"Alright, I'll call them right away to let them know. Master Zhao, please come inside," Uncle Hu said, gesturing towards his house.
Zhao Yan entered and sat down on the sofa.
Seeing Wu Jiaxin recording a video with her DSLR camera, Zhao Yan said, "Xinxin, just fix the camera in place. Your hand will get very sore holding it for a long time."
"Okay," Wu Jiaxin replied, placing the DSLR camera on the table to stabilize it.
"You two, have some fruit. My relatives will be here soon."
Uncle Hu brought over a fruit platter and placed it on the table.
"Thank you," Zhao Yan said, picking up a piece of fruit.
Before she could eat it, Uncle Hu chuckled, "Master, when my relatives ask how much money my father has, just say twenty to thirty thousand."
Zhao Yan replied, "I'll just say I don't know."
Every family has its own difficulties. How much money they have is their business, and she wouldn't interfere.
"That works too. My sister is always eyeing my father's money. My father used to be very frugal and saved all that money."
Uncle Hu clapped his hands, making a "pa" sound.
"See, now that he's dead, the money is still here, but he didn't get to enjoy the blessings."
Zhao Yan responded, "Uncle Hu, you can't say that. You haven't experienced what the older generation went through. They lived through hard times."
"Besides, the money your father saved was definitely for you. Saving money was also for you to enjoy life."
Uncle Hu touched his bald head and smiled, "That's true."
"Then, Master, you two sit here. I'll go buy some groceries. Quite a few relatives are expected."
"Okay, Uncle Hu, go ahead," Zhao Yan said, waving her hand.
As Uncle Hu had said, his family did have many relatives.
Including relatives, there were more than ten tables for the meal.
In this line of work, one definitely couldn't be socially anxious.
Zhao Yan greeted everyone individually. A few older aunts even wanted to introduce their sons to her.
After going around, it felt as if Zhao Yan was hosting the meal for them.
"Xiao Yan, you can really invite my father?" a middle-aged woman asked, grabbing Zhao Yan's wrist.
People at other tables immediately looked over.
The attendees were all Uncle Hu's relatives, and they were afraid he would be scammed.
Most importantly, they had never experienced anything like this before.
"Jiafeng, don't worry. Master Zhao said that if it doesn't work, you don't have to pay," Uncle Hu said.
"Aren't the vegetables you bought money? We took half a day off work to come here. Isn't the lost work time money?"
"Not everyone is idle at home like you," Auntie Hu said with a wry smile.
Uncle Hu awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Looking at Hu Jiafeng's face, Zhao Yan gave a wry smile.
There's a saying in physiognomy: "Better to associate with a scoundrel than with someone with upward-slanted eyes."
Her eyes slanted upward, and she had high cheekbones.
She had a cold personality, was stingy and petty, and lacked gratitude.
According to Uncle Hu's introduction, this person was his own sister.
"Don't worry, Auntie. If I can't make it happen, you can claim the wages for the half-day you've taken off from me," Zhao Yan said softly.
"We can't see my father. If you say you saw him, how would we know if it's real?"
"How about this, Auntie? You can buy an Yin-Yang Talisman from me for one thousand yuan. Then I can let you see your father."
"Then you won't have any doubts, and I'll explain further."
"Oh my! One thousand yuan a piece! You're robbing people!"
Wu Jiaxin said from behind Zhao Yan, "No one's forcing you to buy it! Master Zhao and I were invited by Uncle Hu, not by you! What are you babbling about!"
The aunt's face immediately darkened.
Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, Uncle Hu chuckled, "Alright, alright. We've all eaten. We'll do as Master Zhao asks."
As he spoke, Uncle Hu pulled Zhao Yan aside, "I'm sorry, Master Zhao. My sister has a bad temper. Please bear with her."
"It's fine, it's fine," Zhao Yan said, waving her hand. "Uncle Hu, place your father's spirit tablet in the center of the living room. You kneel in the center, and have your relatives kneel on both sides, following the male on the left, female on the right."
"Is that all?" Uncle Hu asked.
"Yes, it's that simple. However, your father passed away more than ten days ago, so we need to call out for a longer time."
"Okay, I'll tell them to get ready then."
Zhao Yan nodded, "Mm."
Wu Jiaxin came over with the DSLR, "Sister Zhao, where should I stand next?"
"You stand by the door later, with the lens aimed at this room," Zhao Yan instructed.
"Okay, I understand," Wu Jiaxin said, walking to the doorway with the DSLR.
Five minutes later, Uncle Hu told Zhao Yan, "It's done."
Zhao Yan took out her Taoist robe from her bag and walked into the room with the peach wood sword.
Inside, a table was placed at the front, with a black and white photo of an old man on it.
Zhao Yan picked up the bell and began to shake it, producing a clear tinkling sound.
She nodded at Uncle Hu. Uncle Hu understood and began to call out,
"Father! Father! It's your son, Jiaming! I miss you, Father!"
As Uncle Hu called out, the other relatives also started shouting.
As they continued to call out, Uncle Hu's voice turned into sobs.
Zhao Yan took out a talisman, shook the bell in her hand, and chanted, "Summon the ghost to appear tonight, the seventh grandson is filial before you."
The talisman in Zhao Yan's hand slowly disappeared, and the tinkling sound of the bell continued.
Just as the talisman vanished, the flame of the candle on the table flared up.
With a "snap," the spirit tablet suddenly fell over.
As it fell, the candle was instantly extinguished.
Zhao Yan walked over and righted the fallen tablet. She saw that the glass of the tablet had cracked in many places.
Her brow furrowed. "Uncle Hu, please stop for a moment."
Uncle Hu looked up in surprise, "What's wrong, Master Zhao?"
Zhao Yan said, "Your father doesn't wish to appear."
"I told you this person is clearly a swindler trying to cheat us out of money, but you didn't believe your sister. Now, with just one sentence of 'father doesn't wish to appear,' they want to dismiss us," the aunt said mockingly, standing up.
Zhao Yan remained silent. Three cracks appeared on the portrait, with the third crack being particularly long.
She immediately understood.
"I was mistaken, Uncle Hu. Your father only wishes to see three people at the moment. There are too many people here."
Pointing to the direction of the cracks, Zhao Yan said, "Uncle Hu, you, Auntie, and your son, please stay. Everyone else, please leave."
"Okay," Uncle Hu nodded and asked the others to leave.
"I'm not going to entertain your antics anymore. I'm going home. It's better to be home eating sunflower seeds than to be here with you," the aunt said, starting to walk away with the others.
"What are you doing! Is it going to kill you to stay a bit longer? Behave yourself!" Uncle Hu glared at her.
Uncle Hu was already a burly figure, and his fierce glare startled the aunt.
Not only the aunt, but Wu Jiaxin outside was also startled.