"My Lady, please don't beat her to death."
Cai Lihua gritted her teeth and made a decision, stepping forward to stop Wang Shi.
"Exactly, Old Mrs. Wang, if you beat me to death, you'll never get the gold from this receipt. I have to be the one to claim it personally."
Li Yuanwai felt bitter in his heart. This gold was intended to bribe local officials after he reached Nanming City, allowing him to rise again through power.
He knew now that if he wanted to live, he had to cough up the money.
"How about this," Ah Jiu saw that her mother loved money, but who didn't love money in this life?
Moreover, Ah Jiu had learned from her mother. Although they hadn't reached Nanming City yet, she already had plans.
Her mother had excellent cooking skills, perhaps she could open a shop. As for Aunt Zhaodi's embroidery, it was a pity it was born in the wrong era. If they could utilize it, everyone could prosper together:
"Tie him up and throw him in the carriage. That wouldn't be considered us breaking the contract."
This suggestion diffused the tension.
"That's a good idea," Cai Lihua quickly pocketed the receipt. If the old man resisted, she would tear it up, and no one would get anything.
Wang Shi ignored everything else and scrambled onto the roof of the carriage.
This time, he was smarter. He secured himself with the reins and sat cross-legged, making his base more stable.
Just now, his true qi had been impacting his Ren meridian. At that crucial moment, that brat behind him had disturbed it, forcing him to start over.
He had eaten more spiritual fruits this time. Once they reached that Nanming City, he had to go into seclusion. After refining the purple qi, he would surely fulfill the rain the girl had asked for.
Tying up Li Yuanwai didn't require Cai Lihua's effort. Meng Shaode stepped up, bound him like a zongzi, and stuffed him into the carriage.
Seizing the opportunity when Wang Shi moved, Ah Jiu pulled off Li Yuanwai's socks and stuffed them into his mouth.
As soon as he was in the carriage, Li Yuanwai looked around. Fortunately, the carriage was filled with women and children.
"Sister Ah Jiu," Tuobayan's voice came from outside the carriage window.
"Hmm?" Ah Jiu poked her head out.
"Are you scared?" Tuobayan knew this old man was the buyer.
Ah Jiu shook her head, "I've seen ghosts all the way here, what's there to be afraid of?"
*Pfft*, Ah Jiu covered her mouth and laughed.
Tuobayan scratched his head sheepishly, "Sister Ah Jiu, you're right. You're not even scared of ghosts like me, and you trust me so much."
"Shh, you must not let others know you're a ghost in the future," Ah Jiu said mysteriously, holding up a finger.
"When we settle down at our next stop, you can help me dry the tea tree seeds. Then I'll fry them into cooking oil, and you won't lack that..."
"Kinetic energy."
"Right." Accompanied by the sound of hooves, Ah Jiu smiled serenely.
"By the way, Little Yan Yan, do you ghosts receive a lot of money every Ghost Festival?"
This had always puzzled Ah Jiu. She didn't know if the paper money burned at the graves truly reached the deceased.
"Huh?" Tuobayan scratched his head. "Paper money?" He shook his head like a rattle drum.
Ah Jiu mused. From Little Yan Yan's reaction, she understood, "I knew it. That paper money is just a comfort for the living."
And more, Ah Jiu perked up, "Then what's hell like, Little Yan Yan? Tell me about it."
Ever since she destroyed that deed of sale, Ah Jiu's mood had been exceptionally good.
"Hell? What kind of place is that?" Tuobayan felt very awkward. He knew too little, and he barely understood anything Ah Jiu said.
No, he had to learn more so he could have more engaging conversations with Sister Ah Jiu.
"How can you not know? Isn't that where ghosts live?" Ah Jiu didn't believe he didn't know.
"Oh, so it's a place to live. Our place isn't like this world anymore. When we travel, we go by that 'whoosh'..."
"Whoosh?" Ah Jiu's eyes widened.