The young man in front of me is not old, but he is quite sensible and immediately gave me a small tip.

He likes this kind of generosity!

He immediately said with a smile, "I don't think you're much younger than me."

Okay, let's each keep to our own agenda. You can call me Brother Mao, and I'll call you... um, what's your name again?

Hearing that he was trying to get closer to him, Chi Kang immediately went along with it, saying, "Chi Kang, Brother Mao can just call me A Kang."

"Alright, Ah Kang. I've decided to be your brother. I'll shamelessly accept this money today."

You can go about your business. I'll keep an eye on things here and in Qijia Village for your aunt. I guarantee they won't be able to cause any trouble.

"Come over to my place sometime when you're free. Your sister-in-law is a great cook; her food is delicious. We'll have a good drink together then."

Chi Kang was still thinking about going into the city, so after replying "okay," he waved to Brother Mao and strode away.

Because of these delays, by the time he returned to the city and arrived at Qingping Lane, it was already late afternoon.

At that time, Chi Qiao had just finished signing the contract with the Qiao family and was seeing them off.

Upon seeing Chi Kang, she paused for a moment, then asked in confusion:

"Kang, didn't you go back with your aunt?"

Chi Kang looked solemn as he glanced at Madam Qiao and her servants.

After the other person got into the carriage and left, he stepped forward and said in a low voice:

"Aunt, it was my aunt who asked me to come back."

"Something's happened, something very important. Let's go inside and talk."

Upon hearing this, Chi Qiao turned and went inside, closing the door behind her.

When the two arrived at the main room, Chi Kang looked around and asked, "Auntie, where is my uncle?"

"After you left, people from the yamen came and your uncle was asked to leave."

"If anything's wrong, you can tell me."

Knowing that no one was home, Chi Kang spoke in a normal volume:

"Aunt, something's happened. Something suddenly appeared in my aunt's fairy cave."

My aunt said it was called a warning. It said on it, "Extreme heat, drought."

Chi Qiaoke had known from her younger sister for a long time that this was a book, and that the plague was the final disaster.

She had been wondering if things would be peaceful and prosperous after the plague.

Upon hearing this, she immediately realized what was going on.

Her expression immediately turned extremely serious as she asked, "What happened? Explain yourself."

Chi Kang hurriedly replied, "It was not long after leaving Qijia Village that I took Zhuangzhuang into the cave and then went to collect potatoes."

Then, when your aunt came in, she found something on the white wall of the fairy-tale house where you and your aunt lived.

My aunt said it's called a disaster warning, and it says there's a countdown to extreme heat and drought on it.

My aunt also said that it would be about three more months, around May or June after the Dragon Boat Festival.

By the way, the situation is quite serious. My aunt said it says on the sign that the river has dried up and the land is cracked.

Let me come and tell you and my uncle.

Then tell your uncle, and then go to the yamen (government office) to tell the magistrate.

Chi Qiao was in a good mood after receiving the money from the Qiao family and signing the documents.

Hearing this all of abruptly, her heart sank, but she forced herself to calm down.

She felt something was off; otherwise, these things wouldn't have appeared in the space out of nowhere.

After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Kang, did anything happen on your way back?"

Chi Kang hadn't originally planned to talk about Zhuang Zilan, as he felt it was rather unlucky.

But since his aunt had asked, he couldn't very well hide it from her.