Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 488

"Don't talk about separation. I won't cry because of it; it was just a dream last night."

The white rat's motorcycle tricycle was decorated with colorful lights and music was playing from a speaker. Meanwhile, the rat was busy cooking and serving dishes, creating a wonderful atmosphere of delicious food and everyday life.

Pear Blossom didn't have time to cook because she was rushing to finish paper offerings, but there were several big eaters in her family, like Chen Xiyuan and Runsheng, who couldn't control their metabolism right now. It was easy for them to cook a few dishes, but it was difficult to cook several pots of food.

So during the day, everyone either ate noodles or porridge with pickled vegetables, just getting by. At night, when the white rats arrived, they improved their meals with late-night snacks.

This also shows how capable Aunt Liu was when she was at home, making paper offerings and incense while also cooking for the family's mules. She even had plenty of free time to eat melon seeds.

Mu Qiuying took the skewers and placed them on the plate in front of Chen Xiyuan. Then, she picked up her chopsticks and helped Chen Xiyuan separate the grilled eggplant and put it in her bowl.

Ms. Chen never wolfs down her food; she always eats very elegantly. However, she is so focused on eating that she can't keep up with her two hands.

Mu Qiuying had a very good impression of Chen Xiyuan because when she first arrived, Miss Chen was very enthusiastic towards her and even took her to the kiln to move bricks.

Furthermore, Miss Chen offered to accompany her back to Mujia Village to help, for which Mu Qiuying was very grateful, although she still did not understand the meaning of "like this" in the following sentence, "After I help you like this, you have to help me like this too."

Tan Wenbin, with a cigarette between his fingers, was drinking beer and talking to Zhou Yunyun while holding a mobile phone.

Lin Shuyou held a pocket-sized device in his hand, drinking the same soy milk as Xiao Yuan, while listening to Chen Lin talk on his mobile phone.

Every time Tan Wenbin makes a phone call, he asks Ayou to make the call with him.

Ah You was initially shy and embarrassed to make the call, but Tan Wenbin said that wouldn't do, as it would make it seem like I was spending a lot of money on phone calls alone, and that it would be too obvious to embezzle public funds. We had to make the calls together.

In reality, Chen Lin and Zhou Yunyun were basically together. When Yunyun made a phone call, Linlin would be alone, which would be a bit awkward.

Even after making countless calls, Lin Shuyou would always clear his throat lightly after dialing, and then, once connected, say very seriously:
Hello there!

Tan Wenbin often teased him about this, saying that he should be followed by "Comrade Chen".

However, although Ah-you is not good at talking to girls, Chen Lin knows how to find topics to talk about, and each call is a pleasure for Ah-you. Chen Lin even took the initiative to learn about the history of Guan Jiangshou for him.

As for Runsheng, everyone recommended that he use a mobile phone. Anyway, the team's budget is not short of money. Even if he is short of money, he can just ask Liangliang. This can also be considered as helping Liangliang. After all, every time Liangliang is transferred, he has to write a statement about the source of his huge amount of assets.

But even more shy than Runsheng was Yinmeng. Every time Yinmeng heard her friends' voices on the other end of the microphone, she would feel embarrassed to speak, which made it impossible for Runsheng to respond with just "um".

Li Zhuiyuan peeled shrimp for A Li, removed the shrimp veins, and put them into the vinegar bowl in front of A Li.

The boy himself hadn't eaten boiled shrimp in a long time.

Just as things were getting lively, a spark appeared on the path. As they got closer, they could make out Li Sanjiang's figure.

Li Sanjiang, slightly drunk after drinking some wine, walked to the dam and saw this scene. He laughed and said:

"Haha, this is so lively! Who's cooking?"

Li Sanjiang approached the white rat, removed its hat, took off its sunglasses, and glanced at it.

Oops.

That shifty-eyed guy is really ugly.

"The young man is good-looking and has a strong presence."

Tan Wenbin: "Uncle Li, this is a friend of ours. He plans to open a small restaurant and invited us to try his food tonight."

"Oh, really? Not bad, not bad. This young man is not only energetic but also has a pioneering spirit."

Li Sanjiang sat down.

Upon seeing Mu Qiuying, he tried to recognize her and asked, "Girl, who are you?"

Tan Wenbin: "She is Grandma Liu's distant cousin, named Mu Qiuying."

Li Sanjiang: "What, a female earthworm?"

Mu Qiuying stood up and formally bowed to Li Sanjiang: "Greetings, sir!"

Chen Xiyuan reached out and tugged at Mu Qiuying's sleeve. Only then did Mu Qiuying realize that she seemed to have done something wrong.

The main problem is that Grandpa has been very busy lately and avoids most people, so no one has remembered to remind Mu Qiuying how to face Li Sanjiang.

Li Sanjiang was taken aback by her actions for a moment, then pointed at her and laughed, "Haha, girl, you're studying opera, aren't you?"

Mu Qiuying nodded repeatedly: "Mhm."

Li Sanjiang rubbed his stomach and took the chopsticks handed to him by Tan Wenbin: "I'll have a taste too."

I drank quite a bit of alcohol that night, but barely ate anything. The cold wind on the way home made me really hungry.

Li Sanjiang picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. His eyes lit up: "Hey, not bad."

Tan Wenbin served Li Sanjiang a bowl of rice.

After finishing a bowl of rice amidst a table full of dishes, Li Sanjiang gave the white rat a thumbs up:
"Sure, with this skill, opening a shop will definitely make money!"

The white rat quickly came over, bowed, and thanked the praise.

Li Sanjiang stood up and patted the white rat on the shoulder of its leather jacket:

"Thanks, it's kind of you to cook."

"Of course, of course... hiss!"

The white rat suddenly straightened its body, reached behind it and touched itself, and immediately looked shocked. The part of its tail that was there was gone. It had actually touched its own tailbone!
Li Sanjiang staggered into the house, preparing to go upstairs to his room to rest, waving his hand as he went:
"These past few days have been really busy, but I'm finally done! Hehehe, I've earned back the money I owed on the tractor!"

After saying that, Li Sanjiang paused for a moment and even turned back to look at Xiao Yuanhou. Seeing that Xiao Yuanhou was talking to A Li with his head turned to the side, Li Sanjiang breathed a sigh of relief and went into the house.

After the old man went up to the terrace and returned to his room, Li Zhuiyuan spoke:

"Grandma Liu and the others should be back tomorrow."

Tan Wenbin nodded.

Runsheng gnawed on a pig's trotter with scallions.

Lin Shuyou: "Did you get a phone call today?"

Late-night snack time is over.

The big guys helped the white rat tidy up its things.

The white rat asked Lin Shuyou excitedly, "Lord Lin, what does my master like to eat?"

Lin Shuyou: "Uncle Li? He likes to eat pig's head meat..."

The white rat smeared some soot from the bottom of the pot with its hand and made notes on the tricycle.

"Okay, I'll prepare all the ingredients tomorrow night!"

Tan Wenbin said, "Don't come tomorrow night."

White Rat: "Okay, I'll come the night after tomorrow."

Tan Wenbin: "Don't come anytime soon, unless we call you."

Upon hearing this, the white rat's small eyes immediately widened.

Tan Wenbin: "Be good, be obedient. If you come tomorrow night, you'll easily turn into a dried-up rat hanging on the wall."

The white rat seemed to have thought of something, glanced at the west room, and immediately nodded vigorously.

Tan Wenbin also reminded those around him, "When Aunt Liu comes back tomorrow, remember to cry to her about how you've been eating nothing but noodles and porridge these past few days, and how agonizing it has been."

While packing up late-night snacks, Chen Xiyuan replied, "If my sister doesn't come back soon, I'll starve myself to death."

The white rat rode its motorcycle tricycle down the dam. As it drove, its buttocks wiggled happily on the car seat, its posture quite alluring.

Tan Wenbin called He Shen, who runs a long-distance transportation business, and booked a vehicle with him. He Shen said he would personally bring the fleet over.

Since Grandpa has returned, Li Zhuiyuan will sleep in the west room with A Li tonight.

Early the next morning.

According to the schedule, Ah Li got up first.

In the past, she would go to her room on the second floor every day at this time after her grandmother had finished dressing her up.

Li Zhuiyuan was still asleep, and A Li lay on her side, looking at the sleeping boy in the opposite bunk.

Li Zhuiyuan woke up on time, opened his eyes, and smiled at the girl.

There was also some noise coming from outside.

Li Zhuiyuan got out of bed and pushed open the door. He saw smoke rising from the kitchen chimney, and saw Uncle Qin holding a hoe, preparing to go to the fields, and Liu Yumei sitting on the dam holding a teacup.

Just like last time, Grandma Liu was used to returning quietly.

Her past experiences likely made her very averse to farewell and reunion rituals.

Li Zhuiyuan walked up to Liu Yumei and placed his hand on her wrist.

Grandma Liu's condition was clearly abnormal, exceeding the scope of using the secret technique to restore youth.

"You've overdrawn your energy a bit too much."

Liu Yumei: "But it's worth it."

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "It's not worth it. They are like grasshoppers in autumn, not worth wasting your energy on."

Liu Yumei: "Our Xiaoyuan always speaks so sweetly."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's not about saying it in a nice way, but it's not worth it."

Liu Yumei: "But Grandma had a lot of fun."

Li Zhuiyuan: "That's a good deal."

Ah Li came out of the west room, holding a comb in her hand, and stood in front of Liu Yumei.

Liu Yumei looked at A Li's face, then stretched out her arms and hugged her granddaughter.

Li Zhuiyuan noticed that Grandma Liu's hands were only lightly touching, not daring to exert any force.

This must be because Ah Li saw the shadow of her parents.

"Xiao Yuan, let's talk later."

"Okay, I need to wash up first too." Liu Yumei took A Li's hand and led her into the east room to help her granddaughter with her hair and makeup, and to choose a pretty dress for her to wear today.

After brushing his teeth by the well, Li Zhuiyuan went into the kitchen.

Aunt Liu: "Xiao Yuan, why has the kitchen at home changed so much?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Aunt Liu, since you weren't here, the kitchen was just sitting idle, so Ayou and Miss Chen did some minor renovations."

Aunt Liu: "It's done quite well. Are you hungry?"

It's still early, much earlier than usual breakfast time.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'll take some melon seeds and snacks to prepare so I can listen to Grandma tell stories later."

Aunt Liu: "Okay, I'll get it for you."

After Li Zhuiyuan left with the things, Uncle Qin took a hoe and walked to the kitchen door.

Aunt Liu was saying with admiration, "Our Xiao Yuan is so good at making the old lady happy."

Uncle Qin: "Xiao Yuan can be coaxed by anyone."

Aunt Liu: Why don't you learn from her?

Uncle Qin: "Different brains. My brain is only suitable for burning in a stove."

As he spoke, Uncle Qin walked behind the stove and sat down.

Aunt Liu suppressed a smile.

"Alright, you don't need to tend the stove. Didn't you go to the fields?"

There's no work to be done in the fields.

"Then go move bricks."

"The kiln owner said that everything was moved and delivered yesterday, and we have to wait for it to be fired today."

"Go and water and sweep the dam."

"it is good."

Uncle Qin got up and went to sweep the dam.

Li Sanjiang, who had just gotten up, stood on the second-floor terrace and waved to Uncle Qin:
"Li Hou, come up here for a moment, I have something to tell you."

Qin Li went upstairs.

Li Sanjiang told Uncle Qin about his plan to open a brick kiln.

"I can do it, but I don't want shares; I'm too idle."

Li Sanjiang scratched his forehead, feeling a little embarrassed by how hard-working the mule was.

Uncle Qin went downstairs, swept the dam area, and then drew water from the well to fill the water tank in the kitchen.

Aunt Liu was making shumai and praised, "Your brain is still sharp."

Uncle Qin smiled.

Uncle Sanjiang insisted on giving him shares, even going so far as to say he wouldn't open the kiln unless he got shares.

Uncle Qin's response was: "From now on, they'll all belong to the children, so there's no need to go through the trouble of dealing with them."

Only after hearing this did Li Sanjiang nod in agreement.

Liu Yumei walked out of the east room and saw Xiao Yuan making tea by the tea table. She went over and sat down.

In the past, Tan Wenbin would tell her stories, but this time it was her turn to tell Xiao Yuan stories. Of course, she would blur out the parts that needed to be blurred and omit the parts that needed to be omitted.

Li Zhuiyuan asked a few more well-timed and detailed questions, and even though the old lady knew the child was trying to make her happy, she was still very happy.

After he finished speaking, Li Zhuiyuan said:

"The matter of Mu Family Village still needs to be finalized. I plan to go back to Mu Family Village with Mu Qiuying, and then go to the ancestral home, since it's very close."

"Well, yes."

"Grandma, you've gone back to the ancestral home?"

"How did you get it?"

"Guess."

"I have gone back. There are some people I need to inform, and some things I need to let go of."

Xiao Yuan, remember, this time you are returning to your own home. Although you can't use the jars and pots in the house right now, every plant and every piece of wood inside still belongs to you.

You are the head of the household; in this family, you have the final say.

"Don't worry, Grandma, I know what to do."

Liu Yumei: "My family has taken in many poor relatives who have been living here for many years. These poor relatives like to bully newcomers. You can't show weakness in front of them, otherwise they might devour you alive."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

You can't take the treasures from the ancestral home's treasury, but surely you can still use the evil spirits suppressed within the ancestral home?
No matter what, suppressing evil spirits is the greatest righteousness of Heaven, and it is impossible for it to cause karmic backlash.

So, you want to eat me?
It's still uncertain who will ultimately benefit from whom.

Several large trucks appeared on the village road in the distance.

This is someone Tan Wenbin called to go to the ancestral home to pick up goods in a couple of days. Hmm, they also need to stop at Tingfeng Gorge to pick up some local specialties along the way.

Instead of waking Tan Wenbin, who was still in his coffin, Li Zhuiyuan walked down the dam and onto the village road.

He Shen got out of the first truck and said, "We arrived early. Let's leave these trucks here for now, and then we'll do some short-distance deliveries around the local area for the next couple of days."

"Okay, let's park in the same spot as last time."

He Shen's lips twitched when he heard "that place last time".

Li Zhuiyuan noticed that there were talismans and statues in the cabs of these trucks.

It must be because the people in the convoy were frightened by Xiao Yingying last time.

It's not a big problem; the talismans and statues are all handicrafts.

After watching the truck drive to Big Beard's house, Li Zhuiyuan, who was about to turn back, saw Aunt Liu appear behind him.

"Xiao Yuan, I'm going to accept a message."

"Ah."

Li Zhuiyuan returned to the dam and continued drinking tea with Grandma Liu.

Aunt Liu returned quickly and placed an invitation on the coffee table between the two of them.

It's a post from the Ming family.

Liu Yumei opened it, glanced at it, and instead of handing the invitation to the boy, she put it down and said:

“Ming Qinyun is dead. The Ming family is going to hold a funeral for her. This is the funeral invitation. They specifically invited me.”

"died……"

"Xiao Yuan, do you think she's really dead, or just pretending?"

"Grandma, you need to help me decide."

"I predict that it will be somewhere between death and immortality. It's understandable if it's alive, but it's also normal if it's dead."

I'm sorry, Grandma really can't give a definite answer.

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's alright. Since the funeral invitation has already been sent out, once the funeral is over, Ming Qinyun will be considered dead even if she's not actually dead."

If she suddenly 'comes back to life,' then she's an evil spirit that defiles the Dragon King's domain.

Liu Yumei: "Hehehe."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Grandma, are you planning to attend the funeral?"

Liu Yumei: "Patriarch, what do you think?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Whether she really died or faked it, attending her funeral would definitely make people very happy."

Liu Yumei nodded, deeply agreeing.

Li Zhuiyuan: "But the Dragon King's ancestral home is not an ordinary place. Given the Ming family's current situation and their special character, I'm afraid they might take risks and drag others down with them."

Outside, with Uncle Qin around, there's nothing to fear. But even Uncle Qin can be in great danger if he enters someone else's ancestral home.

Liu Yumei: "It's alright. Usually, the Ming family will set up a barrier like the Wangjiang Tower for these kinds of events, so that people who have something urgent to attend to or are in seclusion can participate."

Li Zhuiyuan: "That's good, then there will be no regrets."

Liu Yumei: "Even if Ming Qinyun faked her death, it at least means that her and the Ming family's current situation has deteriorated to a certain extent, and they probably won't be making any moves in the short term."

Xiao Yuan, will you change your goals next?

Li Zhuiyuan: "Grandma, I want to ask you a question first. What are the personalities of the people in the Ming family who can become the Dragon King?"

Liu Yumei: "The Ming family's original technique is domineering but has side effects. However, the Ming family members who can become Dragon Kings must be the kind who can overcome this defect with great perseverance. You can regard this as a kind of internal selection within the Ming family."

When the Ming family discovers that someone within their clan can continuously improve their cultivation of this technique while maintaining a peaceful state of mind, it signifies the birth of a prodigy in the Ming family.

Li Zhuiyuan: "The Ming family plotted to wipe me out, so I destroyed the Ming family's Dragon King Lamp. Our relationship with the Ming family has long been one of irreconcilable enmity."

Since the Qin and Liu families were able to wait for me, the Ming family might be able to wait for him in the future.

If we are powerless to solve the problem now, we can only choose to trust in the wisdom of future generations; if we have the means to solve it now, I choose to bear the blame in this life but benefit posterity.

Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and lightly scraped the lid against the rim of the teacup, producing a suppressed, sharp sound.

Even if the Ming family is on its last breath, I will throw everything I have at it.

"To ensure the Ming family's complete peace."

(End of this chapter)