Starting with the flesh-based stimulant

The Tian family's banquet is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

The banquet is a huge affair, and the tents have already been set up today.

A dozen or so young men drove stakes into the yard, set up ladders, and hung lanterns around the yard, illuminating the empty space.

Tables, chairs, and benches were carried into the venue in a long line, like ants.

The banquet was already bustling even before it officially started. Zhou He followed Li Ping and was welcomed into the backyard by the head of the Tian family. A clean and tidy room was arranged for the two of them to stay in.

The person in charge pulled Li Ping aside and sat down at the table to finalize the ingredients and seasonings to be used for the banquet the day after tomorrow.

Zhou He sat to the side listening, not quite able to hear clearly, but he was still quite interested.

For Zhou He, this kind of everyday conversation is like nourishment.

It nourishes the nerves that have been taut ever since he came into this world.

Zhou He could hear some noises outside the courtyard. It seemed that the young men who had come to help had finally finished their work, and the host was entertaining them by having them sit outside drinking and playing drinking games. They were all chatting enthusiastically.

Zhou nodded to the head of the Tian family, indicating that he would go out for a walk.

Stepping outside, the lanterns at the four corners of the shed were brightly lit, and a dozen or so young men sat at two tables under the shed.

Zhou He hadn't even gotten close when he overheard their conversation:

"You think I'm scaring you? There really are eyes-opening flesh creatures in this world! Once they open their eyes, they want to eat people, and after eating people, they pretend to be human. You can't tell the difference at all."

An older-looking man with a face full of scars had one foot on a stool and was talking animatedly.

On the other side, a thinner man, but also looking quite strong, with a flushed face, appeared to have drunk quite a bit. He was currently facing the burly man.

"You're just spouting nonsense. It's all just rumors spread by ignorant people. If there really is something that scary in the world, then show it to me."

"You're just being argumentative. Where am I supposed to find that cannibalistic thing for you? If you don't believe me, then beg. You're ignorant, yet you speak so loudly!"

The burly man was taken aback by the slender man's retort. Perhaps he was tongue-tied, as he couldn't think of a way to retort for a while. He simply gave up, sat back down, picked up the earthenware bowl again, and gulped down a mouthful of wine.

With a "bang," he slammed the bowl on the table, and then, as if to prove a point, began to speak:

"I've never seen a fleshy creature with open eyes, but I've definitely seen ghosts. Have you?"

The thin man shook his head again:

"Gods and ghosts, it's all fake. Old Tian, ​​I call you stupid, but you always claim to be knowledgeable. I'll just say one thing: whether it's true or not, seeing is believing. Brothers, don't you agree?"

At this point, the thinner man turned around and beckoned to the others at the table, who shook their heads and chuckled in response.

Old Tian, ​​his face contorted with rage, turned red with shame. Unable to utter a word of defense for a long time, he simply stood up, his eyes blazing, and shouted:

"Wait, Grandpa will find it for you. I'm just afraid you son of a bitch Tian Jiabao won't dare to look! If you see it and wet your pants in fear, I'll make you kneel down and call me Grandpa!"

The slender Tian Jiabao laughed even more freely:

"If you can really find him, I'll call you my ancestor, not just grandpa. All these brothers here are witnesses. But if you can't find him, I'll call you my son, and you'll agree to that?"

"You son of a bitch, Tian Jiabao, I'll bet you!"

Before Tian Jiabao could say anything more, Tian Laogunzi turned around and left. When he passed Zhou He, the smell of alcohol on his body made Zhou He frown.

He had hoped to experience some everyday life and relax a bit, but this is what happened instead.

Zhou He chuckled and wanted to call out to Tian Laogunzi. It was already pitch black, and once they were outside the venue, they wouldn't be able to see anything. If something went wrong, it could bring bad luck to the joyous occasion.

But since they weren't familiar with each other, and Tian Laogunzi was blinded by anger, he didn't hear Zhou He's voice at all and rushed out in a hurry.

Inside the venue, on the table, Tian Jiabao was still boasting:

"To be honest, with Tian Laogunzi's brain, if you say two words, he'll charge in even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire in front of him. Alright, that's enough, I'm sleepy, you guys have fun, I'm going home first."

As he spoke, he pretended to yawn, stretched, and was about to get up from his seat.

A young man at the table chuckled wickedly and spoke:

"Jiabao, which home did you go back to?"

Another young man understood:

"You know perfectly well why you're asking. It must be a family with a beautiful wife but no man."

When Tian Jiabao was exposed, he wasn't angry. He just chuckled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"It was late at night, and Old Man Tian went to find that inexplicable ghost. My sister-in-law was alone at home, and I was worried about her. We're all relatives and neighbors, so I went to help her out. I'm doing a good deed. If the Goddess of Mount Mubu sees me, she'll praise me."

After he finished speaking, he looked somewhat anxious and, ignoring the teasing from his brothers, turned and walked out.

Zhou He frowned, feeling that this person's actions were not ethical.

But since he was just following Li Ping to get a meal, he had no reason to say anything more. He shook his head, had no intention of going over to chat for a bit more, and turned back into the courtyard.

Inside the house, the head of the Tian family had finished discussing the food preparation and menu for the next two days with Li Ping, and left sometime later.

Li Ping was sitting at the table, counting the dishes on the menu one by one, pondering something.

Upon seeing Zhou He enter, he looked up, smiled, and asked:

"Brother Zhou, were you out having some fun just now?"

Zhou He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to talk to Li Ping about something, but not knowing what to say.

Fortunately, Li Ping was a talkative person. Before Zhou He could speak, he blurted out a string of words like beans pouring from a bamboo tube:

"Why are you back so early? If you wait any longer, it'll be time to start gambling. Why don't you try your luck? I was just thinking of finishing my work and then going to try my luck."

Zhou He thought for a moment and said:

"I don't like this. If you want to have some fun, go ahead and try it."

Li Ping didn't mind. He got up, put on a coat, said something to Zhou He, and then turned and left.

For a moment, the room was quiet, while the outside was noisy.

Zhou He suddenly laughed.

Despite the messy things that happened, it's still a part of everyday life.

It's better than those old men who eat or kill people at the drop of a hat, and the people in that profession.

Just then, I suddenly heard some strange noises.

Zhou He tilted his ear and listened carefully; the sound seemed to be coming from the main house in the backyard.

It sounded like something had been smashed on the ground, followed by a woman's crying.

There was also an older voice trying to soothe the woman, but after a while it didn't work and the voice seemed to get a little impatient. "Slap!" It sounded like a slap to the face.

The sound gradually faded, and when Zhou listened again, he could barely hear it.

How could something like this happen on such a joyous occasion?

Zhou frowned.

After thinking about it, I decided I shouldn't interfere, so I went back to bed, closed my eyes, and went to sleep.