Chapter 31: Finding the Demon-Subduing Pestle

Junlan: “Who is it?”

"Hello, Miss Lin, have you ever lost a bag?"

"yes."

"We are from the Jinan xx Police Station. We found your bag. Could you come over tomorrow to verify and claim it?"

"That's great. Thank you so much."

"You are welcome."

"It's true that after surviving a great disaster, there will be good fortune in the future. Happiness came so suddenly that I didn't know what to do for a moment."

Seeing her so happy, Situ was secretly happy for her in his heart.

The next morning, Situ was about to take an early flight back to City Z, so Junlan had to go to the police station alone to get her bag.

I was asked a ton of questions by the police and had to go through a ton of paperwork before I could get my bag back. Of course, no one these days would carry that much cash with them, and if you didn't call the police after getting robbed, they'd have plenty of reason to be suspicious of the source of your cash.

But fortunately, she managed to get away with it and got her bag back.

In the huge city of Jinan, Junlan didn't have a single friend. She felt very empty and lonely. She turned on her cell phone but still didn't receive any message from Fanxi.

It was as if her friends had made an appointment and there was not a single word of concern or greeting from them. Only the sporadic calls with her parents made her feel that there were still people in the world who loved her.

Well, the things above have been dealt with, but my mission in Shandong has not yet begun. There are only five days left, and I don’t know what I can accomplish.

She dialed the number of the so-called Third Uncle.

"Hello, Uncle San, it's me, Jun Lan! Didn't my dad talk to you on the phone last time?"

"Oh, niece, have you come to Jinan?"

"Yeah yeah."

"Where are you now? I'll pick you up and bring you to my house."

"No need to trouble Uncle San, why don't you tell me the address and I'll take a taxi to your house!"

"Okay, it's at the Cereal and Oil Bureau dormitory at 36 Dongxing Road. When you get there, call me and I'll pick you up."

My third uncle's house is really remote, and it took more than an hour to get there after a bumpy ride on the road.

This third uncle is no different from the third uncle he imagined, with a big belly and a flat top.

Jun Lan was a little flattered by their enthusiasm.

Jun Lan was not polite and directly stated the purpose of her visit.

"Uncle San, do you know someone named Daiqing?"

“Never heard of it.”

"Look, this is the person." After saying that, Jun Lan showed the yellowed photo to her uncle.

"Nothing."

Junlan took the photo back disappointedly! Alas, it was another wasted trip.

"Wait, let me take another look." Jun Lan heard it and quickly took out the photo again.

"What's wrong, uncle? Did you remember something?"

"Well, yes, there is such a person in my old photos, but it's been so long that no one can remember who she is."

He looked at the photo again, then rummaged through boxes and drawers to find a photo among a pile of old photos.

"Look at the person on the left of the photo. Is he the one you are looking for?"

Junlan compared the two photos. Although the photos were difficult to recognize due to the age, and the two people were wearing different clothes, their facial features were indeed very similar. The one on the left was indeed Dai Qing.

But what Junlan was more interested in was the girl on the right who was taking a photo with Daiqing. Not only did that person look very similar to Junlan, but she also gave Junlan an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Uncle Three: "Oh, you traveled through time. You look so much like your aunt."

Jun Lan: "Uncle, you also think that woman looks like me, do you know her?"

"More than just knowing her, she is our aunt, your great-aunt Lin Sisi!"

"Where is she now?"

"She died in her early twenties."

"Uncle, do you know how she died? I always feel like she has a story."

"Oh, I don't know. We were too young to remember these things back then. Go back and ask your dad."

"Where did grandpa and grandma live before?"

"Why, do you want to go back to your hometown in the countryside?"

"Well, uncle, have you ever heard of the demon-subduing pestle?"

"Of course I have. When I was in my hometown in the countryside, every family was superstitious and believed in strange things. Those magical weapons were perfect for subduing demons and eliminating evil spirits."

"Does our family have any remaining demon-subduing pestles?"

"I remember it was there, but when the family split up, I don't know who took it away or if it was lost. Anyway, it disappeared."

"Oh, so that's how it is. Thank you so much, uncle, for telling me so much about my family. I'll have to trouble you to take me to my hometown tomorrow."

"Why are you bothering me? I promised your father I'd take you around the neighborhood, but niece, your questions are a little strange."

"Hahahaha, I just happened to find the photo and asked on a whim. There's nothing else to it."

Faced with Uncle San's strange gaze, Jun Lan could only deal with it evasively.

"You must be tired, right? I have prepared a room for you." After saying that, Uncle San took her to a dark and damp corner.

It's more like it's just better than sleeping on the street than a room. There's only a canvas bed with miscellaneous items underneath and around it. It's separated from the hall by only a curtain, so there's no privacy at all.

But if you put yourself in their shoes, for my uncle's family, which is not well-off, they have already done their best.

In the evening, my cousin and aunt also came back, and my third uncle personally went into the kitchen to cook a few home-cooked meals.

The food was quite plentiful and delicious, but it was really inconvenient for the whole family to eat at one small table.

My cousin immediately said bluntly: "Sister, you can see that my house is not suitable for you to live in for too long. When are you going to leave?"

Jun Lan was about to reply when his uncle hit his cousin's hand with a chopstick: "You bastard, don't talk nonsense. I'm the boss here. When is it your turn to speak? My niece has come to Jinan with great difficulty. What's wrong with us staying with her for a few more days?"

My cousin squinted his eyes: "Dad, it hurts..."

Auntie hit Uncle San's hand with a chopstick: "Did my son say anything wrong?"

Junlan quickly took out 2,000 yuan from her bag and gave it to her aunt.

"Aunt, I was in such a hurry to leave this time that I didn't have time to bring you any good things. These are my gifts to you."

Uncle San snatched the money and stuffed it back into Junlan's pocket.

"Niece, if you still consider me your uncle, take the money back."

Cousin: "Dad, what are you doing? I mean well, so I'll stay a few more days. I can stay as long as you want."

Junlan stuffed the money into her aunt's hand again.

"Of course you are my uncle, otherwise I wouldn't have come! But I would be embarrassed to stay here if you don't accept the money. Auntie, please accept it! Otherwise, I will feel bad."

My aunt quickly put the money away and said, "How can this be so embarrassing!"

Uncle Three: "Wife, why are you..."

Junlan winked at Uncle San, who sighed and didn't say anything more.

After finally making it to bed at night, Jun Lan looked at the woman in the photo and said to herself, "Who are you and why do you look so much like me?"

As she watched, Jun Lan fell asleep unknowingly.

In her dream, she saw Daiqing arguing with a woman who looked exactly like her.

Dai Qing: "Why did you take him away?"

"I didn't, cousin. I really didn't know he liked me. Cousin, you have to believe me, I will never argue with you, and besides, I don't like him either."

Dai Qing: "It's too late to say these now. You must die." After saying that, she grabbed the woman's neck tightly with both hands. Jun Lan suddenly felt breathless. She quickly covered her mouth and turned to flee the scene. At this moment, she found that Dai Qing was looking at her viciously from behind.