Urban Oddities: Strange Tales of Mountain Villages

Chapter 11 Illusions

Huang Dafa took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, distributed one to each of them and lit them. "Let's go, I'm going back." Huang Dafa stood up with a cigarette in his mouth, patted his buttocks.Before leaving, Lin Yang looked back, but the cats didn't chase them out.Lin Yang suddenly realized that daytime might be a time of rest for them... so what about the old lady of Uncle Liu's family?If I went there at night, would the result be different?Lin Yang didn't dare to think about it. After taking his last puff of cigarette, he threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stamped it out.Passing by Ahui's house on the way, I found a group of villagers watching the fun gathered in Ahui's house. They formed a semicircle with a simple altar in the middle.Ah Hui's child was bound tightly to a chair, and the middle-aged woman in a colorful gown sang and danced around the child with a brass bell in one hand and a fly whisk in the other.Lin Yang felt very at ease in the crowd, as if he had just returned to the world from hell, so he stopped to watch.Huang Dafa also likes to watch the excitement, and asked the villagers: "Uncle, what is that man doing?" The villagers said: "Hey, that's He Xiangu, doing tricks for children!"

"That kid just has a fever, and he'll be cured if he takes the medicine, so there's still a way to do it?"

"Young man, it looks like you are from the city!" The villager said mysteriously, "The child of Ah Hui's family has been possessed by a ghost!"

"Wow! The upper body of a ghost?!" Huang Dafa became interested, "The ghost man's woman?"

"Who knows, I have to ask Aunt He Xiangu about this!" The villager pointed at the child, "Look, here we come again."

"Goo... cluck..." The child struggled desperately, his eyes were red, and his gaze looked like a beast. No wonder it was a ghost.He Xiangu took a sip of baijiu, put it in her mouth, sprayed it on the child's head, and then poured the rest of the baijiu on the child.The child puffed out his cheeks and was gasping for air. He didn't know whether it was from the alcohol or from anger. After He Xiangu sprinkled a few handfuls of glutinous rice, she began to dance with the brass bell. While dancing, she whipped the child with a dust whisk.

Lin Yang stood in the front row, his eyelids twitched, and asked the villagers next to him, "Why did she beat the child?"

"Hey, it's not beating a child, it's called exorcising ghosts! It means driving away the things on the child!"

Ah Hui brought a brazier, and He Xiangu burned a few talismans in the basin, and asked Ah Hui to circle the fire with the child in his arms.The child was covered in white wine, and he was sure to burn if he touched the fire. The villagers watched the excitement one by one, but no one stopped him.Lin Yang couldn't stand it anymore, and said, "Be careful of fire!"

He Xiangu glanced at him and said, "It's all right! It won't burn!"

The brazier was placed on the ground, and Ah Hui untied the child, supporting his arms and circling around the fire.The tongue of fire licked the child's legs, but it really didn't burn.The child landed safely, and started crying as soon as it landed, and the eyes finally returned to the child's appearance.He Xiangu burned the talisman paper again and let the child drink it, but the child refused to drink it, so Ah Hui pinched the child's cheek to force him to open his mouth, and poured the talisman water down.He Xiangu muttered to herself and didn't know what mantra she was reciting, she began to dance while chanting.Lin Yang didn't continue to read, and followed Huang Dafa and the others.Back at the farmhouse, everyone talked about Ahui's family. Yang Chunhua admired He Xiangu, saying that not long ago, He Xiangu cured an old man who was insane. He also kept scratching his body and scratching his skin, which made him look like a ghost and looked scary from a distance.

"It's really terrifying, like a rotting corpse." Yang Chunhua saw it with her own eyes, and after many days, she still has lingering fears when she recalls it.

Huang Dafa muttered: "Could it be that the zombie in the post refers to him?"

Pu Junying was very interested: "What kind of medicine did the witch give you?"

Yang Chunhua shook his head: "I don't know, it seems that the talisman was burned, and the ashes of the talisman were soaked in water and drank... After performing the ritual, the old man became much more normal, but the skin was scratched, and he was picked up by his son not long after. I went to the city to treat the skin, I guess I lived in the city!"

Pu Junying stared at Yang Chunhua, and asked her a question: "Miss Boss, you can also take Qiqi to treat her!"

"Hey, Qiqi has a cold, not a ghost." Yang Chunhua felt that the town hospital was more reliable in treating colds than He Xiangu.

Jin Minxian called sickly from the kitchen: "Miss Boss, is there any more brown sugar?"

"Hey, yes!" The proprietress went in.

Pu Junying whispered to Lin Yang: "I think that child Ah Hui is quite similar to Liu Qi. If that child is a ghost, then Liu Qi is likely to be a ghost too."

After eating the noodles, it was almost 10:30, Lin Yang said to go for a walk.Pu Junying knew that Lin Yang was hiding something in his heart, so he followed with his mobile phone.The two went to Ah Hui's house, the ceremony was finished, the crowd dispersed, and He Xiangu had already left. "She lives on the east side, and a three-story green tile house is all that's needed on this road." Ah Hui's face was flushed, and he looked very happy.

The child was hugged by Ah Hui's wife and had already fallen asleep.Park Junying said to check his pulse, after checking Pu Junying also smiled: "It's much better."

"That's right! I'll say it's a ghost!" Ah Hui handed them a pack of bacon, "Do me a favor, send it to Xiangu!"

After leaving Ah Hui's house, Lin Yang said in a low voice, "That's great?"

Pu Junying knew what he was asking, and shook her head, as if hesitating to say or not.Lin Yang saw the situation: "The pulse is low again?"

Park Joon Young: "How much did I say last time?"

"43."

"How much do you think this time?"

"Could it be fifteen?!"

"Not yet...but it's probably coming soon...his pulse is only 36 this time." Pu Junying frowned, "The pulse keeps decreasing...I've never seen such a weird disease."

The house where Aunt He Xiangu lives is antique, and there are two stone sculptures standing on the left and right of the gate of the courtyard.Lin Yang touched the stone carving and said that the puppy looks really delicate, with curly hair.He Xiangu's voice came from the yard: "What kind of dog is not a dog! It's Pixiu!"

He Xiangu put the box on the tricycle and waved to them: "Young boy, it's just in time, come and help!"

There are large and small boxes in He Xiangu's house, including clothes and books, and there is another box containing things such as incense burners, compass ornaments, etc.He Xiangu said: "Go upstairs, there are two bronze statues on the third floor, help me move them down."

"Xianggu, are you moving?" Lin Yang handed her the bacon, and she said to put it in the car.

"That's right, moving. I've been packing so many things by myself for several days!" He Xiangu picked up the boxes and walked outside. When she reached the yard, a person happened to pass by the gate.

Pu Junying held the box and shouted: "Luo Yi!"

"Oh! You seem to be in the same group!" He Xiangu ran out, "Pretty boy! You come in too, do me a favor!"

Luo Yi was a little speechless, and he could be pulled to do coolies even after taking a walk.

The third floor is He Xiangu's meditation hall. Lin Yang picked up the Taishang Laojun who was half a person tall, and walked down the stairs with difficulty.When I reached the corner, I saw Luo Yi.Luo Yi ran upstairs, and after a while he carried the Jade Emperor who was half a person tall, ran downstairs in a few steps, and then followed Lin Yang slowly.

"There are still a few steps, come on!" Luo Yi wanted to laugh a little.

Lin Yang gritted his teeth, his knees throbbed with pain, and when he moved to the first floor, Lin Yang was already sweating profusely: "Why are yours so light?"

"Oh, it's a hollow shell, the outer layer is just plated with gold." Luo Yi also made a move on purpose.

"Xiangu said there are two bronze statues?"

"This one is quite heavy." Luo Yi freed up a hand and took out a palm-sized bronze Guanyin from his pocket.

Lin Yang: "..."

So he was the one who won the grand prize and held the heaviest? !

"Wow! You lifted it by yourself? It's amazing!" He Xiangu praised, "Young boy has good physical strength, thank you for your hard work! Just put it in the car!"

Lin Yang couldn't lift it anymore, Luo Yi put the Jade Emperor away, handed the bronze Guanyin to He Xiangu, and turned back to hold the Taishang Laojun.

"It's heavy, you're really good." Luo Yi also praised Lin Yang.

Lin Yang hummed twice, and picked up a small box.

I was busy until noon, and finally moved all my things into the car.Lin Yang said that the meditation hall still had half a box of candles, three boxes of Wuliangye and a few pieces of golden interlining. He Xiangu waved her hand and said no, and gave the rest to them.

"There are still some decorations on the second floor. There is a box of herbs in the study. Whoever likes you can take it. It's a relationship!"

Lin Yang wondered, "Xiangu, where are you going to move?"

"Go to the city." He Xiangu got into the car with a cloth bag on her back, got out of the car after getting on, and took out a stack of talisman papers with yellow background and red characters from the bag, "It's too heavy, I won't bring it with you, I'll give it to you too! "

"Ah, this..." Lin Yang couldn't laugh or cry, "We don't know how to use it..."

"I know, so I didn't expect you to use it as a method. Just treat it as a fire starter and use it when lighting a fire!"

Lin Yang: "..."

He Xiangu: "There are cinnabar characters on it. The ashes of the burnt talisman can be collected and used as a hemostatic medicine."

He Xiangu got into the car and asked them before leaving, "When are you leaving?"

Lin Yang didn't say anything, Luo Yi said, "Maybe in a few days."

He Xiangu shook her head and sighed: "Young boy is ignorant, he still plays, be careful and lose his life!"

Lin Yang tentatively asked, "Xianggu, did something happen in the village?"

He Xiangu actually asked him back: "What do you mean?"

"For example... there are ghosts... or ghosts cannibalize people?"

"Hahahahahahaha!" He Xiangu laughed loudly, "You mean the kid from Ahui's family? Do you really think it's a ghost?"

"Ah?" Lin Yang was startled, "Isn't it???"

Pu Junying also said at this time: "What is the child's disease? What medicine did you take?"

"I don't know." He Xiangu said, "That child is not a ghost... I have dealt with people with ghosts before, but that child is different. He gives me the feeling... just like..."

He Xiangu pondered for a moment, and said, "It's like he himself has become a ghost!"

Lin Yang shuddered, and Pu Junying asked, "What medicine did you prescribe for him?"

"Heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine."

Pu Junying was startled: "Huh???"

"I'm not a doctor, how do I know what's wrong with him?"

"The ritual..."

"It's just a show for them. When I saw the child, I knew it wasn't the ghost's upper body, but something changed in him, which had nothing to do with the ghost." He Xiangu said, "It's strange that after dancing over the brazier, the child actually It's back to normal...Hey, the ancestor blesses you!"

Luo Yi said: "Then why are you in a hurry to leave? Who told you to go?"

"Divination!"

"What about the hexagram?"

He Xiangu glanced at Luo Yi and said, "No one survived! In this village, in less than half a month, everyone has to..."

He Xiangu stopped talking halfway, started the car, and the tricycle started "buzzing".

"The patriarch has already given a reminder, now I will tell you what the patriarch said - if you want to survive, leave this village as soon as possible!"

If Huang Dafa listened, he would definitely scold feudal superstition.It's just a hexagram image, and it doesn't explain anything.But in Lin Yang's view, the hexagram seems to indicate the future.

He Xiangu drove out of the yard in a tricycle, Lin Yang saw that she didn't even lock the door of the house, so he chased her out and said, "The house is unlocked!"

"It doesn't matter if it's locked or not."

"You're not coming back?!"

He Xiangu didn't turn her head back and said: "I won't go back, this village is going to be ruined, you guys should leave quickly!"

He Xiangu left in a hurry, as if fleeing for her life. If it wasn't for Ah Hui's business, she might have left early in the morning.A lot of things were left in the house, Luo Yi called Huang Dafa to come and move them.Incense and talisman paper were useless to them, so Lin Yang put them in the cabinet.There are some prayer mats and blankets in the meditation hall, and there are miscellaneous things in the room. They walked around and only brought wine and some food.Huang Dafa opened the box, salivating over the bottles of Wuliangye.After tossing until the evening, Lin Yang closed all the windows when he left, took a last look at the hall, and closed the door.

Yang Chunhua was surprised when she learned that He Xiangu had left. She said that He Xiangu came here to practice and lived in the village for many years.Yang Chunhua still wanted to ask Xiangu to consecrate the bracelet, but she didn't expect He Xiangu to leave without saying hello.

"She found a new place to practice in the city." Lin Yang didn't dare to tell the truth.

After Pu Junying came back, she went back to her room, and when she was about to sleep, she sent a voice message to Lin Yang: "There must be something wrong with this village, I plan to go back tomorrow."

When Lin Yangkai spoke, Luo Yi was doing the questions beside him, so he naturally heard it too.Lin Yang said in a voice: "Why did you tell Dafa? Is he willing to leave?"

"I didn't tell Huang Dafa."

"...isn't that good?"

"Lin Yang, we have to go, just go."

Lin Yang bit the bullet and said: "Going back for no reason, I must find a reason!"

Pu Junying didn't take it seriously: "Just find any reason! Can Dafa stop us from leaving?"

"Then what about Dafa and the others? We can't let them stay in the village!"

"If they want to stay by themselves, what does it have to do with us?"

"..." Lin Yang looked at the phone and felt chills all over.

"If Dafa knows the situation, I will definitely stay and find out. I know him too well, and sooner or later something will happen to his character." After a pause, Park Junying continued to speak, "I have also gently persuaded him, after all, he also saw People who used to have cats, but... Guess what, he actually wanted to stay and look for cats... Fuck, isn't this courting death? He is courting death, why should we stay with him?! How many lives do you have to accompany him? he?!"

Lin Yang sneaked a glance at Luo Yi, who was doing the question with his back turned to him, and could not see any reaction.

Park Junying continued: "Even if I'm a good brother, I don't want to stay any longer... Lin Yang, do you want to go? Or go together tomorrow?"

Lin Yang said, "I'll think about it."

"What else is there to think about?! Yes, that's right, Dafa is also your good buddy, but you really don't need to stay with him... In case something happens, we will give him some incense and burn some money. ... In a word, go, or not go? If you don't go tomorrow, I will go!"

After Pu Junying said this, she didn't say anything, maybe she was busy packing her things.

Lin Yang's thoughts were mixed, and he lost in the game.Luo Yi sat by the bed, took his mobile phone and played for a while, then returned the mobile phone full of winning rewards to him.

"This level is very difficult, I almost lost." Luo Yi said.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?" Lin Yang asked.

"Don't go."

"……Oh."

"Actually these few days, Dafa can't leave even if he wants to, and besides, he doesn't want to leave at all." Luo Yi said softly, "Both Minxian and Jingxiang are...inconvenient. They haven't been out of the yard all day today. They In this situation, it is not easy for Dafa to leave.”

There was a silence in the room, Luo Yi patted Lin Yang: "I don't blame them, it's just... Hey, go, go and pack your things, you go first, we may be a few days late."