When I was a child, there was a winding mountain road at the back of the mountain. It often claimed lives. My grandfather was familiar with the road, and often outsiders would come to ask him to drive.
One afternoon, as it was getting dark, a man entered our courtyard.
He was covered in yellow soil and dirty. When he saw me, he asked with a smile, “Kid, is your grandfather at home? I want to ask him to help me drive.”
1
I said, “No, my grandfather and grandmother went to the mountain to pick up branches. They’ll be back soon. You can wait in the courtyard for a while.”
The man nodded and said, “Okay.”
I brought a bench for the man. The man sat on the bench, felt in his pockets with both hands, and muttered to himself, “Where’s my cigarette? Why is my cigarette gone?”
As soon as the man finished speaking, my grandfather and grandmother entered the courtyard carrying branches.
The man quickly got up from the bench and said with a smile, “Uncle, you’re finally back. I want to ask you to help me drive.”
My grandfather was startled when he saw the man, and then said with a cold face, “You can’t cross this mountain. Go back.”
My grandfather’s attitude towards the man was very cold. Usually, when big – truck drivers came to ask my grandfather for help, he would always help.
My grandfather was very abnormal today.
The man was stunned for a few seconds, with surprise in his eyes. After a few seconds, he moved closer to my grandfather and said with a smile, “Uncle, I know Chen Shuang. He recommended me to come to you. As long as you can help me cross this mountain, there will definitely be a lot of benefits.”
My grandfather squinted his eyes and said, “Young man, I’m not scaring you. If you want to live, go back.”
After saying this, my grandfather carried the branches into the warehouse and didn’t even look at the man.
The man frowned tightly, stared at my grandfather’s back, and I didn’t know what he was thinking.
My grandmother walked up to the man and said, “Young man, go back. A person’s life is the most important.”
The man frowned tightly and said with a bitter face, “Auntie, if this batch of goods can’t be delivered, my wife’s life will be gone. Please persuade my uncle to help me.”
As soon as the man finished speaking, my grandfather came out of the warehouse. When the man saw my grandfather come out, he said anxiously, “Uncle, I also know that the mountain road is difficult to walk. It’s a life – risking job. If I’m unlucky, I’ll be smashed to pieces. But I really have no choice. My wife is lying in the hospital, waiting for money to see a doctor. My son is only seven months old and can’t even speak yet. If my wife dies, my family will fall apart. Please help me.”
My grandfather sighed and said, “Young man, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. It’s that the King of Hell wants to take your life. Even if I help you drive through the most dangerous mountain road, you won’t be able to pass the subsequent mountain roads. Listen to my advice and go back.”
As soon as my grandfather finished speaking, there was a loud “boom”, like thunder on a clear day.
My grandfather said, “Young man, it’s going to rain. You can stay at my house for the night and go down the mountain tomorrow morning.”
The man’s eyes were red, and he said, “Uncle, I heard from Chen Shuang that you’re very capable. If I can’t deliver this batch of goods, I have to pay the boss. I really can’t afford the money. Please help me think of a way. I’ll deliver this batch of goods even if I risk my life. I really can’t afford to pay.”
When the man said this, his hands were shaking.
My grandfather frowned tightly, lit a pipe, and said, “If I don’t help you, what are you going to do?”
The man said, “Drive the car over. If I die on the mountain, it’s an accidental death, and I can get a sum of compensation. This money will be left to my wife and son.”
When the man said this, his eyes were firm, not like he was lying, as if he had made up his mind.
My grandfather frowned, knocked the pipe on the wooden door a few times, and said, “There is a way, but you have to go through the gates of hell.”
2
The man’s eyes sparkled, and he said, “As long as I can deliver the goods, any way is fine.”
My grandfather took a few puffs of the pipe and said, “Old woman, kill a rooster and get half a bowl of rooster blood.”
My grandmother frowned, hesitated for a few seconds, and then entered the chicken coop.
My grandfather said, “Jixiang, bring the yellow paper and the writing brush from the east room.”
I nodded and said, “Got it.”
I ran into the east room and brought out the yellow paper and the writing brush.
My grandfather dipped the writing brush in the rooster blood and drew runes on the yellow paper. He asked, “Young man, what’s your name?”
The man said, “My name is Chen Dashan.”
My grandfather asked again, “Where’s your home?”
The man said, “In Dongxi Village.”
My grandfather frowned and said, “Dongxi Village is too far. You can’t make it back.”
The man asked, “Uncle, then what should I do?”
My grandfather didn’t answer. He lowered his head and wrote on the yellow paper. Soon, the whole yellow paper was filled with writing.
He cut the yellow paper into a piece of clothing and put it on the man.
My grandfather said, “You must come back before sunset in three days. Burn the yellow paper in the courtyard, and then this matter will be over.”
The man was stunned for a few seconds and said, “What if I can’t come back?”
My grandfather squinted his eyes and didn’t speak.
The man forced a few laughs and didn’t ask any more questions. He said, “Uncle, I will definitely come back. When the time comes, I’ll give you money.”
My grandfather said, “You must come back in three days. Even if there’s something extremely important, you have to come back.”
The man nodded and said, “Sure.”
My grandfather said, “Then let’s go.”
My grandfather and the man left the courtyard, leaving only my grandmother and me in the courtyard.
My grandmother sighed and said, “Jixiang, go boil some water. We’ll stew chicken for dinner tonight.”
I was very happy and said with a smile, “Okay.”
I rushed to the warehouse to boil water.
It was already dark. My grandmother stewed the chicken, and it smelled delicious.
I was so greedy that I kept swallowing my saliva. My grandmother fished out a chicken leg and a few pieces of potatoes from the pot for me. She said, “Are you hungry? You can eat some first. The rest, we’ll eat together when your grandfather comes back.”
I nodded and carried the bowl into the east room.
In a blink of an eye, an hour passed, and my grandfather still didn’t come back.
Normally, he should have been back at this time.
My grandmother frowned and said, “Jixiang, you eat first. I’ll go to the mountain to find your grandfather. Don’t run around.”
I nodded and said, “Got it.”
My grandmother put on a piece of clothing and left.
I was the only one left in the courtyard.
I ran to the warehouse, fished out a few more pieces of chicken from the pot. The chicken was very tender, and the potatoes were boiled into mashed potatoes. It was very fragrant. I filled another half – bowl of rice and stood by the pot to eat.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door at the entrance of the courtyard.
I put down my chopsticks, ran to the courtyard, and shouted towards the outside of the door, “Who is it?”
A man’s voice came from outside the door. He said, “Is this Sun Dafu’s house? I’m looking for Sun Dafu to drive.”
It was another person looking for my grandfather to drive.
I ran to the entrance of the courtyard and opened the courtyard door. A very tall man was standing at the entrance of the courtyard.
By the moonlight, I could see the man’s face clearly. His face was a bit crooked, covered with yellow soil, and there was blood on his ear, as if he had fallen hard.
I said, “My grandfather isn’t at home. He went to the back mountain to drive a big truck. He’ll be back in a while. You can come in and wait in the courtyard.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the man’s eyes widened, and he said angrily, “Sun Dafu promised to help me drive tonight. How can he go back on his word?”
The man looked terrifying when he was angry.
I subconsciously took two steps back.
The man said with a gloomy face, “Forget it. I’ll wait for him in the courtyard.”
After saying this, the man lifted his foot to enter the courtyard, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t step over the threshold.
“Bang… Bang…”
The man’s toes kicked on the threshold, making a harsh sound.
3
My heart suddenly hung up. Logically, the threshold of my house isn’t high. The man just needs to lift his leg to come in, but he tried several times and couldn’t get in.
I heard the old people in the village say that the living can step over the threshold, while the dead can’t.
I subconsciously took two steps back.
The man was still lowering his head, trying to step over the threshold. The sound of his toes kicking the threshold got louder and louder: “Bang Bang Bang.”
I said, “My grandfather isn’t at home. Why don’t you go back first?”
The man looked up at me. The look in his eyes was sinister. He grinned at me and said, “Kid, my legs and feet are not good. Help me into the courtyard, and I’ll give you candy.”
After saying this, the man reached out his hand towards me in the air. The moment he reached out, I could see his hand clearly.
The man’s hand was covered with blood, mud, and rotten leaves. His fingernails were purple – black, as if he had just climbed out of a grave.
I had long heard from the old people in the village that there were often people who died on the winding mountain road at the back of the mountain. The cars and people fell to the bottom of the mountain and were killed instantly.
Since most of them were outsiders and their families didn’t have much money, the bodies were just left at the foot of the mountain, and there was no one to claim them.
The man made me feel scared. He didn’t seem to be alive.
I wanted to close the courtyard door, but when I saw the man’s fierce and sinister eyes, I didn’t dare to close it.
I could only take two steps back and say in a low voice, “Come in by yourself. I’ll wait for you in the house.”
After saying this, I ran towards the east room desperately, not even daring to look back.
I ran into the east room and closed the door.
I lay on the window of the east room and looked out at the courtyard. I saw the man staring at my house viciously, as if my family had a feud with him.
He kept kicking the threshold with his foot, “Bang Bang Bang.” The sound of kicking the threshold was very harsh.
I don’t know how long he kicked. Then the man left.
I hid in the east room and didn’t dare to go out.
Late at night, I heard footsteps outside the courtyard. I lay on the window and looked out. My grandfather and grandmother came back.
I quickly got off the earthen kang and opened the door of the east room.
I said, “Grandpa, Grandma, why did you come back so late?”
My grandfather was covered with yellow soil, and there was also some in his hair, as if he had just climbed out of a pile of soil.
My grandfather said, “I fell down on the way down the mountain and passed out. If it weren’t for your grandmother coming to find me, I wouldn’t have been able to come back.”
My grandmother frowned and said, “Okay, come in quickly. In the future, don’t reveal the secrets of heaven too much. It will shorten your lifespan. I’ll go to the warehouse to bring the food.”
My grandfather nodded and hunched into the east room.
Soon, my grandmother brought the chicken into the east room.
My grandmother touched my face and said, “Jixiang, why is your face so pale? Your complexion doesn’t look right.”
I said, “Just now, a man with a crooked face came to our house. He said he was looking for Grandpa to drive. I asked him to wait in the courtyard, but he couldn’t even step over the threshold of our house.”
As soon as I finished speaking, my grandfather’s face changed. He grabbed my shoulders and asked, “What did that man look like? Were his eyes big or small?”
I had never seen my grandfather look so nervous.
I said, “His eyes are big.”
My grandfather and grandmother looked at each other, with fear in their eyes.
My grandmother said anxiously, “Old man, didn’t Zhao Chunsheng die? He didn’t listen to you and insisted on driving on the mountain road by himself, and even at night in the heavy rain.”
4
My grandfather frowned tightly, grabbed my shoulders, and asked, “What else did he say to you?”
I said, “He said you promised to help him drive tonight, but you weren’t at home.”
As soon as I finished speaking, my grandmother started stamping her feet in a hurry. She pointed at my grandfather and said, “I’ve told you long ago, don’t meddle in other people’s business. Now, you’ve got into big trouble! When Chen Dashan comes back, don’t think about taking care of the driving matters anymore.”
My grandfather frowned and said, “This road is evil. If I don’t take care of it, more people will die.”
My grandmother said, “It’s all fate. It’s not your turn to take care of it.”
My grandfather squinted his eyes and didn’t speak.
Seeing that my grandfather didn’t speak, my grandmother said, “What about Zhao Chunsheng’s matter? Is he dead or not?”
My grandfather said, “Tomorrow at dawn, I’ll go to the foot of the mountain to take a look.”
My grandmother sighed and said, “I’ll go with you. And we’ll go to Chen Laosan’s house to buy a few roosters back.”
Early the next morning, as soon as it was light, my grandfather and grandmother left. I was the only one left in the courtyard.
I threw the grass into the sheepfold to feed the sheep and then picked the eggs from the chicken coop.
I had just sent the eggs to the warehouse when I saw four men enter our courtyard. Two of the men were carrying a stretcher, and there was clearly a person lying on the stretcher. The person was covered with a white cloth. The person lying on the stretcher should be dead.
The tall man said to me, “Kid, is this Sun Dafu’s house?”
I nodded and said, “Yes.”
The tall man smiled and said, “Finally, we’ve found the right place. Kid, where’s your grandfather? I want to find him to drive.”
I said, “My grandfather isn’t at home.”
The tall man was stunned and said, “When will your grandfather be back?”
I said, “He should be back before dark.”
The tall man said, “Then we’ll wait in the courtyard.”
After saying this, the tall man sat on the bench. The other men also sat on the bench. They had a bad smell on them. I had smelled this smell on my great – grandfather. It was the smell of a person who was about to die.
The tall man took out cigarettes from his pocket and distributed them to the men next to him. The cigarettes they smoked were the kind in a box, not hand – rolled cigarettes.
The tall man said, “This place is evil. Before dark, we must cross this mountain.”
Next to the tall man was a fat man. There was a scar on the fat man’s face that looked like a centipede. He looked fierce and hard to mess with.
The fat man said with a smile, “This winding mountain road is evil. There are often people who die. We go to the bottom of the mountain to pick up the bodies and sell them. We’ve made a lot of money for nothing. Only our brothers know about this opportunity to get rich.”
As soon as the fat man finished speaking, the tall man glared at him.
The fat man turned his head to look at me and said with a smile, “Brother, he’s just a little kid. He doesn’t understand what we’re saying.”
After saying this, the fat man said to me with a smile, “Kid, do you have anything to eat at home? Bring it all out. I’ll give you money.”
I said, “There are potatoes left over from last night at home.”
The fat man said, “Potatoes? Bah, I want to eat meat. Take out the meat from your house and cook it.”
As soon as the fat man finished speaking, the tall man glared at him and said, “Lao San, we’re here to ask for help. Don’t cause trouble.”
The fat man rolled his eyes and didn’t say anything else.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in the courtyard. The white cloth covering the body was blown up, and the face of the body was revealed. I subconsciously looked at the ground. The body lying on the stretcher was actually Zhao Chunsheng.
He had his eyes open, and there was a strange expression on his face, as if he was smiling.
5
I was startled and shouted at the men, “Run!”
The fat man sneered a few times and said, “A little kid like you is scared out of his wits just by seeing a corpse.”
After saying this, the fat man got up to cover Zhao Chunsheng with the white cloth.
With the white cloth covering Zhao Chunsheng, I always felt that Zhao Chunsheng would sit up at any moment.
I subconsciously took two steps back and said, “I saw him last night. He even talked to me. He died several years ago. Run away quickly.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the fat man’s face changed. He said with a cold face, “Kid, don’t talk nonsense.”
I said, “I’m not talking nonsense.”
The fat man said, “I’ve been dealing with corpses for decades. Can I be scared by a kid like you? Humph, go and get the meat from your house quickly.”
As soon as the fat man finished speaking, I saw Zhao Chunsheng’s finger under the white cloth move. My scalp instantly went numb.
I said, “He’s coming back to life. Run!”
After saying this, I ran out of the courtyard desperately. Behind me came the laughter of these men. They were still smoking and didn’t realize at all that Zhao Chunsheng had come back to life.
I ran towards the back mountain in a hurry. I don’t know how long I ran before I reached the foot of the back mountain.
Just then, I met my grandfather and grandmother.
My grandfather asked, “Jixiang, why are you running?”
I said panting, “Grandpa, four men came to our courtyard. They said they wanted you to help them drive. They were carrying a stretcher, and Zhao Chunsheng’s body was lying on it. I saw Zhao Chunsheng’s finger move with my own eyes, but those men didn’t believe it and they’re still in our courtyard.”
As soon as I finished speaking, my grandfather’s face changed. He said, “No wonder we couldn’t find Zhao Chunsheng’s body. So they took it away. Bad, something big is going to happen!”
My grandfather frowned tightly and let out a deep sigh.
My grandmother said, “Old man, you can’t handle this matter. Don’t meddle in it.”
My grandfather said, “Zhao Chunsheng came for me. I can’t ignore this matter.”
After saying this, my grandfather said to my grandmother, “Old woman, kill our pig later. I’ll meet Zhao Chunsheng at midnight tonight.”
As soon as my grandfather finished speaking, my grandmother was stunned. She said, “Are you crazy? Meeting a dead person!”
My grandfather didn’t speak. He stared at the ground, and I didn’t know what he was thinking.
After a while, my grandfather said, “I’m afraid those men are in great danger.”
After saying this, my grandfather walked towards the village, and my grandmother and I followed behind.
When we got home, our courtyard was in a mess, and there was blood all over the ground.
Those men were gone, and so was Zhao Chunsheng.
My grandfather took out water from the warehouse, poured it in the courtyard, and cleaned up the blood.
My grandfather then took out an axe from the warehouse and cut off the threshold at the entrance of the courtyard.
My grandmother frowned and said, “Old man, I think you’re crazy!”
My grandfather frowned and said, “Old woman, come and help. Catch the pig.”
My grandfather entered the pigsty to catch the pig. Although my grandmother was reluctant, she went in to help.
Soon, they killed the pig.
My grandmother used a wooden barrel to catch a full barrel of pig blood.
My grandfather said, “Jixiang, bring the writing brush.”
I nodded and said, “Got it.”
I ran into the house and brought out the writing brush. My grandfather dipped the writing brush in the pig blood and wrote on the courtyard door.
Each character was dripping with blood, looking very strange.
6
After my grandfather finished writing, he turned to my grandmother and said, “Old woman, no matter what happens tonight, don’t open the door. Protect Jixiang well.”
My grandmother sighed and said, “What a mess! You were trying to help, but you got into trouble instead.”
My grandfather didn’t speak, as if he agreed with what my grandmother said.
In a blink of an eye, it was dark.
My grandfather set up a table in the courtyard. On the table were raw pork, raw pig blood, and a mirror.
My grandfather said, “Old woman, take Jixiang into the east room.”
My grandmother said, “Old man, be careful.”
After saying this, my grandmother led me into the east room and locked the door.
I climbed onto the earthen kang, moved close to the window, and looked out into the courtyard.
Suddenly, I saw a figure appear at the entrance of the courtyard.
By the moonlight, I could see the figure’s face clearly. It was Zhao Chunsheng.
Zhao Chunsheng was hunched over, his eyes filled with anger. He quickly entered the courtyard.
When my grandfather saw Zhao Chunsheng enter the courtyard, he repeatedly apologized to him and said, “Chunsheng, I didn’t do what I promised you. It’s my fault. Please be magnanimous and don’t hold it against me.”
After saying this, my grandfather picked up a bowl of raw pig blood and drank it.
Zhao Chunsheng stared at my grandfather with scarlet eyes and said viciously, “Old thing, you went back on your word. You promised to drive for me, but you drove for someone else. You deserve to die!”
My grandfather kept nodding and didn’t speak. He motioned for Zhao Chunsheng to sit down and talk.
Zhao Chunsheng sat on the bench, and the mirror was right in front of him.
My grandfather said, “Chunsheng, what kind of goods are you carrying in your car?”
Zhao Chunsheng picked up a bowl of raw pig blood and took a few big gulps. He smiled and said, “Coal.”
When Zhao Chunsheng said this, his smile was creepy. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes were scarlet.
My grandfather forced a few laughs and said, “Coal is good. You can earn a lot of money by making this delivery.”
Zhao Chunsheng looked very proud. He grabbed a piece of raw pork with his hand and stuffed it into his mouth, eating it raw.
Zhao Chunsheng said, “Uncle, I don’t mean to make things difficult for you. We truck drivers, time is money. We can’t afford to delay. You promised to drive for me at a certain time, and it has to be that time. Not a minute or a second less. If the goods are delivered late, the boss won’t pay.”
My grandfather sighed and said, “Chunsheng, you’ve had a hard life.”
Zhao Chunsheng curled his lips, picked up another bowl of raw pig blood, and drank it in big gulps. He said, “There’s no way.”
My grandfather sighed and said, “Chunsheng, go and reincarnate.”
As soon as my grandfather finished speaking, Zhao Chunsheng’s face changed. He said fiercely, “Old thing, what did you say? I’m alive and well. How dare you curse me to die?”
Zhao Chunsheng’s voice was gloomy, and the look in his eyes when he looked at my grandfather was sinister.
It seemed that in the next second, he would devour my grandfather alive.
My grandfather said, “Chunsheng, look up at the mirror.”
Zhao Chunsheng was stunned for a few seconds. He looked up at the mirror. In the mirror, Zhao Chunsheng’s face was covered with corpse spots, and there was a blood – hole on his head.
Both of his ears were about to fall off, held on by only a little bit of skin and flesh. His body was covered in blood.
This was clearly not a living person. It was a dead person.
Zhao Chunsheng’s eyes widened, and he said, “Who is this?”
My grandfather said, “Chunsheng, look carefully. The person in the mirror is you. You died as early as last year.”
As soon as my grandfather finished speaking, Zhao Chunsheng’s eyes widened. He stared at himself in the mirror, making strange “Uh – uh – uh” sounds. Then, blood flowed out of his seven orifices, and he fell to the ground, twitching.
His body was uncontrollably distorted. I could hear the sound of bones breaking even in the east room.
Zhao Chunsheng’s body was twisted like a twist. There was a pool of blood on the ground. He twitched a few times in the pool of blood and then stopped moving.
7
My grandfather frowned. He took out a white cloth from the warehouse, covered Zhao Chunsheng’s body, and then brought a fire to burn Zhao Chunsheng’s body.
The raging fire engulfed Zhao Chunsheng’s body.
My grandmother led me to the courtyard.
There was a stinking smell in the air.
My grandmother said, “Old man, come into the house quickly.”
My grandfather said, “You two go into the house first. I’ll come in at dawn.”
My grandmother sighed and said, “Old man, from now on, we won’t meddle in other people’s business.”
My grandfather didn’t speak. He squatted on the ground, smoking his pipe.
In a blink of an eye, it was the next morning.
It was raining heavily in the village, and the sky was overcast.
My grandmother was sitting on the earthen kang, sewing clothes. She said, “Old man, it’s almost been three days. Why hasn’t Chen Dashan come back yet?”
My grandfather sighed and said, “It’s all fate. If he can’t come back, it just means his life has come to an end.”
As soon as my grandfather finished speaking, I saw two people enter our courtyard. These two people didn’t have umbrellas and walked very fast.
My grandmother opened the door of the east room, and the two men entered the room.
My grandmother asked, “What’s the matter?”
The man in black laughed slyly and said, “We’re looking for Sun Dafu.”
As soon as the man in black finished speaking, the man in white also let out a sly laugh. He pointed at my grandfather and said, “Sun Dafu is here.”
After saying this, the man in white grabbed the shoulders of the man in black with both hands, turned him half a circle on the spot, and made him look at my grandfather.
When the man in black saw my grandfather, he smiled slyly and said, “Sun Dafu, we want you to drive. The car is at the foot of the mountain. Come with us quickly.”
As soon as the man in black finished speaking, my grandmother said, “Young man, we don’t drive anymore. You can find someone else.”
As soon as my grandmother finished speaking, the man in black showed his ferocity. He said with a gloomy face, “The winding mountain road at the back of the mountain is hard to walk. It’s a road where the King of Hell claims lives. Since you dared to meddle in this matter, don’t be afraid of getting into trouble. Let’s go!”
After saying this, the man in black stamped his foot on the ground. His eyes stared at my grandfather, looking very strange.
My grandfather was stunned for a few seconds, with fear in his eyes.
Seeing that my grandfather didn’t speak, the man in white said, “Sun Dafu, don’t dawdle. Let’s go!”
My grandmother stood in front of my grandfather and said, “You two young men have no manners at all. Leave quickly. We won’t help.”
After saying this, my grandmother was about to drive the two men away.
Strangely enough, although it was raining heavily outside, these two men didn’t have umbrellas, but their bodies were not wet at all.
Even the shoes on their feet didn’t get any mud on them.
The man in black snorted coldly and said with a gloomy face, “You won’t go?”
My grandfather’s eyes widened, and he said, “I’ll go.”
After saying this, my grandfather got off the earthen kang. He seemed very afraid of the two men in front of him.
My grandmother said, “Old man, it’s raining heavily outside. Don’t go.”
My grandfather was stunned and said, “Old woman, don’t forget about Chen Dashan’s matter. Handle this matter well, and then take Jixiang and leave.”
My grandfather seemed to be giving his last words.
My grandmother asked in confusion, “Old man, what do you mean by that?”
My grandfather didn’t speak. He walked straight out of the house without even taking an umbrella.
My grandmother quickly picked up the umbrella in the house and chased after him, but my grandfather didn’t take the umbrella.
My grandfather whispered a few words in my grandmother’s ear and then left.
8
My grandmother stood in the courtyard with the umbrella, looking terrified.
I ran to the courtyard and shouted, “Grandma.”
My grandmother then came to her senses. She quickly entered the east room.
And she locked the door of the east room.
I said, “Grandma, what’s wrong?”
My grandmother slumped on the earthen kang and cried without saying a word.
In the evening, when it was almost dark, Chen Wang from the village ran into our house and shouted, “Auntie, something bad happened. Uncle died on the winding mountain road.”
My grandmother frowned, as if she had already expected that my grandfather would die. She didn’t speak and led me towards the winding mountain road.
When we got to the winding mountain road, by the moonlight, I saw my grandfather lying on the ground. He was hit and killed by a big truck. Half of his body was crushed into minced meat. It was very scary.
My grandmother covered my grandfather with a white cloth herself. Several young men carried my grandfather down the mountain.
We prepared a coffin at home and set up a mourning hall in the courtyard.
My grandmother and I kept vigil.
The villagers all came to see my grandfather off.
Early the next morning, a group of outsiders came to our courtyard again.
Among these people, there were several I had seen. They had all asked my grandfather to help them drive big trucks.
These people kowtowed to my grandfather’s portrait. Before leaving, they threw money to my grandmother.
My grandmother said, “It’s not easy for you truck drivers to earn money. You don’t need to give me money.”
Several men forcefully stuffed the money into my grandmother’s hands. One of the men said, “I never believed in evil in my life, but I almost lost my life on this winding mountain road. If it weren’t for Uncle’s help, I would have become a wandering ghost. You must accept this money.”
The other people also echoed and stuffed the money into my grandmother’s hands.
My grandmother wiped her tears, looked at me, and then accepted the money.
These men stayed in our courtyard for half a day and then left.
My grandmother knelt in front of my grandfather’s portrait and said, “Old man, the people you helped have all come to see you.”
After saying this, my grandmother’s tears couldn’t stop flowing.
According to the village’s rules, when a person dies, the coffin should be kept for three days before burial.
My grandmother and I kept watch in the courtyard.
When it was almost dark, my grandmother said, “Why hasn’t Chen Dashan come yet? It’s almost been three days.”
I said, “Grandma, I’ll go to the entrance of the village to have a look.”
My grandmother said, “Okay, be careful on the way.”
I nodded and ran towards the entrance of the village.
But when I got to the entrance of the village, I didn’t see Chen Dashan. Instead, I saw my second grandfather.
My second grandfather and my grandfather had a bad relationship and hadn’t contacted each other for a long time. My second grandfather was followed by his two sons.
When my second grandfather saw me, he just glanced at me and then walked towards the village. I guessed he was going to my house.
I quickly followed him.
When my second grandfather entered the courtyard, he started crying, “Big brother, you died so miserably.”
My two uncles also wailed, but they didn’t shed tears.
My grandmother saw my second grandfather and said with a cold face, “Second, why are you here?”
Hearing what my grandmother said, my second grandfather immediately got angry and said, “Why can’t I come? This is my elder brother’s house. Besides, I helped build this courtyard back then. Now that my elder brother is dead, I should take this courtyard back.”
As soon as my second grandfather finished speaking, my grandmother rushed into the warehouse and took out a kitchen knife. She shouted at my second grandfather with the kitchen knife, “Sun Erfu, if you dare to act recklessly, I’ll dare to kill you! Get out!”
My second grandfather curled his lips and said with a cold face, “Big sister – in – law, go and ask around in the village. Everyone knows that this courtyard was built by me. You’d better be sensible and move out. If you don’t move, don’t blame me for driving you out.”
9
My grandmother shouted at my second grandfather, “How dare you! Your elder brother’s body is not even cold yet, and you come to take advantage of the family’s misfortune. Are you still a human being?”
My second grandfather curled his lips and didn’t speak.
My two uncles, one was called Dakuan and the other was called Datie.
Dakuan said, “Auntie, we came to pay our respects to my uncle. Don’t say such unpleasant things. Even if we don’t want this courtyard, you and Jixiang, a widow and an orphan, can’t keep this courtyard either. I think you can live in the warehouse with Jixiang, and we’ll live in the rest. This is also worthy of my uncle.”
Datie echoed beside him, “This is a good idea.”
My grandmother’s eyes were red, and she said, “You’re robbing us blatantly. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
As soon as my grandmother finished speaking, my second grandfather laughed out loud and said, “What retribution? Don’t be ungrateful.”
After saying this, my second grandfather swaggered towards the east room, and my two uncles followed.
My grandmother quickly chased after them to stop them, and several people entered the room.
I was just about to chase after them when I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and saw it was Chen Dashan.
The threshold of our courtyard hadn’t been replaced yet, so Chen Dashan entered the courtyard. He was covered in yellow soil, his hair was in a mess, and his eyes were dull.
The yellow – paper clothes my grandfather gave him were also gone.
Chen Dashan walked up to my grandfather’s portrait, and with a “thud” ,he knelt down and kowtowed several times loudly towards my grandfather’s portrait.
Chen Dashan said, “Uncle, I’m back. Unfortunately, I’m late.”
Chen Dashan’s fingers were black and purple, with black mud under his fingernails, as if he had just crawled out of the soil.
From the east room came my grandmother’s shout, “Sun Erfu, get out of here!”
As soon as my grandmother finished speaking, she was pushed out of the room by Sun Erfu.
My grandmother fell to the ground, and her pants were torn.
I quickly ran over to help my grandmother up.
My second grandfather said with a cold face, “Don’t be ungrateful.”
When my second grandfather said this, he also glanced at Chen Dashan.
Chen Dashan glared at my second grandfather and said, “Who are you people? Who allowed you to come here and cause trouble?”
My second grandfather said, “What are you? This is my elder brother’s house. What are you, an outsider, talking about? Get out.”
My grandmother said, “They’re just a bunch of beasts. They’re here to take advantage of our misfortune.”
Chen Dashan frowned and looked at my second grandfather, saying, “It’s not your turn to take advantage of us. Get out!”
As soon as Chen Dashan finished speaking, my second grandfather laughed out loud. He called my two uncles over and wanted to beat Chen Dashan.
Chen Dashan had a gloomy face and didn’t speak. My two uncles rushed towards Chen Dashan, and Chen Dashan started fighting with them.
Chen Dashan was very strong and hit hard. He opened his mouth, revealing a mouthful of black and sharp teeth, and bit down on Dakuan’s shoulder. In an instant, blood flowed all over the ground.
Dakuan howled in pain, trying to break free from Chen Dashan, but Chen Dashan bit tightly into Dakuan’s flesh and wouldn’t let go.
Datie came to help and hit Chen Dashan on the head. Chen Dashan seemed not to feel the pain. He actually bit off a piece of flesh from Dakuan’s body.
Dakuan was instantly scared out of his wits and backed away like crazy. Datie was also frightened. Chen Dashan had bloody flesh in his mouth. My grandmother quickly walked up to Chen Dashan and picked the flesh out of his mouth.
If she didn’t pick it out, she was afraid that Chen Dashan would swallow the meat.
My second grandfather was also very frightened. He shouted, “Madman, madman!”
The few of them ran out of the courtyard in a hurry, even losing their shoes.
10
Chen Dashan looked at my grandmother and said, “Auntie, if you don’t mind, I’ll be your adopted son. When Jixiang grows up, I’ll leave.”
My grandmother said, “Dashan, you can go. I can take good care of Jixiang.”
Chen Dashan shook his head and said, “Let me stay.”
After saying this, Chen Dashan burned yellow paper for my grandfather.
In a blink of an eye, three days passed, and my grandfather was buried in peace.
With Chen Dashan in the family, my grandmother had less work to do. She raised more than a dozen chickens in the courtyard and sold the eggs in the town.
She also raised sheep at home, and life was getting better and better.
My grandmother said, “Dashan, you’ve been here for a year. If you miss home, you can go back and have a look.”
Chen Dashan smiled but didn’t speak. He just chopped firewood and carried water with great effort.
The winding mountain road at the back of our village still often claimed lives, so people were sent to repair the road.
More than a dozen large bulldozers came. Among them, there was a man I knew, Chen Shuang.
During the break, Chen Shuang came to my house to have a look. He was carrying some supplements in his hand. He smiled and asked, “Auntie, how are you recently?”
My grandmother said, “I’m in good health. With Dashan’s help, life has become much easier.”
Chen Shuang was stunned for a few seconds and asked, “Which Dashan?”
My grandmother said, “It’s Chen Dashan, the one who drives a big truck. You know him. You recommended him to come here in the first place.”
As soon as my grandmother finished speaking, Chen Shuang’s eyes widened, filled with horror.
Chen Shuang said fearfully, “Auntie, you can’t talk nonsense about this.”
My grandmother said, “I’m not talking nonsense. He went to the mountain to pick up branches and will be back soon. Don’t leave either. I’ll kill a chicken tonight, and you can stay for dinner.”
Chen Shuang took a deep breath and said, “Auntie, I know Chen Dashan. He died a year ago, right at the foot of the mountain. I even helped send his body back.”
As soon as Chen Shuang finished speaking, my grandmother’s eyes widened. She said, “Impossible! Dashan has been living in my house for over a year, and everyone in the village knows about Dashan.”
Chen Shuang said anxiously, “Auntie, I’m not lying to you. Dashan really died. Before he died, he was wearing a piece of yellow – paper clothes, which was very strange. I heard from the people who ran the big truck with him that before he died, he kept saying it was too late, and then he suddenly passed away while sitting in the big truck.”
My grandmother frowned, looking flustered.
Chen Shuang said, “Auntie, my car is at the entrance of the village. You and Jixiang come with me.”
My grandmother hesitated for a few seconds and then said, “Chen Shuang, I’m getting old and muddle – headed. The person who helps me with the work is called Dahai, not Dashan. Don’t take it to heart. My mind is always confused, sometimes clear and sometimes muddled.”
Chen Shuang was stunned for a few seconds and then said, “Is that so? Then I’m relieved. I thought you encountered something strange. Auntie, since there’s nothing wrong, I’ll go first.”
My grandmother said, “Stay for dinner.”
Chen Shuang said, “No, it’s getting dark, and the mountain road is not easy to walk. I’ll go first.”
After saying this, Chen Shuang left.
My grandmother stood there, stunned, as if she had lost her soul.
My grandmother said, “Jixiang, go get half a bowl of raw rice.”
I nodded, ran to the warehouse, and got half a bowl of raw rice. My grandmother put three sticks of incense in the raw rice and lit them.
Soon, Chen Dashan entered the courtyard. He looked at my grandmother and said, “Mom, what are you doing?”
My grandmother’s eyes were red, and she said, “Dashan, come here. Mom wants to talk to you. You’ve already repaid your kindness. If you keep working here, Mom will feel bad. Go.”
Chen Dashan was stunned for a few seconds and said, “Mom, if I leave, how will you and Jixiang live, a widow and an orphan?”
My grandmother said, “People have their own paths, and ghosts have their own ways. Don’t worry. Don’t wrong yourself. Listen to Mom and go.”
After saying this, my grandmother cut her finger with a knife and let the blood flow. She wrote Chen Dashan’s name on the yellow paper with her blood. My grandmother said, “Son, Mom has written the way for you to reincarnate. Go.”
After saying this, my grandmother burned the yellow paper. Chen Dashan shed tears. The moment the yellow paper burned out, Chen Dashan fell to the ground and died.
His face was covered with corpse spots, his eyes bulged out, and his bones were exposed. He had clearly been dead for a long time and was emitting a foul smell.
My grandmother buried Chen Dashan in our family’s ancestral grave that night and engraved a tombstone.
Early the next morning, my grandmother’s hair turned completely white, and she looked obviously ten – plus years older.
She coughed weakly a few times, sold all the valuable things in the house, and took me to live in the city.
Just after entering the city, I saw a merchant downstairs celebrating the birth of a son. I went closer to take a look. The child had a birthmark on his forehead, exactly the same as the birthmark on Chen Dashan’s forehead.
My grandmother saw this child and was very happy but didn’t get close. She led me away.
Since then, I’ve never been back to the village, nor have I seen this child again.
– The End –
