The aroma of the food filled the air.
Although the rice was cold and the dishes were only lukewarm, Jiang Fan found it very delicious. The rice grains entered his mouth, were chewed, and went into his stomach, eventually being converted into nutrients needed by the human body.
During the meal, Jiang Fan ate three bowls of rice and drank two bowls of soup. The bowls were small, so Jiang Fan didn't actually eat much.
After a quick wash, Jiang Fan lay down on the bed in the room.
The slightly musty smell of the bedding gave Jiang Fan an extremely warm feeling at that moment.
Close your eyes,
Jiang Fan recalled how he had been alone on the mountain fighting ghosts yesterday, and how he had fought two desperate criminals alone today. The wound on his right arm should be healing, and he felt a slight itch. Touching the wound on his right arm, tears suddenly welled up in Jiang Fan's eyes.
Despite fighting fiercely twice, and even with his palms and arms bleeding from injuries, Jiang Fan never shed a tear.
But at this moment, after eating and drinking his fill and lying in the slightly moldy bedding, Jiang Fan couldn't control his emotions and silently shed tears.
"What on earth is going on?"
...
...
The next day.
The continuous rain finally stopped, and a bright sun hung high in the vast blue sky, its rays shining on the earth, making everything appear vibrant and full of life.
"Fried dough sticks and steamed buns, please!"
"Candied hawthorn berries~"
"Pah! How many years has this old stuff been sitting in your house? You dare to offer this price? Have you lost your conscience to the wolves in the mountains?"
The paper windows couldn't block out the noise. The early morning shouts of vendors on the street and the bargaining sounds of merchants who came out to market because of the good weather all entered the room on the second floor. Jiang Fan, who was huddled in bed, woke up from his dream, stared at the earthen wall for a long time, and then got out of bed to wash up.
The clothes I bought yesterday have an old-fashioned style, typical of the attire of scholars during the Republic of China era: a light blue long gown, with black trousers and a white shirt underneath. Jiang Fan wore them with a unique air of elegance.
After going downstairs,
Having inquired and learned that the mortuary was to the north, Jiang Fan headed north. When he reached a small alley, he suddenly heard several heart-wrenching cries of children, "Mother! Waaah! Tongtong wants her mother! Tongtong wants her mother! Waaah! Waaah! Mother!!"
A woman's voice came: "Tongtong, Auntie will treat you well from now on. Don't cry, Tongtong. If your mother saw you like this down there, she would be heartbroken..."
The little child sobbed and said pitifully in a low voice, "Auntie, Tongtong didn't eat much. Did Mommy think Tongtong ate too much steamed bun? Auntie, can you tell Mommy that Tongtong won't eat so many steamed buns anymore? No more, boohoo..."
"Tongtong... Sister Chen, why did you do this to yourself!"
The woman, seemingly unable to contain her grief any longer, cried out along with the child.
Reaching the alley entrance, Jiang Fan stopped and looked inside. In front of a wooden door, he saw a child of about four years old being held by a woman of about thirty. The child's cheeks were yellow, clearly a result of long-term malnutrition.
"Here's fifty silver dollars, take it."
Jiang Fan bent down slightly and handed over the money bag containing silver dollars. Seeing the woman with tears streaming down her face and looking incredulous, he said gently.
"This..." The woman was stunned and unable to react when she saw the man with fair skin, elegant clothes and a refined demeanor.
"Take it. I don't ask for any reward. I only hope you will treat this child well and raise him to adulthood. I will send you another sum of money after some time. Don't worry, I have no ill intentions." Jiang Fan glanced at the still sobbing child and smiled gently at the woman.
Having said that,
Ignoring the woman's puzzled look, Jiang Fan stood up and continued walking north.
Jiang Fan wasn't a pushover; in fact, he was somewhat cold-blooded at heart. But Jiang Fan had a problem since childhood—
If you encounter injustice on the road, you should be ready to lend a helping hand!
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Chapter Ten Seeking the Dao
Charity home.
In the memories of most modern Chinese people, it appears as a gloomy image of incense smoke rising and a room full of coffins.
However, in reality, the earliest charitable estates appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty, and they appeared with an excellent social image. Unlike the modern function of storing corpses, the ancient charitable estates served the people in the same way as modern welfare homes. They were a means for wealthy members of a clan to fund the survival of poor members of the clan, which is why they were called "charitable estates".
later,
With the development of the times, the charitable institutions that were originally welfare homes gradually transformed into clan spiritual products such as ancestral halls, used to temporarily store coffins of corpses whose burial arrangements had not yet been made. Over time, the charitable institutions became eerie places in the memories of modern Chinese people.
The path was muddy.
Walking along the path, Jiang Fan carefully avoided the muddy potholes. Not far ahead, he could already see the mortuary, with its white lanterns hanging high to indicate its identity.
Excited to finally see his target, Jiang Fan quickened his pace and walked over.
As Jiang Fan approached the mortuary, he became increasingly aware of its unique aura, which was distinct from the buildings in the town. Perhaps it was because the energy infused by the female ghost had made Jiang Fan's physical structure different from that of ordinary people. Since yesterday, Jiang Fan had noticed that the changes he had undergone were not only an enhancement of his physical abilities.
In the dark,
They can also perceive things they've never noticed before.
In the town, Jiang Fan could sense the vibrant energy of the people—a very strong, masculine energy, like a potent liquor. The mortuary, however, was different. Jiang Fan stopped, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed it. A warm yet slightly chilling feeling suddenly washed over him, completely different from the atmosphere in the town.
Jiang Fan had a hunch that if ordinary people lived here for a long time, it would definitely damage their energy and spirit.