章 55: Chapter 55

"Come often..."

Hu Tao lifted her glass and took a sip of juice, her expression somewhat gloomy.

"Although 100 Mora isn't expensive considering its quality, I really can't afford to come drink it regularly."

"Director Hu runs such a large business, how could you not afford it?"

"Mr. Xia doesn't understand—the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business is rather special." Hu Tao shook her head and said seriously, "We conduct funerals not for money, but to help the deceased rest peacefully. Funeral services are a mortal's final dignity. Regardless of the deceased's status or wealth, we must arrange a ceremony befitting their identity."

Hearing this, Xia Zhi couldn't help but feel deep respect: "I see. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's practices are truly admirable."

"It's nothing special. Our funeral parlor has always operated this way."

Hu Tao lifted her glass and took another sip of juice.

"Though I heard someone at the city gate mentioning that there was a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor advertisement on the wall, something about second tombstones being half-price..."

"Ahem!" Hu Tao choked a little, put down her glass, and said seriously, "Discounts aside, that advertisement was just to remind everyone that if they have any funeral needs, they must come to our funeral parlor."

Xia Zhi heard something else in her words and casually asked, "What happens if someone is buried directly without a funeral ceremony?"

Hu Tao frowned slightly and said, "Nothing particularly bad, but it's still better to hold a proper funeral."

Xia Zhi nodded and said with a smile, "I thought they might become ghosts."

Hu Tao froze for a moment, glancing at him. Seeing his relaxed expression, she assumed he was joking and laughed along, "There's no such thing as ghosts. I've dealt with so many dead people and never seen one."

Lies!

Your funeral parlor is clearly keeping a beautiful female ghost!

She even comes to bother me every night!

Xia Zhi took a sip of juice, not exposing Hu Tao's lie, but realized that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's affairs ran deeper than they appeared.

The "funeral ceremonies" Hu Tao spoke of were likely some form of supernatural soul-pacifying ritual.

The book "Records of Jueyun" contained many Liyue folk tales where lonely spirits and wild ghosts often appeared. These were probably people who died accidentally in the wilderness and, without proper funeral rites, couldn't find peace and became wandering spirits.

Xia Zhi chatted with Hu Tao for a while, then picked up his glass and walked to Qiqi's table to sit down.

By now, the progress bar above Qiqi had changed to [Progress: 88%].

It was almost nine o'clock. Once the shop opened, he would be busy making juice and wouldn't have time to accompany Qiqi, so he needed to use this time to complete her remaining progress.

"Qiqi, you came very early today."

"Mm."

"Didn't go herb gathering last night?"

"No, rested at Bubu Pharmacy."

"Do you have a lot of work at the pharmacy?"

"It's okay."

"Are the people at the pharmacy nice to you?"

Qiqi thought for a moment, then nodded and said softly, "...Mm, everyone's fine."

Xia Zhi noticed her careful consideration before answering.

Although her answer was affirmative, in her daily life, people probably treated her somewhat differently from normal people.

After all, she was a zombie, a non-human being.

Even knowing she wouldn't harm them, people might unconsciously want to keep their distance.

Sometimes it might just be a small glance or a casual word that could hurt her.

Xia Zhi was quiet for a moment, then said, "When you're free, you can come here to spend time with us."

Qiqi looked at him, then at the incense burner, nodded, and said softly, "Okay."

After chatting for a while, Hu Tao came over with her glass, wearing an odd expression, and said, "Mr. Xia seems to get along very well with Qiqi."

Xia Zhi smiled and said, "We're friends."

Friends? Qiqi lowered her head, her eyes seeming to flicker with emotion.

Hu Tao paused and said, "Is that so?"

"Of course. Qiqi even helped watch the shop for me earlier."

"That's true."

Hu Tao nodded but didn't continue discussing Qiqi. She sat down at the table and, looking at the smoking incense burner, said, "Mr. Xia, your shop's incense has such a unique fragrance."

"Of course. Like the juice, it's also one of our shop's specialties."

"Did you make this yourself too?"

"Yes."

"Is it free?"

"Actually, it does cost money, but since today is our opening day, it's free."

"I see."

Hu Tao wasn't surprised, given how powerful the incense's soul-pacifying effects were. If it were truly free every day, she might as well just live in this shop.

With so many tables in the shop, surely hiring another server would be reasonable too.

Hu Tao then asked, "So how much does this incense cost?"

Qiqi stared blankly at the incense burner, quietly perking up her ears.

Xia Zhi smiled and said, "That brings us to another service my shop offers."

"What service?"

"Blind massage."

"? You mean the blind person is...?"

"That's right, yours truly."

Hu Tao looked at Xia Zhi, stayed silent for a moment, then asked, "I didn't expect Mr. Xia to know this skill?"

You and Yanfei truly are good friends, asking the exact same question.

"Does Director Hu find it surprising?"

"A bit."

"As a blind person, isn't it quite natural that I would know massage?"

"While that's true, Mr. Xia already has products like the rainbow juice, so you shouldn't be short on money, right? Why would you need to..."

"Because making rainbow juice is too difficult, and the ingredients are hard to gather. We might run out any day."

"I see."

Hu Tao nodded, feeling his explanation made sense.

"Then why doesn't Mr. Xia sell the incense?"

"Because nobody would want to buy incense."

"How can that be! I love incense."

"Director Hu likes it?"

"Yes!"

"Want to buy some?"

"Yes!"

"How much would you pay?"

"Well... how much does your blind massage service cost?"

"I haven't set a price yet, as I haven't considered offering this service for now."

"..."

"But since Director Hu likes my incense, I could give you some as a gift."

"Really?"

"Mm."

Xia Zhi nodded and stood up, walking toward the counter.

"But not right now. It's almost nine o'clock, and I need to open the shop. Director Hu can attend to your business first and come back later."

"It's fine, I just finished my work, so I can take a proper rest today."

Hu Tao finished her juice in one gulp, smacking her lips with lingering satisfaction. She glanced at the "Half Price on Opening Day" poster on the wall and called out toward the entrance.

"Zhu Zi, I want another rainbow juice."