Chapter 18: The Grateful Beneficiary

After leaving the hospital, Li Chengfeng boarded a bus, preparing to return to Suiyuan Hall. He was well aware that no matter what, he must no longer meddle in the affairs of the Ye family, lest it bring deadly peril upon him. Once home, he intended to return the one hundred thousand yuan to Ye Mengyao.

Throughout history, conflicts among noble families—especially those involving betrayal among kin—have been the cruellest and most merciless of all. Should he become entangled in the Ye family’s strife, the consequences would be dire and unimaginable.

When he arrived at Suiyuan Hall, he found two men and two women squatting at the entrance: the couples Wang Jun and his wife, and Yang Dongming and his wife. Beside them lay numerous gifts—walnut milk, ham sausages, cigarettes, and alcohol.

Judging by their weary expressions, they had been waiting a long time. Li Chengfeng felt a pang of guilt but understood their purpose. After helping clients with yin-yang matters and resolving their troubles, it was common for those helped to come bearing gifts in gratitude.

Seeing Li Chengfeng, Wang Jun and Yang Dongming hurried forward, their sorrowful faces breaking into faint, bitter smiles.

“Mr. Li, you’ve finally returned.”

“Yesterday, you found our child for us. We’ve come today specially to thank you.”

Li Chengfeng opened the door of Suiyuan Hall and invited them inside.

Upon entering, their eyes caught the sight of a pile of bright red bills on the tea table. They were momentarily stunned, then embarrassed, patting their pockets nervously.

“Sorry, I forgot to tidy up this morning. Please, have a seat; I’ll get you some water.”

“Mr. Li, there’s no need to trouble yourself.”

Wang Jun and Yang Dongming pulled out a thick stack of red bills from their pockets and placed it on the tea table, looking somewhat sheepish.

“Mr. Li, we don’t have much, but this is a token of our gratitude. We hope you’ll accept it.”

“Please don’t think it’s too little. Take this as a token of our thanks.”

Li Chengfeng looked at the money on the table, fully aware that they must have spent all their savings searching for their child. Judging by their modest attire, they were not from wealthy families; this was likely their last reserve.

Though his own life was far from easy, he could not bear to see others suffer.

Recalling his grandfather’s words that doing good deeds and accumulating virtue could shield one from divine retribution, Li Chengfeng stepped forward, took two stacks of bills, withdrew a single note from each, and returned the rest to Wang Jun and Yang Dongming.

“Brothers, you’ve given too much. Two hundred yuan is enough.”

Wang Jun and Yang Dongming looked at Li Chengfeng with astonished, puzzled eyes. The so-called Taoist priests and shamans they had previously consulted demanded tens of thousands of yuan, refusing refunds even when they failed to find the child.

Li Chengfeng had found the child and only charged them two hundred yuan; they felt deeply ashamed and hastened to push the money back.

“Mr. Li, you must accept this money. If you refuse, it would be as if you disdain us.”

“Exactly. Taking only two hundred yuan—what does that mean? Is our child worth only that much?”

“Mr. Li, are you unhappy with the amount we brought? Even if we have to sell our car or house, we will pay you.”

“Brother Wang, Brother Yang, you’re thinking too much. That’s truly enough.”

Li Chengfeng again pushed the money back to them, refusing to accept it no matter what. After much back and forth, when they tried to insist again, he firmly held their hands and feigned anger.

“I’ve said it—two hundred yuan is enough. Usually, when I go out to help people, I charge a hundred yuan.”

“If you keep this up, I really will get angry.”

Seeing his mock anger, Wang Jun and Yang Dongming smiled awkwardly and repeatedly expressed their thanks.

There was one more matter Li Chengfeng pondered whether to mention: the dream their son had sent him. If he revealed it, they would surely be heartbroken; if he remained silent, he would be betraying both children.

After a moment’s thought, he chose to tell them gently.

“Brother Wang, Brother Yang, there’s something I’m unsure whether to say.”

“Brother, whatever it is, just say it. We’re all ears.”

“Last night, your child appeared to me in a dream. Both children asked me to tell you to forget them and live happily.”

Tears instantly streamed down Wang Jun and Yang Dongming’s faces. They knew Li Chengfeng was no ordinary man and trusted his words completely.

They had never expected the two children to visit Li Chengfeng in a dream, bringing them a final message.

Without hesitation, Wang Jun and Yang Dongming knelt to the ground, tears streaming, saying,

“Thank you, Mr. Li!”

“Thank you...”

“Get up quickly.”

Li Chengfeng abhorred such scenes. Turning away, he wiped away the tears threatening to fall and helped them to their feet.

“Brothers, burn some clothes for the children. Last night, they appeared to me naked.”

“Understood.”

“We know. Tonight, we will burn them clothes.”

After sitting a while longer in Suiyuan Hall, they left. Li Chengfeng returned all the gifts they had brought, only accepting two hundred yuan.

All that had transpired was observed by Ye Mengyao, who sat inside a car nearby.

She stared at the departing couples Wang Jun and Yang Dongming, feeling a strange familiarity. Suddenly, she recalled a news story she had seen online.

A few days ago, two elementary school students had drowned while bathing at a reservoir. Their bodies had been searched for extensively but never found.

Yesterday, a mysterious master had reportedly retrieved the bodies using two gourds, submerging them in the reservoir.

A video showing the gourds sinking had been uploaded by rescue workers.

The incident had caused an uproar on the internet. Many netizens were skeptical, dismissing it as staged, believing it impossible for gourds to sink and locate bodies unaided.

It sounded like pure fantasy.

Ye Mengyao shared this disbelief. Gourds floated on water; forcing them underwater was difficult, let alone having them sink on their own.

Yet, seeing Wang Jun and Yang Dongming emerge from Suiyuan Hall, a question suddenly struck her:

Could the person who used gourds to find the children’s bodies be Li Chengfeng?