Letter from Ziteng Incense Candle Shop

Life is like a coffee table full of cups.When we think we have jumped out of one cup, we have already fallen into another cup.And if you find that you didn't jump into another cup...congratulations...you fell off the coffee table.

The day I knew the score of the college entrance examination, I knew that I had fallen off the 'tea table'.However, after falling off the coffee table, it became a 'tableware'. On the same day, my father received my grandfather's obituary.

My father took me to the city where my grandfather lived for the funeral.When he arrived, the uncle had already disposed of the body, and the only thing left was to keep watch.

Originally, people in this metropolis didn't pay much attention to these things. They almost just went to the funeral parlor for a walk, cremated and put them in the cemetery.But the uncle made it very grand, saying that it was strongly requested by grandpa's friends.

When I heard it, I was very puzzled. The funeral is our family's business, and outsiders have too much control.Other relatives in the clan also raised it, but the uncle's expression and tone were very strange, and he seemed quite helpless.Grandpa passed away without illness and pain at the age of seventy, so it would be better to do it grandly, and no one has much objection.

As far as I know, grandpa is just a small boss who runs a street, unlike the kind of friends who are rich, powerful and powerful.I asked my father, but he left home very early to work in an economically developed city and seldom came back, and I didn't know what friends my grandfather had.

The descendants of the Du family are fairly prosperous, and everyone takes turns to keep watch.The mourning hall is located in the hall of the uncle's house, and many people came to worship one after another. I knelt next to my cousin, and I really couldn't guess what occupations those people were in. Many of them were well-dressed and seemed to be quite rich.The uncle is very respectful to them, sometimes showing awe in his eyes.

"My condolences." A white envelope was handed to me, and I looked up to find that the other party was a handsome young man.

There are famous brands all over his body, and he is wearing a dark gray suit. His temperament and appearance are more eye-catching than the stars on TV.Looking at me with a gentle smile in his eyes.But those beautiful peach blossom eyes will discharge, no matter how you look at them, they are very coquettish.

"How many grandchildren are you Mr. Du?"

I was about to reach out to pick up the envelope and answer his question, but my cousin beat me to it.

"He is Uncle Six's child." My cousin didn't say my name, and took the envelope with a cold face, and also wrapped it in a towel.

Inside was a red envelope, a piece of candy, and inside the red envelope were two needles, a knife and cash in return.I heard that needles and knives mean auspiciousness (Note: "thorn" and "ji" in Cantonese have the same pronunciation, and knives are sharp tools, so they have the meaning of auspiciousness).Most people will eat the candy, which means sweetness. The red envelope must be thrown away, and the cash in return must be spent. It is best to wash your hair once.

The cousin's vigilance and hostility made the man visibly stunned for a moment, then he accepted the small bag, made a soft 'huh' sound, and walked out of the gate.

I asked my cousin in a low voice, "Aren't you afraid of offending this rich second generation?"

The latter glared at me, "Kids, don't mind your own business."

"I already have it." Angrily, he took out the ID card he carried with him and showed it to his cousin.Because people often misunderstand, I usually carry it with me.

The father next to me coughed lightly, warning us to keep quiet on such an occasion, so we had no choice but to keep silent.

The girls keep watch during the day, and the men keep watch at night.The first seven days happened to be my turn to watch the night.My cousin stayed with me through midnight.Because he was on duty yesterday, and he had to assist his uncle with his affairs during the day, so he was really exhausted before going back to his room to rest.

Before returning to the room, he said to me seriously: "No matter what you see, don't be afraid, just treat it as an illusion."

I heard that people will go home the first seven times after death, so of course I know what my cousin is worried about.It's just my grandfather, who was actually very close to him when I was a child, so I'm not too scared.

"Don't worry, it's okay." I patted my cousin on the back to let him sleep at ease.My cousin gave me a worried look, but finally couldn't stand it any longer and went back to sleep.

Because there was no wind, the candles burning in the hall did not flicker.I stared blankly at the incense ash scattered on the floor by the door.They said that if grandpa came back, there would be a mark on it.

I didn't believe it at the time.I didn't even think about this aspect in my heart, but thought that I failed to enter the university, should I re-study or come out to find a job.

In the middle of the night, I was so sleepy that my eyelids were fighting.I closed it and barely opened it, and suddenly felt a stomachache, and I was in a hurry, so I hurried to the toilet.

After solving it, I found something that made my scalp tingle...

Out of toilet paper!

I want to call someone for toilet paper, but everyone is tired, and it doesn't seem good to call them, and I will be laughed at by my cousin.But if I put on my trousers and go out to get them, the trousers will get dirty again, so I don't want to wash them.

At the time of the battle between heaven and man, footsteps came from outside the door.I thought to myself: I'm saved!

"Can you get some toilet paper? They're out of here." I yelled towards the door.

The footsteps were getting closer and closer, and finally stopped at the door of the toilet.

"Fujizai Chengri Gan big head shrimp rack." (Cantonese: Fujizai is so careless all day long.)

The thick local dialect floated in with a hoarse voice, which made me feel cold from the soles of my feet to the top of my head in an instant.that voice...

It's grandpa!

I haven't seen you for a long time, but I won't admit my mistake.I squatted there not knowing what to do, my feet were shaking.He obviously told his cousin just now that he would not be afraid.

"I'm in Li." As soon as the words fell, the toilet door opened.

At that moment, I really wanted to scream, but the sound was stuck in my throat and I couldn't make it at all.I could only freeze there, not daring to look at the door.

A roll of toilet paper was handed to me, but I dared not accept it.Looking down, I only saw grandpa's black and white cloth shoes.

The one with feet is not 'the one'.I kept comforting myself in my heart, but I didn't dare to raise my head or move.

"My dear grandson, don't be alarmed." (Cantonese: Don't be afraid) I felt something lightly caressing my head, and all the hairs on my back stood on end.

The paper roll was still in front of me, and I couldn't hold my feet anymore. I tried to pick it up, but the paper roll was taken back suddenly.

"My dear grandson, promise grandpa one thing."

Is this a crazy situation?My late grandpa was threatening me with a roll of toilet paper.

I was covered in black lines and cold sweat, feeling scared and depressed to the extreme.I thought: If you know that I dare not refuse, you should be more straightforward, squatting until my legs are weak.

"Grandpa, tell me. As long as I can..."

"I know you are the most obedient." Grandpa said slowly, "I want you to inherit my shop." (Cantonese: I want you to inherit my shop)

Grandpa has been running a small street shop, and his father, who is doing well outside, doesn't care about how the property will be distributed after his death, and he doesn't intend to infiltrate it at all.I don't even know anything about it.Considering the opinions of other relatives, it is impossible for me to agree to him now, but I cannot refuse in person.

After thinking about it, I still found an excuse to refuse, "But... I don't know anything about business, and I don't even know where your store is."

"It's easy, I'll send you a text message to tell you." After saying that, I stuffed the toilet paper into my hand, "It's settled." (Note: It's very simple, I'll send you a text message to tell you. That's it.)

"Wait……"

Feeling that the other party was about to leave, I raised my head abruptly, but in front of me was a black and white photo of my grandpa and a big word for 'Dian'.I wasn't in the toilet at all, and my pants were all on.

Maybe I was too tired and fell asleep leaning against the desk.

What a strange dream.Just as I was about to rub my eyes, I realized that I was holding a roll of toilet paper in my hand. I couldn't help but yelled and dropped the toilet paper.

Because my yelling was too loud, I woke up my cousin and uncle.The two of them came out of the bedroom in their pajamas.At that time, I was so frightened that I lost my mind, I rushed up and grabbed my cousin's clothes and talked about the dream just now incoherently.

The uncle's face was very strange, but it was not an expression of disbelief.I thought my cousin would laugh at me, but he didn't. Instead, he asked me: "Do you want to go to the bathroom?"

When he said that, my stomach really hurt.But I didn't dare to go, the dream was so real, I was still nervous, worried about hearing the knock on the door.

I could only look helplessly at my cousin, who patted my shoulder and accompanied me to the bathroom.Fortunately, I took the roll of paper, and there was really no toilet paper in the toilet. =_=

After solving it, because I didn't encounter the scene in the dream, I felt relieved.Walking out of the hall, I found that there was already light outside the window.

In summer it is bright early.The uncle didn't fall back asleep, and stood in front of the sacrificial table to offer incense to Grandpa.He waved at me, "Xiaoteng, come over and offer incense sticks to Grandpa."

I obediently served the incense, thinking to myself: Grandpa, how could you scare your little grandson like this.

"Look at your phone."

"Huh?" I was startled when I heard my uncle talking next to me.Looking up and seeing my uncle looking at me seriously, I immediately understood what he meant.

"That... just a dream. Haha..."

The uncle shook his head, pointed to the floor of the gate, and beckoned me to take a look.When I looked over, my heart almost jumped into my throat.

I saw two lines of footprints clearly on the floor where the incense ash was scattered.The ash was sprinkled after locking the door last night.I was in the lobby all the time and no one came in at all.When I went to the toilet just now, I didn't hear the sound of the door opening and closing.

The footprints are not ordinary sneakers, leather shoes, or slippers, but the kind of black cloth and white-soled shoes that the old man wears, and the patterns on the soles can even be seen.I remember Grandpa's remains wearing those shoes.

"But... Grandpa doesn't know my phone..." The word 'number' stuck in my throat, and I stared at the inbox, where there was an unread email.Not at all last night, I obviously read all the emails.

I thought not to scare myself, it may be an advertisement or a deduction text message from 10086.I originally wanted to delete the text message, but I glanced at my uncle and my cousin, who were staring at me tightly.

If you delete it, you may be hit by them, so open the email obediently.

It was sent from an unfamiliar number, and there was only one address in the text message.Before I could speak, the uncle had already grabbed the phone, carefully checked it twice before returning it to me.

His tense expression changed, and he seemed relieved.The eyes that looked at me were full of worry, turned around and put another stick of incense on grandpa, as if he was muttering about something.

I turned to my cousin and wanted to ask him what was going on.The latter looked at me with a pitiful look, was he pitying me for bumping into that?

"That's Grandpa's cell phone number." My cousin whispered in my ear after reading the text message.