As soon as these words were spoken, the wives and concubines all looked at Chen An.

Chen An said as he drank his porridge, "Don't look at me, just drink your porridge and wait for the people from the Red Fire Gang to come and collect the shelter fee."

Hearing this, the wives and concubines withdrew their gazes and ate their breakfast in silence.

Probably more than half an hour passed.

A shout came from outside the house.

"Fellow Daoist living in House No. 8, South Lane, please come out and pay the asylum fee!"

House No. 8, South Lane.

This is the house where Chen An and his family live.

"I'm going to pay the asylum fee."

"Master Chen, I'll go with you."

"Yeah, okay."

Soon, both of them stood up and walked out of the house.

After a moment.

There was only a creaking sound.

The gate to the yard opened.

Then, the member of the Chihuo Gang that came into the eyes of Chen An and Shen Qingyi was a male cultivator who looked a bit too ugly.

None of his facial features were good-looking, and his face was covered with pockmarks, looking very ugly.

This male cultivator did not hide his strength, and his cultivation level of the third level of foundation building was clearly visible.

"My last name is Chen, the old Chen, and I'm an alchemist. What's your name?"

Chen An took out two medium-grade spirit stones and handed them to the male cultivator, while asking with a kind smile.

The male cultivator took the spirit stone and said indifferently, "Let me introduce myself. I am the manager who is responsible for providing shelter to the residents of South Lane and collecting shelter fees. My last name is Gao, which means Gao in the mountains. From now on, you can call me the senior manager."

"So it's the high-ranking official. The public security in Baicao Lane is average. I'll need the high-ranking official to take care of us in the future."

Chen An was a very good person. As he spoke, he suddenly had an idea and took out a bottle of Xiao Huan Dan from his storage bag. He smiled and handed it to the senior manager in front of him.

When the senior manager took the medicine bottle and opened it, he discovered that it contained the second-level elixir, Xiao Huan Dan. His originally indifferent face was instantly filled with a smile.

"Master Chen, good, very good."

"On this journey just now, I hardly met any straightforward people, let alone those who would express their opinions."

"It would be great if all the residents in Baicao Lane were as good as you."

"If you encounter any difficulties here in the future, just tell me and I will help you if I can."

The senior manager said this with enthusiasm, which was in stark contrast to his cold expression just now.

After saying this, he left quickly and went to the next household to collect shelter fees.

Chen An did not rush back into the house. He just stood at the door and watched the senior manager go to other houses to collect money.

The same was true for Shen Qingyi standing beside her.

In front of the residents of Baicao Lane, the senior manager was not as easy to talk to as he was when facing Chen An just now.

If someone is reluctant to pay, they will be scolded at best and beaten at worst. It is very brutal.

If they encountered someone who didn't have money to pay, they would be dragged out of the house to the alley outside and beaten up in front of a group of residents.

After they were done, they took the person away, saying that he would be taken to Samadhi Tower to do hard labor.

Chen An knew that this official acted so brutally on purpose in order to warn the residents of South Lane so that it would be easier for him to collect money in the future.

This is the reason why a new official starts with three things.

Seeing the senior management bullying the residents, Shen Qingyi's old hatred of evil came back, and she even wanted to draw her sword and rush over to punish the evil.

Fortunately, Chen An was right next to her and stopped her mindless and impulsive behavior in time.

The Red Fire Gang had just settled down in Baicao Lane and was worried that there was no one to use to establish their authority.

If Shen Qingyi dared to take action now, she would definitely be caught by the Chihuo Gang and made an example of to scare the monkeys. She would be beheaded in public and used as a negative example to deter everyone.

…

Time flies.

In a blink of an eye.

Half a month passed.

At this time, Wen Zhiyun was already ten months pregnant, but there was no sign of birth in her belly.

In the yard.

Wen Zhiyun looked down at her bulging belly, her face full of worry as she said, "Husband, I'm already ten months pregnant, why is there no sign of the baby in my belly? Is there any problem?"

"Yun'er, don't worry. Your husband has already used his spiritual sense to check. The baby in your belly is developing well and will probably be born soon."

Chen An said soothingly in a soft voice.

But in fact, he is a little worried now, afraid that his arrogant concubine will be pregnant with Nezha for three and a half years.

Song Huaying, who was sitting in front of the house teaching her daughter to play the piano, heard the voice and spoke to comfort her: "Sister Wen, don't worry, you are a fairy, it is normal for you to be pregnant longer than ordinary women. The longer the pregnancy, the better the talent of the child in your belly."

"Silly Ying'er, how can you say that? Fairies are also human beings, and they are no different from mortals when it comes to pregnancy. To do otherwise would be against the will of heaven and would result in the birth of a freak."

Wen Zhiyun said with a smile on her face.

When Song Huaying heard this, she immediately said "Puh, Puh, Puh" a few times, and then said: "Sister Wen, don't say such things. You are definitely pregnant with a fairy baby, not a freak."

"You are quite superstitious, girl."

Wen Zhiyun walked up to Song Huaying, tapped her forehead with a smile and said.

Chen An looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but smile.

Normally these two people obviously call each other sisters, but at this moment, the tone of the arrogant concubine talking to the little wife sounds like a mother talking to her daughter, which is quite inconsistent.

But on second thought, I felt that there seemed to be nothing wrong with it.

After all, according to their current ages, the arrogant concubine, who is almost forty years old, can indeed be the mother of the young wife, who is less than twenty years old.

Thinking of this, Chen An's gaze couldn't help but fall on Shen Qingyi, who was sitting under a tree and chatting with Gu Xinyue on the other side. He suddenly felt a little strange in his heart.

Shen Qingyi is now 55 years old. According to the trend of early childbirth and early raising of children in this era, she is old enough to be Wen Zhiyun's mother.

However, now, Song Huaying, who is less than 20 years old, Wen Zhiyun, who is less than 40 years old, and Shen Qingyi, who is 55 years old, usually call each other sisters. This is really weird.

"The world of immortal cultivation is not good at all, except for one good thing: no matter how old a woman is, as long as she is an immortal cultivator, her appearance can always remain as young as it was when she was young."

Chen An sighed silently in his heart.

…

Before I knew it, another half a month had passed.

That morning, Wen Zhiyun was really anxious.

She sat on the edge of the bed in her room and asked Chen An with a worried look on her face, "Husband, I'm already ten and a half months pregnant, why is there still no movement of the baby in my belly?"

"Hurry up and use your spiritual sense to help me investigate again!"

"Okay, I'll investigate further."

As Chen An spoke, he sent out his spiritual sense, which penetrated into Wen Zhiyun's stomach and examined the baby in her belly.

After some investigation.

The result is the same as before.

There is nothing wrong with the child, he is very healthy.

But somehow, there was no sign of giving birth.

This is so weird.

"Husband, what's the result?"

Wen Zhiyun asked anxiously.

"I hope so."

Wen Zhiyun looked at her big belly, her brows furrowed in a frown, and she felt very worried.

At this time, it's the same as last month.

The voice of the leader of the Red Fire Gang was heard from the Samadhi Tower.

The sound was extremely penetrating, spreading throughout the entire Baicao Lane like ripples in water.

"To all residents of Baicao Lane, the one-month deadline has come. Please prepare your asylum fees and wait at home. A steward will come to collect them soon!"

Chen An ignored the voice.

Seeing Wen Zhiyun's sad face, he decided to help her relieve her sorrow.

About half an hour later.

[Fire Spiritual Root Aptitude +3] x5 Chen An sat with his back against the head of the bed, looking down at Wen Zhiyun who was nestled in his arms, and asked her softly, "Yun'er, do you feel better?"

"Yeah, much better."

Wen Zhiyun said with a blush on her face.

Chen An kissed her and said slowly, "The manager from the Red Fire Gang who is responsible for collecting the money should be here soon. Your husband will be out for a while. You should have a good rest in your room."

After saying that, he quickly got dressed, got out of bed, and went out to the yard.

As soon as I arrived, the voice of the senior management was heard outside the yard.

"Master Chen, come out and pay the money!"

As soon as the words fell.

Chen An opened the gate of the courtyard with a creak, handed over the two medium-grade spirit stones he had prepared, and said with a kind smile: "Master Manager, long time no see."

"It's okay, we can see each other every month from now on."

The senior manager no longer had the enthusiasm he had last month. He took the spirit stone handed to him, said these words, and turned around and left.

Chen An looked at the other person's departing back and couldn't help but frowned slightly.

This person in charge seems to have a big appetite and is insatiable.

I gave him a bottle of Xiao Huan Dan last month, and he greeted me with a smile.

If you don’t give it this month, you will be indifferent.

It's a bit difficult.

"Master Chen, what's wrong?"

Shen Qingyi came out of the house at some point and saw Chen An frowning slightly, so she couldn't help but ask.

Chen An didn't want to talk too much to Shen Qingyi, who hated evil so much, lest she get angry and draw her sword again, so he just said lightly: "It's okay."

Seeing that Chen An didn't want to talk, Shen Qingyi didn't bother asking any more questions.

He just stood there silently with Chen An, watching the manager collecting money from door to door in the alley.

At this time, the senior manager came to the door of a widow's house to collect protection money.

The widow lived not far from Chen An's home, only about one or two hundred meters away.

She is quite pretty, but has no children.

He makes a living by selling spiritual fruits, and his financial situation is not that good.

The monthly shelter fee of 2 medium-grade spirit stones was a bit stressful for her.

Now we are living on our savings.

Once my savings are used up, I will no longer be able to pay the asylum fees.

Therefore, from the day the Red Fire Gang announced that they would be stationed in Baicao Lane, this widow had already started looking for her ideal husband.

The reason why he is still single now is simply because his standards are too high and he looks down on cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage.

Even if he is a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage, she would not want him if he is not handsome enough.

Very picky.

During that period, she tried to flirt with Chen An, but unfortunately Chen An was not interested in the widow, and the relationship ended in nothing.

In front of the widow's house.

The senior manager walked to the stall that the widow had placed at the door, glanced at it, and finally landed on the spiritual grapes in front of the widow, and asked:

"Madam, are your grapes sweet?"

"Sweet, my grapes are very sweet!" said the widow enthusiastically.

After hearing this, the senior manager shook his head and said, "Forget it, I like sour food."

"Is that so? Then, can you please take a look at other spiritual fruits to see if there is any that suits your taste?"

The widow said with enthusiasm still on her face.

Soon, Director Gao looked at Ling Mi Tao behind her and said:

"Madam boss, are your peaches sweet?"

"Sour, my peaches are so sour, Director Gao, would you like to buy some to try?"

The senior manager shook his head again and said, "No, I like sweet peaches."

"Haha...haha, Director Gao, your taste is really a bit different."

The widow said enthusiastically with a forced smile.

At this time, the senior manager pointed at the spiritual loquats in front of the widow and said, "Madam, are your loquats sweet?"

This time, the widow learned her lesson. She didn't say sweet or sour. Instead, she asked, "Mr. Gao, my loquats are both sour and sweet. I wonder which flavor you like?"

"No, I'm just asking. I don't like loquats."

"Then may I ask, what flavor of spiritual fruit do you like to eat, Director?"

the widow asked, holding back as long as she could, with her usual enthusiasm.

The senior manager smiled and grabbed the widow's smooth hand, and asked meaningfully, "I like to eat a kind of spiritual fruit called widow fruit. I wonder if the boss lady sells it here?"

"High-ranking officials, please respect yourself."

The widow pulled her hand back immediately and took a few steps back, noticing that the high-ranking official touched her hand.

The senior manager was so ugly that she found him disgusting.

Seeing the look of disgust on the widow's face, the senior manager felt so hurt that he became furious and slapped the widow in the face.

“Bang!”

"Bitch, did I give you face?"

"I want to talk to you nicely, but you're pretending to be nice. Do you really have to make me do it?"

The senior manager said with a ferocious look on his face.

The widow was slapped hard in the face, blood oozed from the corner of her mouth, and she was trembling with fear and dared not speak.

Not far away, Chen An saw this scene and couldn't help but shook his head, sighing at the fickleness of the world.

The widow was very pitiful, but he had no intention of meddling in her affairs.

He is the head of the family and has a wife and daughter to take care of. When encountering such things, he can only stand by and watch.

Being a hero saving the beauty is no longer suitable for him now.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, let's go back to the house."

With the idea of ​​out of sight, out of mind, Chen An said to Shen Qingyi beside him.

However, just as he finished speaking, a "clang" sound suddenly came from beside him! This was the sound of a sword being unsheathed! Shen Qingyi could no longer bear it, and drew out the sword at his waist, and with a "hum" sound, he rushed towards the senior manager who was a hundred meters away! ...

PS: Putting out the bowl, asking for monthly votes and recommendation votes!

(End of this chapter)