Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The staff handled the matter with professionalism: "Without the password, you won't be able to withdraw the money... If the elder has passed away, you will need to get a Notarization and then obtain a Proof of Relationship from the police station."
Who in the countryside understands this?
The two daughters-in-law exchanged blank stares.
The Manager and Intermediary were also frustrated: If only the elder had treated him better while he was alive, he would have kept this money and not told you about it!
In rural areas, almost every village has someone known as a Deity. These individuals typically possess two skills: one is divination using burning incense, and the other is "walking in the shadows": lighting incense, sitting in meditation, and allowing their spirit to travel to Fengdu to meet with the deceased Old Friends of those seeking answers, delivering messages and conversing between the realms of the living and the dead; or directly summoning the deceased Old Friends to guide their spirits into their own bodies, allowing for direct communication between the living and the departed.
The Manager suggested to them, "Your Aunt Kui Er from the back street can burn incense. If that doesn't work, let her summon your Father’s spirit so you can ask him directly."
Both agreed.
Aunt Kui Er was invited over. The Spirit Altar was respectfully adorned with three sticks of incense, and as the fragrant smoke curled around the incense burner without dissipating, an air of mystery suddenly thickened.
Despite there being no wind, a pair of white candles in front flickered alternately as if someone were nearby inhaling and exhaling. The people from the Funeral Parlor felt a chill run down their spines; everyone fell silent, wide-eyed at what was unfolding before them.
Then they saw Aunt Kui Er suddenly tremble violently, her lips moving but producing a man's voice: "Unfilial children, why have you called me here? You were disrespectful while I was alive, and now that I am gone, you still can't let me rest in peace?"
The eldest daughter-in-law, Hu Daniu, couldn't care less about her fear. She immediately knelt on the ground and bowed her head, daring to respond: "Father, we didn’t treat you well when you were here; we regret it now! Thinking of how you've passed on, we don’t want you to suffer any more grievances… We found your bankbook; please tell us the password so we can withdraw the money. We will burn offerings of Golden Mountain, Silver Mountain, Treasure Basin, Childless Young Men and Women, along with houses, cars, televisions… so that you can live comfortably over there..."
The second daughter-in-law, Wu Erhua, also bowed her head in agreement, smoothly spouting whatever nonsense came to mind.
Father listened intently. Instead of revealing the password after hearing them out, he began recounting grievances against his sons and daughters-in-law one by one:
"On New Year's Eve that year, you all were eating dumplings in the main house while I was served a bowl of corn porridge with a single chopstick of pickled vegetables—almost choked me to death!
And then there was that time when my eldest grandson saw I wasn’t full and secretly took half a bun from your kitchen. You dragged that five-year-old child over and beat him mercilessly—were you hitting him or my old face?
I even thought about tying a rope around my neck and hanging myself on your doorframe just to see if you'd understand what it means to feel ashamed.
As for my daughters-in-law, that's forgivable since they are from outside families. But you two are my own flesh and blood! Ever since I grew old, have you given me even one good day?
Your mother passed away early; I raised you both and helped you start your own families while I lived in that small courtyard. How long has it been since either of you cared about your Father’s well-being?"
More people gathered outside to watch; whispers circulated through the crowd:
"Exactly! Not honoring your elders while alive will bring misfortune upon you!"
"A mouse scurries along the eaves; this cycle will pass down through generations—your children will treat you just as poorly!"
The password was never revealed, and the couple became a joke.
—You ask me how Grandma Wei Hong got her skills?
I don't know, but when no one was paying attention, Aunt Kui Er said to the Manager, "Old Er, don’t ever let me take on this kind of work again; pretending to be someone else is just too exhausting..."
Yet in my eyes, the old woman sat upright on the coffin, quietly observing everything at the Spirit Altar.
Her eyes were filled with disdain and contempt for unfilial children.
Comment 0 Comment Count