This day, after Jiang Lin assigned tasks to the Seven Colored Eggs, he went out.
He walked towards the Ghost Market.
Today was the day he had invited the Xu Shuzi family for a meal.
When Jiang Lin arrived, the Xu Shuzi family had not yet come.
With the year-end approaching, the atmosphere in the Ghost Market became increasingly lively.
The shops on both sides of the street were wide open, with red lanterns hanging by the doors, and the shopkeepers had even applied red blush to their faces in a pleasing manner.
It looked quite interesting.
"Must-have items for the New Year, buy them here!"
"Walk around, take a look, the latest clothes, hair accessories, and rouge..."
"Not ninety-nine eighty, not ninety-nine eighty, a big New Year giveaway, buy one get one free..."
The ghosts coming and going on the street were either in groups or carrying large bags of New Year goods.
Seeing familiar ghosts, they would call out from afar.
"Hey, why are you back?"
"Isn't it to come back for the New Year?"
Another ghost, also carrying a large bag, said, "Haven't been back for a year."
"Your job is really busy. It's rare to come back, find some time to have a drink?"
"That would be great."
...
Jiang Lin waited at the entrance of the restaurant for not too long before he saw a group of three ghosts arriving together.
Xu Shuzi, his wife Xu Zhao, and their son Xu Guzi.
'Shuzi' on its own refers to an edible plant, whose pale yellow seeds, after peeling, are commonly known as millet.
As for Xu Guzi's name, according to Xu Shuzi, "It's simple and common. If it were a bit more grand, wouldn't it imply a bountiful harvest of grains?"
"You're here so early?" Xu Shuzi walked up and said with a smile.
A smile also appeared on Jiang Lin's face, "Just arrived a moment ago."
He looked at Xu Zhao and Xu Guzi and greeted them, "Sister-in-law, Little Guzi."
Xu Zhao nodded with a smile.
Xu Guzi looked about ten years old, tall and thin, with his hair tied up in a small bun at the back of his head. His eyebrows and eyes bore a resemblance to Xu Shuzi.
With thick eyebrows and large eyes.
He looked very spirited.
Now, Xu Guzi was also about to transition from an intern ghost messenger to a full-fledged one, and he appeared to have matured considerably.
Seeing Jiang Lin, he was very happy, "Hello, Uncle Jiang!"
"Let's go in and sit down," Jiang Lin gestured for everyone to enter the restaurant.
Xu Shuzi teased, "It really is the biggest restaurant in the Ghost Market. You're really splurging this time!"
After entering the private room and sitting down, they began to order food.
Jiang Lin handed the menu to Xu Zhao, asking her to order first.
Xu Zhao smiled and did not refuse.
She glanced at the menu and first ordered a few dishes that Jiang Lin and Xu Shuzi both liked.
Then she ticked one for herself and handed the menu to her son.
The menu went around each ghost.
When it reached Jiang Lin, he took a look and noticed that most of the dishes they had ticked were relatively inexpensive.
He didn't say anything, but ticked a few more signature dishes before handing it to the waiter.
...
While waiting for the dishes, Jiang Lin and Xu Shuzi chatted.
At such a meal, it was natural not to only talk about Jiang Lin and Xu Shuzi.
Xu Zhao mentioned the recent purchase of New Year goods and said to Jiang Lin:
"Most of the New Year goods have been bought. I'll have Little Guzi bring them to you in a couple of days. When is a convenient time for you?"
Jiang Lin rarely prepared such things during festivals.
Being alone, there wasn't much to prepare.
During the New Year, he was also alone and quiet.
At first, Xu Shuzi had wanted Jiang Lin to spend the New Year at his home.
Later, he realized that Jiang Lin didn't want to bother them on that day, and only came after the New Year.
For Xu Shuzi, there was no such thing as bothering them.
But since Jiang Lin didn't come, he didn't force him.
His brother, although he seemed fine normally, if you spent more time with him, you would realize that Jiang Lin was actually not very good at managing daily life.
For example, Jiang Lin's room, apart from work and daily necessities.
When he entered, it was one way, and when he left, the room was still the same.
How to put it...
For example, in his own home, Xu Zhao would usually find a couple of flowers to put in a vase on the table as decoration.
They would also add more furniture and clothes to their home.
Although it was nothing much, it still had a bit of a homey feel, right?
And Jiang Lin...
Xu Shuzi didn't know if he thought it was unnecessary, or if there was no one to guide him in doing these things.
Usually, apart from work, it was basically cultivation, cultivation.
The furniture in his home was basically the same few items, and he always wore the same few clothes.
It was only later that Xu Zhao, after hearing Xu Shuzi's words, said that every New Year, she would buy an extra portion of New Year goods and have Little Guzi bring it over.
No matter what, the festive atmosphere of the New Year should be felt.
...
Jiang Lin initially refused, but every time Little Guzi came, he would drop off the items and run.
After that, Jiang Lin stopped saying anything, but silently remembered.
A small gift carries a heavy meaning, perhaps that's how it is.
Xu Zhao's question this time was also because Xu Shuzi mentioned that Jiang Lin had recently moved.
And he was a captain, often coordinating work with his team members.
Jiang Lin smiled and said, "There's no inconvenience. When Little Guzi comes, just tell the ghost at the entrance."
"By the way, isn't Little Guzi about to become a formal ghost messenger?"
Jiang Lin looked at Little Guzi, "Have you decided what you want to do in the future?"
The assignment of intern ghost messengers was first determined by the captain of the intern department based on the comprehensive abilities and performance of the intern ghost messengers, deciding what jobs they could do.
Then the intern ghost messengers would choose from these jobs.
Li Xiao of the Eighteenth Team, at that time, for some reason, was deemed unsuitable to be a Black Impermanence by the captain of the intern department.
He was eventually reassigned to the position of White Impermanence.
Xu Guzi chuckled, a little embarrassed, "They said it would be decided after the New Year."
"I want to try to do sealing, or the logistics team, I just don't know if it's possible."
Although the logistics team worked in the rear, the types of jobs they encompassed were quite numerous.
Such as agriculture, construction, repair...
These professions, though seemingly ordinary, played an extremely significant role in the underworld.
For example, in terms of agriculture, the existence of restaurants in the Ghost Market now was due to seeds and plants cultivated with Yin energy.
If agriculture had not developed well, these restaurants probably could not have operated.
Food is the paramount necessity for the people, and ghosts, when eating, are also absorbing certain energies.
And for most foodies, the development of agriculture is simply too good!
Xu Guzi wanted to join the logistics team, mainly because he wanted to join the agriculture team.
Watching plants grow vigorously was a very reassuring experience for him.
...