Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Five Defects and Three Shortcomings

The next steps proceeded smoothly.

Hu Zi was exceptionally cooperative, and within half an hour, all the written records and audio materials were collected.

The village chief wanted to invite some people to stay for dinner, but they all declined.

As they reached the door, Officer Xu, with a reluctant expression, grasped Jiang Li’s hand.

“Lili, I can’t thank you enough, today wouldn’t have gone so smoothly without you.”

Jiang Li smiled slightly, “It’s okay, it’s just part of my duties.”

The elderly officer praised her profusely and after instructing her on some follow-up matters, they finally left by car.

Jiang Li and Hu Zi played for a while, before she separately called out Hu Zi’s mother and pulled out a small wrapped packet from her pocket, placing it into her palm.

“This is a peace charm I drew before coming here. Although Hu Zi is no longer in grave danger, he did, after all, go through the ghost gate previously. If you place this under his pillow, it will eliminate his nightmares and prevent bad dreams. Additionally, take him out at noon every day to bask in the sun for half an hour, it will dissipate the cold and his blood circulation will recover faster.”

Holding the tiny piece of talisman paper, Hu Zi’s mother, moved, was almost at a loss for words, continuously grasping Jiang Li’s hand.

“Miss, you truly have a heart of Bodhisattva. We were wrong before–you saved Hu Zi, yet we drove you out, something I’ve never done before against my conscience. Now that you are treating Hu Zi so kindly, it makes me even more uneasy.”

Jiang Li had already guessed the reason, but since Hu Zi’s mother brought it up, she took the opportunity to ask further.

“So, dear aunt, was someone threatening you?”

Hu Zi’s mother sighed and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

“The night you moved in, his father suddenly received a phone call, telling us not to shelter you, otherwise the village couldn’t sell its grain this year.”

“You know, although our village’s harvest is good, the sales have been getting worse year by year. The person who called was clearly powerful, and he said that as long as we didn’t shelter you, he would transfer fifty thousand yuan to us.”

“We are not people swayed by money, but his father is the village chief after all. If because of this the people in the village were unable to eat this year, he would be a great sinner. So, under the dilemma, he agreed to the man’s request and drove you out.”

“Afterwards, we indeed received the transfer, but the money’s origin is unclear, and we dared not use it. It has just been sitting there. Miss Jiang, why don’t you take the money? It will ease our minds.”

The situation was almost as Jiang Li had anticipated; indeed, there was someone scheming against her.

But this was no big deal, driving her out of the village chief’s house only meant she had to stay outside, it was barely a threat. What was the meaning behind this person’s actions?

“Aunt, I can’t take this money, and handing it over to the police probably won’t uncover anything either, especially since that person has covered all his bases. What’s more, he hasn’t done anything extremely malicious, so no charges could be laid.”

“This….” Hu Zi’s mother showed an even more guilty expression.

“How about this?” Jiang Li smiled, “Fifty thousand yuan isn’t much nor is it little. Since you two are considering the village, let’s use this money to repair the roads. I noticed that the recent rain has damaged many roads. While this amount may not be enough, it could at least solve the urgent problems.”

After hearing this, Hu Zi’s mother thanked her profusely, and it was only when she saw Jiang Li to the junction that she reluctantly turned to leave.

Zhao Lang also came out.

He had heard a bit of what Hu Zi’s mother said, and now looking at the young girl beside him with her eyes downcast, he moved his lips and said:

“If you encounter any troubles, maybe I can help you.”

“It’s fine, I can handle my own affairs.”

“Really?” Zhao Lang’s expression was somewhat intriguing, “With your lenient handling, can it be effective? Isn’t that just giving those evil-doers a chance to escape?”

Jiang Li paused, turning to him, and after hesitating for a while, she finally spoke:

“Zhao Lang, do you know about the ‘Five Calamities and Three Lacks’?”

Zhao Lang was startled for a moment, then nodded, “I know.”

The Five Calamities and Three Lacks specifically refer to the fate of those in the Xuan Sect.

The Five Calamities are widower, widow, orphan, solitary, and disabled; the Three Lacks are lack of money, life, and power.

It is said that because these people reveal too much about destiny, the Five Calamities and Three Lacks are punishments from heaven, so they cannot enjoy fate like normal people.

Could it be that Jiang Li also faced the constraints of the Five Calamities and Three Lacks?

It seemed likely; before this, he had specifically asked someone to investigate her. Not long after her birth, her father tragically passed away, and their Jiang family was not harmonious, barely holding together, seemingly splendid outside but rotten within.

Seeing that Zhao Lang understood to some extent, Jiang Li didn’t elaborate any further.

“This statement indeed has some basis, so when we people of the Xuan Sect do fortune telling, we often require the other party to spend some money to resolve the deficiencies in fate, and personally, we do more good deeds to accumulate virtue.”

“But I am different from them,” Jiang Li suddenly smiled, “They all say, ‘spare others where possible.’ I don’t adhere to that. My inaction now is only because the timing isn’t right.”

It’s not about not seeking revenge, just waiting for the right moment.

She didn’t want to damage her fate by suffering the punishments of the Five Calamities and Three Lacks, which would disrupt the world’s destiny and cause everyone around her to repeat her previous challenges.

Before she could determine the reasons behind it, she couldn’t act recklessly.

She had once consulted her master about this matter, for in Diqi, her family was happy and her life was fulfilling, completely devoid of the Five Calamities and Three Lacks.

But her master just looked at her with a slight smile, saying it was because she had overcome her tribulations in her previous life.

At the time, she didn’t have the memories of this era and didn’t understand the past-life tribulations her master spoke of, but once she awakened and returned to this life, she understood what those so-called tribulations were.

Not only was she affected by the Five Calamities and Three Lacks, but she seemingly took turns experiencing each one.

So now she was particularly careful, lest one day fate, driven mad, saw her revealing too much about destiny and changing too many people’s lives, forcing her to experience the Five Calamities and Three Lacks anew.

Zhao Lang watched her, his emotions becoming even more complex.

Now, he seemed to be sure of some things…

Seemingly reminded of something, Jiang Li took a few steps, then stopped and pulled out her phone, tapping a few times on the screen before making a call.

The call was quickly answered, and Shen Lan’s voice came through.

“Hello, Jiang Li? What’s up?”

Jiang Li reiterated what had happened at the village chief’s house.

“…I suspect that this person the village chief mentioned is one of our program’s staff members, if not, how could they have such a clear grasp of my movements?”