dmims Chapter 24 Summoning the Soul
Chapter 24 Summoning the Soul
"It's my first time visiting, so I don't know what to bring. This is just a small token of my appreciation."
The black plastic bag in his hand was stuffed into Ma Ye's hand. It felt square and was long.
"Boss Zhang, what's going on? I can't accept something for nothing!"
"Mr. Ma, you must accept this."
My brother Fan has already told me about your master's abilities; now, only you can save me!
Just as Chef Fan behind him closed the door, this man knelt down directly in front of Ma Ye.
With a loud thud, it felt like the blue bricks on the ground were about to crack.
"Boss Zhang, you've been giving me gifts and kneeling down, but I'm just an ordinary geomancer!"
"If the noodle shop can't stay open, I can't approve your loan."
Ma Ye dared not accept such a grand gesture. He grabbed the other person's armpits with both hands and pulled him up from the ground with force. His hands were still a little wet.
"No, the loan application has been rejected. If there's no profit this month, the noodle shop will be taken away..."
Sitting on the stool that had been moved to him, Boss Zhang lowered his head.
"At the beginning of the year, I was thinking of taking out a loan to open a small supermarket, since the noodle shop business was doing well when my dad was alive."
Even if the supermarket doesn't open, the monthly turnover can help me get by for a while.
As a result, my wife was in a hurry to get married, so the loan was used to buy and renovate the house.
"Now that's bad, without my dad's help, I'm completely unable to pay off the loan..."
Chef Fan, sitting to the side, also scratched his head.
He could simply pack up and leave, since he could support his family by working in the south.
But he also had a lot of affection for the noodle shop, and he couldn't bear to watch the young master walk down a dead end.
Ma Ye poured tea for the two of them and couldn't help but scratch his head.
"Boss Zhang, you didn't come here just to ask me to bring your father back to life, did you?"
Even if I have some skills, I wouldn't be capable of getting you a nine-death-resurrection pill!
"No, no, I'm not obsessed with watching Journey to the West."
Brother Fan said, "Your master was able to get information out of dead people back then, and I didn't believe it at first."
But the bank had already called, so I had no choice but to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless.
It turns out it was just a simple soul-summoning ritual, so I can take on this job.
He took a piece of yellow paper from the cabinet, cut it to the appropriate size, and sat down in front of the two men.
"Boss Zhang, I can do this job, but as for the price..."
"Tell me your price, I won't argue!"
"Great! A straightforward person!"
After saying that, Ma Ye also imitated his master's airs, shaking his non-existent sleeves and narrowing his eyes.
"Summoning spirits costs 800, but if you're planning to include the freelance work in your contract, I can package it all together for 3,000!"
With three fingers extended, Ma Ye was extremely satisfied with his performance.
The two people opposite were also startled by the lion's small opening.
After much deliberation, I still felt that this kid was incapable of getting things done.
Seeing the two of them hesitating, Ma Ye was starting to feel overwhelmed.
"Could it be that I asked for too much...?"
But his master once said that there should be no double price for a job, and if he kept making changes, the customers would think he wasn't very capable.
Even if the deal falls through, we can still be on good terms. We can just be more frugal in the future.
"Mr. Ma, would you like me to add some more?"
I'm not comfortable with just this little bit of money..."
Damn, they underestimated it!
Ma Ye was so nervous that his socks got wet, thinking that the two people couldn't come up with that much money.
Since that's the case, he had no choice but to continue the conversation.
"It's alright. Every profession has its rules. Since I've given you a price, I'll definitely do your job well."
Although he was filled with regret, Ma Ye still had to keep a straight face.
Boss Zhang had already pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket, counted it, and slapped it on the table.
"Mr. Ma, here is three thousand. We can discuss the payment later after this matter is resolved."
"Okay, write your father's birth date and time on this piece of paper."
After handing over the yellow paper, Boss Zhang also took out his phone to search for his father's information.
Fortunately, we had someone calculate my father's birth date a few years ago, otherwise, who would know what time the old man was born?
After checking it twice to make sure it was correct, he handed the yellow paper back to Ma Ye.
The money was still there, and Ma Ye didn't rush to take it. He quickly wrote the taboo text with a vermilion pen, rubbed it in his hand, and the yellow paper spontaneously combusted in the wind.
Seeing this, the two people in front of them were also startled, and Chef Fan slapped Boss Zhang's thigh twice.
"Xiao Zhang, I wasn't lying, was I? Not everyone can do this!"
"Indeed, I knew Mr. Ma was no ordinary geomancer the moment he walked in!"
These compliments naturally reached Ma Ye's ears, and he was already pinching his thigh hard under the table.
This skill wasn't taught by a master; all you had to do was secretly dip some white phosphorus solution into yellow paper, rub it hard, and it would spontaneously combust.
I almost got beaten to death last time I performed for my teacher's wife.
The wait wasn't long; the tea in the cup was still warm when a faint sound came from the window.
Ma Ye thought it was Jin Zi III returning to sleep, and as soon as he opened the window, a small locust wood plaque fell to the ground.
"Is your father's name Zhang Yuanchao?"
"right!"
As soon as the window was closed, Boss Zhang rushed over.
Looking at the antique wooden plaque in Ma Ye's hand, he was speechless with shock.
"Alright, everything is ready. You two can lie down on the lounge chairs over there."
The two dared not hesitate. Having witnessed Ma Ye's miraculous skills, they felt that the money they had offered was too little.
Of course, this feeling also drifted into Ma Ye's heart.
The price list was automatically increased by 200 yuan.
Two pairs of willow wood goggles were placed in the hands of the two men. Brother Fan could tell the material of these things, but the cinnabar smell inside was rather peculiar.
"Mr. Ma, what are you doing?"
"Didn't you two want to question the deceased? This is the only way we can do it during the day. If you're worried, we have another option for tonight."
Upon hearing that he could finally speak to his father, Boss Zhang immediately pressed Brother Fan down onto the recliner and put the goggles on him.
"It's alright, it's alright, we'll do whatever Mr. Ma says!"
After saying that, he put on his goggles, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and lay down properly.
Seeing that the two had settled down on their own, Ma Ye made some simple preparations.
The locust wood tablet was probably sent by someone arranged by the Day Wanderer. The soul inside is not as attached as Liu Gan, so it should still be inside. Therefore, there is no need to perform a soul-summoning ritual.
A black incense stick was inserted into the incense burner. Ma Ye put the dream-entering talisman on his forehead, but he still felt uncomfortable leaning back in his chair.
"We should make more reclining chairs when we have time."
As the thought slowly subsided, Ma Ye simply blinked, and the ancient wooden hall in front of him transformed into a pure white space.
An elderly man dressed in white sat cross-legged in the center of the space, and Boss Zhang and Chef Fan also barged in.
The ground was like a huge white silk cloth, and it bounced slightly when you stepped on it.
"Brother Fan, that's fucking amazing!"
"Let's get down to business first. See if that's your dad!"
Following the direction Brother Fan pointed, Boss Zhang quickly looked over and almost burst into tears upon seeing the familiar old man.
Stepping on the white silk beneath his feet, the son rushed out quickly and arrived at the center of the space in the blink of an eye.
"Dad! Why did you leave so suddenly?!"
"Xiao Cheng, you're such a grown man, why are you still crying? Where am I? The underworld officials were about to take me down with them!"
When asked about this, Ma Ye slowly walked towards the two of them.
"Master, I'm very sorry to disturb your peace."
But your two juniors seem to have something to ask you.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng quickly waved behind him.
"Brother Fan, come here quickly!"
"Dad, I mainly wanted to ask you about the restaurant. Ever since I took down the special-price noodle sign, there's been no business at our noodle shop!"
Fan Ge had just squatted down in front of the old man, eager to hear what his master had to say.
But they discovered that the old man's white clothes were quickly turning black, and the silk cloth at his feet looked as if it had been splattered with heavy ink.
Seeing that things were not going well, Ma Ye grabbed the two men tightly, and they retreated to a distance.
"You two unfilial sons! How can I entrust the noodle shop to you?"