Chapter 14: First Hearing of the Zhang Family Ghost

“Is that true?” Squire Zhang’s hand, which was holding pig ears with his chopsticks, suddenly paused, and his smile abruptly became a little forced.

“Naturally, it is true.” Li Si said this with a serious expression.

At this time, he definitely had to say that he did not have the ability to subdue demons and eliminate devils. Although this might offend Squire Zhang, it was still better than being forcibly kept here by Squire Zhang.

After all, no matter how tyrannical Squire Zhang was, he would not dare kill him. At most, Squire Zhang could forcibly keep him here, but he would not be able to keep him for many days.

Previously, Squire Zhang could casually dispose of servants because he held their contracts of sale. He could execute these servants at will. But Li Si was a licentiate scholar who had distinguished himself in the imperial court’s civil service examinations. He was not a servant who could be casually disposed of by Squire Zhang.

“What should be done?” Hearing Li Si say this, a troubled expression appeared on Squire Zhang’s face, and he sighed.

“Why is Uncle troubled?” Although Li Si knew why Squire Zhang was showing this expression, he still knowingly asked.

“Ah, this is actually a disgraceful matter of my family and not convenient to spread outside. But since I have recognized you as my nephew, there is no harm in telling you.” Squire Zhang sighed, then gave a cold snort and said, “Actually, all of this was caused by that jealous woman.”

As he said this, Squire Zhang’s tone revealed a strong hatred.

Li Si immediately understood. From the beginning, he had felt that Madam Zhang Guo was not right. This woman and Squire Zhang differed so much in age, so how could she possibly be Squire Zhang’s original wife?

“Miss Guo and I were in love and had mutual affection. I was preparing to take her into my household, but who would have known that jealous woman would threaten me with death and simply refuse to let me take a concubine.” When Squire Zhang said this, he sounded as if he were gnashing his teeth, as though he still hated that jealous woman to the bone even now.

“Naturally, I would not be coerced by her. I still took a concubine, who is my current wife, Guo Qian.” As Squire Zhang spoke, he affectionately took Madam Zhang Guo’s soft, fair hand, while Madam Zhang Guo also looked at Squire Zhang with a tender gaze. It truly gave off a feeling of mutual affection.

At this moment, however, Li Si again felt Madam Zhang Guo’s crystal-like jade foot rubbing against his calf. Looking at Squire Zhang’s head, he felt somewhat strange in his heart.

“And after that?” Li Si quietly moved his stool back a little, avoiding the little foot under the table, and continued asking Squire Zhang.

“After that, that jealous woman jumped into a well and killed herself.” Squire Zhang said this sentence rather calmly, as if the person who had died was not his wife.

“Heh, on what basis did she demand I not take a concubine? Just because she gave birth to a son for me? Other families have several sons. She only gave me one, yet she still had the nerve to say she had continued my family incense. She thought that if she killed herself, I would not take a concubine. Not only did I take a concubine, I even raised her to proper wife and made her my principal wife.” Squire Zhang sneered.

“That ghost creature is her?” Li Si asked.

“Correct.” Squire Zhang’s expression shifted from calm to anger, and he said resentfully, “I never imagined that even after death, she would still make the household restless, without caring at all about the feelings between us as husband and wife.”

Li Si sneered inwardly. When had Squire Zhang ever cared about the feelings between himself and his wife? When he spoke of his former wife’s death earlier, he had not carried even the slightest feeling between husband and wife.

“Ever since then, the household began to be haunted. Every night, we could hear her crying and screaming.” Squire Zhang sighed, then continued, “Several servants in the household died, all from falling into the well. I also reported it to the authorities. More than ten yamen runners came, and several died that very night. After that, the authorities never managed it again.”

“Later, I had the steward spread word that whoever could subdue this ghost creature would be given one thousand taels. A few people came who were not afraid of death but had no ability, and they died that very night. Their corpses blocked the well, and the servants spent a great deal of effort digging them out.”

At this point, Squire Zhang gave a mocking laugh.

“I wonder whether Worthy Nephew has any way?” As he said this, he looked at Li Si with hopeful eyes.

A troubled expression appeared on Li Si’s face, and he sighed, “If Uncle asked me to pursue learning, I could still manage. But how would I know the methods of subduing demons and eliminating devils?”

“That is true.” Squire Zhang nodded, and a regretful expression appeared on his face, as if he deeply agreed with Li Si’s words.

“Uncle, I also feel regret over this matter. It is only a pity that I have no methods for subduing demons and eliminating devils. Otherwise, I would certainly slay this ghost creature for you.” An indignant expression appeared on Li Si’s face, as if he bore irreconcilable hatred toward ghost creatures.

Seeing Li Si like this, Squire Zhang’s eyes revealed a trace of understanding. It seemed Teacher Li was indeed as the rumours said, someone who hated evil and injustice, a gentleman-like figure. It was just a pity that he did not know any methods for subduing demons and eliminating devils, so he was of no great use to Squire Zhang.

However, since he had entered the Zhang Residence, getting out would be difficult. Whether or not Li Si could subdue this ghost creature, he had to go and subdue it. If he could not subdue it, then he could die in the Zhang Residence.

At this moment, however, Li Si put down his bowl and chopsticks, cupped his hands to Squire Zhang, and said, “Uncle, I am full. I will visit you again another day. I also wish that you will soon find someone to eliminate that ghost creature.”

When Squire Zhang heard Li Si say this, he froze as well. His expression gradually turned cold, and he heavily set his bowl and chopsticks down on the table. In a cold voice, he said, “Was I, Zhang, not hospitable enough toward Worthy Nephew?”

“Naturally not,” Li Si hurriedly replied.

“Then why leave?”

“Actually, I also feel that your honorable residence has an especially fine environment and excellent food. Unfortunately, I have an appointment with some families in the county. Today at the Shen hour, I must teach young children. Since I have made an appointment with others, naturally I cannot fail to go.” A regretful expression appeared on Li Si’s face, as if he especially wanted to stay in the Zhang Residence.

Hearing Li Si’s words, Squire Zhang’s expression immediately softened. “This matter is simple. I will have a servant go into the county town and say something. Going in a few days will be the same. Besides, did Worthy Nephew not once say that you wished to borrow books from my residence? This is precisely an opportunity.”

Squire Zhang beckoned to a servant. Once the servant walked closer, he instructed, “Fan Fu, go notify them.”

“Yes, Master.” The servant respectfully accepted the order and left.

Seeing Squire Zhang’s actions, Li Si’s heart lurched. This old bastard really did not intend to let him leave. He wanted to drag Li Si down with him even in death.

He also flipped through the former body’s memories in his mind and sighed inwardly. The former body really had gone to the Zhang Residence to borrow books before. But at that time, how could the Zhang Residence have taken the former body seriously? He was merely a poor, pedantic licentiate scholar. They had directly driven the former body out.

The former body had gone to the Zhang Residence to borrow books because there was no other choice. After all, this world was one where knowledge was monopolized. Books were basically in the hands of landlords and certain families.

Ordinary people usually had no chance to come into contact with books. In this era, there was also no printing technique at all, and books were basically all handwritten. This was also why Li Si’s former body had still gone to beg to borrow books even at the risk of being humiliated and driven away by the Zhang Residence.

At this moment, a bolt of lightning flashed through Li Si’s mind, and he suddenly thought of something. The original owner’s family was not wealthy, so why were there forty to fifty books in the study at home?