In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

The manuscript is officially completed and sent to the printing workshop for typesetting.

After some deliberation, it was finally decided to print 3,000 copies temporarily, and then reprint them as appropriate.

The business situation of the Poetry and Painting Society can be said to be very good.

First, the consumption is not high, unlike going to Fengyue places where you can only pay a few taels of silver at every turn.

The cheapest cup of tea here is only 50 yuan, which is naturally a lot more expensive than the teahouse outside, but the atmosphere is different.

Most of the people who come here to consume are scholars, or some vassal and elegant squires.

In short, it's a little ink in the stomach.

Come here to enjoy tea, chat, write poems, play chess, and play songs......

Whether you know each other or not, exchanging each other's experiences with each other is a thing that complements each other.

Second, the news that Dongfang didn't come here to eat in vain has been rumored, and people are even more impressed by Gu Ming, and they have come to cheer.

Third, some young ladies and ladies in the city also began to meet in twos and threes, using the Poetry and Painting Society as a meeting place.

You must know that most of them are kept in the boudoir on weekdays, except for shopping, watching operas, and occasionally stepping into the green, they really can't find a place to spend their time.

It's not like men can go to teahouses, restaurants, Fengyue places, and so on.

It's different now, the Poetry and Painting Society is an elegant place, and there is also the daughter of the county magistrate and Mrs. Su, which makes them find an excuse to sneak out.

In this way, it has attracted many scholars to gather here.

If you're lucky, which lady will take a fancy to you, and it won't become a good story?

Therefore, as long as there are beauties here, those scholars will inevitably recite poems, or play the piano, dance a sword, or something.

Peacocks still know how to open the screen for courtship, let alone people.

As for Gu Ming, he became the most idle person.

There are He Yongliang and two guys in the store to help take care of it, and there is almost nothing to do with him.

The calligraphy and painting club has Nie Xiaoqian and Mrs. Su in charge.

The two of them mainly greet female guests, and Dong Sheng is responsible for greeting those scholars and squires, serving tea and water.

Of course, Gu Ming will not be idle because of this.

There are still a few months before the autumn season, and Niu Bi also blew it in front of his father-in-law, and he still has to read the book.

Anyway, there are books related to scientific research in the store, so I will take one and read it quietly.

As his level increases, his memory and comprehension ability become stronger and stronger, and he can basically memorize it by heart after reading it two or three times.

In this way, I am full of confidence in scientific research.

After noon that day, Gu Ming read the book for a long time, and went to wander around the street after thinking about it.

When I returned, I found that there were many people talking about it in front of me.

He is not a person who likes to join in the fun, and was about to bypass the crowd to go back to the study, but suddenly a loud shout came from his ears: "I remember, Shui Mangcao, he must have eaten Shui Mangcao by mistake or been entangled by Shui Mang's ghost." ”

As soon as he said this, many onlookers felt a chill and dispersed.

Hydromangweed?

Hearing these seemingly familiar words, Gu Ming recalled for a moment and couldn't help frowning.

Isn't this just a little story in the chat?

I vaguely remember that in the story, anyone who accidentally eats the water grass will become a ghost, but they can't be reincarnated, and they must find a substitute.

There are similar legends and folklore that say that drowned ghosts must find a substitute before they can be reincarnated.

Thinking about it, Gu Ming couldn't help but take a closer look.

There is a man picking vegetables on the ground, who should be a farmer in the suburbs who went to the city to sell vegetables.

As a result, he suddenly died on the street, and the vegetables were scattered all over the ground.

His death was rather strange, his face was puffy and pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and his ears and nose were still oozing slightly.

There was also a water stain underneath him, which looked almost indistinguishable from the drowned person.

"Go away, go away, the official will handle the case."

At this time, several catchers hurriedly walked over, shouting loudly as they went.

As if he hadn't heard it, Gu Ming slowly circled around the corpse.

"Hey, what are you still looking at? Go away! ”

The one on the far left shouted at Gu Ming.

The other catcher recognized Gu Ming, and hurriedly trotted forward, smiling with a smile on his face: "I'm sorry, it turned out to be Gu Gongzi." ”

"Eh, it's really him."

"I heard that Gu Gongzi will catch ghosts and subdue demons......"

"It's true, I saw it with my own eyes in Yuantong Town......"

All at once the crowd began to stir.

The catcher who was drinking a lot just now was startled, and hurriedly stepped forward to apologize: "Gu Gongzi, the little one has eyes and no beads, and I hope you don't blame it." ”

"Well, it's fine."

Gu Ming waved his hand absentmindedly.

Because at this time, the special task pops up again:

[Investigation of the cause of death of the deceased and resolution of the matter]

[Reward: 40 points]

After taking the task, Gu Ming glanced at the crowd and asked, "Has anyone seen how this person died before?" ”

"I see it."

A stall owner who had been setting up a stall nearby squeezed forward two steps to answer the road.

"What the hell is going on?"

"I was setting up a stall next to me and saw this man coming with a dish. There was nothing unusual before, and it was all peaceful.

Unexpectedly, while walking, it was like being tripped over something, and he fell straight to the ground.

Then, the body began to soak in water......"

"I saw it too, and at first I thought it was blood, but then I found out it was water."

"It's definitely not sweat, how can anyone sweat so much."

For a while, everyone was talking.

"Someone said before that the water mangweed, please ask who it is?"

"Ahem, I said ......"

A middle-aged man walked out.

"May I ask this old man, where did you hear the legend of the water mangweed?"

"About five years ago, I went to the Taohua River in Hubei Province, and there are a lot of legends about the water mangweed.

Moreover, I have personally seen a person like him, who died inexplicably, as if he had drowned. ”

"Well, thank you, brother."

Gu Ming nodded thoughtfully, and then smiled at a few catchers: "Please check the identity of the deceased and where he lives." ”

"Gu Gongzi, don't worry, we will check as soon as possible."

"Okay, if there is a result, please notify the study."

Gu Ming arched his hand and said goodbye.

When I returned to the study to tell this strange story, I didn't expect Dong Sheng to also hear the legend of the water manggrass.

"Hearing you say that, it should be related to the water mangweed. In the past, I had a classmate who was from the Taohua River area, and said that hundreds of people died every year. ”

"yes, I see."

I have to say that the efficiency of several fast catches is still quite high, and someone came to report the results in the afternoon.

"Gu Gongzi, I found out, that person's name is Ah Zhuang, a native of Qili Village in the northern suburbs......"

"Thank you!"

Gu Ming took out a small ingot of broken silver and handed it over.

"No, no, the villain can't take Gu Gongzi's money."

These officials all knew that Gu Ming was the beloved son-in-law of the county magistrate, so how could they dare to reach out easily?

"Take it, I can't let you run for nothing."

Gu Ming couldn't help but say that he stuffed it.

"Thank you so much Gu Gongzi."

As soon as the arrester left, Dong Sheng asked, "You won't meddle in your business and go to Qili Village, right?" ”

Gu Ming's face was serious: "How can this be called nosy?" In case one day you accidentally eat the water mangweed......"

Dong Sheng's face changed, and he hurriedly spat on the ground: "Bah, the good is not spiritual, the bad spirit is ......"

Gu Ming: "......"

"Wrong, wrong, take it back. Bah, good spirits, bad spirits......"