Chapter 8, Chen Jiutong's Reminder

It was sent by the leather jacket customer, who asked me to immediately buy a large Lu Hua rooster. The redder the comb, the better, and the more colorful the tail feathers, the better. At night, tie it to the windowsill of the room and use a black dog to guard the door, and do not turn off the lights while sleeping

Chen Jiutong smiled apologetically and said to me: "Those of us in this line of work have dark fortunes at home. Since you have not been doing well lately, I won't invite you in to sit down."

If all of this is directed by him, then he is truly terrifying. When the coffin was pressed down by a ghost, he was clearly behind it. What exactly was pressing on the coffin? Was it really a ghost, or did he employ some mysterious means?

... ...

In the end, I only asked him for a phone number, which he provided, saying that I could contact him if there was anything.

The leather-clad individual not only saved me but also helped me clear my name, for which I am quite grateful to him

Thus, I hurried back, leaving the leather-clad guests far behind, and all the questions that had been swirling in my mind were forgotten.

The most suspicious thing is that the leather-clad man clearly made Hong Qingsheng's wife close her eyes, so why is there still a sound of movement coming from the coffin? Could it be that he never truly made Hong Qingsheng close his eyes, but instead used a trick to deceive, for example, by using glue or something similar?

Chen Jiutong noticed my unease, smiled to comfort me, and then specifically reminded me: "When feeding, use some freshly harvested glutinous rice; as for water, dew is best, but if not available, clean spring water will suffice"

I placed the chicken cage in the store, then went home for dinner, and afterwards I asked my mother for a bag of last year's newly harvested glutinous rice. I then took my black tiger and settled down in the store. My mother asked me why I needed the rice, and I lied, saying that I would be staying up late to repair my phone and that I was afraid I would get hungry at night and wanted to make porridge to drink.

After finishing the meal, the driver of the leather jacket guest drove to the entrance. He stood up and said he had to leave for something. I originally wanted to take the opportunity to ask him something, so I said I would see him off. Unexpectedly, my mother insisted on seeing him out as well, and the opportunity was lost again

After he bowed once, the coffin slid down into the river. In retrospect, it seems very much like it was kicked down by some force.

I would like to ask again, but Chen Jiutong shook his head, unwilling to say more. It is still the same saying: knowing too much brings no benefit

"Do not ask." Before I could finish my sentence, Chen Jiutong interrupted directly, saying: "Just do as you are told, knowing it will not benefit you."

It is indeed the same sentence as that of the leather jacket wearer

Ordinary people would certainly look for me downstream, yet he chose to go upstream to the creek. Could it be that he knew I would be taken there

I had a lump in my throat and said: "Uncle Jiu, do you know that I ... ... "

The leather-clad individual said I need a Lu Hua rooster, and now Chen Jiutong is saying the same. Doesn't that imply that something really happened at night? Are they coming to harm me?

I used to frequently work overtime in the store assembling and debugging computers, handling repairs and the like. When it got too late, I would simply stay there, so a bed was provided, which was quite convenient

Upon arriving at Chen Jiutong's home, he was painting a new coffin. The color of the paint made me feel somewhat uneasy, inexplicably reminding me of congealed blood

I shiver directly, the black dog has arrived, the black tiger is here, but whose family has the big rooster with the reed feathers

If you do not come, Uncle will have to send it to you in a while. Uncle Jiu smiled and said, This chicken has helped me guard the house over the years, and nothing has ever happened. With it around, ordinary things do not dare to come close

As I just arrived at the riverbank on the south side of the village, I saw the village chief, Ma Yongde, accompanied by a large group of his relatives, including brothers, nephews, uncles, and cousins, coming along the river. They were all calling my name, and upon seeing me, they rushed over in excitement. My parents were even more anxious, wiping away their tears. When they saw that I was safe, they repeatedly expressed their gratitude to heaven and earth. Upon learning that it was the leather-clad stranger who had saved me, they were almost moved to kneel down in gratitude.

I suddenly felt anxious and hurriedly called him to ask what was going on, but he did not answer. Instead, he replied to me with a text message, saying to just follow his instructions and not to ask too many questions, as knowing would not be beneficial.

I rode my tricycle towards Chen Jiutong's house, casually bringing along a cigarette and two bottles of liquor. Since we are from the same village, it would not be appropriate to give money directly; it is more suitable to bring some gifts.

I broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly asked him: "Uncle Jiu, did something happen in the evening? We need to..."

I took out my phone and saw that it had been completely water-damaged and could not be turned on. I replaced it with a new one. Just after I inserted the SIM card and powered it on, I received a text message that made my heart race once again

As I pondered, I thought of Chen Jiutong

I felt a chill in my heart, and on the way back, I almost drove the car into the field.

Just right, it saves me from tying it up, and I have also tied the black tiger next to the door

The people present, upon hearing that the coffin was missing, could do nothing but express that it was good enough to have saved a life. As for the coffin of Hong Qingsheng's wife, if it is gone, then so be it; she was merely an outsider. During this period, the Hong family has truly disturbed the entire village, and it is time for this to come to an end

Arrived

The big rooster and the black dog are both things that the elderly say can ward off evil spirits. He wants me to place these two items in the room while I sleep. Could it be that there are malevolent forces coming to harm me tonight

After returning home, I no longer dared to stay there. In case something were to come looking for me, I did not want to involve my parents. Therefore, I took the rooster and went directly to the store, planning to stay there.

I walked over with a smile while holding the gift, contemplating how to begin the conversation in a suitable manner

What is his name? The village chief, Ma Yongde, refers to him as Boss Pi, but I have a feeling that his surname is not Pi. The surname Pi is likely derived solely from his nickname 'the leather jacket boss'.

Moreover, the words spoken by Ma Jialiang just before the coffin fell into the water... The more I think about it, the more I realize that there are numerous doubts surrounding the man in the leather jacket

After seeing off the leather jacket guest, I sat on the bench at home. Having had a bit to drink, I felt slightly tipsy, and with the black tiger by my side, I relaxed.

Wait a moment

My father immediately pulled the leather-clad guest aside and insisted on inviting him to our home for a meal to express his gratitude. The leather-clad guest did not refuse and later told everyone that I had fainted from choking on river water, when in fact I had only swallowed some water and was otherwise unharmed. As for the coffin of Hong Qingsheng's wife, he did not see it either; it either drifted away or sank after hitting a submerged rock.

If both individuals say so, it must certainly be true

Chen Jiutong saw me, smiled as he set down the paint bucket, and turned to walk into the house

I felt a mix of anxiety and unease, my mouth moved a few times, yet I ultimately lacked the courage to ask again, because the leather-clad individual had mentioned that the more one knows, the deeper the entanglement becomes. I am truly frightened now and can only hope that these chaotic matters will pass quickly

I felt a warmth in my heart; after all, it was the uncle from my village who watched me grow up. Even before I arrived, he was already thinking of sending something over to me

Is the leather jacket owner's timber business operating at a loss

Rest assured, it is a few degrees fiercer than a hunting dog, and nothing will happen

Without saying anything else, it is quite suspicious that he can accurately locate my position

However, what gives me a bit of reassurance is that this person is different from the Yellow Emperor and should not harm me; otherwise, there would have been no need to save me today

As all of this was completed, the night began to fall

As soon as I heard it, I understood his insinuation. The world is bustling for profit, and everyone clamors for gain. If the leather-clad man's timber business continues to incur losses, then his purpose is likely not to make money.

I repeatedly waved my hands to indicate that it was fine, but upon his remark, I felt even less inclined to enter. I took the chicken cage and placed it in the back of the car, wanting to leave as quickly as possible

Upon returning home, my father warmly welcomed the guests in leather jackets, while my mother called a few aunts to help prepare an extravagant feast. This meal was particularly sumptuous, and we even had some wine.

Chen Jiutong pondered for a moment and said, "The timber business he has been running in our village has been consistently losing money"

This is clearly a lie, yet I can only nod in agreement. As he said, some things, when spoken of, serve no purpose other than to incite panic. If one is not careful, they may even be regarded as a lunatic, with others pointing fingers behind their back

Chen Jiutong is clearly reminding me that the appearance of the leather-clad individual is quite suspicious

After three rounds of drinks, the leather-clad guest remained unfazed, while my father was completely drunk, like a pile of mush. I felt quite stifled, with a belly full of questions that I dared not ask in front of my parents. The events of today were too bizarre and terrifying, and I feared it would frighten them.

As I rode my bike home, my mind was in a state of turmoil. It was one thing for Chen Jiutong to remain silent, but I had originally placed a fair amount of trust in the Leather-clad Man. Setting aside everything else, the fact that he saved my life was enough reason for my trust. However, after his remarks, I realized that there were indeed too many doubts surrounding the Leather-clad Man.

What does this text message mean

I thought he was inviting me into the house, so I followed him inside. However, after only a few steps, I saw him come out again, holding a chicken coop, and inside the coop was a strikingly large rooster with feather patterns.

I was filled with curiosity and asked, "What happened to him, Uncle Jiu?"

I am still waiting to marry and have children, as I am the only child in my family. It cannot continue like this.

It is already afternoon, and if we do not go to find the sky soon, it will be dark.

Rather than this, it is better to lie

I nodded and took note, then placed the wine and cigarettes on a small stool beside me, saying that there was nothing else and that I would take my leave.

Chen Jiutong's words should be credible, after all, making coffins requires timber, and one should have some understanding of the depth of the timber industry

Uncle Jiu

If it were not for the purpose of making money, what other objectives could he have in Hong Village

From this deduction, could it be that the coffin that later fell into the water was orchestrated by him?

The comb is bright red, the beak is hooked, resembling that of an eagle, with a pair of piercing eyes that shine with intensity, giving off a fierce appearance. The tail is particularly colorful, featuring a variety of hues.

Chen Jiutong made a living by making coffins and helping people carry them, both of which were considered inauspicious trades. No one was willing to build houses near his family, so in Hong Village, they lived in a standalone house. Every morning at dawn, the roosters in his direction were always the first to crow, and apart from his family, there was no one else.

My shop is not large, about the size of a room. There is a door in the front and a window in the back. I closed the door and window tightly, placed a table under the window, and put some straw on it. I let the rooster out; I originally intended to tie it up, but unexpectedly, it proactively jumped onto the table and settled down on the straw, surprisingly showing a sense of understanding.

Everyone basically did not think much and dispersed, only the coffin bearer Chen Jiutong looked at me a few times, seemingly puzzled, but he said nothing and left with the others

But I soon realized, and my heart was startled once again

After finishing that cigarette, the leather-clad man said he would take me back to the village. I thought about it and became anxious; my parents would surely go frantic upon hearing the news of my falling into the water

As soon as I started my car, Chen Jiutong called out to me again. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "That leather jacket owner, you should be more cautious."