Chapter 5, The Doll of Ghosts

Huangshu Village is not large, and every household is not too far apart. Next to his home lives a family with the surname Zhang, consisting of only two men, both strong and robust. Lin Laoshi realized this and intended to call for help from the people nearby, but when he turned around, he found the surroundings shrouded in mist. Apart from being able to see clearly within the confines of his own yard, nothing else was visible.

When Granny Sun said this, Lin Laoshi and Li Shi both breathed a sigh of relief. Since Granny Sun said there was nothing to worry about, they could rest assured and focus on the pregnancy. A month passed in this manner, and before they knew it, it was July, yet there was still no sign of anything happening, until the fourteenth day of July.

Days passed by one after another. Li's belly grew larger and larger, and before long, it was the following year. However, after ten months of pregnancy, there was not a single movement from the child in her womb. According to local saying, a child that stays in the womb for more than half a month longer is destined for wealth and prosperity. For this reason, Li felt quite pleased with herself for a few days.

Lin Laoshi was taken aback, unsure of what was happening and even less certain of how to respond. At that moment, the originally clear sky suddenly became overcast with thick clouds, and a distant rumbling sound could be faintly heard. Raindrops began to fall, gradually increasing in intensity. Accompanying the sound of the rain was a faint whimpering... The cries, reminiscent of a night owl, echoed through the air, and within the curtain of rain, it was as if thousands of ghosts were wailing. Moreover, strands of white ominous energy, invisible to the naked eye, began to converge towards his yard.

Lin Laoshi knew that the fox had come seeking revenge. Seeing that it had not yet made a move, it was clear that it wanted to wait until the child was born. Having already taken the life of its offspring, it would not want to harm its own child. Lin Laoshi's eyes turned red as he squatted down to pick up the short axe placed at the door. Suddenly, he noticed that around his house, there were hundreds of ghostly flames. These flames were significantly larger than ordinary ghost flames, floating and swirling around his house, both in front and behind.

This is an extraordinarily strange black fox. Black foxes are already rare in the world, and this one has a deep purple fur around its waist. This fox is known as the Chancellor's Jade Belt, because the fur around its waist resembles the jade belt on an official's robe. It is said that this type of fox is an auspicious omen; whoever encounters it is destined to attain high office and ride fine horses, and its fur is worth a fortune. It is said that Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, possessed such a fox fur, which accompanied him in his southern and northern campaigns, turning misfortunes into blessings, ultimately pacifying the Central Plains. The fur around its waist resembles the jade belt on an official's robe, and it is said that this type of fox is an auspicious omen; whoever encounters it is destined to attain high office and ride fine horses, and its fur is worth a fortune. It is said that Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, possessed such a fox fur, which accompanied him in his southern and northern campaigns, turning misfortunes into blessings, ultimately pacifying the Central Plains.

As the saying goes, life and death are predetermined, and wealth and nobility are in the hands of fate. Since life and death are fixed constants, how could the Li family possibly delay them? Before long, the amniotic fluid broke, and Lin Laoshi could no longer sit still. Ignoring all the taboos, he hurriedly put on his clothes and rushed to find the village midwife. Just as he pushed open the door, he saw a black fox lying under the locust tree in his yard, two old hens with feathered tails lying dead beside it, its mouth slightly curled as if it were smiling at Lin Laoshi, with a pair of blood-red, cunning eyes.

Lin Laoshi could not afford a doctor, so he sought out Granny Sun from the village, who had some knowledge of treating minor ailments. Granny Sun, over sixty years old, was accustomed to treating small illnesses, relying on the remedies passed down through her family. She had enough to eat and drink and was known for her charitable nature. When Lin Laoshi invited her, although he could not offer much money, she still brought her medicine box and came along. In the practice of medicine, observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation are essential. Upon arriving at Lin Laoshi's home, Granny Sun observed that Li Shi's complexion was rosy, and the child in her womb did not seem to be in distress. It is known that a mother and child are closely connected; if the child were to feel any discomfort, it would inevitably show on the mother's face.

He hurriedly shouted, "Old Zhang's eldest brother, my wife is about to give birth, I can't leave, please help me call the midwife..." His voice was loud, but all he heard was the echo reverberating in the courtyard. Apart from his own shouts and his wife's cries, there was not a single sound, as if the entire world had ceased to exist, leaving only his household.

With a cry of "Ah!" from Li, she was immediately startled, but was soon overwhelmed by intense pain. Sweat beads the size of soybeans fell like rain from her forehead. The sensation was akin to dying, yet she retained a sliver of clarity in her mind. She hoarsely shouted at Lin Laoshi, "You can't get out, hurry and call for help, have someone assist in finding the midwife... Oh, it hurts so much."

At this moment, Li felt as if his entire body was falling apart, nearly fainting from the pain. Amidst his cries of agony, he saw Lin standing foolishly at the door, which only fueled his anger. He shouted at him, "Why aren't you going to fetch the midwife? What are you standing there for, hoping to see me die from the pain?"

As the days passed, one after another, the child in her womb remained calm and still, showing no signs of movement or impending birth. This made Li anxious. Although this was her first pregnancy, she had occasionally helped at childbirths in the village and knew that if a child stayed in the womb for too long, it could lead to stillbirth. Therefore, she asked Lin Laoshi to invite someone to come and take a look, hoping to avoid any mishaps.

As Lin Laoshi prepared everything at dusk, he returned to the house to talk with his wife. Li Shi was eagerly anticipating the birth of their child. A small oil lamp was lit in the room, and she was sewing tiny clothes for the baby in the dim light while conversing with Lin Laoshi. After a while, Li Shi felt a tightening and cramping in her abdomen, as the child inside began to stir. She felt uneasy, wondering why the child had chosen such a day to arrive.

An old saying goes that children born on the fourteenth day of the seventh month are ghostly dolls. On this day, there is not a single parent who does not wish for the well-being of their child. The Li family naturally hopes that the baby in the womb is doing well, so they endure their discomfort, gently rubbing their belly while comforting the child inside: "My dear, you have already been here for so many days, just hold on for one more day..."

He steeled his courage, raised the short axe, and was about to head towards the tree. However, just as he moved, two balls of ghostly green fire suddenly floated in front of his eyes. Lin Laoshi felt a sharp pain in his eyes as if they were being pricked by needles, and his entire body was enveloped by two chilling, dark auras. In an instant, he was frozen stiff and could no longer move.

A person in poverty has short ambitions, a thin horse has long hair. Lin, being honest, did not wish to take advantage of this fox, but unfortunately, his family was truly impoverished. Having never seen so much silver before, he was momentarily stunned. After a moment of hesitation, he steeled himself, gritted his teeth, and carried the bowl back into the room

Upon taking another pulse, it was steady, indicating that both mother and child were safe. He then said to Li: "As for the Lin family, your child is fine. It is normal for the baby to be born a few days earlier or later. Do not worry; just focus on nurturing the fetus peacefully."

Both of them were worried, remaining silent and unable to sleep, fearing that the two foxes would return to seek their misfortune. However, until dawn, the two foxes did not appear. Only then did the couple manage to sleep. After a month of anxiety without any incidents, they gradually felt relieved. With some money, Lin Laoshi bought two Luohua hens and also purchased some cotton cloth to sew a few small outfits for their unborn child.

July 14 is the Ghost Festival. It is said that every year, starting from July 1, the King of Hell orders the gates of hell to be opened wide, allowing the tormented souls and vengeful spirits who have been imprisoned in hell to emerge and enjoy the blood offerings of the human world. Therefore, people refer to July as the Ghost Month, a time considered inauspicious, during which marriages and relocations are avoided. On July 14, the gates of hell are wide open. The unclaimed wandering souls from the underworld surge into the human realm, roaming anywhere that humans might tread in search of food. Thus, July is regarded as the Ghost Month, a time deemed inauspicious, during which marriages and relocations are avoided. On July 14, the gates of hell are wide open. The unclaimed wandering souls from the underworld surge into the human realm, roaming anywhere that humans might tread in search of food

Li's child in her womb had always been calm and quiet, unlike the children of others who would stir and kick joyfully. As a result, the couple speculated that it might be a girl. However, it was strange that the usually inactive child was particularly active today, constantly moving and causing a commotion in her belly. Li was drenched in sweat, realizing that if this continued, the child would likely be born soon. She felt anxious, believing that this day was not auspicious, yet she also felt a sense of anticipation, as after more than a year of pregnancy, she would finally be able to see her own baby.

The fox laughs, and calamity arrives. Moreover, it is such a black fox; the Li family was so startled that they hurriedly clutched their stomachs and returned to the house. Lin Laoshi did not think too much about it, always feeling that he was in the right, as he did not intentionally cause the death of their fox cub. Once the fox left, his gaze remained fixated on the blue-and-white porcelain bowl on the ground, unable to tear himself away.

After shouting a few times, Lin Laoshi was unsure if the neighbors heard him. He could hear his wife screaming in a heart-wrenching manner, filled with both pain and anxiety. He dared not delay any longer and thought to himself that today, even if it cost him his life, he must protect the safety of his wife and child. He turned to Li Shi and shouted, "Hold on, I will confront that cunning fox right away, no matter what, I will ensure that you and the child are safe."

By this time, night had already deepened, and the hundred or so households in the village had long extinguished their lights and gone to sleep. Only Li's wife was increasingly in pain, groaning in agony. Lin Laoshi was anxious, sweating profusely, but Li's wife stubbornly held back, not allowing him to seek the midwife, hoping to endure until the end of the day. Even if she could not last until then, giving birth to the child during the day would make her feel less uncomfortable.

With a sudden motion, he slammed the door shut, steeled himself, stamped his foot, drew out a short axe, glared, and shouted loudly at the black fox: "You thieving fox, taking advantage of my family's poverty and my honesty. Today, I will fight you to the death. If I must sacrifice my life, you shall not harm my wife and children!"

There are many taboos on this day, such as not hanging wind chimes at the head of the bed: wind chimes can easily attract wandering souls. Those with a light destiny should not go out at night, as it will only bring trouble upon themselves. One should not stay up late, nor should one sleep with disheveled hair; everything must be tidied up neatly. It is best to be cautious in speech and behavior. On this night, every household must set up offerings for worship in front of their doors, referred to as "worshiping the doorway." This is merely to provide a resting place and food for passing lonely souls and wild spirits, praying that they do not intrude upon the family. Therefore, there is no need to offer overly lavish offerings; usually, it suffices to present a bowl of five flavors, cakes, and rice cakes. Each offering should have a stick of incense inserted, and a prayer should be made for the wandering souls and wild spirits to enjoy the offerings before continuing on their way.

Old Lin, upon being scolded by his wife, suddenly became clear-headed and exclaimed: "That black fox has come seeking revenge; I cannot leave."