Chapter 35

With a goal in mind, things moved quickly. I started searching the entire county for a kiln, knowing that I needed a specialized ceramic kiln to bake a good soul jar.

Yuxiao didn’t know what I was looking for, but since she wasn’t in school, she had plenty of time. As long as she could be with me, sitting in the car felt like a trip to her.

To my disappointment, the large county didn’t have the high-temperature sintering furnace I needed. Even if it did, it would cost several thousand, which I couldn’t afford.

Thinking of the brick factories in the neighboring county where my mother lived, I figured they might have what I needed, so I took out my phone.

“Mom, I’m looking for a high-temperature sintering furnace, the kind used for baking ceramics. Do we have one?” I called my mother, who had a store selling agricultural machinery, and there was a chance she might have it.

“What high-temperature sintering furnace? That thing costs tens of thousands. Are you starting a factory?” My mother sounded puzzled on the phone.

“No, just a hobby. I’m making some small bottles and jars, about the size of a palm.”

“Oh, we do have a kiln at home. It’s been sitting there for a long time, and we haven’t been able to sell it.” My mother replied.

I immediately got excited, went to the bank, and withdrew the remaining thousand yuan.

At the gas station, I spent over four hundred yuan to fill up the car and headed for the neighboring county, expecting the round trip to take about three to four hours.

When I arrived in the neighboring county, I parked the car in front of the house. My mother thought a construction boss had come to buy something, but when she came out and saw me, she was stunned.

Seeing the luxurious Audi SUV, my mother was very surprised. She looked inside the car but saw no one else.

Only Yuxiao got out from the passenger seat: “Auntie! I’m here!”

“Oh, Yuxiao, why did you come with Brother Tian? Where’s your father?” My mother was very surprised, thinking everyone in Xiaoyitun had died.

“Brother Tian brought me out of Xiaoyitun. My father is missing, and we haven’t found him, but Brother Tian said he would help me look for him.” Yuxiao explained, pulling my mother’s hand and crying.

My mother, who had a good relationship with the people in the village and treated Yuxiao like a daughter, immediately hugged her and comforted her: “Don’t cry. If we can’t find him, we’ll keep looking. Don’t worry.”

“Mm-hmm.” Yuxiao nodded.

“Mom, where’s the kiln?” I asked eagerly.

“It’s inside. I’ve tied it up for you. You’ll have to carry it yourself; my back isn’t good, and Ah Fei just returned to the village yesterday.” My mother pointed to the kiln by the door.

Ah Fei was the worker my mother hired, and without someone to help, it was impossible to do this job.

Without delay, I went to carry the kiln. I found it quite heavy and could only drag it to the back of the car. With Yuxiao and my mother’s help, we finally got it onto the car.

“This car is pretty nice. Whose is it?” My mother, seeing the luxurious interior, sounded a bit nervous, worried that I might have stolen it.

“Oh, it’s my future little wife’s. What do you think, Mom? Do you think she’s reliable?” I grinned, knowing that the older wife would definitely be Sister-in-law, so only the position of the younger wife was available.

Yuxiao immediately became unhappy, pouting at me.

“You’re always talking about her being your little wife.” My mother, noticing Yuxiao’s unhappiness, scolded me. She knew about Sister-in-law and, like my grandmother, dared not show any disrespect, as she had saved my son.

Yuxiao, seeing my mother’s support, started to reciprocate: “Hmph, Auntie, the car belongs to Sister Zhao Qian. Brother Tian saved her, and she invited us to stay at her villa. She’s not going to be Brother Tian’s future little wife!”

“Then who will be his little wife? Is it our little Xue?” My mother looked at Yuxiao as if she were a child, not knowing who Zhao Qian was, but she had always liked Yuxiao.

Yuxiao’s face turned red, and she couldn’t say a word. She wanted to nod but felt embarrassed looking at me.

“Mom, do you still have that book from Grandma? I asked you to keep it for me. I need it now.” I asked my mother after closing the back door, knowing that she must have guessed my situation since I had managed to leave Xiaoyitun.

With Grandma’s death, Xiaoyitun could no longer exist. To survive, it wasn’t just a matter of luck.

“It’s in the hidden compartment behind the wall tiles in your room. Have you eaten?” My mother looked at me, only asking if I had eaten.

“No, I just had some snacks with Xue on the street.” I said and went inside. The house was poor, and the goods in the store were on consignment, with payment only after they were sold.

“I’ve cooked. You can eat and then leave.” My mother didn’t try to keep me, as I had been raised by Grandma and couldn’t stay at home for long. Even staying for ten to fifteen days was considered a long time.

“Okay.” I nodded and took Yuxiao to the kitchen, eating a few bites of rice before going to my bedroom.

The bedroom was small, with a bed and a cabinet, neatly arranged. It was clear that my mother had taken care of it, which made me feel warm inside.

The hidden compartment was behind the wall tiles. After removing them, there was a layer, and inside was the book without a cover that belonged to Grandma.

I took it out and flipped through a few pages, laughing at the many pages I had scribbled on, drawing all sorts of messy comics. It looked quite funny.

However, no matter how messy it was, its importance to me was undeniable. The success of the soul jar depended entirely on this book, which had been my treasure in the past.

Of course, I had memorized everything in the book, but having it with me during the soul jar’s creation would save a lot of effort in the detailed parts.

I went downstairs, and Yuxiao had finished eating. I pulled my mother aside and said, “Mom, Grandma was murdered. This trip back to Xiaoyitun, I almost didn’t make it out. But I wasn’t the worst off. Yuxiao’s father, Zhang Yidan, and Zhou Xuan are all dead. Zhou Xuan... they were worse off than me. I can’t let this go. I have to take revenge.”

I wanted to mention that Zhou Xuan had been turned into a zombie, but I held back, thinking it was too brutal.

“Mom knew this day would come. Your life has always been light, but the burden you carry is heavier than anyone else’s. If anyone died because of you, you must avenge them. It’s only right!” My mother sighed heavily, looking at me without any hesitation.

“Mom, I understand. Take care of yourself while I’m gone.” I nodded, knowing that my only concern was my mother.

“You don’t need to worry about me. If there’s anything I can’t handle, I’ll call you. Here, take this three thousand yuan. If it’s not enough, call me.” My mother gave me a stack of money.

“I’ll use it for expenses. This amount isn’t even enough for a night out. Your son can afford a luxury car, so I have plenty of money. I’ll go back to the county now; I have a lot to do there.” Although I was now down to a few hundred yuan, I couldn’t ask my mother for money. Even if it meant pretending to be rich, I had to do it.

After a few words of goodbye, I took Yuxiao back to the county.

By the time we got back to the county, it was already past five. I bought a set of pottery-making tools on the way and returned to the neighborhood.

I checked the time; the two princesses had probably slept for about four to five hours. They would need a bit more rest, but it was time to eat, so I asked Yuxiao to wake them up.

I heated up some cooked dishes and cooked a pot of rice, waiting for them.

Women are hard to please. After being woken up, Zhao Qian and Han Shanshan took turns in the bathroom, getting ready. By the time the rice was cooked and served, they finally came down.

Being woken up and having a hot meal waiting for her, Zhao Qian was deeply moved. She usually lived alone and had never experienced such family warmth. She almost cried.

I handed Zhao Qian a pair of chopsticks. She took them, her face slightly flushed, as she had rested well, knowing that someone was at home while she slept.

Compared to Zhao Qian, Han Shanshan looked much better. Seeing that I hadn’t given her chopsticks, she immediately grabbed the bowl and chopsticks from my hand and started eating shamelessly: “Hehe, I didn’t know you were so good at taking care of people. No wonder Zhao Qian has become more beautiful since she’s been with you. She spends so much time in the bathroom.”

Zhao Qian, who had just swallowed a small mouthful of rice, immediately spat it out, the grains sticking to my face, making her feel embarrassed.

Yuxiao was unhappy. Why did everyone keep mentioning Brother Tian and Zhao Qian together? Why couldn’t they include her?

“Can you just eat and not talk?” I glared at Han Shanshan and went to get a napkin to clean my face.

Han Shanshan stuck out her tongue, not knowing that Zhao Qian would react so strongly.

“I’m sorry, Brother Tian. I didn’t mean to. Here, take this napkin.” Zhao Qian said guiltily, handing me the napkin.

“It’s not your fault. You’re already a pitiful little thing.” I couldn’t blame her.

“Hmph.” Han Shanshan huffed, looking like she was implying something.

“Han Shanshan, come with me after you finish eating.” I was speechless, thinking that Han Shanshan was a bit dim and might even be proud of her implication, so I decided not to say anything and let her huff.

“What? Are you challenging me, the police officer? Let me tell you, I’m very strong.” Han Shanshan waved her small fists.

I laughed: “You’re strong, huh? Then help me move the electric kiln from the car to the courtyard.”

“Ha, it’s just an electric kiln. If I can’t move it, I’m as weak as a little rabbit. Fine, I’ll help you, considering how hard you’ve worked for our team today.” Han Shanshan didn’t think much of it, probably thinking it was a regular oven.

“Yeah, it’s an electric oven. Be careful and gentle. I need it to make a living. If you can’t move it, you’re even weaker than a little rabbit.” I said coldly.

Han Shanshan huffed again and took the keys to go move the oven.

When we finished eating and went out to check, she hadn’t moved the oven and was sweating profusely.

Seeing me come out, Han Shanshan shouted: “Xia Yitian! You tricked me! This isn’t an oven!”

“Can’t you read? It’s right here.” I pointed to the words “electric oven” on the box.

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