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Home/ There’s A Beauty / Chapter 76 (Part 1)

“Zhao Youshu” had no idea how much property the Zhao family owned. But that also makes sense, managing the family property is generally the responsibility of the head of the house, while the son only needs to study well. When he grows up and gets married, he will have a wife to take care of the house, and there won’t be any need to know. Therefore, when Zhao Youcai asked You Shu to take away the family property, he didn’t have a clue for a moment.

“How come my cousin suddenly wants to return the family property? You and my second uncle don’t have such kindness.” He tried to probe.

“If you’re asked to take it, then take it. Why are you talking so much nonsense? Dad, take out the silver.” Zhao Youcai lay on the table with veins bulging on his forehead, as if there were several mountains pressing on his shoulders, and he was about to collapse.

He would never tell his cousin that half a month before the other party returned to the capital, the three of them had a dream at the same time, and in the dream, they were arrested and brought to the Underworld Hall for trial, accused of forcibly seizing the property of their relatives. 

After the Lord of the Underworld put on heavy chains and shackles for them, he released them and ordered them to immediately return the property and obtain a reconciliation letter from the original owner. Otherwise, the chains and shackles would become heavier and heavier until they were crushed to death.

At first, they didn’t quite believe it, but as time went by, their shoulders and limbs seemed to have been filled with lead, and the slightest movement caused an excruciating pain. Among them, the situation of Zhao Youcai was the most serious. Not to mention walking normally, even lying on the bed became a kind of torture, and the weight on his shoulders almost crushed his spine.

Last night, another ghost messenger came to urge them, saying that the original owner would arrive at noon tomorrow and asked them to return the property quickly and then burn the reconciliation letter written by the other party in order to remove the shackles on their shoulders and limbs. This time they had no choice but to believe it, so they ran to guard the city gate before dawn. When they saw You Shu from a distance, they immediately ran to recognize him.

You Shu frowned when he saw the bad attitude of this family. It was obvious that these people are not sincerely remorseful. Although he has a much gentler personality, he is not the Virgin Mary who rewards good for evil. It is not that easy to get rid of him with a few taels of silver. Anyway, the shackles are not worn on himself, so there is no need to worry.

Upon receiving instructions from his son, the second master immediately took out fifty banknotes from his sleeve pocket and pushed them over with difficulty, saying, “Nephew, this is your family property. Take it quickly.”

“Yes, yes, don’t think too much. When we came here, your parents weren’t good at managing the shops and land at home. They sold their fields and shops at a loss, and owed a lot of debt, but we helped you pay it back. Otherwise you would not be able to stay in the countryside and study peacefully, and win the top spot at the age of eighteen.” 

When she said the last sentence, the second aunt’s tone was really sour, indicating that “Zhao Youshu” becoming an official based on his own abilities has always been a thorn in her heart.

You Shu frowned and didn’t say anything. This family is really shameless. They clearly took advantage of him and now even claimed that he owed them. Five thousand taels, are they treating him like a beggar?

He rummaged through his memory and said, “Second uncle and second aunt, don’t think that I am easy to fool because I am young. When my parents died, you moved in and offered to take care of me. Although I don’t know how much wealth your second house had, I know how much you brought back then, just a few boxes of clothes and a few copper coins. Even the wages for hiring carriages and porters were paid by my steward for you. Without my property, what delicacies do you eat, what carved beams and paintings do you live in, what kind of silk and satin do you wear, what kind of imperial official do you serve as? Whether you owe me or I owe you, the Lord of the Underworld will know for himself. Let’s wait until the day we die to discuss this matter.”

Because the Second house had already dismissed the loyal servants of the big house, You Shu couldn’t find any evidence to investigate the past’s grievances. Of course, even if he could find it, he wouldn’t bother to put in that effort. If these people cannot bear to part with these assets, just keep them, he is not in a hurry anyways.

Thinking like this in his mind, he stood up and arched his hand, ready to bid farewell.

The second master and his family became anxious and quickly went to block the door. What do you mean by waiting until the day you die to discuss the matter? If the shackles on their bodies are not removed, they will be crushed to death in less than half a month. Zhao Youshu, this little bastard, didn’t know if it was a mistake or not, but he actually used the King of Hell as an example, which really hit their dead end.

“Five thousand taels is too little for you, then I’ll give you another five thousand taels. Zhao Youshu, don’t be too greedy!” Zhao Youcai suppressed his anger.  

Due to working as an official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he had made a lot of money by selling the official positions and titles over the years. He has renovated and expanded the Zhao Mansion inside and out, making it extremely magnificent. Listening to Zhao Youshu’s tone, he actually asked his family to come and go back as they came. He has such a big face!

You Shu shook his head and said in a helpless tone, “Five thousand or ten thousand, there is no difference to me, they are just numbers. Over the years, I have long understood the truth. You can take whatever you want from this house, while I will rely on my own abilities to stand firm. Second uncle, second aunt, cousin, you can live in peace, I will take my leave now.” After saying this, he quickly strode away.

The second master and his family couldn’t run, so they had to ask the servants to stop him. Unexpectedly, the man seemed to be walking slowly, but in fact he ran away in two or three steps. The servants walked around the gate and looked again, but they couldn’t find any trace of the person.

“What should we do now? He doesn’t want this property anymore! How could he not want it?” The second wife slumped on a chair, pounding her chest and crying loudly.

“I asked you before if five thousand taels was too little, but you said it’s enough! What should we do now? Without a reconciliation letter, will the shackles on our bodies really be released until the day we die?” The second master opened his clothes and looked at his flesh, which had already been compressed into a purple red colour, feeling even more fearful and hopeless. Every day, the shackles and chains will add a pound, and soon they will be crushed to pieces.

Zhao Youcai had been working in the Ministry of Civil Affairs for a long time and had never seen any big storms before. After closing his eyes and thinking for a moment, he said firmly, “Didn’t he come to the capital to report on his work? Just wait, I will naturally find a way to get him to come to us voluntarily for silver.”

“Son, what do you want to do?” The second master always felt uneasy.

“You don’t understand those things in the yamen.” Now, even speaking was a burden for Zhao Youcai. After breathing hard for a while, he picked up his pen and wrote a letter, asking a servant to send it to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

You Shu hired an ox cart to slowly wander around the capital, searching for a temporary residence while observing the local customs. The customs of Dayong Kingdom are very similar to those of Xia Qi, and the clothing style is similar, but more magnificent. This is also the reason why the former emperor was so extravagant and his actions were ineffective. 

Looking up at the sky, occasional black clouds and ghostly shadows drifted by, indicating that the various measures taken by the new emperor hadn’t yielded any results yet, and the public’s resentment was not small.

“Master, what kind of courtyard are you looking for? More expensive or cheaper?” The coachman asked loudly.

You Shu withdrew his gaze and asked seriously, “Is there any haunted courtyard?”

“A haunted courtyard? Are you joking?” He picked his ears, suspecting that he was hallucinating.

“I don’t have much money in hand, so I can only afford to rent a cheap house.”

“I see. I’ve heard of a haunted courtyard. The rent only costs seven or eight tales a year, and the place is very spacious. But it’s really evil. The people who lived there either died or went crazy, and none of them had a good ending, “Young man, I see you are very young and good-looking, why make fun of your own life just to save a few coins?” The coachman tried to dissuade him earnestly.

You Shu thanked him sincerely, but he refused to listen to his advice and insisted on going. 

Helplessly, the coachman had no choice but to lead him to a secluded alley. He pointed to a large mansion with three entrances, saying, “It’s right here. There is a yalang(broker) living across the street. Let me help you ask.”

He knocked on the opposite door and explained his intention. That yalang has been worried about that vacant house for a long time, so when he heard that someone wanted to rent it, he immediately agreed without saying a word. 

You Shu paid a total of twelve taels of silver, of which seven taels was one year’s rent, and a deposit of five taels. Finally, he moved in with his luggage.

The oxcart driver and the yalang hid outside the door and poke their heads to look around. When they saw You Shu waving to invite them in, they quickly turned around and ran away. 

This place is very evil. There is cold wind in the summer, bursts of crying in the middle of the night, as well as several ghosts and shadows looming everywhere. Seven or eight people have either died here or went crazy. Even the officials who come to investigate the case got possessed by evil spirits for no reason. This young man is so brave that he refused to listen to any advice.

The two ran for a mile before collapsing on the ground, feeling terrified.

This house is built in a very magnificent manner, with rugged rockeries and towering vegetation. At first glance, it looks like a fairyland. If it wasn’t haunted, one might not be able to rent it for even five hundred taels.  

You Shu used his mental power to look around, and found that many fierce ghosts were coming and going in the house, obviously regarding it as an ideal place to live.

Because he received the inheritance of taoism from the old man back then, You Shu also knew the Art of Feng Shui. After walking around the house twice, he realised that the problem lay in the water source that ran through each courtyard. Water can accumulate wealth, but if it is not properly channelled and drained, it can cause financial ruin and disaster. 

I don’t know if the owner was tricked or just didn’t understand, but he actually built a pond at the east and west ends and dug a ditch to connect them, forming the image of a blood basin shining through the mirror. No wonder the owner’s children and grandchildren died early, and the Yang house turned into a Yin house, turning this house into a place where souls are seduced and lives are taken.

The purple dragon aura on You Shu’s body has long been exhausted, so he usually makes a lot of exorcism talismans and hides them in his sleeves. If these ghosts don’t come to provoke him, then they can coexist in harmony. But if they want to kill him, he will also do the same. With this thought, he became even more calm. 

Walking into the main courtyard, he chose the most spacious room to live in.

He used the cleaning talismans to clean the inside and outside corners, and put his luggage properly. Then he immediately put on his official robe, took his official seal, and went to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to report. He was very eager to know whether the new emperor is his master or not.

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