Chapter 004: The Black Book Case

I sat up in bed with a start, and at that moment, I recalled the matter of the writing desk placed in the shop. Could it be that it really is haunted, just as Ning Haoyu mentioned?

I nodded and began to take out the key, when Ning Haoyu grabbed my hand and asked what I was doing. I replied, "How can I tell if it's a ghost just by listening to the sound? I need to see it with my own eyes"

I laughed at him: "I do not understand your business methods, as you have driven all the customers away"

I was sleeping soundly when I shouted towards the yard: "Can't you come back quietly in the middle of the night? Don't you know that everyone is already asleep?"

No one answered me, and the direction in which the shadow floated by seemed to be towards my little shop

As for Ning Haoyu's shop, it has simply closed its doors, as he is preparing to change careers and has no intention of working diligently for the remaining days

Around two or three o'clock in the early hours of the morning, I heard a faint sound coming from the courtyard, resembling the sound of a door opening, as well as the sound of someone moving a table

Hearing me say this, Ning Haoyu lowered his voice and said, "Thief, then let's go catch him"

Ah? Upon hearing Ning Haoyu say this, I began to feel a bit incredulous, and then I thought he was trying to scare me. My grandfather and I have been in the business of dealing with the deceased for many years, and I have never seen any ghosts or monsters appear.

I turned over and continued to sleep. I thought it might be a tenant from the second floor returning, because on the second floor, besides that chubby internet manager, there is also a night owl type of tenant, a woman in her late twenties, who is of average appearance but has a good figure. She works at a KTV and often thinks about using her body to offset the rent, but I have always rejected her offers.

Creak!

I set up my little shop, and Ning Haoyu and I started eating skewers at a barbecue stall near my home, enjoying a bottle of wine.

I stopped the car with the * picture * book and said: "My grandfather has passed away"

I thought for a moment, then bit my finger to draw a vertical line on my own forehead, and then drew another one on Ning Haoyu's forehead.

Ning Haoyu thought for a moment and said, "I haven't seen it either. How about we go take a look? If it doesn't work out, we can just run away. There are so many households living in this courtyard, so we don't need to be too afraid, right?"

Ning Haoyu said: "On the first day, are you mistaken? This lock is perfectly fine."

Ning Haoyu looked terrified and lowered his voice as he said: "Isn't that voice just creepy?"

However, I had barely fallen asleep when a loud "creak" echoed through the room, and this sound was several decibels louder than the last one, piercing and grating, causing goosebumps to rise all over my body

Moreover, ever since he accepted this book case, the business at Ning Haoyu's shop has been declining increasingly. There are times when there are several consecutive days without any customers. He has considered throwing away this book case, but whenever he has such thoughts, he feels reluctant in his heart, after all, it was purchased with money

Ning Haoyu said: "My uncle opened a larger store in the city and asked me to help out. I went over to invest in shares. The antique furniture business is quite challenging in our county, as there are still too few wealthy individuals. However, there are many wealthy people in the city, and my uncle has numerous connections, making it easier to operate.

He then asked me if I had set my eyes on anything. I took a look around and finally pointed to the pure black writing desk at the entrance, saying: "That one, how much is it"

At that time, Ning Haoyu looked at the table made of ancient pine wood, which had good quality. Without inquiring further about the situation, he spent money to acquire it. However, he later discovered the oddities involved. After seeking information from others, he realized it was too late to change his mind.

And beside one of the legs of the desk where the books are placed, there squats a dark shadow.

Under the influence of alcohol, the two of us quickly fell asleep

I looked out the window and saw nothing in the yard, there was not a single shadow on the stairs, and outside it was pitch dark, only barely able to discern the shapes of objects

I retorted to him, if it were true, why didn't he sell the book stand to that person just now? Ning Haoyu smiled wryly and said: "Business people, who doesn't want to earn a little more? I saw that he was interested, so I just wanted to raise the price a bit. This is a common tactic we use in business, you wouldn't understand."

While I was lost in thought, a faint sound suddenly emanated from my small shop, distinctly the sound of someone tapping on the surface of the new writing desk I had just purchased.

Upon arriving at Ning Haoyu's shop, I saw a middle-aged man bargaining with him

Ning Haoyu told me to stop talking nonsense and asked me whether I want it or not. If I do, he will send it over; if not, I should choose something else, but I have to pay for it

Although Ning Haoyu has a scholarly appearance, he has a very bad temper. Upon hearing the other party say this, he replied: "It's not worth this price. You can take a look around nearby. If you find something cheaper than my price, you can buy from them. If not, you can come back, and it will still be this price, not a penny less"

I turned on the yard light, then slowly walked out of the house holding a flashlight, wondering to myself if it would attract thieves

I paused for a moment and then continued, "However, all of this was taught to me by my grandfather. I have never seen a ghost before, so I do not know whether it will be effective or not."

I asked Ning Haoyu in a daze, "Does that table make noise every day?" He replied, "Not really, sometimes it makes noise for several consecutive days, and other times it doesn't make a sound for half a month."

I covered the flashlight with my hand, barely allowing some light to shine on the path, and then walked to the back door of the small shop with Ning Haoyu

After reaching an agreement, the two of us embraced each other and opened the door of the small shop. As soon as the door opened, I boldly shone my flashlight inside and saw that the writing desk we had placed in the center had been pulled askew by a "person".

I pushed my 28 bicycle inside, but no one greeted me, nor did anyone ask what furniture I wanted to buy. Clearly, they did not think I could afford their goods

Ning Haoyu delivered these items to me on his electric tricycle and also helped me arrange the room a bit

However, he was somewhat reluctant, saying that he did not like the room of the elderly and wanted to sleep in my room, suggesting that I sleep in my grandfather's room. Ning Haoyu is a guest, generously giving me a desk and helping me quite a bit, so I decided to accommodate him this time

After hearing my words, Ning Haoyu laughed twice and said, "You little rascal, can you do it?"

Ning Haoyu touched his nose and said: "I suppose you guessed right, fine, take a look, all my new goods are here, the warehouse is empty now, in a few days I also plan to change my line of work"

Seeing my expression of disbelief, Ning Haoyu continued, "I am serious!"

He told me that the writing desk he delivered to me today was taken from the home of a deceased elderly person. It is said that this desk was the place where the deceased loved to engage in literary pursuits during their lifetime. Therefore, after their passing, the desk would make sounds every night, which became unbearable for his family, leading them to dispose of it.

This is a solid wooden board, without windows, and we cannot see the situation inside. Moreover, I checked the door lock, which is intact, showing no signs of being tampered with.

Then I bought a chair and an old bookshelf from Ning Haoyu, spending over 400 yuan

Ning Haoyu asked me what I was doing, and I said that I was planning to close the funeral clothing store and open a fortune-telling shop instead, as I would rely on fortune-telling to make a living in the future

The furniture city at the eastern end of the county town is not difficult to find; I rode my bicycle, a large 28, and it took me more than twenty minutes to arrive

Upon entering his shop, I nudged him on the shoulder and said: "Stop with the condolences, my grandfather is not dead, he has just gone somewhere, I don't know where. By the way, do you have any newly arrived old furniture? I want to get one or two pieces."

Ning Haoyu looked and said: "That thing? If you want it, I can deliver it to you for free on my electric tricycle. However, as your brother, I must remind you that it is a bit eerie. At night, it keeps making a 'pop pop' sound, as if someone is banging on it with a wooden block, which is quite unsettling."

At that moment, Ning Haoyu also came out of the house and, upon seeing me, quietly asked, "Did you hear it too"

Ning Haoyu was taken aback for a moment and said: "I see, then please accept my condolences"

I said that I also saw a shadow enter my store, and I suspect it was a thief

As I looked at the furniture in his store, I asked him why he was changing careers, as the store seemed to be doing quite well

I shouted at the top of my lungs, and for a long while, there was no sound outside. Just as I was about to fall into a deep sleep, a series of "creaking" sounds came from outside. This time, it was several sounds in succession. I heard it clearly; it was not the sound of a door opening, but rather the sound of someone dragging a table across the floor.

The general meaning is that this writing desk is not worth the price that Ning Haoyu mentioned

I glanced at Ning Haoyu and said: "Your wealth palace is too heavy with misfortune today. If I am not mistaken, you have not opened for business since you opened the door today."

Ning Haoyu held my hand tightly and whispered anxiously, "Are you crazy? What if there really are ghosts?"

He asked me what I was doing, and I replied: "The Yintang is a facial feature that is easily invaded by evil entities, so anyone who provokes a ghost will have a darkened Yintang. I am now sealing the Yintang with Yang blood, so that the ghost cannot possess us, and thus cannot harm us."

Next to them was a pure black writing desk, and the middle-aged man occasionally tapped on the desk a few times, then murmured to Ning Haoyu for a while

The middle-aged man was also quick-tempered, shouting a couple of remarks at Ning Haoyu about not knowing how to do business, and then turned around and left

I am also puzzled; could it be that I just saw things incorrectly, or is it possible that the thief went up to the second floor

As the middle-aged man was leaving, Ning Haoyu saw me and greeted me with a smile, saying: "Li Chuyi, long time no see, how is your grandfather?"

As we were talking, we arrived at my home. Ning Haoyu will be staying here tonight. My grandfather has passed away, so it is just right for him to sleep in my grandfather's room

So I slapped my thigh and said: "I'll take it!"

Ning Haoyu's store is also easy to find; just walk straight in, and the one at the back next to the restroom is the one you are looking for

I do not want my first time to be treated so casually

I have a low tolerance for alcohol; after consuming seven or eight bottles, I start to feel a bit dizzy. Ning Haoyu is slightly better than me; he can still support me while walking, but his speech also begins to lose coherence.

Just as I was engrossed in my thoughts, a shadow flashed past me with a whoosh, startling me and causing me to take a few steps back, while I shouted, "Who!"

I have a principle when it comes to money, which is to save every penny possible. Since Ning Haoyu is giving me a writing desk for free and delivering it to my door, how could I possibly refuse it