TGCFNM -Chapter 240 A Small Favor

After a simple meal, everyone went upstairs to their rooms to rest.

Ghost Scholar rested in the outer chamber with Cheng Dian, while Bai Su and Cui Xi leaned against Chu Ling for a break.

After Chu Ling blew out the last lamp, Cheng Dian stood by the window, somewhat dazed. His ethereal fingers easily passed through the papered window, and he leaned out to gaze at the bright moonlight outside.

Ghost Scholar quietly approached. “What are you thinking about?”

Cheng Dian slowly retracted his head and turned to look at Ghost Scholar. “The new master is doing very well, but I keep thinking—if it were me, I would also do well. But I can no longer.”

Ghost Scholar let out a soft sigh. “May your wishes be fulfilled in your next life.”

Cheng Dian looked at him in pain. “Just because of one moment of wrong thought, must it lead to such consequences?”

Ghost Scholar didn’t know what to say. The cost of this mistake was indeed too high.

“All I can do is advise you to let go of your obsession and enter reincarnation sooner,” he said with a sigh, slowly sitting on the soft couch.

The next day.

As promised, Chu Ling brought the silver needles to treat Xiao Er.

Bai Su stood behind him, whispering instructions: “The muscles here have already atrophied, so it can only be stimulated with strong needles. Don’t worry about harming him—you can apply force.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly and began the treatment as Bai Su had taught her.

At first, Xiao Er didn’t feel anything, merely staring at the row of silver needles on his arm. But soon, a tingling sensation spread through his entire arm, even causing his fingers to twitch slightly.

At that moment, Xiao Er stared at Chu Ling in shock, and by the time he realized what was happening, tears were streaming down his face.

“Young master, you are like a second father to me,” Xiao Er said, moving to kneel, only to be grabbed by Zhang Dong behind him.

“The treatment isn’t finished yet. Don’t disturb the master,” Zhang Dong said.

Xiao Er froze. “Master?”

Zhang Dong nodded proudly. “Our master—our master is truly an excellent master.”

Xiao Er immediately nodded. Anyone willing to treat him must be an excellent master indeed.

After about half an hour, Chu Ling wiped the thin sweat from her forehead and looked at Xiao Er. “Your arm has been damaged for too long and can’t handle strong stimulation. You’ll regain some movement, but you’ll never be able to lift heavy objects again. The treatment lasts three days—you must come at this same time each day.”

Xiao Er nodded desperately, then ignored Zhang Dong’s restraint and knelt, bowing three times with resounding thuds.

“Thank you, master! Thank you, master! Thank you, master!”

Zhang Dong helped him back up.

Chu Ling looked at him and said, “No need to thank me. I have something else to trouble you with. Can you help me inquire about two people? One is called Sister Song Yu, and the other should be her mother-in-law—very old.”

Xiao Er blinked, looking up at Chu Ling in confusion.

Chu Ling waved his hand. “Just ask around. If you can’t find them, it’s fine.”

Xiao Er shook his head. “It’s not that I can’t find them… Master, what do you want with them?”

Wan Sanjin, curious, also asked, “Who is Sister Song Yu?”

Chu Ling had already thought through what to say. Looking at the few people blabbering, she said, “That day at the courier inn, didn’t we go to see the vegetable garden? At that time, didn’t we say we’d return to our rooms to rest, have lunch, and then leave? Then someone gave me a letter—I don’t know who exactly—but anyway, it was to entrust me with a task.”

“What task?” Wan Sanjin asked curiously.

Chu Ling continued, “The letter said that the sender had a schoolmate named Cheng Dian. Cheng Dian had a wife, Sister Song Yu, who hadn’t officially married him yet. Cheng Dian also had an elderly mother. This time, he hoped to visit them, and he asked me to deliver ten taels of silver.”

“I thought to myself, since I was going to Zǐshí Mountain anyway, I might as well stop by. If I meet them, I’ll hand it over; if not, I can donate it to the needy.”

Wan Sanjin nodded: “That makes sense.”

Zhang Dong suddenly realized: “Maybe we spoke too loudly, always mentioning Yuchuan, and someone noticed. Luckily, their only intention was to deliver silver.”

Chu Ling nodded solemnly: “I see.”

“To deliver a letter to My Lord silently like that, they must be skilled,” Wan Sanjin remarked.

Chu Ling shook her head, unsure, and handed over the letter for them to see.

The letter had been written by Bai Su while holding Chu Ling’s hand. She had deliberately made it look casual, but the strokes were sharp and striking, giving an intimidating impression at first glance.

Wan Sanjin unfolded it and was immediately astonished: “This handwriting is so good?”

Bai Su stood nearby, arms crossed with pride: “My master was strict with me from a young age. Of course, my handwriting had to be good. Besides, I’m used to carving characters with a sword, which is precise to the tiniest detail.”

Chu Ling took back the letter: “I don’t know who sent me this letter, but since someone trusts me enough to send silver, I naturally have to deliver it.”

She looked at the waiter and asked earnestly.

The waiter scratched his head: “My Lord, Sister Song Yu is the wife of our county magistrate. Our magistrate’s name is Cheng Dian. Didn’t anyone tell you?”

Chu Ling’s face showed shock: “Ah?”

The waiter continued, “The county magistrate’s wife is a good person. I’ve heard people call her Sister Yu, so it should be correct. And our county magistrate is indeed Cheng Dian. He’s been in Yuchuan for over ten years and has put a lot of effort into developing this rundown place into what it is today. That’s why he ended up injuring his leg.”

Chu Ling could hardly believe such a scenario was unfolding before her. Isn’t this a classic case of mistaken identity?

“Oh, My Lord, since you are going to deliver the ten taels of silver, why not also take a look at his leg for us? Your medical skills are excellent; you’ll surely be able to heal him,” the waiter said happily.

Chu Ling smiled awkwardly: “Y-Yes.”

“Then My Lord, I’ll run the errand for you right away,” the waiter said, getting up.

Chu Ling quickly stopped him, embarrassed: “You haven’t had the silver needles removed yet.” She pulled him down, carefully taking out each silver needle one by one.

Meanwhile, the ghost of Cheng Dian’s mind was already unstable. The rage on his face grew, and black lines spread from his neck across half his face.

“Why? Why did you take my position, and why did you take my Sister Yu? Why, why!”

Cheng Dian screamed miserably. Blood poured from all seven orifices of his head, and he sank into endless madness.

Ghost Scholar gripped his shoulders tightly: “Don’t act rashly! You don’t know the full truth yet!”

“I’ll kill him! Kill him!” the ghost Cheng Dian shouted frantically.

Bai Su quickly wrapped him in a white silk sash from her waist, and together with Ghost Scholar, they held him firmly to prevent him from harming Chu Ling.

Meanwhile, Chu Ling had removed all the silver needles and placed them aside. She looked at the waiter and said solemnly: “Please do me a favor and run a small errand. Just tell them that Cheng Dian’s schoolmate entrusted me to deliver silver to his mother and Sister Yu, and ask the magistrate if it’s convenient.”

The waiter responded with a cheerful “Yes,” rolled up his sleeves, and ran off happily.