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墨書 Inktalez
The painted brows, lips, and nose were adorned with just a hint of rouge. Ding Li, satisfied with her work, stretched lazily before getting up to walk around.
This was the Ye Family Paper Craft Shop.
The proprietress was none other than Ding Li.
Inside the Paper Craft Shop, there were numerous paper figures of various kinds. The items displayed at the front counter were meant for the deceased, typically purchased during the Qingming Festival and Ghost Festival, or when a family member passed away.
Towards the back, there were slightly larger paper models of cars, motorcycles, and even television sets.
Underneath the second layer of glass were watches and mobile phones.
Every day, Ding Li meticulously wiped down the glass counter until it sparkled, remembering clearly everyone who passed by her shop.
At nine in the morning, it was Granny Zhang heading out to buy groceries.
At ten o'clock, it was Old Sun delivering newspapers, stopping by to hand her a late morning edition.
By eleven, it was time for the janitor to clean the streets. In the summer heat, the water truck would rumble by, leaving everything beneath the counter damp.
Ding Li opened for business at seven o'clock. When there were no customers, she would craft paper figures. She treated each figure as a piece of work; every paper figure that passed through her hands became extraordinary, looking almost lifelike from a distance.
People from ten miles around quietly whispered about how strange the Ye Family woman's hands were.
Ding Li had grown accustomed to their curiosity and gossip. At a young age, she had lost her child; the adopted child she had taken in succumbed to an illness before even receiving treatment.
Ye Chenfeng had told her that they were destined to be childless. Even if they adopted again, it would not survive and would only add to their debt of lives lost.
It was because Ye Chenfeng became a Yin Yang Master.
Now, Ding Li spent all her time managing the Paper Craft Shop business, except for locking the door at five o'clock sharp to go home. They used the money they earned either to donate to impoverished children in need or to contribute to the temple for repairs on the Bodhisattva.
Ding Li was busy with the second step of making a paper figure when a child rushed in through the door.
The child had a pale face and stared intently at Ding Li.
Ding Li looked at him and asked, "Little one, what’s the matter?"
"Auntie, I can’t find my home."
"Where is your home?" Ding Li loved children. If it weren't for the tragic loss of her adopted child, she would have wanted to be a mother properly. But after that loss, the neighbors had been quite critical of her and her husband, Ye Chenfeng.
People talk freely, saying whatever comes to mind, regardless of whether it hurts others.
Some said Ding Li was cursed by the White Tiger Star.
Others claimed that Ye Chenfeng had too much blood on his hands and offended the "people" of the underworld, which meant they were doomed to have no descendants.
Only Ye Chenfeng knew that he should not have read The Ghost-Quaking Scripture.
The Ghost-Quaking Scripture was an extraordinary secret manual, often referred to as heavenly secrets. These secrets were recorded in this manual; by reading it and using its contents, he had leaked those heavenly secrets. Leaking heavenly secrets would invite divine retribution.
Thus, they had to continuously accumulate blessings and cultivate virtue for their next life.
A child rushed into the Paper Craft Shop, saying he couldn't find his home. Ding Li quickly stopped what he was doing and asked the child what had happened.
The child introduced himself as Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang had been seriously ill and was hospitalized.
He stayed in Room 014, where he saw the nurse helping him with an IV drip and the doctor using a stethoscope to listen to his heartbeat. He saw his mother crying and his father smoking incessantly. Then, under the influence of medication, Xiao Qiang fell into a deep sleep.
He didn't know how long he had slept.
When he opened his eyes, he saw someone.
A woman was smiling at him, extending her hand toward him.
In the palm of her hand was a piece of candy, a White Rabbit milk candy.
The White Rabbit milk candy was Xiao Qiang's favorite.
He walked over to the woman. He took the candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth, savoring its sweetness.
After finishing one piece of candy, Xiao Qiang felt very sleepy again and lay back down to continue sleeping.
This time, he slept soundly and sweetly. He couldn't remember how long he had been asleep, but when he woke up again, everything around him was very quiet.
He saw the fruits his parents had bought still neatly placed on the bedside table.
Strangely, there was no one in the hospital room. Xiao Qiang remembered that when he was admitted, there had been an older sister in the room with him. Now, he was alone, with no sign of the sister who had been there before.
She must have been discharged.
Xiao Qiang thought to himself as he got out of bed and walked outside.
What was odd was that not only was there no one in the room, but the hallway was also deserted.
What was going on?
Xiao Qiang looked around suspiciously; everything felt empty, cold, and eerie.
He tiptoed over to the nurse's station, but it too was unoccupied. The space felt unsettlingly vacant, with bright lights overhead and his own reflection on the floor startling him.
Xiao Qiang ran out.
He dashed onto the street.
The street was just as empty, devoid of anything except for the goods displayed on the shelves, including his favorite Transformers.
Xiao Qiang stood in front of the Transformers for a long time, several times wanting to reach out and sneak one away but lacking the courage, afraid of being caught by someone who might suddenly appear. Moreover, his parents had taught him to be honest and not to do anything shameful.
Stealing was certainly a shameful act.
In the end, Xiao Qiang suppressed that impulsive thought and slowly walked away from the Transformers display, only to spot his favorite treat—White Rabbit Creamy Candy.
Seeing the White Rabbit candy, Xiao Qiang could still taste the sweetness of the milk candy he had eaten yesterday lingering in his mouth.
He stood in front of a whole box of White Rabbit candies, so close that if he wanted to, he could just reach out, grab a handful, and run away without anyone catching him. The fragrant White Rabbit candies made him swallow hard, but in the end, he reluctantly left the counter where they were displayed.
Where was home?
Xiao Qiang truly couldn't remember.
He vaguely recalled that there was a Pear Tree at his doorstep, and across the street was a Pedestrian Street.
On the Pedestrian Street, there were many small vendors selling various goods, along with an elderly man in an orange uniform and a grandmother. Once he stepped out of his house and walked a few meters, he could see a green-themed store.
Many adults liked to crowd into that green store; some went to make phone calls, while others took something wrapped in a bag and handed it to the person behind the glass counter along with some money.
The people behind the counter were all educated and capable individuals.
In front of them sat computers.
"Do you know what a computer is?"
Xiao Qiang nodded and said, "I have one at home. I play games on it."
Xiao Qiang was missing some teeth and was six years old. He looked quite well-behaved and spoke clearly. He didn’t seem like someone with mental issues; how could he possibly not find his way home?
"Auntie, I ran very far before I saw you alone."
"What did you say?" Ding Li felt an inexplicable chill run through her body at Xiao Qiang's words, and she nearly dropped the scissors in her hand.
"I’ve been to many places, and everywhere is empty. I came here and saw you; can you take me home, Auntie?"
Ding Li nodded and replied, "I'll try to take you back." She then closed the door and led Xiao Qiang outside.
Xiao Qiang walked down the deserted street, looking around curiously.
It was rare for Ding Li to stroll leisurely out of the Paper Craft Shop. Some people were surprised and pretended to greet her.
Xiao Qiang glanced around. There was no one beside Auntie; who was she talking to?
"Auntie, let’s go!"
Ding Li apologized to the people who had greeted her, saying, "I'm sorry, I have to take this child home."
Upon hearing Ding Li's words, the crowd quickly dispersed. To them, it seemed like Ding Li was talking to a ghost because all they saw was her alone. Where was the child?
Unaware of their thoughts, Ding Li sighed and shook her head as she continued on her way.
Xiao Qiang tilted his head playfully and asked, "Auntie, why are you sighing?"
Adults' matters are something children will never understand. Ding Li thought that a six-year-old child wouldn’t grasp what adults said, so there was no need to explain anything.
As they walked along, Xiao Qiang pointed this way and that. Hours passed, but Ding Li not only failed to find Xiao Qiang's home but also felt exhausted herself.
Seeing someone buying steamed buns, she hurriedly bought two—one for herself and one to hand to Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang devoured the bun, grinning from ear to ear.
Ding Li, however, was stunned.
Xiao Qiang hadn’t actually eaten the bun; he was inhaling its steam. The bun, untouched, lay discarded on the ground.
He was a Ghost Child.
Ding Li felt a chill seep into her bones, causing her to shiver involuntarily, her face paling.
In this world, besides humans, there existed another kind of cold-blooded creature coexisting with them. These cold beings were ghosts.
In the realm of ghosts, little ghosts were the most troublesome.
Ding Li had been in contact with those paper products for too long and had little interaction with people; her yin energy had increased, allowing the little ghost to see her. She could also see the little ghost, and if this child was indeed a malevolent spirit, it would be disastrous.
It was a lie that the little ghost couldn’t find its home; the truth was it wanted to lead her to her doom.
Trembling, Ding Li walked forward aimlessly.
Xiao Qiang was anxious; he looked around but still couldn’t find his home and began to cry loudly.
The Ghost Child cried.
Ding Li was at a loss, unsure of what to do.
She tried to calm herself, but for a moment, she didn't know whether to tell anyone about this. If more people found out, the Ghost Child would be scared away and disappear from sight.
With a glimmer of hope, she looked around and unexpectedly grabbed the arm of an Aunt passing by. Stammering, she said, "Aunt, there's a Ghost Child with me. Please help me."
Upon hearing "Ghost Child," the Aunt let out a startled scream and hurried away without a second thought, running so fast that she nearly tripped over herself.
"Take me home, Aunt!"
"Don't panic..." Having learned from the previous experience, Ding Li hesitated to grab anyone else to tell them about the Ghost Child's presence. She closed her eyes slightly and tried hard to recall what Xiao Qiang had said about home and the layout of the surroundings.
The green shop—could it be the Post Office?
The Post Office offered services like mailing items, making phone calls, and transferring money. It had to be the Post Office, located diagonally across from Xiao Qiang's house. And right at his doorstep was a Pear Tree.
No, how could a Pear Tree possibly be planted on the street?
There was also the Pedestrian Street.
Wasn't there a Pedestrian Street on Ximen Road? Ding Li continued to think hard and remembered the Post Office.
Yes, it was that street on Ximen Road.
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