Die Schönheiten der Song-Dynastie

Kapitel 4

I fell into deep thought, and without realizing it, I opened my phone and, in a daze, typed and sent a text message: "I saw him!"

It wasn't until my phone beeped and showed that the message had been successfully sent that I realized it was for Jiang Ping. I stuck out my tongue, blaming myself for being so reckless, sending a message so casually, especially so late at night; he would definitely think I had seen Mr. Bian.

Surprisingly, just a few seconds later, my phone rang again, and he actually replied: "I saw it too, just a few minutes ago!"

We shared our strange experiences. He told us two stories: yesterday, when he returned from the old man's house, a sudden strong wind blew off the roof tiles, nearly hitting him. That night, he was suddenly awakened by something pressing down on him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the face of a fierce-looking man pressed against the headboard, staring at him menacingly. He could see it clearly, but it disappeared after a few seconds.

I was still not quite convinced, so I specifically asked about his facial features, and he described them almost perfectly. Finally, I asked the man what was special about his neck, and he replied, "There's a black scar that goes all the way to the left corner of my mouth."

I am completely convinced that he really did see that ghost!

I was worried he might back out of this project, but then he sent me a message: "It's okay, don't be afraid! Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. Ghosts are actually more afraid of people! Haha, now I'll have firsthand material for my book!"

He's quite the daredevil! We chatted for a while longer, and I told him the love story of Aunt Tian and Mr. Bian. He said he'd go see the old lady again tomorrow.

When I arrived in Wuhan the next day, I didn't tell them about what happened between Jiang Ping and me that night.

Around 10 a.m., we finally met Bian Zhiguo at a factory in Wuchang. He was stunned when he saw the three of us appear in the workshop.

Surprisingly, he looked younger than expected, with jet-black hair, full of energy, and the air of a scholar, not at all like someone under immense pressure.

Both Tian's mother and Tian Juan couldn't help but pull Mr. Bian away and start crying.

"Hehe, what's up, you two?" he said cautiously, jokingly. "Juanzi, what brings you here? Are you here to ask your uncle for the hundred yuan you lost in the bet last time? Afraid I won't give it to you, you called your mom to help? Here, here, take it!"

I frantically reached into my pocket, searching for ages before finally finding ten yuan, which I then pulled out with feigned reluctance. They burst into laughter through their tears, and I couldn't help but laugh too.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that we were all smiling.

He looked me up and down and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

I extended my hand: "Mr. Bian, I've heard so much about you! Could we find a quiet place to talk?"

He shook hands, his expression puzzled.

Tian Juan said in a spoiled tone, "You stingy uncle, take us to eat the hot dry noodles and bean curd sheets that you've been talking about for so long! I'm starving!"

We took a taxi to Laotongcheng. After we sat down, Tian's mother quietly told Mr. Bian why we had come. Mr. Bian listened while looking at me with a complicated expression, seemingly both convinced and skeptical. But when he mentioned the Miao man, his expression changed.

He interrupted Aunt Tian's question and turned to me, saying, "Did you bring the passage you saw in the county annals?"

I shook my head and said, "No, I didn't think of photocopying at that time. But if you don't believe me, you can go back and check."

He was silent for a moment before saying, "Bian Jizhong is indeed my great-grandfather. I have seen his name in the family genealogy. However, we never knew that he committed murder. I believe my parents did not know either. They never understood why until their deaths."

I said, "Do you believe that I saw this ghost with another person on the train today?"

Tian Juan looked at me in surprise, her expression one of disbelief.

I had no choice but to recount how I learned about this from Officer Chen, how I met Jiang Ping, and what happened between the day before yesterday and yesterday. I also described in detail what the ghost looked like.

When he arrived, the three of us were worried that he wouldn't believe us, but once again, he surprised us by saying something that shocked us all: "I completely believe what you say. My sister's case is being investigated by Officer Chen."

I've seen that ghost too, it's exactly like the one you described!

I was so surprised I almost fell off my seat: "When? Was it yesterday too?"

"No, it was twenty-one years ago!"

"What?" The three of us were stunned.

"Actually, over the years, I have been thinking about why this series of tragedies happened. I have read a lot of detective books and watched a lot of movies. I have also imagined many kinds of murder scenarios. It is no exaggeration to say that I am an expert in detective works."

I've also considered the possibility of being a ghost, but I could never convince myself to believe it. My thinking focused more on possible scenarios in real life, which now seems like a detour.

He was filled with emotion, lit a cigarette, and didn't immediately talk about ghosts.

“Over the years, I have always been very careful about my safety. I generally never go out alone at night or come home very late. Even during the day, I rarely go to secluded places. Whether at home or outside, I always keep the doors and windows tightly closed and place some empty bottles or sticks nearby so that if someone tries to enter, they will make a noise.”

The Tian mother and daughter probably recalled many similar incidents from the past, and nodded in sudden realization.

But a question came to my mind: "So you've been living under immense pressure all these years, but you look so young, not at all like someone who's been under a lot of stress?"

"Actually, just like soldiers, when you first go to the battlefield, you are filled with fear of war and death, and you are filled with endless longing for survival. But when you live in a hail of bullets every day, you will get used to it, become indifferent or even numb. Daily precautions become a routine, rather than a burden."

"Everyone lives for a hundred years, and eventually dies. What is there to be afraid of? This actually motivates me to cherish every day and the beautiful things in life." He looked at Tian's mother and Tian Juan with deep affection and smiled slightly.

Mother Tian said with a slight anger, "Why didn't you tell me sooner! If you're so detached from life and death, what are you afraid of?"

Mr. Bian said apologetically, “Transcendence is only for myself. I cannot let you live in fear, nor can I bear the pain of losing any of you. Although we have had many regrets and unhappiness over the years, we can only choose the lesser of two evils. Haven’t we been very happy all these years?”

“Uncle Bian, we understand you. You might be in danger now; that ghost has already started moving. We have to think of something!” Tian Juan said anxiously. “What do you mean by seeing that ghost?”

"Now that I think about it, the ghost actually wanted to kill me first, not my sister." Mr. Bian suddenly remembered this, and his expression turned somber. "My sister and I were very close since we were little. She would always save some food for me. She was only in her early twenties when she died. She was a girl who loved beauty, but she never wore any nice clothes growing up. Even after she started working, she gave all her salary to our mother and never dated. I remember when we were little, we would heat up some nails under the oil lamp until they were red-hot, taking turns curling her hair. We even burned off a few strands, and our mother scolded us for it..."

He broke down in tears as he spoke, and we all fell silent, our eyes reddening. Mr. Bian took the tissue from Mrs. Tian and sobbed, "She saw your picture and liked you very much. She always wanted me to bring you home to see you. I was a bit vain, but because my family was too poor, I never got to bring you home. I never imagined it would become a permanent regret..."

Just then, the waiter brought out a dish, and Mr. Bian was jolted out of his sorrowful memories.

"Hey, I keep going off-topic, Juanzi's going to complain again." He forced a smile, then said in a low voice, "I usually sleep very well and rarely dream. But that day I had a strange nightmare. I woke up suddenly, and the room was very dark, but I found a short person by the bed, wearing a strange robe. The face was just as she described—a ghost with a deathly pale face and a ferocious expression. But in the blink of an eye, the room was empty."

I was worried and checked the room thoroughly, but there was nothing there. Now I remember, I was sharing a room with a colleague who unfortunately had a minor accident that day and was in the hospital. I was alone that night. Could this also be part of a conspiracy?

"Oh, right, there's something else!" He suddenly remembered something else, his eyes widening with anger. "After my sister was murdered, when relatives were chatting, my cousin's wife said that in the early hours of the morning, she heard a loud noise coming from the pigsty outside, with the pigs squealing. She wasn't a heavy sleeper and was suddenly awakened, seeing a figure flash by. She thought it was a thief, so she woke up my cousin, and the two of them went outside together. They didn't find anything suspicious, and the pigs quieted down, as if nothing had happened. They didn't fall asleep either, and after dawn, they received the news that my sister had been murdered."

I said, “I think there’s no doubt about the issue of ghostly revenge anymore. A friend of mine has a powerful and extraordinary person in his hometown who has also experienced ghostly revenge. He should have a way to resolve this problem, but the old man might not be willing to resolve such a conflict. My friend went to help with the matter again this morning, so we should go there right away. Also, I don’t know if you know such a person, but I suggest you tell your cousin to inquire if there are any such highly skilled and extraordinary people in the vicinity.”

Mr. Bian said somewhat dejectedly, "I may have missed a golden opportunity. In fact, more than ten years ago, I went on a business trip with some colleagues and visited a Taoist temple on the weekend. They were drawing lots, and I was bored, so I wandered around and walked into a small hall where an old Taoist priest was sitting in meditation. He slightly opened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise."

I smiled and nodded to him in greeting, and then looked at the room's layout.

He sized me up for a moment and asked, "Where are you from, benefactor?"

I told him I was from Hunan.

He then asked, "Were your ancestors soldiers?"

I said no.

He asked, "Did any of my ancestors have a feud with the Miao people?"

I was getting a little impatient, so I said, "Do you want me to hold a temple ceremony here?"

He smiled and said, "Why not?"

I said, "I was just taking a stroll and I apologize for disturbing your meditation!"

Then I walked out, and the old Taoist priest didn't stop me, he just sighed and shook his head. Later, I even told my colleague that the world is really going to the dogs these days, even those who live outside the Taoist community are thinking about how to make money. It's strange, why did all these past events suddenly come flooding back?

Tian Juan asked with concern, "Do you remember which Taoist temple it was?"

Mr. Bian shook his head and said, "It happened more than ten years ago, and I didn't really try to remember it, so I can't recall it. I only remember that the Taoist temple was very dilapidated. I'm afraid that after all these years, it's questionable whether it still exists, or even whether the old Taoist priest is still alive!"

I said, "Let's not delay any longer. Let's go to Jiang Ping's place after we finish eating. We only have six days left."

They all agreed.

After dinner, Mr. Bian made a phone call to his cousin. I called Jiang Ping.

He told me some bad news: "The old man went to his daughter's house early this morning, saying he wouldn't be back for ten days or two weeks. Things are getting a bit complicated. He probably already sensed some trouble and doesn't want to get involved anymore. He left me something and asked his son to pass on a message."

"What is that? What did you say?"

"A talisman, carved from wood. He said, 'If it doesn't concern me, I'll mind my own business.' He was advising me not to meddle. I suspect he was also frightened by that ghost. You should come over; the old man is actually very kind-hearted. Try to persuade him properly; there might be a chance!"

I asked him for directions and asked him to help me book a hostel.

Mr. Bian went back to the factory to ask for leave, and the three of us went to the mall and bought some expensive things. A little while later, Mr. Bian got a car from the factory and got off. Tian Juan and I wanted to let the two of them sit in the last row, but Mr. Bian insisted on talking to me.

The car quickly got onto the highway.

“Thank you so much. Regardless of whether this disaster can be averted, I am very grateful for your courage and chivalrous heart!” Mr. Bian said sincerely. “As the ancients said, ‘If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening.’ I have been tormented by this question for so many years. Its difficulty surpasses any other subject, because in my view, it is simply untraceable. Now I have no more doubts. I truly do not wish for you to be implicated by my family.”

“I also admire your optimism and composure. I think that no matter what crimes your ancestors committed, kind and innocent people like you and your sister should not become targets of vengeful spirits. If everything was ordained by fate that we were brought into this situation, then if it wasn't me, then someone else would have completed this mission. So I don't feel that I have made any sacrifices or done any favors, and I hope you won't feel uneasy.” I was also moved by his sincerity and said emotionally.

“Actually, after you told me the truth, I don’t resent that ghost. Perhaps he had many wonderful people and things to cherish in his life, and many important responsibilities to bear, but my ancestor destroyed everything because of his greed. It’s understandable that such resentment, through some circumstance, could lead to revenge against the descendant of the avenger. I think we can’t judge him by our own values. Man proposes, God disposes,” Mr. Bian said calmly. “I only hope that the tragedy can end with my generation, that my blood and life can bring peace to my descendants. I have nothing to fear.”

"Is there really such a thing as cause and effect? Then what is the standard for judging good and evil? Is it human morality? Who judges and who enforces it? Is it really true that the net of heaven is vast and its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it? Why do so many evil people go unpunished, while so many good people suffer tragic fates?" Tian Juan asked a series of questions excitedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

We all fell silent; no one could answer those questions.

Around noon, we arrived at Jiang Ping's hometown. The place was nestled amidst verdant mountains and flowing waters—a truly beautiful and blessed land. Jiang Ping was already waiting at the agreed-upon location. Since we already knew each other's names, we quickly became acquainted.

Jiang Ping smiled and said, "I've never heard of an old man hiding before. Firstly, this ghost must be someone powerful, and secondly, he's old and his courage and confidence aren't what they used to be. We need to devise a strategy; we can't rashly go looking for the old man."

Tian Juan said hurriedly, "Great! You know that old man best; you'll definitely have a way."

"Haha, Juanzi, all these years of spoiling you haven't been for nothing!" Mr. Bian said with a smile. "Then let's find a teahouse and rest for a while."

I've already witnessed Jiang Ping's inductive reasoning abilities, and I think sharing some of my questions with him might be enlightening. After sitting down, I quickly told him about the strange things Mr. Bian and his sister-in-law had encountered.

After listening, Jiang Ping pondered for a moment, then asked me, "Do you have any questions?"

Yes, a lot!

He smiled and said, "Tell me about it?"

I didn't speak, but turned to Mr. Bian: "Mr. Bian, do you have any questions?"

"Ha, are you all speaking in riddles? It's driving me crazy!" Tian Juan pouted angrily.

Mr. Bian lit a cigarette. Seeing Mrs. Tian looking at him reproachfully, he smiled apologetically and said, "Just one. Smoking helps with thinking. Yes, now that you ask, I suddenly remember why I had that dream that day, and why I woke up at that exact moment, and why my cousin's pigs were squealing at that exact time."

“Yes, it is indeed very strange!” I continued, “And why did they specifically choose July 15th to strike? In fact, the ghosts had already been dispatched. Why does it always rain? Why the 21st year?”

"Yes, it's very puzzling!" Jiang Ping nodded slightly. "We both saw a ghost yesterday. Was it trying to scare us or was it preparing to attack?"

“I think it’s an intimidation tactic! Judging from the previous times, he always committed his crimes in secluded, solitary situations. He wouldn’t have done it while I was still on the train. I believe his purpose was just to intimidate me, because I didn’t associate my brief unconsciousness or being caught in the rain with ghosts. So he simply showed himself to warn me. The same goes for you. Hitting you with tiles at first didn’t have any effect on warning you either. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to do it at night,” I analyzed calmly.

Jiang Ping nodded: "I think so too. I did sleep alone last night. But I've been thinking about something. Twenty-one years ago, on that night, when Mr. Bian and his sister-in-law saw the ghost, was it a threat, like a cat catching a mouse but not in a hurry to eat it, slowly torturing it, or was it an attempted murder?"

Tian Juan said through gritted teeth, "It's definitely the former. He only feels happy when he makes Uncle Bian's family live in fear!"

Mr. Bian shook his head and said, "I don't think so. If it were just a threat, then they should have let us know. But the truth is, if you two hadn't reminded us, we would never have guessed it was a ghost, and I might have always thought that what I saw that night was just a dream."

Tian Juan retorted, "That's not necessarily true. But whatever the source of your fear—even if it's someone in real life you're afraid of—you're already living in fear, so his goal has been achieved."

"Then wasn't it a bit redundant for him to appear in three different places that night? Indeed, he could have achieved the same effect of intimidation without showing up. But he did show up, so why?" Jiang Ping countered.

Tian Juan was speechless for a moment.

Mother Tian said, "So, did that ghost intend to wipe them all out that day? And it only succeeded once?"

"I don't think so. When I first heard this story, I had a gut feeling that the ghost's goal wasn't to kill Mr. Bian's family all at once. Twenty-one years might be due to his magical power, but it's more likely because twenty years ago, more than eighty years ago, was the time it took for a generation to be born. The ghost didn't kill Mr. Bian and his cousins so that his sacrificial game could continue, like weeds that keep growing even after being cut. So in the end, he chose Mr. Bian's sister as his sacrifice."

My words left everyone pale-faced.

Mr. Bian murmured, "If that's the case, then this time it will be either me or my cousin. My nephew only has twenty-one years left to live? Poor child! This is too cruel!"