Seeing the butcher's appearance, Yang Ruohong and Yang Huazhong exchanged glances.

Then, Yang Huazhong spoke: "Brother Xiang, since you haven't eaten, why don't you just have a few bites at my place? The food is getting cold, so I'll have Qing'er's mother warm it up for you."

Hearing this, Sun hurried to respond with a sound, and quickly cleared the dishes and went to the kitchen in the backyard.

“Brother Xiang, please sit at this small table here,” Yang Huazhong invited.

The cattle dealer nodded and followed Yang Huazhong to a small table by the edge, sitting down.

Yang Ruoqing brought over two cups of hot tea, “Uncle Xiang, Father, please have some tea first.”

With hot tea in hand, Sun Shi was also pushed aside. Yang Huazhong turned to Xiang Ge and said, "Brother Xiang, what's the matter? You can talk now."

>

The butcher, gnawing on Yang Huazhong and Yang Ruqing, trembled as he spoke: "When I took him back this morning, I asked him how he ended up like that last night, why he slept in the middle of all those graves, making us frantic. You want to know what he said?"

"Well, what do you say?" Yang Huazhong asked.

The peddler said, "He said that as he was almost at the entrance of Xiangjiazhuang village last night, he suddenly realized his pipe was missing. He probably dropped it at your house, so he decided to come back and get it."

“As he walked, he came to a tree and saw two people walking ahead of him, talking as they went.”

He thought it was you and the Luo brothers, so he called out for both of you to wait for him and quickened his pace to catch up.

But you two acted like you didn't hear him calling, just kept walking ahead, and he was chasing after you. Several times he almost caught up, reaching out to touch your shoulders, but you both lengthened your stride, making it impossible for him to get close.

Upon hearing the peddler's words, Yang Ruqing felt a chill run down her spine and secretly rejoiced that she had sent Sun Shi away earlier.

Otherwise, Mrs. Sun would be scared again upon hearing this part.

"Brother Xiang, last night my brother Luo and I saw Shengnan's father go down the mountain. We came back after that. We did talk along the way, but we didn't hear any movement behind us, nor did we hear anyone calling us!" Yang Huazhong said.

The ox-seller raised his hand, "Third brother, you don't need to explain to me. I understand naturally. You certainly couldn't hear his voice because the two people he saw weren't you at all. As for what they were, I won't be specific, afraid of scaring little Qing."

The ox-seller glanced at Yang Ruqing standing beside him.

Yang Ruqing smiled at the ox vendor, "It's alright, Uncle Xiang. I'm not afraid of anything. Just say whatever you want to say. My mother isn't here. She's a bit timid, so we wouldn't let her hear." Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

The ox vendor chuckled wryly, "This kind of thing, not to mention your mother, even I, your Uncle Xiang, have lived most of my life and this is the first time I've heard it so clearly. I was frightened myself."

>

"Brother Xiang, have a cup of hot tea to calm your nerves," Yang Huazhong said.

The tea vendor lowered his head and took a sip of hot tea. Then, he continued, “He chased after those two figures who looked just like you two, across the bridge, to the other side of the river. He was completely unaware, as he put it himself, stumbling along with one foot deep and one foot shallow, feeling dizzy, unable to tell his left from his right.”

"Walking along, we came across a village. Its entrance was brightly lit with lanterns and filled with the sounds of drums and cymbals."

At the village entrance stood a makeshift stage, where people were performing. They sang Huangmei Opera, a local folk genre. The area in front of the stage was packed with spectators, three layers deep inside and out. There were men, women, and children of all ages, all squeezing to get a good view.

>

He pushed through the crowd, looking for you two. As he searched, suddenly someone tripped him with their foot. He turned his head and saw a tall woman with a pale face, dressed in a white-flowered shirt on a blue background, black trousers, and a bun hairstyle.

He was tripped and, a little annoyed, asked which woman had tripped him. The woman pulled him aside and asked if he was related to the third wife of Old Yang's family in Changping Village?

He said, "And then the woman said that they were all relatives after all. She said she was Yang Lao San's second sister-in-law..."

“Bang!”

Yang Huazhong's finger, in a moment of carelessness, knocked over the teacup before him.

The tea and tea leaves spilled out together, spreading across the floor.

Yang Huazhong stood up with a pale face. Yang Ruqing also came back to her senses from the shock and quickly took a cloth to wipe it up.

While secretly startled, Yang Laosan's second sister-in-law, a woman with a pale face and horse-like features...

Isn't that Er Ma Yang, who died from the plague back then?

Moreover, the white flower top on a blue background and black pants were exactly what Mrs. Yang was wearing when she died. Yang Ruqing remembered it very clearly. At that time, Mrs. Yang had been isolated in Yujiacun, the hardest-hit area.

Yang Ruqing and Luofeng Tang were there taking care of the patients, seeing Er Ma off on her final journey. It was also a farewell she sent. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated! ?

Erma's clothes were also changed by her...

“Brother Xiang, I do have a sister-in-law who looks just like that, but she died over ten years ago!” Yang Huazhong let out a breath and said to the ox seller.

The butcher said: “I know about this. Over ten years ago, there was an epidemic that killed many people. That year, many people in the surrounding villages died from the plague. Such a big event, of course, I remember.”

>

"But my younger brother was drunk at the time, so he doesn't remember. He even chatted with your second sister-in-law. I don't know what they talked about, he can't quite remember it himself after waking up. Anyway, your second sister-in-law praised your whole family to him, saying that you are all kind-hearted, and she even mentioned Qing (referring to a girl named Qing). She said Qing is good." Let me know if you have more text you'd like me to translate! ?

“Me?”

>

Yang Ruqing pointed at her own nose, astonished beyond words.

The cattle merchant nodded.

Yang Ruqing's mood was complicated. The previous fear had subsided by half, and she felt a mixture of emotions in her chest.

It's hard to believe Second Mom would still remember her well...

Later, your second sister-in-law told my brother that this play wasn't for him and asked him to leave quickly.

“My brother is stubborn by nature, and after drinking, he becomes even more so. He absolutely refuses to leave, saying he wants to find the two of you.”

“At the impasse, a strange sound came from the mountaintop, like the roar of a beast. Then, everyone watching the performance panicked. Someone shouted, “The Tiger Rider is here!” People scattered in all directions. The stage was suddenly deserted. My brother was kicked on his butt by your second sister-in-law and told to run! He then blacked out and didn't know anything else.”

“When I woke up again, it was because I had been peed on. When I got home and sobered up, I told him that I had been sleeping in the cemetery, and he broke out in a cold sweat and almost wet himself.”

"This morning, he fell asleep but after a while, he started having a fever and talking nonsense. I called the village doctor, who said it was due to fright and drinking too much alcohol, catching a chill and getting invaded by evil spirits. He prescribed some medicine, but looking at this situation, it doesn't seem right. I asked Jin Nansheng's brothers to keep an eye on him first while I came to you, Lao San, to seek your advice. This kind of strange thing has never happened before, I'm completely lost and don't know what to do!"

Nine Heavens Divine Emperor

(Editor in charge:novel gatsby)