Chapter 3, The Sound of the Funeral Flute
In one hundred days, whoever's name is called by the evil spirit will die
Walking towards Jiapin Road from Letian Creek, I arrived at the woman's home, which was not her own but her family home—the house of the old woman during her lifetime. It was an ordinary rural house with blue tiles, built on a hillside in a mountain bay. Behind the house was a cliff, and on both sides, there were patches of bamboo. In front of the house was a flat rice field, with a steep slope at the edge of the field, and below the slope were the continuous terraced fields. An ordinary rural house with blue tiles, built on a hillside in a mountain bay, with a cliff behind, patches of bamboo on both sides, a flat rice field in front, a steep slope at the edge of the field, and below the slope were the continuous terraced fields.
Someone is shouting: "This child is possessed. He has seen the underworld"
No one is playing with me anymore, so I am sitting here bored behind this family's firewood pile, amusing their dog
"You are deceiving me," I said, pointing at the old man. "This matter is not as simple as you claim. Tell me, how did your arm come to be like this?"
The hammer sank to the bottom of the wine bowl. Upon closer inspection, I found a gold ring, lying yellow and bright at the bottom of the bowl. Quietly, as the liquid swayed, the light refracted, and the ring appeared to waver, making it seem almost unreal.
The elder took the prepared mugwort water into his mouth and sprayed it onto my hand, starting from the elbow and continuing all the way to the fingertips, doing so meticulously and repeating the process several times
After going around in circles, I realized I still encountered a ghost. I was extremely frightened and quietly sat down. I continued to listen to the old man speak
My colleague is carefully listening to the sound of the flute and impatiently replies to me: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
You say that I, a security guard with nothing to do all day, go to work peacefully, chat with the sales clerks, and enjoy my salary while eating and drinking, living a good life. Why on earth would I be so idle as to listen to the music coming from the grave? Now that I've gotten myself into trouble, how could I be so foolish? I guess I brought this upon myself.
If I could foresee my future encounters, I am certain that I would not follow that woman. I would never go to her house, not even if it meant death.
Do you know why these people, including myself, are unwilling to disclose their identities, let alone their names
When I was a child, I once went with my parents to visit someone. It was a farmer's house in the suburbs. The house was quite large, and the adults gathered together to play mahjong. I played with the owner's child. We were running around crazily in the house, and somehow, that child took out a box of talcum powder and sprinkled it in my eyes. I dodged, but some got into my eyes, which was very uncomfortable. Then, taking advantage of the child's inattention, I also grabbed a handful of talcum powder and rubbed it into his eyes. This caused trouble; the child was caught off guard and had a lot of talcum powder rubbed into his eyes. He couldn't stand the pain and cried out loudly, alarming all the adults. They quickly took him to wash his eyes. At that moment, I thought he might go blind, and I was so scared that I lost my composure, repeatedly saying, "I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to..."
The moonlight is gentle, the breeze is blowing, I hold the sleeves in my arms, the sleeves resting against my chest, the face of the sleeves under the soft caress of the moonlight is so beautiful, perfectly beautiful, especially those lips, bright red lips, slightly curled. I lower my head and bring my lips closer. The lips of the two people softly touch, and I am so happy that I feel dizzy.
A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I distinctly saw that fat man (now I know he was Old Master Wang) sitting behind the old man, looking at me and smiling
The metallic object struggled in my hand, wriggling free from my fingers and burrowing deep into the esophagus. I steeled myself and forcefully thrust my hand inside, my elbow sinking into the mouth of the corpse
I turned back to look at the young lady again
What? I suspect I misheard. The cigarette I just lit fell to the ground. What did you just say?
Suddenly, someone pressed down on my arm, while the old man cradled the corpse's head and slowly began to pull it down. This moment felt incredibly long, and I felt as if I were about to die, with my vision fading in and out of darkness.
Now it is clear: it is a shiny golden hammer (Yichang dialect: golden turtle)
The daughter of the deceased old woman wishes to invite me to her home
The child probably felt very uncomfortable while washing his eyes and began to cry again
I will not speak of it within ten years
A banquet was being held where many were dining. Suddenly, a person rushed in, standing at the corner of the rice field, and shouted at the crowd: "It is you who have caused the death of this person, you few ungrateful wretches, disobedient and unfilial, who even killed your own mother. Now you are facing retribution..."
On the following day, the entire dam area began to spread the news of a more intriguing incident regarding the performance of the traditional music: a security guard from a certain shopping mall, while going to watch the spectacle, encountered the spirit of the performance and nearly got taken away by the spirit
The old man said this, stood up, and walked into the house
Can't you see! I was interrupted by a colleague to listen to the words recited by the fat guy, and an inexplicable surge of anger arose in my heart: "Can't you see that fat guy sitting behind that group playing the instruments!"
I tightened my grip and held the hammer firmly. I looked at the old man and slowly shook my head, "No way."
I want to hear what that fat man is actually saying
My scalp felt as if it were exploding, as if every hair root had turned into a needle, pricking my scalp and rendering it numb. I couldn't help but glance back into the main room, and sure enough, the white banners were hanging there, faintly revealing a corner of the coffin. ... Now I could see clearly that many candles were lit in the main room, densely arranged along the walls with white candles, and there were also ... on the spirit platform. ... As long as it wasn't a place for people to pass through, it was all covered with candles. Although these candles were all lit, the room felt completely devoid of brightness, still shrouded in a gloomy darkness. Now I could see clearly that many candles were lit in the main room, densely arranged along the walls with white candles, and there were also ... on the spirit platform. ... As long as it wasn't a place for people to pass through, it was all covered with candles. Although these candles were all lit, the room felt completely devoid of brightness, still shrouded in a gloomy darkness.
After half a month of commotion, the story became even more sensational. People are inherently curious and enjoy digging deeper into matters, and new tales have emerged regarding this incident involving the street performer. The salesperson recounts the ins and outs of the event in the mall every day, as if reporting the news, providing daily updates.
I suddenly heard the madman in the pigpen screaming
It has already been half a day since I swallowed it
However, upon arriving here and being immersed in the atmosphere, I observed the expressions of those around me, filled with both anticipation and fear. I too was affected, feeling that the scientific explanations were rather unreliable. Although there were quite a few people, there was hardly any loud chatter; at most, a few individuals whispered to each other. At such an hour in the dead of night, it is inherently strange for so many people to remain quiet while standing in an outdoor graveyard. I found myself idly contemplating these unrelated thoughts. At such an hour in the dead of night, it is inherently strange for so many people to remain quiet while standing in an outdoor graveyard. I found myself idly contemplating these unrelated thoughts
Did the police take it privately? I inserted it very quickly
The remains are in ... ...
The fat man's mouth continued to utter that strange language
( The sound of the funeral flute has ended )
Wang Kairen said: "How much did you actually give me?" Wang Kairen said: "What on earth ..." Wang Kairen said: "How much more have you hidden ..." Wang Kairen said: "Where is your money! ..." Wang Kairen said: "You ..." Wang Kairen said: "Old fool ..." Wang Kairen said: "How could it be ..." Wang Kairen said: "There are only two thousand yuan ..." Wang Kairen said: "of private savings ..." Wang Kairen said: "Old fool ..." Wang Kairen said: "How could it be ..." Wang Kairen said: "There are only two thousand yuan ..." Wang Kairen said: "of private savings ..."
The woman kept inviting me to her home, time and again.
I walked to the rice field and felt thirsty, so I went to the side of the house where the spring water flowed, cupped my hands to drink two handfuls of spring water. At that moment, an elderly man, around seventy years old, came out of the house and repeatedly bowed to me. I guessed he was the old man of the deceased old woman.
The old woman did not die a natural death, but rather committed suicide. This occurred after a quarrel and dispute with her children, leading her to hang herself
When everyone was focused and silent, I also leaned in, trying hard to catch the supposedly miraculous sound of the flute music. But I heard nothing. I began to wonder if everyone who came actually heard nothing, yet went back to fabricate stories and spread rumors.
At that moment, I heard the lady of the house, along with her child, washing the child's eyes again, while asking, "Does it still hurt?"
O Lord
When the old woman died, she was gone, and the family arranged for her funeral. During the burial, a believer who appeared from nowhere shouted in front of the old woman's grave, criticizing her children for their unfilial behavior, and finally cursed: "You will see, the Lord will punish you; just wait, you will be punished..."
Before coming here, I had already educated many superstitious individuals about this strange phenomenon—while the sound of a drum may indeed exist, it is not necessarily related to ghosts or spirits. It is possible that the stones underground in cemeteries possess strong magnetic properties, which could record the sound of the drum when a person is buried, much like a tape recorder. Then, in the stillness of the night, this sound could be released as energy. It is possible that the stones underground in cemeteries possess strong magnetic properties, which could record the sound of the drum when a person is buried, much like a tape recorder. Then, in the stillness of the night, this sound could be released as energy
The elder said with a serious expression: "Give him a bowl of ginger soup, add some honey."
I began to pull my arm out from the mouth of the corpse
I am deeply moved by the understanding and reasonableness of this family
Christian believers will absolutely not commit suicide
I scoffed, completely dismissive, as I was quite bold at that time. I never imagined that this strange incident would have anything to do with me
I ignored him, I did not dare to look at him. He is now in tears, weeping uncontrollably. What is the difference between being alive and being dead
I offered the elder a cup of wine, and as the effects of the alcohol hit me, I was too lazy to beat around the bush. I directly asked the elder, "Master, what is the reason for the banquet today?"
It is said that those who run at night and feel numb no longer conduct business in the town, but instead specifically transport people to listen to the music of the bamboo flute, and their business is thriving. Some individuals go even further, using minivans to take people to listen, while there are also quite a number of those who ride bicycles or drive their own cars to attend.
The old man fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Have you heard of the evil spirit?"
In the winter of 1998, an unusual event occurred in the Three Gorges Dam area, which became widely known. At that time, I was working as a security guard in a shopping mall in the dam area. Initially, I vaguely heard others mention the performance of the "Dagu" music, but I did not pay much attention to it. I thought it was some form of folk art performance, or perhaps the ensemble performing the "Dagu" music was particularly skilled and was specifically playing for others.
The elder had a matter that he had not anticipated
What exactly am I being called here to do
I shook my head
When I grasped that cursed thing, I was no longer afraid; fear stems from the unknown, but now I understand everything. I indeed possess the potential to traverse the underworld.
I will try my best to avoid that mistress, fearing that she might see me and catch me for a scolding
I shudder without feeling cold. In my heart, I weigh: compared to digging a ring out of a corpse's mouth, that matter is somewhat easier to accept
At this moment, all the people in the room, except for the old man who could communicate with the underworld and the deceased's elderly father, knelt down in unison, and the old woman's children even began to bow their heads in reverence
Reburial? What does it mean
What is the sound of the gālè (a type of traditional music) about? I asked a sales clerk, who happened to be a local. She had been to listen and told me: "In that cemetery, from around 11 PM to 2 AM, the sound of gālè will emerge from... the graves... underground... oh..." This girl deliberately elongated her voice, trying to scare me. She said to me: "In that cemetery, from around 11 PM to 2 AM, the sound of gālè will emerge from... the graves... underground... oh..." This girl deliberately elongated her voice, trying to scare me.
The elder did not show much courtesy towards me, picking up chopsticks to serve himself dishes and raising a cup to drink wine. The other guests at the table all urged me to drink and served me food. It was truly simple and hospitable; I haven't experienced such treatment in a long time
I am still in extreme fear, shouting in a language I do not understand myself: "Due to some比米米索寞 ... ... ultimately looking at the connection ... ... scattered branches and bones dying in silence ... ... taking a shortcut ... ... "
I have lost my appetite, and seeing the crowd before me indulging in gluttony makes me feel uneasy.
I did not know what to do next. The old man gestured for me to pause. He let out a sound of surprise and gently pushed aside a strand of white hair from the old woman's head. Only then did I realize that this strand of white hair was located at the spot between her eyebrows, but I had mistaken it for hair covering the forehead of a corpse. The old man pondered for a moment, then called for someone to bring scissors and cut that strand of white hair. He collected it. The old man thought for a moment, then called for someone to bring scissors and cut that strand of white hair. He collected it.
I saw the teenager near the threshold standing in the rice field saying to the old woman: "I lost my tuition fee and I am afraid to tell my mom." The old woman replied: "You must believe in Jesus, how much do you need?"
The candles in the mourning hall were lit again, and I noticed the arrangement of the candles, realizing that their positioning followed a certain pattern. I thought to myself, if only Wang Ba were here, he understands the principles of Qimen Dunjia.
What does the evil spirit have to do with me in the end
I poured the leftover wine from the banquet into an empty sea bowl
Rings should have a smooth and rounded surface. How could this happen
I looked around, and indeed it was the scene of a family hosting a wake with a banquet. A wave of tension gripped my lower abdomen, my muscles tightened, and I felt quite uncomfortable
I walked along the ridge of the terraced fields with the women, heading towards the house with the blue tiles. In the distance, I could see several tables set up in the rice field, and some people were busily working around the front and back of the house
I never expected to become a topic of conversation regarding this strange matter. I feel exceptionally gloomy
Those who went to the cemetery at night to listen to the sound of the flute returned and vividly recounted the experience to others. They described it in a terrifying manner, which piqued the curiosity of bystanders, prompting many to also go at night to listen.
Wei the Blind once recited
The old man spoke slowly and deliberately: "My nephew's wife died an unnatural death, and she harbors resentment. Therefore, after her death, there are sounds of music coming from her grave. If she is not invited out within fifty to seventy days and another burial site is not found for her, after a hundred days, malevolent spirits will emerge."
I clearly saw the grave of that old woman, where a group of musicians was playing. The cymbals were being struck, and the drums were being beaten. The man playing the suona was around forty years old, thin, with his cheeks puffed out as he vigorously blew into the instrument, his nose resembling a garlic bulb, and his face was bright red. The younger cymbal player had a smiling face, holding the cymbals in both hands, waiting for the right moment to clash them together, and he was quite carefree. The drummer, on the other hand, had a blank expression, seemingly unconsciously keeping time with the music as he struck the drum at a leisurely pace. The younger cymbal player had a smiling face, holding the cymbals in both hands, waiting for the right moment to clash them together, and he was quite carefree. The drummer, on the other hand, had a blank expression, seemingly unconsciously keeping time with the music as he struck the drum at a leisurely pace
Since it is I who called, then why did your grandniece come to find me, asking me to save their family? What does that mean?
Is there a funeral? Has someone in your family passed away again
The strange object in my hand suddenly began to struggle vigorously, kicking in my palm. I felt as if the sharp metallic shell was about to cut through my palm, so I loosened my grip and pinched the object with my fingers
Why is this happening? I am anxious: What does this have to do with me?
The old man, however, changed the subject: "Come, have a sip of wine"
The woman saw my resolute attitude and seemed on the verge of tears, "Little brother, just consider it a good deed and save a life."
I feel a bit displeased thinking that I was tricked and coaxed by this family into coming to this cursed place. In a fit of pique, I said, "Since the evil spirits want to take revenge, that is your affair and has nothing to do with me. Moreover, the way you describe this matter is so mysterious that I might not even believe it."
You quickly strike the throat
The old man and I entered, but others wanted to follow. However, the old man said, "You all wait outside."
His older brother, seeing his younger sister looking at him while speaking those words, suddenly shouted loudly, scolding his sister: "You say you are wronged, what does that mean? If you are not the one to blame, then it must be me who harmed Mom, right?"
He cannot guess that when I was studying, I was not focused on my studies and had researched some esoteric teachings with Wang Ba. Sometimes, the things learned unintentionally can truly be lifesaving
Even some uninformed individuals, unaware that the security guard was me, recounted the events of that night in front of me, speaking in exaggerated terms that were several times more dramatic than the actual situation, as if they had witnessed it firsthand. They kept asking me whether I believed them. Bah!
The elderly woman who practices the faith likely enjoys a comfortable living situation, surrounded by children and grandchildren, leading a prosperous life. She spends her time tending to her vegetable garden, with little else to occupy her, and engages in daily worship of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christianity demonstrates a remarkable ability to adapt to its environment; upon reaching rural China, it has transformed the figure of Christ to resemble that of a Bodhisattva, encouraging believers to worship daily rather than only on Sundays. This approach is more readily accepted by the people.
All of this aside, what exactly do they want me to do? What can I possibly do? Aside from watching the commotion of their deceased mother and having a stroke of bad luck, I am incapable of doing anything. This family is probably all insane; if they are crazy, why do they have to involve me?
The old woman said: "There is no hope, having swallowed the gold, she will surely die; old sayings are never wrong."
The old woman's husband sat at the edge of the table, smoking quietly, and I noticed tears streaming from the corners of his eyes
I saw Zhou Lao Er's wife saying to the old lady: "I lost money playing mahjong, can your son lend me some money to buy some feed? I will sell the eggs and pay you back..."
I no longer wish to live
Just as I was about to mount the motorcycle while numbly striking the match, someone gently exclaimed: the sound has arrived
My grandniece said that she saw her mother swallow a gold ring before she died, but the police did not find the ring during the autopsy
When I bent my finger joint, the area of contact with that metal object increased. However, that thing is still sinister. I looked at the old man, wondering if I had been deceived by him again, or if this old dog had been deceiving me all along.
The old man let out a terrible scream behind me. The old man's ear had fallen off. Everyone was in shock.
I recall when I was in school, I had a fortune-telling session with a turtle, and learned that my Ba Zi was missing two elements, which indeed seems rather uncanny
Wang Kairen said: "This month ..." Wang Kairen said: "The oil and rice ..." Wang Kairen said: "I have given it to you ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Mom ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Our family's ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "The situation ... you are not ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "I don't know ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "It was agreed ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Twenty jin of rice per month ... you are not ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "I don't know ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "It was agreed ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Twenty jin of rice per month ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "One jin of oil ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Who did you give the money to ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Just go find whoever ..."
I quickly dispelled the thought of forcing myself to believe in science, as my attention was diverted.
My wrist was bitten by the old woman's mouth
I am not so afraid now
I now have the same feelings again. The same sense of fear that I experienced over a decade ago has returned. Even the face of this daughter-in-law, I have unconsciously transformed into that hypocritical expression from over a decade ago
Hearing the old man speak, I suddenly realized: "Damn it, these people are not being polite to me; they are genuinely enthusiastic. They do not respect me, and the son and daughter-in-law of this family do not hate me, but rather they are afraid of me! Damn it!"
The old man gave me something to hold in my mouth, a disgusting plant tuber, which had a strong and strange taste. Yet it made my mind very clear and gave me a slightly floating sensation, diminishing my inner fear a little.
The young girl cried with her mouth, yet her eyes were fixed on her brother
Upon seeing so many people, my initial feelings of unease and palpitations settled down. We joined the crowd, standing together with them. Those who arrived early were pointing and gesturing towards a spot about twenty to thirty meters away. That place was the grave from which the sound of the flute music was emanating.
The day before the old woman passed away, she had a big argument with her son and daughter. The next day, she hanged herself. Originally, the old woman was in fairly good health; had it not been for this incident, she would likely have lived for another ten years.
The eyes slowly scanned the crowd
I am extremely anxious, yet this old man is leisurely blowing at the tea leaves floating on the surface of the water in his cup
You are overthinking it, young man. I reported to the police on the night my niece-in-law died, and the police even took her body to the town hospital for an autopsy. It was confirmed to be a suicide. They will not make things difficult for you. You think too poorly of them; they would not dare to engage in illegal activities. In fact, they are more afraid of you than you are of them.
"I can do it myself, so there's no need for you to come. I hope the old master values you." As the old man spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, and when I saw his forearms, I gasped in shock.
At last, I pulled my hand out from the mouth of the corpse and immediately ran towards the door. After just a few steps, my whole body went limp and I fell to the ground. Someone tried to help me, but I pushed them away.
The priest said that I cannot commit suicide, for if I do, I will go to hell
I do not blame her; I felt very guilty at the time, so being scolded seemed justified. However, hearing others criticize me behind my back always leaves me feeling uncomfortable, and it feels somewhat strange, even a bit awkward
Do you know why these people are afraid of you
I jumped up, wildly swinging my arms, but I could not shake it off; the head of the corpse was tightly clamped onto my arm, swaying back and forth with the movement of my arm. How could a corpse weigh over a hundred pounds? I was terrified, yet I had no strength to rid myself of the body. Instead, I was causing the corpse to bang around chaotically inside the coffin.
Wei the Blind Man also had a slight smile at the corner of his mouth back then, which I have firmly remembered. This expression of a smile is now present on the faces of the performers (ghosts) playing the gongs and that fat man.
I turned back to look at the old man. He was shouting, yet he did not dare to come closer. I saw Old Master Wang tugging at his ear with his hand. But he did not realize that he was merely staring at the hammer in my hand.
The old man replied to me: "There is a funeral at home"
Moo— I let out a mournful cry of pain from my mouth.
Then, strange occurrences related to the family business emerged from the grave. Starting from the seventh day after the burial, the sound of music would be heard every day.
Today marks the fifty-seventh day since her mother passed away. With such a commotion, we can only invite her out today to be reburied.
Suddenly, my colleague let go of my hand, "What fat guy... what is this playing the trumpet... why can't I see it?"
I cried out: "I am done, I am done." I was truly terrified, and without caring about anything, I just cried out loudly, unwilling to continue. My face was smeared with mucus and tears.
In fact, the old man is a very straightforward person. As soon as I sat down, he did not delay for a moment, nor did he beat around the bush. He directly said to me: "I am here to tell you why I have come to fetch you."
I noticed that the old man was much older than the elder of this family, and I was unaware of his background. In the countryside, those who can take a seat at the table are generally esteemed guests or respected elders of high status. I assumed that the old man must be some relative or elder of this family.
As for why strange occurrences happen at the grave of this old woman, it is a long story that begins with how the old woman died
The cemetery is located off the provincial road from the Yaopengzi Le Tianxi Bridge, heading upstream along the Le Tianxi. The scenery of Le Tianxi is quite beautiful during the day, with the winding stream flowing out from the towering mountains, merging into the Yangtze River at Yaopengzi. The river mouth is directly opposite the Huangniu Cliff in the Xiling Gorge, where the mountain scenery is picturesque in daylight. However, at night, as one walks along the narrow path, the steep mountain slopes evoke a sense of oppressive intimidation. Following the mountain path for over ten miles, a dirt road branches off, leading deeper into the mountains. After bumping along for another ten minutes, one arrives at the cemetery. The cemetery is situated on a sunny slope, which is backed by a cliff.
The old man's eyes also flashed with fear, ha ha, it is his turn to be afraid
As I scolded myself, I leaned sideways against the coffin, slowly extending my hand towards the old woman's mouth, my arm trembling violently, unable to align with the corpse's lips. Gradually, my fingers touched the corpse's lips. I turned my head away, unable to look at the body any longer. With my neck raised, I gazed at the orange tree in the main hall
Your old lady was not killed by me; I am merely a bystander. Is it really necessary to hate me this much
"Which fat person? What fat person?"
I am eighty-seven this year, and I have lived alone in the valley for my entire life. When there is something to be done, they respectfully ask for my help, but on ordinary days, when they see me, they are more afraid than if they saw a ghost, and they quickly hide away... Do you wish to live like this?
I was being dragged by several strong men towards the main road, further away from the grave. However far I went, I could still see those few people playing the gongs and drums; they continued to play as always, and the fat man was still looking at me and smiling, his laughter growing more and more joyful. His eyes were fixed on me, and his gaze gradually turned into a phosphorescent glow. I wanted to look more closely, but I was dragged around the corner and onto the main road, where I could see nothing at all
After I finished speaking, I continued walking towards that fat man. I noticed that the fat man and several people playing the gongs and drums were all looking at me, wearing smiles on their faces. Even the one playing the suona was no exception, with his puffy cheeks also appearing to be smiling.
"The fat man you saw in the cemetery is Old Master Wang," the old man said. "Old Master Wang has chosen you."
Indeed, it is a symphony produced by a well-coordinated band of musicians.
The sound of the musical instruments has been causing a commotion for about 20 days, coinciding with the one-month anniversary of the old woman's burial. Since the seventh day after her death, her grave has begun to emit the sound of the musical instruments.
My legs trembled, and my mind raced with the thought: if I were to walk the same path as him, would certain parts of my body undergo the same changes
Seeing this situation, the old man did not panic like the younger generation. He called to me, "Don't stay in the rice field; let's go sit in the side room." I was reluctant to see the eerie mourning hall, and the further away I could be, the better. I hurried to the side room.
Today marks the fifty-seventh day since my nephew's wife (the deceased) passed away. There is no need for me to elaborate further; I know you have seen Old Master Wang. Oh, that fat man (this sentence left me stunned). Do not ask me how I know this; I will tell you, the things you know, I know as well. The things you do not know, I also know.
The old man shouted at me: "Do not be afraid, why are you panicking!"
The old man did not disappoint me; he spoke a few words that left me dumbfounded right from the start, utterly astonishing. Without further ado, I will now attempt to recall the gist of my conversation with the old man, which should not differ much from what he told me back then, as this matter has profoundly impacted me.
Fear
Oh mother, how am I supposed to handle this? They all say I am unfilial, that we are the ones who caused your death. You might as well just take me with you. Oh mother, what meaning is there in my life now? This is so unjust; I would rather be dead. No matter how heartless I may be, I would never harm your son
What exactly is an evil spirit! I shouted loudly, terrified, yet this old man continued to keep me in suspense.
I softened my heart and agreed to go to her house
I saw that the banquet in the rice field had not yet been cleared as I walked out of the mourning hall. The crowd looked at me and quickly avoided me. Only the old man followed me, but he was already lacking in spirit, saying, "Please... don't do this."
I myself have been so frightened by the bizarre scene created by this group of people that my three souls have escaped through the seven orifices. What ability do they possess that would make them fear me? Moreover, they are afraid of me, terrified that I might discover their identities and names. I know that with my own intelligence, I certainly cannot deduce the reason. So I quieted down and waited patiently for the elder to continue.
What are you talking about...
However, I can be certain that the fat man is definitely not speaking a foreign language. Every word he utters is monosyllabic. Although I do not understand it, I can ascertain that this is a pronunciation unique to our Chinese language. Moreover, based on my own perception of the mother tongue, I can determine from the rhythm of the fat man's speech that he is indeed speaking Chinese, but I simply cannot comprehend it
The old man took a sip of tea and said, "In fact, your coming here is not only helping them, but also helping yourself."
The old man said: "Yes, it is placed in the main hall."
Ha—" I let out a cold laugh, " It is truly wicked of me to have believed you."
I suddenly jumped up and stood on the ground, "Do you not understand the law?"
The reason for the dispute between the elderly woman and her children is related to her religious beliefs. Chinese law states that every citizen has the freedom of religious belief; however, in reality, this is nonsense, as the state has consistently imposed strict oppression on religion. It was not until the 1990s that the government's policies regarding religious beliefs began to relax, leading to a resurgence of Christianity and Buddhism. While the situation in urban areas is manageable, it is quite different in rural areas, especially in coastal regions, where the number of believers has been increasing exponentially.
The funeral band is a complete ensemble specifically designed to perform at funerals for the deceased, featuring instruments such as the suona, cymbals, and flat drums, among others that I cannot name. It is indeed strange to think that this band performs well and is dedicated to such occasions. However, the Sayierhe dance from Changyang is also performed exclusively at funerals and has even been featured on CCTV. Perhaps the government has intentions to protect this folk culture, which is not out of the question.
I was startled and quickly looked in the direction of the sound, and indeed, it was towards the new grave.
The old man no longer performed any rituals, and everyone remained still, quietly watching me.
I listened to the salesman's account and, unable to resist the urge of curiosity, requested a leave from my supervisor to skip the night shift. I specifically arranged to go with a colleague to listen to the music. That night, at 10:30, my colleague and I found a vehicle and headed towards the cemetery.
"What makes you say that?" I shouted. I felt the sorrow in the old man's words. Yet I remained stubborn.
I was lifted onto a motorcycle, and a group of motorcycles carried more than twenty people back along the same route. As I sat there, numb, the cold wind blew against me for a while, and my mind gradually calmed down. I no longer felt the inexplicable emotions that had dominated my thoughts earlier. I began to reflect on what had just happened, surprised that when I saw that fat man, I felt no fear at all, and instead, I was inexplicably drawn to him. Others could not see the person playing the flute or the fat man; only I could see them. Why was I the one chosen? I started to recall the events again, astonished that when I saw that fat man, I felt no fear, and I was inexplicably inclined to approach him. Others could not see the person playing the flute or the fat man; only I could see them. Why was I the one chosen? If others had been terrified at that moment and had not dared to stop me from walking to the grave, what would my outcome be now?
Only the young girl remained silent, trembling all over upon hearing the twilight words spoken by her younger brother and sister, collapsing to the ground
The old woman's son was also frightened, sitting on the ground and retreating backwards
The sound of the suona rose sharply, followed by the clanging of the cymbals, the sound still quite faint. However, the cymbal's tone was piercing, instantly penetrating the eardrum and drilling into the heart. Then the flat drum began to be struck as well, each thud resonating clearly in the ears.
I was inexplicably very angry and extremely impatient, and I said loudly to my colleague: "Can't you see? The few people playing the trumpet are all at the grave site, aren't they?"
After this incident, no one dared to stay in the graveyard to listen to the commotion. Everyone hurried back. Although there were more than twenty people together, the atmosphere became even more tense. It turns out that the emotion of fear is contagious, and when so many people are afraid together, the sense of fear accumulates, far exceeding that of an individual’s fear. Some people trembled so much that they couldn't even sit still. The hoot of an owl in the mountain gorge would provoke someone to scream. It turns out that the emotion of fear is contagious, and when so many people are afraid together, the sense of fear accumulates, far exceeding that of an individual’s fear. Some people trembled so much that they couldn't even sit still. The hoot of an owl in the mountain gorge would provoke someone to scream.
This group of parthenogenetic offspring
The old man shook his head, pointing his hand at the eldest daughter of the family, "No, today is the day of her mother's reburial"
You are my son
The object I feel with my fingers is very hard, and it has edges and corners, with the edges scraping my fingers painfully
The old man said coldly: "They do not dare."
The hammering sound of the hammering tool splashed in the wine for a while, floating on the surface of the liquid. Gradually, it dissolved. A wisp of blue smoke rose from the wine bowl
Oh, the one playing the cymbals is Xiang Huozu from Deng Village
Your own actions indeed have no bearing, you may do as you wish, but consider this: now everyone knows you encountered the spirit world in the cemetery. If another death occurs, what will you do then? Everyone will avoid you, fear you, and regard you as a strange person who communicates with the dead. They will find you as repulsive as cow dung
The old man exclaimed excitedly: "Give it to me, quickly hand it over!" and reached out his hand.
Regarding this matter, the elderly woman had many quarrels with her children. It is said that during the most intense arguments, she even came to blows with her daughter-in-law
Quickly beat him out! The old man was very anxious
Dear child, I truly have only this much money left, and I have already given it to you
We waited for nearly two hours with the crowd, and even a pack of cigarettes was about to be finished. Yet, there was still no sound. Someone remarked that it seemed there would be no sound today, and others echoed this sentiment, saying they were tired, too lazy to wait any longer, and wanted to go home
Just as I was thinking this, I heard the sound of a suona, very soft and gentle, as if a breeze had blown by, carrying with it a hint of the suona's melody.
A few days later, a middle-aged woman came to see me, brought by the driver who had been numb that night. I did not recognize this person and asked her what she wanted from me
Huozi and Zhu Sanhanzi have been dead for more than fifty years
I hurriedly said to the old man: "Then you tell them, say that I haven't encountered any evil spirits, and that I have nothing to do with this matter, so there's no need for me to help with anything. What I saw were all real people, no evil spirits encountered. You should proceed with your affairs (in Yichang dialect: referring to all kinds of celebrations and funerals), and bury those who need to be buried. I will take my leave now"
I firmly grasped that metallic creature in my hand, not letting go regardless of what that ghastly thing was. I can also be certain that it is not a ring, for it continues to writhe in my palm, causing waves of pain in my hand. That thing is alive
Yang Cuifeng said: "Mom ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "It's not our fault ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Heartless ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "You gave all the money ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "To outsiders ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Only gave ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Us ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Such a small amount of money ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Your son still has ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "A few days to live ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "We ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Such a small amount of money ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Your son still has ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "A few days to live ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "Hiding the money ..." Yang Cuifeng said: "What for ..."
The brother's wife screamed beside him, striking her man's face hard, saying: "What nonsense are you talking about, what nonsense are you talking about..."
A banquet was disrupted by this madman. I can no longer eat.
A strange smile lingered at the corner of my mouth as I looked at the dazed Wang Dehou, and I felt much more at ease.
Wang Kaiyu said: "Mom, have you eaten yet? It's so late, why did you go so far?" Wang Kaiyu said: "Mom, I'm not criticizing you, but at your age, why do you believe in those foreign devils' teachings?" Wang Kaiyu said: "I told you not to give money to that crazy priest back then; he's a lunatic, but you didn't believe me." Wang Kaiyu said: "Now look at you, without money, and that priest doesn't even come to bring you a meal." Wang Kaiyu said: "You still want to come looking for us." Wang Kaiyu said: "In this world, who can you truly rely on, except for us, your children?" Wang Kaiyu said: "But you also know that I married into this family, and life isn't easy; your son-in-law has been working in Zhejiang for two years now." Wang Kaiyu said: "I work hard to earn some money, all to send your grandson to school." Wang Kaiyu said: "Don't cry, your son has eaten; go back first, I will go find your brother tomorrow." Wang Kaiyu said: "He and your sister-in-law are really unreasonable; how could they drive you out?"
Have you ever had your fortune told? This old man keeps telling me all this nonsense, "Your birth chart is strange"
I saw a person playing the shawm
As soon as I heard about this matter, I nearly wet myself. I retorted to the old man, "If the police couldn't find it during the autopsy, how could it possibly be in the throat!"
My gaze swept over the coffin, and I saw the old woman's eldest daughter. She is now hiding far away from the coffin, leaning against the door panel, her body trembling like sifted chaff, unable to cry. The hammer is pounding away with great force, as if it is about to break through the gap in my hand.
This matter is escalating, and nearly every resident in the Three Gorges Dam area is discussing it. Every night, people go to listen to the sound of the bamboo flute.
I truly know nothing, can do nothing, how can I help you with anything
"Do not call out to me, he would rather see me dead"
The two daughters of the deceased old woman were originally busy preparing the food and drinks for the banquet. Upon hearing the madman's wild shouts, the elder daughter began to cry loudly on the spot, dropping the plate she was holding onto the ground. The younger daughter, who was cooking, also threw down her spatula and started to cry out loudly, speaking between her sobs:
Indeed, I was not mistaken; the old man is indeed the head of the family. He invited me to sit down in the rice field. He greeted me politely, instructed the younger generation to offer me cigarettes, and even wanted to brew tea for me. I said I was not accustomed to drinking boiled water, and besides, I had already had some.
I glared at this unfilial son and daughter-in-law with resentment, my throat making a croaking sound as I struggled to suppress the urge to shout at them
Upon hearing this, I felt as if I had found a great savior. It turned out that this old man knew the people playing the gongs and drums on the grave. This means that I was not seeing things or encountering a ghost, but that there were indeed several people playing the gongs and drums. I let out a sigh of relief, and the weight that had been hanging in my heart for several days finally lifted.
At the very least, I must not inquire about their identities; I remind myself that identity is a taboo for them. Just now, when I asked about their identities, merely inquiring if they were relatives of the deceased, they reacted quite strongly. It seems I cannot ask any further.
I have finally eased the anxiety I have been holding onto. Having traveled such a long distance only to find nothing, I surprisingly do not feel regret; instead, I experience a sense of relief.
The woman said: "You go to my house, if someone asks you a few questions, that will be it. Whether you can help or not is irrelevant; your goodwill will be remembered by our family for a lifetime"
At this moment, the children of this family all came out of the house and exchanged glances with me. They greeted me one after another, and I then saw clearly that this family had three children—two daughters and one son, all of whom were middle-aged. The daughter-in-law was also present, but I did not see the son-in-law
It was only after drinking ginger soup that I was able to change my breath.
Tell me what taboos there are regarding names. Is it really that sinister, I asked
Wang Kairen said to his mother: "Why is it that only I provide for your food and drink, when your money is not solely given to me?"
The fat man sat in the chair, seemingly feeling tired, and changed his posture, raising one hand. The words he muttered became faster. The more he recited, the more I felt I had heard it before. Although I could not understand it, it increasingly felt familiar
I excitedly opened the freezer of the refrigerator—two whole boxes of milk popsicles were completely frozen. I happily took out a box, pulled out a popsicle with force, and put it in my mouth—what a wonderful taste. "Eat less, or you'll get a stomachache," my mom warned me from the side. But I wouldn't listen; I wanted to finish both boxes of milk popsicles in one go. But what was happening? My hand was frozen to the aluminum mold of the popsicle. It was so cold, chilling to the bone.
Do you know how I felt at that time? Just one word:
I also uttered those strange languages, and I was baffled myself, lost in a daze, not knowing how I could speak these incomprehensible words. At this moment, both I and those around me suddenly calmed down; it was too bizarre, and I could not explain it myself. Upon hearing me speak this eerie language, they fell silent, only tightening their grip on me even more.
At that moment, I heard the malicious curse of the hostess directed at me: "This short-lived * * *, causing you to suffer like this, heartless, little troublemaker... how could your heart be so cruel..."
Wang Bo, you little Japanese brat. I instinctively suppressed the urge to speak; I absolutely cannot make a sound now
I understand the identity of the elder
Of course, this is my delusion. The actual situation is nothing like this
The old man spoke to me at length, revealing so many hidden ghostly matters. Gradually, I began to piece together the context of this situation. I truly feel foolish. Cold sweat started to flow down my body again, and I felt that my back was already soaked. Trembling, I managed to utter that sentence:
Wang Kaihong said: "What is your son doing?" Wang Kaihong said: "What is your son grabbing? You can't even bear to give me a ring?" Wang Kaihong said: "Give it to me." Wang Kaihong said: "Are you going to give it to me or not, you old thing?" Wang Kaihong said: "Mangzi, hurry over and help me." Wang Kaihong said: "Ah! Mangzi, this old thing swallowed the ring." Wang Kaihong said: "You old fool, you swallowed the ring and still refuse to give it to me." Wang Kaihong said: "Get lost, you gave all your bones to Yang Cuifeng." Wang Kaihong said: "Get back, they should take care of you in your old age." Wang Kaihong said: "Get lost..."
At the banquet, several young men immediately rushed forward to subdue the madman, grabbing handfuls of dirt to stuff in his mouth. The madman struggled desperately, making a few muffled sounds, and with an unexpected burst of strength, he broke free, spat out the dirt from his mouth, jumped onto a pile of straw, and raised a cross, continuing to shout: "It was you who killed, you even killed your own mothers, you are all inhuman, now your mothers are going to take revenge on you"
I will go call Ren Yazi over
"Do you know that my lifespan is ninety-seven ... ... " The old man was taken aback
They are separated from me by a pile of firewood, yet we are very close, and I can hear their voices very clearly
We bought ducks and received a goose as a gift. Today, our group truly did not make this trip in vain. Not only did we hear the sound of the traditional music, but we also saw the images of those playing it. I felt a hint of excitement. Forgetting my fear, I said to my colleague who came with me, "Did you see the person sitting in the chair behind the musicians? Their attire is quite strange"
The old man asked me anxiously: "Have you pinched it?"
It's that simple; it has been reported on television, and such incidents occur in many places across the country
When exactly was it that I once heard it? I am desperately trying to recall. Yet sometimes, the act of remembering is quite strange; I clearly feel that I am about to think of it, but there is just that little bit missing, as if there is a sheet of paper separating us. That memory is already vaguely visible, yet I just cannot bring it to mind
I have a way to suppress this matter, but it requires your involvement
I can no longer fantasize, for my hand has already reached into the mouth of the old woman. My hand cannot go further, as her tongue protrudes too much, blocking the throat. I can only push the tongue towards the side of her cheek.
I said to Jie, "I have never tried ... ... " Jie's expression was both shy and provocative. ... Jie's body was fair, smooth, soft, youthful, hot, and convulsing ...
The one playing the suona is Zhu Sanhanzi from Huangjinkou
I was controlled in my actions, and as I watched, it seemed hopeless to understand the language of the fat man. Filled with resentment, I began to curse loudly: "What are you doing, let me go, I curse your mothers... you little thieves, you wicked ones, like a big-eyed creature, may the bad dogs stay far away..."
The child then said: "It hurts."
I looked at the people around me, all of them motionless, and from their postures, it was evident that they had become dazed. They were all frightened by the sound of the music. I tried my best to detach myself from the fear, convincing myself, "This is just a natural phenomenon... a natural phenomenon," yet my back still felt a chill again and again, and my palms were icy.
The woman said she is the daughter of the old lady who played the flute in the cemetery
I said, "I hope the old master will not seek me out again, will he?"
The old man once again glanced over the crowd, his eyes glinting with disdain. He answered me very briefly: "Yes"
Seeing the corpse of that old woman sent a chill straight to my feet, causing my legs to go weak. The old woman had been buried for about a month. A corpse that has been dead for a month, what could it possibly look like? Even though it is not summer now, the body has already begun to bloat. Fortunately, I only saw the face of the corpse; the pupils in the eyes had become very faint, almost indistinguishable from the white of the eyes. The face was covered in dark, earthy spots. The lips were tightly closed, yet a section of the tongue was protruding from the mouth. Thankfully, I only saw the face of the corpse; the pupils in the eyes had become very faint, almost indistinguishable from the white of the eyes. The face was covered in dark, earthy spots. The lips were tightly closed, yet a section of the tongue was protruding from the mouth. The color of the tongue was purple. The old woman had hanged herself; is it true that all hanged ghosts have their tongues sticking out? I tried to let my mind wander, to distract myself, so as not to be too frightened.
Please help me to thread this rope through the purlin and then pull it down
I said, where are you going? I do not recognize you.
The old man no longer looked at me, his brows furrowed deeply, his expression quite grim, as he fixed his gaze intently on his teacup. The green, slender Maojian tea leaves stood upright in the cup, densely packed. The old man began to speak:
The widowed old man inexplicably said this to me, leaving me feeling quite bewildered. The old woman's daughter was pleading for my assistance, yet the old woman's husband inexplicably uttered a refusal to help.
At this moment, I noticed several tables set up in the rice field, and dishes were being served one after another, indicating that it was a banquet. I was puzzled as to what had happened in their family, and why they were being so formal about it, inviting people to dinner.
My son is ill and almost ran out of money for the injection
The tips of my fingers suddenly touched something hard, and I became excited, "I have touched it."
The old woman's children were filled with rage and were about to go up and beat up the believer. In their view, their mother had committed suicide solely because of her Christian faith, and they were filled with hatred. However, the believer, sensing the situation was not in their favor, quickly fled down the small path on the mountain.
Wangzhuangfu said to me: "Call my name."
No one answered them, and they were all silent
I stood with my back to the door, feeling a wave of chill wash over me from behind, leaving me with no appetite to eat. Just as I had picked up a piece of fatty cured meat with my chopsticks, intending to indulge, I now found that it had no flavor at all as I chewed it in my mouth
Spit it out quickly
I am paying attention to him, and he is also paying attention to me. He is looking in my direction, muttering to himself
My hand could not reach any further, my throat was too narrow, and my hand was pressed down hard. My jaw was stiff, and the pressure made my hand ache. "Put in more effort!" the old man shouted from the side, pulling me back from the memory of my first kiss
I have no business attending any commotion. I swear, I will never join in the crowd again in this lifetime
The old man fell silent, then said: "Regardless, you must see this matter through to the end; you cannot stop, or it will be even worse. The old master has already been alerted. You must extract that thing out."
The elder said to me: "Do not be afraid, the more afraid you are, the more likely things will go wrong"
"Why was I chosen?" As soon as I said this, I knew it was nonsense; the old man had just mentioned that my fate was peculiar.
By 1998, Christianity had become quite widespread even in the rural areas of our inland regions. One must admit that the missionaries of Christianity were indeed remarkable; they managed to persuade many mountain dwellers in the deep gorges of the Three Gorges to embrace the faith. Their dedication surpassed that of insurance agents by far
I threw the hammer into the wine bowl
Have I not already given you all the money
The couple looked at me, frightened to the point of being speechless, only bowing their heads to me repeatedly, and after a few bows, they turned around to bow to the coffin.
I could no longer care about so much; my hand reached into my throat a little, and two fingers pinched that metal object.
The old man suddenly shouted: "What kind of madness are you all pretending (Yichang dialect: messing around), be quiet!"
Looking at the old woman's gaping mouth, it seemed even more grotesque than before. The thought of having to reach into that dark abyss made my heart tighten severely, even causing a pang of discomfort. My lips twitched uncontrollably. I heard a sound, "Ke ke... ke ke." After a while, I realized it was my own teeth chattering. I thought about giving up, but now I was in a predicament from which I could not escape. I recalled the old man's arms, which dispelled any thoughts of fleeing. The thought of having to reach into that dark abyss made my heart tighten severely, even causing a pang of discomfort. My lips twitched uncontrollably. I heard a sound, "Ke ke... ke ke." After a while, I realized it was my own teeth chattering. I thought about giving up, but now I was in a predicament from which I could not escape. I recalled the old man's arms, which dispelled any thoughts of fleeing.
As soon as the coffin lid was opened, the old woman's children rushed to the edge of the coffin, wailing and crying, lamenting their shortcomings, neglecting their mother, and causing her to die in unrest. Seeing their sorrowful appearance, I felt that my earlier doubts about their unfilial behavior were truly unfounded. I felt a twinge of guilt in my heart
The madman was shouting nonsensically over there, and the son of this family rushed down to the rice field, threatening the madman: "If you keep talking nonsense, I will beat you to death." The madman continued to shout: "You do not believe in the Lord, you will all go to hell..." Before he could finish his sentence, he was swept down from the straw pile by the family's son with a rake, and a group of people rushed up to pin the madman down firmly. They found a hemp rope and bound the madman, then threw him into the pigpen.
The old man said: "It is I who asked her to come find you"
I do not recognize the one who plays the flat drum. Xiang Huozi and Zhu Sanhanzi play the horn music very well. No matter which house is holding a funeral, they must be invited. Even a monk temple in the gorge area invites them to assist with the rituals.
In an instant, I remembered. I recalled that I had heard the peculiar language of that fat man there.
At this thought, I unconsciously turned my head to look into the mourning hall, where the candles in the main room had all been extinguished, though I could not tell when it had happened
She scolded me while washing the child's eyes
The sound is mournful, making those who hear it feel utterly uncomfortable
They are all in the mourning hall now, kneeling before me in unison. I looked at each of them one by one. Upon seeing my appearance, they trembled in fear, and one of them, in a high-pitched voice, pleaded: "Aunt, I was wrong, I was wrong, I will burn the money for you right now." After saying this, he took out several 10 yuan bills and nervously burned them in the brazier in front of the coffin.
The old man had someone bring in a basin of water, burned two joss papers, and let the ashes fall into the basin. He mumbled a few words and nodded. Others then opened the coffin lid, which was positioned in the center of the hall. I dared not look into the coffin, facing it with my eyes closed. I knew I was feeling very embarrassed at that moment, but there was nothing I could do; this fear stemmed from a physiological response that I could not control.
The mistress who had cursed me viciously just a few hours ago now seems to have completely forgotten the harm I caused her child. Her face is filled with smiles, and she is extremely amiable, affectionately holding my arm with one hand while the other gently touches my face. "You didn't play well today... It's alright... Come back to play next Sunday... I'll make you some delicious food... Little one... You look so well-behaved..."
The old man shooed away those who were watching the commotion nearby. He moved the stool closer to me, and his expression suddenly changed; his face turned a ghastly iron gray, and he looked chillingly cold. The old man softly said in front of me:
As soon as I spoke this sentence, someone among the crowd screamed, their voice filled with extreme fear. Then, some people firmly held me back.
The old man took out two silver needles and inserted one into the base of the corpse's ear. He said to me, "It will never close again"
The wife of this family absolutely hates me, I am quite certain of it
One by one, the crowd began to disperse and head home. In just a few minutes, only about twenty people remained. If it weren't for the vehicle we arrived in, which was unresponsive and took a long time to start, we would have certainly left as well
I did not dare to ask too many questions. At that moment, an old man walked out of the room, wearing an old-fashioned cloth robe, with a front-opening design, and cloth shoes on his feet. His goat beard was completely white, and although he appeared to be of considerable age, he looked quite spirited. The old man, upon seeing me, scrutinized me from head to toe and said coldly, "You have arrived. Let's eat first." He then invited me to sit at the table with him. I was seated at the table, with my back to the main door, facing the mountain bay, right next to the old man, taking a position of honor. The old man, upon seeing me, scrutinized me from head to toe and said coldly, "You have arrived. Let's eat first." He then invited me to sit at the table with him. I was seated at the table, with my back to the main door, facing the mountain bay, right next to the old man, taking a position of honor.
You carefully inform me about the situation of playing the trumpet
I turned my head to look outside the door, where the group of people with tense expressions was gathered, while only the old man with the old woman sat leisurely by the side, smoking a cigarette
I am convinced that the fat man is not speaking a foreign language; the reasons mentioned above are not the most important. The most important thing is that these incantation-like words seem familiar to me.
The old man shouted from the side: "You are all dead, quickly help me snatch that thing over here"
Seeing so many people makes me feel much more at ease. A large crowd brings vitality. I estimate that nothing too sinister will occur.
I turned my head and saw the old lady's granddaughter, who was leaning on the top of the coffin, gently wiping the blood from the old lady's mouth, nose, and the corners of her eyes with yellow paper, sobbing softly.
At that moment, the old man also revealed a strange smile at the corner of his mouth, and I saw this eerie smile again. A sense of dread began to creep over me. But that was not the end; the old man then uttered a phrase that made every hair on my body stand on end
As soon as I heard it, I felt overwhelmed. Damn, I was just there to enjoy the spectacle, who would have thought I would encounter such a sinister situation. In the past couple of days, people have been incessantly asking me about strange occurrences. I am thoroughly annoyed. One of my colleagues even asked me if I have the ability to see spirits, and I replied to him irritably, "What the hell, are you saying I'm some kind of supernatural person?"
The old man cried out in despair: "Don't do itーー"
The old man nodded slightly and continued to eat the vegetables
The old man's hands were indistinguishable from those of others, but only above the wrists. His arms, if they could be called arms, were merely two radius bones entwined with a few blood vessels, devoid of any muscle or fat. The blood vessels had not fallen away simply because the surface of the bones was covered by a very thin layer of transparent skin
I was still wallowing in self-pity when the young lady from that family suddenly spoke up, saying: "Let's not talk about it for now, let's eat."
She said that the sound of the drum music did not come out of nowhere. Now everyone knows that it is coming from a newly added grave. That new grave belongs to an old woman's tomb.
I am too lazy to ask again, nor do I pay attention to the few people playing the gongs and drums. I was captivated by the person sitting behind the gong and drum ensemble. That person is a plump old man, with a belly as large as that of Maitreya Buddha, and a face full of flesh, yet he does not appear comical or ridiculous; rather, he looks very serious. He is wearing an old-fashioned military uniform, a type of clothing I used to see someone wear when I was a child. This is not the formal military attire worn by soldiers, but rather clothing sewn and tailored by ordinary people in the style of military uniforms. Many people in remote areas still dress like this. However, I have not seen such attire for at least 10 years.
I said to my colleague: "What that fat man said is quite strange, I will go listen more closely." Then I continued walking towards the fat man
If my son's indifference brings me a bit of concern, then my daughter-in-law's enthusiasm instills in me a strong sense of dread. I deeply regret coming to this family so foolishly.
Wang Kaihong said: "Mom, your ring is still here." Wang Kaihong said: "Let me take a look at it." Wang Kaihong said: "Your son is not earning anything." Wang Kaihong said: "Your son is not moving, I can't take it off." Wang Kaihong said: "Mom, your son has worn this ring for many years, why is it so difficult to take off?" Wang Kaihong said: "Your son gave all the money to Yang Cuifeng, this ring is left for me." Wang Kaihong said: "You are so generous to Yang Cuifeng, why are you so stingy with me!" Wang Kaihong said: "I won't give it back to you, your son has to leave me something, don't give everything to that cheap woman Yang Cuifeng." Wang Kaihong said: "Why hasn't your son gone back yet?" Wang Kaihong said: "I don't believe that my brother won't feed you." Wang Kaihong said: "They dare, being unfilial and disrespectful, when I have time, I will go back and reason with them."
The crowd dispersed from the small shed and returned to their respective homes
I smiled faintly at the corners of my mouth and handed the hammer in my hand to the nearest Li Baoyazi. Upon seeing the strange smile on my face, Li Baoyazi was already so frightened that his soul seemed to leave his body, let alone having the courage to take that ghastly object from my hand. With so many people around, who would dare to come and take it!
What those people refer to as listening to the band is not about listening to the performance of that ensemble. Rather, it is about hearing the sounds of heritage emanating from the grave.
I listened to the words of a madman, and cold sweat began to flow down my body; it was not just a trickle of cold sweat, but a steady stream, flowing continuously, because I was thinking of something in my heart:
Wang Kairen: "You should die outside!"
Fortunately, nothing unusual happened on the way back. It was just before 2 a.m. when we returned to the Yao Pavilion. The Yao Pavilion used to be the location of the town government of Letian Creek. It was densely populated, and there were still people eating barbecues and late-night snacks at the street market stalls. Those who were having late-night snacks saw us return, and some, upon recognizing acquaintances, greeted us: "Did you see anything unusual today?"
You are from the street, no wonder you are unaware
I finally pulled my hand out of the corpse's mouth, my fist clenched tightly, with my arms and knuckles a bloody mess. A foul stench filled the mourning hall. The old woman's corpse bled from her seven orifices, oozing out little by little.
I once again gathered my courage, walked to the side of the coffin, and hesitantly extended my hand towards the corpse's mouth. Let death be death; having passed this ordeal, I shall never again meddle in such sinister matters for the rest of my life
It seemed that in that very moment, I could hear the entire sound of the ensemble clearly.
Wang Kairen said: "You still have two daughters, you didn't just give birth to me alone!" Wang Kairen said: "Go find your daughters."
Now you tell me not to be afraid, isn't that just nonsense? How can I not be afraid?
I am waiting for the old man to tell me what I should do. To be honest, I don't even know how I can help them. I am just a frightened young person. I am so preoccupied with my own fears that I don't dare to patrol alone at night anymore, and I am suspicious even when I go to the bathroom. How can I possibly help others in such a state
I still wanted to refuse, but the woman's appearance was already very distressed, as if I were a lifeline, her eyes filled with pleading.
So what?
I drank the wine, feeling anxious and uneasy, caught in an awkward situation. I kept wanting to say something to the old man; on one hand, casual conversation could help me relax a bit, and on the other hand, I hoped to glean some hints from our discussion. This would allow me to understand the true nature of the situation, rather than constantly guessing what kind of scheme this family was up to.
You do not believe it? If you do not believe it, go outside and ask someone their name; it would be surprising if they do not kneel down and beg you.
The daughter-in-law is somewhat strange; her words are all irrelevant, constantly mentioning things like inadequate hospitality, the need to come and visit often, asking if the young man is married, and that when one comes, a meal must be served, and the drinks should be of good quality... Her face is full of flattery
Hope for prosperity, hope for prosperity, hope for prosperity, hope for prosperity, hope for prosperity, hope for prosperity
Why
... ... more expensive than the first ... ... coming out of the mountain to replace the common ... ... lively and without loss ... ... Zhapu peach ... ... due to certain comparisons with Mimisomoko ... ... ultimately returning to the eyes of Lian ... ... scattered branches and bones dead and soft ... ... taking a short route ... ... like a tremor coming ... ...
Have you dug the coffin out of the grave again
I remain silent, merely displaying an expression of anticipation on my face
You have no idea... the old man said: "Even if it means leaving Old Master Wang... just for a day... you wouldn't understand this feeling."
Are they afraid that I will call their names
As I thought of this, a tingling sensation spread throughout my body, and I trembled as if I were sifting through chaff. My intense feeling of fear, though it was a lingering dread, still left me shivering uncontrollably.
The old man stared at me in silence
"Give it to me!" the old man shouted frantically, "Do you still want to live?"
Wang Kaihong said: "Mom, you have given all the money to my younger brother and sister-in-law." Wang Kaihong said: "What do you want from me again?" Wang Kaihong said: "A married girl is like spilled water." Wang Kaihong said: "I have no obligation to support you." Wang Kaihong said: "Yang Cuifeng is obviously a promiscuous person." Wang Kaihong said: "Yang Cuifeng has taken your money and doesn't care about you anymore, right?" Wang Kaihong said: "You should go back; when that brat returns, he will beat me again." Wang Kaihong said: "Your son being here is useless; I will not take care of you anyway." Wang Kaihong said: "Now you have no money at all, and you only know how to come to me for help?" Wang Kaihong said: "That wretched Yang Cuifeng has scammed all your money and sent you to find me, hasn't she?"
I am, after all, your mother... How could you bear to let me starve to death?
I could not understand a single word spoken by that fat man. What I can write down now are just some pronunciations that I managed to remember at that time. The fat man spoke for a long time, and this is all I could recall. As for the rest, either I forgot them randomly, or more often, I simply could not hear his pronunciation clearly
I rested my chin on my hand, lost in thought for a long time, and said to the old man: "What do you think we should do?"
The old lady devotes herself to Christianity every day, yet her family finds it somewhat bothersome, as it is an external religion that does not seem as well-received as the worship of Guanyin Bodhisattva. However, the old lady is wholeheartedly devoted to her faith in Christ; not only does she believe, but she also donates money to the church every few days. Her children have expressed their discontent, as the little savings she had could have been left to them as inheritance, but now it has all been given to the church. Her children harbor grievances against their mother for her religious beliefs.
It is my turn
There is still hope for Kai Xi, there is still Hu Guihua, and there is still Li Baoya...
In the evening, after the adults had played enough cards, we had dinner. My parents took me home, and the family saw us off. They accompanied us all the way to the road. At that moment, I experienced the most hypocritical event of my life for the first time
Fortunately, the talcum powder did not cause any irritation; after the child washed his eyes, he became quiet. The adults, seeing that nothing was wrong, returned to the table to play cards. The child's father was still worried that my father would scold me, so he advised my father, "It's nothing, it's nothing; children act out, it's quite normal."
Do not panic, listen to me
Wang Zhuangfu said: "We are going to the hospital now"
At this moment, everyone stood still, quietly listening to the faint sounds that drifted through the night. Under the dim starlight, gazing at the blurred faces of those around, one could sense the collective fear in the air merely through touch. Humans are truly inexplicable creatures; despite their fear, they still seek to experience this sensation of terror.
Others were frightened and dared not approach me when they saw me talking nonsense. The old man stood in front of me and slapped me twice, which finally brought me back to my senses and calmed my mind.
My stomach rose to my chest, and I squatted on the ground, retching. I vomited a large pool of clear water onto the ground. How could I possibly do such a terrifying thing? I absolutely refuse to do it. I made up my mind and shouted loudly at the old man: "Why don't you do it yourself? Why do you have to drag me into this?"
I wanted to understand better, so I took a few steps towards the direction of the music and that chubby guy. I hadn't walked far when my colleague caught hold of me, saying, "Crazy person, what are you doing?"
Xiang Chun, what about the money from selling the eggs? I almost blurted it out, but quickly bit my tongue.
I said: "You have followed Old Master Wang for a lifetime, why bother?"
Do not help them, let them die
"I won't do it anymore, you are quite vicious. You are more ruthless than I am. You dare to openly confront Old Master Wang," the old man said. "You won't speak recklessly about today's events, will you?"
I clenched my jaw tightly, but it was futile; I still wanted to call her name. My chin trembled violently, I was about to shout, I truly was about to shout. I bit down hard on my lip with my teeth, blood burst forth, and my mouth tasted salty. I held it back.
Can they not see it? It is so obvious, how can they not see it?
I suspect it will be your turn to call then
When we arrived, there were already dozens of people near the cemetery, all standing quietly. Next to them, there was a minibus and more than ten vans, as well as a small car.
The old man continued, saying: "You take that ring out from my niece's throat, and we will find another place to bury her, and this matter will be settled."
This time, my hand delved into the throat much more smoothly. The corpse's throat was cold and dry. I no longer dared to indulge in frivolous thoughts to distract myself; instead, a sudden determination arose within me, and I just wanted to quickly retrieve that ring.
I would like to interject and recall an experience from my childhood to explain why I harbor such a sense of fear towards the daughter-in-law of this family
The old man took me to the bridge over the small shed and said to me, "Forget it, this is all fate"
Still in the throat, the police cannot find it, but that does not mean you cannot touch it
I sat numbly with the woman, thinking this as I went to his house
The old man poured some water from the basin onto the corpse's chin and jaw, then began to rub the corpse's jaw. As he continued to rub, I noticed the corpse's mouth gradually opening, likely due to the loosening of the muscles in the chin, which relaxed the taut tendons in the jaw.
You are also a deceiver, I hope you can understand.
Originally, I had a bad experience and did not want to get involved in this matter again. However, given the current situation and seeing how pitiful this woman appears, I might as well do a good deed and pay her a visit. Moreover, it is during the daytime, so what could possibly happen?
I pointed at the old man with my other hand, raising my index finger and shaking it. I know everything, you old fool, you can't deceive me. You want to raise this evil spirit, but I won't let you have your way
I still do not know the propriety, and out of courtesy, I asked the elder: "Is your son ... ... "
I exclaimed, "That thing will run!"
I half-closed my eyes and moved step by step to the edge of the coffin, mustering my courage to open my eyes. In my heart, I kept thinking, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."
They actually dug up the dead from the ground, and with so many complications, they even carried them back home to hold another funeral. What are they fussing about
This was merely a casual question. Yet it struck like thunder, leaving everyone stunned. No one continued eating, nor did they speak; their expressions turned serious as they quietly gazed at me. I felt a chill in my heart from their stares.
I find myself in such a strange and awkward environment, feeling quite uncomfortable, and I just want to find a topic to discuss. I cautiously asked the elder, "Are all of you here relatives of this family?"
Repeatedly rejected by me
The old man shouted at me: "Do not move! Do not move!"
The woman who called me is a young lady, yet she still wears a face full of sorrow. The young girl is also in her thirties, very polite, and hurriedly apologizes for disturbing me, asking me not to take offense. Her son says little, but he stares at me intently, harboring deep animosity towards me. I feel a sense of dread: it seems he truly hates me, and rightly so; after all, I disturbed his mother's grave in the dead of night out of sheer boredom after overeating, it would be strange if he didn't resent me.
What are you talking about?