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

Ouyang Qiantong walked here, setting off in the middle of the night and walking from the city to the suburbs, a journey that took two or three hours.

Chen Zhi didn't ask her why she wanted to commit suicide, and Ouyang Qiantong didn't mention it either. Chen Zhi was in charge of riding the bike, and Ouyang Qiantong sat behind her, holding Chen Zhi's waist with both hands. The six fish were hanging on the handlebars, and they swung back and forth as the bike swayed.

Once in the city, Chen Zhi asked Ouyang Qiantong where she was staying. Ouyang Qiantong gave her a location, but Chen Zhi had never heard of it, so she had to ask Ouyang Qiantong to give her directions.

"Do people become ghosts when they die?" Ouyang Xitong asked.

Chen Zhi herself wasn't quite sure. She quoted Xi Lang, "Only one in ten thousand can become a ghost. If everyone became a ghost after death, wouldn't you encounter ghosts every day? But look at yourself, you've lived for over twenty years, how many times have you encountered ghosts?"

Ouyang Qiantong seemed thoughtful. "What you said makes sense. So, what conditions are needed to become a ghost?"

"I don't know, I've never died. But if someone harbors a lot of resentment before they died, they might not necessarily become a ghost, but there's a very high chance that the resentment will linger and cause trouble." Chen Zhi had seen several examples herself. She paused and asked, "You still want to die?"

Ouyang Qiantong's face stiffened, and after a long pause, she said, "Don't you think I'm useless?"

"No," Chen Zhi said calmly. "It's normal to want to get out of this situation when you can't take it anymore."

"Don't you feel like you've wasted your energy saving me for nothing?"

"A little."

Chen Zhi was curious about what Ouyang Qiantong had gone through, but she didn't want to reopen old wounds.

Ouyang Qiantong chuckled, "Just kidding. I'm not going to die. I'm afraid to die. I'm afraid I'll run into someone looking for a substitute again."

"Young lady, your fish is very fresh. Five yuan a fish, are you selling it?" Someone stopped Chen Zhi's car.

Chen Zhi shook her head. "Not for sale."

The man persisted, "Six yuan."

Chen Zhi really didn't intend to sell. "I—"

"Seven dollars, that's already a very high price." The man had already taken out the money. "My son's girlfriend is coming over today. I bought chicken and pork. My son said his girlfriend likes fish, but I couldn't find any fish anywhere. Please, have mercy and sell me one."

Chen Zhi: "Okay, I'll sell you one for six yuan."

"Oh, the number six is ​​auspicious. It means everything goes smoothly, and life is good. Thank you, young lady." The man beamed.

Chen Zhi smiled and said, "You're welcome."

She picked out the biggest fish for the uncle, who happily carried it away.

Ouyang Qiantong's expression was complicated. "I didn't expect you to have this side to you."

Chen Zhi pressed the pedal, and the car continued to move forward. "There are many things you haven't seen. Take some time to go out and see the world."

Ouyang Qiantong retorted, "I've been to more places than you, and I have a broader perspective."

"I believe you," Chen Zhi said, "but you've definitely never been to the countryside, never farmed, never planted rice seedlings, and never dug up rat holes."

"Is it fun?"

"It's not fun, it's tiring."

"I don't believe it. I'll go and experience it for myself this year."

Ouyang Qiantong lives with her parents in a compound where there are guards at the gate, and strangers need to register to enter or leave.

Chen Zhi saw the person to the door, saying, "I won't go in."

"It's getting late, let's go to my house to get acquainted and have a meal. You saved me twice, and I haven't properly thanked you yet." Ouyang Qiantong grabbed the handlebars of Chen Zhi's bicycle, not letting her leave.

"Not this time, maybe next time. I'll come again when I have time." Chen Zhi's tone left no room for negotiation.

Ouyang Qiantong didn't understand, "We're already at the door, why do we have to wait until next time?"

She doesn't believe there will be a next time.

Given her relationship with Chen Zhi, if she went to him, Chen Zhi probably wouldn't even bother to talk to her.

"I need to go back and marinate the fish, otherwise it will taste bad." Xi Lang had already eaten all the fish in his sleeve. She missed Xi Lang's boiled fish. There were still five fish left, enough for them to eat five times.

Ouyang Qiantong's lips twitched; she hadn't expected this reason.

Just as she was about to speak, someone pulled her from behind. She turned her head and met Xiao Gang's panicked face.

Ouyang Qiantong was stunned, and a wave of guilt washed over her.

"Where did you go?" Xiao Gang asked, his breath unsteady and his head covered in sweat.

Ouyang Qiantong didn't know how to answer.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chen Zhi pried Ouyang Qiantong's hands off and pushed the cart backward.

"Chen Zhi, see me off." Song Yuanzhi said.

Before Chen Zhi could agree, Song Yuanzhi got on the back of the bicycle.

Chen Zhi straddled the bike, ignoring Ouyang Qiantong's pleading look, and the two rode off.

"Why are you with Reporter Ouyang?" Song Yuanzhi asked.

"We met outside the city." Chen Zhi didn't mention that Ouyang Qiantong was going to jump into the river to commit suicide.

"How did she end up outside the city? Her family and Xiao Gang have been looking for her for most of the day, they're so worried they're almost crying. If you had come back any later, Xiao Gang would have called the police." Song Yuanzhi himself had been called by Xiao Gang to look for her.

Chen Zhi: "She's a grown woman, with hands and feet, why would you need to look for her?"

"Sigh, you have no idea—"

Song Yuanzhi paused, thought for a moment, and then used more tactful words to say, "Regarding the last kidnapping incident, Ouyang Qiantong was bullied, bullied very badly, and had to recuperate in the hospital for more than half a month before she recovered. During that time, she attempted suicide several times, but was stopped by her family and Xiao Gang. That's why her family and Xiao Gang are so worried about her disappearance this time."

This was something Chen Zhi hadn't expected. She thought to herself, no wonder, since Ouyang Qiantong's personality didn't seem like the type to commit suicide.

"Besides that cloaked man, we caught quite a few more people afterward. All those who bullied Ouyang Qiantong have been arrested, which can be considered revenge for her. But she can't get over it in her heart." Song Yuanzhi sympathized with Ouyang Qiantong and also felt sorry for Xiao Gang.

Ouyang Qiantong was violated, and Xiao Gang said he didn't care, but his family might not.

It's heartbreaking to see such a beautiful girl end up like this.

During dinner that evening, Chen Zhi asked Xi Lang about the water monkey.

"This inhuman, ghostly thing is utterly hideous. You're interested in it?"

"I ran into it today."

When Chen Zhi brought up what happened today, thinking about what Ouyang Qiantong had gone through, she felt a lump in her throat, a sense of unease.

"I'll draw you some talismans in a bit. Next time you encounter these filthy things, throw the talisman paper first and burn off the filth on them."

Xi Lang learned about Ouyang Qiantong's situation a few days earlier than Chen Zhi, but he didn't mention Ouyang Qiantong or Xiao Gang. He never paid much attention to other people's affairs.

Chen Zhi: "When can I learn to draw talismans?"

Xi Lang: "It can be done tonight."

It turns out that Xi Lang was just fooling Chen Zhi.

She can't.

With her current understanding of Taoist magic, she simply cannot grasp the profound meaning of talismans.

"His brushstrokes were hesitant and indecisive, unable to flow smoothly. His energy was interrupted several times. It's no wonder the talisman was ruined." Xi Lang was not surprised by this result at all.

"You knew I couldn't draw it, yet you still made me try," Chen Zhi said dejectedly.

"Not bad, you've got energy in your brushstrokes. Many people can't even cultivate that in their entire lives." Xi Lang wasn't just comforting Chen Zhi; it was the truth. Drawing talismans requires infusing energy into the paper, and the more powerful the talisman, the more energy it requires. Chen Zhi herself was already very strong, and in this respect alone, she had far surpassed others.

"But it's ruined." The talisman was burned.

"This time we'll start with the simplest talismans."

After a whole night, Chen Zhi hadn't managed to draw a single talisman. Instead, she drank a lot of water because she was so angry.

"Nothing can be accomplished overnight. Let's stop here for today and continue tomorrow," Xi Lang said.

Chen Zhi: "How long did it take you to draw the first talisman?"

Xi Lang: "Several years. I grew up in a Taoist temple. I started learning Taoist magic from my master when I was three years old, and I didn't successfully draw my first talisman until I was seven."

"That's quite a while," Chen Zhi murmured, feeling comforted.

But she didn't consider that what child could draw talismans at seven years old? If Master Yang and Elder Mu heard this, they would be so ashamed they'd want to bang their heads against the wall.

Chen Zhi stretched and was about to walk towards the bathroom when Xi Lang grabbed her hand and hugged her tightly. "No rush, let's kiss first."

He wrapped one arm around Chen Zhi's waist and the other hand around the back of her head, pressing his lips down hard.

"Ugh—"

Chen Zhi wanted to say that she was in a hurry and there was no time to lose.

But before she could even open her mouth, someone seized the opportunity and barged in.

Xi Lang's kissing skills were getting better and better. Just one kiss made Chen Zhi tremble and collapse into his arms.

Chen Zhi felt very comfortable being kissed by him, and she liked it very much.

But she needed to relieve herself!

Chen Zhi nudged Xi Lang, on the verge of tears.

However, Xi Lang, who usually doted on her, was extremely domineering at this moment, holding her firmly with one hand and using the other to undress her.

The stove was still burning inside, and the temperature was not low.

When all of Chen Zhi's clothes fell off, she didn't feel very cold, but she still got goosebumps all over her body, out of embarrassment.

She was so angry that she hit Xi Lang, but her soft body couldn't muster much strength. It was more like a playful refusal, a kind of romantic gesture between the young couple.

"Waaah, I can't hold it in anymore—"

Chen Zhi was on the verge of tears.

"No rush, I'll take you there right away."

.....

One night of absurdity.

Chen Zhi was so ashamed and indignant that she wanted to die.

But Xi Lang kept whispering in her ear, praising her for being amazing.

Chen Zhi was so embarrassed that she could only cover his mouth.

But when they covered their mouths, the other person became even more enthusiastic.

In the end, Chen Zhi had no strength left to lift.

In her dazed state, she seemed to hear Xi Lang ask her, "Zhizhi, can I borrow your bankbook?"

Chen Zhi gave a perfunctory reply, not taking the matter to heart.

Besides, her bankbook is with Xi Lang; if Xi Lang needs it, he can just take it.

Chen Zhi was unable to get up to practice whipping the next day.

The absurd scene from last night replayed in her mind. Chen Zhi was both angry and ashamed. She mistook Xi Lang's pillow for Xi Lang and punched it a few times in anger.

Xi Lang had already prepared lunch for her: a plate of braised fish chunks, a plate of green vegetables, and a pot of chicken soup, all kept warm on the stove.

"Hmph, at least he knows what's good for him!" Chen Zhi snorted.

Halfway through the meal, the phone rang at home. It was Shi Xin calling.

"I've thought about it, and I still need to tell you, my sister-in-law, that the money from selling the pigs, chickens, and fish totaled 12,000 yuan, which I've transferred to Xi Lang. Has he mentioned this to you?"

"It was mentioned." Actually, it wasn't.

"It's good that you mentioned it." Shi Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Zhi hung up the phone, completely bewildered. What did Xi Lang need so much money for?