At noon, Qin Gengyun arrived at Lingdanfang. The place was still deserted today, and it was obvious that the owner had not returned yet.

There was no sign of Wang Ping and Xu Li. I guess they went to Yihonglou to play role-playing games again last night.

Qin Gengyun cleaned the yard. At about three quarters past noon, an old man with a hunched back and a slight stoop came in, coughing as he walked.

Qin Gengyun stepped forward and asked him, "Fang Daoyou, are you feeling better?"

This old man is the only alchemy furnace attendant in Lingdanfang, his name is Fang Chao.

He was also at the second level of Qi training. After he turned forty, his cultivation level could no longer be improved. He married a Taoist partner, hoping to practice dual cultivation, but ultimately failed.

Later, his wife gave birth to a daughter with medium-grade dual spiritual roots. Fang Chao was overjoyed and regarded his daughter as his only hope in this life.

Fang Chao and his wife worked desperately to earn spirit stones, and when their daughter was fifteen years old, they sent her to the monastic academy in Zhenyang City to study.

This spiritual academy for monks was set up by the outer sect of Zhenyang Sect. Disciples with outstanding cultivation in the spiritual academy have a great hope of entering the outer sect of Zhenyang Sect.

However, the annual tuition fee for the Spiritual Academy is eighty spirit stones. In order to let his daughter stay in the academy to study, Fang Chao came to the Spiritual Pill Shop to work as a pill poison attendant.

Fang Chao's wife also works two jobs.

This is also a common occurrence in lower-level cultivator families. If a couple has no hope of building a foundation and they give birth to offspring with spiritual roots, they will invest resources in it, no matter what the cost, to allow their offspring to climb up.

At this time, Fang Chao, who was hunched over, was bowing to Qin Gengyun:

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Qin. I am fine now."

After saying that, he coughed twice. Qin Gengyun didn't say much. He just smiled and continued to clean with his head down.

If you come in one day short of work, you will have your wages deducted for one day. Given the situation at Fellow Daoist Fang's home, they naturally cannot afford to have their wages deducted for even a single day.

Qin Gengyun cleaned the yard and looked towards the old alchemy room. After thinking for a while, he walked over with a broom, only to find that the door was locked.

He walked to the side and looked through a hole in the window, only to see the bronze furnace prominently placed inside.

I guess Yang Fengshan failed to sell the bronze furnace last night, so he put it back overnight.

Qin Gengyun found it a little strange. Yang Fengshan had the highest salary in the town, so he shouldn't be short of money. Why did he want to do such a risky thing?

If he really sold it, how would he explain to the abbot?

"Old Fang, you haven't been here for two days, so I'll deduct one spirit stone from you!"

At this time, Yang Fengshan's voice came from the yard. Qin Gengyun walked out and saw Fang Chao explaining to Yang Fengshan:

"Manager Yang, I asked for leave from the abbot before he left. The abbot promised me that he would not deduct my salary for the two days I rested!"

Yang Fengshan sneered: "I am the manager, and I am in charge of your attendance and rest. You didn't ask for leave from me, so what's the problem with deducting your spirit stones?"

"Manager Yang, my daughter is about to pay the tuition for the spiritual academy. Please be merciful!"

"Old Fang, stop talking about your daughter with middle-grade spiritual roots all the time! Do you think I don't know? Your daughter is just a middle-class person in the spiritual academy, and there is no hope for her to enter the outer sect of Zhenyang Sect!"

"Manager Yang, but the owner promised me..."

"Okay, there's still half a furnace of poison in the backyard, we have to clean it up before noon!"

After Yang Fengshan finished speaking, he ignored Fang Chao's desperate pleading and walked towards the old alchemy room with his fat short legs. When he saw Qin Gengyun, he asked coldly:

"what are you doing here?"

Qin Gengyun raised the broom in his hand and said, "Manager Yang, I want to clean this alchemy room. I don't know why the door is locked."

Yang Fengshan scolded, "Didn't I tell you? This old alchemy room needs to be renovated, and outsiders are not allowed to enter! Don't you understand?"

"Okay, I'll go clean somewhere else then."

Qin Gengyun walked into the yard with a broom. When he saw the haggard old man Fang, he sighed slightly and went to work.

night.

Qin Gengyun came to the night market and looked at Mo Xiaolan's stall from a distance. Seeing that she was busy greeting customers, he did not disturb her and walked around on his own.

After an hour, I walked around the entire night market but couldn't find any second-hand alchemy furnace for sale.

The main reason is that the price of the alchemy furnace is expensive. Usually, those who want to sell a second-hand alchemy furnace will go to Fuyuan Pavilion, not the night market.

However, Qin Gengyun had been to Fuyuan Pavilion before and saw that an ordinary second-hand bronze furnace cost about fifty or sixty spirit stones, which he could not afford.

You can only try your luck at the night market.

Unfortunately, my luck is bad today, I can only try again tomorrow.

Just as I was about to leave the night market, a cheerful and heroic voice came from behind me:

"Fellow Daoist Qin, why didn't you look for me when you came?"

Turning around, I saw Mo Xiaolan in a plain robe standing in front of me with her hands behind her back. The small orchid on her left shoulder matched her smile, making her look quite lively.

Qin Gengyun smiled and said, "Friend Mo Dao, I have already delayed you for several days. I don't want to bother you any more."

Mo Xiaolan rolled her eyes at him and said, "Stop talking so politely. Let's go."

After saying that, he dragged him to the second-hand stall at the innermost part of the East Market without further ado.

Zheng Daoyou was still slumped in the recliner. When he saw the two people coming, he didn't get up. He pushed aside his messy hair that covered his eyes:

"You are lucky. Today, someone came to me to sell a bronze furnace. The price is 18 spirit stones. If you like, you can come and inspect the goods in two days."

Noila Mo frowned: "Why did the agreed price go up again?"

Zheng Daoyou then stood up and said lazily: "At this price, if you don't want it, someone will definitely want it!"

Mo Xiaolan suddenly laughed, walked up to the sloppy vendor, and blinked:

"Friend Zheng, you almost sold me the broken Black Heart Furnace yesterday. If everyone in the night market knew about this, do you think anyone would dare to buy things from you again?"

Zheng Daoyou pointed at her and said, "You, you are slandering me!"

Mo Xiaolan smoothed the ponytail behind her head and put her hands on her hips: "The original price remains unchanged, twelve spirit stones, a bronze furnace and a spirit fan."

Zheng Daoyou's slovenly face turned pale and blue, and he stamped his feet and cried out:

"I'm so unlucky to have met you!"

"Thank you, Brother Zheng. We'll come back in two days."

Mo Xiaolan smiled and bowed to him, then took Qin Gengyun away.

Qin Gengyun said, "Friend Mo, if you offend him, will there be trouble in the night market?"

Mo Xiaolan laughed: "Fellow Daoist Qin, don't worry, he can still earn the twelve spirit stones. He was just putting on a show in front of us!"

Qin Gengyun looked back and saw that Zheng Daoyou, who had been beating his chest and stamping his feet just now, had collapsed back on the recliner safely.

He couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.

Those who can survive in this night market are indeed smart people.

Looking at Mo Xiaolan with a bright smile on her face, I felt even more admiration for her.

It is not easy for her, a female cultivator with no background or support, to survive here.

It is now Si time and the night market is closed.

Qin Gengyun helped Mo Xiaolan pack up the stall, and the two went home together.

Back in Narrow Rain Lane, Qin Gengyun thanked Mo Xiaolan again.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, if you continue to be so polite, I won't dare to help you again."

Mo Xiaolan smiled and waved at him: "Go back quickly, your wife must be waiting anxiously."

After saying that, he opened the door and walked in.

Qin Gengyun turned around and was about to go into the house, but he paused for a moment. He seemed to see a figure flash past the window of his house.

Could it be that Qiu Zhihe is getting impatient and looking at me through the window?

Qin Gengyun shook his head and thought, I must be overthinking it.

He opened the door and entered the house, and smelled the appetizing aroma again.

For him, going home and having a bowl of scallion and minced meat porridge late at night in the cold winter is a real treat.

"Fellow Daoist Qiu, I'm back. Have you cooked porridge again?"

Qin Gengyun said with a smile to Qiu Zhihe who was sitting at the table.

"No."

But Qiu Zhihe answered expressionlessly.

"No?" Qin Gengyun was startled and shrugged his nose:

"But this fragrance..."

"I've already drunk all of it."

Qiu Zhihe said lightly, got up, climbed onto the bed, and lay down with her back to him:

"I slept."

Then she turned back, her almond eyes frosted:

"Don't bother me."