Back then, the distance between villages wasn’t short.
Furthermore, because the world was in chaos, warlords carved up the land.
Along the way, there were graves everywhere.
From the market to Hu’s Village, it would take about seven or eight li.
At this moment, the sun was setting in the west and was about to disappear over the horizon.
Zhang Chen hurried along the way towards Hu’s Village.
As he watched the sunset, the sky grew dark.
He had walked about three or four li.
Then he passed through a desolate wasteland.
Many graves were hung with white cloth, indicating the death of many people.
There were also many wild dogs running around in the wasteland.
They had probably eaten a lot of dead flesh.
Just then.
Suddenly, a whirlwind spun up out of nowhere.
The dust blown up splattered on Zhang Chen.
But it quickly stopped.
Zhang Chen furrowed his brow, glancing at the paper doll in his hand.
There were no changes.
“This paper doll becoming a spirit isn’t something that happened today, huh, I’ll go ask around in the village and see where the wasteland graves at Thirteen Li Town are!”
Zhang Chen thought to himself.
He walked quickly.
Seven or eight li, and he soon arrived.
Entering the village.
After some inquiries, he found the house of this smoke ghost.
He took a look from afar, and it really was dilapidated.
Furthermore.
When asking for directions, the villagers all showed disdain when they heard that Hu Guo Hua had bought the paper doll.
They all wondered.
Why buy this paper doll?
Zhang Chen didn’t feel the need to explain.
He pushed open the door.
Looking at the door, there was no door.
It was simply blocked with a few wooden sticks.
The house was even worse.
There were only broken pots and bowls, a dirty bed sheet.
There were two sandalwood chests in the corner.
It seemed that they were still worth some money.
There really wasn’t anything to see here.
He placed the paper doll in the house.
Zhang Chen didn’t rush to leave.
Instead, he watched the paper doll, to see if it would become a spirit.
But after waiting for a long time, there was still no movement.
Zhang Chen knew that it wasn’t time yet.
Anyway, he had already found out how to get to Thirteen Li Town.
He could go check it out later.
Whether or not there was a ghost, it wasn’t a big deal.
But just as he was about to leave.
He heard a rustling sound coming from the corner.
Zhang Chen immediately stopped.
He turned to look, and saw a big rat in the corner.
It had white whiskers, and was as big as a cat.
It looked old.
It was lying on the ground at the moment, eyes half-closed.
“Hm? Brother Rat?”
Zhang Chen was stunned.
Wasn’t this Hu Guo Hua’s big rat that could carry money?
All living things.
When they lived to a certain age, they would have strange changes.
This rat was the size of a cat.
Its whiskers were white.
It must be at the extreme end of the rat’s lifespan.
It obviously had some intelligence.
It could find some money for Hu Guo Hua, so he could smoke opium.
It wasn’t afraid of humans.
When Zhang Chen looked at it, the big rat also looked back at him, but it stayed there.
But when it saw the paper doll, it jumped up in fright.
It turned and ran away, as if it had seen something dirty.
Zhang Chen’s heart moved.
He also looked at the paper doll.
But he still couldn’t see any changes.
Even with his Purple Extreme Demon Pupil, he couldn’t detect anything strange.
Just as he was thinking.
He saw that the rat had escaped behind him, and wouldn’t look at the paper doll at all.
Zhang Chen’s heart moved, he turned to look at the rat, and said, “Brother Rat, why don’t you come back with me, you can find me some money every day, so I can give you food and drink!”
The big rat stared blankly for a moment, with no reaction.
But when Zhang Chen took a step back.
The big rat took a step back too.
Zhang Chen smiled.
He reached out and touched the cloth bag he was carrying.
The big rat took a look.
Without hesitation, it dived inside.
Zhang Chen didn’t want to keep a rat.
He could let Old Li test it out.
If it really could bring back money or gold beans.
Then it would be great.
Then he wouldn’t have to worry about food and drink every day.
He hung the bag on his waist.
It was heavy and not light at all.
Then Zhang Chen left the house.
He closed the door.
He rushed back to the paper shop.
When he got to the shop, it was already dark.
Old Ma and his wife had made some simple food.
Seeing him come back, they immediately scooped him a bowl of dough balls.
He took a piece of yellow flatbread and a bowl of pickled vegetables, that was dinner.
To be honest, the boss’s wife was a good cook.
She could make these simple ingredients taste good.
Moreover, in these times, this meal could be considered a feast.
While eating, Zhang Chen secretly hid a piece for the big rat.
After they had eaten.
Old Ma sighed, and said to Zhang Chen, “Little Zhang, I’ve miscalculated, I originally thought I could hire you for two days, but I didn’t expect the business to suddenly disappear, this……”
He looked embarrassed.
But seeing his wife beside him, he didn’t dare to say anything.
Zhang Chen smiled and said, “Boss, I understand, but the agreed-upon wages can’t be less, I’ve worked for one day, so it’s one hundred copper coins!”
“Yes, yes, that’s right!”
Old Ma nodded.
He immediately gave him the one hundred coins he had prepared.
Zhang Chen weighed it in his hand, and knew it was about right.
He didn’t count it.
After taking the copper coins, he said goodbye to Old Ma and rushed home.
At this time.
Hu Guo Hua had already bought his opium.
He rushed home and immediately lay down and took a good puff.
When he came to his senses, he looked at the paper doll.
He praised, “This craftsmanship is really good!”
He just felt that the paper doll with the painted eyes … was a bit strange.
He didn’t think much of it, and fell asleep.
Zhang Chen was going to investigate Thirteen Li Town at night.
But he had to take the big rat back and let Old Li study it.
He also needed to do some preparations.
This time he came out, he didn’t bring all his hidden weapons.
He hadn’t told Old Li yet.
Anyway, there was no rush.
That place wasn’t going anywhere.
When he got home.
It was already completely dark.
“You’re back!”
Old Li sat in his chair, puffing on his dry pipe.
“Yeah, Uncle Li, I won’t be going tomorrow, I went today, and the paper shop’s business is gone, they only paid me for one day’s work, I don’t need to go tomorrow!”
Zhang Chen explained.
Old Li couldn’t help but laugh, “Is Old Ma so unlucky?”
Zhang Chen also smiled.
He wasn’t laughing at Old Ma.
It was just that he found the matter a bit funny.
“There’s also this thing!”
Zhang Chen picked up the cloth bag.
“What is this? How can it still move?”
Old Li was a bit strange.
This kid had never brought any pets.
Could it be, food?
Zhang Chen didn’t say anything, he just poured the creature out.
It scared Old Li.
“What’s going on? Why did you bring such a big rat!”
He had a black line on his forehead.
But then he looked closely, and noticed something was wrong.
This big rat …
It looked strangely strange.
It was about the size of a cat.
Its whiskers were white.
It looked old.
Everyone had seen rats.
But it was rare to see one so big and so old.
The key was, this big rat wasn’t afraid of people at all.
Its beady eyes seemed to have wisdom in them?