Chapter 3: UFO

Qin Cai did not understand why she was so angry; she clearly knew that this was a dream—after all, she couldn't possibly call for help, could she

However, the other party became anxious: "Mr. Bai, I beg you, please take a look. The child fell ill suddenly, and it has only been a short while since the onset of the illness; I can see that the child's complexion has already changed."

Bai He abstains from tobacco, alcohol, and meat, yet without any hesitation, he put that large unity into the drawer. The expression on Qin Cai's face was left with only a "(-)b"

Taking the most fundamental water methods as an example, the formal water methods are divided into thirty-six minor water methods, twenty-four medium water methods, and four major water methods. Without mentioning the medium and major water methods, the minor water methods alone include many detailed techniques such as treating fishbone obstruction, reporting offenses, dispelling evil, stopping bleeding, soothing sores, and pricking blisters among others

A mistake in reciting the formula results in a deduction of 10 yuan, while a single error or omission incurs a penalty of 5 yuan. This tactic of using another's hand to strike is even more ruthless—Qin Lao Er will definitely inquire about the reason when he discovers the money is missing. Once he learns that it is due to Qin Cai's lack of skill in her craft, he will surely give her a severe beating first.

The group of dark-skinned men tightened their grip on Huang Xiaolian, igniting a fire in Qin Cai's heart. Without warning, she rushed forward and struck the black-headed man with a brick.

Bai He paused briefly, then calmly said: "UFO"

Little did they know that this fellow was not a good person either. In the afternoon, he had a bottle of saline solution, a bottle of glucose, and some medications that wouldn't cure any illness but wouldn't kill you either. This guy is truly ruthless, having taken two hundred eighty-six yuan from Tang Wenshu.

The White River remains unperturbed: "Keeping pace with the times"

Bai He walked to the faucet at the laundry station in front of his house, filled his hands with water, and said: "Delivery is fine, just hang some saline and glucose."

The newcomer was a middle-aged man in his forties, sporting a beer belly and wearing sunglasses. Without inquiring about the prices, he haphazardly purchased a large assortment of items. Finally, he stood in front of the freshly made paper building by Qin Cai, and he found himself with the same question as Bai He: "What is this?"

Then Tang Wenshu sent the person to the hospital, where they received intravenous fluids for half a day, indeed one bottle of saline and one bottle of glucose

A middle-aged man slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Bring one!"

Tang Wenshu and his wife were still somewhat anxious. Tang Wenshu rubbed his hands together and said, "Mr. Bai, is the child really alright? Should we take him to the hospital for another check-up?"

Suddenly feeling a bit irritable, I found myself wishing to rush up and slap each of these two individuals across the face. Yet, I soon felt it was rather absurd—perhaps they hadn't said anything at all.

The other party is getting closer, the surroundings are becoming colder, and Qin Cai no longer wants to think—what else can be done?! Run!

After sitting for a full three days, Bai He finally taught her the introductory incantations. The incantations of the Daoist sect are indeed varied and peculiar, but Qin Cairen is young and has a good memory—surely it cannot be more difficult to memorize than political history

After several days of making paper figures and paper tools, Qin Cai could no longer endure it: "I said, aren't you supposed to be slaying demons and eliminating evil? What is it that you make me do every day, crafting paper figures?"

By noon, Qin Cai's hand had been cut several times by bamboo strips. Bai He took out some medicine from the drawer to give to her, but before he could hand it over, he suddenly remembered something and withdrew it: "This medicine is too expensive, apprentice, you should just use a band-aid instead."

At around 10 o'clock, someone came in to take the prepared paper money. Bai He collected the money and then led the person to choose paper-made Western-style buildings, cars, and other items.

... ...

Tang Wenshu scratched the back of his head and even addressed him with a respectful title: "Mr. Bai, it is absolutely not that I do not believe you; it is truly concerning the child..."

That afternoon, the store not only sold several "UFOs" but also conveniently sold a few "instruction manuals". As Qin Cai continued to make paper crafts, her confidence grew—after all, they sold well in Baihe, so she boldly and carelessly crafted a variety of items. Her speed had indeed increased significantly. Baihe, initially guiding her, later realized that this apprentice had seemingly become self-taught.

Old Qin Er sneered: "What a fine daughter you have, and you have tormented her to this extent. Hmph, let's see what you will do about it."

Bai He was teasing the Chinese soft-shelled turtle he raised, and upon hearing this, he simply replied, "Children who vomit should go to the hospital"

Bai He let out a sigh and took a long time to speak: "While windfall gains are good, be wary of unexpected disasters." Qin Lao Er was clearly very angry: "Stop with that nonsense, others may fear you, but I do not! With the child in such a state, what have you done that could deceive me?"

Bai He merely grunted in response, showing no particular expression. Tang Wenshu noticed that he seemed to exert little effort, so he took out 20 yuan and stuffed it into Bai He's hand. Bai He remained silent, accepted the money, and then left.

Bai He supervised from the side, leaving only four words: "Abandon distractions"

Bai He looked at the child's condition and coldly said: "Think carefully!"

Qin cuisine is no stranger to bamboo shoots, but crafting paper towers and paper figures presents a challenge. After much effort, I finally managed to create a paper tower, but my imagination was too vivid, resulting in a finished product that transcended the forms of earthly species

Suddenly, the surroundings darkened, and everything became blurred. A cold sensation seemed to strip away her skin, driving her to the brink of madness with pain. When Qin Cai closed her eyes, she vaguely saw Bai He, holding a wine glass, looking exasperated.

However, she indeed was a bit too early in her happiness. Because that afternoon, Bai He contacted her, and upon engaging, she realized—these incantations are simply too many!

He rose from Huang Xiaolian, slowly drifting closer to Qin Cai. Only then did Qin Cai see that his lower body was indeed a mass of gray-black mist. She held up a brick, her chest heaving violently—what should she do

Qin Cai coldly snorted: "If one lacks ability, then one simply lacks ability, merely capable of deceiving others"

Mom ... ... the Earth is too dangerous, I want to go back to Mars ... ...

Qin Cai endured without making a sarcastic remark—this is simply too foolish, isn't it

Qin Cai closed her eyes, and Bai He walked in. He stood by the bed for a while, and suddenly wiped her sweat with a warm towel: "Don't be so foolish in the future, thinking you are Iron Man." He touched Qin Cai's forehead, then suddenly sighed, "If anything were to happen to you, I would regret it for the rest of my life."

When Bai He returned, the water in the bowl was already gone. He handed the bowl to Tang Wenshu and simply said: "The disturbance at the base has been reported, and it is already resolved."

It is the voice of Qin Laoer, who is a butcher, and his words inevitably carry a fierce tone. Bai He's voice is low and deep: "It was my oversight"

Bai He remained unmoved: "The art of making paper figures is a means of earning a living, while the art of slaying demons and exorcising evil is a path to enlightenment. If you cannot even satisfy your hunger, what path can you seek?"

Qin Cai was overwhelmed, "What the hell, that's a building, it's my building! Can your building be considered a UFO?" At that moment, she interjected softly, "Even if there really were UFOs, do you think your ancestors would be the ones piloting them..."

Bai He did not say much, and after walking around the room, he asked: "Has there been any digging at home this noon?"

I want to talk to Tu about the book here; her mood has improved again. This month is coming to an end, and Bai He should have sent money home by now. I wonder if the farm work at home is finished. After the Zhongyuan Festival, when I have some time, I hope to ask Bai He for a leave to go back and take a look.

... ...

In the evening, Liu Zheng, who runs a private clinic in the town, came over. He is a reputable doctor with a license. He has opened a clinic in the town, where the medicine is cheaper than in the hospital, so whenever anyone has a problem, they generally go to him.

The footsteps outside gradually faded away, leaving no sound behind

Heaven help us, it better not be a murder scene, or I will be scared to death! She walked forward while drawing a cross, but when she truly saw the situation ahead, her mind buzzed with a loud sound.

But it was fortunate that she did not turn around; as soon as she did, that thing behind her grabbed her shoulder! Qin Cai felt something pierce into her flesh, a pain that was indescribable, and she didn't even realize when she had dropped the brick.

On the night of the Zhongyuan Festival, Bai He was invited out. Qin Cai was home alone, still kneeling in front of the altar reciting the incantation. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck her nose, as if it were cracking like ice.

In the evening, Bai He unusually did not allow Qin Cai to continue making the "UFO". The two closed the door and went to the altar in his bedroom. Inside, red candles were burning, and Qin Cai felt a bit eerie, but Bai He simply had her kneel on the mat and taught her the incantation

She felt a bit flustered, yet continued to recite the incantation incessantly. The crack seemed to widen, and before long, she felt a gust of wind pouring in through the fissure on her head. Qin Cai suddenly struggled, as if she had broken free all at once. When she looked again, all she could see was a vast expanse of white—she was actually in a cornfield.

... ...

Baihe Station gazed affectionately at the "Paper Building" for a while, and finally walked away in silence

The man was a blur, indistinct, but Huang Xiaolian's clothes had all been torn off. She stood there in a daze, not even knowing to struggle.

Once again, there was a moment of silence. Bai He seemed to have handed something to Qin Lao Er: "Go find this person, the money... he will give you, twenty thousand is too little, he will probably give you fifty thousand."

In the same town, there is a person with the surname Tang, named Tang Wenshu. His home is nearby, and although there is not much interaction on a daily basis, they still see each other often.

Qin Laoer lowered his voice, but he is usually a loud person, so even with his voice lowered, it was still quite loud: "Give me 20,000 yuan, and we can settle this privately. I won't ask what you did. Otherwise, I will go to the police station"

Bai He, without saying a word, rushed to the wall of the main room and pried out two nails. Then he asked Tang Wenshu to bring a bowl of water, and he walked around the house, muttering incantations for quite a while. Tang Wenshu and his wife did not dare to disturb him and could only watch over the child.

This time, she startled herself; the scene was very clear, completely unlike a dream. However, Qin Cai was someone accustomed to dreaming, and she knew this must be a dream. ... But ...? ... How could she suddenly be here? ! She looked around; by that time, the corn in the field had almost all been harvested, leaving only the dry, yellow corn stalks.

Tang Wenshu suddenly had an epiphany: "Does it count if I nailed two nails to hang a painting on the wall during noon?"

It is said to be a mantra, yet the object is astonishingly white. He instructs her to sit cross-legged, with her hands folded below her navel, focusing her thoughts on various deities in the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest directions, bowing her head. No, it should be said that she is nodding. For instance, when she silently recites the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva in the south, she slightly nods her head towards the south (considered a bow, but with a very small amplitude)

Bai He seemed taken aback for a moment: "What do you want to do?"

Qin Cai did not know how long she had been reciting or how many times she had bowed, but gradually all the sounds around her faded away. She did not know when Bai He had left, nor did she know when he had extinguished the candle. She had not fallen asleep, yet she sat there under the altar for an entire night

Strangely enough, shortly after the nail was removed, the child stopped vomiting and fell into a quiet sleep with closed eyes

Qin Cai slept for three days, and when she woke up, her shoulder hurt so much that she wanted to roll on the ground. However, she couldn't even lift a finger. Outside, someone was speaking: "Bai He, if anything happens to my daughter, you will be the murderer!"

The corn stalks ahead rustled softly, and Qin Cai felt much smarter than she ever had in her dreams. She picked up a brick and carefully walked forward.

Qin Cai was utterly astonished, and the middle-aged man immediately wore a look of amazement: "Even this exists!"

These days coincide with the Zhongyuan Festival, and the paper candle shop is doing exceptionally well. Qin Cai's hands have become swollen, and that stingy fellow Bai He has finally allowed her to use medicine once. Even with her hands and the book covered in ointment, she still has to make tea and cook for him. Fortunately, she is used to doing chores at home and is not overly delicate, so she has not complained.

He entered holding a bottle of Erguotou and immediately took out one hundred yuan to give to Bai He: "Commission"

"Therefore, you still need to burn a manual. " Bai He followed behind the middle-aged man, casting a faint glance at Qin Cai, calm and composed. The middle-aged man was still looking at the mahjong table, but Bai He's next words undoubtedly drew his sufficient attention, "Otherwise, if he doesn't know how to use it, it wouldn't be good for you to go down and teach him..."

Bai He is much stricter with Qin Cai, but he never resorts to hitting or scolding. To deal with Qin Cai, he has a unique tactic—deducting money

The man suddenly turned his head, and his eyes were as red as blood. Qin Cai trembled all over, holding a brick in her hand, yet she no longer had the courage to strike again. The man had shown a hint of fear earlier, but he quickly realized that Qin Cai's terror was even greater than his own

Qin Cai could only work tirelessly, even mumbling while cooking, just to barely hold on to her twelve hundred yuan

Qin cuisine has begun to sweat—this thing is much more profound than historical politics

On that morning, when Qin Cai went out to sell vegetables, she noticed two women pointing at her from a distance. She could not hear what they were saying. However, she suddenly recalled Huang Xiaolian from that year, the indifferent faces of the world under the sunlight, and the glaring blood on her fingertips

On the second day, Bai He assigned Qin Cai the task of learning to make paper figures. This is a genuine technical skill, starting with bamboo strips as the framework and paper as the skin. It is best to use paste, but sometimes when time is tight, glue or adhesive tape is used; as long as the appearance looks right, it suffices

Tang Wenshu thought for a moment: "No, not at all..."

But having come this far, one cannot just run away

In the afternoon, someone suddenly rushed to find Bai He, saying that a child was vomiting severely and they did not know what was wrong.

Bai He went to his home, which was less than two households away from the shop. Upon entering, he saw Tang Wenshu's wife holding a child, whose mouth was continuously foaming white, with a pale face, and it looked as if the child was on the verge of death

Only to see Huang Xiaolian pinned under a pile of corn stalks, a dark-skinned man was lying on top of her

A pair of feet faintly emerged from beneath the corn stalks, and Qin Cai suddenly felt a sense of fear—she had never felt afraid in her dreams before