Chapter 54 Five Coins Everything Shop
The next day, the sun was high in the sky.
Pingyu was completely unaware of Nezha's troubles.
She was unusually not haunted by nightmares last night, and felt refreshed when she woke up.
Pingyu was the last to get up; the other three were already waiting in the restaurant. When she arrived, they were still talking at their seats, with Nezha nodding frequently and looking serious. But once Pingyu sat down, they all fell silent. She found this strange and asked, "Father, Mother, Nezha, what were you talking about just now?"
It's like they're avoiding her.
Xue Yue'e hesitated for a moment, but still answered, "Nezha said he wants to move the house to the side of your courtyard."
ah?
She didn't react in time and turned to look at the other person.
Nezha was right beside her.
The boy was enjoying a soft-boiled fried egg; the slightly charred edges had a salty taste that suited his palate perfectly. Seeing that the boy didn't react, Pingyu reminded him, "Why don't you live in your nice courtyard? Why do you want to live with me? The house next to mine isn't as grand as yours; it's rather small."
“I said that too,” Xue Yue’e said helplessly. “But Nezha said it was nothing. He said you are easily haunted by nightmares because little ghosts enter your dreams, and the yin energy has corrupted your soul for so long that you are no longer human. With him living nearby, it will be convenient to take care of you. Your father and I think he makes sense, but that room next to you is really…”
It's actually not small.
It's just that for a family like theirs, the decorations aren't luxurious enough.
Nezha is not only Pingyu's support, but also a friend's child, so the Lin family cannot wrong him.
But Pingyu's focus wasn't on that; she thought: Nightmare?
“It’s me.” He raised his eyelids to look at me: “I don’t care where I live, but if there’s a demon around, I have to get rid of it.”
We were both in our own rooms. How did he help me get rid of the nightmare? The unnatural sense of unease vanished in an instant, and Pingyu instinctively felt that this was not something she should think about too much.
The first half of the statement is true, the second half is false.
He spoke with righteous indignation, seemingly without any selfish motives. No matter how Lin Dong and Xue Yue'e looked him over, they couldn't discern any intention in him wanting to take advantage of their own family's wealth.
Nezha traveled with Taiyi Zhenren, and even lived with bears and snakes in the mountains and forests.
Although there were better options available, living near Pingyu was what he truly wanted. This was the decision Nezha made after a sleepless night. Having said that, the others couldn't say anything more.
No one answered, so the boy made the decision himself: "That's it."
The adults compromised, secretly plotting how to get the place repaired before nightfall.
At this moment, a slave stepped forward and whispered something to Lin Dong.
After everyone had left, he said, "There is one more thing."
"What?"
Ping Yu had some suspicions.
"Didn't Nezha say that you need to gather twenty-four ghosts to save your life? After discussing it with your mother, we decided to set up a shop for you two to use for gathering information and dealing with ghosts and spirits. It's always better to have someone come to you than to grope around blindly. But we haven't mentioned it yet! After you finish your meal, I'll have Green Robe lead you there."
Yesterday's eavesdropping was actually true!
Lin Dong did not try to fob off Li Jing, but instead began making preparations.
Pingyu and Nezha looked at each other, and both saw surprise in each other's eyes.
Far ahead!
The two ate very quickly, and their bellies were full in less than half an incense stick's time.
Lin Dong found it amusing to watch them swallow their food almost without chewing.
No matter what their abilities are, they're still just kids.
He clapped his hands to summon the female slave to lead the way, and then let them go.
The Lin family's shops were all in excellent locations, and the one Green Robe had taken them to was in a prime location. It stood in the center of the market, with a constant stream of people coming and going. Flowers and red silk were displayed outside the shop, and a small crowd had gathered around it. Pingyu listened to their conversation through the gaps in the crowd:
"Hey, what do you think the Lin family wants to turn this nice shop into?"
"I remember they announced today that it was a joint venture between the Lin and Li families. It was specifically for dealing with evil spirits for the residents inside and outside Chentang Pass, and that Nezha, the Third Prince, was in charge!"
"Really? This is truly wonderful news! I've been feeling a heavy weight on my shoulders lately, and I wonder if it's some kind of imp pressing down on me. If it really works, I'll definitely ask the Third Prince to take a look!"
She paused, and together with the woman in green, looked curiously at Nezha.
Are there really ghosts?
"No, I'm just tired." After saying that, he pulled Pingyu along and quickened his pace.
These people are really strange. They used to avoid him like the plague, but now they're praising him as a great sage who does good deeds without reservation.
If we don't leave now, we'll be surrounded again once we're discovered!
Even today, Nezha still feels lingering fear.
He led the two men into the bunk.
The crowd only felt a gust of wind.
Because it was formerly a pastry shop, the interior still exudes a sweet fragrance of honey. Just seeing the altered layout of the shop made Pingyu's facial muscles twitch.
Thick yellow and red cloths were draped everywhere. The walls were covered with Bagua mirrors, Sanqing bells, peach wood swords, and various talismans…
It's overflowing with metaphysical elements; the style is a bit too obvious!
Nezha was even more blunt: "It's not good-looking."
The man in green remained expressionless: "Madam and Master said that the store should give people a sense of immersive professionalism, so that people will be convinced and competitors will not dare to cause trouble."
That's true.
While other things were scarce during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, fortune telling flourished everywhere.
But with the Lin and Li families' reputations, who would be foolish enough to cause trouble?
In the blink of an eye, the female slave presented a blank signboard: "Please, Miss and Third Prince, bestow a name and inscription upon the shop. The shop can only open for business once the signboard is hung up."
We need to name the store...
They said they were asking for the opinions of both of them, but Green Robe and Nezha both turned their gazes toward her.
Ping Yu felt increasingly pressured as he stood there alone under their gaze.
Ping Yu waved his hands frantically: "Wait, I don't know!?"
She's terrible at choosing names!
Needless to say, Nezha didn't want to think about the female slave at all.
"you……!"
Seeing that neither of them listened to her, Pingyu lost all her strength.
She stared dejectedly at the blank card, as if she wanted to see two holes in it. The girl's eyes widened like the Qiankun Ring, and Nezha sneered and mocked, "Did you figure it out? No matter how hard you look, the words won't appear by themselves."
"Those who don't use their brains aren't allowed to speak!" Ping Yu waved his hand and decided, "Then let's call it the Five Coins Everything Shop!"
"Why?" Nezha wrinkled his nose. What a strange name.
Naturally, it's because of *Wild God* and *Silver*, combining the Five Gods with the Yorozuya (Odd Jobs Shop) – both its purpose and meaning are clear. But Pingyu wouldn't tell the ancient Nezha this; she started making things up: "Because we only charge five cowrie shells at a time, ensuring the ritual doesn't go to waste and making it affordable for the people. Besides, we can handle anything related to gods and ghosts, so isn't that what a Yorozuya is?"
Nezha wanted to say that it sounded too straightforward and uncultured. But Guan Min had never been to school either, and the simple shop name was easy to pronounce.
Are you sure this is it?
"Um!"
Pingyu watched him write, stroke by stroke.
As she finished writing, she vaguely heard a commotion outside the door.
have……
thief……
Thief?
Before she could react, the door was flung open with a loud bang. It wasn't breached from the outside, but rather smashed open from the inside out. The signboard, wrapped in a magic ribbon, was smashed out the door, and the shop door opened, revealing the chaotic crowd in full view.
Taking advantage of the shop's upcoming opening and the gathering of people, a thief hatched a scheme to steal. The thief blended into the crowd, making him indistinguishable. Those whose belongings were stolen cursed angrily, while those not yet implicated felt insecure, leading to chaos. Under Li Jing's jurisdiction, Chen Tang Pass was peaceful and orderly, with few petty thefts or thieves. For such a disturbance to occur in front of their shop today seemed far too coincidental.
Peace brings happiness to the soul.
oh oh.
Is it finally my turn to experience the unpretentious world of business warfare?
Pingyu leaned against the door and tiptoed to look inside.
Anger, vigilance, and unease flashed across the faces of everyone present. She listened intently, to the clinking and tinkling of coins. The girl, raised in luxury, was acutely aware of money. No one could miss a single penny, no matter how much more or less money someone had. She pointed to a spot and spoke with certainty:
"There it is!"
Nezha stood at the door, his finger flicking expressionlessly.
The massive plaque, propelled by the swirling ribbon, moved swiftly and nimbly. It paused for a moment in mid-air, then slammed down on a man like a lasso locking onto its prey. Those around scattered, the thief slow to react due to his distraction. The weight of the plaque caused him to fall.
The money pouches were thrown all over the ground, with silver, copper, and seashell coins scattered everywhere.
The thief was exposed, and the signboard was raised again.
It soared back into the air, holding a wooden plaque atop the ceiling before everyone's eyes. The plaque was laid out, and the red silk and floral decorations swayed precariously, as if about to burst.
After placing the talisman, it loosened slightly, and several objects clattered out from inside.
One, two, three...five
Exactly five cowrie shells, no more, no less.
"Since you all are supporting the Lin and Li families, we certainly won't let our fellow villagers suffer any losses," the girl said with a smile. "The thief has fallen, so who will summon Mengshi now?"
To get off to a good start, you have to make an example of someone.
"Who are you?" someone asked, mustering their courage.
"The owner here."
Pingyu raised his chin and chuckled twice.
"You're just a child, how could you be the owner of this shop?" The others didn't believe it and questioned her repeatedly. But the fair-skinned and pretty girl neither cried nor got angry. She said in a clear, crisp voice like a proud cat, "Nezha was able to be a hero at such a young age, so why can't I be the owner?"
"I'm in charge of things and money; if anything goes wrong, I'll handle it together with Nezha."
"From demon kings to wild ghosts, you can come to us for any matters concerning demons and ghosts," Ping Yu said, holding up five fingers and waving them in front of the people.
Five Coins Everything Shop.
Open for business!
Author's note: Not only do we sleep in the same bed, but our shop has also opened!
I've reached 1000 nutrient solution points, so I'll add an extra chapter in a few days. I've been too busy with work these past few days, so I'll have to pay back a bit (I'm out of energy). Next time I'll add an extra chapter when I reach 2000!
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