Huh, Where Did This New Xuan Sect Rising Star Come From?

This was a time when everything was scarce—not just food and clothing, but also firewood for burning.

The commune members on the South Bank of Spring River could use the leftover rapeseed stalks, corn stalks, and wheat stalks after the harvest as firewood. The residents on the North Bank of Spring River in the county didn't have this convenience; most bought coal to burn. If they wanted to save on coal money, some households secretly went up the mountain to cut branches and carry them home, drying them for firewood.

Just look at the roadsides and barren slopes near the county town—they've all been stripped clean. And looking at Wangyun Mountain and Yuntai Mountain, from the foot to the mid-slope, the firewood cutters almost cut back all the branches from the treetops down, leaving only bare trunks standing there.

The valley that Zhu Shian and Mingjue Grand Master were heading to was different from other places around the county town. Clearly, this side of the valley didn't require climbing, and the trees grew lushly here, but no one ever came to this valley to gather firewood—everyone tacitly avoided this place.

The closer they got to the valley, the harder the path became—not just because of the dense wormwood and thorns blocking the way, but also because their cultivation was too low to withstand the increasingly thick Yin Qi.

Zhu Shian turned to look and saw that the three monks behind Mingjue Grand Master had turned blue in the face, their eyes bloodshot, walking shakily as if they might collapse and die at any moment. It was terrifying. Zhu Shian quickly called a halt.

"Wait here for me. I'll go alone."

The "you" Zhu Shian included Mingjue Grand Master as well—he could still hold on, but his condition wasn't good.

Zhu Shian was puzzled. With their cultivation, they could barely approach the formation. How had they managed to repair the formation in the past when situations like this arose?

Mingjue Grand Master said: "The last time the formation had a problem was over sixty years ago. Back then, I came here once with my master."

Zhu Shian made a sound of understanding: "You didn't go in that time either?"

"This old monk is ashamed."

The three junior monks stared at Zhu Shian—how could he speak like that?

Zhu Shian silently turned away: "I'm going."

"Wait." Mingjue Grand Master stopped Zhu Shian and handed her a sachet.

"This is a talisman personally drawn by Li Qingyuan, a Daoist of the Li family who, like your Zhu Family, belongs to the Talisman school. It was kept with me precisely for times like this. It's yours now."

Zhu Shian opened the sachet to look: Hundred Ghosts Warding Talisman, Five Thunders Talisman, Evil-Dissolving Talisman—six in total. Zhu Shian carefully examined the brushwork of the talismans. They were from a different tradition than the Taiyi Sect—this talisman was drawn too neatly, with standardized Talisman Heads and Talisman Feet. Too meticulous.

But there was an advantage: suitable for people without high talent, it could improve the success rate of talisman-making.

She had been studying the talismans for too long, and Mingjue Grand Master grew worried, afraid she wouldn't go, so he said: "This old monk can still hold on. Why don't I go?"

"I said I'll go."

Zhu Shian put away the talismans and headed off immediately.

The old monk was a Buddhist, but he used Daoist talismans for protection—this fact alone showed that Buddhism had declined even faster than Daoism. They probably didn't have much in their own treasury.

Compared to him, she had many more things for self-protection.

Without needing to wait for the monks, Zhu Shian traveled alone quickly. The Yin Qi-filled valley obscured vision, but the Soul-Suppressing Handbell in her palm moved without wind, its ringing vibrations like stones thrown into a calm lake, ripples centered on her pushing the Yin Qi away in waves.

She entered this valley as if entering an empty realm—Yin Qi could not block her steps.

"Help! Help!"

Zhu Shian slapped her forehead: "I forgot you're still trapped in the Soul-Suppressing Handbell."

The omnipresent Yin Qi even made ghosts afraid. Lai Dahe, a new ghost, had never seen such a situation. Yet he was bound within the Soul-Suppressing Handbell and couldn't move.

"Master, spare my life! Master!"

Zhu Shian ran forward quickly, saying: "Don't be afraid. Stay quietly in the Soul-Suppressing Handbell. You won't be scattered."

Lai Dahe wailed in terror. He was afraid! King Yama, I'm not a good person, but I truly haven't harmed anyone's life!

Lai Dahe kept confessing in the Soul-Suppressing Handbell. Zhu Shian found him annoying: "Shut up!"

Zhu Shian had already reached the outer perimeter of the formation. At a glance, she knew this was the Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation, specially used to suppress evil.

The Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation a thousand years ago wasn't considered entry-level—it was somewhat difficult. But for a master of Master Li Qingfeng's level, it was a formation that could be casually set up; it wasn't high-end.

Whether a formation is useful cannot be judged by whether it's high-end or not—the key is whether it's suitable. Using this formation in this place was very appropriate.

The Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation borrows the divine power of the Three Pure Dao Ancestors, driven by the Sun and Moon. Logically, as long as the five elements are balanced, this formation shouldn't have any flaws.

Although the formation was casually set up by her master, given her master's skill level, this formation wasn't something just anyone could break.

After that great battle, the sect leaders and exceptionally talented disciples of each family were mostly killed or injured. Then who tampered with her master's formation? Who had this ability?

Zhu Shian's eyes stared into the formation, but inside the formation the Yin Qi was so thick she couldn't see her hand in front of her face—she couldn't see anything at all.

With her current abilities, she didn't dare enter. She thought of Bai Youqian and single-handedly formed the Summoning Ghost Seal: "Appear immediately!"

Several breaths passed, but Bai Youqian didn't appear.

Zhu Shian looked around—she clearly felt Bai Youqian was nearby, but he just wouldn't come out.

"Ha, coward!"

Even being called a coward, Bai Youqian stayed hidden. Although he was a ghost official, he didn't dare enter either. His ability was only enough to bully small ghosts. If he dared enter the formation, he was afraid the Gang Wind within the formation's blocking would tear him apart.

Since she couldn't enter to find out the truth, there was only this option. Zhu Shian reluctantly sighed, stepped on the Gang Step to shift her form, dodged the Yin Wind attacks, and repaired the formation at the fastest speed.

"Supreme Taiyi Star, respond without form, Three Pure Ones command, all gods execute! Swift as decree!"

The gap in the formation that Zhu Shian had repaired was forcefully embedded by her ritual, merging perfectly with the original formation.

When the formations merged, the protective golden light of the Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation could be seen from far away.

"Master, look!"

Mingjue Grand Master thought this was a rare cultivation opportunity. After Zhu Shian left, he led his three disciples, forcing themselves toward the valley. At this moment, they were only two li away from where Zhu Shian was.

Mingjue Grand Master stared at the complete formation, shocked beyond words.

The manuscripts passed down by the Xuan Sect said that when the Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation takes shape, protective golden light appears to deter demons and evil.

But this was only a legend. The Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation in Zhenshan County has seven recorded repairs, and not once has protective golden light appeared—everyone thought the records were wrong.

Now looking at it, the records weren't wrong. It's just that the people who repaired the formation didn't completely repair the damaged Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation.

The Zhu Family! The Zhu Family!

He had known and associated with Zhu Furu for many years, yet he hadn't realized the Zhu Family had such a powerful legacy.

"Master, the sun is coming out!"

The sun shone on the earth. Under the sunlight, the protective golden light wasn't very noticeable—it was easy to conceal.

Mingjue Grand Master told his disciple Huixin: "Send a pigeon to Qingwei Zhenren when we return. Tell him the formation is repaired; they don't need to come."

"Yes."

The master and disciples waited briefly in place. Zhu Shian came out.

Zhu Shian returned the sachet to Mingjue Grand Master: "Keep it. I didn't use it."

"With little friend's ability, of course you don't need these. Then I'll keep them. My disciples aren't as capable as little friend; it's good to keep them for self-defense." Mingjue Grand Master smiled and took the sachet, storing it carefully.

"Mingjue Grand Master is too polite." Zhu Shian nodded: "The matter is settled. Since that's the case, I'll leave first."

"Little friend Zhu, go slowly."

It was almost noon. Zhu Shian had done work and her stomach was hungry. She headed home immediately.

Without the Yin Wind's torment and the problem of Yin Qi entering their bodies, Mingjue Grand Master and his four disciples continued into the valley, wanting to see what was inside. After walking half a li, they couldn't proceed further.

Huixin looked toward the deeper part of the valley: "Master, the place where the formation flashed just now is inside."

Mingjue Master remembered it was inside too. He reached out, trying to touch it, but was blocked by something invisible.

"I suppose little friend Zhu set up another formation at the valley entrance to protect the formation inside."

The junior junior brother beside him was both admiring and envious: "Master, Daoist methods are truly changeable and boundless."

Huixin didn't think Daoist methods were more numerous than Buddhist methods either. He had also seen many mediocre Daoists. It was just that Zhu Shian, this descendant of the Zhu Family, was young but had many methods—her ability was truly remarkable.

Only when Zhu Shian returned home did she remember there was still a terrified Lai Dahe in the Soul-Suppressing Handbell who was almost scattered. She gently shook the Soul-Suppressing Handbell: "My fault. I forgot about you when talking with the big monk earlier. I should have handed you over to them for transcending—I would have saved myself trouble."

Lai Dahe quickly said: "Master, Master, I have no Resentful Qi anymore. No need for transcending. Just send me to the Underworld."

"No Resentful Qi?"

"None, none! I want to go to the Underworld right now to find my son."

Fearing Zhu Shian wouldn't believe him, Lai Dahe swore an oath. He had nothing else to worry about in the world now. He wanted to go for Reincarnation right away.

Being human was painful, but being a ghost after death and being beaten until scattered was even more miserable. He had thought it through now—the Underworld was better. In the Underworld, there were all ghosts; everyone was the same.

"Fine, since you say you have no Resentful Qi, I'll send you on your way."

Zhu Fengqin was still serving dishes. Zhu Shian found a moment, went to the backyard to send Lai Dahe away, then returned to the house.

Zhu Fengqin carried in half a bowl of egg and vegetable soup: "Did you wash your hands?"

"I washed."

"Washed, then sit down to eat. Running around outside tired you out, huh?"

"Mm."

Zhu Shian's appetite was good. A bowl of rice with three dishes and a soup—she ate with particular satisfaction. Except, there was a lack of fresh meat.

Speaking of meat, Zhu Fengqin said: "I'll go to the Subdistrict Office this afternoon to ask if there are meat ration tickets this month. If there aren't this month, it's fine. Didn't the village deliver live pigs before the New Year? The clan elder gave me meat ration tickets—there's still two jin."

Zhu Shian was already very familiar with this era: "Probably unlikely. Just past the New Year. I guess there won't be meat ration tickets issued this month."

Zhu Fengqin said: "Oh, we don't have fresh meat in this house, but we have plenty of cured meat. Among the Wang family's thank-you gift, there's also cured meat—smoked. It looks good. Shall I make cured meat steamed rice for you tomorrow?"

Zhu Shian wanted fresh meat: "He Zaiming definitely has meat ration tickets. Didn't he say he'd send a thank-you gift? Tell him to give meat ration tickets."

"Alright, we'll take that."

Zhu Fengqin wasn't someone who politely refused unnecessarily. Of course, if her family needed something, she would ask for it.

After eating and drinking her fill, Zhu Shian slapped her buttocks and stood up, leaving a word: "I'm going to the back garden for a spin, then taking a nap."

"Go ahead. I'm going out this afternoon—need to stop by the Subdistrict Office to let them know we're back, and also go get the grain booklets exchanged."

More than a decade ago, when Zhu Fengqin came to the main house to care for Zhu Shian, her household registration was moved from her husband's family to Sanqing Lane. Even when they went to the countryside, they didn't move the household registration. Zhu Fengqin and Zhu Shian's grain relationship was still in Sanqing Lane.

Zhenshan County started fully using grain booklets at the end of 1955, and they had been exchanged once. At that time, Zhu Fengqin and the others were in the countryside, so naturally they didn't get them exchanged.

They should have gone to exchange the grain booklets when they returned before the New Year. Back then, there were only a couple of days until the New Year, and the clan had sent grain so they weren't short on food, so they weren't in a hurry to exchange them. After the New Year, it kept raining and Zhu Fengqin didn't like going out—they put it off until today.

Zhu Fengqin finished cleaning the kitchen and went back to sleep. After waking up, she took the old grain booklets to the Subdistrict Office.

The person receiving Zhu Fengqin was the same female cadre she had met buying fish by the river before the New Year—around thirty years old, who had looked somewhat stern that day.

Today she wasn't stern. The female cadre smiled and introduced herself to Zhu Fengqin: "Sister, my name is Cao Jing. Sanqing Lane is under my jurisdiction now. If you have any matters, you can come directly to me."

Zhu Fengqin quickly smiled and held her hand: "Oh, so you manage our Sanqing Lane? What a coincidence."

"That's right. What brings sister here today?"

Zhu Fengqin took out two grain booklets: "Here to exchange for two new ones."

"No problem. I'll handle it for you right now."

"That's really麻烦你了."

"Not troublesome at all. It's all part of the job."

Cao Jing was very enthusiastic. She quickly registered and handed over the new grain booklets, carefully explaining: "We distribute grain ration tickets at the Grain Station on the 24th of every month to buy grain. The Grain Station closest to Sanqing Lane is on North Street—you know, right?"

Zhu Fengqin put away the two booklets, saying she knew where it was: "We have a junior in the Zhu family working at the Grain Station on North Street."

"Zhu Kangchuan, right?"

"That's him. You know him?"

Cao Jing smiled: "I didn't know before, but I know now."

Before the New Year, Sanqing Lane wasn't under Cao Jing's jurisdiction. It was because someone in the Subdistrict Office got pregnant after the New Year, so to take care of that pregnant person, Sanqing Lane, which was right next to East Street, was assigned to her management. These past few days she was still familiarizing herself with the Sanqing Lane work.

After some small talk, Zhu Fengqin inquired about the topic she cared about most: "Are there meat ration tickets this month?"

"There aren't this month. Next month each person gets half a jin."

"Half a jin—half a jin is fine. Two people makes one jin." After clarifying, Zhu Fengqin left, saying: "Thank you, sister. I need to go to the Grain Station first. I'll go first, okay?"

"Sister, go slowly."

Cao Jing saw Zhu Fengqin to the door. Turning around, good heavens—the people who hadn't gone out on assignment were all staring at her.

"Cao Jing, honestly tell us—who was that sister just now?"

"Won't that be your future daughter-in-law's mother?"

"You're so enthusiastic toward her. You weren't like this before."

The Subdistrict Office deputy director said: "I glanced just now—there was a girl only eighteen in the grain booklet."

"Oh! Director Cao's eldest son is only in seventh grade—the ages don't match."

"That's true."

Cao Jing laughed: "You all talk nonsense every day—completely unrelated things."

Everyone was just joking. After laughing, they asked: "But who was that sister really?"

"Zhu family people, someone who lives in the Zhu family main house." Cao Jing said to pregnant Xiao Zhang: "Sanqing Lane was under your management before. You must know the Zhu family situation."

Xiao Zhang said: "I don't know much either. In Sanqing Lane, besides the empty houses, everyone living there is of the same Zhu family clan and surname. They can manage themselves. Whenever the Subdistrict Office has matters, just give them a notice—no need for me to ask much."

"So easy to manage?"

"Yes, easy to manage. As for the Zhu family main house—" Xiao Zhang said: "Although there are household registrations there, no one has been living. I heard the family only returned from the countryside before the New Year."

"Where did they go?"

"The whole family went to the countryside."

The deputy director said: "Their family only has one child—an only child doesn't need to go to the countryside, right?"

"They didn't need to go in the first place. The only child in that family is not only an only child, but their parents were martyrs. Also, that child was born in 1961—even if they needed to go to the countryside, they weren't old enough."

"Really strange."

Xiao Zhang shrugged: "The Zhu family, you know—the Zhu family is different from ordinary families. They have their own plans. We can't understand them, and that's normal."

After meeting the Zhu family members queuing for fish by the river before the New Year, Cao Jing asked around at home about the Zhu family. She knew what kind of family the Zhu family was.

Cao Jing said: "We just need to do our own work well. The rest we can't manage."

Xiao Zhang agreed: "That's right. When I was managing that area, my in-laws told me the same thing."

Xiao Zhang's family was local to Zhenshan County. In terms of familiarity with the county's old residents, she was much higher than Cao Jing, a daughter-in-law who married in from elsewhere.

Xiao Zhang remembered Cao Jing had asked about the Zhu family house before. Cao Jing had helped share her workload, so she didn't mind reminding her again: "Everyone knows about the Zhu family having empty houses—they're well-known among the county's old residents. Outsiders can find out with a little inquiry. Director Cao, now that you manage Sanqing Lane, people will definitely come to inquire about this. You must refuse them. The Zhu family's rules—their houses are ancestral property, not for sale or rent."

"To be honest, for ordinary families like us, having a lifetime without disasters or troubles is already very good. But again, life is long—nobody can guarantee anything?" The deputy director encouraged Cao Jing: "Xiao Cao, work hard. The Zhu family isn't difficult to get along with. You'll learn the benefits of the Zhu family later."

Cao Jing understood what her leader didn't say out loud—she had a clear idea.

Xiao Zhang cradled her pregnant belly and sighed: "The daily affairs of the Subdistrict Office are easy to handle. What about the educated youth who refuse to return to the countryside? We can't report them to the police and have the police catch them and send them back to the countryside, can we?"

Cao Jing was also worried. The streets under her management had seven or eight young people refusing to return to the countryside. Spring was about to arrive. If they didn't go back soon, spring planting would be missed. Then the Educated Youth Office would send another letter urging them.

The deputy director said: "Go do some more work. They have no jobs here, no grain relationship, no place to live at home—food, clothing, shelter, none of it is solved. Eventually the whole family will cause a huge ruckus."

"That's true, but who wants to go back to the countryside to farm?"

Everyone in the Subdistrict Office sighed. It was hard for the educated youth wanting to return to the city, and it was hard for their work at the Subdistrict Office.

People like Zhu Fengqin, whose grain relationship was in the city—even if they lived in the countryside, could return to the city whenever they wanted—were extremely rare. After all, not everyone was like the Zhu family, where the entire clan supplied the main household with food and didn't lack such grain.

Now that they were back, Zhu Shian and Zhu Fengqin had agreed that the two of them—an old woman and a young girl—wouldn't need the clan's support.

The wealth accumulated over generations by the Zhu family main house in Sanqing Lane was enough for their expenses. Even if monthly rations weren't enough to eat, as long as things could be bought at high prices, it wasn't a problem.

Zhu Fengqin took the grain bag and went to the Grain Station to get grain ration tickets to buy grain. She happened to meet Zhu Kangchuan at his post. Zhu Fengqin handed him the grain booklet: "Quick, let me see how much grain the big girl and I can get."

Zhu Kangchuan reported offhand: "You and the big girl have the same monthly ration—coarse grain mixed with miscellaneous grain, twenty-seven jin in total."

"What coarse grains are there?"

"Sweet potatoes, corn—what's mixed is what's mixed, no choosing." Zhu Kangchuan weighed the grain and set it aside: "Aunt Feng, go back. I'll bring the grain to you after work."

"Alright, I was just going to the Food Supply Station anyway."

Zhu Kangchuan smiled: "Going now is a bit late—the popular items sold out early."

"I heard the Food Supply Station moved. I'll go check where it is tomorrow morning and get up early to grab some meat. Oh, we have cured meat at home but don't want to eat it—wanting fresh meat. This child is hard to please."

"Short on meat ration tickets? I have some at home. I'll send you some later as our thank-you gift."

They had mentioned the He family at lunch. Zhu Fengqin didn't expect to run into Lu Wen here. She greeted: "Isn't the County Committee Compound on Main Street? How did you end up on North Street?"

"Looking at houses, passing by."

He Zaiming and Lu Wen, husband and wife, felt uneasy about the county committee's unit-assigned house. Even though Master Zhu said it was fine to live there, the couple didn't want to live there. They asked around everywhere. Relying on the county magistrate's face—although he was new—he still found several courtyards in a short time.

Zhu Fengqin saw her holding a child: "So impatient? Found a house?"

"You know, we have no choice." Lu Wen patted the child in her arms: "Already found one—there's a vacant room for rent in the east wing at Pipa Courtyard on North Street. The two of us with a child can fit."

"Oh, that's not as spacious as the County Committee Compound."

Zhu Fengqin had heard from Liu Xin, who worked at the County Committee, that the county magistrate's house in the County Committee Compound had three rooms with a kitchen. The previous county magistrate who was executed even built a toilet by the corner wall—very convenient.

"Convenience is convenience, but living comfortably is more important than anything else. Don't you agree?"

"That's true."

The house was found. Lu Wen was anxious to move, so she said to Zhu Fengqin: "Tomorrow is a rest day. Is the one at your house home? We'll bring the child to visit tomorrow. I wonder if she has time to see us."

"When you come, she'll be home."

"Good, thank you." Lu Wen shook her little son's hand: "Say goodbye to auntie."

The child couldn't speak clearly yet, grinning at Zhu Fengqin.

Lu Wen left with the child. Zhu Fengqin sighed: "Fortunately, this child was saved. It's his good fate—running into our big girl."

Zhu Kangchuan had gone to work early in the morning and hadn't heard the gossip in Sanqing Lane last night. He asked: "Who is this family? Do they know the big girl?"

"That was the county magistrate's wife and son. Your wife Liu Xin works at the County Committee—didn't she tell you?"

"She did tell me, but I haven't met the person."

"That's true. I really am confused."

Zhu Fengqin told Zhu Kangchuan to help bring the grain back after work. She went to check on the Food Supply Station.

Zhu Fengqin was really busy this whole afternoon. At home, Zhu Shian was half idle.

She woke up from her afternoon nap in the middle of the day and went to the study to read the manuscripts written by Zhu ancestors. After reading for an hour, she took cinnabar and yellow paper from the cabinet and drew talismans one by one—Five Thunders Talisman, Peace Talisman, Summoning General Talisman... She stopped only after using up all the remaining yellow paper at home.

She poured herself a cup of hot tea, drank it slowly, then took the Soul-Suppressing Handbell to summon souls. The big-headed ghost she couldn't summon in the valley came immediately this time.

"Oh my heavens, Master! I'm just a powerless little ghost. How dare you summon me out in that place? Tell me—aren't you harming me?"

Zhu Shian watched him perform.

Bai Youqian stomped: "You know what abilities I have. Back when I was before Qiye, I was just a ghost who carried the killing rod. Besides having a sharp tongue, I have no strengths. I can't beat any of the ghost officials before Qiye—you know that."

"Hmph, a thousand years have passed. I don't believe you haven't improved at all. Just say you don't want to help. I can't go to the Underworld now anyway, and I have nowhere to report you to." Zhu Shian rolled her eyes.

Bai Youqian cupped a smiling face and leaned toward Zhu Shian: "How can I compare to you? If I were capable and powerful, with the great favor I got from you back then, I should have gotten a position in the Underworld. I wouldn't have come to the mortal world to do the hard work of soul-catching."

Zhu Shian didn't believe him. She turned away and ignored him.

Bai Youqian hopped around Zhu Shian in a circle, then said: "That Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation was set up by your master, Daoist Qingfeng. You're his most powerful true disciple. Repairing a formation wouldn't trouble you—don't you know that?"

Zhu Shian put down her teacup, staring at him, half-truthfully: "Tell me, why haven't you improved? I rarely know a few people from the Underworld. I was hoping you'd get promoted in the Underworld and help pull me up a bit."

Bai Youqian's split mouth let out a sharp ghost laugh: "Haha, I'm hoping you'll recover your cultivation and accumulate more merit, so this little ghost can benefit from you."

In the water vat in the back garden, Wang Erzhu hid under dry lotus leaves, trembling. The soul-catching ghost official was here again—terrifying to ghosts.

Zhu Shian asked casually: "When does your Qiye have free time? Let me meet him?"

Bai Youqian scratched his face: "I'm not fooling you—really can't. Qiye is busy and can't leave."

"Is the Underworld that busy? Why not promote more ghost officials to help share the work? Give you ghost officials a chance too."

Speaking of this, Bai Youqian sighed: "In these few decades, there have been promoted ghost officials—one more capable than the next. Escaped evil ghosts are all caught by them."

Zhu Shian nodded—oh, so that's how it was.

Bai Youqian came back to his senses, startled: "Master Zhu, I'm telling you this because we're on the same side. Don't spread it around."

Zhu Shian smiled and comforted him: "Don't worry. My lips are sealed."

She just knew it—the Underworld must have messed up big time.

Bai Youqian trusted Zhu Shian very much. He said: "Then I'm going—it's about to get dark. I need to go catch souls."

"Go."

Bai Youqian turned around, took two steps, and disappeared from in front of Zhu Shian.

Xiao Bai crawled over the threshold, raising its head: "Why do you like summoning ghosts at home so much?"

"Are you afraid of ghosts?"

Xiao Bai raised its head: "I'm not afraid."

Zhu Shian laughed: "Ghost officials as weak as Bai Youqian should be rare. He has a clear understanding of himself—he's just suited for soul-catching and running errands."

Zhu Shian walked out the door. Outside, the sun had set, but there was still a sunset with clouds like a dream pillowing.

It was rare to see a sunset in winter in Zhenshan County. Even though the mountain fog rose in the evening and blocked some of it, making it not very clear, it was still rare.

Zhu Fengqin had just returned from the Food Supply Station. Seeing Zhu Shian, she smiled: "I had good luck today. I just went to check where it was—I wasn't planning to buy anything. I didn't expect that when I got there, the Food Supply Station still had a few baskets of winter bamboo shoots unsold. I bought five jin. I'll clean the winter bamboo shoots later, boil them in water, and soak them in cold water overnight. Tomorrow I'll stir-fry them with meat for you. Stir-fried winter bamboo shoots with meat is a great dish."

Zhu Shian went over to look: "Pretty small. After peeling the shell, a bamboo shoot only weighs a few liang."

"That's right. Buy five jin back, after peeling, the tender tips are only enough for one plate. Tomorrow morning I'll go to the Food Supply Station to buy meat. If I get fresh meat, I'll use fresh meat to stir-fry. If I can't, I'll use cured meat."

"Alright."

"By the way, I ran into Lu Wen on North Street. She rented a room at Pipa Courtyard on North Street and is anxious to move. She ran into me and said she'll come in the morning to thank us."

Zhu Fengqin said proudly: "I told you we can't easily buy meat. She said she'll give us meat ration tickets as thanks."

"You said it yourself?"

"I was chatting with Kangchuan, and she overheard."

"What a coincidence?"

"Exactly. Saves me from making up an excuse to ask them directly."

He Zaiming was a competent person. Actually, even if Zhu Fengqin hadn't taken the initiative, He Zaiming would have prepared scarce goods like rice and oil.

Lu Wen heard the Zhu family wanted meat ration tickets. She told He Zaiming when she got back. He Zaiming simply added five jin of meat ration tickets to the thank-you gift he had already prepared.

He Zaiming and his wife had already moved to North Street. The couple was discussing the thank-you gift in their room. He Zaiming said: "We can't get anything good on such short notice. In two months, when Dragon Boat Festival comes and we return to the city, we'll prepare some gifts and send them to the Zhu family."

"I'll listen to you." Lu Wen said: "Not only during Dragon Boat Festival, but also every holiday—we'll send gifts to the Zhu family, treating them like relatives and friends. Even if we're the only one with a warm face贴冷屁股, we shouldn't break off contact."

He Zaiming agreed.

Lu Wen pinched her son's little hand: "I thought before about introducing Master Zhu to a job, but Master Zhu didn't formally attend school—has no diploma. We can't help with that."

He Zaiming waved his hand: "Let's forget about this. Master Zhu clearly isn't someone who would go work in a unit."

Not having a diploma indeed made it hard to find a good position in the county. But as long as one had skills, there were plenty of units begging for them.

Director Li said to Zhu Changming: "You've seen it these past few days—when the season changes, our hospital gets so busy. If we don't find a way to recruit a few skilled doctors to share the workload, how can we manage?"

Zhu Changming understood immediately what Director Li meant. He shook his head—the big girl didn't go to work, but she had her own matters to attend to.

Director Li pursued Zhu Changming: "She was taught hand-in-hand by your master as his final disciple. Even if she can't compare to your master, she's not far behind you, right? I remember your family member worked as a barefoot doctor in the countryside—she has a license, right? If she has a license, I dare recruit her."

Zhu Changming said: "I'm not sure about pulse-taking and prescribing, but in terms of acupuncture, the big girl is better than me."

Director Li got excited: "Your acupuncture is among the best in our hospital. If she's better than you, that's truly skilled. Such a skilled person not working at our hospital—what is she doing, idle at home?"

Zhu Changming still refused: "It's not like that. My big girl really doesn't have free time."

Director Li wouldn't listen and had to invite Zhu Shian: "Zhu Changming, I'm telling you—private Medical Halls aren't allowed now. If your big girl practices medicine at home and gets reported, she'll be penalized."

"Director, you're overthinking. Our family doesn't do such things."

Zhu Changming pushed Director Li away: "You've been tired all day. Stop pulling me along chattering. Go home quickly."

"Hey, hey, why are you running? Zhu Changming!" Director Li shouted at the top of her voice: "Go back and talk to your big girl—she might be willing to come herself."

Zhu Changming didn't heed Director Li's call at all, running off without looking back.

It was already dark when Zhu Changming got home. The whole family was waiting for him to eat. Zhu Changming washed his hands and went to the table.

Zhang Hui asked: "Why so late today? Hospital very busy?"

"A bit busy. Our county hospital has two doctors who passed the college entrance exam and left. Our hospital was already short-staffed. Recently it's been raining and windy, very cold—sick elderly people and children have increased, so it's been a bit忙不过来."

Forgetting to get chopsticks, Zhu Changming went to the kitchen, saying: "Director Li, in a panic, pulled me and wouldn't let me leave at the end of work—wanted our big girl to go work at the hospital. I refused."

"Why refuse? I think it's good. Since the big girl received your master's true teachings, not being a doctor is a waste."

"Waste what? Don't you remember what the clan elders said during the ancestral ceremony? The big girl is the sole descendant of this branch of the Zhu family in Sanqing Lane. Compared to being a doctor, having the big girl inherit the family estate is the serious matter."

Zhang Hui thought—also true. Still, as said, the big girl not being a doctor might be a bit of a waste, but for the entire Zhu family, they don't lack doctors. What they lack is someone who can inherit the family estate.

Zhang Hui still said: "Go to the main house after dinner. The big girl's matters should be decided by herself—we can't make decisions for the big girl."

"Mm, I'll go later."

When Zhu Changming went over, Zhu Shian had just finished dinner and had nothing to do, reading Daoist Physician secrets to pass the time.

Zhu Changming asked on the spot: "Big girl, would you consider being a doctor at the county hospital?"

Zhu Shian shook her head: "Don't have that free time—at least not in the next few years."

Zhu Changming understood. He told Zhu Shian about Director Li inviting her to the hospital, then said: "I'll go find Director Li tomorrow to refuse him."

Zhu Shian asked him: "Are there especially many patients at the hospital recently?"

"Mm."

"More than usual at this time of year?"

Zhu Changming thought for a moment: "A bit more."

Zhu Shian thought—it was probably influenced by Yin Qi. The elderly and children who were already weak couldn't withstand it and got sick more easily.

"No deaths, right?"

"These past few days, none."

"That's good."

Zhu Changming sensed there was other meaning in her questions, but since the big girl didn't take the initiative to explain, he didn't press.

"Then I'll go back first."

"Go back."

After a sunny day, the cold dampness in the valley had been蒸腾走了一些. The county residents, when sleeping at night and covering themselves with quilts, felt the quilts were drier and warmer.

"Your mother, taking advantage of the sun, got up early in the morning to change and wash the quilt cover, hung the bedding in the yard to sun, fluffed it soft, and changed to a clean quilt cover at night—how can it not be warm?"

Whose wife had the loud voice, speaking by the window—the whole courtyard's residents could hear, and passersby outside the courtyard could also hear a bit, couldn't help but laugh.

Everything in Zhenshan County residents' lives went on as usual. Those who received the pigeon message from Wangyun Temple couldn't believe—a Xuan Sect family descendant whose transmission was almost broken, actually single-handedly repaired the damaged Three Pure Ones Taiji Formation?

Anyone who could spare the time to go out would definitely go to Zhenshan County to broaden their horizons.