Chapter Two, The First Seven Days, Night of Terror

The body was later transported back to Caofeidian. The old gentleman's son, who holds considerable influence in the area, arranged for the body not to be cremated and planned to bury it in the family ancestral grave.

Certainly, the prophecies of the debt-knife man have been passed down from ancient times to the present, countless times, yet they have never been unfulfilled

Today is the day of the funeral

With a puff, the Zippo flame, which could not be extinguished even after the third attempt, was once again snuffed out by the wind. This time, the breeze that swept in carried a distinctly eerie sensation, causing goosebumps to rise from the feet to the scalp of both father and daughter.

On this night, with the moon obscured and the wind howling, in front of a villa at Caofeidian Guanlan Lake Garden, Lin Yuan called out his only daughter after sending his wife back to her family. He set up a ladder made of yellow paper in front of their house, with offerings placed beside it. After paying respects to his late father around eight o'clock in the evening, he burned the ladder.

If the prophecy left at that time had not taken shape, this kitchen knife would be given to you for free

Wang Jingzhe is a debt collector, a title that represents a certain profession. It is said to be associated with one of the most mysterious organizations in folklore. However, with the passage of time and the changes in history, this profession has gradually faded from people's sight, but fading does not mean it no longer exists

A few days ago, the elderly gentleman from a prominent family in Caofeidian met with a sudden car accident while traveling on the highway. The Volkswagen Phaeton he was riding in was directly struck by a trailer, transforming the sedan into a compact car. The occupants inside, of course, did not survive. The elderly gentleman's body was so severely compressed that it became deformed, and his corpse was torn into several pieces by the twisted wreckage, making it impossible to piece together, as some limbs had been shredded into fragments.

There is a feeling known as shivering without the cold

Three days later, if there are any changes in your home, you may come to the hotel next to the train station with this kitchen knife to find me

In three days, it will be the seventh day after the passing

Lin Yuan took out a Zippo lighter from his pocket, slid his finger across the flint wheel, and after a flame the size of his little finger flickered to life, he carefully extended it beneath the ladder.

Wang Jingzhe stood by the window, pinching a few fingers and murmuring softly, "The ominous energy is overwhelming..."

Three days have passed in the blink of an eye. According to custom, this evening marks the first seven days after the passing of the old master of a prominent family, known as the "head seven". It is said that on this night, the soul of the deceased returns home for a visit. Family members should burn a heavenly ladder or send up sky lanterns to guide the soul to the underworld, allowing it to reincarnate and be reborn. If the heavenly ladder is not burned on the head seven, the deceased's soul may believe that the family is keeping it, and it might refuse to leave. In such a case, the family could end up being haunted.

"Is your grandfather not planning to leave?" Lin Yuan said with a frown, seemingly joking.

Lin Xianyu, dressed in plain clothing, with a somewhat mournful expression on her face, was about to bid farewell to her grandfather with the offerings on the ground. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the area, and the match that Lin Yuan had just struck went out with a soft "puff".

Afterwards, in the blink of an eye, it was 1976, a decade had passed since the turmoil had subsided

Ten years later, after the great chaos has passed, the land of Huaguo will welcome a new atmosphere

Therefore, in funeral customs, the burning of the first seven days is of utmost importance

It has been said since ancient times that in the northeastern region, families that worship household deities will find that if the offerings lose moisture after a day or two, it indicates that the deity has absorbed the essence from the offerings, proving that there is indeed a household deity present in the home, which is considered a good omen

It is midnight, one minute to twelve.

Lin Yuan looked down and saw that the fruits in the offerings were originally quite fresh, but he did not know when they suddenly became dry and shriveled, as if they had been exposed to the sun for too long. The piece of longevity cake had become particularly withered, and it was obvious that a mere touch would cause it to crumble.

"Crack!" Lin Yuan struck a match and said to his daughter: "After the fire is out, no one can stay at home tonight. You and I will go to your grandmother's house to stay for the night... Xianyu, pay your respects to your grandfather with the offerings."

One year, the profession of the credit knife seller suddenly vanished from the public sphere. That year, the winds of reform swept across 9,600,000 square kilometers, and many individuals labeled as superstitious or associated with strange and chaotic forces were all confined to the cattle sheds. That year, the credit knife sellers disappeared from the streets and alleys.

With a "sizzle," Lin Yuan did not take it seriously and proceeded to strike another match. Just as he was about to bring it under the ladder, the gentle breeze that had just passed seemed to turn around and return, causing the match to extinguish with a "puff" sound.

They also walk among the people, carrying several hetushucomcom kitchen knives in their backpacks. Wherever they go, they encounter individuals or matters of interest, and at times, they leave behind a series of mysterious, perplexing, and bewildering prophecies.

Prophecies of this nature have been left countless times by the debt-collecting knife-wielders throughout the annals of history. If you choose to believe that they will provide you with a kitchen knife or scissors, on the day the prophecy comes to fruition, they will appear before you punctually to collect their payment.

Two jin of pig head meat, a handful of peanuts, and a bottle of liquor all went into Wang Jingzhe's stomach. He burped and pushed open the window, gazing towards the east

During the three years of natural disasters, a man with a credit knife arrived at a village in the drought-stricken central Hebei Plain. He approached the village secretary, who was leading the villagers in digging for Guanyin clay and gnawing on tree bark, his face pale and emaciated, and said: "You can keep this vegetable knife for now. A year and a half later, when the disaster has passed and everyone can eat their fill, I will come back to collect the payment"

During the day, Wang Jingzhe once drove a kitchen knife into an old grave and left behind a message

It is said that before the debtor disappeared, he left behind a prophecy.

Dad?" Lin Xianyu suddenly pointed at the offerings placed on the ground, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. The offerings consisted of longevity cakes and several types of fruit, all of which were the elderly's favorite foods.

Putting down the pig's head meat and wine he was carrying, Wang Jingzhe took off the canvas bag from his back and laid out several ordinary-looking kitchen knives and scissors on the bed. He then carefully wiped them with a white towel, his eyes filled with reverence

Next spring, the Yellow River will flood here. You may leave this kitchen knife behind. When the river floods and all the people in your village have moved away, I will come back to collect the money

Lin Yuan and Lin Xianyu, the father and daughter, locked eyes, their bodies slightly stiff. Some things, when they happen once, can be called coincidence; when they happen again, that is called a trick

As Wang Jingzhe ascended to the second floor and pushed open a door, a wave of dampness mixed with a musty odor rushed towards him. The floor creaked underfoot, producing a sound of "creak, creak". The room contained only a bed, a chair, and a makeshift toilet that emitted a pungent smell of disinfectant.

The credit knife seller has always existed in the world, possibly in some corner, perhaps on the streets or under the bridge, with a piece of tattered cloth spread out in front, displaying old-fashioned and rustic kitchen knives and scissors