Chapter 49

Zhou Jing and Shen Mo hurriedly drove the ox cart back home. P

When they pushed open the entrance of their yard, Shen Lin was dumbfounded.

He had thought that at most Zhou Jing would bring back a donkey, but unexpectedly, he brought back an ox.

 Although the ox was small, it was still an ox. In Wangjia Village, there were only two cows, and even those were bought by several households together. Now, their family-owned one by themselves.

Shen Lin stared fixedly at the little ox, not blinking as he marveled at it.

He eagerly stepped forward to touch the ox’s head.

“Xiao Di, your Big Brother and I found a shop in town that we liked. It’s two stories and 21 square meters. The owner couldn’t repay a high-interest loan, so they urgently needed silver. They knew our family could pay the full amount, so we got a bargain. Otherwise, a property of the same size and location would have cost at least 220 or 230 silver coins.”

The news came rather suddenly, and Shen Lin instinctively asked, “Why are we suddenly buying a shop?”

Zhou Jing replied, “When our family business suffered losses because of that heavy rain, I thought of two ideas. One was to supply goods to shops in town, and the other was to open a Zhou’s Sausage shop in town. That way, even if the rain continues for days, we won’t have to worry. Although business will be affected, with the shop, there will still be customers, and we won’t lose everything all at once.”

“That’s true. Having a shop will make doing business much more convenient for us.” Shen Lin said.

“Now that we’re buying the shop, since we can pay in full, he agreed to sell it to our family for 160 silver coins. Based on our shares, your Big Brother and I are contributing 112 silver coins together, and the remaining 48 silver coins will be your responsibility. Since we’ve given you dividends, you’re a shareholder now. When it comes to profits, you’ll get your share, so naturally, you should contribute accordingly. There’s no sense in only taking without giving back—that would only breed ungratefulness.”

Zhou Jing added, “The silver you have now might not be enough. You can put in as much as you can for now. After all, it’s only the middle of the month, and half of your dividend is still with me. We’ll settle everything together at the end of the month.”

“Thank you, brother-in-law.”

Shen Lin said, also felt that it was indeed his responsibility to contribute. At the same time, he was well aware that the reason he was receiving dividends from Zhou’s Sausages was simply because he held the title of Shen Mo’s younger brother.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to manage sales and would at best become a long-term laborer, earning 30 copper coins a day. Even working like that for a whole year wouldn’t compare to the dividends he now received in just one month.

Shen Lin only had 38 silver coins in hand, so Zhou Jing covered the rest. They returned to town, and by the time they arrived, it was already dark.

When the broker from the Ping’an and Zhou Da saw Zhou Jing and Shen Mo, their faces lit up with smiles.

Zhou Jing didn’t immediately take out the silver but instead said, “It’s so late, the yamen likely can’t process the transfer at this hour. If the transfer can’t go through, I can’t give you the full payment.”

The broker from the Ping’an quickly responded, “No, don’t worry about that. I know someone in the yamen who handles these matters. Even if it’s late at night, we can still get it done.”

Zhou Jing said, “In that case, let’s head to the yamen now. Once the transfer is done, I’ll give you the silver.”

The shopkeeper truly had connections in the yamen—his brother-in-law worked there. He went to his brother-in-law’s house to bring him along, and with a few signatures to file the paperwork, they received a house deed with the updated name. With that, the deal was sealed.

The broker from the Ping’an and Zhou Da took the silver and quickly bade their farewells.

“Xiao Mo, let’s head to the winery and buy two jars of good wine. We need to pay a visit to Constable Yang. After all, since we’ll be doing business on his turf, we have to show our respects first,” Zhou Jing said.

The wine was expensive, and although it came in various grades, Zhou Jing worried that if they bought anything too cheap, Constable Yang might not be impressed. They could only afford to purchase wine that was just below the middle tier. Even for a small jar, it cost one silver coin and 15 copper coins.

When they had gone home earlier to fetch the silver, Zhou Jing had already anticipated this need and had prepared accordingly. He brought along ten jin of original-flavor sausages, five jin of duck bones, five jin of duck gizzards, and even a live chicken.

The gift was indeed quite valuable, enough to be considered generous even when visiting Constable Yang’s home during the holidays.

Following the rough directions given by Constable Yang and asking along the way, the two eventually found his home.

Constable Yang’s wife was a charming, coquettish woman. Upon seeing Zhou Jing and Shen Mo’s clothing, there was a trace of disdain in her eyes. However, when her gaze fell upon the ox cart parked in front of the house and the hefty gifts they were carrying, the contempt quickly faded, replaced by a smile.

“You’ve come at the right time. My husband is home today. Come on in,” she said with a welcoming tone.

Zhou Jing smiled and replied, “We came by ox cart, and we’d feel uneasy leaving it unattended outside. I’ll have my husband stay out here to watch over it while I go in. It’ll only take a moment to exchange a few words.”

“That’s true, ox carts are valuable. Leaving it outside unattended would make anyone uneasy, not just you.”

Then they led Zhou Jing inside the house.

Inside, Constable Yang was sitting at the table, drinking. When he saw Zhou Jing bringing in a lot of gifts, he guessed they had come to ask for a favor but didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic.

He remained seated on his stool, not bothering to stand up, and with a teasing smile, said, “‘Cousin’ has come, please have a seat.”

Zhou Jing quickly responded, “Constable Yang, don’t say that. Back then, I had no choice but to come up with an excuse. Otherwise, your men would have…” He trailed off, and both of them exchanged knowing smiles.

Since he was the one seeking help, Captain Yang did not beat around the bush. He was capable of getting things done and was willing to help; as long as the payment was satisfactory, he did not want to engage in any other relationships. Ultimately, he still looked down on Zhou Jing, a farmer, but he wouldn’t turn down money that was practically in his hands.

Therefore, Captain Yang stated straightforwardly, “Just say what you need. As long as it’s not too big of a deal and I can help, I will do my best to assist you.”

Zhou Jing replied, “There is indeed something I need help with.”

Captain Yang showed a look that indicated he expected as much.

“However, this is indeed a joyous occasion. I just bought a shop in town and plan to invite everyone for a meal. The date is set for the end of the month, which coincidentally falls on a day when the office is closed. I would like to invite Captain Yang and all the constables to my shop for some drinks, just to give me some face.”

Captain Yang was taken aback and exclaimed, “You’ve only been here for a little over four months, and you’ve already bought a shop?”

Captain Yang’s wife covered her mouth and laughed. When she heard Captain Yang teasingly call Zhou Jing ‘cousin,’ she immediately knew who Zhou Jing was.

Captain Yang had mentioned this to her before. “Dear, you’ve got it wrong. This brother Zhou you’ve recognized is quite capable. Not only has he bought a shop, but he’s also purchased an ox cart.”

Captain Yang looked at his wife with disbelief in his eyes. If it weren’t for the serious expressions on both of their faces, he would have thought they were joking with him.

He sighed, saying, “I remember when I first met you; you were just selling goods at the market. In just a few months of my receiving the monthly allowance, you’ve already become a shopkeeper. Well, this is indeed a joyous occasion! No more words, come over and have a drink with me.” Captain Yang immediately changed his attitude.

Having a shop in town was a completely different impression from merely selling goods at a stall; they represented two distinct identities. Although not all shopkeepers were wealthy or noble, at least acquiring a household registration in town was relatively easy.

Moreover, Captain Yang had navigated the officialdom for many years and was no fool. He understood that for someone like Zhou Jing, who was poor and lacked any connections, to achieve such success in such a short time was certainly no small feat.

This was especially true considering that his only support came from a person as minor as Captain Yang himself, who could only protect him from trouble caused by local ruffians or officials, without being able to provide any substantial help.

If Zhou Jing managed to connect with someone significant, it was unimaginable what heights he could reach.

As a result, Captain Yang’s attitude immediately shifted. The contempt vanished, and he became warm and friendly.

Zhou Jing remained calm and unflustered. He did not let Captain Yang’s sudden enthusiasm throw him off; he continued to be composed, just as he had been upon his arrival.

“Thank you, Captain Yang, but today really isn’t possible. I came with my husband, and we left the ox cart outside; neither of us felt comfortable leaving it unattended. He doesn’t know how to drive the cart, and if I drink, I won’t be able to return. It would be better to wait until the end of the month when you and the brothers come to my shop. I will treat you to fine food and drinks, and we won’t leave until we’re all drunk.”

Captain Yang replied, “In that case, I won’t keep you any longer. I just wonder where your shop is located.”

“It’s on Chang’an Street. It used to belong to a man named Zhou Da. He said he borrowed from a loan shark and was eager to repay, so he sold it to me for a much lower price.”

Captain Yang frowned, muttering Zhou Da’s name a couple of times, and suddenly his face fell in shock.

“You’ve been deceived! How could you dare to buy his shop?”

This startled Zhou Jing, causing his complexion to change dramatically. He also sensed something was off, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly was wrong. Since there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the shop itself, he had thought it would be fine, but now he realized there was indeed something fishy going on.

“Yes, haunted.” Captain Yang replied. “This matter caused quite a stir back then and was almost common knowledge in the town. In fact, this shop didn’t originally belong to Zhou Da; it was brought by his wife when she married him. Mrs. Zhou was a woman from afar, and her family provided her with a substantial dowry. To ensure that their daughter would still have money to use after marriage and wouldn’t have to rely on her husband’s family, they even sent someone to scout for a shop here, which is the very shop you bought. Mrs. Zhou’s family purchased it for 230 silver coins.”

“They left a shopkeeper here to run the business, operating a restaurant. This shopkeeper was quite capable and managed things well, so the shop quickly became prosperous under his leadership. While it couldn’t compare to the top restaurants in town, it was at least well-known. Not only could it support a sheltered woman, but it could also easily provide for Zhou Da’s entire family, and even ensure they lived comfortably.”

“Thanks to this shop, the Zhou family suddenly rose to the ranks of the wealthy, and they could be referred to as ‘Master’ wherever they went. Some people, after enjoying a good life for a while, are quick to forget who they are. Zhou Da was no exception; he actually took to keeping a mistress and was even a top courtesan from Chunfeng Lou. Perhaps out of some lingering fear of his family, Zhou Da bought a luxurious residence outside and engaged in the practice of keeping a beautiful woman hidden away.”

“This continued for a year, but then the courtesan became pregnant and was unwilling to remain in such a vague and unclear situation. She actually went to confront Mrs. Zhou and caused a scene.

Her words were quite harsh, claiming that Zhou Da had shared intimate details with her and criticizing Mrs. Zhou for being so dull and lifeless in bed that she couldn’t pique his interest.

This made Mrs. Zhou so furious that she fainted on the spot. When Zhou Da returned and learned of the situation, he not only did not blame the courtesan but, in a fit of desperation, decided to bring her into the house and give her a legitimate status.”

“Mrs. Zhou, unable to bear the humiliation, hanged herself with a white silk cloth from the beams of the house, leaving behind a son who was only eleven or twelve years old.

Surprisingly, even after Mrs. Zhou’s death, Zhou Da showed no signs of remorse. He was so impatient that he brought the courtesan into the house before the mourning period for Mrs. Zhou had even ended.”

“Perhaps it was because the first seven days had not passed yet; Madam Zhou’s ghost had not left the mansion. Madam Zhou had seen everything and could not rest in peace, unable to swallow her anger.

From that day on, the Zhou family began to experience unrest. In the shops that Madam Zhou had brought over, incidents happened one after another.

At first, it was manageable; there were just instances of finding worms or cockroaches in the food, which were not major issues. They simply let the guests eat for free.

Zhou Da thought it was because the kitchen staff was lazy and not dedicated enough, so he dismissed them all and hired a new group.”

“But unexpectedly, a major incident occurred. One day, the waiter was absent due to some business, and the shop, hesitant to hire anyone casually because of previous issues, had no choice but to ask Zhou Da to come and help for a day.

In the kitchen, the dishes were being prepared, and Zhou Da personally served them to the guests’ tables. However, just as he turned around, a woman at the table let out a sharp scream.

Zhou Da turned back to look and was shocked to find that the dish he had served had inexplicably transformed into an entire plate of dead mice. The mice were all fried in oil and neatly arranged on the plate.”

“And that woman had already been so frightened that she fell off her chair and fainted on the ground. Her family was in a panic, running around to find a doctor.

They used ginseng slices and pressed her acupressure points, managing to wake her up. However, the one who awakened was not the guest herself, but Madam Zhou.

Using the woman’s voice, Madam Zhou, with bloodshot eyes, cursed Zhou Da, vowing to ruin his reputation and bring him to disgrace. That sharp voice, combined with the terrifying tone and the blood trailing down the woman’s head, was like a malevolent spirit crawling out of hell.

Not to mention Zhou Da’s fear; even some of the onlookers were so scared that they fell ill afterward and needed to invite a shaman for help.”

“Zhou Da was truly frightened; he fell ill upon returning home and had the intention to sell the shop and close it down. However, the second wife, seeing this as a golden goose that laid eggs, refused to let it go.

She offered money to persuade them to investigate thoroughly, insisting that it was either a ghostly act or something done by someone. I remembered leading five or six constables, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, questioning the woman possessed by Madam Zhou until she nearly broke down, yet we still uncovered nothing. Moreover, we found not a single piece of evidence.”

“We were truly at a loss for what to do and planned to close the case as an unsolved mystery. However, the courtesan was unwilling to accept that. She offered money to frame the woman possessed by Madam Zhou, attempting to coerce us into a false statement—implicating the kid left behind by Madam Zhou, suggesting that the child was the one who had set this up.

She had even devised a reason, claiming that it was because his father had married her and elevated her to the status of a legitimate wife. The child, feeling wronged and resenting his father, had committed such acts of disloyalty, ingratitude, and immorality.”

“However, Madam Zhou’s vengeful spirit lingered, and at nightfall, another incident occurred at the shop. This time, a gentleman had suffered from food poisoning. While it could be said that the woman who was possessed could be bribed, this gentleman was from a wealthy family, far surpassing Zhou Da in financial power, and no one could buy him off.”

“The gentleman who had been poisoned was extremely anxious, spending a significant amount of money to ensure that the authorities would find the culprit.

However, after all their investigations, they still could not uncover the perpetrator. Instead, the next morning, they discovered the words ‘blood debts require blood repayment’ written in human blood on the wall of the shop.

The handwriting was delicate and unmistakably matched Madam Zhou’s style from her lifetime. This time, the gentleman, who had narrowly escaped death, refused to continue the investigation for fear of being haunted by Madam Zhou’s vengeful spirit.

He would go out of his way to avoid Zhou Da’s family and their shop. Strangely enough, the reason the gentleman recovered was that he had invited a shaman to perform a ritual and burned paper offerings at Madam Zhou’s grave.

He claimed that he had no idea that Zhou Da was so cruel and immoral; otherwise, he would never have eaten at the shop. After scolding Zhou Da and vowing never to set foot in the shop again, the gentleman miraculously recovered and was soon lively and active.”

“At this point, the rumors of the Zhou family’s haunted shop spread throughout the city, and no one dared to eat there anymore. The shop, which had been bustling with guests just the day before, had turned into a haunted house overnight.

Even the county magistrate issued a strict order forbidding any further investigation, placing all the blame squarely on Zhou Da. Compensating the two individuals nearly emptied half of Zhou Da’s wealth, leading to the family’s downfall overnight.”