Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 8

“Let me make it clear in advance: Huang Xian only blesses those who truly believe and only saves those who are meant to be saved. If you seek death, the amulet will not protect you.”

When selling the amulets, Hua Yingpo feels the need to set some boundaries. After all, the Yu family boy has praised the amulet so highly, and there are always some people who, after a good meal, might be tempted to test the amulet’s power for themselves in reckless ways.

Her words are carefully chosen, deliberately vague, as if she hasn’t fully confirmed the amulet’s power and is leaving herself a way out. But this does little to dampen the villagers’ eager desire to buy the amulets.

The Yu couple buy the most talismans. Not only do they keep them for their own family, but they also plan to distribute some to their relatives, especially those from the mother’s side of the family.

Her son has survived thanks to the amulet, but her distant cousin has tragically perished. While the Yu family is still full of gratitude for their son’s survival, they know that when they come to the Hua family to express their thanks, there will likely be sadness from the loss of a loved one.

The woman wonders if the farewell gifts have lost their meaning, but perhaps, by giving a few more amulets to the other children in that family, she can offer some comfort to the grieving parents who have lost their son.

Lin Zhong swears he is simply taking a walk on his day off and has unknowingly ended up at Hua Yingpo’s house. He definitely hasn’t come out of curiosity about the legendary witch—he hasn’t sought her out on purpose.

He follows the crowd and asks a few villagers about Lady Hua. Unfortunately, the person he asks is Third Grandma, who has come to Hua Yingpo for help not long ago. Upon hearing Lin Zhong’s inquiry about Lady Hua’s abilities, she immediately begins telling him the story of her grandson.

“You don’t know how powerful Lady Hua is. After she helped to invite the soul and removed the dirty stone, my grandson immediately changed. He stopped talking nonsense, and his forehead cooled down. Do you know what it means? Lady Hua is incredible. My old man didn’t believe in her before. But after that night, when Lady Hua left, he immediately told me to buy the finest cakes and send them to her.”

The old woman recounts everything that happened that night. Honestly, if she hadn’t experienced it herself, it would have been hard to believe Lady Hua’s power.

Lin Zhong understands the word the old woman is trying to use—immediate effect. Her certainty in her words implies that the change in her grandson is stark and obvious. Could it be that Lady Hua really has some magical abilities?

While Lin Zhong finds it difficult to abandon his atheism, the example of the Yu family boy is right in front of him. He has witnessed it himself, and some things can’t be explained away by logic.

At a standstill, with the victim and his family now fully believing in Hua Yingpo’s powers, Lin Zhong clenches his teeth and decides to give this seemingly unreliable method a try.

So, after the crowd begins to disperse, Lin Zhong makes his way into the Hua family’s yard.

“All the talismans have been taken. You’ll have to come back tomorrow,” Hua Yingpo says as she sees Lin Zhong approach.

She isn’t fooled into thinking that Lin Zhong is another believer looking to buy talismans. In fact, when she and Sheng Wukun see him, they immediately recognize him.

Lin Zhong is the deputy captain of the criminal investigation brigade at the county public security bureau. They have him recorded among the many people they keep tabs on. She has also heard that he doesn’t believe in Feng Shui or superstitions. So why has he come to see her?

“I didn’t come for talismans,” Lin Zhong says, shaking his head.

“I can tell I can’t help you.” At these words, Hua Yingpo makes a gesture, almost as if to dismiss him.

It is a joke, really. He is the deputy captain of the criminal investigation team. The couple can deceive the elderly and the superstitious villagers, but they know better than to try to pull the wool over someone like Lin Zhong’s eyes.

Hua Yingpo and Sheng Wukun are both shrewd and well-informed, always aware of the latest happenings in the county. Now, with Lin Zhong standing in their home, they can’t help but think of the recent rape and murder case. His presence here isn’t a coincidence.

“Do you know me?” Lin Zhong asks, his first instinct that his identity has somehow been exposed.

“I don’t know you, but I can see that the three inches between your brows are dim, lacking the usual light. Clearly, you are in deep trouble, and I cannot involve myself in this matter,” Hua Yingpo replies, her tone deliberately vague.

She can’t admit to anything, of course. As a professional conman, she has to maintain an air of mystery and avoid giving anything away.

Lin Zhong is not someone easily fooled. He suspects that Hua Yingpo might know him, but when he looks into her inscrutable eyes, he begins to feel that she might indeed be capable of what she claims.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Lin Zhong, and I’m a public security officer. I’ve encountered a case, but I can’t find any clues. I was hoping to use your abilities to summon the spirit of the victim to provide some guidance.”

Lin Zhong has heard that Hua Yingpo is skilled in divination and has the ability to invite the spirits of the dead to possess her. He finds it hard to believe that anyone could possess such powers, but now, with no other leads, he is beginning to entertain the idea.

“Hey—” Hua Yingpo sighs after hearing his words. “Before you even spoke, I could tell that what you’re asking is something I can’t help you with. Now that I’ve heard the details, it’s even more clear.”

A trace of compassion appears in her eyes as she continues.

“Invoking the gods is a type of magic where the witch cooperates with family members to summon the spirits of deceased relatives or friends. Through special rituals, the witch invites the soul from the underworld and allows it to possess her body, enabling the living to communicate with the departed. Because a bowl of white rice is placed on the table during the ritual, we locals call it ‘asking for the gods.'”

In the past, Hua Yingpo often performs such rituals, but before taking on any case, she inquires about the person’s behavior and subtle habits. Sometimes, if the investigation isn’t thorough, she simply stops and offers an excuse, claiming that the spirit has already been reincarnated or that she has summoned the wrong soul.

Thanks to her excellent acting skills and good reputation, no one ever doubts her.

But now, when Lin Zhong asks her to summon the spirit of a victim, she knows she can’t do it.

“Invoking the gods means bringing the soul of the deceased from the underworld into my body through a specific process,” Hua Yingpo explains. “The girl you mentioned was murdered. Until the killer is found, her soul can’t enter the underworld. She might even become a vengeful ghost, wandering the earth because of the strong resentment she harbored before her death. I cannot, and will not, risk summoning a spirit filled with such anger and hatred.”

Her explanation is sound. Lin Zhong still has his doubts about Hua Yingpo’s abilities, but for the moment, he can’t refute her.

“Then, do you have any other way to help me solve the case?” Lin Zhong asks.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t assist you,” Hua Yingpo replies, shaking her head. “Huang Xian only blesses those who truly believe, and I can tell you don’t believe in me.”

Lin Zhong feels a pang of embarrassment. Looking into Hua Yingpo’s knowing eyes, he feels as if she has seen right through him. This unnerves him—she is too calm, and every word she speaks seems to predict his next move.

“Sorry to have bothered you today,” Lin Zhong says, offering a wry smile. No matter whether Hua Yingpo is truly capable or not, he isn’t going to find the answers he needs today.

He bows slightly to Hua Yingpo and her husband and begins to leave.

“Wait—” Lin Zhong turns back before leaving. “If a ghost harms someone, would you step in?”

“If necessary, I will,” Hua Yingpo answers without hesitation, though in her mind, she doubts that there could truly be any ghosts causing harm. But she is confident enough to make the promise.

Lin Zhong immediately regrets asking the question. Does he really believe in these supernatural things? He nods to Hua Yingpo and turns away once more.

Hua Yingpo keeps her compassionate demeanor until Lin Zhong is out of sight, and then she lets out a sigh of relief. She pulls her husband back into the house.

“We’ve made a fortune!” she exclaims with glee.

She happily counts the day’s earnings with her husband. All the talisman papers have sold out. Even without raising the price, it is still a pretty decent amount.

“If the news about the Yu family boy spreads, our talisman paper will probably stay in demand for a while. We should write more over the next couple of days.”

Hua Yingpo smiles as she counts the money. The thought of how much more they could make in the coming days fills her with satisfaction.

“Bao’s mother, I’ve been thinking about something,” Sheng Wukun says, his expression growing serious after a while. “The Yu family boy was so sincere when he spoke. Do you think these talisman papers really work?”

It is all so strange. If it is just a coincidence that the boy from the Yu family survives, and the spot where he curls up forms a protective space so that he isn’t crushed by the front of the truck, then how could the peace charm in his pocket have turned to black ash?

Even if it has been burned by fire, the peace charm shouldn’t have been the only item destroyed. The spirit-suppressing charm in the same pocket has remained intact.

“How many talisman papers have we sold? How can I not know if they’re useful?” Hua Yingpo smiles, but her expression falters as she, like Sheng Wukun, realizes something is different about the talisman papers sold this time.

It is their daughter who has drawn them.

“Bao’s father, you mean…” Hua Yingpo says, barely able to believe it.

She and Sheng Wukun exchange a knowing glance and both turn to look at their daughter’s room. Sheng Baobao has opened the door at some point and is peeking out, her face showing signs of guilt.

“You mean, you can see things that others can’t?”

The family of three sits on the bed in the bedroom of Hua Yingpo and her husband, engaged in a serious family discussion.

“It’s something I started seeing after I woke up from a fever,” Sheng Baobao replies softly. “For example, right now, there’s a little black dog next to you, pulling at your socks.” She points to the right foot of Mother Hua, who sits cross-legged.

Hua Yingpo and Sheng Wukun glance at the spot she indicates but see nothing. Despite this, Hua Yingpo instinctively pulls her toes back, as though she actually feels a dog nibbling at her foot.

“A little black dog… I remember one morning, you came to me with your hand raised, saying you wanted to adopt a little black dog. Could it be that the dog you were holding that day…?” Hua Yingpo muses, pointing to the air next to her right foot, then sniffing the air.

Sheng Baobao can’t tell her that Hua Xiaolian has already moved to her left foot and is now tugging at the sock there.

“This is really incredible.” Hua Yingpo, who has been a conman for nearly twenty years, never expects that one day her daughter would possess such psychic abilities.

“Actually, you can see Hua Xiaolian too, Mom and Dad,” Sheng Baobao suddenly says. “Hua Xiaolian is the name I gave to this little black dog.”

She gestures at the dog and then follows its gaze to the beam above them. “Hua Xiaolian wants the thing hidden up there. If you wear it, you’ll be able to see it.”

As soon as she says that, both Hua Yingpo and Sheng Wukun have no choice but to believe her. They have never told their daughter about the iron box hidden on the beam.

Without another word, they take down the iron box, open it, and watch as their daughter, seemingly guided by some unseen force, pulls out a piece of black jade. She places it on the bed, and in the blink of an eye, the black jade disappears.

In its place, a small, fluffy, chubby little puppy appears, wearing the black jade like a pendant around its neck. The puppy’s dark fur makes it hard to see the jade unless you look closely.

Hua Yingpo and Sheng Wukun stand there, breathless, as they accept the reality that their daughter can indeed see things that others can’t.

Sheng Baobao feels nervous but also a little hopeful. Now, her parents should believe in her abilities. With their support, she thinks, her powers might help them avoid mistakes in the future.

But, contrary to her expectations, Hua Yingpo and Sheng Wukun simply accept her ability and the idea of an additional family member. They don’t offer any thoughts on how to use her newfound talent.

“Bao’s father, I think we should quit this business.” When they are alone, Hua Yingpo speaks, her tone serious.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing.” Sheng Wukun looks at his wife with a gentle smile. They always have such a tacit understanding.

Although they have been running a conman business, using the tricks of Xuanmen to deceive others, they still believe in some of the teachings passed down through the centuries. Especially now, with their daughter’s abilities, the couple begins to feel there are indeed things in the world that defy common sense.

The teachings of Xuanmen warn that those with extraordinary abilities must pay a price. The couple doesn’t know what price their daughter will have to pay for her newfound power, but they only wish for her safety and happiness.

They have made money from their deception, but now, if they continue, they fear their daughter might be drawn into using her abilities to help them. They make money to provide a better life for her, but if it comes at the cost of her well-being, what’s the point?

“What should we do? Maybe we should buy a house in the county and open a small store. I haven’t learned any skills other than deceiving people all these years,” Hua Yingpo says, beginning to dream of a more honest future.

“Alright, you watch the store, and I’ll handle the unloading and moving of goods,” Sheng Wukun agrees, willing to follow whatever plan his wife has.

However, they decided not to sell the black jade. It has turned out to be a magical item, and it has brought them an unexpected addition to the family. Sheng Baobao seems to have grown fond of the little dog, so they let go of the idea of selling it. If they had sold it, they could have made a fortune, but the jade seems to be tied to something deeper.

Outside the room, Sheng Baobao lies by the door, listening, tears silently streaming down her face.

She is so fortunate to have parents who love her so much, in every lifetime.

“Deputy Captain, someone’s died again.”

When Lin Zhong returns home, one of his subordinates informs him that he will need to work overtime.

Just half an hour ago, a body was discovered in the park, and the death is particularly brutal.