Chapter 57 : The Twists and Turns on the Road Home

Han Zhenyu stopped and walked intermittently, and by the time he reached the village entrance, he still hadn’t figured out where he could sleep for the night.  

Han Lei and Sun Dashu both had wives, so he didn’t want to disturb them.  

Even if they weren’t married, he couldn’t go there either, how would he explain himself if they asked why he wasn’t going home to sleep?  

Left with no better option, Han Zhenyu decided to ride his bicycle to the brigade headquarters. However, he didn’t enter the yard. Instead, he wandered around the area before parking his bike near the school.  

He planned to knock on Su Xieqiu’s door again once it was dawn.  

Sitting on the back seat of his bicycle, he gazed up at the stars in the sky and thought to himself, ‘If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have come back. Staying in the factory dormitory for a night and coming back early tomorrow morning would’ve been so much easier. I really brought this trouble on myself.’  

Han Zhenyu wasn’t sure how long he’d been sitting there, but the constant mosquito bites were becoming unbearable.  

Snap! Another mosquito ended up crushed in his hand.  

Meanwhile, Teacher Wei, who had eaten a cucumber and drunk half a bowl of cold water before bed, found himself with an upset stomach and had to get up to use the bathroom.  

As he stepped outside, he heard slapping sounds coming from somewhere near the school.  

Remembering the eerie laughter he and his wife had heard some nights ago, a chill ran down his spine. He hurriedly ran back into the house, pulling his pants up without even going to the toilet.  

But when he was near the dormitory, his curiosity got the better of him.  

Teacher Wei hesitated for a moment. He prided himself on being a materialist and didn’t believe in ghosts, but what had happened that night was undeniably strange.  

It wasn’t just him who heard the laughter, his wife heard it too.  

After some deliberation, Teacher Wei decided to investigate. Grabbing a shovel for protection, he worked up his courage and headed out.  

Han Zhenyu, who couldn’t endure the mosquito bites any longer, had tied together some grass to swat at the mosquitoes.  

The moonlight was especially bright that night. Teacher Wei stepped out of the school and spotted a bicycle parked nearby with a tall figure standing beside it.  

Not recognizing who it was, Teacher Wei looked at his own slight frame and hesitated to approach. From a distance, he called out, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”  

Han Zhenyu was startled by the sudden voice.  

Turning around cautiously, he recognized the figure in the moonlight it was Teacher Wei from the school.  

Not wanting to cause a misunderstanding, he quickly greeted him with a smile. “Hello, Teacher Wei, it’s me, Han Zhenyu. I just came back from the city.”  

Teacher Wei exhaled in relief when he heard who it was. “Oh, it’s you, Han Zhenyu! Why are you standing here in the middle of the night instead of going home? You almost scared me to death.”  

Feeling a bit awkward, Han Zhenyu couldn’t reveal the truth and instead lied with a smile. “I’m sorry, Teacher Wei. I was just standing here smoking. I didn’t mean to scare you.”  

“Go back to the house quickly,” Teacher Wei advised as he turned to head back to the school.  

Halfway there, Teacher Wei recalled the strange laughter from the other night. He paused, then turned back and walked over to Han Zhenyu. Lowering his voice, he said, “Don’t wander outside at night anymore. It’s not safe.”  

Han Zhenyu was taken aback by his serious tone.  

‘Did something happen in the village while I was gone?’ he wondered. His uncle hadn’t mentioned anything earlier.  

“What happened, Teacher Wei?” Han Zhenyu asked.  

Teacher Wei stared at him for a moment, seemingly deciding whether to share. In the end, he spoke up.  

Han Zhenyu might have a poor reputation in the village, but Teacher Wei knew the rumors weren’t true. He was dependable and trustworthy.

Teacher Wei felt that Han Zhenyu was trustworthy enough to share secrets with.  

Leaning close to Han Zhenyu’s ear, he whispered, “Half a month ago, my wife and I were sound asleep when we suddenly heard eerie laughter from a woman. The sound was so terrifying that my wife cried from fear and now refuses to sleep alone.”  

But before Teacher Wei could finish his story, Han Zhenyu was already pushing his bicycle toward the brigade headquarters.  

“Hey! Did you hear what I just said? Stop wandering around in the middle of the night and scaring people!” Teacher Wei called softly after him.  

Han Zhenyu ignored him at first, but when he neared the brigade entrance, he suddenly turned around with a feigned look of surprise and asked, “Teacher Wei, why is there someone standing behind you?”  

“Ah! Where? Where?”  

Teacher Wei nearly jumped out of his skin. When he heard Han Zhenyu laughing, he realized he’d been tricked.  

“Han Zhenyu!” he yelled angrily. “What I told you is true! If you don’t believe me, fine, but don’t make fun of it!”  

“I believe you, Teacher Wei,” Han Zhenyu replied, trying to suppress his laughter. Then he added mischievously, “But what I said is true too. There really is someone behind you, a woman. Look back if you don’t believe me.”  

Although Teacher Wei knew Han Zhenyu was joking, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy discussing such creepy topics at night.  

Seeing Han Zhenyu walk into the brigade headquarters, Teacher Wei cursed under his breath and ran back to the school.  

—

Though the two men had tried to keep their voices down, in the stillness of the night, their conversation carried far.  

Inside the brigade dormitory, Su Xieqiu also heard the noise. She thought some bold intruder had come to court disaster.  

Quietly climbing out of bed, she stood behind the door, clutching a machete.  

She had recently bought ten mousetraps during a trip to the city and placed them at the door each night, ready to catch anyone who dared enter.  

But after waiting for a while, no one came near.  

Peering through a crack in the door, she saw a tall, thin figure standing a short distance away, next to a bicycle. The figure looked vaguely familiar, resembling her husband who was away on business.  

‘Could it really be him?’  

Cautiously, she called out, “Han Zhenyu? Is that you?”  

Hearing Su Xieqiu’s voice, Han Zhenyu, who had been feeling rather dejected from the night’s events, felt a flicker of joy. He quickly responded, “It’s me, Han Zhenyu.”  

Relieved, Su Xieqiu opened the door and muttered, “Why didn’t you knock when you came back? You scared me half to death.”  

Han Zhenyu sighed but began pushing his bicycle forward.  

Just then, Su Xieqiu remembered the mousetraps and urgently shouted, “Stop! Don’t move! Don’t come closer!”  

Han Zhenyu froze, speechless.  

He nearly laughed in frustration, but it felt more like anger. He gritted his teeth and cursed silently. Part of him wanted to just turn around and leave.  

‘Why did I even come back tonight?’ he thought bitterly. ‘Was the factory dormitory bed that uncomfortable? Was the cafeteria food that bad? Why am I standing here in the middle of the night, feeding mosquitoes and being treated like some kind of intruder?’  

Su Xieqiu, unaware of his inner turmoil or how her words had affected him, continued cautiously. After opening the door wider, she lit a lamp and told him again not to move.  

Watching her retreating figure, Han Zhenyu gritted his teeth and muttered, “I know. I won’t step into the house without your permission.”