Chapter 1361: Aunt Miao
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Chi Shuyan stared at Ruan Shenglin in front of her. Yang Kun and Xu Tong felt uneasy and wanted to say something, but hesitated.
She saw some worry in their eyes, most likely because they were worried about the safety of the crew. She wasn’t in a hurry to talk about selling talismans, but said, “I sell talismans to anyone. However, are you sure they will believe in the talismans, and will be willing to buy them?”
In her opinion, the price of the talismans she sold was already very fair and normal, but other people might not think the same way. Most people in the entertainment industry didn’t lack money, but they might not be willing to be suckers and buy talismans.
At the end of the day, no matter what she said now, those people might not believe in the talismans she drew. Of course, she wasn’t interested in making them believe her. If she really interfered and insisted that the film crew buy her talismans, they might think that she was a busybody and a swindler. As for whether or not these people could leave the village safely, she could only let nature take its course. After all, it wasn’t like she hadn’t warned them before. Whether they listened or not was their business, and had nothing to do with her.
Sure enough!
!!
The other three couldn’t say anything in response to Chi Shuyan’s words. Xu Tong didn’t know anything about the village, but Master Chi’s talismans were rare; it would naturally be better if the film crew could buy some to ensure their safety and prevent accidents.
While Yang Kun and Ruan Shenglin deeply felt that the village was extremely dangerous and were incomparably anxious, they knew that the film crew probably didn’t believe in talismans, let alone would buy them. Thinking this, Yang Kun and Ruan Shenglin looked a little tired and disappointed.
It wasn’t that Yang Kun and Ruan Shenglin were very kind-hearted, but they would inevitably have some friends in every film crew. It didn’t matter if everybody else didn’t listen to them, but it was extremely unacceptable for them to see something happen to their friends when they knew that it was dangerous.
For example, Ruan Shenglin was very good friends with Song Yanru and Director w.a.n.g, especially Song Yanru. Back when he wasn’t popular, it was Song Yanru who took the initiative to help him.
His road to fame had not been without some b.u.mps in the road. Back then, for example, he had been interested in a drama script, and the director had taken him on when he saw that his acting was good. Later, however, an investor had stuffed someone else into the production and asked the director to replace him.
At that time, the director was already a little moved because of the new investment in the production. It was only because Song Yanru protected Ruan Shenglin that he was able to become popular and to grow later.
Not only did that drama make him popular, it gave him even more opportunities. When it came down to it, he had been in dire straits back then, and it could be said that without Song Yanru’s recommendation, he wouldn’t be where he was right now.
Even if Ruan Shenglin didn’t say anything, he had never forgotten this act of kindness. So, he really couldn’t watch Song Yanru die in this village for nothing.
He also had some consideration for the others whom he also had a better relations.h.i.+p with.
Ruan Shenglin gritted his teeth and continued, “Master Chi, I’ll give it a try. If they really don’t want to buy talismans from you and don’t believe you, I’ll leave it, but can I try first?”
When Ruan Shenglin said this, he had already made up his mind that if Master Chi agreed, he would immediately let the film crew know. There was no need for him to be a saint and beg those who were just acquaintances to buy anything. For those whom he was closer to, however, even if they didn’t intend to buy anything, he would force them to, or secretly buy some for them.
Yang Kun also looked pleadingly at Master Chi in front of him and spoke up for Ruan Shenglin.
To begin with, Chi Shuyan didn’t care who she sold the talismans to, as long as she could make money. Of course, if no one was willing to buy them, she wouldn’t force them – everything depended on fate. So, when Ruan Shenglin and Yang Kun asked for this favor together, she thought for a while before she nodded in agreement.
Ruan Shenglin and Yang Kun were immediately overjoyed. Xu Tong smiled a lot and added sincerely, “Master Chi, it’s the crew’s good luck if they can buy your talismans. If they’re unwilling to buy them and don’t believe you, it’s also their own loss. They’ll definitely regret not spending that bit of money in the future. Whoever doesn’t buy your talismans is stupid!”
Xu Tong truly wasn’t deliberately flattering Chi Shuyan – she genuinely meant what she said. She recalled how Master Chi had saved the child in her stomach, and how she had seen Master Chi’s methods for herself. Master Chi wasn’t an ordinary person. The talismans she drew were naturally extraordinary. Anyone who wasn’t willing to buy Master Chi’s talismans would really be a fool. Xu Tong still wanted to buy as many as possible, but she was too embarra.s.sed to say so.
It had to be said that there was a reason why Chi Shuyan liked Xu Tong. After listening to her, Chi Shuyan smiled. “Let’s go and see Aunt Miao first. As for selling talismans, as long as someone wants to buy them from me, I’ll naturally sell them!”
With Master Chi’s promise, Yang Kun and Ruan Shenglin were completely relieved and were in a very good mood. They immediately followed Master Chi to Aunt Miao’s place in the village.
They didn’t know the way, so they could only follow Master Chi. On the way, Xu Tong struck up a conversation with Chi Shuyan, and didn’t deliberately try to flatter her. Chi Shuyan felt very comfortable talking to Xu Tong, and was happy to do so. She answered her from time to time and helped watch the road.
Not long after, she saw a familiar and beautiful little boy not far from Aunt Miao’s house.
It was broad daylight, and the little boy was playing with the other children on the road. It was just that he was young and a little underdeveloped, and wasn’t as energetic as the other children. He couldn’t keep up with them; after running for a while, he was panting a little. He could only watch anxiously as the others ran ahead, and he struggled to stagger after them.
Not long after, he almost tripped over a rock. It was Chi Shuyan who quickly supported the little guy. “Be careful!”
Xu Tong also recognized the beautiful boy in front of her at that moment, and her heart melted. She said excitedly to Chi Shuyan, “Master Chi, is… is this the child from last time? What a coincidence!”
If she wasn’t pregnant, Xu Tong would have picked him up. Ruan Shenglin and Yang Kun liked children, let alone pretty ones. Ruan Shenglin immediately picked him up.
The little boy jumped in fright and struggled to get down anxiously. Chi Shuyan took the child from Ruan Shenglin and asked him if he recognized her. The little boy had a good memory and recognized Chi Shuyan. Sure enough, he relaxed after that. His anxious expression faded and he revealed a shy smile as he called out in his baby voice, “Sister!” He then called out to Xu Tong, “Sister!”
Xu Tong responded happily and immediately took out milk candy from her pocket for the little guy to eat. Although the little boy stared longingly at the candy in her hand, it was clear that he had a good upbringing. Even if he wanted to eat it, he didn’t reach out to take it.
Chi Shuyan whispered that he could take it since Sister Xu was specially giving it to him. Only after getting permission did the little guy dare take the milk candy.
The more Xu Tong looked at him, the more she cherished him. She really wanted to bring him home. Would her own child in the future be as sensible and polite as this child? Whose child was this? He was too cute.
Xu Tong still wanted to coax the child, when she suddenly felt a tug on her leg. She looked down and saw a few village boys and girls around her. They looked at Xu Tong eagerly and shouted, “We want… we want candy!”
Without waiting for the others to speak, Xu Ran immediately took out the candy that was in his pocket and gave them to his friends. His hands were small, and he could only give out two or three at a time. He held them out and said in his baby voice, “Here you go!”
Seeing Xu Tong take out candy from her pocket, Chi Shuyan knew that she probably still had a lot. She caught the little guy’s hands and told him to keep them for himself.
Xu Tong immediately said, “Yes, yes, yes, I still have candy here. Don’t worry, everyone.”
With that, she immediately took out a lot of candy for the children to share.
Yang Kun and Ruan Shenglin also took out some candy from their pockets and gave them to the children. Although the village and its inhabitants were quite scary, the children here were still very cute.
However, the most beautiful person was the boy in Master Chi’s arms. This boy didn’t look like a village kid at all, but like a child from the city. His little face was fair and he was good-looking, and his expressions were simply too extraordinary.
Yang Kun couldn’t help but ask, “Master Chi, which family is this child from? He’s too good-looking!”
As he spoke, he looked at Master Chi, who had a cheerful expression on her face as she carried the child, and he simply had too good an impression of her. She was simply much better than those ‘experts’ who put on airs. No, those people couldn’t compare with Master Chi.
Sure enough!
A Master was a Master!
After saying that, Yang Kun took the opportunity to secretly pinch the little guy’s face. When the little guy widened his eyes and looked at him curiously, Yang Kun, a big man, couldn’t take it anymore. He switched to his native accent, “Oh my G.o.d, which family is this child from? I want to take him away!”
Xu Ran was young, so he could still understand a little. Hearing Yang Kun’s words, panic flashed across his little face. He turned his head and immediately hugged Chi Shuyan’s neck, burying his little face in her shoulder. He hurriedly said, “You can’t take me! You can’t take me!”
Chi Shuyan gave Yang Kun a look, and he immediately settled down. Ruan Shenglin wanted to help carry the child. Ever since his wife got pregnant, he couldn’t wait for his child to be born immediately and call him Dad.
Xu Tong patted Brother Kun’s arm and then comforted the little guy gently. “Okay, okay, okay, he won’t take you. I’m here, so he can forget about taking you away.”
“Okay, let’s go!” With that reminder, Chi Shuyan took a step forward with the child in her arms. Xu Tong walked next to her and coaxed the child.
Although Ruan Shenglin and Yang Kun liked this child very much, they still had official business to attend to. Where was Master Chi taking the child? Was she really going to take him away because he was good-looking?
Fortunately, after taking a few steps, Master Chi let them know. “This child’s mother is Aunt Miao. Okay, let’s go take a look! It’ll be more convenient if this child is with us!”
Because Chi Shuyan had an ulterior motive for going to the Xu house to look for Aunt Miao, she naturally had to give the other party a good impression, which should be helped if she had this child with her.
As she walked, she looked down at the shy little guy in her arms. Compared with this child’s lifeless expression last night, it was much better now even though his face was still very pale. His eyes were also lively and he looked very animated and not as sluggish as before.
Chi Shuyan’s eyes darkened. On the way, she coaxed the little guy and tried to get some useful information out of him.
Soon, they reached the Xu house, and Chi Shuyan stopped talking.
There was a stone wall around the house with a wooden door set into it. It was tied shut, and there were coughs coming from inside from time to time. After confirming that there was someone inside, Chi Shuyan knocked on the wooden door.
Ruan Shenglin and Yang Kun looked curiously at Aunt Miao’s house and felt that it was very simple and shabby compared with the other houses in the village.
There was no reply. It was Xu Ran who took the initiative to call out in his baby voice, “I’m back! Mom! Open the door!”
Not only did the little guy call out, he also knocked on the door with his little hand.
Soon, the door opened. Yang Kun, Xu Tong and Ruan Shenglin saw a very old woman come out. She looked to be in her fifties or sixties. Her face was covered in wrinkles and harsh lines. She looked old and a little hunched. It was hard to imagine that such an old woman was this child’s mother.
At first, they thought that this child was probably adopted and wasn’t this woman’s biological child.
When Chi Shuyan saw her, she asked nicely, “Aunt Miao?”
Seeing that there were many strangers standing outside her door, Aunt Miao’s face turned very unsightly. She coughed and looked at them darkly, her cloudy eyes making them afraid and fl.u.s.tered.
At that moment, Xu Ran hurriedly said that these sisters had given him candy twice and had specially sent him back. Only then did Aunt Miao’s dark face soften a little. She immediately took the little guy from Chi Shuyan’s arms, but she was sick and couldn’t carry him. She could only put him on the ground as she continued coughing. Her face was pale and her voice was cold. “What do you want?”
Chi Shuyan was the first to explain why she was here. She said that her friend was injured and she had heard from the villagers that her medical skills were good, so she wanted to come and see Aunt Miao.
Aunt Miao’s dark gaze swept over them. After a while, she said coldly, “Come in!”