June was nearly over, and the July heat was still unrelenting. Suisui's ice had run out, so Zhu Xiuxiu went to town.
The Bright Moon Pavilion in the County Town would deliver ice to its town branch every day.
No one knew that the inconspicuous woman who came daily to collect items with a special Token from the owner was, in fact, his wife—the very woman rumored to have been sent away shortly after their marriage because the owner was displeased with her.
"You've arrived! The ice has been delivered, and the preserved fruits, sent express from the Capital City, are here as well. I'll get them for you now!"
Seeing Zhu Xiuxiu, the shopkeeper immediately had someone bring out the items, acting extremely sycophantic.
The sound of firecrackers suddenly echoed outside the Bright Moon Pavilion, causing a bustling commotion at the entrance. The crowd surged forward, everyone moving towards the eastern Alley.
"What's going on outside? Is someone celebrating something?" Zhu Xiuxiu asked casually as she collected her things.
"Butcher Li from the east end of the village is setting up his own shop. Today is his first day slaughtering a pig to sell, and everything's half price."
Only half price? Her eyes lit up. This is an opportunity I can't miss; the little girl loves meat so much.
"Leave the items here for now. I'm going to buy some meat."
Zhu Xiuxiu followed the crowd to the far end of the Alley.
Today was the first day Li three was starting his own business. He had deliberately used Li two's name to rope off the surrounding open area.
A large pot was set up in the open space, and he was publicly slaughtering a pig to make offerings to the patriarch of butchers.
Naturally, Li three, starting his own business, was short-handed. The last time he returned to the village, he had intended to ask his family to help out for a few days.
Of course, his main goal was to invite their family's "Little Lucky Charm" over to bring him good fortune for his grand opening.
Old Lady Li and her daughters-in-law helped heat the water, while several middle-aged men rubbed their hands eagerly around the pigpen.
Li Yanyan, wearing a new, bright red dress that Li three's wife had made to curry favor with her, stood at the entrance like a mascot.
The townspeople who had heard the news gathered around her, adoring her as if she were the moon surrounded by stars. This was the legendary "Little Lucky Charm"; everyone hoped to bask in her good fortune, even if just a little.
At first, Zhu Xiuxiu hadn't thought much of it. But upon arriving and seeing the Li Family, she immediately felt a wave of disgust. Forget half price; even if it were free, she wouldn't want it.
Just as she had made up her mind to leave, she heard a pig squealing.
She looked up. Li three had already begun. The men he'd asked to help restrain the pig pressed down on it, using a hook to pull up its snout, holding the pig so tightly it couldn't move.
Li three was an experienced butcher. He picked up his slaughtering knife and was about to strike. However, just as he was about to make the kill, the pig they were holding down suddenly went berserk. It broke free from their grasp, its four legs kicking wildly. As ill luck would have it, one of its hooves landed squarely on Li three's chest.
With a cry, Li three immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. The pig leaped up and, snorting madly, charged its way out of Baiyun Town.
Zhu Xiuxiu stood in the crowd, her mind blank, watching the Li Family run around in a panic—calling for a Doctor, sending people to chase the pig. They had managed to turn a grand opening into a grand closing disaster!
Back at the Bright Moon Pavilion, Zhu Xiuxiu sat slumped in her chair, absentmindedly listening to the other customers chatter.
"That Butcher Li must have been driven mad by the pig's kick! I heard that when the Doctor they called to treat him approached, Li saw him as another pig! He trembled in fear and hid under the bed!"
"Oh! If that's the case, Butcher Li probably won't be able to slaughter pigs anymore. You know, he was the best butcher in our Baiyun Town."
"That's hard to say. It truly is a bizarre incident. Butcher Li has been slaughtering pigs for over ten years. For such a disaster to strike him on the very first day of opening his own shop... Do you think he might have offended some Immortals?"