the bone whip into the spot where the water monkey had fallen in, stirred it vigorously, creating a sizable whirlpool, and then skillfully withdrew the whip.

The whip flew back, with six fish stuck in its end, each weighing over ten pounds.

Chen Zhi paused for a moment, "It's not a water monkey."

She was a little disappointed that it had escaped!

Chen Zhi broke off a willow twig, strung the fish together, and hung it on the handlebars of her bicycle. She was about to leave when she noticed Ouyang Qiantong standing still. Surprised, she asked, "You've changed your mind again? Want to be the water monkey's stand-in?"

"No, I didn't!" Ouyang Qiantong said in a panic.

Chen Zhi: "Then why aren't you leaving?"

Ouyang Qiantong looked embarrassed. "Thank you for saving me again."

Chen Zhi: "Are you really thanking me?"

Ouyang Qiantong nodded, "Really."

She may be a little ungrateful, but this was a life-saving grace. She wouldn't refuse to acknowledge such a grace; otherwise, what would be the difference between her and an animal?

"I admit you are very capable and outstanding. I apologize for my bad attitude towards you before. I'm sorry."