My blind date paper figure rejected me because I was poor, so my dad angrily burned ten trillion.

"Jianguo, how can you take dreams seriously? Didn't you used to disbelieve in these things?"

Ping, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, Uncle Jianguo, your behavior is very strange!"

A young man behind Zhang Chen, who was about the same age, couldn't help but ask as well.

Everyone present was also very curious.

This sudden change is indeed a bit strange, especially with all the weird rumors circulating lately. Even Xin Jiu seems to have been away from home for several days now.

No one knows where he went, not even his nephews, which is very strange.

"Well, the founding of the nation was because..."

Before Wei Xiulan could explain, Zhang Jianguo coughed, interrupting her, and then continued, "I don't know why, maybe it's because I've been thinking about it all day and dreaming about it at night. I dreamt about my son when he was little, and when I woke up the next day, I thought about it for a long time. I realized that he's all alone in the underworld, without a wife, so I thought I'd burn a few paper effigies for him, just to satisfy his craving!"

Wei Xiulan was taken aback, but fortunately, she listened to her husband the most and knew him well. He must not want her to tell others about her son's situation, so she tacitly shut up and didn't say anything more.

"That's true, that brat's all alone underground, he needs a paper effigy to keep him company!"

Everyone else chimed in with agreement.

It was mainly to comfort them; they seemed to be talking nonsense when they heard Zhang Jianguo's words.

Deep down, she knew it was because the blow was too great. After the pain of losing her child, this change in mindset seemed natural.

"But Jianguo, even if you're looking for paper figures, you should at least find some decent ones. These two are dressed like ancient maids, and they're so ugly. Are you going to burn them and ask Zhang Chen to accept them or not?"

It was Ping who was speaking.

He was usually eloquent and had a good relationship with Zhang Jianguo. At this moment, he said something jokingly, mainly because he wanted to help Zhang Jianguo get out of his pain.

These words elicited several soft chuckles from those around them.

Zhang Jianguo didn't care about that. He knew Ping Ge's personality and that he meant no harm.

It can be said that none of his relatives and friends had any ill intentions. The main reason was that he was caught red-handed. Otherwise, even if Uncle Xin had seen it, he wouldn't have taken it seriously.

"Brother Ping, I couldn't find anything else, it was the only way!"

Zhang Jianguo was helpless.

"Speaking of which, it's been really strange lately. All the incense and candle shops have closed down, supposedly because some kind of meeting is being held there. I don't know what's so great about selling these things!"

An uncle from the next street said something.

"I've heard about it too. Could Uncle Nine's departure from home be related to this?"

"What does it have to do with anything? And where did you hear that from?"

"Many people are spreading this rumor; it's better to believe it's true than not!"

"Come on, this is getting more and more absurd!"

The conversation suddenly veered off-topic.

"Clang! Clang!"

Just then, the sound of a cane hitting the ground rang out.

The conversation abruptly stopped as the old man banged his cane on the ground with tremendous force, his silver beard trembling with anger.

"What nonsense are you all talking about? If there's nothing wrong, stop crowding around. They're just two paper figures. When Lao Jiu comes back, I'll tell him, 'Don't make a fuss so late at night, go back to sleep!'"

The old man was quite angry at first, but he's not angry anymore now.

The main topic was Zhang Chen. He had seen that chubby boy since he was born, and now that he was mentioned, even this old man who had been in charge of life and death couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Forget it, he's always been a good person and can't tolerate any wrongdoing, but Zhang Chen's situation has really put Jian Guo and his wife in a difficult position.

Moreover, he had watched the founding of the nation grow up, so he knew its character well.

It wasn't a big deal to begin with, but once the old man spoke, everyone stopped lingering.

The main reason I rushed over was because I was attracted by the shout of "Stop thief!"

They only gathered around to join in the fun when they saw that it was Zhang Jianguo and his wife.

The main reason is that the two of them are rarely in the village, so their sudden appearance has piqued everyone's curiosity.

But now that we know the reason, it's no big deal.

"I'm leaving now. You two should go to sleep; it's so late!"

As the old man spoke, he leaned on his cane and walked out.

"I'll help you..."

Just as Ping was about to reach out to help, the old man knocked him back with a stick.

"Why are you helping me? I can walk!"

Ping looked embarrassed. That's one of the old man's bad points; he has a bit of a temper.

In no time at all, everyone had left.

"His dad, look what you've done! How shameful!"

Wei Xiulan couldn't help but complain.

"Shameful? Didn't that just bring in two paper dolls?"

Zhang Jianguo, with a stern face, said something.

After they finished speaking, the couple glanced at the two paper figures. Hmm, they were a bit ugly. They knew their son's tastes well. If they burned them, they would surely come back to them in their dreams and complain.

"Forget it, let's not burn it. It really looks ugly!"

Zhang Jianguo waved his hand.

Wei Xiulan rolled her eyes at him and was about to get up and go to bed when suddenly someone else walked in through the door, startling her.

When Wei Xiulan realized that it was Ping Ge who had come, she was stunned.

"Xiulan, it's me!"

Seeing that she was startled, Ping quickly said something.

"Brother Ping, is there something you need?"

Zhang Jianguo had already figured it out, and couldn't help but get up and ask.

"There's something I need to talk about. Let's go inside!"

Ping Ge's expression seemed a bit serious.

"Okay, let's go upstairs!"

As Zhang Jianguo spoke, he turned and walked inside, just passing by the two female paper figures.

Ping followed closely behind, and as he passed the two paper figures, he joked, "These two paper figures are quite ugly. They probably weren't made by Uncle Jiu; they were likely made by Bing Hui. His craftsmanship is pretty rough!"

"It doesn't look like Uncle Nine's cooking at all. I was in a bit of a rush at the time, and you guys found out. I just carried it away without even looking!"

Zhang Jianguo also felt that his behavior was somewhat absurd when he thought about it.

"You have absolutely no idea about the market. Who still uses handwritten notes these days? They're all machine-made, those are so exquisite, and they're all made by modern people—female secretaries, female teachers, female nurses, female lawyers, even rich and beautiful women. There are even custom-made ones with stockings and a bit of exposure. Aren't any of them better than these two?"

Ping-ge is really good at talking.

"Do you have connections?"

Upon hearing this, he sensed that Ping Ge's words had a hidden meaning and couldn't help but ask.

"What connections do you have? Aren't all the ones sold in town the same kind? But are these rumors true lately? I heard that incense and candle shops have been nationalized?"

Ping asked curiously.

"Where did you hear that from?"

Zhang Jianguo looked puzzled.

"Sigh, it's always you talking and him talking; it seems like there's been a lot of discussion about this lately!"

Ping said.

Before they knew it, the two had reached the upper room.

Wei Xiulan went to pour water, while the two men sat on the wooden sofa.

As soon as they sat down, Zhang Jianguo got straight to the point, asking, "Brother Ping, let's not beat around the bush, what brings you here?"

Ping chuckled, "Finding a new wife!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianguo immediately raised an eyebrow.

Wei Xiulan was also taken aback when she heard this, and she stopped pouring water.

Seeing their strong reaction, Ping quickly explained, "It's not for you, it's to find Zhang Chen a new wife, a ghost marriage, you know? Find him one, isn't that better than a paper effigy?"