I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 197 The Grand Show, The Foster Mother

Before leaving, Xu Qing glanced at the village behind him and shook his head.

Human hearts are unpredictable. It wouldn't be difficult for him to find the parents of the baby who fell into the water, but doing so might not be a good thing for the child.

Not long after Xu Qing and Xuan Yu left, a woman with an anxious expression searched from upstream to downstream along the riverbank.

The woman couldn't find what she expected, but instead spotted a washing mallet by the riverbank.

"This is a welcome surprise, as my family is short of laundry supplies."

The woman picked up the washing pestle that the village woman had left on the riverbank, and her anxious expression disappeared, replaced by an extremely joyful smile.

Linjiang County, a street lined with funeral parlors.

Xu Qing returned to familiar territory, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

It's hard to believe that he, a zombie who used to make a living off the dead, has now become a living bodhisattva who saves people from suffering and brings children and blessings.

One death and one life, life and death, it all seems to be a cycle.

Perhaps it was because of the addition of a temple for cultivation, but Xu Qing felt that he was not quite the same as usual as when he walked on the street.

If at this moment, a peerless master who is proficient in esoteric feng shui and can see through the hidden secrets of heaven were observing the feng shui energy field of Jingxia Street from the air, he would discover that a faint life force was quietly sprouting in the originally lifeless Jingxia Street, and that life force appeared in Xu Qing, who had the heaviest death energy and was the least likely to be alive.

Xu Qing had only walked a few steps along the street when she suddenly stopped, sensing something was wrong.

There seems to be a lot of life in Jingxia Street today.

This is very unreasonable.

Xu Qing strolled towards his shop like a street urchin, with his black cat peeking out from the side. Perhaps it had been spending too much time with Xu Qing, because the cat's gait had taken on a Xu Qing-esque quality.

"So many horses!" Xuan Yu exclaimed.

Xu Qing glanced to the side and saw four carriages parked in front of the paper shop. The carriages were all wrapped in silk, and even the windows were covered with gauze.

This type of carriage clearly indicates that only the wealthy and powerful could ride in it.

"What a pity, I thought it was a big client."

Xu Qing sensed the lingering scent on the carriage and knew who had arrived.

Xuan Yu didn't care about humans; its attention remained fixed on the horses.

One of the horses was particularly excited. Upon seeing Xu Qing, it swayed its head and tail, pawing restlessly and neighing.

Xu Qing didn't think much of it until he heard the horse neighing, at which point he realized what was going on.

Before breaking through to the Corpse Realm, Xu Qing had learned the language of birds and beasts. After becoming a Corpse Realm cultivator, he unlocked his hearing ability, which not only enhanced his ability to speak bird and beast languages ​​but also allowed him to understand ghostly and divine voices.

Hearing the horse repeatedly call its master "master," as if it had been separated from him for a long time, Xu Qing suddenly remembered the horse's origins.

When he was traveling to the imperial tombs in the capital, he had chosen a fine steed that could travel a thousand miles to get there.

On the way, he fed the horse a lot of fasting pills and strength pills. Fortunately, the horse didn't get sick and was taken all the way to the imperial mausoleum.

Upon arriving at the imperial mausoleum, Xu Qing let the horse leave on its own and forgot about it afterward. Now, almost a year later, he never expected to encounter this thoroughbred horse at his doorstep.

It's been a long time since I've seen this horse, and it looks even more magnificent than before; at least it looks like a fine steed now.

Xu Qing stepped forward and cheerfully stroked the horse's mane.

Upon hearing the neighing and snorting of horses outside, someone from the paper craft shop came out to investigate.

The moment the man in the brocade robes saw Xu Qing, he immediately exclaimed:

"Brother Xu!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing stopped comforting the horse and looked at the overjoyed young man at the shop entrance.

More than a year later, Wu Zhiyuan looked quite different from before, even growing a short beard about an inch long on his chin.

"Brother Zhiyuan, how have you been?"

Upon hearing the commotion, Wu Wencai, along with several unfamiliar faces, came out to greet them from the paper shop.

Seeing that the Wu family seemed even more lively than before, Xu Qing couldn't help but smile with relief.

Old Hu, the coffin shop owner; Manager Yao, the funeral clothing shop owner; and now the Wu brothers, who went to the capital and have returned with their families.

These people come and go, changing almost every day, but he, the funeral director of the coroner's shop, has always been here. Even when the Wu brothers put on official robes and became high-ranking figures, he remained unchanged.

"It's been a while since I last saw Wencai, and he seems to have matured a bit more than before."

Wu Wencai shook his head with a wry smile: "It's not just a few days, but this past year has felt longer than the previous ten years."

Beside him, Wu Wencai's godfather, Yin Shanyin, the head steward, cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I have often heard Wencai mention my nephew, and seeing him today, I can confirm that he is indeed an extraordinary man."

Xu Qing asked in surprise, "Who is this?"

Wu Wencai cleared his throat and said, "Father Yin is my second father and also my godfather."

"."

Before Xu Qing could think further, Wu Zhiyuan, who was standing next to him, came to an elderly couple at the door and introduced them as well: "These are my godfather and godmother. If it weren't for them, I would definitely not be alive today, nor would I be able to reunite with Brother Xu today."

"."

Even though Xu Qing was a lifeless zombie, he couldn't help but gasp in shock.

These two brothers are really something. It's one thing to take the imperial examination together, but how come they also become godparents together?

Does Lao Wu know about this? Did you get his permission?

At this moment, Wu Yaoxing's wife couldn't stop smiling.

Looking at this large family, Xu Qing's desire to watch the drama unfold was completely ignited.

The Wu brothers exchanged a glance; although they both had smiles on their faces, there was also a visible sense of helplessness in them.

The two had told many people about what had happened to them these past few days, from their adoptive parents to the old lady of the Wu family, and Zhang Wan, who had been waiting anxiously for Wu Zhiyuan. Now, they had told the story countless times, and seeing that Xu Qing seemed interested in learning more, they had no choice but to welcome her into the shop and start telling the story from the beginning.

When Xu Qing heard that the two of them had been ambushed by the officials, boatmen, and Yuan Hu while boarding the ship, he was not surprised.

He already knew about these things when he performed the ritual to help the boatman pass on, and the details he knew were even more thorough than those of the Wu brothers.

"We don't know anything about the official, but I already know the identities of the other two thugs who accompanied him."

"We have to thank the county government for this. If they hadn't posted the arrest warrants and drawn up the thief's portrait, Wencai and I probably still wouldn't know who the murderer who killed us was."

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow.

It turns out that Xu Qing was the one who informed Wang Lingyuan about Yuan Hu and the boatman Zhang Da, so that the authorities could arrest them. However, Xu Qing's purpose at the time was not the Wu brothers, but because these two water bandits often murdered others on the water. He also wanted to bring some results to his senior brother Wang, so he reported their affairs to the authorities.

The Wu brothers were clearly unaware of the inside story, and even now, they have not found any evidence that could directly identify the mastermind behind it all.

However, at this point, finding evidence is only a matter of time.

Aside from not being as insightful as Xu Qing, the Wu brothers did not neglect any of the tasks that needed to be done.

“Boatman Zhang Da is dead, but Yuan Hu and the constable are still alive. A few days ago, I had someone draw a portrait of the constable and offered a reward to martial arts practitioners to track them down. The day before yesterday, someone reported that they had found Yuan Hu's trail, but that person was quite skilled and managed to escape.”

Wu Wencai pondered for a moment and said, "Yuan Hu escaped wounded, he can't have gone far. Right now, besides him, there are some other crucial witnesses. One is the official who colluded with Yuan Hu, and as for the rest..."

"Of those who framed my uncle for colluding with the Tianxin Sect, three were beheaded and two accomplices were exiled to prison. My father and I have secretly informed the local authorities in Qianzhou, and we expect that they will be brought to our county for interrogation in a few days."

Xu Qing listened with great interest, and the black cat beside him listened intently as well.

The drama unfolding before him was like a real-life portrayal of a poor boy who passed the imperial examination, returned home in glory, and fought against a local bully, perfectly satisfying Xu Qing's desire to watch the spectacle.

To make the play more exciting, Xu Qing suggested, "I heard from Wencai that you two were thrown into the river in Tianjin Prefecture. It's possible that the official who claimed to be a constable was actually a yamen runner from the Tianjin Prefecture."

Hearing Xu Qing say this, Wu Wencai narrowed his eyes and said, "My uncle was framed back then because of the Tianjin prefect's muddled judgment. If this matter truly implicates the prefectural government..."

Yin Shan spoke up, "Although I am not a high-ranking official, I have many colleagues with whom I have good personal relationships. If the injustice suffered by my son is true, let alone the prefect, even if the circuit intendant or the imperial inspector comes, I will put aside my pride and ask my former colleagues to impeach him together."

Wu Wencai remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "Back then, when the Imperial Inspector came to Tianjin to inspect the country on behalf of the Emperor, even when I was wandering in Chongqing, I still hoped that when the Inspector investigated the cases, he would discover the injustice my uncle had suffered."

"But I later found out that when the Imperial Inspector arrived in Tianjin, he said he was inspecting the people's conditions, but in reality he spent several days playing with the prefect. During this time, he probably didn't even look at half a file."

Yin Shan cleared his throat and interrupted, "Although the Imperial Inspector is supposed to be on behalf of Heaven, he is bound to make mistakes. My son, you don't need to worry about it. Let's talk about the problem of the Prefect of Tianjin."

Xu Qing couldn't help but find the father and son amusing.

When Wu Wencai was trying to screw over his father, he didn't even flinch.

The Imperial Inspector was someone even high-ranking officials of the first rank treated with deference. In a village, he was no different from a bully goose at the village entrance. Even if Yin Shan had a lot of courage, he wouldn't dare to provoke him.

"Judging from Zhiyuan and Wencai's appearance, could it be that they have obtained official positions?"

"I can't really say I hold an official position. After my brother and I went to the capital to take the imperial examination and passed the second class, we worked as probationary scholars in the Hanlin Academy for a while. I am still a probationary scholar, but my brother is highly regarded and has now been transferred to be the magistrate of Pingqiu County."

Wu Zhiyuan interrupted, "Don't listen to Wencai's nonsense. The Jinshi who can stay in the Hanlin Academy to study in seclusion have the brightest future. If I hadn't been inflexible and angered my superior, I wouldn't have been transferred to a small county ahead of schedule."

Wu Wencai laughed and said, "Isn't this your fault? The lecturer admired your literary talent and wanted to form a father-in-law/son-in-law relationship with you, but you refused his offer, saying that you already had a wife and did not want to be a heartless person. Otherwise, you would probably already be a full-fledged editor in the Hanlin Academy!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan looked at Wu Zhiyuan with eyes as sweet as freshly extracted honey, almost oozing with desire.

Wu Zhiyuan blushed and remained silent.

Xu Qing never expected that eating melons would lead to eating dog food!
"Alright, you two are all well, and the old man can rest assured." Xu Qing glanced at Madam Wu, who was beaming from ear to ear, and said, "I'll head back to the shop now. If Old Wu is brought here for trial one day, don't forget to let me know when the court is in session so I can go to the yamen to observe the proceedings."

With the intention of getting to know everyone, Xu Qing specifically instructed that he had already planned to take Xuan Yu to the retrial when the case was reopened, so that he could watch the whole show!

Xu Qing walked out of the paper craft shop, and Wang's younger sister, who had always lived with Zhang Wan, also ran out.

"gentlemen!"

Xu Qing saw the little girl and immediately realized what was going on.

Yes, now that Wu Zhiyuan is back, the couple will definitely be living together. Perhaps after this matter is settled, Zhang Wan will go to Beijing with Wu Zhiyuan to live.

This young girl is eagerly awaiting her brother's return and certainly doesn't want to leave Tianjin for the capital.

"Here's what I'm saying, Yue'e. Go back to the funeral clothing shop first. Don't overthink it. If you don't have enough food, clothing, or other necessities, just take money from the shop. Don't mistreat yourself."

Wang Yue'e rubbed the hem of her clothes, turning back every few steps, afraid that Mr. Xu, the only person she trusted, would also disappear without a trace like her brother in the next instant!

Xu Qing waved his hand and watched the little girl enter the funeral clothing shop before he began to think about finding a foster mother for her.

"Hiring a wet nurse is a minor matter; the key is choosing the right person."

Xu Qing was lost in thought when he saw Boss Cheng, who was sitting diagonally across the street, cracking melon seeds and watching the paper craft shop bustling around. He beckoned to Xu Qing with his hand.

Xu Qing was secretly amused. What does it mean to be presented with a pillow when you're sleepy?
Right in front of us, isn't this Boss Cheng just a big pillow?
Just by looking at her figure, you can tell she's good at bearing children and is perfect for raising kids!
Upon arriving at the incense and candle shop, before Cheng Caiyun could even inquire about the Wu family, Xu Qing cut to the chase:

"Boss Cheng, I'll give you a child, do you want it?"

"???"

One sentence left Cheng Caiyun completely flustered.

"Xu Xiucai, don't you dare do anything reckless! I'm almost thirty years old. If you think I'm easy to bully and come here to make fun of me, believe me, I'll hang myself at your doorstep tomorrow."

Xu Qing looked at Cheng Caiyun, who was both ashamed and angry, and said irritably, "What are you dreaming of? Before, when you asked me if I wanted a wife, why didn't I hang myself at your door? Now that I'm asking you if you want a child, you want to hang yourself at my doorstep."

Boss Cheng practically dragged Xu Qing into the shop, almost gritting his teeth as he said, "What are you yelling about? You're a scholar, and I'm a widow. It's one thing if I say something to you, but if you say something to me, it's like taking my life!"

“Mr. Cheng, you’re wronging me. I just saw that you were all alone and I really wanted to give you a child.”

Seeing Cheng Caiyun's face turn a deep purplish-red as she frantically searched for a broom, Xu Qing chuckled and said, "What do you think of that girl at the funeral shop? If you're interested in being her foster mother, you won't have to worry about who will take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die."

"Huh?" Cheng Caiyun was stunned for a moment. After she came to her senses, she frowned and said, "The girl will get married sooner or later. How can I count on her? I'm afraid that in the end, I'll have raised her for nothing and sent her to another family."

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Boss Cheng, you don't need to worry about that. That girl has an older brother who works away from home to make a living. He's a very righteous person. Besides, I can vouch for you. If all else fails, I'll take care of your funeral arrangements."

(End of this chapter)