Originally, during the time when Tang Quan's parents suddenly went crazy ten years ago, a few other elderly people also went crazy.
All the young and strong men in their family were there, saying that the elderly saw something they shouldn't have seen in the middle of the night, so they didn't sleep at night.
They would either grind knives in the dead of night or carry a basin of urine and feces around the courtyard, spewing curses and nonsensical talk, making their home smoky and foul.
Even the neighbors on the next street were constantly being disturbed and complaining loudly.
Not long after that, the old people died suddenly.
Those families suddenly fell into poverty.
Due to these incidents, the informal curfew in the township was established, and almost no one dared to leave the house at night.
Such spooky events are rarely mentioned.
However, people would occasionally claim to have lost gold jewelry and cash.
Even if a gold bracelet was worn on the wrist, people would sometimes wake up to find it empty.
Even if money was hidden under the pillow, it would mysteriously disappear.
For several years thereafter, if there were any gold or cash in the house, it could never stay overnight; it was sure to be stolen.
As he spoke, Tang Quan suddenly remembered something and rushed into the west room.
When he came out, he still had a pile of red banknotes in his hand, clearly relieved.
"Master, I'll deposit this at the bank later."
As for Tang Quan's behavior, I didn't express any opinions, but just squinted and thought.
Old people do not sleep at night, grinding knives, carrying urine and feces water, as well as swearing. Ordinary people seem to be crazy.
But to me, it was nothing like that at all.
They really did see ghosts.
Those so-called "traditional methods" were actually tactics used in the past to deal with evil spirits.
Tang Quan's parents, like those elderly people, acted strangely after seeing ghosts and then died suddenly.
"Tang Uncle, did you have gold jewelry or money in your house before?" I asked Tang Quan again.
Tang Quan was startled and nodded, saying: "There was indeed quite a bit. The elderly people had no habit of saving money, so the money I brought back from work, they kept with them. At the time of the funeral, those things were not found, and I thought they were hidden somewhere in the house...…"
"Master... Are you saying that seeing ghosts, driving people crazy, causing sudden death, and losing money are all part of the same thing?"
Tang Quan's eyelids kept jumping.
I fell silent once again.
The dead have attachments, and there is a reason for every grudge and debt. Ghosts seeking retribution is just a specific way of putting it.
For example, some starving ghosts may continue to possess ordinary people, indulging in food and drink without end, causing them to become sick or even die from overeating.
People who drowned by the river often use water weeds to pull at people's ankles for years. People who died in car accidents constantly struggle at intersections, trying to find a ghost to take their place.
If ghosts steal money, then the ghost must be a poor ghost.
This township village is really quite smoky and hazy.
But it seems that there's no connection between poor ghosts and the sick ghosts last night.
And what about the other ghost head in the night pot?
Tang's family is not just one ghost.
His parents went mad and died suddenly after seeing ghosts, and there was a ghost living in his house. This was definitely not a coincidence.
"Tang Uncle, don't deposit the money yet," I said to Tang Quan.
"This... just in case..."
"I won't lose it." I replied.
"Understood, Master." Tang Quan turned around and went back to his room, coming out without the money in his hand.
The congee was a bit cold, so I drank it quickly in just a few mouthfuls, finishing the rest of the food.
Getting up, I said again: "I'll be back before dark. Uncle Tang, you go find out two things later: In the last ten years, were there any people who died of poverty or illness?"
Tang Quan nodded, indicating he understood.
I returned to the east room, changed into another set of clothes, and took out the wooden box for collecting offerings.
I first used a brush to clean the skin on my face and then began applying makeup.
There was a mirror on the bedside cabinet, and I looked at my face in it.
This time, the skin under the makeup was yellow, slightly sunken in the cheeks, the nose was narrow and long, and there was a mole at the corners of the eyes.
As I left the room, Tang Quan was sweeping the floor.
He started when he saw me, and his crutches slipped out of his grasp, clattering to the ground.
"Uncle Tang, I'm going out." I said again, and Tang Quan only realized it and quickly nodded, getting up to touch his crutches.
When I left the yard, I noticed that no one was on either side, so I walked out.
The township in the middle of the day was even more bustling than Xiangxi Street after washing. Small vendors set up stalls to sell vegetables, and children ran around the streets without anyone noticing me.
It took me about an hour to reach my uncle's house on that street.
I paused for a moment in front of the bookstore before entering.
The walls were full of bookshelves, and there were small paths between several bookcases in the shop.
There were several chairs and tables set up near the cash register, where someone was quietly reading a book.
I took a book and sat down.
From this angle, I could see all the pedestrians passing by the bookstore door.
The things happening in the township village are a bit strange, but not strange enough to drag my attention away.
I want to take action against Sun Dahai, but I can't just act without thinking. It's not as simple as saying 'let's fight'.
The fat boss was sitting behind the bookstall, right next to the table and chair. He was facing away from me, and his clothes were almost falling apart.
I sat quietly for a long time, and it was almost half past eleven when the sun was high in the sky.
Sun Dahai slowly walked out of a side alley.
He was tall and thin, wearing casual clothes, with his hands in his pockets, looking leisurely and content.
The fat boss made a sound, looked up and said: "Mr. Sun, you're shopping for vegetables today? It's too late, isn't it?"
"Ha ha, my son left last night, so I'm out for a walk today, have a casual meal, and there's a comedy show in the afternoon," Sun Dahai's voice was like a broken gong, as piercing as always.
As I looked at him with my peripheral vision, he was still lowering his head, and the words on the pages of the book seemed to be blurred and chaotic.
"Oh, Mr. Sun is still strong, just retired, unlike us who still have to guard the stall," the fat boss said with envy in his words.
"Ha ha, I'm not that great. It's my son who's doing well; I don't have to put up with that nonsense anymore."
Sun Dahai smiled and walked away.
I closed my eyes and calmed down for a long time before I managed to compose myself.
Standing up, I took the book and paid for it.
The fat boss didn't seem to notice me. People who came to read and buy books every day were like a river flowing by.
After leaving the bookstore, I confidently turned into the narrow alley.
The alley was about ten meters deep, lined with walls covered in small advertisements. At the end of the alley, there was a T-junction, and turning to the right led to the entrance of the apartment building where Sun Dahai lived.
The rusty iron gate, like every year before, was blocked with wood and not locked.
I casually opened the door and stepped onto the dirty, shiny stairs.
Third floor, right side, 301.
The door was still the same, and the people living here were still the same.
I actually admire Sun Dahai a bit; he has taken so many of my family's properties, and the Sun family is now wealthy. Yet, he still lives in this old, dilapidated house.
That's good enough, saving me the trouble of looking for him all over Qinjianyang.
The conversation between Sun Dahai and the bookstore owner still lingered in my ears.
Yesterday Sun Zhuo left, and today it's just Sun Dahai living alone.
There was a simple reason why I didn't follow Sun Zhuo's reason: it would be inconvenient during the day, and I haven't made a comprehensive plan yet; I can't act impulsively.
Bending my arm, I gave a soft knock. The sound echoed in the hallway.
There was no response.
I took out a thin piece of copper, inserted it into the lock position, and pressed my knee against the door. Then, I suddenly applied force to my hand.
A slight click sound, the door opened.
The old man Gong often took me to dig up people's coffins and shave their heads. I've done plenty of things like opening coffins, so I'm familiar with locks and fastenings that are different from the usual ones. I've never found a lock that could stump me, especially an old door and lock in an old residential area.
Upon entering Sun Dahai's house, the furniture inside was completely different from ten years ago. It was all solid wood, darkened and glossy.
Suddenly, a dry, raspy voice resounded: "Little thief! Little thief!"
