Chapter 30: Everyday Life

The pitch-black night was silent and still. Tonight, heavy clouds blanketed the sky, the moon quietly hiding without casting any light. Shadows on the ground shifted with the night breeze, making everything feel eerily mysterious.

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind blew through a window, causing the frame to creak and startling the figure on the bed, who trembled.

The figure murmured something under their breath, unconsciously clutching the thin blanket tighter. Their feet kicked repeatedly, “N-no, don’t come closer…”

Unbeknownst to them, a shadow had seated itself by the bedside. The person furrowed their brow tightly, hands shaking uncontrollably, while the one sleeping beside them remained motionless, deeply asleep.

Still trembling, the shadow suddenly stretched out a hand and touched the person’s forehead. “Return the life…”

The voice was ghostly, almost like a spirit’s call: “Return the life…”

A chilling cold pierced through the body. The person on the bed suddenly opened their eyes wide, only to see a head tilted unnaturally—like a broken neck—staring right at them—

“Ah!!!”

—

—

The mountain night was peaceful and cool, silent along with the earth and sky.

But in Xiangjia Village, it was noisy. Curses echoed from inside a house, the loudest coming from the Fourth Uncle’s home, with screams and yelling that never ceased.

Xiang He stood on a small hill listening, the ruckus sounded more pleasant than the sweetest music to her ears.

She turned and walked down the path on the right, heading up the mountain behind the house. Her clothes and hair fluttered in the wind as a dark shadow appeared beside her, gradually becoming visible.

“He girl, you’ll stop after tonight’s fuss, right…”

Xiang Zhong followed her with a calm smile, “That won’t do. These people need to be taught a lesson with some unorthodox methods.”

If you haven’t done anything shameful, you won’t fear ghosts knocking at your door. The reason they’re scared now is simply because they’ve done too many bad things—cruel words, wicked deeds, and dirty hands—so even harmless spirits terrify them.

“But… after all, they’re still part of the Xiang family…”

Xiang He took the final step to the top of the hill, gazing into the distance at the noisy household below.

Her eyes darkened—deeper than the pitch-black night surrounding her. “Fifth Uncle, Xiang He is already dead. Who killed her?”

Xiang Zhong fell silent. He hadn’t believed in things like souls borrowing bodies, but that night, he had indeed seen another version of Xiang He. And this Xiang He was completely different—he couldn’t help but believe it now.

This “Xiang He” looked young, but her demeanor was mature and composed, clearly someone not simple. At the very least, her abilities weren’t just what she’d shown so far.

“Fifth Uncle, you can see me as someone who always takes revenge. Only when those people give up their schemes completely will the Third Branch finally find peace.”

Xiang Zhong lowered his head. He had been a kind person in life and remained so even as a ghost.

“Let’s not talk about that,” Xiang He said, sitting cross-legged in a patch of wild grass. “Fifth Uncle, I’ll look after Seventh Sister. Her days ahead will be fine. But when will you move on? Staying in this world too long isn’t good for you either.”

At the mention of his only daughter, Xiang Zhong’s shadowy hands clenched faintly. He crouched down and gave a bitter smile.

“Good or bad, it’s been thirteen years. Just being able to watch over her and her grandmother is already enough for my heart.”

“Oh, come on now. Fallen leaves must return to their roots. You’ve already passed on, so you must eventually move on to your final destination. Let it go soon.”

“…Mm…”

Xiang He could tell he wasn’t ready to leave yet and didn’t press him. She simply narrowed her eyes as she looked in the direction of Fourth Uncle’s house. “Fifth Uncle, have you seen Xiang Fusheng?”

Xiang Zhong was momentarily startled. “Do you need me to go check on him now?”

“No need. I just wanted to ask if you noticed anything strange when you passed by tonight.”

She suddenly remembered that last night, she had given Xiang Fusheng something. Now that she thought about it, his expression had seemed a little off at the time.

“I didn’t notice anything strange tonight. You don’t think he picked up something unclean, do you?”

“More or less. There’ll be quite a show to watch later.”

Xiang He withdrew her gaze and looked down the mountain. The house still wasn’t fully repaired, and Xiang Dayong’s family had laid out dry straw to sleep on outside. Not wanting to disturb them in the middle of the night, she had come up to the mountaintop to meditate.

She had always been puzzled about why her soul had ended up here, occupying this person’s body. There had to be another reason—she just hadn’t found any clues yet.

“Right, Fifth Uncle—did you see anything the night Xiang He died?”

Xiang Zhong shook his head blankly. “I wasn’t even in the village that night—I was roaming in the back mountains.”

“…”

Xiang He had always thought being a ghost must be the easiest. While ghosts carried burdens too, they were free—like Xiang Zhong now, unrestrained despite his worries.

Her lips curled into a helpless smile. She closed her eyes and began to rest her spirit.

She silently recited the ^[1]Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese book by Laozi that teaches about the Tao (the Way), a natural force that guides the universe. It shares wisdom on living simply, peacefully, and in harmony with … Continue readingTao Te Ching. So many strange things had happened lately—it was time to steady her heart and mind again.

Xiang Zhong squatted quietly beside her. After being a ghost for so many years, it was the first time he could talk to someone. He couldn’t help but want to stay longer.

—

And just like that, they stayed from night until the rooster crowed.

When Xiang He opened her eyes, Xiang Zhong was already gone. She rubbed her eyes and looked toward the village—many people had already started their morning tasks.

Placing her hands on her knees, she stood up. “A beautiful new day begins—time to work!”

She jogged down the hill. Xiang Yang was already chopping firewood.

“Big Sis!”

“You’re up early?”

Xiang Yang grinned. “Got up early to eat breakfast. I’m heading to the fields later.”

Farm children grow up early. Xiang He raised her hand and patted Xiang Yang’s head. “Xiao Yang is such a good boy! Where’s Mom?”

“She went to the river to do the laundry.”

Xiang He looked down—seemed like she had forgotten to bathe last night…

She quickly raised her arm and sniffed—ugh, a bit sour… Looks like she’d need to sneak off for a bath tonight. Any longer and she’d start to stink!

Not having a bathroom here was such a pain. Xiang He had already decided—she was definitely going to build a small bathhouse inside the house. It didn’t have to be big—just enough to have a hot bath in winter!

Just as she was making plans in her head, Xiang Yang tugged at her sleeve. She looked down to see him pointing at the pot. “Sister, the water’s already hot. Should I help you apply your medicine?”

“No need, Sister heals fast. You go get the medicine—I’ll check on Father’s hand and leg.”

“Okay!”

Watching Xiang Yang run off toward the cart, Xiang He walked over and helped Xiang Dayong up. “Father, let me take a look at your injuries. Once things stabilize, the dressing should be changed properly.”

“You…” Xiang Dayong glanced not far off and saw Xiang Yun was still asleep, so he lowered his voice. “You know… how to treat injuries?”

“A little.”

He had assumed earlier that those medicinal powders came from a doctor—he didn’t expect she actually knew medicine.

He let her help him sit down and carefully propped his foot on a low stool. “My… hand and foot… when will they heal? You all have been… busy lately…”

“Don’t worry. Although the bones aren’t injured, the wound’s deep enough to see bone—it’ll take time. But with me here, it’ll heal much faster.”

Xiang Yang hurried over just in time to hear and squatted down by Xiang Dayong’s foot. “Sister, do you happen to have some good ideas?”

Xiang Dayong’s expression stiffened, afraid he might reveal something, but Xiang He smiled warmly and tapped his nose. “I told you to listen to the footmen properly. Sister has learned quite a bit!”

“Can you really learn those?!” His surprised look made both of them laugh out loud, waking Xiang Yun. “Ugh… Did I sleep in too late?”

Xiang Yun’s groggy look made everyone laugh.

Xiang He quickly untied the white bandages around his foot. Although only a few days had passed, it was clearly much better. “The flesh is visibly recovering, keep using the powdered medicine. Continue drinking the herbal decoction—I added angelica, which nourishes the blood and heart, supports the weak, replenishes losses, breaks up stasis, and generates new tissue. It’s a good medicine for Dad.”

Xiang Yang listened in a daze. “I didn’t understand any of what you said, Sis…”

“That’s okay. After you apply the medicine to Dad, prepare the decoction. I’ll go find Mom, there’s a lot of heavy laundry.”

“Okay!”

He happily accepted the task, so easily satisfied.

Xiang He carried an empty bucket and walked toward the river. As she passed the rice field ridge and neared the river, out of the corner of her eye she caught a flash of blue. Turning her head, she saw a figure clutching a wooden basin, running briskly, glancing around anxiously from time to time.

So early in the morning, and she already finished washing clothes so quickly.

A careless smile appeared at the corner of Xiang He’s mouth as she carried the bucket onward. “Xiang Lianhua, what kind of trouble are you stirring up now…”