Chapter 006: Surprise

I believe the changes from last night should have started from here. Even though the screen was pitch black, I was patiently watching it, staring at it for a long time. Suddenly, a voice came from behind me, startling me. I felt as if my whole body shook for a moment, and when I turned around, I saw my father standing behind me, though I didn't know when he had arrived. I complained to him about how he came in without making a sound. My father replied that it wasn't that he was silent, but rather that I was too focused. Then he looked at the screen and said, "How can you be so engrossed in a completely black screen?" He asked me if I was thinking about something.

Before my mother could finish speaking, the old lady became angry. She raised her voice, asking if my mother had not heard her words. She mentioned that her husband no longer worked, and then she asked us to leave. My mother and I were left feeling embarrassed, and we reluctantly walked out of her shop. I suggested that we should go back, but my mother was not willing to give up. She turned back into the old lady's store and inquired if there was anyone else who could help. Seeing us return, the old lady finally said that the woman from that family had a bad temper and was not well-liked in the area, advising us not to stoop to her level.

The old lady said that even if he cannot see, he can still recommend someone. She mentioned that these people are very easy to get along with and will not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. Even if they do not help themselves, they will point you towards a way out.

My mother was naturally willing, and she asked my father if he wanted to go. My father said he would be fine staying at home, so I went out with my mother. I indeed did not remember incorrectly; there is a small alley on Huguo Road, lined with old houses, featuring a long row of shops selling various odds and ends. Among them, there were several small storefronts displaying silver ingots and incense paper, and it was not just one shop, but several.

After that, my mother busied herself folding paper money, planning to send out this pair of cloth shoes tonight. My father went to help, but my mother told me not to touch those things and to go do what I was supposed to do. So, I returned to my room to continue watching the remaining videos.

Yet I have not changed at all, still staring fixedly at the door over there, and that gaze makes me feel somewhat frightened. When the door was opened, nothing came in, and the scene remained frozen like this. If it weren't for the progress bar continuously moving, I would have thought this was a still and unchanging image

I thought that after I woke up, I would get up, and then, like that night, I would move closer to the camera, placing it by the bedside. However, to my surprise, I ended up turning over and falling asleep again. After that, there was a long period of stillness; I seemed to have briefly "woken up" for a moment, though I have no recollection of it. Then, as if nothing had happened, I fell asleep again. This situation was so unexpected that I became increasingly curious about how the camera ended up by the bedside. After that, there was a long period of stillness; I seemed to have briefly "woken up" for a moment, though I have no recollection of it. Then, as if nothing had happened, I fell asleep again. This situation was so unexpected that I became increasingly curious about how the camera ended up by the bedside.

The old lady said that if we really want to find someone, she can help us get in touch with one, but this person lives far away, over in the North City area. Moreover, he has his own job and rarely helps others, giving off a somewhat reclusive vibe. I found it quite surprising when I heard the old lady say this, as I didn't expect there to be such people among the office workers in a big city. The old lady mentioned that his family has a deep heritage, so even if he doesn't want to learn, he has naturally absorbed a lot from a young age through constant exposure.

Little did we know that the old lady flatly refused, saying that her husband had long since stopped working. She suggested that we look elsewhere. My mother was taken aback for a moment and felt somewhat disappointed. Therefore, she mustered her courage and told her that our family was facing some urgent matters and needed someone to help take a look.

I listened to my father's scolding, not daring to respond, fearing that I might contradict him and make him unhappy. Then my mother called for my father from the living room to help her. Only then did my father remember the purpose of his visit to the room, but after he started to speak, he seemed somewhat hesitant. I found it strange and asked my father what was going on.

There is no need to ask about this; she must be communicating with people from her hometown over the phone, and it is certainly the person who caused the trouble that taught her to do this. I also do not want to go against my mother, so after thinking for a moment, I remembered that I had seen a few elderly ladies selling something on Huguo Road. Since it is still early in the day, they should still be there. Seeing my mother's anxious expression, I said I would take her there to have a look

Today is already Thursday, which means the matter will take place the day after tomorrow. Finally, my mother thanked me repeatedly as we returned home. Once at home, she began folding paper money, saying that she would send out the pair of cloth shoes tonight. I said nothing and let her proceed with her task. On the way back, I ordered takeout and had dinner with my family.

Then my dad quietly asked me, deliberately lowering his voice as if afraid my mom would hear. He asked whether this pair of shoes was indeed bought by me, and then seriously told me not to deceive them, questioning if I had done something mysterious that I hadn't told them about. I thought my dad knew about me recording a video of myself sleeping at night and was unsure how to respond. Suddenly, my dad changed the subject, saying that my mom found this pair of shoes in my wardrobe and that he had seen me wearing them that night.

I watched halfway through, still asleep myself, not even turning my body once. Just as I was feeling bored and puzzled, the camera suddenly went dark. At first, I thought it had finished recording, but when I looked at the progress bar, it was still moving. It was then that I realized the light had gone out, as the camera is not a professional recording device; without a light source, it was left in complete darkness.

I do not know whether my mother had calculated this in advance or acted on a whim. While the old lady was helping to install these items, my mother casually asked her if there was anyone who could help look into misfortunes. The old lady glanced at my mother and then at me; she was not sinister, but she had the typical frailty and dryness of an elderly woman. She mentioned that there was a place ahead that also sold paper money, and that her husband had been a Taoist priest, suggesting that we go there to inquire whether they could help.

My mother said she wants to go out to buy some things and asked me if I know where to buy paper money and incense. I am not sure about this myself, and I have not heard of any place here that sells such items. My mother mentioned that the ones she brought were all burned yesterday, and she needs to get some new ones to send along with these cloth shoes

I did not know how to respond, so I could only nod. My father curiously glanced at the screen again and then asked what it was, saying it seemed like there was a person. I looked at my father in panic, then at the screen, but I could see nothing. I asked my father what person he was talking about. My father then pointed at the dark screen and traced the lines for me, asking if it was a face.

The subsequent scene became quite dull, with basically no movement in the visuals, only the progress bar advancing. When I had watched about one-third of it, my mother suddenly came in. I paused the video, as my mother and the others were still unaware that I had recorded the video, and I did not want them to know, as it would only frighten them more

Upon hearing this, my mother felt as if she had grasped a lifeline, prompting her to ask the elderly lady for more details. She expressed her gratitude repeatedly and accompanied me to that shop. In this shop, there was also an elderly lady folding paper money, but this one appeared to be slightly younger. Although her hair was gray, she looked more robust, probably around sixty years old. Upon seeing us enter and noticing my mother carrying a bag of paper money, she inquired what we wished to purchase.

Upon hearing my father say this, I almost immediately stood up with a "bang." My father was startled by my reaction. I knew he was referring to that night when I was sitting on the sofa. I asked him again if he was sure, and he confidently replied that although it was dark at the time, he did not make a mistake. Moreover, my father is not a talkative person; he had noticed my shoes and was puzzled as to why I would wear such a pair, which seemed intentional. However, he did not mention this until my mother found the shoes, as he thought I might be afraid of my mother's reprimand. I asked my father once more if he was certain, and he assured me again that although it was dark, he did not make a mistake. He had indeed noticed my shoes and was curious about my choice, which appeared deliberate. Yet, he refrained from bringing it up until my mother discovered the shoes, believing that I might be worried about my mother's scolding, which is why he did not dare to say that I had indeed bought them home.

I know that my father keeps things to himself. He is not intentionally trying to hide this matter; he is just overthinking it. He fears that if his thoughts turn out to be true, it might ultimately damage my reputation. Therefore, he plans to clarify things with me first to understand the situation better, which can be considered a secret between father and son

Not saying anything, it was hard to tell, but after my dad mentioned it, it really was the case. This face almost covered the entire screen. I kept staring at the details, while my dad, from a distance, saw it just as a whole. That's why I couldn't figure it out. Noticing my unusual expression, my dad turned to ask me what it was. I was also unable to describe or determine what it was, because I wasn't sure if it was something in the room or if I had gotten up and run in front of the camera after the lights went out. I had done that before, so there was a lot of doubt. Seeing my unusual expression, my dad turned to ask me what it was. I was also unable to describe or determine what it was, because I wasn't sure if it was something in the room or if I had gotten up and run in front of the camera after the lights went out. I had done that before, so there was a lot of doubt.

It is precisely for this reason that I did not know how to explain it to my father, so I told him it was nothing, just a boring thing sent by a colleague. Upon hearing this, my father began to criticize, saying that I should avoid such superstitious matters, especially in the current situation, and that I should keep my distance from them. He then remarked that we young people truly do not understand the gravity of the situation.

We casually walked into a shop where an elderly lady in her seventies was folding silver ingots while listening to the television. She did not react much when we entered. I did not understand anything about paper money, so I just looked around aimlessly. My mother asked the elderly lady if she had something or other, and only then did the lady stop her work. She then asked my mother how many she needed and got up to fetch the items.

I feel a bit embarrassed, after all, I haven't bought any paper money from their family. I am afraid that the old lady might be somewhat displeased. My mother, however, doesn't mind much and casually asked if it is true that her husband can see spirits, which is why we came specifically to inquire about it

My mother was naturally overjoyed, but I had a vague feeling that this matter might be escalating. However, I knew my mother's temperament; if I opposed her at this moment, she would surely skin me alive. Therefore, although I was somewhat reluctant, I said nothing. Grandma suggested that she would give him a call and have him come here on the weekend when he was not working. We would also come along to let him hear the situation first. If he agreed, we would discuss the subsequent matters.