Chapter Seven, The Deceitful Sun Xiezi

Mother and the three of them did not return home, but went together to Sun Xiezi's house

Father said: "Why does this smell like the odor of a decaying corpse?"

Just one year after Sun Youcheng started working, while blasting coal underground, the detonator failed to go off, prompting Sun Youcheng to handle the misfire. In the process, he accidentally struck the detonator, resulting in the loss of his eyesight.

Later, after his father passed away, he was left to fend for himself. This grandson, who was blind, never married throughout his life. Often, people would see him sitting alone in a graveyard, holding a bottle of wine and drinking away his sorrows. He would frequently get utterly drunk, yet somehow always managed to return home.

The three individuals widened their eyes in astonishment, exchanging glances filled with surprise, wondering how this blind man had figured it out

Xiao Lu was also nervous, the cigarette butt almost burning his lips as he pretended to be cool. It was early summer, and the scent of fresh grass filled the air. Just then, my father sniffed and said, "What is that smell? Why is it so foul?" The other three also detected the unpleasant odor.

At that time, those who died in the mines either died from being crushed or from explosions. Sun Youcheng could not stand the sight of blood; he would faint at the sight of it. Therefore, he chose to take up work as an underground miner. However, fate has its own arrangements.

At this moment, Xiao Lu couldn't help but curse, "That old bastard still hasn't arrived. He must have drunk himself to death. The four of us should just give up on work and escape quickly."

Old Sun pinched a few shiny black fingers, fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Last night the moonlight shone upon the dead body, the fog rising midway has its reasons and * illustrations * . Leaning against the wall, I nearly died first, a smiling face accompanies one who meets a noble person." Upon hearing this, Little Lu leaned over to my mother and said with a chuckle, "Oh my, this old man really knows a thing or two."

Mother said, "No, it was this smell that came from that thing that entered my workspace last night"

Little Lu gently walked to the side of Old Sun, bent down, and shouted loudly face to face: "Old Sun."

At this moment, all three were taken aback, but it was Xiao Lu who reacted first, jumping up and cursing: "You old bastard, why are you cursing me to die early when I have no grievances with you in the past or present? (For those working underground, being cursed to die is the most taboo thing.) I’ll smash your damn shop to pieces."

At this moment, mist began to rise again from the woods ahead, and the temperature around us dropped. My mother shivered and said, "Why is it so cold? It shouldn't be like this at this time."

Mother glanced at the clock and said, "It's still early, let's wait a bit longer"

Thus, my father volunteered to say that he would go to protect my mother in the evening. My mother thought about the experience from the previous night and felt that having my father by her side would be more reassuring, so she agreed that my father would accompany her to work in the evening

Upon hearing this, Sun Xiezi became displeased and said: "At this price, I have already given you a discount considering your youth. Feel free to ask or not; if you don't want to ask, then hurry up and leave. You are disturbing my sleep, and I haven't even settled accounts with you yet"

From that point on, he became known as Sun the Blind. However, just a few days after Sun the Blind was discharged from the hospital, the work team he was part of encountered an accident underground. A gas explosion occurred, and none of the team members survived.

Mother said this and took out 10 yuan from her pocket, stuffing it into Sun Xiezi's hand. Sun Xiezi picked up the money, shook it in his hand, felt it, and then tucked it into his pocket

However, items like paper offerings are all sourced from the "Complete Collection of Funeral Supplies" in the city. Fortunately, they are not expensive, and the nearby residents find it convenient, so they all purchase from his shop.

A tragic event occurred; at this moment, Sun Xiezi's snot bubble was expanding infinitely. Upon hearing the sudden loud shout, Sun Xiezi sat up abruptly, and the orange-sized snot bubble burst with a pop against Xiao Lu's face, ending its pitiful life. Xiao Lu, caught between laughter and tears, quickly dodged to the side and vigorously wiped his face with his sleeve

Sun Xiezi accompanied his father, Sun Fucai, to organize a collective funeral for their coworkers. From that point on, Sun Xiezi began to engage in laborious tasks.

My mother quickly grabbed Xiao Lu and said, "Master Sun, could you please tell us what is going on? Just consider it a favor to help us younger generations."

Saliva dripped from the corners of the mouth like a silver thread connecting to the ground. Mucus bubbles followed the rhythm of breathing, expanding and contracting.

Sun the Blind Man sighed and said: "Originally, I shouldn't interfere, and I might not even be able to. But seeing that you are all so young, if something were to happen, I would fear that I couldn't close my eyes when I die. Well, well, today I, Sun the Blind Man, will play the good Samaritan. You all go to work as usual tonight, and I will naturally make my appearance then"

Upon hearing this, the three individuals also felt a sense of understanding, so they did not say much more, exchanged a few polite remarks, and prepared to take their leave

My mother hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Master Sun (in Northeast China, it is common to refer to capable individuals as 'Master'), we are not here to buy anything today; we have a matter to ask of you"

Then my mother asked Master Sun, "How did you know that Xiao Lu is being haunted by a female ghost?"

Upon hearing the news, Sun the Blind felt as if his heart were being cut by a knife. Because he was blind, Sun the Blind could not see the blood.

Upon hearing this, my mother broke out in a cold sweat in broad daylight, and hurriedly asked, "Master Sun, please help us, save us. To say that we should flee to avoid disaster, taking leave now is no longer feasible. What can we do now that we are not working? Please, do us a favor and help us get through this difficult time."

Sun the Blind snorted and said: "From the moment you entered the room, I knew that this brat, full of ghostly aura, still dared to lie under my nose. If I couldn't smell him, I would have long since been at peace in the grave."

This old fool took out a brass smoking pipe, filled it with a full bag of tobacco, and after taking two puffs, said: "You three should be prepared to face a great calamity in the coming days, especially him," pointing at Xiao Lu. "You may not believe me, but if I am not mistaken, this young man is being haunted by a female ghost."

Xiao Wang cast a disdainful glance at Sun Xiazi, who was lying on the small kang, and said, "Can someone like this really do it?" My mother also felt uncertain, but there was no other choice; we might as well treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

At eleven o'clock in the evening, the pale, round moon hung brightly in the night sky, while countless stars twinkled, mocking the insignificance of humanity.

When my mother returned home, she recounted to my father what had happened last night, and my father was left in a daze by the astonishing experience

As they reached the door, the old man Sun shouted, "You three remember to bring money tonight; the payment will depend on how much effort you put in."

My mother quickly shot a glare at Xiao Lu, who promptly closed his mouth. However, Sun Xiazi spoke again: "Girl, don't mind him; he can curse as he pleases. After all, this kid is half dead and doesn't have many days left to live. I won't argue with a dead man. But you two should be careful; if things get out of hand, it might be wise to keep your distance for a while."

Old Man Sun continued, "You two shouldn't take this lightly. If it weren't for this girl being kind-hearted and her fate not being sealed, I might have had to go to your house to work this morning."

My mother and Xiao Wang stood to one side, trying hard to suppress their laughter. After Sun Xiezi got up, he wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and asked, "Whose family has lost someone again? You can casually look at the paper houses for sale. Hosting a funeral costs 100, and inspecting a yin-yang house costs 80 (don't think it's cheap; in that era, my mother's monthly salary was only a little over 160)."

Little Lu muttered, "Old miser." With a sense of certainty in their hearts, the three of them returned home.

Sun Xiezi gained fame at that time. Sun Xiezi's original name was Sun Youcheng. Originally, Sun Youcheng was also a miner. His father did manual labor, but he absolutely refused to do so. What was the reason? He was afraid of blood.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wang became furious, "Old grandson, everyone says you are quite reasonable, but it seems you are just deceiving people. Why don't you go rob the roads? I went to the city to have my fortune told and got a talisman for only 5 yuan, yet you charge me 10 yuan just to ask a question. Don't you have any conscience?"

Those simple and warm-hearted workers suddenly turned into cold corpses overnight, prompting Sun Xiezi to vow to give these colleagues their final send-off

Xiao Wang also crossed his arms and said, "Indeed, you can even see the breath when speaking"

Mother, Father, Xiao Wang, and Xiao Lu, a group of four, arrived at the entrance of the cemetery. Xiao Wang, nervously taking deep puffs from the cigarette in his hand, mumbled, "Have we been played by that old rascal? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Although this blind man Sun is indeed blind, he possesses a certain skill; upon arriving at a location of a yin-yang house, he can grasp a handful of soil and discern the surrounding environment.

Upon entering, a pungent odor assaulted the senses, a mixture of the sour paste smell commonly found in many paper offerings shops, combined with the unique scent of alcohol from Sun Xiezi's home. At this moment, Sun Xiezi was reclining awkwardly on the small kang, snoring loudly.

My father, having taken up this path later in life, did not experience what happened last night. Therefore, although he was nervous, he was not very afraid; he simply stayed by my mother's side without leaving her.

My mother quickly grabbed Xiao Wang and, with a smile, said: "Master Sun, the young man is inexperienced; please do not hold it against him. Ten yuan is ten yuan; here you go."

Oh? You want to inquire about something! The matters here are not to be asked for free. How about this, it will cost 10 yuan for each inquiry that needs to be resolved