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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 147: The Invasion of Evil Poison
Uncle Zhang's internal organs had been corroded by the invasion of evil poison, leading to their failure and death. He died in such agony, yet his expression remained remarkably calm. After my meticulous cleaning and a touch of makeup, he looked as if he were merely asleep, a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. I recited the ages that needed to be avoided.
"1, 17, 5, 1, 7... avoid those in these age groups."
Uncle Zhang had only one son. He dipped a cotton ball into the basin and gently wiped Uncle Zhang's face, calling out in a sorrowful voice, "Dad, I've cleaned your face."
Next came the relatives and friends circling the coffin to pay their respects and bid farewell to Uncle Zhang's remains.
Then it was time to nail down the coffin lid.
Seven nails were needed for sealing, commonly known as "Descendant Nails," said to ensure prosperity for future generations. As they hammered in the nails, Zhang's son's wife and grandson shouted together, "You old man, don’t hide from the nails." I then grabbed a handful of five-colored grains and sprinkled them over the coffin lid; the funeral was now complete.
The honor guard that Uncle Zhang had brought out now played the suona for him for free. The crying and mourning were the responsibility of the host family, with three hours of crying followed by burning joss paper.
Once the body was prepared, we had to wait for the right time to bury him. However, since it was Ghost Month—a month filled with taboos—time was not on our side, so we decided on a second burial to get it over with.
I left Fatty behind to look after the host family in case of emergencies and returned alone to the funeral home. Memories flooded back, and I couldn't help but cry my heart out.
"Grandpa... Grandpa, how are you now? Uncle Zhang has come; you two brothers can finally catch up." I raised my glass and toasted into the air before downing it in one go. I had never drunk so fiercely before; the burning sensation slid down my throat into my stomach, leaving me with a lingering heat that made my throat feel raw for quite some time.
I got drunk; that was expected.
But after getting intoxicated, something felt off. In my hazy consciousness, I realized I was alone in the shop, yet somehow there was another person present. Or perhaps I had walked out to a place that felt familiar but was completely beyond my recollection.
A woman stood before me, clad in a thin shirt that hinted at a blue bra beneath. Her chest seemed ready to burst forth like water balloons. The tight-fitting skirt hugged her voluptuous figure closely; it appeared to be made from a silk-blend fabric that shimmered softly. Below her skirt were her rounded legs wrapped in flesh-colored stockings.
Is that Chi Xinrong?
It didn't seem like her. I rubbed my eyes as she smiled at me, walking closer step by step.
Then it must be Han Mi, which was even more unrealistic; she would never appear before me dressed like this.
So who is she?
Her fingers were cool, and with a gentle tug, I found myself completely subdued. My body felt weak, and as I tried to struggle, I inadvertently grabbed the hem of her skirt. As I pulled it instinctively, I heard a gasp as she covered her mouth and hurriedly held onto her skirt to prevent it from revealing her smooth, rounded legs.
I was parched, my mouth craving water, but all that came out was: "I want... I want..."
She embraced me, and I fell into a whirlpool of tenderness, releasing all the recent frustrations and pent-up feelings. The room filled with breathy gasps that made my cheeks flush, the intense rise and fall of my chest leaving me dry and yearning for a sip of clear spring water.
At that moment, it felt like I was clinging to the peak of a mountain, seeing a pool of sweet spring water below. In my thirst, I disregarded everything and dove in to drink deeply. Soft calls echoed in my ears; someone tugged at my hair and pounded my back. I ignored everything else, losing myself in a frenzy as our breaths intertwined throughout the entire space.
A hazy night passed in endless entanglement. I was exhausted and finally opened my eyes at dawn, only to realize I had come to the wrong place last night. This was a brightly lit bedroom with ample sunlight streaming in, and there was a faintly familiar scent in the air.
This scent felt reminiscent of someone—then a clear, melodious voice broke through: "It's time to eat."
I was stunned when I saw her! Nervously scrambling up, I hurriedly grabbed my clothes and fumbled to put them on.
She laughed, "What are you afraid of? You were so wild last night; I could count every hair on your body."
"Zhou Jie~ I'm sorry, but I have something to do."
Zhou Mengyao saw that I was about to leave and didn’t insist, simply saying, “Eat this before you go.”
I looked at the bowl she brought over, which contained two fragrant fried eggs. Was this her way of compensating me for my efforts last night? For some reason, my fondness for Zhou Mengyao vanished in an instant because of what had happened.
As I rushed out of her house, a cool breeze hit me, instantly waking me up. I couldn’t help but look back; I remembered returning to Ma Wu Funeral Home last night. How did I end up at Zhou Mengyao’s grocery store? Fortunately, there weren’t many people on the street, just an elderly woman slowly sweeping the ground. Hearing the noise, she mechanically turned to glance at me before returning to her task.
I couldn’t blame her; it was my fault for getting drunk last night. Perhaps I had intended to ride my motorcycle home but somehow ended up at her grocery store. The details after that were completely lost to me. It was clear she wasn’t angry; she looked quite content.
Damn—
I wasn’t sure if I was cursing myself or Zhou Mengyao.
She was a widow, and widows often attract trouble. It would be best for me to leave quickly.
My battered motorcycle leaned against the eaves of her grocery store, secured with a thick iron chain. I tugged at the chain; it was heavy and sturdy. No matter how hard I pulled, it was futile without a key.
Zhou Mengyao took out a key and, with a charming smile that radiated warmth, handed it to me. “See? I told you to eat breakfast before leaving.”
I didn’t look at her as I took the key and sullenly unlocked the padlock. With a loud clank, the chain fell to the ground. Instead of bending down to pick it up, I pushed my motorcycle away. It had been parked here for some time, so getting angry wouldn’t help.
After much effort and sweating profusely, the motorcycle finally sputtered to life, releasing a puff of black smoke.
Zhou Mengyao appeared in front of me with an air of self-importance, offering me a fragrant towel with a gentle smile that exuded maternal warmth. In a soft voice, she said, “Wipe off your sweat.”
“I don’t need it.” My cold tone and indifferent attitude hurt her feelings. Her eyes reddened as she lowered her head, awkwardly dropping the towel on the ground. She stood there like a wooden post for a long time without moving or looking at me. Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, like that of a mosquito, she asked, “Do you think I'm cheap?”
I truly didn't know how to respond to her question. After a moment, I glanced at her and, out of a sense of responsibility, offered a comforting remark, "No, don't overthink it. I really have something to do today." With that, I hopped on my motorcycle, leaving behind a swirling cloud of smoke, and rode off, indifferent to her feelings. I didn't return to Ma Wu Funeral Home but headed straight to Uncle Zhang's house. Today was his burial, and as the one in charge, I couldn't afford to be late.
Upon arriving at Uncle Zhang's house, it was indeed true; everyone was waiting for me.
When Fatty finally saw me, he looked surprised and asked, "Brother Qi, why were you sleeping in so late last night?"
I cursed lightly and said, "Stop talking nonsense and get moving."
Then the suona began to play, and the wailing started. Zhang's Son had enough strength for the Fire Basin.
"Filial Piety, kneel!" After a night of struggle and release, my spirit was high, and my voice rang out strong and clear.
Filial Piety quickly knelt down. "Lift the coffin; Eight Great Warriors, get moving."
With a shout, the cries erupted. The sound of the Fire Basin cracking filled the air along with the rhythmic clattering of the coffin being moved from the hall. Firecrackers went off with loud pops, filling the air with the smell of sulfur as paper scraps from the firecrackers piled up on the ground.
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