Chapter 167: Still Can’t Let Go Even After Being Worlds Apart
It had all been questioned as a Daoist temple scamming money, so Yan Wentao hurriedly explained the situation of the Daoist temple to Auntie.
“Our Daoist temple was built decades ago, earlier than the time when this group of ancient building ruins was discovered. Since the Daoist temple is not suitable for relocation, after negotiations with the scenic area side, we reached an agreement not to relocate.”
“Our Daoist temple is independent of the scenic area.” After Yan Wentao explained Changsheng Temple in detail, he added a few more explanations, “Moreover, this scenic area is not for profit. It was purely built to protect the excavated ancient building complex, so the believer must have misunderstood.”
Yan Wentao had only been employed for a few days, but he had already fully grasped the situation of the scenic area and Changsheng Temple. When he spoke to people now, he didn’t stumble at all, and with his monastic demeanor, it was particularly convincing.
Xuan Xia knew that Auntie having such thoughts was mostly her own fault.
So she also explained: “I’m not scenic area staff either.”
After hearing Yan Wentao’s explanation, Auntie believed it, but for Xuan Xia, she couldn’t help but look a few more times.
She originally thought Xuan Xia was also here to ask the Daoist priest something, but it turned out she wasn’t.
Auntie hesitated and asked: “Are you a Daoist nun?”
Why wasn’t the Daoist nun wearing Daoist nun’s clothes?
Xuan Xia said: “I’m not.”
Yan Wentao was afraid Auntie would circle back to the starting point, which would be endless.
So he quickly took over the conversation first, saying: “Believer, our Daoist sect actually doesn’t use the term Daoist nun. You can call them Kun Dao or female crown. However you address me, believer, you can address them the same way.”
Then, without waiting for Auntie to react, he changed the subject to the main point: “This believer, I see some qi stagnation in your brow. Have you recently encountered something you can’t resolve? If the believer is willing to talk about it, why not come inside and sit with me.”
Upon hearing this, Auntie remembered the reason she came specifically.
This Daoist master in front of her could even see that she had encountered something unsolvable, so he must really have skills, right?
Thinking this way, Auntie no longer dwelled on Xuan Xia’s identity and nodded to Yan Wentao, “Okay.”
Yan Wentao led Auntie to the empty vegetarian hall, and Xuan Xia thought for a moment before following them in.
The vegetarian hall was cool, indeed much more comfortable than outdoors.
Auntie felt the cool air, and her irritable mood finally calmed down.
Looking at Yan Wentao again, Auntie said very straightforwardly: “Sorry, Daoist master, I didn’t want to doubt you all, but I’ve really encountered too many scammers recently. They all claim they can help me solve it, but none of them have the ability! They just scam money!”
Yan Wentao didn’t rush to prove himself with words, but instead let Auntie first talk about what exactly had happened to her.
If he remembered correctly, she had said upon arrival that she wanted to perform a religious ceremony.
Auntie responded: “Yes. Things at home haven’t been peaceful recently, so I want to hold a religious ceremony.”
This… was too vague.
Yan Wentao could understand that she might have some reservations, so she held back in her words, but this was too reserved, making it hard to know where to start.
“Can you explain in more detail?” Yan Wentao patiently explained: “Performing a religious ceremony also depends on the situation, with different ritual procedures.”
Auntie was silent for a few seconds, finding Yan Wentao more and more reliable the more she looked, letting go of most of her guard, and finally told the truth: “My daughter-in-law passed away half a year ago, but recently I always feel like she’s causing trouble, and I don’t know if it’s because my son has started contacting other girls again.”
After speaking, Auntie turned to ask Yan Wentao: “She’s been gone for over half a year now. I want my son to pull himself together, contact other girls, and rebuild a family. As his mom, is that wrong? She’s gone, and the living have to continue with their lives, right?”
“…” Yan Wentao couldn’t answer.
Luckily, Auntie wasn’t really seeking an answer from Yan Wentao; she just wanted to vent a bit.
“At first, I didn’t think it was my late daughter-in-law. Later, I consulted a demigod and found out. I immediately asked the demigod to perform a religious ceremony, but the demigod said my daughter-in-law had heavy resentment. So I went to other Daoist priests and even monks, but none worked. After the ceremonies, she still comes to make trouble!”
“Our family never mistreated her! We’re already separated by Yin and Yang, yet she can’t let go of my son like this?” By the end, Auntie was full of resentment too.
When alive, the couple was loving, and the elders naturally were happy to see it.
But now they were separated by Yin and Yang, and she still wouldn’t let go like this—how could that be!
After listening, Yan Wentao couldn’t help turning his head to exchange a glance with Xuan Xia.
This situation shouldn’t be right.
After the glance, Yan Wentao turned back to ask Auntie: “So, what exactly is the trouble like?”
Auntie quickly listed a few incidents, the most helpless and depressing for her being that recently every night she dreamed of this daughter-in-law.
In the dream, the daughter-in-law had a terrifying appearance, didn’t speak when seeing her, and kept scaring her in various ways.
Auntie said it had made her afraid to sleep these past few days.
“Pardon my intrusion, but how did your daughter-in-law pass away?”
Auntie said: “Sudden death. She was fine working during the day, went home and slept at night, and by the next day, she was gone.”
Even talking about it now, Auntie still sighed deeply.
After understanding the situation, Yan Wentao asked Auntie to sit for a bit while he and Xuan Xia went aside to discuss.
Yan Wentao said: “Boss, this matter sounds very off.”
As everyone knows, after death, the soul goes to the Underworld for judgment.
Just like in the mortal world, people have ID cards and household registration, and souls do too.
How could it come back to make trouble just because the widowed husband wants to find someone new? Moreover, from Auntie’s description of seeing the daughter-in-law in the dream, it didn’t sound like anything good.
Now Yan Wentao just didn’t know whose problem it was.
Xuan Xia said “Mm,” and asked him back: “Do you have confidence?”
Yan Wentao honestly said he wasn’t sure, “I still need to go to this Auntie’s home to check it out.”
Xuan Xia said: “Alright, handle it as you see fit. Anyway, the reward for this external matter, you can keep it yourself.”
Whether there’s money or not isn’t the point.
Yan Wentao agreed, returned to Auntie, and told her he needed to prepare, then go to her home to see before knowing how to perform the religious ceremony.
Hearing that he was taking the job, Auntie quickly nodded and said okay.
Halfway through nodding, she suddenly remembered something and quickly asked: “Daoist master, how much is the fee for this religious ceremony?”
Yan Wentao pondered for a moment, “No rush for now. If I can handle it, then at market price.”
“Oh oh.” Meaning no charge if he can’t handle it? That’s fine.
But, what is the market price?
Yan Wentao… didn’t know either.
Even Xuan Xia behind him didn’t know.
Xuan Xia had almost received the reward from Ding Lu so far, but Ding Lu obviously gave a lot, and that was Yanjing prices—who knows what Ningzhou prices are!
But for now, compared to what the market price is, going to Auntie’s home to check the situation first is more urgent.
Joyful New Year’s Eve, reunion family dinner. Happy New Year’s Eve~
