Chapter 1

The night was as dark as the bottom of a pot that hadn’t been cleaned for hundreds of years, with rolling dark clouds and no glimmer of starlight or moonlight. Distant mountains appeared pitch-black, and cold winds rustled through the treetops, producing mournful sounds.

In the foothills, scattered orange lights from the village pierced through the darkness. A faint glow emanated from a courtyard a mile or two away.

Zhang Xiangu, leaning on the door frame, casually cracked sunflower seeds, and while spitting out the shells, she asked, “Zhu Ying, what are you tinkering with? Didn’t we just fix the roof?”

“Zhu Ying” was a slender teenager of about twelve or thirteen. He systematically arranged tools like axes, carving knives, short knives, and saws on a rough stone table in the courtyard. He picked up a basin of water, splashed it on a whetstone, and said, “Making hairpins for Sister Hua. She showed me some books her little boy brought from home earlier.”

Zhang Xiangu stopped cracking seeds, abandoned the door frame, and walked over to “Zhu Ying,” saying, “Hold on! You forgot again! You’re just a little boy!”

“I remember,” Zhu Ying said. “She helps me and brings me things. I have to reciprocate, not just keep receiving without giving back.”

Zhang Xiangu scolded, “Short-lived boy! Enough with these affairs! You must remember, you’re just a little boy. You’re growing up, and you can’t be playing around with young girls like Sister Hua! She has a man! How can you casually give her little gifts? Especially hairpins! Be careful not to reveal your intentions! Both of you might end up in trouble!” She continued lecturing Zhu Ying on the consequences of involving himself with older women.

Zhu Ying continued sharpening tools, preparing a piece of selected wood. Seeing him craft hairpins, Zhang Xiangu became increasingly anxious. Just as she was about to say more, Zhu Ying interrupted, “Someone is coming.”

Zhang Xiangu scoffed, “Don’t mix things up! It’s midnight, pitch-dark, and it looks like rain. Your father went to the city. Who would visit us now?” Despite her words, she swept the melon seed shells off the ground with a broom, adjusted her clothes, and muttered to herself, “At this time, there must be something serious. It could be a significant deal!”

Their family practiced shamanism, with Zhang Xiangu telling ghost stories and burning incense to make some extra money. Zhu Ying’s father, Zhu Shenghan, handled more significant tasks related to rituals and ceremonies. Considering their unusual occupation, villagers avoided interacting with them unless necessary, and their house was somewhat distant from the village.

Zhang Xiangu, finishing her adjustments, asked, “Why didn’t I hear any noise? Could it be your father is back?”

Zhu Ying wrinkled his brow, stood up straight, leapt onto the roof, and scanned the surroundings. He spotted a lantern light in the distance and jumped down, saying, “Someone is coming, for sure. It’s people from the village. Judging by their steps and lantern, it’s Zhu Liu, and he’s not alone. They seem drunk.”

Zhang Xiangu scolded, “You know everything!” She instructed, “Quickly put away your things. Don’t ruin my business. If it’s really him, it can’t be anything good!”

Zhu Ying didn’t argue, neatly gathered his tools, and said, “Mother, they’re not good people. Don’t help them harm others.”

Zhang Xiangu replied, “I wouldn’t mind! If I had the power to curse people to death, would I stay here? Stay in the neighbouring room!”

Zhu Ying carried his things to the neighbouring room, lit a lamp, and began slowly carving wood. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiangu heard some distant voices and thought, “Zhu Ying has sharp ears and keen eyes. If he says it’s Zhu Liu, it is. He’s not a good person; I need to handle this carefully.”

—

The newcomers were indeed Zhu Liu, clearly drunk, and accompanied by another person. They walked unevenly, talking back and forth.

The companion said, “Sixth Brother, is there really good news? Zhang Xiangu may be pretty, but she’s fierce. Although her man isn’t home, they have a half-grown boy. It could get ugly if they start a fight.”

Zhu Liu, sticking out his tongue, replied, “Pah! Who cares about their surname? Originally, their surname was Zhu. They changed it when they fled here during the famine. We’re all surnamed Zhu now. Does that make us family? I’ll tell you, her man got into trouble! Hehe! Taking advantage of this, let’s mess with her. Afterward, it won’t be your or my turn!”

The companion asked, “What happened?”

“I just came back from the city. Her man, earlier today, scammed, cheated, and got caught. Now he’s locked up. It looks like he’s going to die! Let’s go trick her. It’s a bargain for you. How old is her little boy? Once you see him, I’ll enjoy myself first, and then I’ll let you taste it too!”

The companion questioned, “Really, not our people?”

“You talk too much! If you don’t want to, go back on your own. I’ll enjoy myself!”

“Wait, Sixth Brother, the one in the main house is also dying. His wife, Sister Hua, is quite…”

Zhu Liu gave him a sidelong glance and sneered, “That’s our legitimate Zhu family member. Now you’re not worried about taboos? That’s the meat in their bowl. While they eat meat, we can’t even drink their soup. How does that compare to Zhang Xiangu’s piece of meat right at our fingertips?”

“Hehe. We’ll follow Sixth Brother.”

“Then come with me. I’ll scare her first. Say her man is sentenced to death, but I have a way to save him. However, it requires… hehe…”

“Sixth Brother, can you really do it?”

“Nonsense! If I don’t say so, will she listen?”

“Hehe, good, let’s go!”

The two of them finalized their plan, and the small courtyard with low walls was now in sight. Zhu Liu cleared his throat and called out, “Is Xiangu at home?”

Zhang Xiangu started to have doubts in her heart as she went to open the courtyard gate, asking, “Who is it?” She had already recognized that it was Zhu Liu. Zhu Liu was known in the village as a scoundrel, engaging in various misdeeds such as troubling widows, desecrating graves, and stealing. Though she feared it might not be something good when Zhu Liu knocked, Zhang Xiangu, wanting to make new clothes for her growing child, decided to earn money from him and opened the door.

As the door opened, Zhu Liu pushed his way into the courtyard, with Zhu Jiu closing the door behind him.

Zhang Xiangu, initially shocked and then angry, scolded, “You are despicable.”

Zhu Liu, ingratiatingly, interrupted, “Xian Gu, don’t be angry. Don’t you want to know news about your husband?” Saying this, he shone the lantern he held onto Zhang Xiangu’s face.

Seeing Zhu Liu’s oily smiling face in the lantern light, Zhang Xiangu’s heart skipped a beat, but she put on a smile. “What’s the matter? What do I not know that you do?”

Zhu Liu said, “Let Xian Gu know. Your big brother has found someone outside.”

“Ha! Wishful thinking! Where did he get the money? Without money, who would care about him?”

Zhu Liu sternly said, “Xian Gu, understand this. Big brother doesn’t have someone special. He’s in trouble himself! He cursed someone with his master’s help in the city, and now, they’ve caught him. He’ll be executed in the prison city! If you want to save your husband, comply with me, or else… hmph!”

Zhang Xiangu grew angrier but kept smiling. “We need to discuss this thoroughly…”

Zhu Liu, impatient, cut her off. Ignoring the lantern, he, along with Zhu Jiu, pulled Zhang Xiangu towards the main room. Suddenly, someone jumped out, delivering a blow to Zhu Jiu’s back. “What’s this?!”

Zhu Liu, half-awake from alcohol, looked and laughed, “Third brother? You’ve grown up. How about calling me father from now on?” He kicked Zhu Jiu while saying this, and Zhu Jiu got up, intending to grab “third brother.” Zhang Xiangu urgently shouted, “Third brother, run!”

Both Zhu Liu and Zhu Jiu laughed. “No escaping, no escaping. Xian Gu, understand things. If big brother is fine, you get an extra ‘father’!”

Zhang Xiangu, pressing the button on her neck, said, “Don’t touch him! If someone has to suffer, let it be me. I’m not a naive girl who hasn’t seen a man before.”

“That’s more like it!” Zhu Liu praised.

Before more words were exchanged, Zhu Jiu, holding his wrist, screamed, “Knife! Knife! This kid has a weapon!”

Zhu Liu scolded, “What are you afraid of? Hold him!”

“My hand, my hand!”

Zhu Liu was about to scold again when a lightning bolt cut through the night. He saw the “Third brother” unceremoniously lifting the tool in his hand—an axe! Not aimed at him but at Zhu Jiu! Zhu Jiu rolled to the side, and “third brother” chased after him, swinging the axe.

A thunderous sound echoed, making Zhu Liu uneasy. He grabbed Zhu Jiu and ran, cursing as they fled, “Wait! You’ll all be sold!”

And they disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

“Third brother” silently inspected the axe in the lamplight, its blade stained with blood. Sighing, he walked outside. Zhang Xiangu’s face looked grim. She quietly tightened her neckline, her voice hoarse. “Third brother, where are you going?”

“Fetching water,” he paused and added, “The axe and ground are dirty; we need to clean them.”

“Oh, forget it. I’ll do it.”

“Two people work faster.”

They silently finished the task, and “third brother” tossed his thin blanket onto the bed in the main room. Zhang Xiangu didn’t speak. Mother and son listened to the rain together. Suddenly, “The roof is fixed; no more leaks.”

“Oh.”

A quiet night.

Zhang Xiangu, listening to “third brother’s” gradually deepening breath, couldn’t shake off the words Zhu Liu said about her husband being in prison. Until dawn in the east, she gradually fell asleep.

Her sleep was restless, dreaming of Zhu Liu returning, her husband truly in prison, and the nightmare of Zhu Liu coming home to fight “third brother.” She woke up suddenly, sitting up and realizing it was already noon. “Third brother” was nowhere to be seen, and she panicked. Putting on her clothes, she went out of the house. She found her “third brother” cutting wood in the courtyard, hurriedly approaching, pulling at his clothes, lifting him up, and examining him. With a puzzled look from “third brother,” Zhang Xiangu awkwardly said, “Just checking on you.”

“Okay,” “third brother” nodded and continued to carve the wood.

Zhang Xiangu, having nothing else to say, tried to make conversation: “What about the clothes you wore yesterday?”

“Cooking, caught fire, burned. The food is in the pot; I’ll bring it for you.”

“Oh, no need. I’ll get it myself. Have you eaten? It burned, but it was already small. You’re growing fast now. Tomorrow, I’ll get some new fabric and make you a new outfit. I must tell you, don’t associate with Hua Jie again.”

“Okay,” “third brother” didn’t argue, continuing to carve the wood steadily. Unable to restrain herself, Zhang Xiangu continued talking. But before she could finish, “third brother” stopped. “Someone’s coming.”

Zhang Xiangu’s heart sank. “What? Not again…”

This time, it wasn’t Zhu Liu but someone coming to invite Zhang Xiangu: “Brother Six had too much to drink last night. He accidentally slipped in the rain and fell on a tree branch. Now, we need to prepare and send him off. Xian Gu, please help.”

Zhang Xiangu followed the person to the village, seeing Zhu Liu lying on a board. A sturdy branch pierced through his left ribs, coming out from the throat. He was dead!

*As many have noticed, “third brother”/ “Zhu Ying” is a girl.