Chapter 1, The Mysterious Birthmark

My parents have not read many books either. Hearing the midwife say this and seeing the child like that, I was frightened at that moment

What exactly happened was that my dad didn't see the details; he only remembers that he was playing mud fights by the river with another child when he heard Xiaoshuang shouting: "My brother is going to sink, hurry, hurry, help me..."

Big Shuang did not retort, and my father watched from the side, understanding that this kid had not yet regained his composure. However, Xiao Shuang, who had been trembling slightly beside him, could not help but say, "Fourth Uncle, I think my brother is not trying to swim to the middle of the river; he was dragged over there by someone, really"

Meanwhile, Xiao Shuang quickly swam towards her brother, with two other individuals swiftly following behind her

Seeing my father ask this, Liu Wenpo first looked around mysteriously before quietly telling my father: "Newborns are vulnerable; such things can easily take advantage of them. Do you know? They leave marks. For instance, if someone grabs them, there will be several dark finger marks on their body, and if kicked, there will be a footprint. You have all seen those who were taken by water ghosts to be substitutes, right? Most of the bodies that are retrieved have handprints on their feet."

After the midwife left, my father entered the house with a heavy expression, and at that moment, my two sisters, who had originally been avoiding in the woodshed, were also in the room

Indeed, this is the principle!

Da Shuang, who had just woken up, had a somewhat dazed expression, as if he could hardly believe he was still alive. Before he could say anything, Uncle Li Si slapped him on the back of the head and scolded, "You mischievous little rascal, what were you doing swimming in the middle of the river? Don't you know better?"

The rural people are superstitious. At that moment, the midwife became somewhat frightened and said, "This birthmark looks like an eye, but why does it seem to be staring at me? This child is so frail, and with this thing on its body, do you want to find someone to take a look?"

"Little brat, what nonsense are you talking? Are you afraid that your father will beat you when you go back? Don't say such things to scare people." Uncle Li Si's expression was quite serious; people in the countryside respect ghosts and deities. They believe that speaking carelessly about such matters to shirk responsibility may bring misfortune.

The rural population was impoverished, and the medical conditions at that time were also quite poor. In the eyes of my parents, the experienced Liu Wenbo was undoubtedly the greatest authority, and very convincing.

My father is both angry and amused, while my mother is an ordinary woman. Besides my father, the person she respects the most is Chairman Mao.

Regarding that winter, my father described it as: "It was so damn cold that even the old hens in the yard and the library were tiptoeing on their claws."

The winter of the year I was born was a very cold winter, so cold that my parents still have a vivid impression of it to this day

"Damn kid, you really have a charmed life..." Everyone saw it, and Uncle Li Si clearly saw it too. He held back for a long time, and could only utter that one sentence, after which he was at a loss for words.

I was born in such a winter, and when I was born, my parents almost thought I would not survive, especially in such an abnormally cold situation

Indeed, in the countryside, we are all like family, yet it seems that now everyone has become distant. When it comes down to it, which family truly wishes ill upon another? This world... My father's words were somewhat veiled, but Liu Wenpo understood and muttered a phrase before leaving

I cannot imagine the comical sight of a hen walking on tiptoe, but in my hometown, where it hardly ever snows, such a cold winter is unforgettable. It is precisely because it does not snow that this kind of cold is even more uncomfortable compared to the frigid north. It is a damp chill, a cold that seeps into one's bones, distinct from mere coldness.

Xiao Shuang's voice was not loud, yet as soon as this sentence was spoken, the surroundings fell silent, even Uncle Li Si was taken aback

On the day the incident occurred, just like any other day, my father finished his work and invited about 5 or 6 boys he usually got along with to go for a bath. Among them were a pair of twin brothers, simply referred to as Big Twin and Little Twin, and the incident happened to them.

My father shot a glance at my mother and quickly got up to see off Liu Wenbo. As we reached the door, my father casually grabbed a young chicken and insisted on giving it to Liu Wenbo: "Liu Wenbo, I, Chen Da, am a person who knows how to behave. We are from the same village, and I won't do anything inappropriate. Rest assured. When my youngest son grows up well, I will bring some old cured meat to thank you."

I am from Sichuan. In the winter of 1967, I was born in a poor small village in the southwestern part of Sichuan. Due to professional taboos, I will not disclose my specific birth date and time. However, since this is the catalyst for everything that has happened, I must mention that I was born at exactly twelve o'clock noon, not a second more, not a second less

Therefore, what I want to convey to everyone is that this time was later calculated for me by my master based on my Ba Zi.

Moreover, what? Uncle Li Si's expression darkened; he knew that the child was not lying, and this matter was somewhat sinister

Of course, I cannot blame my mother for these matters; as a woman, she is timid. I certainly cannot blame my father and Liu Wenpo from hetushucom.com for being so cautious, even their words must be carefully phrased. The year 1967, what kind of era was that? Everyone is well aware.

When Dashuang said this, his gaze was still somewhat vacant, but a clear expression of fear appeared on his face. At that moment, my father witnessed a scene he would never forget. Following Dashuang's words, he instinctively looked at Dashuang's ankle, where there were clearly three thumbprints, dark and bluish, exuding an eerie aura.

Firstly, I am very small and slender. My mother said that when my father first held me in his arms, he exclaimed, "Isn't this just like holding a little kitten?"

What should we do? You must be going to invite..." At this point, Liu Wenpo glanced around cautiously before leaning in to whisper in my father's ear: "Invite the widow from the Zhou family to take a look.

After being rescued, Da Shuang remained unconscious, and it was unclear how much water had filled his stomach, which was distended and round. Meanwhile, Xiao Shuang's face was ashen, and despite the hot weather, he was slightly trembling, though people assumed it was due to fear

However, I must say that those born around this time should not panic; in fact, there are not many people in all of China who were born exactly at this hour, truly.

"This mark looks like an eye; I fear this might be the reason for being targeted," Liu Wenpo said uncertainly, lowering her voice.

This is about Chairman Mao not knowing the situation of our youngest child. If he were aware, would he not agree to help our youngest, considering how great his hometown people are? You shouldn't dwell on this. Here's what I think: tomorrow I will first take the youngest to the village clinic for a check-up. If the doctor is of no help, I will find a way to ask Widow Zhou for assistance. My father comforted my mother a few times, then sighed. At that time, he was worried that Widow Zhou would refuse to help.

"Go hug my brother, I can't hold on any longer..." Xiao Shuang shouted loudly, barely able to catch her breath, as if she had exhausted all her strength in that moment

"Grandma Liu, what do you think is wrong with my child? Look at me..." My father was already at a loss, anxious and helpless.

"These words must not be spoken in front of the child; if the child is not sensible and lets something slip, it will not only affect our family but may also implicate others," my father said softly to my mother

As soon as I stepped through the door, my father saw my two older sisters leaning over the bed, curiously looking at little me, appearing very cautious. Especially the eldest sister, who was only 5 years old at the time, quietly reminded my 3-year-old second sister: "Second sister, you must not touch your brother, nor should you poke him; look how small he is."

Upon hearing my mother say this, Liu Wenpo immediately stood up and said: "Old Chen, I am doing this for your family; it is not easy to hope for a son. As for what I have said, you can decide for yourselves. I will take my leave now"

Next, there was a flurry of activity, as there were 5 or 6 people involved, and it also attracted the attention of several adults working nearby. Ultimately, the twin brothers were rescued.

This is a genuine reprimand filled with concern. At that time, people were simple and the relationships among villagers were truly good. Who would want to see a child from any family come to harm? Therefore, a few scoldings were inevitable

At that time, people did not bother to ask anything; they were all busy saving Dashuang. In this riverside village, who among the residents did not possess at least a bit of knowledge about handling drowning incidents? After a quarter of an hour, Dashuang finally regained consciousness

However, compared to the madness of the outside world, this impoverished little village can be considered a paradise, at least in this village, there are still some human feelings among the people, they still value emotions, and have not been too deeply invaded by the madness from outside.

What is special about people born exactly at twelve o'clock noon? This will be mentioned shortly.

Ah, Widow Zhou? As soon as my father heard this name, he couldn't help but let out a low exclamation, furrowing his brows, clearly unable to make up his mind

At that time, my father was also one of those who helped drag the large double up; he was aware of it, the coldness emanating from the large double was like that of ice. However, my father and a few others were not affected. In retrospect, it might have been because they were a group of young boys, full of vitality, which caused that entity to retreat. Otherwise, how could those who got entangled be so easily rescued?

Hearing this shout, my father turned around in shock, and upon turning, he saw Dashuang's body sinking straight into the middle of the river, leaving only his head above water in an instant, without even struggling much.

Why is that? There are three reasons

My father merely told Liu Wenbo that he appreciated her, and he would not engage in the disgraceful act of exposing others. Liu Wenbo, in turn, only sighed about the current state of the world, which has made people no longer close to one another and even more reluctant to open their hearts.

I have never doubted a single word spoken by my master; subsequent events have proven that what his family from his hometown told me has never been wrong

At that moment, Dashuang finally spoke: "I saw fish in the river, so I went to catch them. As soon as I went in, someone grabbed my ankle. Once they grabbed me... I couldn't move at all, my whole body was paralyzed, I was too cold to move..."

My father coughed, interrupting my mother's words, and then put down the second sister. He said to the two older sisters: "Little sister, you take the second sister to the kitchen to watch over the chicken soup. If you two let it boil dry, there will be no chicken for you to eat tonight."

I am not speaking carelessly! Little Shuang suddenly became agitated, jumping up and shouting: "I watched my brother swim down, and suddenly he couldn't move anymore. I saw him sink towards the middle of the river, as if something was dragging him down. And, and..."

What should we do? My father, clearly convinced by this uncertain statement, was in a state of desperation, akin to a patient seeking any remedy in a time of illness.

This sentence stirred my father's thoughts; he walked over and embraced my second sister, then patted my eldest sister's head, and finally looked at little me, his brows tightly furrowed

"Old Chen, are you really going to invite Zhou..." Mother still remembers that matter, and as soon as Dad entered the room, she hurriedly asked.

Secondly, my cries at that time were very weak, coming out intermittently, as if something were choking my neck, and I felt like I was desperately struggling, gasping for breath. The experienced midwife who was assisting my delivery thought I had inhaled amniotic fluid and even held me upside down and patted me a few times, but it turned out to be ineffective

Upon hearing this, my father immediately shuddered and understood what the thing in Liu Wenpo's mouth was. If at first my father could dismiss Liu Wenpo's talk about leaving marks as nonsense, he could not deny the latter statement about the water ghost looking for a substitute, which had marks on its body, because he had witnessed it with his own eyes

My father's memories end here. Thinking of this, he felt even more anxious, as our family already had 2 daughters at that time. My father had a strong desire for a son, and now that he finally had a son, he could not bear to watch helplessly as he might lose him.

Thirdly, when my father and that midwife were giving me a bath, they discovered a birthmark on the back of my head. Generally speaking, a birthmark is not a significant issue, but the color of my birthmark resembled fresh blood, and upon closer inspection, it looked like an eye.

In rural areas, who hasn't heard of some strange tales from the mountains and fields? The mention of 'Xiao Shuang' clearly indicates that there are water ghosts seeking a substitute for death. People have heard about this matter often and discussed it extensively, yet when faced with the reality, they remain skeptical and unwilling to believe.

At this point, someone is bound to ask, is it really that mysterious? Not a second more, not a second less, who can guarantee that? Even if my father was holding a watch and keeping an eye on the time, he couldn't guarantee it, could he?

Especially my mother, who had just given birth to me. She was already weak, and when she panicked, she collapsed onto the bed. My father, however, still had some presence of mind and quickly asked, "Aunt Liu (the midwife's surname is Liu), what do you think is wrong with this child? Who should we call to take a look? Should we go to the village clinic to find a doctor?"

Wang Gou'er was the closest to Xiao Shuang at that moment. Upon hearing Xiao Shuang's shout, he did not think much and quickly swam two strokes, barely managing to grasp Xiao Shuang's hand that was struggling on the water's surface

That was something that happened over a decade ago in the summer. At that time, my father was just a little over ten years old. Children from the mountains had few ways to entertain themselves; who wouldn't go for a swim in the river during the summer?

Please continue speaking

Upon hearing about the chicken, my two sisters became quite enthusiastic. They promised my father and went straight to the kitchen, eagerly waiting.

At that time, because my father was capable and my mother was diligent, our family's conditions were relatively good in the village. At the very least, every time my mother gave birth, she could have a pot of old hen soup to nourish her body. The meat that my mother couldn't finish was naturally given to my two older sisters

Am I not worried? Look at the youngest one, so thin and small. I don't have a grandmother for him, and with this winter being so cold, I... My mother couldn't continue speaking, taking me, who had already fallen asleep, into her arms, as if I were about to leave her at any moment.

What should we do then? My mother was immediately at a loss for words, and then she murmured, "Chairman Mao said that we should not do certain things; should we really go ahead and do them?"

When a woman gives birth, children are expected to avoid the scene; this is a long-standing custom in our region, and my family naturally cannot be exempt from it

"Widow Zhou?" Originally, my mother was lying on the bed, but upon hearing this name, she couldn't help but struggle to sit up, repeatedly saying, "No, no, he can't. Just the day before yesterday, during the village meeting, it was said that Chairman Mao wants to sweep away all the monsters and demons, to break the Four Olds, and that we cannot engage in feudal superstition."

At that moment, my father could no longer care about anything else; they were all childhood friends, how could one stand by and watch while another was in danger? He also swam towards the direction of Da Shuang. After swimming a few strokes, he saw Xiao Shuang grab the hair on the top of Da Shuang's head. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Xiao Shuang shout, "Damn, it's so heavy, Wang Gou'er, come pull me up..."

Widow Zhou is now regarded as a figure of ill repute, associated with all sorts of evils. Although the village chief and the villagers have shown her some compassion and protected her, the officials from above are all keeping a close watch on her, hoping for any incident to occur so they can earn some merit. My father only learned a few characters during the literacy campaign, but when it comes to the ways of the world, he is quite astute.

Moreover, when I went to rescue my brother, as soon as I grabbed him, I felt that his body was very heavy, as if someone was trying to snatch him away from me. He was also cold; the moment I held onto my brother, I felt a chill spread throughout my body... As Xiaoshuang spoke, she trembled, and at that moment, everyone believed her to some extent