The old man chuckled as he picked up the pot of Spiritual Ginseng Wine, uncorked it and took a sniff, "Good wine, though it is only made from Spirit Ginseng, it’s comparable to Ginseng Ganoderma Wine!"
He filled a tea bowl with wine and drank it down, "What story does the gentleman wish to hear?"
Chen Qing pulled out a Copper Coin from his bosom and placed it on the table, "Wealth has stirred the hearts of n since ancient tis. Do you have any tale of evil fate to share?"
The old man picked up the Copper Coin, popped it in his mouth, chewed it twice as if it were a snack with his wine, then downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp.
"I do have a peculiar tale here. Since the gentleman is interested, I shall share it with you."
"During the Xinghua Period, there was an oil seller with a wife nad Huang and two blessed children."
"The elder was a son of eleven years, and the younger, a daughter of eight."
"Though the family was destitute, by relying on the oil seller’s hard-earned wages, the wife tilling the fields, and weaving cloth at night, they managed quite well to raise their two children."
"Now this oil seller’s son was truly bright, industrious with farm work yet never chasing dogs or playing gas, instead preferring to eavesdrop outside a private school."
"The teacher initially paid no heed, but after half a month, upon testing his knowledge, he found the boy could recite ’Learning’ and ’Opening Taiping’ effortlessly."
"Seeing the boy’s intelligence, the teacher wanted to take him as a disciple and sent soone to tell Huang, urging her to send her son for enlightennt."
"But Huang barely had enough money to fill their stomachs, where would she find the funds to afford her son’s education?"
"She refused."
"The oil seller, upon hearing this, could only sigh in helplessness."
"In the sa private school was another boy, the son of Landlord Li, who, envious of the oil seller’s son’s intelligence, ordered his friends to beat him up and warned him against eavesdropping."
"The oil seller felt helpless when he found out, and could only ask his son to swallow his anger."
"One month later, as the oil seller went into the town to sell oil, upon his return he saw Landlord Li being chased by two n dressed in black."
"Landlord Li was carrying sothing the size of a human head, which made his escape difficult, so he threw the object into the bushes and prioritized his life."
"When the oil seller ca across it, he discovered it to be a golden Buddha the size of a human head!"
"After three days, knowing the golden Buddha was not rightfully his, he took it with his wife Huang to Landlord Li and returned the golden Buddha."
"When Landlord Li got his golden Buddha back, he was dissatisfied, claiming that there were two and questioned why the oil seller had only returned one."
"Landlord Li commanded his n to beat the oil seller brutally and proclaid that the oil seller’s wife would pay off the debt!"
"Turns out, Landlord Li, knowing of the intelligence of the oil seller’s son and the lack of reputation of the oil seller himself, surmised that it was due to Huang, and aid to seize her to have her bear his child."
"Huang, who was also cunning herself, knew that she could not resist, so she planned to lower Landlord Li’s guard before seeking revenge."
"Another year passed, and Huang bore Landlord Li a son, who at the age of five displayed great intelligence."
"Landlord Li was overjoyed and beca increasingly fond of him, granting his every request."
"Thus, Huang ordered the son to serve poisoned soup to Landlord Li, who succumbed to death."
"Then Huang killed Landlord Li’s wife and urged the oil seller to terminate Landlord Li’s eldest son."
"Landlord Li’s eldest son, knowing Huang’s ruthlessness, fled far away."
"The oil seller and Huang conspired to seize Landlord Li’s property. Night after night, they fondled the golden Buddha, triumphantly elated."
"Eight years later, the two sons Huang bore were extrely intelligent. The oil seller, fearing the sons of Landlord Li and Huang might share the golden Buddha, plotted to kill them."
"Huang did not agree, and her two sons, aware of their stepfather’s intentions, killed him while he was asleep."
"Their half-brother, the oil seller’s son, was also smart and noticing the act, sought to avenge his father by killing one of the younger brothers in front of Huang, saying, ’Now I am your only son, do you also wish to kill ?’"
"Huang, left with no choice, kept silent."
"As for Landlord Li’s eldest son, after such tribulations, he matured in wisdom and devoted himself to martial arts. Under the na Zhang Dafu, once he had accomplished his training and changed his appearance, he returned in disguise to the place, contrived to rescue Huang’s daughter, and won her affection."
"On their wedding night, Zhang Dafu intoxicated Huang and her son before killing them, framing it as a robbery."
"Huang’s daughter knew the truth but kept silent. Zhang Dafu inquired daily about the golden Buddha’s whereabouts, and she kept evading the question, claiming ignorance."
"She imrsed the golden Buddha into a poison pond. Only when the poison thoroughly perated the Buddha did she let Zhang Dafu find it."
"Zhang Dafu played with the golden Buddha day by day, the poison seeped into his body, and he eventually died."
"Later, the golden Buddha fell into the hands of Huang’s daughter, unaware of the nurous greedy predators eyeing her."
Having finished the story, the old man chuckled and asked, "A single golden Buddha led to the downfall of two families and kins slaughtering each other, is this a terrible karma, wouldn’t you say?"
Chen Qing pondered for a mont, "Where is Huang’s daughter now?"
The old man stretched out a finger and shook it four tis.
Chen Qing reached into his bag and spread it out, revealing a hundred dium-grade Spirit Stones.
The old man laughed and said, "Two hundred li southwest from here, in Huang Family Village, there’s a Chunfeng Lane, and there you will find her, nad Hong Liu."
The old man stood up, walked to a bookshelf behind him, fetched a golden Buddha, and placed it in front of Chen Qing.
Chen Qing took the Buddha in hand and thanked him with a bow.
A day later.
In Chunfeng Lane of Huang Family Village, Chen Qing watched the plump woman washing clothes by the river with a young child strapped to her back. Approaching with the golden Buddha in hand, he asked, "Do you have a mont?"
Hong Liu glanced around sowhat embarrassedly, "You co during broad daylight?"
Chen Qing spoke softly, "I am pressed for ti."
Hong Liu then picked up her laundry basin, leading Chen Qing to her house.
Once inside and the door shut, she began to remove her clothes, having just taken off her outer garnt when she saw Chen Qing place what he had been carrying on the table, unfolding it.
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