Seltsame Geschichten

Kapitel 14

Jiangnan's words calmed the still-shaken Shabo down. It was already past midnight. He returned to the Night Sleep Inn and eagerly grabbed Jiangnan, who was still reading late into the night, to tell him about his experience on the iron chain bridge. After Jiangnan finished explaining the origin of the madwoman, he yawned, and Shabo tactfully got up to take his leave.

As he stood up, he saw Jiang Nan close the book in his hands. The title caught his eye: *An Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind*, by an Englishman named James Mill. Shabo couldn't help but glance at Jiang Nan again, secretly amazed; he hadn't expected anyone in this small town to be researching such academic works.

Through these few days of contact, Sha Bo had learned that Jiang Nan was originally a businessman in a southern city. In that city, his business had become very successful, with his own company and other properties such as hotels and guesthouses. However, misfortune struck; a fire destroyed the building where his company was located, and several failed investments left him with huge debts.

When Jiangnan recounted his past to Shabo, he didn't shy away from admitting that in his city, many people's initial wealth was inextricably linked to the underworld, and he was no exception. After his bankruptcy, some of his creditors were members of the underworld. Their ultimatum to him was: if they didn't get his money, they would take his life.

Jiangnan fled into the night, escaping that city. After wandering around China for a while, constantly evading the pursuit of his enemies, he finally arrived at this paradise, Sleeping Valley.

"The town is a simple and honest place, and it's very easy to survive there. But after experiencing so many ups and downs, I no longer have the ambition I once had. So I settled down in the town, opened this little inn, and started a peaceful life."

Sha Bo was full of admiration for Jiangnan at the time. He really couldn't believe that such a refined and cultured person had such a legendary experience.

Jiang Nan shook his head and laughed, "After staying in this town for a while, I realized that it wasn't as simple as I had initially thought. I felt that my own experience was already quite extraordinary, but there were some other people in this town whose experiences were even more legendary and mysterious."

Shabo looked puzzled.

"I don't know if you've read Gu Long's novel called 'The Peerless Twins.' In the novel, there's a Valley of Villains, where all the people are people who couldn't make it in the outside world and fled there. This Sleeping Valley is quite similar to that Valley of Villains. There are many people here that you shouldn't underestimate, because they may have been powerful and influential figures in their own right before they came to Sleeping Valley."

Shabo's eyes widened, his fear reaching its peak.

—The legendary Sleeping Valley. The mysterious Sleeping Valley.

When Shabo asked who in the town was a prominent figure in the past, Jiangnan shook his head: "Everyone who comes to Sleepy Hollow naturally intends to live in anonymity for the rest of their lives, so why should we remember their former names?"

After hearing Jiangnan's words, Shabo knew he shouldn't ask any more questions, but he began to be wary of Sleeping Valley.

That night, Sha Bo bid farewell to Jiang Nan and returned to his room to sleep. As he passed through the corridor, he saw Xue Mei, the woman in the green dress, again. Xue Mei remained expressionless, not even raising her eyebrows as she passed by Sha Bo, as if he had vanished. As Sha Bo brushed past her, he suddenly had a strange feeling, as if he recognized the woman.

It's a strange feeling. How come I've seen this woman before on my first visit to Sleepy Hollow?

Moreover, this woman is Jiangnan's wife. Jiangnan said that she was the wife he married after coming to Sleepy Valley, and they have been married for six years.

Yang Xing was finally able to eat.

After finishing that bottle of wine, he felt a surge of energy within him, which he released by taking Xiao Fei out to eat for the entire day. Later, when he was too full to eat anymore, he clutched his stomach and had to open his mouth wide to catch his breath. Throughout the day, Xiao Fei followed him with a beaming smile, watching him devour his food, and she was even happier than he was.

Yang Xing recovered from his illness, and they were able to return to their carefree life.

Xiao Fei was still thinking about something: she wondered if Yang Xing's illness would relapse. So, before leaving Sleepy Hollow, she made sure to find as much of that kind of wine as possible to bring back.

Yang Xing couldn't care less about anything else. His appetite was unusually good; he had been starving for so many days and was determined to make up for it all at once. He was glad that the trip to Sleepy Valley had been worthwhile; otherwise, this strange illness might have plagued him for who knows how long, and he might not have woken up one morning. In today's society, dying of starvation is truly a shameful thing.

In the evening, Yang Xing, supported by Xiao Fei, staggered back to the inn.

He ate so much that his stomach was so bloated that he felt almost weightless.

It was still early. Qin Ge and the skinny man had been traveling together for the past two days and hadn't returned yet. Sha Bo had been preoccupied and acting mysteriously ever since he arrived at Sleeping Valley, and no one knew where he had gone that night. They greeted the innkeeper, Jiang Nan, before returning to their rooms.

Because it wasn't tourist season, the Night Sleep Inn wasn't doing very well; apart from Yang Xing and his group, there were no other guests. The guest rooms were in the backyard, which was unusually quiet.

Yang Xing and Xiao Fei returned to their room and lay down for a while. After resting for a bit, Yang Xing perked up and immediately pulled Xiao Fei into his arms.

They haven't been intimate for a long time since Yang Xing contracted the strange illness.

Xiao Fei was a petite girl, and Yang Xing could easily carry her on his shoulders. He fell for her the first time he saw her on campus. Xiao Fei was stylish and energetic, her short hair billowing wildly with her movements. Through others, Yang Xing learned that her family lived in a very famous county in Jiangnan, one of the top 100 counties in China. Xiao Fei's father owned a bag factory and was said to have become a millionaire several years ago. Xiao Fei's family background made him hesitate for a long time, but ultimately, he pursued her. Perhaps one day, Xiao Fei's family background would become an obstacle between them, but having shared such beautiful days was enough to make him happy.

The first time Yang Xing held Xiao Fei in his arms, he knew he could never leave this girl again.

Xiao Fei is like a vibrant little sun, easily filling his heart with sunshine. Her simple and innocent personality lies hidden beneath her flamboyant exterior; love, in her eyes, is also a very simple thing. Once she loves, she's willing to give her all.

Seeing that Yang Xing only had two sets of clothes to change into, she bought him clothes and delivered them to his dorm. Noticing that he always ordered only vegetables at the cafeteria, she topped up his meal card and bought him a large bag of snacks for their next date. So many small details touched Yang Xing, even making him feel ashamed.

"Don't be so nice to me, it makes me feel guilty," he said to Xiaofei.

Xiao Fei was quite dismissive: "When have I ever been good to you? My dad puts so much money on my card every month without my permission, and I can never spend it all. Now that I've found you, my sucker, I'm grateful to you."

When Xiao Fei said that, Yang Xing knew that she was a very smart girl. She had used her casual attitude to defuse Yang Xing's embarrassment.

Later, Yang Xing told Xiao Fei about his family.

Yang Xing's family lived in a small city in northern Jiangsu. His parents were workers in a shoe factory run by a local government. They were honest and hardworking people who lived a rather frugal life. They had no children when they were young, and it is said that they went to many hospitals, but to no avail. Yang Xing's parents had given up hope, thinking that their family line would end. Unexpectedly, when Yang Xing's father was forty years old, Yang Xing's mother suddenly became pregnant. Childbirth at an advanced age is very dangerous, but the couple were determined to bring this child into the world.

Yang Xing spent his childhood being pampered in every way.

Later, when he started school, his parents continued to spoil him. However, young Yang Xing gradually became aware of his difference from others. Although he could wear brand-new school uniforms and bring all sorts of treats on spring outings, he knew from his parents' bitter eyes that for every thing he received, his parents had to work hard for a long time. At that time, the shoe factory had long since ceased production, and his parents had both been laid off. Every day, they would ride a tricycle to buy vegetables wholesale and sell them at the farmers' market. Every evening, they would drag their tired bodies home, often buying their son some of his favorite snacks or school supplies.

Yang Xing's parents never picked him up from school because they didn't even have a decent set of clothes, and they were afraid that appearing in front of their son and his classmates would embarrass him.

The sensible Yang Xing saw everything. One night, he got up alone and went to his parents' room. He turned on the light and looked at his parents sleeping soundly in bed, tears silently sliding down his cheeks. At that moment, he vowed that one day he would make sure his parents had a good life, and that they would have everything that others had.

And so, he kept this wish to himself and studied hard until he graduated from high school and was successfully admitted to the university he is currently attending.

At this time, the family's financial situation seemed to have improved slightly. The shoe factory on the street where his parents worked was acquired by a large enterprise. As retired employees, his parents could receive their pensions on time every month. In addition, his parents had been doing some small business in the market over the years, so they still had some savings.

All of these savings were used to help Yang Xing complete his studies.

Xiaofei was a sensible girl. After listening to Yang Xing's story, she immediately felt a great deal of respect for the hardworking elderly couple.

Yang Xing frankly told Xiao Fei about his family situation, and she felt his sincerity.

Yang Xing frankly shared his family situation, and Xiao Fei sensed his sincerity. During her winter break, she told her family about Yang Xing. Surprisingly, Xiao Fei's father, like Xiao Fei herself, didn't look down on their poverty at all. In fact, he encouraged Xiao Fei to help Yang Xing as much as possible at school. "Only children from impoverished backgrounds can possess such extraordinary fighting spirit," Xiao Fei's father said. "And that fighting spirit is something that money can't buy."

This summer vacation, Xiaofei initially lied to her family, saying she was going on a trip with her classmates. Later, when she ran out of money, she told her father that Yang Xing had contracted a strange illness and that she needed to stay at school to take care of him. Her father didn't think much of it and agreed, even transferring enough money to her account.

Now, in Sleepy Valley, a remote town thousands of kilometers from home, Yang Xing's strange illness has finally been cured, and Xiao Fei is overjoyed. Back in their room, the long-lost warmth has returned between them.

Yang Xing kissed Xiao Fei passionately until she couldn't breathe.

A knock suddenly sounded on the door.

Yang Xing stopped what he was doing, frowned in frustration, and made a disappointed face. Xiao Fei then smacked him hard on the forehead, got up, straightened her clothes, and went to open the door.

Tan Dong and Tang Wan were standing outside the door.

The two left the Night Sleep Inn and hadn't contacted anyone since. Three days had passed, and their sudden reappearance aroused suspicion in Xiao Fei and Yang Xing. Yang Xing quickly came over and stood behind Xiao Fei.

Tan Dong remained expressionless, as if he were merely accompanying Tang Wan. Tang Wan, on the other hand, had a rosy complexion, clearly in a good mood for the past three days. Tang Wan smiled and handed over a stack of red paper slips. Xiao Fei instinctively took them, then looked down to see they were invitations. When she looked up again, a puzzled look appeared on her face.

"We're getting married, please come to our wedding banquet," Tang Wan said.

Xiao Fei and Yang Xing exchanged a glance, thinking they had misheard. Xiao Fei stammered, "You...you're getting married? Here?"

Tang Wan smiled and said, "Yes, we'll get married here. We don't have any relatives or friends here, and we don't know anyone here, so we've only invited a few guests, including you."

Before Xiaofei could say anything more, Yang Xing interrupted, "Congratulations! We'll definitely be there."

"The wedding is tomorrow night. You just need to come for the wedding banquet; don't bring any gifts." Tang Wan paused for a moment, then continued, "Qin Ge and Sha Bo won't be here, so we'd like you to pass on their invitations."

Yang Xing quickly replied, "No problem, no problem, we'll take care of it. It's no big deal."

Tang Wan thanked him, said nothing more, smiled and said goodbye, then turned and left with Tan Dong. From beginning to end, Tan Dong kept a straight face and didn't utter a word, truly acting like Tang Wan's personal bodyguard.

After closing the door, Xiao Fei couldn't help but exclaim, "There are all sorts of birds in a big forest. These two must have lost their minds to come all this way to this godforsaken place to get married."

Yang Xing chuckled, pulled Xiao Fei over, and made her sit on his lap.

"You're a good kid in every way, except for one thing: you don't like to use your brain. Their marriage just confirms what we suspected from the beginning, doesn't it?"

"You only said they were hiding from someone, not that they were getting married."

Yang Xing sighed: "Can't you see it now? These two are a pair of lovers who eloped and are on the run."

Xiao Fei thought for a moment and immediately understood: "You mean the people these two are hiding from are actually their family members, because only family members would stop them from getting married. They didn't escape here for tourism at all."

"It's marriage!" Yang Xing said with a smile.

Xiao Fei laughed, but then stopped laughing: "But what about that skinny guy? If he's Tang Wan and Tan Dong's family, Tan Dong wouldn't dare to hit him in that Yi town."

This was something Yang Xing couldn't fathom either. He shook his head: "Let's mind our own business. Abnormal people will definitely have abnormal things to do, but those are none of our concern."

As Yang Xing spoke, a sly smile appeared on his face: "Let's get on with what we're supposed to be doing."

Xiao Fei slapped him on the forehead, cursing "You're so annoying," but still fell onto the bed with Yang Xing.

Later, Yang Xing placed Qin Ge and Sha Bo's invitations in their room.

Around nine o'clock, Qin Ge and the skinny guy returned first. They both looked exhausted, having wandered around all day. Qin Ge went back to his room, saw the invitation, and heard voices next door, so he went out to ask Yang Xing what was going on. Yang Xing explained, and Qin Ge laughed, understanding perfectly, and without saying anything more, went back to his room to sleep.

Late at night, Yang Xing and Xiao Fei were fast asleep when they suddenly heard a loud knocking on the door. It was more like banging on the door than knocking. Yang Xing turned on the light, got out of bed, and, full of annoyance, went to the door and grumbled, "Who is it?"

"It's me!" It was Shabo's voice.

Yang Xing quickly opened the door and saw Sha Bo looking bewildered, standing by the door holding the invitation.

"Old Sha, if you have too much energy, go for a stroll in the street. Why are you disturbing our sleep?"

Shabo ignored his grumbling and held the invitation up in front of him: "What's the deal with this invitation?"

"You can't ask Qin Ge, he knows everything about the invitations."

“He doesn’t know!” Shabo said emphatically. “I just asked him, and he has no idea who drew this symbol.”

"Symbol, what symbol?"

Shabo unfolded the invitation and saw a pencil drawing inside. The drawing was a hollow, thick cross.

Yang Xing remembered that when he delivered the invitations to Sha Bo's room, he placed the two invitations on their respective beds. To avoid putting them in the wrong place, he even opened the invitations to check the names. He had no recollection of seeing this pattern on Sha Bo's invitation at all.

—But even if the design was added later, why would it make Sabo so nervous?

—Is there a secret hidden behind this pattern?

Chapter 17: The Yaksha Arrives

Tan Dong has spent three days renovating the old house.

The walls had been repainted, and although not completely dry, they were already a pristine white. The lights inside had also been replaced with high-wattage incandescent bulbs that could illuminate the room as brightly as day at night. Tan Dong had carefully swept the yard, removing the old farm tools and miscellaneous items, and even moved the elderly landlords into one of the vacant rooms. In a short time, the small yard had come alive again, and even the lingering gloom had dissipated considerably.

While Tan Dong and Tang Wan were tidying up the house, the elderly landlord initially stayed inside. Later, when Tan Dong started sweeping the yard, the two elderly people tentatively came out of the house. Although they didn't speak, they took the initiative to help tidy up the clutter piled up in the yard. Later, when Tang Wan knocked on their door and handed several bags of wedding candy to the old lady, the old couple shyly smiled.

Then, red paper-cuts and the character for "double happiness" were pasted on the wooden lattice windows of the new house.

The landlady's paper-cuttings are incredibly lifelike.

Everything that needed to be purchased had already been bought; it was nothing more than daily necessities and wedding candies and firecrackers for the celebration. Sleepy Valley Town was small, but it had everything one could need, only lacking in variety and design. Fortunately, Tang Wan and Tan Dong weren't particular about such things; all they needed now was to complete a ritual.

In the afternoon, the landlord's daughter returned. She was a pretty young woman in her thirties, but she always had a gloomy face and remained silent. Tan Dong and Tang Wan were used to the townspeople's silence, so they didn't mind. The woman's name was He Qing, and she lived alone in the west wing. This was the second time Tan Dong and Tang Wan had seen her since they moved in. She had left two days ago and only returned today.

He Qing didn't seem to care much about the strangers who moved into the courtyard. This was typical of people in small towns; things that didn't concern them rarely piqued their interest.

Tang Wan, thinking that everyone would be living next door and interacting a lot in the future, handed her some wedding candy. He Qing's expression was a little surprised at first, then a smile spread across her face.

"Congratulations," He Qing said.

"We'll be staying here, and we'll inevitably need your help in the future, so please take good care of us."

He Qing nodded, seemingly not at all surprised that this couple from the city would choose to hold their wedding in a small town like Sleepy Hollow.