C21

I had originally thought that the bet between Grandfather and I was just a casual talk after the day it rose, and hadn't thought that it would be possible to meet Xiuqin again, this woman whose impression is still considered good.

I remember that one morning, my grandfather received a trade early in the morning, and also drew a portrait for someone else's house. The work was simple, I was familiar with them, I knew them well, so after the call from the other party, my grandfather went out with his broken wooden chest that hadn't been traded for a hundred years. As for me, I took out a piece of paper and started to draw, just like how I used to do in the old book.

My painting this time is the Underworld's Punishment of the Witch Monarch Zhong Kui. Although he is famous in the Underworld, his name is well-known in the world. It is said in Chinese folklore that he could beat up ghosts and exorcise evil gods.

I do like this Master Yu a lot, I have already drawn this drawing no less than ten times, and I can't get any more familiar with it, I thought to myself, if I do not mention the name of our Soul Painter, just this hand of mine on Xuan paper, this drawing would sell for at least a dozen or twenty dollars.

After easily finishing the drawing, I picked up the paper and carefully examined it. I saw that Zhong Kui had an iron-like beard and was wielding a sharp sword, exuding an air of righteousness.

"This little brother, please do me a favor." Just when I was feeling pleased with myself, a desolate and low voice sounded. At the same time, a faint and unpleasant odor could be felt, as if something had rotted.

As I thought about it, I put down Zhong Kui and looked up. There was a woman in ragged clothes, covered in filth, standing in the doorway with her head lowered, wearing a tattered gray cloth, holding a broken bowl and gently shaking it. There were a few bills in the bowl, and her messy gray hair was twisted into a twist.

When I saw how pitiful she was, I felt in my pocket for a few dollars' pocket money and gave her two dollars in return.

"Thank you," the woman raised her head and thanked him.

However, the instant she raised her head, I immediately felt that it was a little familiar. Upon closer inspection, although she was covered in filth, and her face was a patch of black and white, her delicate features were still clearly visible. I was startled for a moment, and then whispered, "You are …"

"It's not me, it's not me!" When she heard this, she immediately panicked, and her body trembled as she fell back a few steps, falling to the ground. I was about to go forward to support her, but she acted as if she had seen a plague god, and didn't even pick up the bowl that fell to the ground as she turned around and ran to the side.

Needless to say, just from her huge reaction alone, I know that she is definitely Xiuqin. It's just that, I haven't seen her for a few days, how did she become like this? Looking at her appearance, no one wouldn't believe that she was seventy years old.

"Retribution," a voice sounded from beside me. Looking to the side, I saw that it was a man in casual clothes, about thirty years old, with a watch in his hand. He looked quite high-end as he shook his head continuously while looking at Xiuqin's departing direction.

"Heh heh, that … Brother, you know her? " I was thinking about my bet with my grandfather, so I wanted to get to know more about it. Coincidentally, the person beside me seemed to understand what was going on, so I made a face at him and asked.

"Of course." The man took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it slowly. He looked at me sideways and said, "I live right across from her. We even had dinner together."

Eldest brother, please take a seat." Hearing this, I immediately invited the man into the shop and poured him a cup of water. "I felt that she was a former customer of ours, so I wanted to get to know her better.

The man looked at me closely and said, "You remember her because she was beautiful?"

I smiled in embarrassment but didn't reply. The man continued, "She is a famous flower in our country. Before we got married, her suitors all lined up in long queues."

I didn't say anything as I quietly listened to the man's rambling.

It turned out that this Xiuqin was really a beauty before marriage, with an uncountable number of suitors. However, when she chose to marry someone, it took everyone by surprise and they all actually looked like she had a crooked nose.

When the man said the three words "crooked nose", I immediately remembered. Wasn't that Xiuqin's dead husband?

His parents died early, so he was still okay. The only flaw was that when he was young, he fell down from a tree while climbing, causing his nose to be crooked. Because medical conditions were limited, he eventually became a man.

Although this crooked nose had this flaw, but he was smart, able to earn money, and in a few years his family's property had increased by several folds, becoming a small rich family in the city. Although this crooked nose had this flaw, but he was smart, and he was able to make money, and in a few years his family's property had increased, and he had become a small rich family in the city. However, this crooked nose's parents gave him a baby marriage before he died, and he was an extremely beautiful woman.

However, the good news didn't last long. Soon after their marriage, rumors began to spread that this crooked nose was inhumane and was known by almost everyone.

I found it strange, thinking, since this husband Xiuqin can't be humane, then how can Xiuqin be pregnant with someone else's child?

The man said it again. It turned out that Xiuqin was carrying someone else's child from the beginning, but because she had eaten a meal with this crooked nose, the two of them drank too much wine, and even the crooked nose herself didn't know if anything had happened to Xiuqin. This crooked nose couldn't be considered a human being, but this matter was actually spread out by someone else.

"Who is it?" When I heard this, I was stunned. A human face vaguely appeared in my mind, but I wasn't too sure for a moment.

"Do you recognize him?" The man grinned and asked.

I smiled awkwardly, thinking, "Yeah," and let him go on.

The only one who spread the news that the child in Xiuqin's womb was a real father, which also meant that they were lovers. The two of them had planned everything beforehand, as long as they were pregnant with the child, they could just go to the other side of the nose and force him to get married. As for the time the two of them got drunk, it was already premeditated.

As a result, she never slept with Xiuqin at all. The two of them were only husband and wife in name, at the same time, it was very strange that he did not divorce her.

The two of them maintained their relationship despite the lack of awkwardness on the surface.

It was a pity that people had their misfortunes. That day, when he was driving home, he actually got hit by a car halfway through the journey. Even he and his car rolled down the mountain, and his crooked nose died on the spot.

That was fine, but what was even more miserable was that there was another person in the carriage with Slanted Nose. It was the woman who was betrothed to a child, and she too died on the spot.

Hearing that, I was shocked, cold sweat immediately appearing on my forehead. Combined with the matter of Xiuqin previously talking about the red dressed woman being in the car, doesn't that mean that the lady I saw a few times was actually Xiuqin's husband's child?

More importantly, that woman was long dead!

So, am I seeing a human or a ghost?

"What's wrong? Are you scared now?" The man chuckled when he saw my expression.

I smiled in embarrassment and said, "It's such a pity. A good life doesn't last long."

"Of course." The man smiled and said, "That's not all!"

I didn't say anything, motioning the man to continue.

Originally, after her death, Xiuqin took care of all the matters related to her name and husband by herself, and then, inherited all of her property. Originally, everyone thought that this absurd marriage would end just like that, but what everyone didn't expect was that not long after Xiuqin's husband took care of her affairs, her previous affability level had swept away all of her inheritance, causing Xiuqin to become penniless overnight. At the same time, the police also found out the reason for Xiuqin's husband's accident.

He knew that Xiuqin's husband would definitely pass by that place that day, so he chose a very advantageous position to wait for Xiuqin's husband to appear. After that, he directly knocked him into the ravine.

In other words, Xiuqin's husband's death was in itself a murder case!

Speaking till here, I remembered that bunch of photos. In my opinion, perhaps there wasn't just one person who murdered Xiuqin's husband, but rather, there was some Xiuqin who participated in the entire incident, it was just that all of it wasn't important now, because the current Xiuqin could be said to be short on money.

Xiuqin's sweetheart was taken away by the police, if he was to be deliberately murdered and sentenced to death, I believe that he would never have the possibility of getting out of prison again. As for Xiuqin, I think that the current her will feel worse living than dying, right?

Was this the legendary retribution of karma?

After the man finished speaking, he saw that I didn't reply for a long time, so he shook his head and walked out of the shop. As for me, I felt my heart was clogged up, not because I had lost the bet with my grandfather, but because I had lost my trust in Xiuqin.

Money is all good, but a man loves money, he takes it for granted. This man can do this much for money, what else can I say other than sighing over the unfamiliarity of the human heart?

I no longer had the mood to paint. I sat inside the shop for a long time, feeling sorrowful for my crooked nose, sad for Xiuqin and sad for the people of the people's hearts. I couldn't calm down even after a long time.

I don't even know if I should tell my grandfather about it when he comes back.

However, at this time, a person hurriedly ran in. I looked carefully, and saw that it was Grandfather's customer today, and his face was filled with anxiety. Before he could even stand steadily, he shouted loudly, "Ma Que, is it?