My exclusive card pool

Chapter 190 Abundant Harvest (Part 2)

Twilight Quadruple.

The mess in the front yard of the Shen residence was finally cleaned up.

The servants and guards, exhausted, dispersed, leaving only the afterglow of the setting sun and the lingering, thick stench of blood.

Inside the dining room on the first floor of the small villa.

The delicacies of the past were nowhere to be found; in their place were a few plates of vegetarian dishes, a bowl of clear soup, and half a pot of brown rice.

Pinghai City has been in chaos for days, making it difficult to purchase rice and grain. Shen Miaowei had already ordered a reduction in expenses, and even the servants' meals were reduced by half.

Shen Han's three concubines, each with their own children, took their seats one after another. They had been terrified when the mob stormed the Shen residence and had been hiding inside their rooms, too afraid to come out.

The second wife, Zhou, led her eight-year-old son, Shen Mingrui, and frowned as soon as she entered the dining room and saw the food on the table; the third wife, Liang, led her seven-year-old son, Shen Mingzhang, and looked somewhat nervous and uneasy.

The youngest of the four concubines, Madam Lin, was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight. She stood obediently to the side, holding her six-year-old daughter, Shen Mingxuan, waiting for Shen Miaowei to sit down first.

"Please sit down," Shen Miaowei said calmly, taking the lead in sitting in the main seat.

With a light leap, Liuli perched on the corner of the table beside her, her tail swaying leisurely. Her heterochromatic eyes scanned the crowd with a hint of curiosity.

Shen Mingrui plopped down, slammed his chopsticks on the table, and pouted, yelling, "Why is it always these? I want braised pork! I want sweet and sour fish!"

Zhou immediately hugged her son with heartache and said in a shrill voice, "Oh dear, my little darling, Pinghai City is in such a mess, where can we find meat to eat? Your sister is in charge, and she can't even afford to give you a bite of meat. You've really suffered..."

Shen Miaowei didn't even lift her eyelids, and said indifferently, "If Second Madam feels wronged, she can go to the market to buy some meat herself tomorrow and see how many ounces she can bring back."

Zhou choked, her face turning red.

Rioters are running rampant in Pinghai City now; who dares to go out?

She shut her mouth reluctantly, but still muttered under her breath, her tone extremely dissatisfied: "The eldest daughter of the dignified Shen family can't even take care of her younger brother's food..."

Shen Mingzhang remained quiet, but his eyes were fixed on Liuli's tail. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, he suddenly reached out and grabbed it!
"Meow!" Liuli reacted quickly, flicking her tail to dodge and then swiping at him with her claws.

"Ah!" Shen Mingzhang cried out in pain, three bloody marks immediately appearing on the back of his hand. He then burst into loud sobs.

Liang cried out in alarm and rushed over to protect her son, her face contorted with anger: "You beast! How dare you hurt someone!"

She had been hiding inside the house and was completely unaware of what had happened in the front yard. She raised her hand to hit Liuli, but Shen Miaowei grabbed her wrist.

"Third Sister," Shen Miaowei's voice was as cold as ice, "How dare you hit or scold the attendant of an immortal?"

Madam Liang was taken aback. Meeting Shen Miaowei's icy, deep eyes, she inexplicably shivered. When had the once weak and timid young lady acquired such an aura?

Shen Mingzhang, still clutching his hand, cried out, "Mother! This wild cat scratched me! Kill it!"

Shen Miaowei laughed in anger.

She held her master in the highest esteem and admired him greatly. This time, her master even specially sent his attendant to help her, but unexpectedly, she was neglected and disrespected by her family.

In the past, Shen Miaowei had been very tolerant of her father's three wives, but now that she had the strength and confidence, she finally stopped swallowing her anger.

She released Liang Shi and slapped Shen Mingzhang across the face.

Snapped! !

A sharp slap rang out, and the dining room fell silent instantly.

“If you dare to disrespect Liuli Tongzi again, next time it won’t just be a slap.” She said each word clearly, her gaze sweeping over everyone. “Father is away on official business, so I am now in charge of the Shen residence. Anyone who is not satisfied is welcome to move out and start their own household.”

Zhou and Liang's faces turned ashen, but they dared not utter another word. Although they resented Shen Miaowei, they also knew that in these chaotic times, without the Shen family, they were nothing.

Shen Mingzhang was slapped by his sister and seemed stunned. He sat blankly in the chair and stopped crying.

Then he quietly picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to eat his meal.

The fourth wife, Lin, who had been silent all along, suddenly said softly:
“What the eldest young lady says is true. The world is not peaceful these days, and the family should work together.” She picked up a piece of green vegetable and put it in her daughter’s bowl. “Mingxuan, quickly thank your elder sister. If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t even have food to eat.”

Six-year-old Shen Mingxuan timidly looked up and whispered, "Thank you, sister..."

Shen Miaowei's expression softened slightly, and she nodded to Madam Lin.

After the meal, everyone dispersed.

Shen Miaowei stood alone under the eaves, gazing at the dark night sky. Liuli lightly leaped onto the railing and tilted her head to look at her.

"Liuli Boy," Shen Miaowei bowed to him and said softly, "Thank you for your help today."

"It's nothing..." Liuli flicked her tail and meowed. "It's all Master's task."

Shen Miaowei was slightly taken aback.

The way this fairy cat speaks is a bit strange.

At this moment, the distant shouts of the mob and the commotion could be faintly heard. Shen Miaowei took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and a resolute look flashed in her eyes.

In chaotic times, only strength can ensure survival.

She must diligently practice the two techniques that Master taught her today...

late at night.

Shen Miaowei specially had Xiaoyu set up a small bed in her bedroom and laid out soft silk sheets to serve as Liuli's nest.

After some conversation, the person and the cat became quite familiar with each other.

"Miss Shen, do you have any chilled Demon Child Soda? Liuli really wants some!"

The calico cat squatted on the small bed and said to Shen Miaowei, who had finished washing up and changing.

"Demon's Soda?" Shen Miaowei, drying her wet hair, was taken aback. "What's that?"

"Sweet, sizzling, delicious medicine... Master gives Liuli this every day, and after drinking it, Liuli has inexhaustible strength."

The calico cat was quite looking forward to it.

Then it began humming a song only it understood: "Magic Child Soda Suck-Suck-Suck, Suck-Suck-Suck..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Miaowei was momentarily at a loss.

Does the Glass Boy drink celestial nectar every day?
She racked her brains and suddenly noticed the words "soda". So she quickly found her maid Xiaoyu and asked her to take the "Western soda" from her younger brother Shen Mingrui's room, chill it, and bring it to her.

Not a moment.

Xiaoyu brought over two glass bottles of soda.

Shen Miaowei took it, opened it, and carefully presented it to Liuli: "Liuli, my humble abode has no celestial dew or fine wine, only this Western water. I wonder if it suits your taste..."

Liuli picked up the glass bottle and took a big gulp.

"Ha!" She smacked her lips, looking disappointed. "Not even close!"

Shen Miaowei looked embarrassed.

Curious, she tentatively asked the calico cat, "Liuli Tongzi, what does Master usually do?"

"My master loves to sleep."

Liuli thought for a moment and said.

"He sleeps for a long time, sometimes even when Liuli is hungry, he doesn't wake up."

Shen Miaowei was slightly taken aback, but then thought it made sense.

My master is an immortal; it's normal for him to dream for hundreds of years at a time.

Then, Liuli said, "Master occasionally goes out to do good deeds, giving alms to the poor, defeating disasters, and saving cities..."

The more she listened, the more intense the admiration and longing in Shen Miaowei's beautiful eyes became.

Such divine figures are truly admirable.

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Shen Miaowei's heart raced, and she asked softly, "Is Master... handsome?"

Liuli tilted her head: "I'm just a cat, why would you ask such a question? But, pretty fairies always come to see their master."

"what?!"

Shen Miaowei was startled.

"Little fairy?"

“That’s what Master said.” Liuli nodded. “He muttered something like ‘This little fairy is not to be trifled with.’”

After thinking it over, Shen Miaowei cautiously asked, "Does Master have a Daoist partner?"

"A Daoist partner?" Liuli tilted her head even further. "What's that?"

“It’s…it’s…” Shen Miaowei hesitated, “Master’s wife.”

"No," Liuli shook her head.

For some reason, Shen Miaowei felt a surge of joy.

As expected, Master was single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, and he didn't even take a liking to a fairy who took the initiative to approach him.

The two of them chatted until very late.

Shen Miaowei's anticipation for meeting her master grew ever stronger.

She secretly made up her mind that she must cultivate diligently and at least live a few more years to persevere until the day she meets her master.

What a pity it would be if I died without ever seeing them!

...

...

"The Projection Has Arrived"

"The World I Live In: Mysterious"

Exploration: 1.8%

"Legendary Status: 3 (...)"

When Wang Xi descended into the Mysterious Realm again, he found himself sitting in a side room of the martial arts school.

He immediately reviewed the deck information in his mind.

Having mastered both internal and external skills, Wang Xi arranged for the projector to focus on practicing the three cards "Blood Orchid Elegy," "Bloodthirsty Madman," and "A Brushstroke of Mountains and Rivers" before returning.

The effect was so-so, but better than nothing.

"Blood Orchid Elegy (Skill Card/Dark Blue Two-Star/Upgradeable): 102/500"

"Bloodthirsty Maniac (Skill Card/Dark Green Two-Star/Upgradeable): 65/400"

"Mountains and Rivers in One Brushstroke (Skill Card/Dark Green One-Star/Upgradeable): 98/300"

The progress of all three cards has improved slightly, but they are still a long way from being upgraded to star level. Wang Xi shook his head.

That's too superficial.

He glanced out the window; it was already night, and the martial arts school was completely silent.

Wang Xi reviewed the "projection review" and found that more than a month had passed since his last return to the Mystic Realm.

During this period, Master Mei visited him twice, inviting him to go to Fengdeng, the provincial capital, to exchange for that opportunity, but the projection declined both times on the grounds that he was "about to break through".

Seeing this, Mei Yanxi had no choice but to lead the Jinghong Troupe to stay in Qingwei Town, waiting for Wang Xi to "break through".

'I'll go find him tomorrow; it's time to set off.'

Wang Xi said secretly.

The next day arrived quickly.

He went to the abandoned City God Temple, where the Jinghong Troupe settled down.

Upon finding the troupe leader, Mei Yanxi, the latter immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute, his face beaming with joy: "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Brother Xi!"

"Oh?" Wang Xi smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "I haven't even said how Master Mei knew I had broken through?"

Mei Yanxi scrutinized him carefully and said in a deep voice, "He's even more unfathomable now... If we used to compare Brother Xi to a sleeping tiger, then he's now a hidden dragon."

He shook his head as he spoke.

"I'm afraid I'm no match for you."

Although Wang Xi's mysterious card system has not changed, he now possesses the epic purple card "Crown of the End". Mei Yanxi, with the primordial spirit of a Grandmaster, keenly sensed the dangerous aura emanating from him.

If the two hadn't known each other and had a relationship, Mei Yanxi would probably have stayed far away long ago and wouldn't have dared to approach at all.

The terrifying feeling of having one's primordial spirit triggered and constantly being warned is like a child standing on the edge of a cliff.

Even a gust of wind could be life-threatening.

"Master Mei, you flatter me," Wang Xi said with a smile. "Now that things are settled, I think we can set off."

“Alright,” Mei Yanxi said. “Then let’s not delay, let’s set off for the provincial capital today.”

Wang Xi went back to the martial arts school.

He packed his luggage and bid farewell to his master and mistress.

Although many were reluctant to part, no one tried to stop them. Only their junior sister, Huo Qiao'er, had tears in her eyes and repeatedly asked, "When will senior brother return?"

"Come back when you have time." Wang Xi, carrying his luggage, stopped outside the martial arts school. He clasped his hands in greeting to Huo Mingchuan, Huo Shenglan, Yu Ruiyang, and the others: "Master, Mistress, and Senior Brother, please take care."

"Xizhi, take good care of yourself while you're away from home. You can write back if anything happens."

The master's wife quickly stepped forward, reluctantly tugging at his sleeve, and said softly.

As he spoke, he also stuffed a small cloth bag about the size of his palm into his hand.

"This is a little travel money that your master and mistress prepared for you. It's not much, but it's a token of their appreciation."

Wang Xi did not refuse.

He thanked her and then said to his junior sister, "What strange things did you find out outside? I'll bring them back for you."

Huo Qiao'er sniffled and forced a smile: "Senior brother can't go back on his word."

"When has your senior brother ever lied to you?"

Wang Xi patted her head.

Immediately, he bowed deeply to his master and mistress once more, then turned and strode away in the afterglow of the setting sun.

After he walked away, Huo Qiao'er's tears fell uncontrollably.

For some reason, she always felt that it would be a very, very long time before she could see her senior brother again.

...

...

When Wang Xi arrived in the provincial capital with the Jinghong Troupe, it was already evening four days later.

The city of Fountain is like a puzzle piece linking the old and new eras.

Old-style houses with blue bricks and gray tiles are interspersed with modern buildings made of reinforced concrete. Rickshaws run on the stone-paved roads, while trams clang and clatter along the railway tracks on the main road.

Faded banners hung from the street-side shops, while imported gramophones were displayed in the glass windows next door. A bookkeeper in a long gown and a bank clerk in a suit brushed past each other at the entrance of the teahouse, exchanging subtle glances.

The actors of the Jinghong Troupe didn't make any fools of themselves. They had traveled all over the country and visited many big cities.

Wang Xi, who was traveling with them, found it quite amusing.

Look left and look right.

His "naive and unsophisticated" demeanor, on the contrary, made actress Jiang Xiaolan laugh frequently.

The Jinghong Troupe had three horse-drawn carriages carrying dismantled stage scenery, brocade boxes, costume trunks, flag and target boxes, and shrine tablets, etc.

Theatrical troupes of this era generally believed in "Lao Lang Shen" (Old Man God), who believed that He could protect the safety of performances, ensure the prosperity of the troupe, and even help the actors improve their skills.

Therefore, the shrine is of utmost importance.

Whether actors, musicians, or servants, they all refer to themselves as "the old man's apprentices and grand-apprentices." Before each performance, they would offer prayers, and after the performance, they would set aside a portion of their earnings to be placed on the shrine for offerings.

Along the way, Wang Xi learned a lot about the inside story of the opera troupe through casual conversations with the troupe leader, Mei.

That ivory tablet is also crucial.

To put it simply, it's the list of performances for the day set by the troupe leader so that the servants can prepare the props in advance.

The group walked through the city of Fountain.

"Brother Xizhi, Luoqu just found out that Tingyu Tower is at the corner of Central Street, just ahead."

Mei Yanxi sat on the outer seat of the carriage and spoke to the young man in the long black coat next to her.

"What are your plans next?" Wang Xi nodded. "I plan to stay at Tingyu Tower."

"Too expensive." Mei Yanxi smiled wryly. "I have a bunch of people to support, so I have to find a cheaper place..."

“Then I will go and find ‘Mr. Hu’ for Master Mei. If there is anything, you can come to Tingyu Tower to meet him.”

"Okay." Mei Yanxi nodded.

Central Avenue.

Along the gray asphalt road, neon signs have lit up with dazzling lights, such as "Great World Dance Hall", "Lao Zhengxing Restaurant" and "Liu Family Pawnshop".

A dancer in a high-slit cheongsam leaned against a second-floor window, puffing out cigarettes. Her canary-like laughter was broken by the newspaper boy's shouts of "Cigarettes! Cigarettes! Two cents for lead doors! Five cents for foreign doors!"

Some young people dressed in school uniforms walked by holding paper flags that read "Boycott Foreign Goods," but they frowned because of the fumes from the fried stinky tofu stalls on the roadside.

The opera troupe walked along the road.

Finally, I saw "Listening to the Rain Pavilion" at the street corner.

The three-story vermilion pavilion has upturned eaves and corners, with a row of green gauze lanterns hanging under the eaves, swaying gently in the night breeze, making the black plaque with gold characters stand out even more.

The blue stone steps in front of the building have been polished to a shine by the diners coming and going. On both sides, there are two stone-carved Pixiu, with copper coins in their mouths and embroidered balls under their paws, looking adorable.

The Jinghong Troupe saw Wang Xi off here and then left.

Wang Xichong clasped his hands in greeting to Mei Yanxi, then turned and stepped onto the stairs.

Lifting the cotton curtain embroidered with lotus patterns, the interior suddenly opened up—the main hall had more than a dozen square tables, around which sat men in long gowns, as well as a few modern men in suits.

The waiter, with a white towel draped over his shoulder and carrying a mahogany food tray, weaved through the crowd, loudly announcing the dishes: "One serving of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, served hot!"

As soon as Wang Xi entered the shop, a waiter rushed forward, grinning obsequiously, "Sir, are you staying for the night or just looking for a meal?"

“We have them all,” Wang Xi said with a smile.

The waiter's eyes lit up: "Good news, sir. Our private rooms at Tingyu Tower require reservations and are currently full. Only two ordinary private rooms with the character 'Bamboo' on the second floor are still available. They cost one yuan per night, excluding meals."

So expensive.

Wang Xi said secretly.

No wonder Mei Yanxi's expression changed when she heard that he wanted to stay at a restaurant.

"Stay for three nights first." Wang Xi took out five silver dollars and handed them over. "Also, get me some food and drinks, just bring whatever you think is best."

"Alright, sir." The waiter took the money and prepared to get to work.

Wang Xi stopped him and tentatively asked, "Oh, by the way, I heard you have a storyteller named Hu around here?"

"Ah." The waiter stopped. "You mean Mr. Hu Lang? He's not here today, uh... he hasn't come for several days in a row."

"I see," Wang Xi said.

Just as predicted in the "Seclusion Preview," Mr. Hu has left Tingyu Tower, and his whereabouts are currently unknown.

He had no choice but to think of another way.

After a while.

After finishing his meal, Wang Xi went upstairs to find his private room.

He quickly found the room with the words "Zhu Yi" engraved on a wooden plaque in the corner of the corridor.

Pushing open the door, you enter a very old-fashioned side room, but it is clean and tidy.

Wang Xi put down his luggage and sat on the edge of the bed, pondering how to find Mr. Hu Lang.

'In the deduction, I will encounter a beautiful snake here; she seems to have some connection with Mr. Hu Lang…'

He thought to himself, "I might as well just wait for this snake to arrive."

This wait lasted for three days.

at night.

creak-

The window was pushed open a crack.

Immediately, a small figure slipped in, paused briefly after landing, climbed onto the bed, and buried itself under the covers.

The snake was caught by a hand as soon as it went inside.

He immediately said, "Miss, you are being a bit rude."

(End of this chapter)