Daqi said, "No rush, no rush, let nature take its course. Come on, let's have some more fun. Ping'er, Xin'er, you two kneel down for me."
Mu Ping and Jia Xin immediately complied, but Mu Ping added, "Next time, I bet you'll say, 'Yue'er, you kneel down for me.'" The two women, though kneeling before Da Qi, giggled. Da Qi said, "If she's as obedient as you two, I'll make her kneel like this and serve me properly." After saying this, Da Qi had the two women kneel one behind the other and began to comfortably enjoy their mouths… After the passion ended, Da Qi kept wondering if he really needed to take Dong Yue as his concubine, or make her his woman. He felt he had too many women around him.
This weekend, Xiaoling and Beibei specially came from the TV station to Rongjiang Villa. Everyone ate and drank happily, like it was New Year's Day. Qiwen treated Xiaoling and Beibei like VIPs. Xiaoling bought a lot of toys for Daqi's three children to play with. The wives, Jiaxin, and Dongyue kept asking Xiaoling and Beibei how their internship at the TV station was going. They both said it was going well, and the station valued them and had let them participate in editing work. Beibei said, "Our station needs another intern, Jiaxin and Dongyue, who would like to come?"
Jiaxin glanced at Dongyue but didn't speak. Daqi knew she really wanted to go, but was held back by Dongyue. Unexpectedly, Dongyue spoke up, "Jiaxin, you go ahead. I'll stay at the coffee shop." Jiaxin's eyes widened. "You really aren't going?" Dongyue smiled and nodded. "There will be other opportunities. You go first." Jiaxin smiled and nodded. Xiaoling said, "Dongyue, don't worry, we'll find you another chance." Dongyue smiled slightly…
That night, Jia Ran specially arranged for Xiao Ling and Bei Bei to sleep with Da Qi. Da Qi naturally and passionately engaged in that kind of activity with the two schoolgirls. Although Bei Bei was extremely shy, she still tried her best to please Da Qi, who was very touched and kept praising her for being sensible. Xiao Ling, needless to say, was always there for Da Qi. Da Qi was initially very happy because all his women, except for Han Meng, were by his side. However, that night he started having dreams again.
In his dream, he was sometimes at the Tong family mansion, and sometimes at the Qunfang Garden. He felt extremely troubled and confused. Especially when he arrived at the Qunfang Garden, he saw that the flower where Jia Ran had been was withered... Soon, only a flowerpot remained, with Jia Ran's name prominently written on it. He was looking at the flowerpot with puzzlement, but somehow, he found himself back at his Tong family mansion. This time, he saw a long-lost figure. Who was it? It was his own grandmother, Master Miaoqing. He quickly went to her side, about to kneel before her. Unexpectedly, Miaoqing spoke, saying the same words she had advised him to practice abstinence when he and Xiao Li had met her in Longhai. She concluded by saying, "Otherwise, when your fate ends, you will suffer immensely."...
When Daqi woke up from the dream, he was drenched in sweat, and it was a cold sweat all over his body. He looked at Xiaoling and Beibei beside him; they were both sleeping peacefully.
Daqi had a strange feeling ever since his mother passed away. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he always felt like something was stuck in his chest. Not wanting to disturb Xiaoling and Beibei's peaceful sleep, he went out of his room and onto the balcony to look at the night sky. Actually, he was a man who believed in his dreams, especially the ones he had late at night. Just then, someone softly called him from behind, "Husband, husband." He turned around and saw it was Xiaoli. He exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you awake?" Xiaoli said, "I had a dream, and then I woke up." Daqi gasped. He asked with concern, "What did you dream about?"
Xiao Li came to his side and gently hugged him from behind, saying, "This dream was all over the place. One moment it seemed like I was in a garden, and the next it seemed like I was back in the Tong family mansion. Oh, and I also saw you talking to your grandmother, who is that old nun Miaoqing."
"You really dreamt of such a scene?" Daqi asked incredulously. Xiaoli smiled slightly and said, "Why would I lie to you?" Daqi said, "In your dream, you came to a garden, what did you see?" Xiaoli said, "I saw myself turn into a flower, and I also saw you come in to see me. But you were always squatting next to an empty flowerpot, I don't know what you were doing?"
Daqi, a very perceptive person, immediately said, "Come on, Li'er, let's go check on Jia Ran." Little Li asked curiously, "Jia Ran's room? What are we going there for?" Daqi grabbed her hand and barged into Jia Ran's room; she hadn't locked the door that night. When they arrived, they found Jia Ran groaning in pain. He immediately turned on the light and asked, "Sister Jia Ran, what's wrong?" Little Li also asked, "Sister Ran, why are you so pale?"
With a few beads of sweat on her forehead, Jia Ran said, "I don't know what happened, but my headache, which I've had for years, suddenly started hurting again. I think it'll be fine by dawn." Da Qi hugged Jia Ran, pressed his face against hers, and closed his eyes.
Jia Ran said, "My dear, it's alright. Don't be sad." Da Qi said, "Li'er, sit down, I have something to tell you two." Xiao Li nodded gently, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to Da Qi. He directly told them in detail about the dream he had. Xiao Li said, "It's really strange, it seems like the last time you came to Longhai to see me, we..." Da Qi nodded to her and said, "I'm worried about Jia Ran's health." Although Jia Ran had a headache, she still comforted Da Qi, "My dear, why are you thinking so much? Don't worry about me alone, you built this family with your own hands. Now all the sisters are harmonious, and our family has never done anything wrong. Don't worry, I'll definitely be fine." Xiao Li also said, "Honey, are we both overthinking things?"
Daqi sighed and said, "We both dreamed at the same time and woke up at the same time." Xiaoli didn't say anything more. Jiaran was a very smart person; she said directly, "Hey, why don't you come with me to the hospital tomorrow? Let's see what's wrong with this headache." Daqi nodded...
At daybreak, Daqi and Xiaoli accompanied Jiaran to the provincial hospital to queue for registration. Next, the doctor examined and questioned Jiaran's head. The doctor told the three of them, "Go get an X-ray!" So Jiaran went for an X-ray. Daqi remained almost silent all morning. Only after the X-ray report came out did he ask the doctor, "Doctor, how is my wife?" The doctor looked at her and said, "She has a tumor in her brain. However, you don't need to worry yet, because we don't know if it's benign or malignant. We need to observe her further. You should all come here for the next few days." Daqi nodded and said, "Thank you, doctor!"
As he left the hospital, his heart sank. Jia Ran, on the other hand, seemed fine. She smiled and said, "My dear, are we never coming back to this place?" Da Qi asked, "Why?" Jia Ran replied, "The doctor said it's either malignant or benign. If it's benign, then I'm not sick; if it's malignant, then my time might really be coming. If my time really comes... I'm not confused... no amount of money will help." Xiao Li said with concern, "Jia Ran, don't say that." Jia Ran shook her head and smiled, "My mother, Xiao Man's grandmother, died from this disease. Let's go home. There's a reason I said we shouldn't come. When you don't know the outcome, there's always a glimmer of hope; when you know the outcome, there's no hope left. Let's just treat the tumor in my brain as benign. Let's go home!"
So the three of them went home. In the car, Daqi said, "Li'er, let's not talk about Jia Ran's matter when we get home." Xiao Li nodded; she was also worried about Jia Ran's health. After arriving home, Qiwen asked the three of them, "Where did you three go so early in the morning?" Daqi said, "We had nothing to do, so we went to get breakfast." Qiwen said, "Why didn't you invite me? I love breakfast too, especially the kind from the roadside early in the morning." Jia Ran said, "Okay, okay, okay. I'll have my nemesis go with you tomorrow." Qiwen smiled slightly and took the child with her.
Only Xiao Li and Jia Ran knew that Da Qi was in great pain. But they didn't show it. Jia Ran was a cheerful person. The three of them sat on the sofa in the living room. She rubbed Da Qi's head, while Xiao Li massaged his legs. He thought to himself: God, please let Jia Ran be safe and sound, I'm begging you!
One by one, the wives woke up. Mu Ping suggested, "Let's go to Lonely Mountain; the scenery there is beautiful." Everyone agreed, and Mu Ping said, "Sisters, it's rare for us all to go out together, so everyone should dress up nicely." They happily got dressed and went off to get ready.
After the beauties finished getting ready, Daqi used his family's four cars, and the twenty-two people set off for Gushan in a grand procession. Gushan is a famous scenic spot in Rongzhou. Daqi had always known of it, but had never been there. He was actually quite happy to accompany his wives on this relaxing trip. Today, he specifically had Jia Ran sit next to him and didn't drive, letting Xiao Li drive instead. Qi Wen also sat next to Daqi; she seemed to sense something and looked at Daqi and Jia Ran with a suspicious gaze.
On the way, Qiwen asked Daqi softly, "Honey, what happened?" Daqi forced a smile and said, "I'll tell you later." Daqi knew that Qiwen was a very smart girl, and there were many things that couldn't be kept from her. Hearing Daqi say this, Qiwen had no choice but to give up for the time being.
The scenery on Gushan Mountain was quite beautiful, and almost every wife had a digital camera, snapping photos here and there. Every now and then, cheerful laughter could be heard from the women. Jia Ran was very happy, with Da Qi and Xiao Man keeping her company. Jia Ran kept talking and laughing with Da Qi, who could only manage a forced smile.
Daqi thought to himself: I'm really afraid something might have happened to Jiaran. We've been a loving couple, and I never imagined our relationship would end so soon.
He, Jia Ran, and Xiao Man walked towards a temple halfway up Gushan Mountain. Da Qi had heard several bell tolls. He asked Jia Ran, "Sister, is there a temple on this mountain?" Jia Ran replied, "There's a Taoist temple, built during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. It's very popular, and it enshrines Lü Dongbin, the Immortal Ancestor. Xiao Man's father and I went there before." Da Qi said, "Let's go take a look." Jia Ran nodded, and the three of them walked towards the temple alone. Meanwhile, Da Qi's other wives were enjoying themselves in Gushan Park: some were admiring the flowers, some were taking pictures, and some were drinking tea in a teahouse…
Upon arriving at the Taoist temple entrance, Daqi finally noticed a plaque hanging above the door—"Lu Zu Temple." The three of them went straight inside. There weren't many tourists, just a few scattered people, the rest being Taoist priests. A few young Taoist priests were sitting, and an old Taoist priest with white eyebrows was explaining Taoist teachings to them. Daqi said, "Sister, let's go listen." Jia Ran nodded, while Xiaoman whispered, "Master, we're here to listen to Taoist teachings? It's not fun, let's go." Jia Ran said, "Xiaoman, go find your sister Qiwen or sister Xiaoli. Daqi and I will listen here." Xiaoman happily said, "Mom, Master, then I'm going." Daqi nodded to her, and she kissed Daqi and her mother Jia Ran, then happily went to find Qiwen.
In fact, the white-browed old Taoist had seen it long ago.
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The three of them were already seated, but he continued to explain the Daoist teachings to his disciples. When Daqi and Jiaran sat down beside him, he said, "Alright, that's enough for today. Go back and contemplate it yourselves. You may leave now!" The young Daoists then departed. The old Daoist approached Daqi and bowed, saying, "Amitabha, are you two here to offer incense to Lu Zu?"
Daqi said, "Yes, Master, please take us to see Lu Zu."
The old Taoist priest smiled slightly and said, "Please follow me." Daqi and Jiaran followed him. Jiaran said, "Master Lü is on the second floor, facing south." Daqi nodded, and Jiaran took his hand and followed the old Taoist priest up to the second floor.
The Taoist temple wasn't large, but it was quite unique. Daqi carefully examined every corner of it. Upon reaching Lu Zu, he and Jia Ran knelt before him without much thought. The old Taoist lit incense for them and handed it to them. In his heart, Daqi said to Lu Zu: "Grandmaster, please bless Jia Ran with safety, please bless Jia Ran with safety..." Jia Ran was also praying for herself.
After burning incense, the old Taoist priest offered them two cups of tea, saying, "Please have some tea, gentlemen!" Daqi and Jiaran both said, "Thank you, Master!" They then drank the tea in one gulp. The old Taoist priest asked them to sit at a small table next to the statue of the deity. They both sat on small stools, as did the old Taoist priest. Daqi and Jiaran faced him. Daqi had spent time in temples and Taoist monasteries when he was young and knew the customs. He immediately took out five hundred yuan and handed it to the old Taoist priest, saying, "Master, this is my offering to the Ancestral Master. Please accept it." The old Taoist priest hesitated for a moment, sighed, and then accepted the money.
He bowed with both hands and said, "You two are truly kind and generous people. This old Taoist thanks you both! Is there anything this old Taoist can help you with?"
Daqi said, "Master, do you know we have something to discuss?"
The old Taoist priest smiled slightly, appearing kind and benevolent. He said, "I am skilled in observing qi, and I see black qi emanating from the top of this woman's head... Please forgive my bluntness, but it is not an auspicious sign!"
As an aside, Daqi's grandmother—the one who watched him grow up, his grandfather's second wife—once taught him: "My dear grandson, when you feel helpless one day, go to the temple on Wolong Mountain and pray to the Bodhisattva or the Patriarch. The Bodhisattva or the Patriarch will help you! Remember that!" Daqi had forgotten these words. There's also a Taoist temple on Wolong Mountain in his hometown of Changqing, dedicated to Lü Dongbin. Only today, hearing the bell at Gushan, did he remember his grandmother's words. So, he wanted to come up and see. Actually, he wanted to pray to the gods to protect Jia Ran. He was worried about the tumor in Jia Ran's brain; the dream he had made him feel that something bad was going to happen to her. However, he couldn't think of any other way, so he had to ask the gods for help. Because if Jia Ran's tumor was malignant, medicine couldn't save her.
The old Taoist priest's words greatly surprised both Daqi and Jiaran. Daqi thought to himself: "It seems this old Taoist priest is quite capable. Otherwise, why would he say something's wrong with Jiaran instead of me?" On the surface, Jiaran was still healthy and seemed no different from usual.
Daqi said directly, "Master, to be honest, my wife is indeed having some problems. She's sick. Do you have any way to remedy this?"
The old Taoist priest sighed and said, "I am not a doctor and I do not know how to cure diseases. But I can only say that this dark aura hanging over this female benefactor's head is not a good omen."
Daqi said, "I hope the master can help us remedy the situation, or at least point us in the right direction."
The old Taoist priest said, "I will draw two talismans for this female benefactor. Take them home and stick them on your door to try." He got up, went back to his room, took out two talismans, and handed them to Daqi, saying, "Just get through the fifteenth of this month."
Daqi repeatedly said, "Thank you, thank you, Master!..."
The old Taoist priest rose and bowed to them, saying, "Please make yourselves at home, gentlemen. There are still some matters in the temple that require my attention, so I will take my leave now." Daqi rose, bowed to him, and then led Jiaran down the mountain.
As the two descended the mountain, Jia Ran said, "Honey, the fifteenth of this month is the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month." Da Qi nearly fainted upon hearing this. He exclaimed, "What? The fifteenth of the seventh month!..." He was speechless for a long time. Finally, he said, "Sister, do you think people really have fate?" Jia Ran smiled and said, "Of course they do. If I really can't escape this calamity, then it's fate. My dear, don't think too much. If it were me, take good care of Xiao Man!" Da Qi said, "You're always so optimistic and open-minded, but I can't be like that. Because I don't want to lose you..." Jia Ran said, "I don't want to leave you either, I don't want to leave this family, but I'm mentally prepared. Actually, when I saw my mother die from this disease, I thought that one day I would leave like that too. It's just... I didn't expect it to come so quickly." Da Qi said, "Sister, I hope the talisman the old Taoist priest gave us will be useful. I believe it will be effective." Jia Ran said, "I'm not afraid at all, hehe. Come on, let's go down the mountain."
The group spent the day exploring Gushan, and had lunch at the largest hotel in the scenic area. They didn't drive home until evening. The "Four Beauties of Broadcasting" had a wonderful time; they couldn't stop smiling the whole way, because Qianru and Chunxiao were in the same car, and the two beautiful young women kept telling them risqué stories.
That evening, Daqi sat alone in his study, lost in thought. He checked the calendar; there were still about ten days until the fifteenth of July. Staring at the calendar, he wondered: the fifteenth of July is the "Ghost Festival." Would Jia Ran be able to escape it? As soon as he got home, he pasted a talisman on the front door and another on Jia Ran's bedroom door. His family was very curious. What was wrong with Daqi? Because these days, almost no one believed in such things anymore. They didn't dare ask him what was going on, because he always had a gloomy face. Qiwen and Muping figured something was up. They came into the study and sat down. Daqi turned to them and said, "You must have come to ask me about those two talismans, right?"
Qiwen nodded and asked, "Honey, what happened to Jia Ran?" Muping asked the same question. Daqi had no choice but to tell her everything about going to the hospital for a checkup and his trip to "Lu Xian Temple." After listening, Qiwen and Muping understood why Daqi had been so gloomy all day.
Mu Ping said, "Honey, don't worry. 'Good people are always blessed,' I refuse to believe in such superstitions!"
Qiwen said, "Daqi, I think we should let Jiaran go back to the hospital to get checked out first."
Daqi said, "I hope she's willing to go."
Qiwen then said, "Let's go see her, the three of us." So, the three of them went to Jia Ran's room, where Jia Ran was watching TV. Qiwen asked Jia Ran, "Does your head still hurt?" Jia Ran said, "No, it really doesn't hurt anymore. It started hurting last night and lasted until dawn. Then it was fine." Qiwen said, "Why didn't you say so sooner? Last night..." Jia Ran laughed, "What are you talking about? It's an old problem. I've had it for years, and it only hurts like this once every few years. It's nothing. Don't worry, it's not the same thing as Daqi's mom's head." Daqi hugged Jia Ran and told Qiwen and Muping about the mysterious thing he dreamed about last night. Just then, Xiao Li also came to see Jia Ran, and Daqi told Qiwen and Muping about Xiao Li's dream.
Qiwen and Muping exchanged bewildered glances, staring in surprise at Daqi and Xiaoli. Xiaoli said, "This is really strange. Also, the last time my nemesis came to Longhai to find me, it was all related to dreams. Moreover, my dreams and my nemesis's dreams were simultaneous and interconnected."
Qiwen said, "Why don't we let Jia Ran go back to the Tong family mansion? Maybe the spirits of her ancestors in heaven can bless her there?" Qiwen looked at Daqi, who surprisingly nodded and said, "Okay, I'll take those two talismans with me when I leave." Muping said, "That's easy. I'll sew a small cloth bag for Jia Ran, put the two paper talismans inside, and hang it around her neck. My grandmother used to make me wear that when I was little." Qiwen said, "Let's set off the day after tomorrow. Who will go to the mansion to accompany Jia Ran?" Daqi said, "Let Jing'er, Meiting, and I accompany Jia Ran together." Qiwen said, "Or everyone can go back and visit. Xiao Liming and I will go with the lawyer to buy the shop from the landlord tomorrow. After we buy the shop, the whole family can take a vacation!" Daqi nodded...
That night, Daqi spent time with Jiaran. He held her tightly, reluctant to let go. Jiaran laughed and said, "My darling, honestly, if I really died, would you miss me?" Daqi replied, "What do you think? From the first day we met until now, our relationship has grown stronger every day. I don't know what I would do without you."
Jia Ran said, "My dear, if anything really happens to me, don't be too sad. Everyone has to go through this. You still have so many sisters to keep you company!"
Daqi smiled and said, "I have them with me, but I don't want to lose you. Really, Jia Ran, I love you!" Jia Ran actually shed a tear after hearing this. She said, "My dear, I know you're a soft-hearted person and can't bear to see the women around you leave. But some things are beyond our control. It's the law of nature, and no one can resist it. For my sake, to make the whole family go through all this trouble and move back to our hometown... this isn't appropriate. I'll tell Qi Wen tomorrow that I'd rather not go back." Daqi said, "Going back to your hometown to relax is fine. I heard my mother say that the feng shui of the Tong family mansion is particularly good, and their descendants will be rich and noble. Let's get through the fifteenth day first, and I also want to borrow the auspicious energy of the mansion to help you get through this ordeal." Jia Ran said, "Then just let the two of us and Jing'er go back. Why do so many people have to leave Rongzhou?" Daqi said, "Alright, then the three of us will go back. In short, I will make sure you get through the fifteenth day." The two talked for a while longer before falling asleep.
The next day, Xiaoling, Beibei, and Jiaxin all went to work at the TV station for their internships. Daqi told the three of them, "I'll be going back to my hometown for a while. Even while I'm gone, you can still treat this place like home. Come back whenever you want." The three girls, dressed to the nines, smiled and kissed Daqi goodbye before leaving. They took a taxi to the TV station. The coffee shop was open as usual today, and Daqi and Jiaran were both there. Jiaran's headache had subsided, and she said she couldn't stay idle, so she came to the shop. Qiwen, Xiaoli, Muping, Suqin, and Dongyue were also at the coffee shop. Around noon, Qiwen, Xiaoli, and the lawyer they had hired discussed the purchase of the shop with the landlord in a small room in the shop. Jiaran was making coffee, and Suqin was managing the accounts. Daqi, having nothing to do, started reading the newspaper. He had already told Qiwen about going back to the mansion that morning; it would be just him, Jiaran, and Yijing going back together. Qiwen was initially reluctant, but Daqi said, "Let Jiaran have some peace and quiet." She had no choice but to agree.
Dongyue sat down opposite Daqi and said, "Big brother, I want to go back to your hometown with you. I know you're going back to your hometown soon; Sister Wen told me."
Daqi said, "Why? You should stay in the shop."
Dongyue shook her head and said, "Although all my older sisters are very kind to me, I won't stay here without you."
Episode 40: A Beautiful Mother and Daughter
Daqi: "You don't get along with the others?"
Dongyue said, "No, it's because I know you're in a bad mood and I don't want to leave you. I heard about what happened to Sister Jiaran. Big brother, please let me stay with you!"
Seeing Shu Dongyue's expression, Daqi could only nod. He knew Dongyue was still unfamiliar with the house, so it was best to keep her with him. Dongyue said excitedly, "Big brother, thank you! I'm going to do my errands now." After saying that, she went to make coffee with Jia Ran.
Qiwen and her friends quickly reached an agreement with the landlord. They bought the two shops for 4.5 million yuan, paying in full upfront. The landlord also handed over the relevant property certificates and other documents in one go, and Qiwen entrusted a lawyer to handle the transfer procedures. When the landlord came out and saw Daqi, he laughed heartily and said, "Boss Tong, thank you so much! I'm so happy you're willing to buy these two shops." Daqi smiled and said, "I'm happy you're willing to sell them to me too! Come back and visit sometime." The landlord said, "Definitely, definitely." After the landlord left, the lawyer also left, and there were no customers in the coffee shop. Daqi, Qiwen, Xiaoli, Muping, Suqin, Jiaran, and Dongyue sat together and talked.
Qiwen: "That's about it. You and Jia Ran should go back to the old house tomorrow. We'll be fine here. These two shops are ours now too."
Jia Ran: "Da Qi, are you really going back to your hometown?"
Daqi nodded and said, "Let's go back. I'll feel more at ease back home. Although it's superstitious, it makes me feel more at ease. The feng shui of the Tong family mansion is excellent!"
That evening, after everyone had gone home, Mu Ping knitted a small cloth bag for Jia Ran by hand, made of wool. She asked Da Qi, "Should we take those two talismans off now?" Da Qi shook his head and said, "Put them in the little cloth bag you knitted when you go out tomorrow. Don't take them off tonight. These things can protect you for as long as they can." Da Qi had been spending these past few days with Jia Ran, and he couldn't shake off his bad mood, especially as the "July 15th" was drawing ever closer. Although Jia Ran's headache wasn't too bad, he was still worried because of the dream he had and the old Taoist priest's words.
Tonight, everyone was quite happy. Qiwen even ordered a lot of takeout to eat at home. They had successfully bought two shop units at a low price, meaning the coffee shop would now be theirs. Also, Daqi and the other three were going back to their hometown tomorrow. Xiaoman said, "Mom, Master, let me go back too." Daqi readily agreed, after all, she was Jiaran's biological daughter. It would be good if she was there for Jiaran in case anything happened. Xiaoman hadn't been happy these past few days; she knew her mother had a brain tumor.
Xiao Li said, "Sisters, let's all wish Sister Jia Ran a safe and peaceful life!" Then everyone said a lot of nice things, and Jia Ran was so touched that she actually shed tears.
Jia Ran thought to herself: I have a terminal illness, and this may be the last time I can be happy with everyone... But I don't regret coming here, and I'm very happy to be with Da Qi!
In fact, Jia Ran knew she had a terminal illness. Lately, she'd been dreaming almost every night of a vampire trying to suck her brains out, but she hadn't told Da Qi. When Jia Ran's mother had a severe headache, she'd spent a lot of money, but nothing worked. What Jia Ran found strange was that since hanging the old Taoist priest's talisman on the door, the vampire in her dreams seemed only able to howl beside her, unable to possess her and suck her brains.
Author's Note: The world is full of wonders. Some things cannot be explained by science, at least not now. But Tong Daqi was someone who believed in heaven, earth, humans, ghosts, and spirits to some extent. He was convinced that Jia Ran was possessed by some kind of evil spirit, and he really wanted to use the feng shui of the Tong family mansion to ward off evil for Jia Ran!
The next day, the whole family got up early because Daqi, Jiaran, Xiaoman, Meiting, Yijing, and Dongyue were going back to their hometown in Changqing. Muping carefully tore off the two paper talismans pasted on the door, carefully put them into a small cloth bag she had woven herself, and handed it to Jiaran. Jiaran took the bag and said, "Sister Ping, thank you!" Muping smiled and shook her head without saying anything. Daqi and Jiaran hugged each of the wives who stayed in Rongzhou before driving away. Each wife felt a little sad, but Jiaran was actually very kind to everyone, always thinking of her sisters, and everyone treated her like an elder sister. Even her mother-in-law respected her very much.
Why did he bring Meiting along on this trip back to his hometown? Because Meiting was also from Changqing. She told Daqi, "Firstly, I wanted to go back to my hometown for a visit; secondly, my sister told me that there's a reclusive master there who's skilled at exorcising ghosts."
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"Evil." So, Daqi insisted on bringing Meiting along, so that she could ask her sister to tell him where the expert was. He decided to ask that expert to help Jia Ran exorcise the ghost.
They were traveling back to their hometown in a stretched Lincoln. When they arrived back at the Tong family mansion after several hours of travel, Aunt Qi and another nanny, Aunt Liu, were both very surprised! Aunt Qi had hired another nanny, Aunt Liu. The two of them looked after the Tong family mansion together. Daqi calculated their wages and paid them accordingly.
Aunt Qi said, "Young Master, why are you back?"
Daqi laughed, "Seventh Aunt, I'm coming back to stay for a while. School's on summer vacation, and I'll be back to offer incense to my mother. Prepare three sticks of incense for me; I'll go offer them to her." Seventh Aunt and Aunt Liu quickly went to prepare them for him. After Daqi and his wives offered incense to his mother, Daqi and Meiting went to find her sister, Meiying. The two bought quite a few gifts. Jiaran, Xiaoman, Yijing, and Dongyue were watching TV at the Tong family mansion.
Meiying was very happy because her younger sister and brother-in-law would be returning to their hometown at this time. Meiting had previously told Meiying about Jia Ran on the phone. Of course, she only mentioned that Jia Ran was Daqi's god-sister. After Daqi sat down, he went straight to the point and asked Meiying, "Big sister, where does that master you mentioned live? I'll go and invite him." Meiying said, "Don't worry, your brother-in-law and I went to see him before you came. He said he'd like to visit Jia Ran at your Tong family mansion. This man studies Maoshan Taoist arts and is very famous in our Changqing area." Meiying then went on to tell a long story about this master's exorcising ghosts and evil spirits.
Daqi asked, "Is he really willing to come to my house?"
Mei Ying said, "I'm willing, but the cost..."
Daqi waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter! I'm willing to spend any amount of money as long as Jiaran can be cured."
Mei Ying said, "Actually, it's not much. He usually charges about a thousand yuan for catching a ghost for someone. Some poor families only charge a few hundred yuan." Mei Ying knew that Da Qi was a wealthy man, and this amount of money was just a drop in the ocean for him.
Daqi: "When will the master arrive?"
Mei Ying said, "In the next couple of days."
Daqi said, "There are only a few days left until the 15th of July. We must make sure he arrives before the 15th. Or I can personally drive him to my house."
Mei Ying said, "Don't worry, we've already given him the deposit, he'll definitely come." Da Qi nodded, somewhat relieved. He said, "Big sister, thank you and brother-in-law, you've worked so hard!"
Daqi and Meiting had dinner at Meiying's house. During dinner, Meiting gave her nephew, Meiying's son, a red envelope containing 5,000 yuan.
That evening, after returning to the mansion, Daqi first watched television with his wives and Dongyue. Although Dongyue wasn't his woman, the young lady sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. Daqi, on the other hand, held Jiaran tightly, as if afraid of losing her. Meiting, Yijing, and Xiaoman didn't care about any of this; they all believed in their hearts that Dongyue was Daqi's woman. Each of his wives shared this view. Only Daqi himself didn't quite feel that way yet, but her initiative in coming back to the Tong family mansion with him this time made him realize that she was indeed his woman.