In the blink of an eye, it was the fifteenth day of the second month of the lunar calendar, and there was a ghost market at night, and it happened to be Sunday. Since yesterday Saturday, I have been following Master up the mountain to catch snakes, insects, frogs and rats. Today, the two of us worked all day in the master's courtyard before we prepared the ingredients for the evening.

In the evening, Master fried a few side dishes by himself, and it was rare to have a serious meal with me. Master doesn't just know how to make ghosts eat food, but people also eat dishes that are fried quite well. So I've always wondered why Master has to serve those ghosts if he doesn't want to be a good cook. It is true that you can make some money by setting up a stall in a ghost market, but after all, the market only opens in ten days, and it is definitely not as good as receiving a salary every month. The other stall holders in the ghost market also have serious jobs during the day.

Maybe Master's personality is like that, what sounds good is that he is used to being idle, and likes to be chic and casual; It's still lazy to say that it's not good. Of course, I only dare to think about these words in my heart, and I definitely don't dare to really ask him.

Because the ghost market doesn't open until 11 o'clock in the evening, we are not in a hurry, so we will chat while eating. Master does not smoke, but occasionally drinks a little wine, and only drinks his own medicinal wine. In the past, he didn't allow me to drink it, and he wouldn't drink too much. But today, Master seems to be in a good mood, and for the first time ever, he also poured me a small glass, saying that I am almost an adult now, and it is okay to drink two sips.

I hadn't drunk alcohol before. The reason is the same as the fact that I never smoke: Master keeps too close an eye on it. I picked up the glass and sniffed it with my nose, hey, I don't think it smells fragrant anyway. I took a small sip, phew! It's spicy and punchy! I shook my head and told Master that I don't like to drink this stuff.

Master laughed twice and said, "If you don't want to drink it, don't hesitate." Alcohol is not entirely a bad thing, and I am afraid that I will be addicted to drinking and drinking too much. You are often exposed to ghosts, and it is good for you to take two sips once in a while. ”

I still shook my head and resolutely refused to drink. Master was no longer reluctant, poured himself a drink, and casually asked a few words How have I studied recently? How's my family's business? I also deal with it casually, and Master will not take it seriously.

It was almost ten o'clock when Master's cell phone rang. He still uses the old model, and can only make calls and send messages, and is now commonly known as the old man's machine. The master answered the phone, and then listened to the other party all the time, and he just said a few times, and finally replied, "Okay!" I'll go over now! ”

He hung up the phone, looked at me, and suddenly said, "I have something to deal with tonight." Over there in the ghost market, you can go by yourself! ”

"Myself?" I was a little stunned, I had never been to the ghost market by myself, and every time I went with Master.

"Hmm!" The master didn't explain much, got up and went back to the room to change into clean clothes, stuffed me with a few ghost fire talismans and yang talismans, and said, "How much can you sell tonight, you can take the money you earn!" ”

As soon as he took two steps, he turned back and ordered: "Don't quarrel with people and ghosts in the ghost market, just set up stalls as usual, and close the stalls as usual." If you encounter any trouble, you can go to the old man to see the grave. If it doesn't work, come back and tell me, don't make your own decisions! After saying that, Master went out and left, leaving me alone to clean up the dishes and chopsticks for dinner.

"Oh......" I looked at the ingredients prepared in the yard and said unresponsively. At this time, the master had already gone away.

Telat, I'll do the rest of the work alone! I washed the dishes and chopsticks first, and then quickly loaded the ingredients onto the cart stall. Actually, I'm a little happy in my heart. Master just said that all the money earned tonight will be mine! If only business could be as prosperous tonight as last time, hehe!

Thinking like this, before I knew it, I was filling the cart. When it's over, I tried to pull it myself, and it's too heavy! Sure enough, people can't be too greedy! I had no choice but to remove some of the ingredients and half of the tables and stools to pull the cart.

Don't laugh at me. Because of my treatment, doctor's appointment, Taoist priest, moving or something, I already owe a lot of debts, and I haven't paid them all off until now. So my parents are usually reluctant to spend money, and they don't give me much pocket money. I can earn a little bit occasionally when I work on Master's side, otherwise my pockets will be empty. Besides, I'm so bad at studying now, and I don't have any skills, what good job can I find after graduating from high school? Maybe in the future, I can only follow the master to continue to set up a stall in the ghost market, or learn from the master to be a fake Taoist priest and eat!

I struggled to pull the cart by myself, slowly walking towards the mass grave. As soon as I walked to Paitou Village, I was already tired enough. But behind the village is a big slope, on the slope is a public cemetery, and behind the cemetery is a mass grave! I stopped, sat on a rock and gasped, lamenting what I was going to do to pull the car uphill. At this time, Uncle Li also came with a small car.

"Why are you alone? What about Master Feng? Uncle Li asked.

"Alas, don't ask! I'm alone tonight! I wiped my sweat and waved my hand.

Uncle Li looked at my pile of small cars, and shook his head, saying that you came alone and still filled it so full? He sells pastries, such as steamed buns and buns, and the guests buy them and eat them, so there are no tables and stools on the cart, which is a lot easier. He usually follows us when he comes to the ghost market to set up a stall, he comes when we come, and he goes when we go. He was very polite to my master, and he was probably fooled by my master, thinking that he would definitely catch ghosts if he could be a Taoist priest. Alas, in fact, my master really doesn't know how to catch ghosts!

In any case, Uncle Li was still very enthusiastic, and immediately decided to help me push the car uphill first, and then come down to pull his own. We were embarrassed to just ask him to help, and we came down together to help him push the cart. Finally, the two of them pulled both cars to the mass grave, and the old man had already set up the flags, and the ghost market had already begun.

When passing through the entrance, Uncle Li had to stop and buy a talisman. The old man looked at me and asked, "Are you alone tonight?" ”

I nodded. The old man let out an "oh" and asked, "Do you want to buy a talisman?" I shook my head and said no. Then the old man didn't ask anything more, but I always felt that his reaction was a little strange, and I felt that he had something to say.

I don't bother to care so much, Master is not here, and I have to do the work of setting up the stall alone. It took me a while to put the stall out and start beckoning business.

Strangely enough, I stood there for an hour tonight, and no customer came to my door. A few ghosts passed by in front of my stall, and I waved at them, and they shook their heads and went to Uncle Li on the other side. Liu Gong and Liu Po did not see these regular customers.

After a while, I finally saw Fan Xiucai shaking his head and walking over, thinking that it was finally time to open!

"Show Caigong! What would you like to eat tonight? I greeted politely.

Xiucai looked at the stall full of snacks and said, "Huh! Why is it so abundant tonight? He stretched out his finger and was just thinking about something, when he suddenly looked up behind me, then frowned and asked, "Huh?" Respect the Teacher...... Absence? ”

I shook my head and replied, "If he doesn't come tonight, I'm alone." ”

Fan Xiucai's expression became strange, rubbed his hands a few times, and didn't order anything to eat. He suddenly whispered, "Then you have to be more careful!" Then he turned and walked away.

"Hey, why are you leaving?" I hurriedly called him, but Xiucai didn't even look back.

"What the hell!" I muttered, depressed, unaware of the language in my words. If the master is not here, these ghosts will not come to my stall, this is obviously not giving me face!

But what can be done? I sat down on the stool in a huff and shook my fan angrily. I looked at a few stalls next to me, and their business was still doing well. I saw a few more familiar faces, but they all seemed to be deliberately hiding away. On the contrary, a few wild ghosts and imps were wandering around, and they were sneaking a peek over here. No matter how stupid I am, I can see that something must be wrong!

Just when I couldn't figure it out, the poor ghost Lao Zeng and the hungry ghost Lao Lu swaggered over. There were a few little ghosts behind them, but there was no trace of Lao Zhang and Fat Bag.

"Oops!" I quickly stood up, stopped them with a fan, and asked, "What are you going to do?" ”

"What for?" The poor ghost once smiled and asked, "What do you think we can do when we come to you?" I'm definitely here to eat! ”

I looked Lao Zeng up and down with disdain, and asked him again, "Then do you have any money?" Take it out and take a look first! ”

"Cut! Check it out! Lao Zeng smiled evilly and glanced at Lao Lu. Lao Lu didn't say a word, and directly threw a sack on his shoulder to the ground, and tore open the bag for me to see.

it! A burst of golden light almost blinded my dog's eyes, no, my eyes! The sack is full of glittering ingots!

Of course, paper ingots don't shine. However, ghosts are virtual things, and paper money and ingots have also become virtual things after being burned to them, but people with yin and yang eyes can see it, and it becomes an entity, just like the real thing.

"How? Enough for us to eat, isn't it? Lao Zeng asked triumphantly.

I hesitated for a moment, I don't know where Lao Lu got so many ingots, and I don't know how Lao Zeng caught up with Lao Lu. However, the one who opens the door to receive customers and earns money is the so-called rich is the master!

I couldn't help but smile and beckoned them to sit down. Lao Zeng sat down with a big grin and said to me, "You can go up whatever you have!" Money we have! ”

I said yes and got busy. I brought some ready-made snacks to the table, and the ghosts immediately devoured them. Especially the hungry ghost Lao Lu, he didn't say a word, but his mouth never stopped, and he ate more than the other ghosts combined.

I was on full fire, porridge was hot on the stove, noodles were cooking, skewers were rummaging on the barbecue, and I was so busy that I didn't even have time to wipe it off with a sweat. The ghosts ate quickly, and as soon as the finished food was brought to the table, they ate it quickly, and then they began to bang on the table, shouting hurry up. I'm tired and happy!

But while I was happy, I seemed to feel that something was wrong. However, when I saw that the sack of gold ingots was placed at Lao Lu's feet, my doubts immediately disappeared.

As the saying goes, money can make ghosts grind. But tonight is rich and can make people grind! I'm just like a ** going between the stall and the table. Soon, they ate all the ingredients on my car stall!

"Ugh!" Lao Zeng burped and stood up to leave. I hurriedly went up to stop him, saying that he hadn't settled the bill yet. Lao Zeng pointed at Lao Lu with his finger and walked straight away. Lao Lu also got up, and left without taking the sack, and a little ghost behind him grinned: "This bag of ingots is all for you!" Then all the ghost customers were all at once gone.

I've just seen that sack of ingots, and it's definitely enough to pay for tonight, but I still want to pour it out and count how much. I didn't dare to touch it directly, so I used a small stick to open the bag first. It's black in the bag, where is the glittering gold? I was startled, and subconsciously wanted to stretch the mouth of the sack a little wider, but the hand holding the stick moved too violently and touched the mouth of the sack. The sack was also a virtual thing, and suddenly it "fluffed" to the ground, and a burst of green flames rose, and the sack, including the contents of the sack, all turned to ashes!

I was stunned. What to do? Is there an ingots in this sack? But whether there was one or not, there must be no more!

I jumped to my feet in a hurry, trying to ask the ghosts just now, but they had already gone in smoke. I abandoned my stall and searched my way through the other stalls. When Uncle Li saw that I was in a hurry, he asked what's wrong?

I couldn't tell if I made a mistake and touched the paper money, or if those ghosts were playing tricks on me, so I asked him if he had seen where the poor ghost Lao Zeng and the hungry ghost Lao Lu went.

Uncle Li shook his head and said that he didn't pay attention, but he saw that they had been eating at my stall just now. I went from stall to stall again, and the other stall owners said they didn't see the two ghosts. A bunch of ghosts sat in the troupe to watch the play. I rushed over to the grimaces to check them out, and despite their loud protests that I was blocking their viewing, I still couldn't find them. I had no choice but to walk back to my stall in frustration, looking at the pile of paper ashes and not knowing what to do.

At this time, Lao Xing rode a tall horse to collect protection money, but he didn't bring a ghost today. I pointed to the pile of paper ashes and said to Lao Xing: "Na! It's all here! Take it all you want! ”

Although Lao Xing had no head, it did not prevent him from speaking. His belly bulged, and the sound came out of his cavity, like ventriloquism. Lao Xing said angrily: "Didn't your master teach you not to touch paper money with your hands?" ”

"Of course I do!" I replied indignantly, "But it's not necessarily my fault, it must be the poor ghost Lao Zeng and the hungry ghost Lao Lu!" There's no money in this bag at all! ”

"Why do you still collect it if you don't have any money?" Lao Xing asked another question that drove me crazy.

"I, I saw that there were ingots in it at the beginning, so I was willing to accept it. But, but then when I opened the bag and looked at it, it was gone! "I tried to make things clear, but it turned out to be even more unclear.

"So there's still money in the bag! It's when you touch it that it turns into paper dust! No one else is to blame! Lao Xing made up his mind, and stretched out his hand again: "You still have to give me my example money tonight!" ”

"I don't have any money!" I played with a bad face and said to him with a black face, "Since you have collected the protection money, you should take care of things!" Unless you help me find the poor ghost Lao Zeng and the hungry ghost Lao Lu, and let me confront them face to face. When the time comes, we will find out if they are the troublemakers, and I will give you the money for tonight!" ”

"No way!" Lao Xing's tone became stiff. He didn't have a head, so naturally he couldn't see the change in his face. But he was shirtless, his chest was constantly rising and falling, his tattoos had turned red, and there was a "whirring" sound in his cavity, obviously angry.

"I don't care about that! I don't want to care! You don't usually pay much money, and every time I come, I just take something and send me away! Don't you want to fool around tonight! ”

Master is not here, I have no backer, and Lao Xing obviously doesn't want to give me this face. "Look, I've got all that left for paper ashes, what can I give you?" I was discouraged.

Lao Xing can't do anything about me. He thought for a moment, then rode his horse to the front of the stall, and reached out to pick up the pot in which I had made porridge and put it on the horse's neck. "I'll take this back as a urinal!"

"Hey! You can't take this! How can I do business without a pot? "I hurriedly ran over to stop Lao Xing. Lao Xing pulled the reins suddenly, and the paper horse under the seat let out a long roar, and the man stood up, raised his front hooves and kicked twice. I was startled by the horse's suddenness, and I ducked backwards and fell on a nearby grave. Lao Xing stopped talking to me, and turned around on his horse and left.

I scrambled up from the grave, mad, but nowhere to vent. At this time, remembering the words of the master's explanation, he could only stomp his feet twice and swallow his anger back into his stomach. I stumbled to pack up the dishes and plates, load the tables and chairs into the car, and prepare to go home early. When Uncle Li saw that I was leaving, he hesitated to go together. But his pastry stall had a good business tonight, and he didn't sell out of things, and he didn't come with him in the end.

I pushed the empty cart to the exit of the ghost market, and saw the old man sitting there smoking a cigarette pipe. He put down the chimney and asked, "Sold out so quickly?" How much money was collected tonight? ”

I got angry and started complaining again. The old man listened to me expressionlessly, and then said, "So, you don't have any paper money to exchange tonight?" Then you have to give me a hundred yuan for the entrance fee, RMB! ”

"I didn't make a penny tonight, where can I get the money for you?" I couldn't help but lament. "Besides, you can't just take money and do nothing! I've been bullied by those ghosts, you have to do justice to me! ”

"What did those ghosts do to bully you? Biting you? Or did it hit you? The old man asked suddenly.

"They didn't beat me, but they teamed up to lie to me!" I argued.

The old man who watched the grave waved his hand and said, "In this ghost market, people deceive ghosts, and ghosts deceive people, and it is not my responsibility!" Including ghosts and ghosts fighting, I don't care if people fight! I only care if someone hits a ghost, or if a ghost hits someone! ”

I was speechless. According to this old man, it is clear that there is no way to complain.

"As long as you enter my stall, you have to pay the entrance fee. As for whether you make money in it, it's not my problem. Hurry up and hand over the money and go back to your master! The old man stretched out his hand again and motioned for me to hurry up and pay the money. It seems that if I don't pay this money, the old man may also be like Lao Xing, and he will have to detain my entire car.

That's all I have to do, I have to admit it. When I went out, Master didn't give me any money at all, so I had to use my pocket money to top it first. Thankfully, with the one hundred and eighty dollars I won the other day, I didn't end up penniless.

After paying the money, I pulled the empty car and walked out, scolding my bad luck in my heart. I thought I could make a small profit tonight, but it turned out to be a huge loss!