Chapter 005: Ominous Objects

People who kneel on the street begging for money, those who feign illness to elicit sympathy, and those who strip in bars and nightclubs to make quick cash are everywhere. Who laughs at them? They still live freely and comfortably, don't they? So, regardless of what others say, just walk your own path, without worries about food, clothing, housing, or daily needs, unafraid of wind or rain. Isn't that better than anything else? Don't you agree?

Muthu and I directed the flashlight at the copper mirror on the windowsill and simultaneously turned on the flashlight... On the surface of the hexagonal copper mirror, we suddenly saw a bloody, grotesque head silhouette. A pair of blood-red eye sockets were terrifyingly suffocating, and it seemed as if there were two pools of blood within the eye sockets, with blood slowly oozing out from the corners of the eyes. The spilled blood was flowing down the two bloodstains on the copper mirror and trickling onto the windowsill

"Are you in a hurry to settle that matter of yours? I heard that your young lady is exceptionally beautiful; you must keep a close eye on her, lest some high official whisk her away." Mu Tu truly spoke what was on my mind. I couldn't care less about his broken mirror; I was thinking about my own wife! Although Mu Tu hit the nail on the head, I still had to feign modesty on the surface: "Oh, I'm really not worried, because my surname is Guo, not Wu; besides, my height of 1.8 meters isn't just for show!"

Oh my, is it my "brother-in-law" who wants me to go over, or is it my "daughter-in-law" who wants me to go over

After graduating, I found several jobs, but I was not very satisfied with any of them. I am also eager to venture into Beijing for a while

In order to see my light beauty earlier, I would naturally not refuse the invitation from my "brother-in-law"

Mutu glanced at the bronze mirror on the table and said, "What should be done with this mirror? It seems a pity to throw it away; yet, if I don't throw it, I can't shake off the feeling that this mirror is quite strange."

Mutu patted my shoulder: "Qian Ge, it's all right. If you don't believe me, look, there's nothing on the mirror."

Who made my wife so beautiful

Yao Jingzhi shook his head and said, "You must not take Uncle's words lightly, or you will regret it one day. Qian, you must keep your distance from this thing; our Yue'er is counting on you for a lifetime!"

How should I put this? Ghosts and deities are such matters; if you believe, they exist, and if you do not, they do not. Did he not just say that these are all derived from unofficial histories? Isn't it just hearsay and local tales? What is there to believe or not believe? In "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio," it mentions a painted skin; have you ever seen one?

That night, I slept at Mutu's house. The bronze mirror was still placed on the windowsill, which Mutu had cleaned very well. Each of us held a flashlight in one hand, lying quietly in bed, waiting for the appointed time to arrive

Mutu is indeed a person with military training, possessing a psychological resilience stronger than mine. He casually turned on the light, while I held onto Mutu tightly, not daring to look back

"It was Yue'er who called me, saying that you should return the call."

Upon a closer look, the mirror was indeed spotless

I really can't bear to throw it away? I won't be sleeping with you tonight, it's too scary

I am looking for you. Even Jun Ge does not know what big business to open in Beijing. He insists on having you go over to help him manage the store. I am informing you about this, so please give him a call back.

By the way, Uncle, what brings you here today? Are you looking for Mutu regarding something?

My brother-in-law, Yao Jun, came to pick us up. I had only heard that Yao Jun was wealthy, but upon meeting him, I realized that he was not just ordinarily wealthy. He drove a brand new Jeep Compass off-road vehicle, which had not yet been registered.

As I flipped through the phone book, my hands trembled uncontrollably, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't control it. Yao Jingzhi chuckled and said, "Look at your lack of composure; you turn into this as soon as you see someone. If you two were to meet in person, would you even be able to survive?"

However, I am merely in a nominal relationship with Yao Yue, and we are still a long way from achieving a true union. The distance between me and my 'brother-in-law' feels like a mountain. Nevertheless, I cannot help but feel a surge of emotions within me. The light beauty I have been longing for, Yao Yue, is also in Beijing, having followed Yao Jun to manage business affairs right after graduating from high school

Who should it be returned to

Upon first meeting, it is natural to exchange a few pleasantries: "Brother, what business have you been engaged in all these years in Beijing? You seem to be doing quite well, yet I haven't heard anything about you in the village."

When I woke up, it was already noon, and Muthu was still sitting in the computer chair, staring at the bronze mirror in his hand, looking back and forth.

To be quite frank, it is so genuine that one is left at a loss for words. This is my brother-in-law, Yao Jun

There is nothing much to say; what is the point of saying so much? If you are not doing well, speaking too much will make others think we are boasting; if you are truly doing well, speaking too much will make others think we are putting on airs. It is better to say nothing at all; let us earn our money and live our own lives. Whether others thrive or starve is a matter for heaven to decide; it is not our concern, nor do we wish to be concerned.

Is this bronze mirror truly an ominous object? After dawn, we should dispose of it, the farther the better

I leaped into Muthu's arms, and Muthu exclaimed, "Ah... there is a ghost!"

Before leaving, Yao Jing earnestly reminded Mu Tu once again to dispose of the bronze mirror and to never keep it in the house

I am really a bit nervous

Muthu and I quietly sat up; it was the dead of night, and there was not a sound outside the window. Yet, we could distinctly hear a faint sound of crying, intermittent and elusive, sometimes near and sometimes far...

To my surprise, Yao Jun and Mu Tu were engaged in a lively exchange, each taking turns to speak, with Mu Tu becoming increasingly animated as the conversation progressed

Mutu remained silent. He picked up the mirror and examined it under the light for quite a while, as if lost in thought. I kept waiting for Mutu to speak, but I waited until dawn, and in my drowsiness, I fell asleep without hearing a word from him.

However, there was a pool of blood on the windowsill

Mutu asked me: "Qian Ge, do you believe what your father-in-law said?"

How about we set off this afternoon? The earlier we arrive, the sooner we can settle this matter

Listening to their conversations, one can fall asleep without taking tranquilizers—yet it is all just the ephemeral chatter of life, how tiresome!

How about we wait by the tree stump tonight to see what is truly going on, so we won't have to scare ourselves with unfounded suspicions in the future

"You can handle it yourself"

I pretended to be calm as I took out my phone, just about to dial: "By the way, Uncle, why didn't my brother call me himself? Why did you have to come in person?"

In fact, I have heard somewhat about what Yao Jun is doing in Beijing. Some say it involves underground dealings—underground dealings? To put it bluntly, it refers to the work of grave digging; to be even more straightforward, it is the profession of tomb raiding.

I was secretly delighted when Mu Tu called me. He asked me to come over to his house to sleep.

To make a long story short: after transferring in Xi'an, we arrived in Beijing by noon the next day

When are you going to Beijing? I would like to go with you to show this bronze mirror to Yao Jun. Hasn't he been dealing with cultural relics all along?

I called Yao Yue, and sure enough, it was www.hetushu.com. She wants me to go over, partly to help watch the store, and partly so we can be together... Hehe, this is indeed the most heart-stirring thing I've experienced since graduating from university over a year ago. Previously, I kept postponing the wedding, thinking I should find a stable job before getting married, but after more than a year of turmoil, I have really become somewhat disheartened. My earlier ambitions have almost been worn away, yet I dare not discuss marriage with my family... I fear being laughed at by Yao Yue. During this time, I've been cooped up at home, suffering from the torment of longing... Oh, today even the cold water seems tastier than before.

I have also heard from Yao Yue that although his brother is not highly educated, he has gained considerable experience over the years. He can accurately determine the dynasty of many cultural relics just by handling and examining them. He has already gained some recognition in the Panjiayuan antique market: it is a good idea. Even if Yao Jun cannot discern anything of value, he can still help find a good buyer and sell it at a good price, right

Mutu nodded vigorously, much like a chick pecking at grains: "Yes, yes, what Jun said is absolutely correct. There is no need to envy those who are more prosperous than us; when we encounter those who are less fortunate, we should not take pride in it either. Life is only a few decades long, and it can end at any moment. No one can guarantee how long they will be able to bounce around. If we are to live, we must do so freely and joyfully, embracing life with ease and grace"

In a daze, I felt the phone under my pillow vibrating: the alarm I had set in advance—2:00 AM!