"Wow! So you were in the military! No wonder you look so heroic! My apologies, my apologies!" Haoyun continued to praise the man with a smile.

The man, upon hearing this, scratched the back of his head, smiling somewhat sheepishly. "Haha, not at all, not at all. You're too kind. I used to serve in a special forces unit, and I've only recently retired. I'm currently preparing to apply for the city's special police. Oh, by the way, my name is Xiaoyong. And this is my wife, Xu Fang. She works as a nurse in the hospital."

Haoyun extended his hand to shake Xiaoyong's and said, "Nice to meet you both! Thank you so much for earlier! Oh, right, my name is Haoyun, and this incorrigible old man—" Haoyun paused, realizing that he had to stick to the story Dao Lao had set up, "—he's my grandfather, Dao—"

Dao Lao, having preemptively introduced Haoyun as his grandson, forced Haoyun to follow through with the story to avoid suspicion. But as Haoyun tried to introduce Dao Lao, he found himself in a quandary. Dao Lao's ghostly name, Dao Damei, sounded like "bringing bad luck" in the local dialect, not only ominous but also incredibly awkward to pronounce.

"Glad to meet you both! Just call me Dao Lao," Dao Lao interjected jovially, trying to diffuse the tension. "Haha! Thanks to you two, things didn't get out of hand earlier! I was really lucky to run into you!"

Xiaoyong and Xu Fang politely reciprocated the introductions and expressed their pleasure in meeting Haoyun. Haoyun soon realized that Xiaoyong, though initially reserved, was quite talkative, and the conversation quickly flowed, making them feel like old friends in no time.

Curious about Dao Lao's name, Xiaoyong asked, "Dao Lao, your surname is quite unique! I think it's the first time I've heard 'Dao' as a surname!"

Dao Lao nodded and replied, "Yes, many people say that. It's indeed a rare surname. Ha! That son-in-law of mine must be really lucky! He managed to marry my daughter! You have no idea how much good fortune that rascal brought to our family! That's why they named my grandson Haoyun."

Though Haoyun had to admit Dao Lao's lie was cleverly crafted, he couldn't help but give Dao Lao a disdainful glance. "Yeah, yeah, your family is the luckiest, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, Haoyun vented his frustrations towards Dao Lao through the consciousness system: "You've got some nerve! You old geezer, dare to say you're lucky? Look at how unlucky you've become! Even naming someone brings bad luck!"

Of course, Dao Lao wasn't one to back down. While maintaining a calm and amiable demeanor on the surface and exchanging pleasantries with Xiaoyong and Xu Fang, he engaged in a heated mental banter with Haoyun. "Hehehe! Today, I'm going to take advantage of you! How about it, you little brat! What can you do to me?! If you're not satisfied, let's go one-on-one! Watch how I kick your ass with style! Haha!"

Haoyun was seething with anger, but he couldn't lash out in front of Xiaoyong and Xu Fang. Besides, even if he wanted to engage in a one-on-one confrontation with Dao Lao, he was no match for him. Feeling helpless, Haoyun could only suppress his anger and redirect his attention to Xiaoyong and Xu Fang to avoid any suspicion.

Dao Lao had already noticed the situation on Haoyun's end. For safety's sake, he quickly reminded Haoyun through the consciousness system: "Haoyun! Whatever you do, don't look into the ghost doll's eyes! Your mental strength is still fragile, so you can't resist its malevolence. Prolonged eye contact will not only alert it to your abnormality but also ensnare your soul!"

With Dao Lao's reminder, Haoyun's spirits lifted a little. Avoiding the ghost doll's wary gaze, he quickly regained his composure and replied, "Phew! I-I'm fine. That was really close! The moment I glimpsed into the doll's eyes, I felt like it was about to pierce through my soul completely. I was really scared! Ah, damn, my underwear is already soaked."

"Well, due to the influence of the moldy spiritual energy, this ghost doll emits heavy malevolence. So, we absolutely must not act recklessly. Huh? Were you scared shitless just now? I smell something foul," Dao Lao asked in a strange tone.

"Get lost! Of course, it stinks! That's the smell of your shit! Ugh! Maybe the shit stuck to my shoe wasn't fully washed off. Oh god, it's so disgusting!" Haoyun retorted, exasperated.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"You're the disgusting one! Knowing that your shoes stepped in something nasty, yet you didn't bother to clean them? Are you planning to take them home as souvenirs for the New Year? Ugh! It really stinks! You better throw away those shoes!" Dao Lao retorted with disgust.

Because Xiaoyong and Xu Fang, as well as the ghost doll, were present, Haoyun couldn't confront Dao Lao directly. So, Haoyun had no choice but to swallow his pride once again, endure the humiliation, and continue to converse with Xiaoyong, "Brother Xiaoyong, you have the physique of a soldier. It's a real loss that the army didn't retain you for service!"

Xiaoyong, upon hearing this, looked slightly embarrassed and somewhat bitter as he replied, "Sigh! Don't mention it. The army did want me to stay on, but I know my limits. You see, I'm almost 30 years old now, and I've reached the peak of my potential. There are plenty of talented individuals in our special forces unit. If I stayed and took up a spot, it would be a waste of resources. So, I decided to leave the opportunity for younger, more capable soldiers!"

"Besides, my service was in a remote area, and the nature of my unit was quite specialized. So, my wife and I couldn't see each other more than twice a year. It's not sustainable. Also, both our parents are getting older, and I can't leave Xu Fang alone to take care of all four elderly parents."

"She's a nurse by profession, and her work schedule is often unpredictable. Moreover, with the recent increase in natural disasters, her workload has become even heavier, and she often can't spare time to look after our parents. So, I couldn't burden her with everything! That's why I decided to retire and declined the job assignments the army offered, returning directly to Rongjin City."

"A real man with integrity!" Dao Lao praised Xiaoyong with a thumbs-up.

Haoyun turned to Xu Fang once again, speaking with a respectful tone, "Sister Xu Fang, you've been working tirelessly on the frontline to combat frequent disasters. You've really been through a lot!"

With the continuous praise from Haoyun and Dao Lao, Xiaoyong and Xu Fang felt extremely embarrassed. However, their fondness for Haoyun and Dao Lao grew. Moreover, their mood seemed to lighten considerably.

Seeing the improved rapport between the two sides, Dao Lao smoothly changed the subject, steering the conversation to a broader topic, "Oh? By the way, forgive me for being nosy, but when we passed by earlier, it seemed like both of you weren't feeling well? I wonder if you've encountered any difficulties? Since we've become acquainted, if you don't mind, why not share it with us? Who knows, we might be able to help?"

"This—" Xu Fang hesitated, looking at Xiaoyong, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Xiaoyong obviously didn't expect Dao Lao to ask such questions. However, as a former special forces soldier, he could sense that neither Haoyun nor Dao Lao were bad people. So, after a moment of hesitation, he gave Xu Fang a nod of agreement and said, "Hey! Well, how should I put it? Actually—"

Xiaoyong hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. But judging from his slightly flushed face, it seemed to be a difficult topic to bring up.

Seeing this, Dao Lao once again showed a caring demeanor towards the younger generation and said in a reassuring tone, "It's alright, child. We're always happy to help others. Moreover, both of you saved our lives, so it's only right that we repay your kindness. So, if you're facing any difficulties, as long as we can help, we'll certainly do our best!"

With Dao Lao's words, Xiaoyong's lingering worries were dispelled to a large extent. So, he sighed and said, "Sigh! Actually, it's nothing serious, just— We've been unable to conceive a child—"

So, Xiaoyong and Xu Fang's story unfolded.

About five or six years ago, Xiaoyong was on leave from the army, returning to Rongjin City to visit his family when he encountered a robbery on his way home. He decisively intervened and subdued the robbers. However, during the scuffle, Xiaoyong was accidentally injured by the robbers' knives on his thigh, requiring stitches and a few days in the hospital. Xu Fang, who was responsible for nursing Xiaoyong in the hospital ward, met him then.

The two met and fell in love, becoming a happy couple. After a few years of long-distance relationship, they finally got married and formed their own family. After Xiaoyong and Xu Fang got married, both sets of parents eagerly anticipated welcoming a new family member. However, much to everyone's surprise, despite their efforts, Xu Fang never became pregnant.

Initially, their families attributed it to the couple's frequent separation, thinking they didn't have enough opportunities to conceive. But gradually, they felt that something was amiss. Since their marriage, whenever Xiaoyong had the chance to return home on leave, Xu Fang would take time off work to accompany him, and they would retreat to their love nest to try for a baby. In addition, Xu Fang would actively visit the city where Xiaoyong's unit was stationed, making the most of the opportunity to visit him and engage in baby-making activities.

After several years of effort, Xu Fang still couldn't conceive a child, which worried all their family members, including Xiaoyong. This made Xiaoyong and Xu Fang begin to suspect if there was a health issue on either of their parts. But upon reflection, this possibility seemed very low.

(The author, feeling a bit embarrassed, thought to himself, "Ahem! This plot is getting a bit too much—let's just leave it at that." "Why not? It's such a good plot, why not expand on it?" Xiao Yun urged, somewhat disappointed. "Get lost! If I write it out so clearly, how will it pass the censors? Can't you be less provocative? Go away!" the author immediately retorted. "Ahem! Let's get back on track," the author calmed down a bit and returned to writing.)