“Dream on! Unless you give me that Jiucao Great Tonic Pill, then I’ll treat you to a meal.”

David Bennett looked at him in shock: “How weak are you that you need to eat two Great Tonic Pills? Be careful you don’t burst your quilt from all that tonic, we each only have one blanket.”

“That’s none of your business. Just tell me, do you want to eat braised lamb or not?”

“I do.”

“Then hand over the Great Tonic Pill if you want to eat!”

“I can’t hand it over, I can only pull it out.”

“A dog’s belly can’t hold two taels of lard, but you sure eat fast!”

Footsteps sounded on the street, and Charles Foster’s voice followed: “In broad daylight, what are you two doing up there?”

William Clark turned around and saw Charles Foster leading a burly young man with a mournful face quickly to the post station entrance.

He jumped down and cupped his hands, saying, “Greetings, Master Foster.”

Charles Foster nodded: “I went to the clinic this morning. You two did well.”

The three had just missed each other; when Charles Foster went to the clinic, William Clark and the other had just returned.

William Clark wanted to tell Charles Foster the details of last night, but Charles Foster spoke first: “Go open the main hall. This young man has something to discuss with me.”

The burly young man had dark skin and wore a blue homespun collared shirt, with narrow sleeves and pants lacking a crotch. Even though the weather was still cold, he only wore hemp shoes without socks—clearly a tenant farmer just come from the fields.

For ordinary people, the Astronomical Bureau that dealt with ghosts and spirits was even more mysterious and terrifying than the government, so after entering the post station, the young man hunched over and shrank his neck, timid as a sparrow in a heavy rain.

After entering the main room and sitting down, Charles Foster took a sip of tea. He said nothing, his face gloomy, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

William Clark asked, and the young man stammered, “Great, great lord, my humble name is Henry Bell, my father is called Edward Bell. My father never went to school, so he named my brother Ethan Bell, me Henry Bell, and my sister…”

Through his rambling and jumbled account, the three barely managed to understand the situation.

This Henry Bell was from the Zhong clan of Xiama Ridge, a tenant of the Zhong family. He had come because the Zhong family was haunted; his wife was so tormented by ghosts that she wanted to kill herself. Out of desperation, he came to the Astronomical Bureau to report the case, hoping they would save his wife.

As for what exactly happened to his wife, Henry Bell did describe it, but in his anxious and nervous state, his logic was unclear. In the end, William Clark only understood that his wife would sometimes act like a child.

When he finished, Charles Foster asked in a deep voice, “I’m very familiar with the Zhong clan of Xiama Ridge. The family head, Samuel Bell, has visited me several times. Since the Zhong family is haunted, why didn’t Samuel Bell come to me?”

Henry Bell dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing as he cried, “Great lord, please see clearly, our family head is dead.”

Charles Foster frowned: “Samuel Bell is dead? He was only just past thirty. What a pity, he was a capable man. How did he die?”

Henry Bell said, “I’m a tenant from the lower house, I don’t know about the upper house. But I heard people say it was a sudden illness.”

Charles Foster asked again, “When did your wife get entangled by the ghost?”

Henry Bell replied, “About three or four days ago.”

Charles Foster was silent for a moment, then said, “I understand. Tomorrow I’ll take people to the Zhong clan to have a look.”

Henry Bell grew anxious: “Great lord, can you go today?”

Charles Foster said calmly, “Don’t worry. Before I go, nothing will happen to your wife.”

He reached into his sleeve and flicked out a talisman: “Take this and stick it on her chest when you get back. I guarantee that for twelve hours, no evil spirit will harm her!”

Watching Henry Bell leave joyfully with the talisman, David Bennett turned back and said, “Master Foster, are you still not feeling well?”

Charles Foster finally relaxed his stiff expression, coughed, and looked a bit tired: “It’s nothing, just a bit low in spirits. Let me rest another day and I’ll be fine.”

David Bennett said, “Why not postpone this case? The weather’s been cold these days, I guess you’ve caught a chill.”

Charles Foster shook his head: “It’s not a chill, I know my own body. This case can’t be delayed, or something might go wrong.”

Then he gave a strange smile: “The Zhong family head passed away, and as an old friend I didn’t even get the news. Heh, and now their house is haunted? I have to go see what’s really going on!”

Chapter 008: The Strange Zhong Clan

Seeing that he still looked unwell, William Clark and David Bennett didn’t mention last night’s strange qi-eating ghost, since it was already dealt with.

Charles Foster went back to rest.

William Clark, as a roaming star, went to record the case of killing the qi-eating ghost last night.

The tiger skin continued to jump through windows.

David Bennett continued to practice with the stone lock.

At noon, they still ate braised lamb, a reward from Charles Foster for handling the work on their own.

The braised lamb of Fulong Township was quite famous in Jixiang County. Large chunks of lamb were stewed to falling-apart tenderness in a stone-sand pot, the meat juices blending into the broth, with a layer of oil droplets floating on top—just looking at it made one’s mouth water.

Sprinkle on some fennel greens, wild scallion bits, and pepper powder, and with one bite, the sticky, fragrant juices burst in your mouth, the soft meat falling apart with a gentle chew, leaving your whole body feeling comfortable after eating.

A big bowl of lamb like this cost twenty copper coins, enough to buy four jin of top-quality white rice.

David Bennett restrained himself and ate four bowls.