The House Guardian Spirit is here — come pay your respects!

Without Delay. The bustle in Zhu Family Village was the Zhu Family's own affair; outsiders knew nothing of what happened there, except for those who sought the Zhu Family's help.

On New Year's Eve, the bells of Yuntai Mountain were heard by everyone at the foot of the mountain. The next morning, the first day of the new year, Wang Fugui was secretly urged again.

He knew he could wait no longer, so he went out early to inquire about the Zhu Family. As luck would have it, Wang Fugui had just left home and was still on the boat, not yet across the river to County Town, when he spotted the Zhu Family members coming down from Yuntai Mountain in the distance.

Every member of the Zhu Family was neatly dressed—even a country wedding could not boast such cleanliness and dignity. The group hurried along, surrounding someone unknown, walking swiftly.

The half-grown boys running ahead laughed and fooled around until Zhu Changfeng shot them a glare, and they quieted down. Wang Fugui was a strong laborer on the production team.

He always had to put in effort during the summer and autumn harvests when delivering public grain. Every time he ran into people from other teams at the grain station, they would chat a bit.

Through these opportunities, Wang Fugui had exchanged words with Zhu Changfeng and considered him an acquaintance. Wang Fugui knew that Zhu Changfeng was the Village Head of the Zhu Family Production Team and also the leader among the younger generation within the Zhu Family.

Seeing Zhu Changfeng's expression, he knew the Zhu Family must have important business to attend to. Wang Fugui was not oblivious.

He hesitated for a moment, then rowed his boat back home. Wang Fugui returned home shortly after leaving. His eldest son, Wang Dashan, followed him into the inner room, closed the door, and asked in a low voice, 'Dad, why are you back so soon?' 'The Zhu Family is busy.

We'll go ask in a couple of days.' Wang Dashan grunted in agreement. 'I figured as much. It's unlucky to bring this up on New Year's Day—it would only annoy them.

If the whole production team weren't watching us, I think we should have waited until after the New Year to go to the Zhu Family.' 'The Village Head is pressing us urgently. There's no other way,' Wang Fugui said in a muffled voice.

It wasn't just the Village Head pressing them; the other families on the team were also watching theirs. News of Wang Fugui's departure this morning had probably already spread in secret.

The Wang family endured the team's pressure and waited another two days. Only after hearing that the crowd at Zhu Family Village had dispersed and the Zhu Family members from other villages had gone home did Wang Fugui go to Zhu Changfeng's house in Zhu Family Village to ask him to pass along a message.

Zhu Changfeng had personally witnessed the eldest girl summon a soul-snatching ghost on New Year's Eve. He felt he had broadened his horizons and knew in his heart that his eldest girl truly had skill—capturing a water ghost would be no trouble for her.

Zhu Changfeng asked one more question: 'Why not go to Wangyun Temple to find the senior monk?' Wang Fugui couldn't bring himself to say that the senior monk was heartless, afraid they might harm Erzhu's ghost. He only said vaguely, 'The Zhu Family are the old residents of our county.

We definitely trust the Zhu Family.' Zhu Changfeng understood. He told Wang Fugui to wait and sent someone to ask the eldest girl's opinion.

Zhu Shian had been exhausted over the past two or three days of the New Year. She had only returned to Sanqing Alley yesterday afternoon, thinking she could finally have some peace and rest today.

Unexpectedly, someone came seeking her help early in the morning. Zhu Shian was having breakfast. After listening to Zhu Changfang finish telling her about the Wang family's matter, she put down her bowl of congee and asked, 'So urgent?

Today is only the third day of the New Year.' Zhu Changfang was well-informed. She said, 'My Xu Zhong works at the state-run restaurant.

I'm familiar with the people in his unit. One of the purchasing agents in his unit is from Wang Fugui's village. Before the New Year, I heard them say that the riverbank at the village entrance was unsafe.

In just half a month, four or five people were pulled into the water. At first, no one thought much of it. Then a woman was washing a quilt cover on a big rock by the river.

When she finished and tried to wring it out, guess what happened?' Zhu Changfang's eyes widened, and she spoke excitedly: 'I heard that the half of the quilt cover that fell into the water couldn't be pulled up no matter what, as if someone in the water was playing tug-of-war with her.

She got so scared she let go. Then the strange thing happened—guess what? The quilt cover fell into the water but wasn't swept away.

It floated on the river surface like a rooted waterweed. Scared the life out of people.' Zhu Fengqin placed a peeled egg in Zhu Shian's bowl and quickly asked, 'That scary?' 'Of course!

I heard that their production team recently avoids the riverbank. Even when they need to cross the river to County Town for business, they take a long detour through another team's crossing.

After it happened several times, the news couldn't be hidden and spread.' 'Ah, no wonder they're anxious. Ever since the flood that year washed away the only bridge over the river, everyone has had to take a boat to cross.

With this trouble making the river unsafe, who would dare go near the riverbank in the future?' Zhen Shan County is located in a narrow area. Apart from the surrounding mountains and the ever-flowing Spring River, there is little open space in the valley.

The Spring River splits Zhen Shan County in two. The county is mainly on the North Bank of the Spring River. Later, when there was no more space on the North Bank to build houses, some people went to the South Bank across the river to build.

Generally speaking, locals consider the North Bank to be where County Town is located, while the South Bank, lined with farmland and villages along the shore, is all countryside. Nowadays, the hospital, school, supply cooperative, post office, and so on are all in County Town on the North Bank.

When spring comes, students will come to the county to study, and the various production teams on the South Bank will need to transport fertilizer from County Town on the North Bank. Boats will come and go—there's no avoiding it.

Zhu Fengqin said to Zhu Changfang, 'Spring is still cold. If you fall into the river, before the water ghost even comes to claim your life, you'll freeze stiff and sink to the bottom to feed the fish.' 'Aunt Feng is right.

That's exactly it.' Zhu Fengqin glanced at Zhu Shian. 'It should be resolved soon.' Zhu Changfang said, 'This matter has been going on for a while.

The fact that they've waited until now to try to solve it means the people in their village have been quite considerate of the Wang family.' Zhu Shian finished her egg and congee, patted her full belly, and sighed contentedly. 'Alright, bring the person over.' 'Okay, I'll go get them myself.' Zhu Changfang was naturally fond of organizing things and loved getting involved in such matters.

Zhu Fengqin felt proud. As she picked up the dishes, she said quietly to Zhu Shian, 'The Zhu Family's threshold is high.

Look, you've only just returned and already someone is coming to ask for your help. You must handle it well and not bring shame to the Zhu Family.' Zhu Shian waved her hand.

'Don't talk about that, Aunt Feng. For lunch, I want to eat sour fish soup. The sour broth must be stir-fried with lard to make it fragrant.

Without the meaty aroma of lard, it won't taste right.' 'You're such a gourmet. The lard in the jar has to last the whole year; I can't use it so freely.' Zhu Fengqin complained while wiping the table.

'You child, your palate is so picky. You've eaten so many good things, but why don't you put on any weight? All these years I've fed you good stuff—if I were raising a pig, I'd have fattened it up to two hundred jin by now.' Zhu Shian didn't care how Aunt Feng grumbled; as long as Aunt Feng would feed her, that was enough.

Come to think of it, Zhu Shian even felt wronged. She only had this one remaining desire for good food. If even this small pleasure couldn't be satisfied, that would be too pitiful.

Thinking back to the old days... well, a true hero doesn't boast of past glories. Now, she was just a little girl in a remote small town, unable even to subdue a soul-snatching little ghost.

Zhu Shian sat alone in an armchair, letting her mind wander, staring blankly at the roof beam. A long, thin white snake hung from the beam, its tail dangling in the air, swaying back and forth.

'Get lost! You've shaken dust down into my eyes.' Zhu Shian closed her eyes. The little snake on the beam had a pair of round eyes.

It suffered from its appearance—despite being a capable House Guardian Spirit, it was looked down upon by this little girl. It suddenly became furious.

A huge snake shadow suddenly rose from the little snake's body. Its sharp eyes glowed with black light, and its mouth opened like a bloody basin.

It dove down from midair with a fierce plunge. 'How dare you disrespect me? Watch me bite you to death!' Zhu Shian's slightly closed eyes opened.

Just as the illusory giant snake spirit was about to bite at her spiritual platform, Zhu Shian raised her finger slightly and made a gesture toward the snake shadow. A stream of spiritual energy sliced through the giant snake's belly like a blade cutting through tofu.

Ah! The white snake hissed in agony, fell from the beam, and landed miserably at Zhu Shian's feet. Zhu Shian was too lazy to move.

She tilted her head slightly from where she leaned in the chair and glanced at it. 'You're not young anymore. You've been freeloading off the Zhu Family for so many years, yet you have no skill at all.

Tsk!' How dare you! The little snake struggled to get up, trying to raise its upper body and lift its flat head to defend the dignity of its House Guardian Spirit status.

Zhu Shian clearly saw the tears glistening in its round eyes and couldn't help laughing. Zhu Shian's laughter made the little snake even angrier.

It lunged at her in fury, determined to teach this junior a lesson. Zhu Shian took out the Soul-Calming Bell from her pocket and shook it gently.

The little snake wilted to the ground like a cooked noodle, coiling into several loops. Zhu Shian laughed out loud. 'I called you a little good-for-nothing, and you still won't accept it.' Ah!

The dizzy little snake was so angry it rolled all over the floor. At that moment, Zhu Fengqin stepped inside. The little snake seized the opportunity to possess her.

Zhu Fengqin's body stiffened, her eyes wide. Her sturdy frame swayed like a willow branch as she pointed at Zhu Shian and scolded, 'You insolent junior!

Seeing this immortal, why don't you come pay your respects immediately!' Zhu Shian narrowed her eyes. 'I'll say this once: get out of her body!' The little snake was so frightened it stepped back half a pace, but mustered its courage to plead its case.

'Back then, your Zhu Family promised to offer me incense. I, I... have protected your Zhu Family for generations. You must respect and honor me!' 'Ha!

Come talk terms with me when you can speak on your own.' Zhu Shian wasn't buying it. She raised the Soul-Calming Bell in her hand, and the little snake wisely fled immediately.

Zhu Fengqin's body tilted. Zhu Shian quickly stood up and steadied her. Zhu Fengqin was confused. 'Hey, what happened to me?

I'm so dizzy.' 'It's nothing. You just lost your balance.' Zhu Shian helped her sit down and massaged her forehead. Perhaps the massage helped.

After a while, Zhu Fengqin felt better and sighed, 'Getting old, I suppose. All sorts of ailments come knocking.' Zhu Shian laughed.

'They won't dare. If they trouble you again, I'll skin them alive.' The little snake hiding in a crack in the backyard wall trembled in fear.

'Wuwuwu, the Zhu Family little girl is so cruel. Scared the snake to death!'