Chapter 85 Part 2
The train finally contacted the authorities, arriving at 8 a.m., its passengers safe and sound, a joyous reunion, the train staff had been worried all night.
Train accidents had survivors, supernatural incidents might not.
[Chengde Medical Clinic’s second live stream last night, grayscale, incredibly terrifying. Doctor Wu is truly powerful, controlling the situation remotely, and that Miss Chen, also amazing.]
[A truly horrifying night. Those female ghosts almost ate the passengers alive, thankfully a near miss. My father is sending a gift to Miss Chen.]
[Human trafficking is a crime. Let those women go, or face the wrath of the law!]
[As a firm materialist, I… I saw ghosts last night.]
All sorts of posts flooded social media, not censored or deleted, even the number increasing by afternoon.
The only ones censored were those spreading sensationalized rumors about ghost kings and demons.
More and more people started believing, frantically buying talismans and other protective items, and those who couldn’t find them resorted to buying ginger.
Ginger farmers, never in their wildest dreams had they imagined getting rich from ginger farming.
This wasn’t ginger anymore, it was gold!
G4044 stopped at the nearest station. Wu Su, looking at the station’s name, knew it wasn’t his stop yet.
Ever the optimist, he called his clinic, “I’ll attend a wedding banquet first, then come home.”
Money, time, no work, nothing to tie him down.
Nie Wei, officially declared dead after missing for two years, hadn’t left a will, so her assets went to her uncles, who had taken good care of her after her parents’ death, The police had notified them to identify her remains.
But for now, she had nowhere to go.
Chen Ying, unlocking her apartment door with facial recognition, “Duo Duo, come in.”
Nie Wei, seeing the double happiness characters on the door, shook her head. ‘I’ll wait outside, in the courtyard.’
She was a ghost, a malicious one at that, entering a newlywed’s home would bring bad luck.
“Ying Ying, you’re back,” her fiancé, hearing the door open, immediately rushed out, hugging her tightly, then, noticing her lingering by the door, he asked, “Is Duo Duo here too?”
“Come inside, it’s cold outside.”
Nie Wei, looking at them, couldn’t help but remark, ‘No wonder you’re a couple, neither afraid of bad luck.’
She hesitated for a moment, then, hearing a meow from inside, she took off her worn cloth shoes – she couldn’t wear human slippers – and carefully tiptoed inside, not wanting to dirty her best friend’s new home.
“Meow, meow.” A long-haired white cat with light green eyes, its tail held high, stared at her, as if recognizing her.
Nie Wei whispered, ‘Xue Bao!’
The cat approached cautiously, its paw reaching out, then meowed softly, as if asking for attention.
This was her cat, Xue Bao (Snow Treasure). Chen Ying had taken it in after Nie Wei disappeared, caring for it for five years.
She knew Ying Ying would, and she took such good care of it.
Those online stories about cats sensing spirits, true after all.
‘Xue Bao, you remember me?‘
Xue Bao rubbed against her legs, and as she gently stroked its belly, it purred contentedly.
“Ying Ying, many of the G4044 passengers said they would like to attend our wedding to thank you, I’ve informed the hotel, it shouldn’t be a problem,” her fiancé said.
Their families were well-off, money could solve everything. The hotel immediately made arrangements.
“But… you really want Duo Duo to be your bridesmaid?” he asked softly, glancing at the cat purring on the floor.
Chen Ying hadn’t invited any other bridesmaids, he understood, her only bridesmaid was Nie Wei.
He wasn’t bothered by her being a ghost, but a wedding, so many guests, their Yang qi so strong, others might not be so understanding, it would be troublesome.
Nie Wei’s hearing was enhanced now. She looked up and said, ‘I’m happy enough to watch your wedding, I don’t want to be a bridesmaid, that’s too tiring.’
She, a malicious ghost, bringing bad luck, should be grateful to even watch from the sidelines, how could she be a bridesmaid?
Ghosts should know their place.
And she had always been content.
Chen Ying sniffled and sent a message to Chengde Medical Clinic. A reply came in the afternoon.
[Chengde Medical Clinic: I’ll be there.]
Wu Heng, after a good night’s sleep, was wrapping red packets, preparing gifts for the wedding.
Chen Zhao, returning excitedly from Second Uncle’s guesthouse, announced, “Doctor Wu, it’s done.”
Sun Zhengtao’s bone dust shedding was caused by the black hoodie, and since he only refunded, Zhang Qiang, suffering in the afterlife, was targeting him as a replacement.
Wu Heng asked, “How did you treat it?”
Chen Zhao explained, “With the clothes’ owner gone, no more bone dust, I burnt the clothes, and since he lost bone mass, I had him bring the two bags of dust home and bury it under a peach tree.”
Then added awkwardly, “A small amount will be absorbed, replenishing his bones, but the rest, since it was discarded as trash, he’ll probably be about ten centimeters shorter, I can’t fix that.”
Wu Heng: “That’s enough.”
“Only refunding” was their habit, they had cheated many merchants, they deserved some punishment.
“That couple is all talk, they only gave me three thousand, saying they would pay more after taking out a loan, I told them not to bother.”
Da Bai was shocked. “Doctor Chen, you actually called someone poor?”
Chen Zhao preened, he wasn’t poor Chen Zhao anymore, he could also judge others now.
Wu Heng, picking up the two snakes, said to Chen Zhao, “Seventy percent of that goes to You Jin, I’m taking the snakes to a wedding.”
Chen Zhao was touched, seventy percent for him?! His master would only give him ten!
“I also want to go!”
Wu Heng, walking towards the door, “You can go if you want, if you hurry, you might even make it to the dinner banquet.”
Chen Zhao thought about the travel expenses and decided against it, he couldn’t use wells, after all.
He patted the dog bed. “Su Da Yi, why not you? You can use wells.”
Su Da Yi bared its fangs, “Either get lost, or build me a shrine.”
Chen Zhao immediately said, “I’ll get lost then,” no way was he doing free labor, only You Jin did that.
Before dawn, the makeup artists arrived, one of them shivering as she entered, “Miss Chen, is your heating broken?”
It was so cold.
An unnatural chill.
Chen Ying was about to reply when Nie Wei floated out to the balcony, then to the study.
“It’s warm again. Let’s begin,” the makeup artists, confused, shrugged and started working.
Halfway through, the doorbell rang.
Seeing Wu Heng on the screen, they excitedly opened the door.
“Oh my god, it’s Doctor Wu from Chengde Medical Clinic, in person! He’s so tall and handsome!” Her cousin exclaimed, excitedly taking photos.
Wu Heng, the snakes tucked into his sleeves, entered the bedroom and handed Chen Ying a red packet. “Congratulations.”
Chen Ying opened it curiously, a prescription for prenatal care inside.
“Is something wrong with the baby?” her mother asked, worried.
Wu Heng, accepting the snacks and fruit they offered, shook his head. “No, pregnant women are more susceptible to negative energy. This will protect both the mother and the child.”
With the increasing supernatural activity, this would be useful.
After her experience in Ping An village, Chen Ying knew how valuable this was, everyone was looking at it longingly, their eyes gleaming.
Pregnant women were rare and precious these days.
Wu Heng, seeming to know what they were thinking, eating a cherry, said, “It’s yours, do whatever you want with it.”
Chen Ying thanked him profusely, “I’ll be sure to credit you! But… Duo Duo?”
Wu Heng, enjoying the cherries, had the makeup artists leave, except for the long-haired white cat on the bed.
“She’s a malicious spirit, attending a wedding would be inappropriate, she knows this.”
Then added, “But I can have her temporarily possess a living creature.”
Chen Ying wouldn’t let a ghost possess her body, no way.
Wu Heng took a cat treat and offered it to Nie Wei on the balcony. “This cat belonged to your best friend, now it’s hers. It’s a link between you. Feed it and see if it agrees. If it’s willing, no harm will come to it.”
“Meow, meow,” the cat suddenly meowed excitedly.
Nie Wei fed it the treat, watching it purr happily. Five years, Ying Ying had missed her, Xue Bao had missed her too, she always knew.
‘Thank you, Xue Bao,’ Nie Wei easily possessed it, quickly controlling its body, jumping into Chen Ying’s lap. Chen Ying’s eyes filled with tears again, and the cat meowed,
‘Don’t cry on your big day.’
When the makeup artists returned, Chen Ying paid extra, asking them to apply makeup to Xue Bao and dress her in a bridesmaid’s dress.
This was Wu Heng’s first time attending a wedding in this world. He was given a seat at one of the front tables.
“Xiao Heng, what are you doing here? Are we both attending this wedding?” Wu Su exclaimed excitedly, grabbing his son’s shoulder, then, “Wait, you’re not married! Did we give two red packets?”
He waved his hand dismissively, he had earned enough from Old Man Shi, then added, his mind already wandering, “Xiao Heng, any girl you like?”
Wu Heng said firmly, “No.”
The traditional wedding ceremony was about to begin. Two hundred tables.
Chen Ying, in a beautiful Ming Dynasty-style wedding dress, walked slowly down the aisle, her beauty captivating everyone. Behind her was a fluffy white cat in a small dress, its tail held high.
Nie Wei, watching her best friend get married, her heart full of joy.
How wonderful.
The emcee, having never seen a cat so calm and unfazed in such a large crowd, took a scroll from its back. “Is this a gift from our Xue Bao? Let’s see…”
She gently unrolled it, a marriage certificate written in gold ink on red paper: “Two families united, a bond formed…”
Officiant: Nie Wei, and a small cat paw print.
Nie Wei’s handwriting, still beautiful after five years.
Chen Ying hugged Xue Bao. “Thank you, Duo Duo.”
Nie Wei whispered, ‘Congratulations, Ying Ying.’
Her regrets, finally resolved.
She looked at Wu Heng, sitting nearby, smiling gratefully.
“Cheers, everyone, to the happy couple!” Wu Su raised his glass, quickly joining in the revelry, and getting drunk, “My son isn’t of legal drinking age yet, I’ll drink for him. Bottoms up!”
Many passengers from G4044, and even reporters who had heard the news, were present, cameras flashing, especially at Wu Heng’s table.
Back at the Shi residence, Mr. Shi was dining, one hand scrolling through the news on his phone, the other gesturing towards Wu Su, who, ignoring his position as a steward, had made himself comfortable at the dining table.
The Wu Su in the video was shouting excitedly, “Cheers! A hundred years of happiness to the newlyweds!”
And the Wu Su in front of him, round as a ball, continued eating.
Mr. Shi, trembling with rage, pointed at him, “Stop eating! Who are you?!”
Wu Su, a chicken leg in his mouth, looked up, puzzled, “Wu Su, your steward. Why? Disturbing me while I’m eating. If you’re not eating, get out.”
Mr. Shi slammed the table. “You’re Wu Su?! You’re a Wu ball!”
He had puffed up like a balloon, three times his normal size!
Wu Su, watching his double on screen, drinking and eating like a bandit, calmly said, “He’s fake, I’m real.”
“What Monkey King nonsense?” Mr. Shi punched him, something he had been wanting to do for a long time.
His fist hit nothing but air. A fox’s laughter echoed through the dining room. Wu Su was gone, a single white fox hair floating down, mocking him.
Not the Monkey King, but the Fox King.
Hopefully now that father Wu is away Mr. Shi can’t harm him now. Wu Heng wouldn’t let anyone harm his dad.