Niu Rui was personally rescued by Li Sanjiang, and the Niu family had also heard the voice of the long-deceased Old Mrs. Niu from the old house, so they were very convinced by Li Sanjiang.
After respectfully inviting Li Sanjiang into the house, everyone began to cry and plead.
Li Sanjiang soothed them and then performed an exorcism ritual.
After finishing the first set, Li Sanjiang repeated some words to ward off bad luck, and Niu Rui’s son immediately handed over another red envelope, prompting Li Sanjiang to perform another ritual.
However, before leaving, Niu Rui secretly handed over another red envelope, praying that Li Sanjiang would exorcise the spirits and heal him.
Li Sanjiang accepted it, saying that he would light a long-burning candle for him when he got back, but also admonished him that no matter what, he must take his medicine on time and never stop.
This was somewhat the professional ethics of a fringe practitioner: I take your money and provide blessings for psychological comfort, but you must continue with your medication and seek medical doctors.
However, this reminder would undoubtedly deepen the conflict between Niu Rui and his family members.
Because Li Zhiyuan knew that Niu Rui’s disease was incurable, which would become an endless abyss that brought hope followed by deeper despair.
Niu Fu had become completely incapacitated after his paralysis, which led to a sudden fall in his status, while Niu Rui was still struggling.
Although Niu Rui was not too tragic at the moment, as long as the current conflicts continue to accumulate, the near future will undoubtedly ignite even brighter fireworks.
Just look at the hatred in the eyes of his family members towards him, the outcome will not disappoint.
Thus, this time when the black cat passed by him, Li Zhiyuan just calmly nodded.
When he arrived at Niu Lian’s house, Li Sanjiang was as usual invited in by her family.
Li Zhiyuan did not see Niu Lian in the main house and went to check the firewood shed, but she was not there either.
Eventually, he found Niu Lian chained near the pigpen, on the other side of the family’s toilet.
Every time her family members came here to use the toilet while sitting on the throne, they could talk to her.
It was quite a considerate arrangement for the elderly, fearing she might feel lonely.
Her food bowl was right next to the pig trough, with a scoop for feeding the pigs leaning against it, seemingly as if she would be fed along with the pigs.
As long as the pigs had something to eat, she would not miss out on half a bite.
She was lucid and not numb now, seeing a stranger come by, she covered her face with both hands, trying to hide her shame.
Her grandchildren, both seen by Li Zhiyuan, one with a bandage on the head, the other on the arm, likely injured by Niu Lian during an outburst.
Both children, spitting towards her while throwing stones, not in play but targeting her body.
The parents saw it too, but did not stop them, their eyes filled with hatred.
The black cat walked out from above the pigpen.
Li Zhiyuan said nothing, walked a bit further away, then from beside the pigpen, Niu Lian’s pleading voice could again be heard, claiming she was already healed and begging her children to release her, that she was fine.
She was met with curses from her children and several fierce kicks from her son as he approached in anger.
Niu Lian curled up in a corner, wailing like a dog.
Clearly, they had believed and been "deceived" before.
The black cat walked down step by step from above, finally reaching Li Zhiyuan’s feet, rubbing against his pant leg with its cat face.
Li Zhiyuan bent down and stroked its head.
The cat enjoyed this, leaning into him and exposing its belly.
The Grandmaster began performing another ritual, typically receiving an extra red envelope, to help divert bad luck to the two families.
When leaving Niu Lian’s house and heading home, Run Sheng pushing the cart used one arm to steadily hold it, while with the other hand he began to calculate:
"First family’s, second family’s, third family’s, all invited the grandmaster to pass the bad luck onto other families, doesn’t that mean it’s just like it wasn’t passed at all?"
Li Zhiyuan corrected: "Brother Runsheng, it’s different."
"How is it different?"
"Because the Grandmaster received three extra payments."
"Right, Xiao Yuan, you’re right!"
When they got home, it was just dinner time at dusk, Li Sanjiang ate and then yawned, waving his hand: "I won’t go see the movie, just going to take a bath and sleep, I’m dead tired."
The rituals performed today were intense, even a young person would struggle dancing six rounds in an afternoon, but the Grandmaster still gritted his teeth and held on, his physical fitness really impeccable.
Uncle Qin was holding quite a few stools waiting, Aunt Liu couldn’t even bother cleaning dishes as usual, she put aside household chores and waited together.
Liu Yumei changed into a cheongsam and put on jewelry, also applying rouge.
For an elderly lady like her, wearing makeup often isn’t about looking good, but to express respect.
The movie was shown in an open area next to the town gathering, not yet started, but people were already arriving early to save spots.
Uncle Qin and Run Sheng squeezed in, placing stools and forcibly making room.
With their build, people around could only be resentfully silent, quietly moving their stools away.
However, Uncle Qin then pulled out a bunch of candies for the kids and cigarettes for the adults from his pocket, everyone happily accepted, no longer discontent.
Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu sat between them, although aged, she still had a graceful presence, standing out amongst the crowd from behind.
As for Li Zhiyuan, he sat with Qin Li in a quiet corner away from the screen, the viewing angle was not great and was quite off-center, but the solitude without disturbances suited Qin Li, as such crowded places were not his thing.