Ghost Pot - Chapter 3
When the villagers outside heard that these experts from out of town were going to cut open the boy's stomach and take Ling Ge away, they immediately became indignant and started making a commotion.
“Ling Ge is our local auspicious deity. He can protect the villagers and keep them safe. You can’t take Ling Ge away!” the villagers protested in unison.
“Look at us, so many years after liberation, feudal superstitions are still so evident among ordinary people. We Communists must not encourage this kind of evil trend,” Old Yu said earnestly.
The county government secretary in charge of receiving the old man whispered, "It might not be convenient to perform an autopsy now. Let's wait until the middle of the night, when the people will be asleep. The county public security bureau can also send more police officers. Besides, after we take 'Brother Ling' away, we can sew up the child's stomach again, without anyone noticing. Even if word gets out later, the deed is done. Don't worry, the people are like a pile of loose sand; no one wants to make things difficult for the government or become the first to stick their neck out."
“Alright, that’s safer. It’s already dinnertime anyway, so please let the county officials make arrangements on the spot. Eat whatever is available locally, no need to be too polite,” Old Yu said politely.
"We'll have dinner at this family's house. The county magistrate specially ordered someone to catch a wild bighead carp weighing over 100 jin from Poyang Lake. He's treating you to 'chopped pepper male carp head,' a specialty of northern Jiangxi. The county magistrate will be here soon," the government secretary said respectfully.
Government staff and police began to disperse the crowd: "We'll report Ling Ge's matter to the provincial authorities tomorrow. It will probably take two or three days to get a response. Everyone go back to eat. Let's disperse."
As dusk fell, people gradually dispersed, leaving only an old blind fortune teller sitting under a camphor tree not far away. His thin, fleshless face was framed by a pair of stone glasses (sunglasses), he wore a black coat, held a bamboo cane in his hand, carried a small grass basket, and was dozing against the tree trunk.
Shen Caihua was also kicked out. "Brother Ling still hasn't answered me where Momo is," he said to Dudu, feeling wronged.
"No, don't rush, we'll go tonight," Dudu comforted Caihua.
"I'm hungry," Chen Caihua said, rubbing his stomach. Since he had sneaked out, he couldn't bring any food with him.
"You, you wait here, Dudu will go find... find something to eat." Dudu told Chen Caihua to wait by the roadside, while she flapped her wings and flew into the night sky, heading towards Hukou County under the moonlight.
With his schoolbag on his back, Shen Cai first went to the woods to urinate, then wandered around casually until he came to the old camphor tree.
"Little boy, it's so late, why aren't you home yet?" the blind fortune teller under the tree suddenly said.
Shen Caihua kept a wary distance from him, then cautiously asked, "Grandpa, who are you?"
"I'm a poor fortune teller," the old man replied, his accent soft and gentle, indicating he wasn't a local.
Shen Caihua remembered that his grandfather, Shanren, was also a fortune teller and knew a lot of things. Since this blind old man could tell fortunes, he might know about "Brother Ling's" situation. Why didn't he ask him?
"Grandpa, do you know 'Brother Ling'?" Shen Caihua asked tentatively.
"Hmm," the old man hummed.
"Can it find the lost child?" Shen Caihua then asked.
"Yes," the old man hummed as before.
"Strange, how come Brother Ling is talking inside that boy's stomach? It must be quite small," Chen Caihua muttered to himself.
"Two inches long," the old man replied.
"Brother Ling?" Shen Caihua was taken aback, then asked.
"It's a maple ghost," the old man said with a cold laugh.
Chapter 3, Part 2
"Maple Leaf Ghost? What's that?" Shen Caihua asked nervously.
"Why should I tell you?" the fortune teller said, dissatisfied.
Shen Caihua was taken aback. Why did this old man speak in the same tone as Ling Ge?
"Talent, I'm back!" A call came from the night sky.
“I’m here,” Shen Caihua shouted back.
Dudu glided down from the air, its two powerful claws each grabbing one of the two glistening smoked rabbits.
"What's that smell? It smells so good..." The blind fortune teller twitched his nose, took a few deep breaths, and clicked his tongue in amazement.
Shen Caihua took a smoked rabbit from his hand, walked up to the blind old man, and waved it in front of his nose a few times, which made the old man's mouth water.
"Grandpa, if you tell me about Fengzi Ghost, I'll give you a smoked rabbit. Are you in?" Chen Caihua took two steps back and hid the smoked rabbit behind his back as he spoke.
"This..." The old man swallowed hard, hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I'll tell you, you let me take a bite of the rabbit first."
“No, Grandpa, you have to speak first,” Shen Caihua disagreed.
“Small in stature but big in spirit, alright,” the blind old man shook his head and said, “Xun Bozi’s ‘Linchuan Ji’ says: In Magu Mountain of Fuzhou, and Luyue Pengli, there are maple trees. Many of the old trees have galls, and some that are thousands of years old resemble an old man in human form, with eyes, nose and mouth but no arms or feet. People often see them when they enter the mountain, and those who cut them down bleed. They are commonly called ‘maple ghosts.’ Yue shamans say that the ghosts in the belly can talk about good and bad fortune, and can bring about miracles.”
The blind fortune teller suddenly stopped speaking and gestured with his hand.
Shen Cai tore off a smoked rabbit leg and handed it to the old man. The old man couldn't wait any longer. He opened his mouth and took a big bite, tearing off a large piece of meat. He chewed it a few times and swallowed it forcefully. Then, with a loud "crunch crunch" sound, the rabbit leg was completely eaten, and even the bones were chewed up and swallowed.
Shen Caihua watched in surprise as the blind old man ate, then tore off another rabbit leg and said, swaying, "It's your turn to speak."
"The Maple Ghost, also known as the 'Belly Immortal,' is actually a ghost that enters a person's belly. The 'Secret Treasury of Immortal Arts' states that there are five ranks of immortals: Heavenly Immortals, Divine Immortals, Earthly Immortals, Human Immortals, and Ghost Immortals. This Maple Ghost is a thousand-year-old gall from a maple tree. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was called 'Brother Spirit' in the countryside, while a thousand-year-old gall from a willow tree was called 'Sister Spirit.' Their power is roughly equal, and both are ghost immortals who like to parasitize people's bellies. When they are in a good mood, they will answer any question." The old man continued.
"Are the things they say accurate?" Shen Caihua asked.
The old man waved his hand again, and Shen Cai had no choice but to hand over the rabbit leg in his hand.
“They are very effective, but of course, it depends on the depth of their skill,” the blind old man replied.
"Oh, is that so..." Shen Caihua seemed to understand something, then asked cautiously, "Grandpa, it's so late, are you here alone to question Brother Ling as well?"
"Hehe, I'm here to catch Maple Demon." The blind old man chuckled sinisterly.
Chapter 4, Part 1
On one side of the main room, a large blue-and-white porcelain basin sits on a simple eight-immortal table. A huge fish head floats in the red and green soup inside, and the aroma of spiciness permeates the entire room and even drifts into the night sky outside the door.
"It smells so good! I've never seen such a big fish head before," Old Yu exclaimed, gazing at the enormous "chopped chili male fish head" in the basin.
The county head of Hukou County proudly introduced: "Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China. This bighead carp head weighs over 30 jin (15 catties) and the meat is extremely delicious. It is the number one delicacy in our Pengli area. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong and other older generation leaders would always taste this fish head whenever they passed through Jiujiang on the shore of Poyang Lake to go to Lushan for summer retreat."
"How much does this whole fish weigh?" someone at the table asked in surprise.
"It must weigh over a hundred jin (200 kg). As the saying goes, 'Eating fish is worse than eating meat, and the best part of eating fish is the head.' Locals all know that the heads of wild male fish from Poyang Lake have plump, tender lips, smooth brains, sticky, fragrant skin, and delicate flesh. They taste sweet and have an unforgettable aftertaste, and are absolutely delicious. Moreover, they have no fishy smell at all. Eating them regularly is said to make one smart and quick-witted. For scholars like you, it's the best way to refresh your mind." After saying this, the county magistrate inserted his chopsticks into the fish's mouth, broke off a piece of the fish lip, and respectfully placed it in Old Yu's bowl.
Old Yu smiled and picked it up with his fingers, then put it in his mouth. Suddenly his eyes lit up, then his vision blurred, and he looked utterly intoxicated. “It’s so, so delicious…” he said incoherently.
Everyone happily took their chopsticks and picked up the white, tender, jelly-like male fish brains, splashing soup everywhere, and exclamations of praise filled the air.
The county magistrate first offered a round of toasts, then continued unhurriedly, "To savor the head of a wild male fish, it should be eaten in four bites, so that you can feel the deep connection between fish and water in nature."
"A bond as close as fish and water?" The crowd was puzzled.
"For the first bite, use your chopsticks to pick up a small piece of fish head meat and savor it carefully. It's fragrant, sweet, smooth, and refreshing. For the second bite, put a piece of fish meat into your soup bowl, pour in a little broth from the pot, and then put it in your mouth at the same time. You will fully experience the elegant and subtle relationship between the fish and the water. Wild silver carp have grown in Poyang Lake for more than ten years, and their long-term interaction with the lake water has naturally created a kind of close bond, much like the deep affection between the People's Liberation Army and the people. For the third bite, add a suitable amount of wild chili peppers to the fish and soup, and a fiery feeling will immediately rise within you. For the fourth bite, by now you are warm all over and have a great appetite. Pick up a piece of lotus root under the fish head and put it in your mouth. It will bring you a refreshing feeling, melting all your emotions together, as if you have returned to nature."
The experts present applauded, and one exclaimed, "The county head spoke so well! Jiangnan truly has a rich cultural heritage; even eating fish is so particular about it."
After a few rounds of drinks, the guests' conversation gradually shifted to "Brother Ling".
"County Chief, I've heard that this 'Brother Ling' once helped the public security organs solve several long-standing cold cases. Is that true?" an expert asked, his eyes glazed with drunkenness.
"Of course, how could it be fake? Besides, these are all heinous murder cases from several years ago." The county magistrate, slightly tipsy, clicked his tongue in amazement.
Master Fei stroked his beard and asked with a smile, "How vast are the areas where those cases occurred and where the murderer is hiding?"
“Hmm,” the county magistrate thought for a moment and replied, “The cases all occurred locally. As for the murderers, they are from Hukou, Jingdezhen, and Jiujiang.”
"In that case, this 'Brother Ling's' remote sensing ability is quite strong, and it is indeed worth studying," Master Fei pondered.
"Master Fei, I cannot agree with your talk of remote sensing," Old Yu said, putting down his wine glass, looking around, and then said, "As we all know, remote sensing is a high-altitude detection technology that emerged in the 1960s. It is a comprehensive technology that uses various sensors on airplanes and satellites to collect, process, and image information of electromagnetic waves radiated and reflected by distant targets, based on the theory of electromagnetic waves. But the so-called 'Ling Ge,' hiding inside a little boy's stomach, can perform remote sensing detection? Can it command the police to arrest a murderer who committed a crime years ago and is hundreds of kilometers away? Absurd! As an old Bolshevik, I express my strong opposition."
"Everyone heard the conversation between the little boy with the parrot and 'Brother Ling' in the evening. Elder Yu, what is your explanation for this?" Master Fei said with a smile.
“There must be something fishy going on here,” Old Yu replied, his face flushed.
Chapter 4, Part 2
At midnight, a car horn sounded outside the door, and two forensic doctors from the county public security bureau walked in carrying small leather suitcases. They had been ordered to perform an autopsy on the little boy's body that night, while the other officers stood guard around the house.
The county magistrate turned to Master Fei and said solemnly, "Master Fei, you are quite knowledgeable about these kinds of supernatural things. I would like to ask you to guide the next part of the autopsy."
Master Fei smiled slightly, looked around and said, “Of course I cannot refuse. This ‘Ling Ge’ is something that has attained enlightenment over a thousand years. It must be treated with utmost respect. Before bringing it out, we must first burn incense and pray. Although the ritual implements are incomplete and the ceremony is simple, the ‘Golden Light Divine Mantra’ must still be recited.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, their faces full of admiration.
Upon hearing this, the government secretary stood up, found the homeowner, and asked for some incense and candles, which were originally prepared for the child's burial. An altar was set up in front of the ice coffin, and incense and candles were lit one by one; the ritual of offering incense and candles began.
Master Fei first washed his hands, then took out a small sandalwood box from his robes containing cinnabar paste. He evenly applied it to his right palm, then chanted: "Heaven and Earth, the profound origin of all energies, through countless eons of cultivation, I have attained divine power. Within and beyond the Three Realms, only the Dao is supreme. My body is enveloped in golden light. Invisible to the eye, inaudible to the ear, encompassing Heaven and Earth, nurturing all living beings. Recite this once, and your body will be radiant, guarded by the Three Realms, welcomed by the Five Emperors. All gods will pay homage, I will command thunder and lightning, demons and monsters will tremble in fear, and spirits and monsters will vanish. Within lies thunder, the Thunder God conceals his name, penetrating wisdom and insight, the five energies surge forth. May the golden light appear swiftly, protecting the True Man, hastily, as the Jade Emperor's decree descends..."
As Master Fei chanted the incantation, he gently pushed open the ice coffin lid with his left hand, reached inside, and deftly untied the child's belt, lifting the clothes to reveal the slightly protruding abdomen. Then, he pressed down with his palm, imprinting a vermilion palm print on the corpse's belly.
No one noticed that there were three straight horizontal lines on the palm, resembling the shape of the first hexagram of the I Ching—Qian. This is the appearance of Baguazhang when it is practiced to its limit.
"Stop! You evil sorcerer!" Ling Ge screamed inside the little boy's stomach.
Master Fei smiled slightly and said softly, "Little darling, don't be afraid. How about you come out and meet everyone?" At the same time, he turned to the two forensic doctors who were already dumbfounded and gestured, "You can begin."
The forensic doctors opened their instrument packs with trembling hands, put on white gloves, and held sharp scalpels, but their eyes darted between Master Fei and the county magistrate, and they hesitated to make the incision.
"Cut, cut..." Curiosity prompted people to utter cold, ruthless sounds, urging the forensic doctor to make the incision.
The air seemed to freeze. Under the county magistrate's resolute gaze, the stainless steel scalpel gently sliced open the child's tender skin...
No blood seeped from the cuts in the corpse's skin; only a faint, eerie aura slowly emanated from it, and the scalpel was covered with a layer of white frost.
Another forensic pathologist used two rat-tooth-shaped forceps to pull the skin and flesh of the child's abdomen to the sides, exposing the abdominal cavity. In the dim light, a pinkish sarcoma, about the size of a cantaloupe, could be seen growing between the bladder and pelvis, beneath the coiled small intestine and the thick large intestine. Apart from this, there was nothing unusual.
"Strange, where is Brother Ling hiding?" the forensic doctor said, his teeth chattering.
Master Fei still had that smile on his face, and pointed to the tumor, saying calmly, "Cut it open."
Under the tense gaze of everyone, the forensic doctor gently cut open the surface of the tumor with trembling hands...
The pink fascia retracted to both sides, and a tiny person dressed in red clothes and green shoes slowly stood up from inside the tumor. The person was only two inches tall, had no arms, a sallow complexion with a beard, and a face full of wrinkles. The person had eyebrows, eyes, and facial features, and a pair of small eyes slowly moved, scanning the face of everyone.
Those standing around the ice coffin felt their pores tighten, and they felt a cramp and a dull pain in their lower abdomen. Then, a cold twitch appeared in their groin, and their penises involuntarily and slowly withdrew, gradually retracting into their abdomen...
"Oh no, it's penile retraction syndrome!" One of the experts, an old professor from a traditional Chinese medicine college, shouted in panic. He hurriedly reached into his groin and grabbed the glans penis, pulling it back while warning everyone, "Hold it fast, don't let it retract into your abdomen."
While desperately gripping the retracted penis, the county magistrate, with a mournful face, hurriedly asked the old professor, "What exactly is this 'penile retraction syndrome'? How is it treated?"
The old professor stammered, “The Ling Shu chapter of the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic says, ‘The Foot Jueyin meridian produces tendons… which ascend along the thigh and connect to the genitals. If it is injured by cold, the genitals will retract.’ Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the liver meridian encircles the genitals and enters the lower abdomen. Therefore, cold and dampness can stagnate the Foot Jueyin liver meridian, which can lead to vaginal retraction.”
"Stop nitpicking and just tell me how to treat it." Old Yu's face turned red, and he alternately put both hands into his groin, looking extremely embarrassed.
"This, this 'short penis syndrome,' also known as Koro, is a Malay word that is prevalent among Chinese people in Southeast Asia. Since the reform and opening up, it has spread to our country..." the old professor spoke eloquently.
"Tell me how to treat it!" the county head roared in exasperation. If he didn't get better soon, how could he face the county standing committee meeting tomorrow?
Looking at everyone's embarrassed appearance, Master Fei had a faint sneer on his lips. Of all the people, he was the only one who remained unmoved.
"Boil a strong chili water, drink it in large quantities internally, and rub the genitals with garlic and ginger externally. Be quick!" The old professor suddenly realized and hurriedly gave the prescription.