The little girl claimed to be Chen Ruolian, the daughter of Chen Qingshui and Liu Zhonghe.
Liu Zhonghe initially thought she was just trying to scam him for money, but after a DNA test, he discovered she was indeed his own flesh and blood.
Later, Chen Ruolian informed him that Chen Qingshui had passed away three days prior. Fearing his current wife would find out, Liu Zhonghe quietly followed Chen Ruolian to the old Chen family home.
Upon entering, Liu Zhonghe saw a coffin placed in the center of the main hall, with Chen Qingshui lying inside.
As he spoke of this, Liu Zhonghe's face showed fear, and his hands trembled as he continued his story.
When Liu Zhonghe attempted to have Chen Qingshui's body cremated, he found that no matter how he tried to move it, he couldn't lift Chen Qingshui's body.
Unable to do anything, Liu Zhonghe hired ten strong men to carry away the coffin along with the body. However, no matter how hard the ten men strained, the coffin seemed to be fused with the ground, utterly unmovable.
Hearing this, Yu Daochen's brow furrowed.
This must be a vengeful corpse coffin. Legend has it that if a person dies with immense resentment, their body becomes incredibly heavy, to the point where those with insufficient yang energy cannot lift it.
Just as Yu Daochen was about to get up to retrieve an apricot leaf from his drawer, Xu Yaya had already taken one out and handed it to him.
Yu Daochen took the apricot leaf, placed it in a teacup, and looked at Liu Zhonghe. "My rule is that I only recommend people who can handle such matters. As for the price, that's for you to negotiate with the person doing the job. I only charge a referral fee."
Liu Zhonghe nodded. "Of course, money is not an issue, as long as this matter can be resolved."
Yu Daochen nodded, picked up the kettle of boiling water, and poured it into the teacup.
The moment the hot water touched the apricot leaf, the tea immediately turned a dark purple.
Gazing at the purple liquid in the teacup, Liu Zhonghe's brow twitched. He had never seen a black apricot leaf before.
Yu Daochen pushed the tea towards Liu Zhonghe. "If you can drink this cup of tea, I will take the job."
Although unwilling, Liu Zhonghe still picked up the teacup and drank.
Liu Zhonghe took a small sip. As the tea touched his tongue, he was surprised. The tea was not bitter or astringent, but rather had a sweet aftertaste, and it was not warm at all.
Liu Zhonghe drank the entire cup of tea. Yu Daochen poured another cup, and Liu Zhonghe drank that one down as well.
"A cup to invite, two cups to help, three cups to stay, four cups to give one's life."
Since he could drink two cups, it meant he had to accompany them.
"I'll take this job," Yu Daochen said.
Liu Zhonghe's heart leaped with joy. "Then I'll pay you the referral fee first."
Yu Daochen nodded and began to count on his fingers. When his fingertip landed on a particular knuckle, Yu Daochen's expression turned strange.
Seeing Yu Daochen's peculiar expression, Liu Zhonghe and Xu Yaya frowned.
Liu Zhonghe asked, "What's wrong, Master Yu?"
Yu Daochen shook his head and continued to count on his fingers.
The Midnight Spirit Shop's fees were based on "缘" (yuan, or fate/affinity). Whatever the amount calculated, it had to be charged exactly, not a cent more or less.
When his finger landed on the same spot again, Yu Daochen's face darkened. He said, "One hundred thousand."
Liu Zhonghe's expression changed. While this amount wasn't a lot for him, it wasn't insignificant either.
Before coming, Liu Zhonghe had heard that the Midnight Spirit Shop had unusual pricing, based on the concept of "缘."
"Alright, I'll transfer it to you now," Liu Zhonghe said.
The most important thing now was to ensure Chen Qingshui was properly buried and that his current wife wouldn't find out.
Yu Daochen nodded and opened his WeChat payment code. This was the rule of the Midnight Spirit Shop; even if the fee was a hundred million, they had to accept it.
Liu Zhonghe transferred the money and asked, "Master Yu, when do we depart?"
Yu Daochen thought for a moment. "Come to the shop at six in the afternoon. We'll set off then."
After a few more casual remarks, Liu Zhonghe drove away.
Watching Liu Zhonghe drive off, Yu Daochen's brow remained tightly furrowed. Xu Yaya beside him asked with some confusion, "Brother Yu, you've never charged more than ten thousand before. Why is the fee so high this time?"
Yu Daochen shook his head. He was also somewhat puzzled. He thought he might have miscalculated, but he had checked twice, and both times the fee was one hundred thousand. This matter was likely more complicated than it seemed.
However, since he could drink the "invitation tea," he had to see this through, no matter how difficult it was.
With that thought, Yu Daochen took out his phone, scrolled to a number, and dialed it.
Ring, ring, ring.
The call was answered after two rings, and a man's voice came from the phone. "Master Yu, why are you calling me so suddenly?"
Yu Daochen smiled. "I have a job. It's probably a vengeful corpse coffin."
The voice on the other end paused for a moment. "When do we start working?"
"We depart tonight," Yu Daochen said without preamble.
After a few seconds, the voice on the other end replied, "I'll bring my men to the shop now."
Yu Daochen grunted. "Remember to bring your gear."
The voice on the other end chuckled. "Don't worry, Master Yu. Old Yang always handles things reliably."
Yu Daochen grunted, chatted casually for a few more moments, and then hung up.
"I want to go too," Xu Yaya said from the side.
Yu Daochen patted Xu Yaya's head. "You don't go this time. I'll take you next time. I have a feeling this matter isn't as simple as it seems."
The dragonfish in the fish tank suddenly poked its head out. "Little beauty, if you go, who will keep me company? This shop can't do without you."
Xu Yaya glanced at the dragonfish in the tank, then at Yu Daochen, and nodded obediently. "It's a deal. You have to take me next time."
Yu Daochen glanced at the dragonfish in the fish tank. If this creature were human, it would probably harm countless young girls. He truly didn't understand how his blood could have given birth to such a thing.