Chapter 266 Jinjiang
In the yard of Uncle Bai's house.
Although Uncle Bai left on the pretext of feeling unwell, it did not affect anyone else. Instead, it made everyone feel more comfortable.
The only downside is that I can’t think about dinner.
Because Zhang Wubing's bad seasoning ruined a good pot of noodles, everyone felt sorry for the pot of noodles and scolded Zhang Wubing at the same time.
The most emotional of them all was on Annan Plain.
Because he was quick-witted, when everyone went downstairs to eat together, he was the only one who picked up the bowl of noodles first, and thus tasted Zhang Wubing's cooking, which was so unpalatable that he almost sent him away.
An Nanyuan was now sitting in the kitchen, staring at Zhang Wubing with his eyes fixed, gargling with a mouthful of warm water.
Zhang Wubing touched his nose guiltily, looking up at the sky and the earth but not daring to look at Annanyuan.
Zhao Zhen next to him didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Nanyuan, you really believe in Director Zhang's cooking skills. He doesn't look like someone who can cook. How could you trust him so much that he picked up such a big chopstick of noodles and ate it without any hesitation?"
Zhang Wubing nodded repeatedly as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw: "Yes, yes, yes, how can you trust me..."
"I thought this was Binhai style noodles with thick red sauce!"
An Nanyuan said angrily, "Other people's black balls are usually delicious, why is it that this rule doesn't apply to Director Zhang? Director Zhang, do you have an abnormal physique?"
Zhang Wubing, who just wanted to follow Zhao Zhen's words and defend himself, said: "......"
Zhao Zhen looked at An Nanyuan with an indescribable expression.
Should we say that he is worthy of being a talent show debut? He is really good at talking. That bowl of black Chinese medicine-like substance can be beautified into a thick and oily sauce...Does the chef of Binhai cuisine agree?
Lu Xingxing heard that there would be dinner, so he walked down the stairs with difficulty. When he reached the kitchen, he saw that everyone was sitting or standing, with frowns on their faces, and the atmosphere in the air was tense.
Everyone had different expressions in the kitchen, where there was still a faint smell of pasta, but no one was eating.
Lu Xingxing: “?”
"You bunch of animals, the donkeys in the production team are not as good as you can eat!"
Lu Xingxing looked at everyone in horror: "I only slept a little longer, and you didn't leave any food for me? Can we still be friends?"
Everyone: “Uh…”
Zhang Wubing tried his best to curl himself up into a small ball, then trotted to the kettle inside to pour a cup of hot water and brought it back to the wounded.
"Noodles, there are no noodles left."
Zhang Wubing said with a guilty conscience: "Xingxing, why don't you drink some water to relieve your hunger? Wait for Brother Yan to come back and cook. Brother Yan's cooking is actually quite delicious. At least it's not poisonous to kill people."
Zhang Wubing, who lacked confidence, spoke until his voice became lower and softer than a mosquito.
Lu Xingxing looked at Zhang Wubing in confusion. He glanced around the kitchen. His eyesight, which had been trained during this period of time following Yan Shixun, made him notice the bowls of noodles on the stove next to An Nanyuan at first glance.
Although the noodle soup in the bowl was dark yellow and difficult to distinguish, it was gleaming with oil under the light, which was very attractive to Lu Xingxing who was continuing to replenish his energy after losing too much blood.
"What are you talking about? Isn't this face-saving?"
Lu Xingxing pushed Zhang Wubing away and looked at him strangely: "You won't even give me a bowl of noodles? Dabing, are you really that stingy? Don't worry, I'll eat your bowl of noodles and I'll give you ten bowls when we get back to Binhai."
As he spoke, Lu Xingxing walked towards An Nanyuan and reached out to take the bowl of noodles.
But Zhao Zhen quickly stopped him.
"Oh, oh, oh, no! You're already injured, you can't continue to destroy your health like this, don't be depressed."
Lu Xingxing discovered that Zhao Zhen and An Nanyuan's eyes were both on him, with nervous expressions in their eyes.
His hand was suspended in the air. He looked at the bowl of noodles in front of him, then looked at Zhang Wubing who was obviously feeling guilty, and gradually he figured something out.
"Zhang Dabing, you..."
Lu Xingxing looked at Zhang Wubing in horror: "You really are worthy of living with Brother Yan and Auntie Yan! Are you going to inherit even this kind of thing from Auntie Yan?"
Zhang Wubing: "Ah, yes, yes... um? What?"
Zhang Wubing originally thought that Lu Xingxing was going to blame him, so he humbly prepared himself to be scolded. But just as he was nodding halfway, he was stunned.
He raised his head and looked at Lu Xingxing with a blank face. It took him several beats to realize that Lu Xingxing was talking about Ye Li's cooking skills.
When in Binhai City, Zhang Wubing also used the excuse that he had too much to do and it was too late and it was not safe to go home, and he stayed at Yan Shixun's house several times.
After all, given his physical condition, saying that he was afraid of encountering ghosts while walking at night was the best excuse, and even Ye Li would have trouble finding fault with it.
But the problem is, although Zhang Wubing originally wanted to target Jing Xiaobao, he didn't want this kid who was good at sweet-talking to stay alone with his brother Yan and snatch away his love.
But at the same time, he also provoked Ye Li.
After all, with Zhang Wubing around, Yan Shixun's attention would be diverted a lot. Even the things he was worried about became Zhang Wubing's show, and he often talked with Zhang Wubing until late at night.
This caused strong dissatisfaction in Yeli.
——He hasn’t even had a late-night candlelight chat with his beloved exorcist.
Therefore, Zhang Wubing was naturally used by Ye Li as a tool to taste the food, and together with Jing Xiaobao, he was responsible for trying Ye Li's cooking skills.
Ye Li regarded them as tools to improve his cooking skills, but both Jing Xiaobao and Zhang Wubing suddenly had the illusion that they were garbage cans.
Then, Jing Xiaobao fled back to the underworld overnight, crying and saying that being the King of Hell was easier than eating the food of Yeli.
With tears in his eyes, Zhang Wubing called the family driver and begged him to pick him up, saying that even if he bowed to Zhang's father, it would be easier to swallow than the food in Yeli.
Ye Li: "..."
However, at that time, although Ye Li was very unhappy about their lack of support for his cooking skills, overall, he was still very satisfied with the situation that there were only him and Shi Xun left at home.
Lu Xingxing had the "fortune" to encounter this kind of scene several times.
This left a huge psychological shadow.
But what Lu Xingxing didn't expect was... How could Zhang Wubing inherit this kind of thing from Ye Li? ? It really proved the saying that people from the same family stick together.
Lu Xingxing and Zhang Wubing looked at each other, while Zhao Zhen and An Nanyuan beside them looked back and forth between them in confusion.
When Lu Xingxing explained the reason to them and emphasized the similarities between Zhang Wubing and Ye Li's cooking skills, even someone as calm as Zhao Zhen couldn't help but be amazed.
"Can this be inherited? No, Director Zhang and Brother Yan are not from the same family, right? The word hereditary cannot be used."
Zhao Zhen, who has been taking care of herself since her debut as a child star, asked Zhang Wubing sincerely, "How did Director Zhang do it? Cooking is something that normal people can do naturally once they get into the kitchen, right?"
An Nanyuan, who only knows how to cook instant noodles, said: I feel like you are scolding me too.
But Zhang Wubing was not convinced. An impulse surged from his heart, as if it came from the desire to win deep in his soul, driving him to say, "No, that won't work. If his cooking is bad, then I must be worse than him!"
No matter what we compete in, we must not lose to that guy from Fengdu!
Everyone: "Ah... there's no need to compare this."
This is the first time I see such a thing, Director Zhang, wake up! What are you doing?
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Zhang Wubing suddenly came back to his senses as if he had been awakened.
He blinked, and when he saw that everyone was looking at him, he had to bite the bullet and patch it up, saying, "No, my father can only have me as his eldest son, so of course I will inherit it!"
When talking about this matter, Zhang Wubing thought of Jing Xiaobao and suddenly became really angry.
Zhang Wubing: Did you see that? My father and I are from the same family. Where did this little ghost Jing Xiaobao who appeared in the middle of the road come from?
Everyone was silent for a long time, and then An Nanyuan said expressionlessly: "Yes, Uncle Bai has already made the noodles, and all he needs to do is add some seasoning. Director Zhang, you can make this, of course you are gifted, and ordinary people can't even dream of it."
An Nanyuan clasped his hands together and said devoutly, "Thank you, Director Zhang, for allowing us to only drink water now."
Lu Xingxing pressed his rumbling stomach and could only gulp down hot water dejectedly.
Zhang Wubing: “…”
Yes, there is murderous intent QAQ.
He stepped back silently, fearing that one of them might do something to him if he lost his composure, and ran as fast as a rabbit.
Song Ci saw all of this.
But the young master, who was usually very picky about the quality of life, said nothing this time.
He just sat on the stool at the kitchen door, with his back to the light and warmth of the kitchen, quietly staring at Xie Lin not far away, with worry in his eyes.
What Xie Lin said just now after he came back from outside, that he saw his sister, made Song Ci very worried about Xie Lin's condition.
But even if the young master suspected that Xie Lin had not taken medicine on time again, after all, Xie Lin had done this before. But now in the wild forest, there was no doctor to see.
He could only suppress his anxiety, force himself to calm down, and made up his mind that as soon as he left Baizhi Lake, he would take Xie Lin to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Although Xie Lin explained it to Song Ci, Song Ci obviously didn't believe it.
And now, based on Song Ci's observation of Xie Lin, this worry has gradually deepened.
Xie Lin has been distracted ever since he came back.
Even if someone talked to him or greeted him, he looked absent-minded, and even his smile was obviously perfunctory. It was obvious that his mind was still on his sister outside and he had not returned yet.
Song Ci pursed his lips, his beautiful eyes full of annoyance.
In fact, many people did not tell the truth to Xie Lin. Instead, he, the person who picked up Xie Lin several times, was mistaken for Xie Lin's guardian and told the whole truth.
Xie Lin...it's impossible for him to find his sister.
The appraisal report at that time had already said that the kidnapped Xie Jiaojiao had almost no chance of survival. It was highly likely that she had been affected by the kidnapping gang and was taken away and killed.
Before, Song Ci also wanted to help Xie Lin find Xie Jiaojiao through the Song family’s connections.
Although the young master has always been self-centered, he cannot understand why someone would place the meaning of life on other people, and not even cherish his own life because of the death of others.
But if Xie Jiaojiao is found, Xie Lin can regain his confidence and become the singing god he was many years ago, standing on the altar and cheering for everyone.
Then Song Ci doesn't mind helping Xie Lin find Xie Jiaojiao.
——Find the meaning of Xie Lin’s life.
As the person who is closest to Xie Lin and knows him best, even though Song Ci is unhappy, he knows that Xie Lin never cherishes himself.
Xie Lin’s life belongs to Xie Jiaojiao.
Whether he left the village to work as a waiter in the county town or was brought into the entertainment industry by a director with a discerning eye and became a big star, everything Xie Lin did was initially done to support Xie Jiaojiao and give this sister the best life.
From a boy who grew up in a muddle by eating at other people's houses, to a singing god who is the center of attention and has unlimited glory... all he lacks is Xie Jiaojiao.
Song Ci looked at Xie Lin in the yard with complicated eyes.
Since Xie Lin came back, he has been standing in the yard, looking up in the direction of the house opposite, and he is absent-minded no matter who talks to him.
Song Ci sighed, and finally couldn't bear to see Xie Lin's dejected look anymore, so he turned around and went upstairs, ready to check his coat pocket to see if he had Xie Lin's medicine.
Just as Song Ci went upstairs, Xie Lin finally made up his mind and walked towards the door.
Ye Li, who was immersed in the darkness, raised his eyelashes, looked indifferently at Xie Lin who was walking towards him again, and raised his arm to stop him.
Xie Lin looked at Ye Li in confusion, not knowing what he was going to do.
But without Yan Shixun, Ye Li was obviously not interested in strangers and didn't even want to explain.
As a ghost and god who never cared about the human world, Ye Li never thought of himself as someone like Nuwa who sacrificed herself for the world, nor did he intend to imitate the gods who had many believers in the human world. He never regarded things like kindness and saving the world as his responsibility.
Fengdu’s original function was judgment and death.
The reason why Ye Li was able to guard the gate of the courtyard at this time was only because Yan Shixun wanted him to protect everyone, so he did so.
——The only person who can use ghosts and gods to watch the gate is Yan Shixun.
He is the last ghost god left in the world, an existence that even the Great Dao has tried its best to invite with great difficulty.
As for the redundant explanations to others...
Ye Li stood in the darkness indifferently. Even though Xie Lin was staring at him, he had no intention of speaking.
For thousands of years, the Lord of Fengdu has never responded to the human world.
No matter whether it is a high monk or the founder of a sect, in the eyes of the Lord of Fengdu, they are all ignored and neglected.
The only exception is the evil ghost that is favored by all ghosts and gods.
Want a kind answer from ghosts and gods?
Dreams are more realistic than this.
Xie Lin waited patiently for a moment and signaled Ye Li with his eyes many times, but Ye Li remained indifferent.
He had no choice but to ask Ye Li politely, "Mr. Assistant, I'm going to go out for a while, can you please move aside?"
Ye Li lowered his eyelashes again, looking like he was asleep. He maintained his original posture of reaching out to stop Xie Lin, without saying a word.
Xie Lin said a lot, but found that Ye Li still looked like he couldn't hear or see anything, and he gradually became angry.
He was the guest who came in this episode because of Song Ci. He was not familiar with either Yan Shixun or Ye Li. He had only heard some introductions from Song Ci. He only knew that the assistant beside Yan Shixun was called an assistant but was actually Yan Shixun's lover.
But at this time, Ye Li stopped him from going to the other side, which still made Xie Lin a little angry. His tone gradually became heavier and questioning.
Ye Li then raised his eyelashes, and the shadow under his feet quietly spread, covering Xie Lin and wiping away the consequences of his disrespect for ghosts and gods.
Although Fengdu is a ghost town, it is a righteous place recognized by heaven and earth.
If you insult ghosts and gods, even if they have no intention of blaming you, heaven and earth will not allow it to happen.
Ye Li didn't care about other people's attitude towards him. The only person he cared about was Yan Shixun.
But he also didn't want to ruin Xie Lin's luck because of such a small matter.
However, since Xie Lin has said it to this extent, Ye Li is not a good-tempered and kind saint, nor is he a Buddha who cuts flesh to feed an eagle.
In his view, all people, gods and ghosts, are responsible for their own actions and must bear the consequences of their choices.
Living people have this freedom.
——If this is their original will.
Therefore, Ye Li only glanced at Xie Lin and finally asked the first question: "Do you take responsibility for the consequences?"
This was different from Xie Lin's previous trip. At that time, Yan Shixun was just opposite him. Even if Xie Lin went there, he would enter Yan Shixun's sight from the protection range of Yeli, and there would be no possibility of any danger.
But now, Ye Li could see at a glance that Xie Lin was anxiously concerned about the house opposite, and was eager to go there to find someone, but Yan Shixun was not there.
Because the shadow play here is guarded by the ebony statue, even Ye Li, when facing himself a thousand years ago, has lost the ability to communicate with heaven and earth, and cannot see the truth hidden by the power of the statue.
Xie Lin didn't know what Ye Li was thinking, he just sneered and said: "What I do is my business, I appreciate your kindness, but no thanks."
Ye Li withdrew his arm, no longer trying to block the darkness behind him and merged into one again.
Xie Lin walked out of the door with big strides with an excited expression and ran straight to Zheng Shumu's house across the street.
Ye Li turned his head slightly and saw Xie Lin knocking on the door opposite.
The singing god who was always elegant and steady in front of everyone, now seemed as anxious as a young man. He stood in front of the door of Zheng Shumu's house, eager to get a positive or negative result immediately.
or……
Just a simple look at the little girl who reminded him of his sister could ease his painful longing for her and make him feel a little relieved that he still had the strength to continue in this painful life.
Xie Lin waited for a moment before a few faint sounds were heard from inside the door.
It sounded like someone was walking towards the door.
The door was cautiously opened a crack.
The little girl pouted unhappily, rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and looked outside, as if she was woken up from her sleep.
"Who is it?"
Zheng Tiantian blinked, then looked up at Xie Lin and asked in surprise: "Brother, why are you here?"
When Xie Lin saw Zheng Tiantian's smile, he was also infected and raised the corners of his mouth.
But when I heard her words, I realized that there was really no reason for me to come here.
Even though he couldn't wait to figure out why he thought of his sister when he saw Zheng Tiantian, and why he always felt that Zheng Tiantian was so much like his sister.
But saying such things to a strange little girl for no reason...
Xie Lin pursed his lips, worried that he would scare Zheng Tiantian.
Just when Xie Lin was racking his brains to come up with an excuse, he saw Zheng Tiantian obediently moving aside to make room for the door and motioning Xie Lin to come in.
"Brother, come in and talk."
Zheng Tiantian frowned and said unhappily: "I don't like my door to be open. I always worry about naughty little animals running out."
“Do you still have pets?”
Xie Lin asked casually and stepped over the threshold as invited.
The door slowly closed behind him, making a heavy muffled sound.
In the darkness not far away, Ye Li half-closed his eyes and watched all this.
When Xie Lin's figure disappeared from his sight, he withdrew his gaze with a lack of interest and looked towards the direction of the kitchen in the yard again.
Yeli had an inexplicable feeling.
He felt that Zhang Wubing tonight made him particularly annoyed.
And that ridiculous desire to win just now...
Ye Li stared at Zhang Wubing grimly and snorted inaudibly.
It always reminds him of the ghost in the underworld a hundred years ago.
Just at this moment, Zhang Wubing looked back as if with some feeling, and in the warm and bright kitchen, he looked towards Yeli in the dark courtyard.
But this little fool who always cried and chased Yan Shixun to hug his thighs, now looked at Ye Li with eyes full of clear calmness.
It was as if he had experienced life and death countless times, faced disasters of the sky collapsing and the earth collapsing. The cries and blood of all the people in the world stung his eyes, and the ghosts wailed but could not be saved.
Then, all the pain and anger accumulated in his soul, gradually settled, and became heavy and steady.
Zhang Wubing's eyes were dull and lifeless, but when he turned his head away, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
The mist in the kitchen rose around him, and his back was straight, with only a section of his white neck exposed.
Just like a crane, it stands elegantly and independently in the swirling mist.
Zhang Wubing tilted his head, as if he sensed something, and the smile on his lips deepened.
Yan Shixun...
The sky was dark.
It was dark between the ridges of the fields.
Plants as tall as a person covered the entire field, making it impossible to tell where is where.
Yan Shixun followed the footsteps of the woman and the ghost baby all the way forward, but when he saw the young man suddenly appear, he suddenly stopped.
The young man was skinny, with messy hair like weeds. He was wearing ill-fitting clothes. The cuffs of his hands and feet were much shorter, and each piece of cloth was made of a different color. It looked like the clothes were made from scraps of cloth donated by other people.
He walked along the ridges of the fields like a wandering soul, bending down from time to time to feel the ground.
The boy's broken bones made people worry that he would fall to the ground and never get up again.
Yan Shixun knew what the boy was doing.
Pick up food.
The little bit of food left in the fields by other families was precious food for the young man.
Judging from the boy's body shape and clothes, he lived a life of being poorly clothed and hungry. He was so hungry that he felt dizzy and could only pick up things that others didn't want to eat.
But now, there are not only scattered grains in the fields, but also...
Yan Shixun's gaze fell down and landed on the ghost baby.
The ball that was black and ferocious just now has now absorbed all of the mother's strength and has fallen asleep peacefully in the blood-stained swaddling clothes with rosy cheeks.
But as if it was awakened by the boy's movement, the ghost baby cried a few times uncomfortably.
This caused the young man to look over in alertness and surprise.
Yan Shixun subconsciously wanted to step forward to stop the boy, but the boy was faster and staggered towards the cradle.
When he saw the crying baby, the boy's face was filled with obvious surprise, followed by an angry look.
He probably thought that this was an abandoned baby thrown away by some family, and angrily wanted to see who had done it.
But the boy quickly forgot his anger at the baby's voice, and he hurriedly picked up the swaddling baby from the edge of the field.
The boy's posture was clumsy but very careful, fearing that his bones would hurt the baby, hurt her or scare her.
When the baby was held in the boy's arms, he raised his head, blinked his round eyes when he looked at him, flapped his chubby arms, and giggled.
The boy's expression softened in an instant, becoming completely soft.
"You are an abandoned life, and so am I."
Yan Shixun heard the young man said to the ghost baby in a soft and intimate manner: "It doesn't matter if they don't want you. I want you. I will raise you in the future. If I have a bite to eat, you will have one too."
The boy held the ghost baby's hand and made a lifelong vow: "I will protect you."
Thunder and lightning suddenly broke out, cutting through the night sky. With a loud bang, the earth and sky were shaking.
It was as if the great way of heaven and earth was roaring, wanting to chop the ghost baby into pieces.
However, the ghost baby was held in the arms of a living person, as if it was protected therein, making it impossible for the Great Dao to pass through the living person's rebuke, and the thunder and lightning could only flash weakly on the sky.
Yan Shixun looked at this scene and suddenly understood why the ghost baby, which represented a great omen since birth and even consumed its mother's life, was able to survive.
——Oaths and protection from the living.
Heaven and earth are not merciful, but they will not harm innocent lives without reason without any cause or effect.
Even though the Tao sees everything and knows what will happen in the future, as long as the future has not happened and the cause and effect have not been realized, the Tao cannot make any action before life has borne the sin of cause and effect.
It is the great way because it constrains all existence equally.
But this invisible restriction can also be exploited by the cunning ghost baby.
When the boy raised his head, lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the earth and the boy's face.
Yan Shixun's sharp eyes slowly widened.
Even though that face was still young at that moment, and had become haggard and unrecognizable due to years of malnutrition, Yan Shixun could still see familiar traces on that face.
Yan Shixun knew very well that when this boy grew up and his face gradually developed, he would cause countless people to go crazy and admire him.
This young man will usher in a golden age. His name will be sung across the country. He will be worshipped as an idol and a god, and all praise and commendatory words will be enthusiastically attributed to his name.
He is...
Xie Lin.
Then this ghost baby...
Yan Shixun realized something, and his slightly dazed gaze lowered to the giggling ghost baby.
He recalled what he had heard from Song Ci about Xie Lin.
Xie Lin has an adopted sister. Although they are not related by blood, he loves her very much and even regards her as the meaning of his life and struggle.
Xie Jiaojiao......
"This is your sister. She died in your mother's womb and was born as a ghost baby. Your mother named her Zheng Tiantian."
Yan Shixun said hoarsely to Zheng Shumu beside him: "She is also Xie Lin's missing sister, Xie Jiaojiao."
Zheng Shumu let out a long sigh, then gently closed his eyes and turned his head away, no longer looking at the scene in front of him.
"Mr. Yan, if it were you, what would you choose?"
Zheng Shumu's voice dropped: "When you are full of guilt and regret, you may bring about a disaster that destroys the world, but what she destroys is only what you hate... Will you stop her? Or, how will you treat her?"
"As a relative, or as a ghost exorcist?"
Zheng Shushu smiled bitterly.
He was clearly smiling, but it looked uglier than crying. There was no light in his cloudy eyes, only tears of blood surging from the bottom of his eyes.
Zheng Shumu walked slowly to the side, squatted down, stretched out his hand, and gently held the skeleton, which was skin and bones but without flesh and blood, lying on the ground, into his arms.
Drops of blood and tears fell onto the corpse.
Zheng Tiantian had taken away all the woman's strength, and now only a hideous skeleton was left.
But even so, her eyes were still wide open, staring fixedly in the direction of Zheng Tiantian.
As if wanting to call out——
Sweet.
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