Strangely, these scratches were very fine and dense, not like they were made by human hands, but rather gouged out by the claws of some kind of wild animal. Judging from the size of the scratches, the creature wasn't very big.

　　The first suspicious object that popped into Jiang Cheng's mind was a large mole.

　　The Second Master waved his hand, and Lai Fu immediately stepped forward to cover the wooden bride with the red cloth again. Then, he went out to call people in to carry the wooden bride away. It was clear that the Second Master was very wary of the wooden bride and didn't want her to stay in his sight for even a second longer.

　　"My father has become increasingly strange these past few years. He often locks himself in his room and refuses to see anyone. If there's anything, he only allows Steward Zheng to report it."

　　"It's not just his personality, but also his way of dealing with things. He's become particularly superstitious about fate and is very interested in the Five Elements."

　　When the Second Master mentioned Master Wu, the tone of his voice revealed more doubt than sorrow. It seemed that the emotional connection between this father and son had developed serious problems.

　　Luo Tianhe looked at the spot where the wooden bride had been standing and said meaningfully, "I'm afraid the Second Master still underestimates your father. His interest in fate and the Five Elements is definitely more than just a passing fancy; he probably has considerable knowledge."

　　"If it weren't for these wooden brides, you and your two brothers definitely wouldn't have lived to this day. It was the wooden wives you married who warded off this calamity for the three of you."

　　"But this is only a temporary measure. The situation is much more complicated than we thought. This time, it's not just targeting your father, but your entire Wu family line. If not handled properly, it could lead to the extinction of your lineage."

　　"Master Wu's arrangement of this red and white clash is truly profound. He used his own funeral to feign death and deceive the heavens, and he used marriage to seek wooden wives for the three of you to ward off disasters. The red and white affairs clashed, using calamity to exchange for calamity. Frankly speaking, it would be hard to find a second person in the entire Wolong Town with such means and boldness."

　　"Unfortunately, Master Wu still underestimated the difficulty of that thing. In the end, not only did he die himself, but the three of you brothers are also unable to escape the calamity. Second Master, you don't need me to say more about your body, right?" Luo Tianhe simply stated the matter clearly.

　　Hearing that the situation was so serious, Lai Fu, who was the Second Master's lackey, couldn't hold on any longer and begged while crying, "Masters, is there a way to resolve this? Rest assured, as long as we can get through this calamity, the Second Master will definitely not mistreat you!"

　　The Second Master, as the person involved, was relatively calm. The emotional fluctuations on his pale face were limited. It seemed that speaking those words just now was also a kind of relief for him. "Everyone, just do your best. Whether it's fate or calamity, it depends on the good fortune of our Wu family."

　　After a period of silence, Jiang Cheng asked the question he had always wanted to ask, "Second Master, you mentioned earlier that you felt Master Wu had become unfamiliar, as if he had become a different person. When did this start?"

　　Luo Tianhe and others had also mentioned similar things. They had found several old men in the neighboring village to inquire, and according to the old men, the Wu family had been bullying and dominating the market for many years, but suddenly one day, they changed.

　　The Second Master recalled carefully, "Probably… probably 10 years ago. I remember my father had a serious illness, very serious. At that time, many famous doctors were invited to the door, but it didn't get better. One famous doctor even said before leaving that preparations could be made for the funeral, but unexpectedly, my father survived, and in the following days, his body got better day by day, and finally miraculously recovered."

　　"After recovering from this serious illness, my father seemed to have become a different person. He didn't care much about the family business anymore, and he gradually became estranged from the three of us brothers, but he became very close to that Steward Zheng."

　　This Steward Zheng, who had been mentioned repeatedly, aroused everyone's strong curiosity. Could this Steward Zheng have something to do with Master Wu's recovery?

　　"During the days when my father's health was at its worst, this Steward Zheng was always with him. The two of them were mysterious. Some people also said that they saw Steward Zheng going out alone late at night those days, and when he came back, he was dirty."

　　"Privately, everyone was spreading rumors that Steward Zheng had gone to the mountains alone to find a spiritual medicine that could prolong life, which saved my father's life, but neither my father nor Steward Zheng mentioned this matter, and it was impossible to determine whether it was true or false."

　　Everyone didn't believe that a serious illness that all the famous doctors were helpless with could be cured so easily. Rather than saying that there were mysterious spiritual herbs and medicines, everyone was more inclined to believe that this mysterious Steward Zheng used some kind of sinister method.

　　Judging from the fact that his intestines were also emptied out in retaliation, this definitely made sense.

　　After brewing for a moment, Jiang Cheng gradually sorted out his thoughts, "After Master Wu recovered, what was this Steward Zheng usually busy with?"

　　"Steward Zheng is only responsible to the Master. Relying on the Master's support, he doesn't listen to anyone else. In terms of daily routine… he is mainly responsible for purchasing precious medicinal materials for the shop. Oh, right, he also helps the Master to give medicine outside."

　　"That is, he helps the poor people in the town to see a doctor, and he also gives some medicine. Sometimes when someone dies in the town and the family can't afford the coffin money, he will also give a thin coffin to let people be buried in peace."

　　"Speaking of which, it's because of the good deeds that Steward Zheng has done that my Wu family has a particularly good reputation in the town." Lai Fu felt sorry for the Second Master's difficulty in speaking and explained for him.

　　What Lai Fu said could be confirmed with what the fat waiter at the tea stall said.

　　Not only giving people free medical treatment, but also giving herbs, and even giving coffins when people die. This one-stop warm operation was completely different from the Wu family Master who used to bully and dominate the market, which made people couldn't help but feel suspicious.

　　But since it was impossible to verify now, everyone had to put the doubts in their hearts, intending to find the families who had been helped when they went out to inquire about the news tomorrow and ask them carefully.

　　"Da da da—"

　　The sound of footsteps was getting closer and closer, and the speed was very fast. The door was pushed open, and a person rushed in, "Second Master, it's not good, the Eldest Master, he… he has fainted again!"

　　The Second Master was inconvenient to move, so he let Lai Fu take them to take a look. After rushing to the scene, the Eldest Master's physical condition was worse than everyone had expected.

　　The Eldest Master was lying on the bed, wrapped in a quilt, his face was blue, his body was still shaking不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停不停停止停止