Chapter 13: Dad, Does This Cost a Lot of Money?

Old Yu was already in his sixties, wearing a Lei Feng hat. When he saw Lin Jingyu, he forced a smile and greeted him, even asking, “Need some paper?”

Lin Jingyu quickly waved him off and took the opportunity to ask, “Old Yu, did Master Cai have some trouble in the restroom just now? Did you see anything?”

Old Yu shook his head. “No.”

Zhang Qiang didn’t believe it. “How could you not? You live here and rarely leave. How could you not know when something happens to my master?”

“Maybe I’m deaf and blind,” Old Yu replied.

“You…”

Zhang Qiang clenched his fists, ready to rush forward, but Lin Jingyu stopped him.

“Don’t be impulsive.”

Then he reminded Old Yu, “Master Cai is currently delirious and keeps saying… *cough*, he wants to eat shit. Just look…”

Old Yu’s expression was indifferent. “If he wants to eat it, let him. What’s it to me?”

As expected.

My friend’s sharp! He immediately saw that Old Yu was hiding something.

Listening to Old Yu’s tone, Lin Jingyu could clearly tell he knew more than he was saying.

But… the old man was always reclusive, merely an acquaintance at best. How could they pry the truth out of him?

Before he could figure it out, Su Chen spoke up.

“You smell of incense.”

Old Yu froze. “What?”

Su Chen then turned to the public restroom, his gaze landing on a corner by the door where there was a small pile of incense ash.

“You worship a deity in the restroom.”

Old Yu’s eyes darted away. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lin Jingyu quietly leaned toward Su Chen’s ear. “Bro, are you saying… Old Yu really caused trouble for Master Cai? But why?”

Su Chen didn’t answer him, instead continuing to eye Old Yu suspiciously.

“Which deity do you worship?”

Old Yu remained silent.

“Who else would you worship in a restroom?” Lin Jingyu looked at Su Chen oddly, “It must be the Toilet Goddess!”

Old Yu’s eyes softened, filled with reverence.

“Toilet Goddess?” The original owner had no memory of this.

It seemed necessary to learn more about the local deities at some point.

Lin Jingyu, naturally talkative, couldn’t miss the chance to show off.

“The Toilet Goddess is called Zi Gu. Legend says her real name was He Mei, with the childhood nickname Zi Gu. She was very beautiful and clever.”

---

“Unfortunately, she was married to an actor but was taken by the governor because of her beauty. The governor’s jealous wife resented her and strangled her to death in the restroom on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month. Gradually, people began to worship her as the Toilet Goddess, believing she could foretell the future and judge luck.”

Lin Jingyu added, “But Zi Gu isn’t an orthodox deity, and few worship her. At least, in our Emerald City, there’s no such custom.”

Old Yu suddenly flew into a rage. “Nonsense! Don’t insult Zi Gu.”

“Oh, so you admit it!” Zhang Qiang angrily stepped forward and slammed the table hard. “Tell me, did you make Zi Gu do something to my master?”

Su Chen grabbed him by the collar and pulled him aside.

“If you want to save your master, go to the market and buy some chicken, duck, and fish.”

Then he turned to Lin Jingyu. “Brother, help me buy some incense from the candle shop.”

Lin Jingyu blinked in confusion. “Wait, bro, what are you…”

“To pay respects to Zi Gu.”

Both Lin Jingyu and Zhang Qiang exclaimed simultaneously, “...Huh?”

“What ‘huh’?” Su Chen said. “Hurry up.”

Understanding, the two hurried off.

Seeing this, Su Chen looked around.

Old Yu finally smiled and went inside to get a small stool for him and poured a cup of hot water.

Then he began to talk.

“He offended Zi Gu himself, so he was punished.”

“This morning after I cleaned the restroom, I offered cooked rice to Zi Gu. He suddenly rushed in, not only knocking over the bowl but also shouted ‘ghost’ at Zi Gu. Zi Gu is a deity; punishing him by making him eat shit isn’t too much, right?”

Su Chen smiled slightly. “It’s not too much.”

Soon Lin Jingyu and Zhang Qiang returned.

Su Chen explained everything to them, then asked Zhang Qiang to perform a ritual on behalf of Cai Zhengqing to apologize to Zi Gu.

With incense lit and chicken, duck, and fish offered, Zhang Qiang respectfully knelt and kowtowed three times, reciting Cai Zhengqing’s birth details and explaining that he was frightened and acting out of sorts. When he rose, he still felt somewhat uneasy.

“Master, will this make my master better?”

Su Chen shrugged. “Every deity has a different temper, but sincerity will always be felt.”

“Oh, that’s good, that’s good. I’ll go back to take care of my master now. Thanks, Master, thank you.”

Zhang Qiang handed over a prepared red envelope to Su Chen and hurried off.

Su Chen smiled at Old Yu and led Lin Jingyu away.

“It’s almost mealtime. Bro, want to come to my place for a drink?”

“No thanks, I have kids at home. Need to get back early.”

“Alright then, be careful on the way.”

With over two hundred in hand, Su Chen naturally spent some before heading home.

Still carrying large bags along mountain paths, he reached home around three in the afternoon. The sky was still bright, and from afar, he saw a boy crying loudly by the front door.

---

Liu Chunhua hurried out and asked, “Oh, Xiao Peng, what’s wrong? Wait, why are your clothes so dirty?”

Seeing Honghong come out, Liu Chunhua immediately scolded her harshly, “How can you take care of your brother like this? Look at these new clothes—only worn for a day and they’re already like this?”

She was about to scold more when a distant voice called, “Mom!”

Looking up, Liu Chunhua gave a dry laugh and stood up. “Ah Chen’s back?”

Seeing Su Chen arrive loaded down with bags, she barely cared about Xiao Peng, instead running up to help carry and asking, “Ah Chen, did you earn some money again today?”

Su Chen frowned, not letting her steer the conversation. “Mom, why are you scolding Honghong again? She’s the older sister, yes, but Xiao Peng is already seven and knows better. The new clothes got dirty on the first day. Shouldn’t you be scolding him instead? Don’t always favor Honghong just because she’s a girl.”

Liu Chunhua gave a dry laugh. “No, I’m not biased. Honghong is the eldest, so she should…”

“No ‘should’ or ‘should not.’ You spoiled me so much that I only learned to be sensible now. Do you want Xiao Peng to be the same?”

Liu Chunhua pouted. “Well… Mom, can you at least try to change?”

“Words aren’t enough. You have to act.”

“Alright, alright, let me see what you bought today.”

Liu Chunhua pulled out two packs of cigarettes and frowned. “Why did you buy cigarettes?”

“These are for my eldest and fourth brothers.”

“For those two ingrates? Why give them anything? They never send food during holidays or New Year. No!”

Liu Chunhua glared.

Su Chen sighed helplessly. “Mom, you were the one who swore off contact with them. You forgot?”

Back when the original owner married, the family hadn’t split yet, but Liu Chunhua often helped support the original owner. The two sisters-in-law were unhappy and pushed for separation. Liu Chunhua was furious and made threats, plus the unequal split left all the good stuff for the original owner. It was no wonder the two brothers took a hostile attitude.

Su Chen sighed at the mess.

What a mess to deal with.

Back home, Liu Chunhua happily changed into the cotton-padded jacket Su Chen bought her and went off to show it off to the neighbors, not caring about anything else.

Su Chen first helped Xiao Peng undress and lie down, then pulled out another coat and handed it to Old Su.

“I have clothes. Why buy me more?”

Old Su grumbled angrily.

“Dad, don’t be stubborn. Your son succeeded and bought it for you. Wear it or do you want me to use it for gambling?”

“If you dare gamble, I’ll break your legs!” Old Su shouted.

When their eyes met, his expression softened. Holding the coat, he muttered, “I don’t even know my size. What if it doesn’t fit?”

Su Chen chuckled, then called Honghong over.

“These are your sweater and pants, these are Yueyue’s, and these are Acai’s. Help Dad take them inside. Also check if the shoes fit your younger brothers and sisters.”

“Dad…” Honghong didn’t move but looked at Su Chen with concern. “Did all this cost a lot of money?”