The group of ghouls could not stop chatting emotionally.
“Was that really targeted at us!? My god, this shop’s boss must be an expert! I guess I can get my wife to marry someone else now?”
“How will your wife getting remarried benefit you? Are you dumb!?”
“You’ve no idea. My wife loves torturing people. It’s horrible for her to be my widow,” that man said sadly.
The rest were looking into the shop with complicated expressions.
Xie Qiao was inscribing talismans.
Since she was opening for business, she had to sell some stuff. She had to prepare a variety of things. With sufficient materials, she would not have to go back and forth.
A protective talisman was the basic one. The talismans related to wealth, such as the Money-Magnet Talisman, would belong to the fast sellers. She would have to prepare more of those. She would also need Love Talismans, Career Success Talismans, Academic Excellence Talismans, and Pregnancy Talismans.
Those were for the living.
The dead required even more.
She still had a stock of the tiny wooden dolls that she had carved. She should be able to clear them after opening the business.
However, she still had to go to the academy. If not, she would have enough time, and the shop’s items would not be out of stock.
Xie Qiao sighed. She had to work so hard with her sickly health. It was a pain to live.
Her hand was sore after inscribing talismans for two hours. However, she heaved a sigh of relief, looking at the thick stack of talismans before her.
There was only a guard at the shop when she came. She was a mute. Xie Qiao only let her in after reading her recommendation letter.
She needed a shopkeeper.
Her Junior Brother had said that he would send someone he selected before her shop opened. She hoped that the person he picked was… brave.
Just as Xie Qiao was thinking, someone appeared at the door.
After stepping in, he was shocked to see someone in the shop. He asked in a testing manner, “Are you the boss?”
Xie Qiao lifted her head to look at him. “Are you the shopkeeper Junior Brother Xiao sent?”
The person was surprised upon hearing that, to which he said immediately, “Yes, it’s me. This humble one, Chang Tong, greets the boss!”
That man was straightforward and knelt immediately.
Xie Qiao could not get used to such courtesy, “Please get up. My business is rather unique, so I’m not sure if you’re up for it.”
“Of course I am. Master Xiao has informed this humble one, saying that the things you sell at your shop are similar to coffin shops. I don’t mind all that. I’m happy to be here,” Chang Tong said immediately to show that he was capable.
Xie Qiao nodded. “That’s great.”
In reality, Chang Tong was surprised that Master Xiao had picked him out of other candidates. He had said the shop was a gift to his Senior Sister. He had asked Chang Tong to serve her.
He had been under the impression that Master Xiao’s Senior Sister must be a woman in her 30s or 50s. Never had he expected her voice to be so young. She seemed to be an otherworldly expert who had mastered the skill of retaining her youth!
Xie Qiao even wore a veiled hat on her head.
Chang Tong went up to give her a box. There was the title deed of property. Her name was written on it.
However…
She had never seen that Junior Brother.
An old master had come to the Taoist temple when she was three or four. He was knowledgeable and felt pity for her upon seeing that she was hard-working despite having a sickly body since young.
He had been worried for her, so he had stayed at the Taoist temple for two years. He had even taught her everything he knew over those two years. Since then, he hardly stayed at the temple anymore, but he would still rest at the temple for a few days every one or two years.
That master had taken in a couple of disciples since then.
However, she was the Eldest Senior Sister…
In reality, Xie Qiao wanted to be a Junior Sister.
It was the master who insisted that the disciple whom he took in first would be the eldest. Even if he had more disciples who were older, they would be her juniors. If there was anyone who was upset about that, they would be expelled…
