Guo Youning was both starving and driven by curiosity, eager to figure out what had just happened. She replied, "Of course we'll eat! With that annoying person gone, it's the perfect time for a feast. I don't believe she'd actually bring someone back to confront us all."
This time, she successfully ordered the Braised Pork she had been craving, along with Yellow River Carp, Stir-fried Seasonal Vegetables, and two bowls of steamed rice—almost replicating the previous trio's menu. The total came to 4.35 yuan, two one-jin meat coupons, and six liang of grain coupons.
Deng Xiaojun had wanted to pay, but he didn't have enough meat coupons and was also stunned by her extravagance. For just two people to order two meat dishes and one vegetable was downright luxurious—though leaving leftovers was out of the question.
The food arrived quickly. Once served, they dug in with such gusto they barely looked up. The Braised Pork was rich and aromatic, fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry—a testament to the chef's skill and the quality of the naturally raised pork. Each bite left them speechless. The Yellow River Carp was tender and juicy, its savory sauce perfectly complementing the fish's sweetness, creating an unforgettable flavor. Even the usually humble greens, stir-fried by the master chef, were crisp and delicious.
Only after eating her fill halfway did Guo Youning pause to give a thumbs-up and praise, "The chef here is incredible! This is so good!"
Deng Xiaojun slowed his eating, nodding with pride. "Naturally. Our head chef is a descendant of an Imperial chef. Countless people come here just for his cooking. If it weren't for that, how could this place still have customers with Xu Xia's terrible attitude?"
Guo Youning had to agree
Guo Youning nodded, and the two went their separate ways at the hotel entrance.
Instead of heading home, she went directly to the supply and marketing cooperative. Using the money and coupons Tang Xin had given her the previous night, she bought a thermos flask, five jin of brown sugar, and ten chi of fabric.
When she spotted the Moutai priced at eight yuan per bottle on the counter, her eyes gleamed with shrewdness. Eagerly, she pulled out the liquor coupons thoughtfully prepared by White Impermanence and bought all five bottles in stock.
She mused that storing these for a few decades could multiply their value immensely. If opportunities arose, she should stockpile more—it was a viable path to wealth.
Satisfied, Guo Youning admired the 1970s scenery of Beijing as she leisurely wandered back to her empty home.
With no one around, it was time to focus on serious matters. She sat upright at her desk and began earnestly writing the "thank-you letters."
Reflecting on the assistance they had provided and the new identity arranged for her, she felt genuine gratitude. This sincerity made the writing flow smoothly.
Within an hour, she completed three letters. The one for White Impermanence was two pages longer, filled with heartfelt emotion.
After finishing the letters, Guo Youning bolted the door and slipped into her space. She dared not burn incense or paper offerings outside, promoting superstition—this could only be done within her private realm.
She counted out nine sticks of incense. Master Zhang’s high prices were justified; the fragrance was pleasant, likely a special blend.
She also took out a thick stack of spirit money. Though unsure if it would be useful, she believed it was better to err on the side of courtesy—even ghosts and deities would appreciate the gesture.
Recalling how others in her past life prepared offerings when burning incense, she wondered if she was being too hasty.
She had whole pigs and chickens but didn’t know how to slaughter them. However, the fruits on the backyard trees seemed ripe. She hurried to the small orchard.
Late July was the perfect season. Apples, pears, peaches, and figs were all ripe, though pomegranates still needed more time.
She plucked a fig and popped it into her mouth—it was sweeter than any she’d tasted before.
Selecting the ripest of each fruit, she gathered a basketful.
Fetching several plates from the kitchen, she arranged three sets of offerings, each with four plates of different fruits, lining them up in the courtyard.
Initially, she considered burning everything together with one set of offerings. But remembering the space, Immortal Dew, and wealth they had granted her, she decided to treat the matter with greater respect.
Just as official ranks vary in importance, tasks have their priorities. The first letter naturally went to White Impermanence, who needed it most.
Using a lighter from the kitchen, she ignited the spirit money and used it to light three incense sticks, planting them before the fruit offerings.
She then burned the letter over the flaming spirit money, silently dedicating it to White Impermanence of the Hall of Untimely Death.
At that moment, something miraculous occurred: the three incense sticks burned down at an astonishing speed, their three wisps of smoke soaring straight into the sky before vanishing slowly.
In a daze, she seemed to see remnants of the letter, spirit money, and offerings disappear along with the smoke. The fruits on the plates visibly withered at a rapid pace.
This was her first time burning incense in either of her lifetimes—it was utterly mystical!
With reverence, she repeated the process, "mailing" the other two thank-you letters.
While the incense burned slower for these two compared to White Impermanence’s, the outcome was identical. It truly opened a new world of understanding for her.
With this task completed and a weight off her mind, she cleaned up while pondering: during future holidays, she could make offerings to them. Building good relationships was wise—more friends meant more paths, and having underworld connections could bring unforeseen benefits. One never knew when she might need their help someday.
After tidying up, Guo Youning glanced at the clock—it was almost four o'clock. Come to think of it, she hadn't properly inspected the restaurant kitchen and the three-story villa's main house yet. She hoped everything inside had traveled through with her.