Chapter 135

The Zhongyuan Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival or Ullambana Festival, is when the gates of the underworld open, and every household offers sacrifices. People burn joss paper and incense along the riverbanks and roadsides to honor the wandering spirits without families.

Since Madam Liang passed away earlier in the year, which was still considered a new grave, Wang Yuan’er prepared offerings early to pay respects at the grave.

Along the way, there were remnants of burned joss paper and incense. After paying respects to her parents, Wang Yuan’er also burned paper money and incense by the roadside, murmuring prayers to appease the spirits. Back home, she offered food and incense at her parents’ memorial tablet and gathered her sisters to talk.

“During the Zhongyuan Festival, the gates of the underworld are open. Don’t wander around aimlessly, especially at night, and stay away from the river, Lan’er, do you understand?” Wang Yuan’er pulled her youngest sister close.

Although the Zhongyuan Festival is on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, in folklore, April and July are considered months with heavy yin energy, especially July, also known as the ghost month. Wandering outside could attract unclean entities.

So, Wang Yuan’er gave the warning as a precaution.

Wang Lan’er, being timid, clung to her sleeve and said, “I won’t run around.”

“Good, running around could get you caught by ghosts!” Wang Qing’er teased her.

Wang Lan’er screamed in fright, and Wang Yuan’er glared at her, “What nonsense are you talking? Spit it out and say it didn’t happen.”

Wang Qing’er stuck out her tongue and laughed, “I was just teasing her!”

Wang Lan’er, with her hands on her hips, shouted, “Third sister is the worst!”

The sisters laughed and joked together.

During the ghost month, the crops were ready for harvest. The rice grew exceptionally well this year, promising a good yield, much to the delight of Grandpa Wang and others.

The construction at the riverside was in full swing, and Changle Town was bustling with life.

As the days passed, halfway through the ghost month, Wang Yuan’er heard troubling news.

Changle Town had a river smaller than Changle River, with varying depths. Many children played and swam there in the hot summer, and some adults bathed their children in the river before heading home.

“The eldest daughter of the Lai family drowned, taken by a water ghost as a substitute,” Madam Zheng said sadly.

The Lai family, where the matchmaker Lai Shi came from, had two daughters and a son. The eldest daughter, 12 years old, inexplicably jumped into the river to swim and never returned.

“That’s fate. Her younger siblings said they had gone once in the morning and wanted to go again in the afternoon. Her siblings didn’t want to go, but she forced them with a stick, threatening to beat them if they didn’t follow. In the end, she jumped into the river and never came out, found in a whirlpool known to take lives,” Madam Liu from the tailor shop sighed and whispered, “Don’t you think a ghost possessed her? Forcing them to go, she’s definitely being possessed!”

Wang Yuan’er shuddered. She knew the Lai family’s eldest daughter, Hua’er, a pretty and well-behaved girl, now gone.

Passing the Lai family’s house, she heard the heart-wrenching cries of Lai Shi and her children, feeling a deep sense of sorrow.

No matter how wealthy one’s life is, being alive is a true fortune. Once dead, everything is truly gone.

Back home, she shared the incident with her sisters, becoming more protective, especially of Wang Baolai, who could crawl now. Remembering past events, she was even more cautious, keeping him away from the well.

Chapter 136

In late July, the Zhao family’s house that Wang Yuan’er rented out finally welcomed its new occupants, a young lady and her two servants.

She arrived in a modest carriage, accompanied by Master Cui, with a maid of about sixteen or seventeen years old and an elder with a long scar over his right eye, known as Uncle Gui.

The lady’s name was Miss He, as Wang Yuan’er heard from Master Cui, and her maid was called Du Juan. They kept a low profile and rarely walked around the town, making it hard to discern their background.

But since they were connected with Master Cui, they probably weren’t an ordinary family. Stories of fallen nobility are quite common in novels, aren’t they?

Wang Qing’er, being curious and gossipy, often went over to their place and returned to whisper to Wang Yuan’er, “Eldest sister, do you think these two eloped? Isn’t that how the stories go—scholars and noble ladies eloping to small towns?”

With her sleeves rolled up to her elbows and hair tied back, sweat covered Wang Yuaner’s forehead as she swiftly placed tofu cubes into jars. Hearing this, she glared at Wang Qing’er, “Where did you inherit such curiosity? Let me tell you, you’d better curb it. Spreading rumors outside could get you into trouble.”

This infernal heat had soaked half her clothes in just a short while.

Wang Qing’er stuck out her tongue, “I’m just talking about it here.”

“It doesn’t matter. The house is rented out, and the money is received. Who cares who lives there!” Wang Yuan’er wiped her sweat with the back of her hand. Thinking of Uncle Gui’s stern face, she added, “I don’t think they’re an ordinary family. Uncle Gui seems difficult to deal with. Don’t wander over there.”

Wang Qing’er pouted, “Got it.”

“Anyone here?”

While the sisters were working behind the shop, a crisp voice startled them. Turning around, Wang Qing’er nudged Wang Yuan’er’s arm.

Speak of the devil, and he appears, though it was just a maid.

“Miss Du Juan!” Wang Yuan’er wiped her hands on her apron and greeted her with a smile, “What brings you here?”

When they moved in, Wang Yuan’er, as the landlord, had introduced herself, so they knew each other.

“I heard your family sells fermented tofu here. My lady is new and hasn’t been feeling well, so I came to buy some fermented tofu for her to make some refreshing dishes.” Du Juan smiled.

Wang Yuan’er replied, “It’s hot, and appetite naturally suffers. Spicy food can help. Where are you from? Do you handle spicy food well?”

“We’re from Lingnan. Spicy food is fine.”

Wang Yuan’er quickly fetched a small jar of spicy fermented tofu, “This jar is spicy. It can be used to make cold mixed cucumbers or refreshing wood ear mushrooms with vinegar.”

“Great, how much?”

“No charge. You’re my tenant and new here. Consider this jar a gift to welcome your lady. I hope she likes it.” Wang Yuan’er waved her hands and also packed some flavored dried tofu and tea eggs, “Try these too. If you like them, come back for more.”

Du Juan hesitated, carefully looked at Wang Yuan’er, raised her brows, then cheerfully smiled and bowed, “Thank you on behalf of my lady, Miss Wang.”