Chapter 5, Kitchen Malevolence

Yan Pengchao has a younger brother named Yan Pengfei, who just graduated from high school this year. It is said that he performed well in the exams and may attend a university even better than the one Yan Pengchao is enrolled in. Their family has produced two university students, which is a source of pride in their village

Yan Pengfei finished wringing out the towel and hung it up before walking over. He smiled and replied that he had already completed the college entrance examination and performed quite well. Soon, he would be able to become a university student like his brother.

However, based on the changes in the expressions of the two individuals, Wang Yang has basically understood the final outcome of Boss Sun's decision. Sending these two individuals to prison is the best punishment; in modern society, Boss Sun cannot resort to murder, and sending them to prison is sufficient.

Without a word throughout the night, Wang Yang rose early the next morning as dawn broke. A night of rest had completely restored his spirits, and he felt much better than before. Brimming with energy, he immediately left the room, leaving Sun He and Ma Teng to continue sleeping inside.

Every earth pot has a stove opening, which is the place for throwing in firewood. Fortunately, this stove opening does not face the main door. Even so, this kitchen has almost committed all the taboos that could be violated, leaving Wang Yang with a bitter smile

Thank you, why did you wake up so early

Of course, my brother calls me that!

The Six Evil Spirits of the Ugly Ghost!

The Ugly Ghost and the Six Evils, also known as the Two Calamities, represent a very serious kitchen disaster. The kitchen, being the heart of the household, is a vital place for sustaining life and holds great importance. The kitchen, which we commonly refer to, is usually constructed separately in rural areas, and many of them are equipped with a ground stove, especially in mountainous regions where such setups are more prevalent. The arrangement of the kitchen is not to be taken lightly; a poor setup can affect the entire family and may even pose a threat to their safety.

Good morning, you are my brother's classmate, right? Welcome to come and have fun here

Yan Pengchao's father appeared to be in his fifties, driving a three-wheeled motorcycle directly into the courtyard. After getting off, Sun He and he began to shake their bodies vigorously, feeling as if their bodies were about to fall apart, and only by shaking could they understand that this body still belonged to them

Can I call you Xiao Fei like this

Wang Yang asked again, the brick walls of the kitchen are all new, indicating that they have not been built for long, but the specific time cannot be discerned. Only by knowing the time when the kitchen was completed can Wang Yang make a better judgment

Yan Pengchao's family resides in LS County, SMX City, in the Central Plains Province. After getting off the train, they took a three-hour bus ride to reach their destination. Upon arriving in the county town, it was Yan Pengchao's father who came to pick them up on a three-wheeled motorcycle. By the time they arrived at Yan Pengchao's home, it was already past eleven o'clock at night, and everyone was extremely tired.

Wang Yang gently shook his head, not paying any attention as Yan Pengfei walked directly into the newly built kitchen. Directly opposite the kitchen was a large pot, which appeared quite deep and was filled with some weeds. Next to the entrance, there was a table with a cutting board and other items.

Wang Yang had already arrived in front of the water pipe when Yan Pengfei, having just finished washing his face, looked up. Upon seeing his expression, Wang Yang was momentarily taken aback; Yan Pengfei's complexion was quite poor, pale and weak, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness

Wang Yang softly called out, and upon seeing this malevolent aura, the name and explanation of this aura naturally appeared in his mind. After speaking, Wang Yang immediately turned around and looked towards the kitchen on the west side

It's nothing, I will go take a look in your kitchen

You all do not need to accompany me back

After Wang Yang got out of the car, his brows furrowed together as he walked slowly in the yard. The yard was not small, estimated to be over 300 square meters. The farmland residential area is spacious, and the built yard is also large. On the east side is a side room, locked, so he did not know what it looked like inside. On the west side, the door was open, and from the outside, one could see a ground pot inside.

His illness is undoubtedly a burden for the family, no wonder the expressions of several people are like this

The lights were off inside, making it difficult to see clearly what it looked like. Wang Yang shook his head slightly and soon followed Yan Pengchao to rest, as he was indeed tired at this moment

Sun He walked over, not pursuing the matter of Wang Yang being unreachable, but instead said with a worried expression: "It's good that you're back, Wang Yang. You were right yesterday; Peng Chao really has a problem with his lungs"

Last night, the three of them shared a room, sleeping on a large bed. At the foot of the mountain, the weather was not hot, and there was a fan, making their sleep quite comfortable. According to Wang Yang's understanding, these two would definitely not get up until after the sun was high in the sky. This was still the result of being in someone else's home; if they were at school, under the same circumstances, they could easily sleep until noon.

Wang Yang shot a glare at Yan Pengchao, who lowered his head even further. Sun He and Ma Teng looked at Wang Yang with some surprise; there was a subtle difference in Wang Yang compared to his usual self, though they could not pinpoint exactly what it was. In any case, they felt that the current Wang Yang appeared more imposing and majestic, as if he carried something about him.

When was this kitchen built

Among the four, Sun He lives in the urban area, while Wang Yang and Ma Teng are both from the county town. Only Yan Pengchao's home is in the countryside. The conditions in their village are not considered poor, but they are not particularly good either. Additionally, Yan Pengchao is not an only child; he has a younger brother who is currently in his third year of high school and will soon be going to university. Supporting both of them as students puts a bit of financial strain on the family

Yan Pengfei asked in a very soft voice, looking at Wang Yang with confusion. Just now, Wang Yang's voice was too low, and he did not catch the content clearly, only knowing that Wang Yang was muttering something about Ding and Sha.

Wang Yang performed somewhat better, but also showed signs of fatigue; the continuous travel by car is indeed very exhausting

Where have you been? Why did you come back so late? I couldn't reach you on the phone!

Wang Yang raised his head and addressed Sun He and Ma Teng, usually calling them by their names directly. It was only during important or serious matters that he would address them in order of seniority, similar to how he referred to Yan Pengchao.

It was less than a month ago, before my college entrance examination. I remember my father mentioning that the old kitchen collapsed during a rainstorm, so a new one was built. At that time, I was busy preparing for the examination in the county and was not at home

Boss, Third, how about we go together tonight? Let's first head to Pengchao's place; perhaps we can be of some assistance!

The young man raised his head and smiled in response. His words completely confirmed Wang Yang's suspicion; he had long known that Yan Pengchao had a younger brother, but he had never seen him. Yan Pengchao had often praised his brother Yan Pengfei, saying that his brother was much taller than him, more handsome, and performed better academically.

What nonsense are you talking about? Regardless of anything, we have been to the Tibetan region, and we have also visited the Potala Palace. There are no regrets upon returning!

Good morning

How did Boss Sun handle Wang Chun and Xia Ping? Wang Yang did not inquire further; he quickly took his leave as he had three classmates waiting for him at the hospital

Inside the hospital, Sun He and the other two were anxiously waiting. It had been quite some time since Wang Yang and Boss Sun went out together. They were waiting for the outpatient department to open, waiting for test results, and also waiting for Qin Fang to arrive so they could go to the hotel to catch someone in the act. In total, it had taken more than five hours. The three of them had already had lunch, yet Wang Yang still had not returned, which was understandably concerning.

Wang Yang walked slowly over. In the rural courtyard, there is no designated bathroom; instead, there is a water basin and a water pipe placed in the yard. The water pipe is powered by a motor, and usually, a bucket of water is filled and left there, from which anyone can scoop out some water as needed.

Upon arriving in the courtyard, Wang Yang unexpectedly discovered that there was already someone there, a teenager around seventeen or eighteen years old, who was washing up in front of the water pipe. The boy was taller than Yan Pengchao, and the two bore a striking resemblance to each other, leading Wang Yang to deduce his identity

Yan Pengchao raised his head, his eyes slightly reddened. He understood that several of his brothers had given up this trip to the Tibetan region because of him. It is important to note that they had worked for half a year in different places to save money for this trip. Sun He did not return home to care for his sick mother, all just to fulfill a shared dream.

The day has already dawned, and Wang Yang has also noticed that the kitchen on the west side is newly built, and there is a pigpen next to it

Yan Pengchao also lowered his head, lost in thought, while Ma Teng wore a worried expression. In the morning, with Wang Yang absent, they did not remain idle; they accompanied Yan Pengchao to the hospital for an examination. The preliminary diagnosis indicated that he had pneumonia, which was chronic. The doctor advised them to return for treatment, as the plateau region was not suitable for his recovery.

I agree, Wang Yang is injured, Peng Chao is not in good health, it is not enjoyable to play here, it is better to go back, besides, I really am not accustomed to the environment of this plateau

Wang Yang walked out of the kitchen and greeted Yan Pengfei, who had already finished washing up. Wang Yang had long heard of his name, as Yan Pengchao often referred to him as 'my little Fei'.

The Yan Pengchao family resides in a two-story small building oriented north to south, accompanied by a sizable courtyard, with additional side rooms on both sides. Such houses are quite common in rural areas. Nowadays, regardless of the family's economic situation, it is typical to construct a small building, and there are few new houses being built as bungalows, unless the family is particularly impoverished. The small building of the Yan Pengchao family is quite simple, with no exterior decorations, and the construction cost of such a small building is not high

Wang Yang was not able to accompany us because he forgot to charge his phone yesterday, and it ran out of battery this morning. Additionally, he has been with Boss Sun all this time and did not have the opportunity to charge his phone, which made it impossible for the three of us to get in touch with him. This is indeed his fault

What nonsense are you talking about? If we are to leave, we will leave together. How could we possibly let you leave on your own while we stay here to play?

I have been having trouble sleeping lately, possibly because the college entrance examination has just concluded, and I have not yet adapted to it

Second brother, you all enjoy yourselves here; I cannot accompany you any longer. I have already checked the train schedule, and there is a train returning tonight that passes through a nearby county. I can still make it if I hurry over now

Yan Pengfei found it strange that Wang Yang asked such a question, but he still answered him. Before the college entrance examination, Wang Yang secretly breathed a sigh of relief; the time was not long, indeed less than a month. If it were a bit longer, it was likely that something serious would happen in their family.

What are you saying

Chronic pneumonia! Wang Yang's expression also became quite serious. Chronic pneumonia is not easy to treat. Although it may not pose an immediate threat to life, it is not so easy to cure, and it still requires a sum of money for treatment.

I apologize, I am assisting Boss Sun with some matters, and my phone is out of battery

Ma Teng was the first to jump out in agreement, and Sun He immediately nodded. In fact, he had been thinking about going back together even before Wang Yang returned. Yan Peng had no interest in continuing to play here after such matters.

This is not the key issue; the most important point is that a layer of gray mist envelops Yan Pengfei's face, and it is not only present on his face but also on other parts of his body. This indicates that he has encountered a malevolent force, and it is a very serious one that has harmed his body

Sun He smiled, and the opinions of several people were in agreement. The subsequent actions progressed much more quickly. After confirming that Wang Yang was fine, they swiftly completed the discharge procedures. Once Wang Yang charged his phone and turned it on, he sent a text message to Boss Sun, informing him of his intention to return. He did not make a phone call, knowing that Boss Sun must be very busy at this time, feeling troubled, and it would be inappropriate to disturb him directly