Although Flying Flower Island was poor, the head of the household obviously knew how to make money and lived a very prosperous life.
She was wearing a bat embroidered golden satin robe, and a top quality snow gauze robe made by the Kunlun Treading Snow Palace. Her black and white hair was tied up in an extremely glossy bun, and her hair was adorned with jade beads. Her eyebrows were thickly drawn with the finest conch, and her lips were slightly red. Around her neck was a pearl necklace with a warm texture, and two golden earrings inlaid with rubies the size of pigeon eggs hung from her ears, tugging heavily on her earlobes.
She was a woman in her fifties, and her youthful beauty was long gone. Her body was slightly bloated, and her face was full of wrinkles. It would be fine if she deliberately dressed up, but she obviously thought that the more luxurious things she wore, the more beautiful she would be. So, instead, she was trapped in this pile of glittering pearls and jade, like an old turtle wearing red and green.
The old turtle sat on half of the land of Flying Flower Island, and the village chief didn't dare to say anything when she spoke.
At this moment, the sun rose, and the old turtle with red flowers and green leaves came to the square slowly. She sat in the red rosewood bat deer chair that was prepared for her, and looked at the refugees from Linyi.
"Why did you accept them?" She opened her heavy and oily eyes and glanced at the village chief. "They haven't even paid, so why did you give them a room to live in? How about the food? How much did they eat? "
"Not much … It's all leftovers in the village. They can't eat anymore," the village chief murmured.
The old turtle snorted and said, "They still have to pay. Didn't the rice and wheat come from my Sun Sanniang's land? This year's harvest wasn't good, so I opened the warehouse to give ten kilograms of barley flour and a pot of oil to every family on the island. I don't mind giving you food since we're all family, but I'm afraid it's not good for you to use my food to help the refugees in Linyi, right? "
"You're right," the village chief said with an apologetic smile. "But look, these little girls and old men are so pitiful in this cold weather. You're so kind, so why don't you just let it go?"
The old turtle stared at him. "How can I let it go? Money, it's all money. "
Village chief: "…"
"How much did each family feed them?" Old Turtle asked. "I asked you to record it. Did you record it?"
Village Chief had no choice but to say, "Yes, I've figured it out." As she spoke, she handed a booklet to Sun Sanniang. Sun Sanniang raised her right hand and nine colorful bracelets appeared on her right wrist. They were made of gold, silver, jade and all kinds of gemstones, covering almost half of her forearm.
"Yes." She lazily finished looking through the accounts book, opened the box, counted with her fingers, and said, "You people are really pigs. You can really eat. In such a short time, you've already eaten twenty-six steamed buns on the island. Our steamed buns are big and sturdy, so it's not too much to charge you ninety silvers. In addition, I drank half a jar of fresh water, which I brought back from Linyi. Linyi sold me 3 gold per jar, so I had to take into account the travel expenses, so I sold it back to you for 4 gold per jar. Half a jar is 2 gold, so that's a total of 2 gold and 90 silver. By the way, Sister Zhang. "
The kind-looking woman who was called trembled and hurriedly raised her head. "Ah, Third Madam."
Sun Sanniang smiled. "Your steamed buns are the best. When you knead the dough, you put lard inside. You have to account for it."
"This … ten steamed buns will only produce a grain of lard the size of a pea. How do you calculate this?"
"Why not? Ten steamed buns will produce a grain of lard the size of a pea. After conversion, I charge you one copper coin. It's not too much."
"…"
"So it's 2 gold, 90 silver and one copper coin." Sun Sanniang said, "In addition, you slept in the house on my land. Although the house is not mine, the land is mine. You slept for a total of one hour, so the fee for one hour is 70 copper coins per person."
She turned to ask the steward next to her. "How many people are there in total?"
"In reply to Third Madam, there are forty-nine in total."
"That's not right. Didn't you say fifty-one? What about the other two? "
Before she finished speaking, a gloomy voice suddenly said,
"They're here."
Although Chu Wanning was not wearing a white robe, but a deep moon-white robe, he still had a divine aura and a frosty aura. His pair of slightly upturned eyes were clear, but they were cold and arrogant, like sharp bayonets unsheathed.
Sun Sanniang was an ordinary person, but when she saw cultivators, she did not fear them.
She had been making a living for most of her life. Although she nitpicked and haggled over the smallest details, she did not commit any crimes.
Therefore, she said unhurriedly, "So it's an immortal. No wonder you don't need to sleep. These people were saved by you, right? You came at the right time. Hurry up and pay up. "
The village chief said in a low voice, "Third Madam, these two are not from the Confucian Wind Sect. They are immortal masters at the peak of life and death. You don't have to …"
"I don't care which sect they are from. I only recognize money, not people."
Chu Wanning glanced at the refugees who were huddled together and shivering from the cold. He raised his hand and cast a golden-red barrier to dispel the cold. Then he turned his head and asked, "How much do you want?"
"Two gold, ninety-three silver, and four hundred and thirty copper."
Although Sun Sanniang was disgusting, they had nowhere else to go. Chu Wanning knew that if he offended her, he would implicate the people he brought with him. Therefore, although his complexion was very bad, he still took out a money pouch from his Qiankun Bag and threw it to her.
"There's about eighty gold inside." Most of his money was with Xue Zhengyong, so he did not have much left. "We need to stay for about seven days. Count it and see if it's enough."
"It's not enough."
Sun Sanniang would not do it herself. She handed the money pouch to her subordinates and let them count it on the side.
"Eighty gold is only enough for you to stay for three days at most, and it doesn't include food."
"You —!"
"If immortal master is not convinced, I can settle this account with you. A businessman knows how to calculate money. I can tell you the reason for every transaction. "
At this time, Mo Ran also rushed over. He did not have much money on him. Together with Chu Wanning, it was barely enough for fifty-two people to eat and live for four days.
Sun Sanniang put away the money and smiled with her bright red lips. "I'll let you stay for four days. After four days, if you don't have money, I won't care if the fire is extinguished or not. You have to leave immediately."
In order to save money, Chu Wanning did not eat that night. He threw the transmission begonia into the river and tried to get in touch with Xue Zhengyong. Then, he returned to the small house he was temporarily staying in.
This house was more simple and crude than the one he stayed in during the farming season in Yuliang Village. There were not many rooms on the island, so everyone had to squeeze together. Chu Wanning was not used to sharing a room with strangers, so he could only sleep with Mo Ran.
At this time, the light in the room was on, but Mo Ran was not there. He did not know where he went.
Chu Wanning took off his outer robe. Although the robe was luxurious, the material was not better than the white clothes he usually wore. It was stained with ashes and blood from the fire. He poured a wooden bucket of hot water and was about to wash it when the door opened.
Chu Wanning looked up and glanced at him. "Where did you go? You're back so late. "
Mo Ran entered the house and brought back a bamboo lunch box. The wind was a little strong outside, and it was very cold. He put the lunch box in his arms and looked up. The tip of his nose was red from the cold. He smiled and said, "I went to San Niang's house to beg for food."
Chu Wanning was stunned. "You went to beg for food?"
"I was joking." Mo Ran said, "I brought some food back."
"What food?"
"Steamed buns." Mo Ran was a little embarrassed. "There was also a bowl of fish soup and a bowl of braised pork. Unfortunately, there was no dessert. That Sun Sanniang watched too closely. Everyone in the village was afraid of her. No one dared to give me anything, so I went to her house to find her. I took a silver dagger that I always carried with me and exchanged it with her. "
Chu Wanning frowned. "She's too black-hearted. I know that silver dagger of yours. There are spirit stones embedded in it. Why did you exchange it for so little?"
"It's not just that. I bargained with her and exchanged it for fifty-two portions. Everyone has one. I watched the kitchen send it out." Mo Ran said with a smile, "So Master, you don't have to worry about others. Just eat it all obediently."
Chu Wanning was really hungry. He sat at the table and drank a few mouthfuls of hot fish soup. Then, he picked up a steamed bun and began to eat with the braised pork. Sun Sanniang was stingy. She didn't give much meat, and most of it was fatty. Chu Wanning didn't like to eat it, but the steamed bun dipped in the meat soup tasted pretty good. He ate one, then the second.
Mo Ran glanced at the steaming water bucket and asked, "Master, are you going to wash your clothes?"
"Yes."
"It's just a robe. I'll help Master wash it."
"No need. I'll do it myself."
Mo Ran said, "It's fine. I'm just going to wash it, so I'll do it on the way."
As he spoke, he went to the bed and picked up the clothes that he had thrown away. Then, he carried the wooden bucket and walked out.
The moon was shining brightly in the courtyard. Mo Ran looked up and wondered how Xue Meng and Uncle were doing. He wondered where Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si had gone. He looked at the Tribulation Fire on the other side of the sea. It was still rolling like a tide of blood, burning day and night.
Song Qiutong, and … that person.
That person he hated to the bone in his previous life and slaughtered the entire Confucian Wind Sect.
They were probably already buried in the sea of fire.
Mo Ran sighed and stopped thinking about it. He put down the wooden bucket and mixed some cold water in the water tank. Then, he rolled up his sleeves and began to wash his clothes.
Chu Wanning, this guy, whether it was making mechas or writing scrolls, he was methodical and meticulous. However, when it came to washing and cooking, he was always a mess.
For example, before Mo Ran completely immersed his clothes in the water, he would habitually check his Qiankun Pouch and his secret pouch first, in case anything important got into the water. However, Chu Wanning often forgot to do this step.
"…"
Mo Ran fell silent as he looked at the pile of gadgets that he found in Chu Wanning's robes.
What are these?
Begonia handkerchief.
Fortunately, it was still normal.
All kinds of medicinal pills.
There was nothing wrong with it.
A handful of candy …
Mo Ran was speechless. He took a closer look and realized that it was the milk candy that he had bought for him in Yuliang Village.
Are you not done yet?
As he scrolled down, Mo Ran was shocked.
… Explosive Talisman?
Mo Ran's face turned green. He held the half-soaked talisman in his hand. It was wet, and he was terrified.
How magnanimous was Chu Wanning? How could he carry the Explosive Talisman on his body without any restrictions? Although the possibility of igniting the talisman and causing it to explode was very low, this was too dangerous. Was this a joke?
Mo Ran frowned and hurriedly checked his clothes from head to toe. He cleared out all the Explosive Talismans, Freezing Talismans, and Soul Subduing Talismans. He found that the Rising Dragon Talisman with a small dragon drawn on it had also been carelessly left behind by Chu Wanning.
If he didn't even look at it, these talismans would all go to waste, and most of them would be useless. Chu Wanning was really …
Mo Ran shook his head helplessly and said to himself, "In the future, I can't let him wash Shizun's clothes by himself."
While he was thinking, a small, lotus-white object suddenly slipped out of the secret pouch. Mo Ran didn't care at all, thinking that it was some kind of spell or talisman. He casually picked it up and glanced at it.
With just one glance, he was stunned.
It was an old brocade pouch embroidered with albizzia flowers. The petals and leaves had lost their color and were no longer as bright as they were at the beginning.
He was somewhat puzzled and somewhat at a loss. He vaguely felt that this thing was very familiar. He must have seen it somewhere before, but it had been too long, so he couldn't remember at the moment.
Mo Ran rubbed this small brocade pouch, his dark brows tightly knitted, and his eyes flashed with an uncertain light. The past quickly flowed past one by one. He tried to find the source of this blooming albizzia flower in the rapid flow of time.
The light and slightly cool cloth, the color that had faded over time.
He held it in his hand and looked at it carefully, turning it over and over, but he couldn't remember. He was worried that there was some kind of dangerous item like the Explosive Talisman inside, so he opened a small hole and took a look.
"… …"
It was a strand of hair.
No, when he looked carefully, it was actually two strands.
They were tied together, entangled together, like an inescapable net, tightly fitting together. In the hurriedly passing time, they had always been entangled, accompanying each other. At first glance, one would think that they were a bundle, but in fact, these two black strands had long been inseparable.
"Hair?"
Mo Ran was in a daze, and a little wisdom flashed in front of his eyes.
He muttered, "Brocade pouch … albizzia brocade pouch …"
Suddenly, he remembered something from the past. Immediately after, that matter exploded in his heart like a flame, burning his chest until it was on fire. His eyes instantly widened in shock.
The ghost emcee.
He remembered.
The golden boy and the jade girl, Colorful Butterfly Suppressing Albizzia, made a toast, tied a knot, cut hair as an oath, hair as an alliance — he remembered …
From then on, two lonely souls accompanied each other, never to be separated from each other.
He … … remembered.
He remembered!!!
In front of the Colorful Butterfly Suppressing Ghost Emcee, when he and Chu Wanning were married in a ghost wedding, the golden boy and the jade girl cut two strands of hair for them, kept them in the albizzia brocade pouch, and handed it to Chu Wanning.
It was this brocade pouch.
"How could it be?"
Mo Ran's brain buzzed, blood surged, and in a flash, he was stunned.
"How could it be … …"
He clenched this brocade pouch, his hands slightly trembling, his eyes jumping with longing light, flashing with surprise, horror, disbelief, bewilderment, ecstasy, and even sadness.
Shizun … … Chu Wanning … …
He, why … … why did he keep this?