Chapter 001: The Kite

Perhaps good people are rewarded for their kindness. Since then, the business in the store gradually improved, and we received a large order, placing an order for dozens of floral wreaths and many funeral supplies. I was extremely busy, and my mood gradually improved along with the business, slowly rekindling my hope for life

Where can I find a toy store? I was both amused and exasperated, thinking I could start a business. However, the other party was a little girl, and I couldn't get angry. I gently explained that what I sell here are items for the deceased, not toys. She didn't care and kept repeating her request for toys.

Since my family has settled in the city, my father has been considering disposing of the old house in the countryside. He is getting older and is not suited for traveling, so it naturally falls to me, his son, to assist. The old house does not contain anything of significant value, just some old items that hold the memories of our family. My father specifically instructed me to bring them back. While sorting through the belongings, I came across the kite from my childhood. The passage of time has caused the kite to yellow and wear, with its edges and corners frayed, yet the bloodstains on it remain vivid, as if they had just been dripped on.

When I was a child, my family was poor, and I often envied other children who had toys. My father, unable to withstand my nagging, made me a kite from hard yellow paper he got from my uncle's flower shop. Although the materials were subpar, my father's craftsmanship was excellent, and the kite he made could always fly very high, surpassing those of the other children. On several occasions, they angrily claimed that my kite was a piece of junk, to which I proudly replied that even a junk kite was better than theirs. However, one time, when I was bringing the kite back, I was utterly shocked.

So many years have passed, and it is unreasonable that the bloodstains remain the same as before. Childhood memories surged back, sending a chill down my spine, and goosebumps covered my arms. This matter seemed increasingly eerie, and the old house, long uninhabited, felt particularly sinister. Without further ado, I took out my lighter and set fire to those unwanted old pieces of furniture. I couldn't tell if it was my illusion, but the flames seemed much larger than I had imagined, crackling fiercely as if burning something with great intensity. In the end, I heard a faint sound of crying.

After more than three years of relationship, she only now tells me that we are not suitable? I can hardly believe it and cannot accept this outcome. I shouted at her, asking where she was, that I would go to see her, but she said she didn't want to see me and hung up the phone. After that, she blocked me. I feel like a little dog that has been abandoned. That night, I gathered a few close friends to drink. At first, everything was normal, but after drinking too much, I don't even know what was said, and we ended up fighting. Since then, we have had no contact with each other. I feel like a little dog that has been abandoned. That night, I gathered a few close friends to drink. At first, everything was normal, but after drinking too much, I don't even know what was said, and we ended up fighting. Since then, we have had no contact with each other.

I harshly comfort myself, thinking that if I lose a woman or a bookish person, I can find another; if I lose a friend, I can make new ones. As long as I have money, why should I worry about not having women or friends? Before graduating from university, I had secured a job at a state-owned enterprise, with a monthly salary of over 10,000, plus bonuses and commissions. However, when I arrived at the company, I learned that the previous supervisor had already jumped ship to another place, rendering his promises completely void. I had to go through the interview process again. Suppressing my frustration, I said okay, and the new supervisor waved his hand, telling me to go back and wait for a call. When I arrived at the company, I learned that the previous supervisor had already jumped ship to another place, rendering his promises completely void. I had to go through the interview process again. Suppressing my frustration, I said okay, and the new supervisor waved his hand, telling me to go back and wait for a call.

This time I am truly in despair, feeling as if all my studies have gone to waste, unable to do anything well. However, there is no alternative; for the sake of survival, I can only grit my teeth and persevere

As I listened carefully, I heard nothing at all. I touched my cold arm and felt that this place was eerie. That afternoon, I left my hometown and returned to the big city, and I immediately felt at ease. Just as I entered my home, I received a call from my girlfriend. We hadn't seen each other for a few days, and I missed her quite a bit. While I was pondering how to say a few sweet words, she coldly told me that she wanted to break up. I was stunned at that moment and said, "Don't joke with me." She replied that it was not a joke, but that she felt we were not suited for each other. Just as I entered my home, I received a call from my girlfriend. We hadn't seen each other for a few days, and I missed her quite a bit. While I was pondering how to say a few sweet words, she coldly told me that she wanted to break up. I was stunned at that moment and said, "Don't joke with me." She replied that it was not a joke, but that she felt we were not suited for each other

In a very short time, I went from being the envy of everyone as a favored child of fortune to being so down and out that I couldn't even secure the most basic job. My parents have grown gray with worry over my situation, and former close relatives have gradually distanced themselves from me. When others look at me, their gazes are like knives, and there are always whispers behind my back. "Look, that's so-and-so, who used to act so arrogantly. Now, not even a construction site wants him to carry bricks."

Naturally, I attended a prestigious university, and my grades remained consistently excellent. In my sophomore year, I started dating a girlfriend who was not only beautiful but also came from a wealthy family. Initially, I felt quite insecure, but she told me that what she liked was me as a person, not my money. In that moment, I fell deeply in love with her and vowed to treat her well for a lifetime. Our relationship has been quite stable, and after graduating from university, we were already discussing marriage.

The kite, which was perfectly fine, surprisingly came down from the sky stained with blood, its back a vivid red, with streaks of flowing marks. I was so frightened that I hurried home. My father thought something had happened and rushed out in a panic. When I told him about it, he didn't believe me; he thought I had accidentally dirtied the kite and was fabricating a lie out of fear of being punished.

Every time I hear such words, my heart feels like it's being torn apart, but what can I do? Continuous failures have long dulled my edges, and in my extreme despair, I gradually lost hope and resigned myself to fate, returning to my hometown to take over my uncle's wreath shop. Unexpectedly, the wreath shop, which was doing reasonably well before I took over, has gradually fallen into decline. My peers regard me as a joke, yet I do not understand what is happening, as I clearly have not done anything at all

I sighed and suddenly thought of my childhood. Looking at the little girl's tattered clothes, I felt that her family conditions were also poor, and a sense of compassion arose within me. I looked around and found a paper lantern, tentatively asking, "Is this good?"

Since that day, not only did I not encounter any mishaps, but I also experienced a streak of good fortune. Firstly, in my studies, despite not putting in much effort, I felt as if I had divine assistance during every exam. My parents bought me many toys as rewards, and my relatives and friends took a liking to me. I became the hope of the village, attending prestigious schools for both junior and senior high. During the college entrance examination, I was even the top scorer in our city. The director of the education bureau personally awarded me a big red flower, and my father was so happy that he shed tears. That evening, he insisted on treating me to two jin of liquor.

I am utterly aggrieved, yet I have a history of telling such lies in the past. No matter how I tried to explain, my father simply did not believe me. He even got angry and slapped me on the backside, saying that I should clean up the kite myself; otherwise, I should not expect him to buy me any toys in the future

She shook her head: "Brother, can you give me a toy?"

After waiting for more than two weeks without any news, I called to inquire, and they told me that they had already hired someone new and no longer needed me. Their arrogant attitude made it clear that they were toying with me. I was furious; why was I the one facing such misfortune? There was no choice but to start looking for a job again. I had thought that coming from a prestigious university would make it easy to find a job, but I kept hitting walls. Once, I lost control of my emotions and flipped the table in front of the company manager. A group of security guards came and beat me up, shouting at me: "Don't think too highly of yourself; even graduates from Tsinghua University are selling tea eggs, what do you think you are?" There was no choice but to start looking for a job again. I had thought that coming from a prestigious university would make it easy to find a job, but I kept hitting walls. Once, I lost control of my emotions and flipped the table in front of the company manager. A group of security guards came and beat me up, shouting at me: "Don't think too highly of yourself; even graduates from Tsinghua University are selling tea eggs, what do you think you are?"

I struggled with my thoughts for a long time, but in the end, I still felt that the toy was a bit more important. Suppressing my fear, I took a brush to clean the bloodstains on the kite. Strangely enough, it seemed as if the stains were dyed on; no matter how much I dipped it in water and wiped, they wouldn't come off. I brought it close to my nose to smell it, but there was no fishy odor. What should I do if I can't get it clean? I was afraid of being discovered by my dad, so I hid the kite under the cabinet. Over time, both my dad and I forgot about the kite.

A few days passed like this, and I still hadn't opened for business. In the afternoon, feeling dejected, I was about to close the door when I noticed someone entering the shop. It was a little girl in a red dress, with pigtails, around seven or eight years old. She looked quite cute, though her little face was somewhat pale. I initially thought she had come with her parents, but after glancing outside several times and seeing no one, I asked her: "Little sister, what are you here to buy?"

She nodded slightly, did not express her thanks, and walked away holding the paper lantern