Gu poison

Chapter 11

"Thanks to the villagers!" Yang Hong said with a broad smile.

"Thanks to you, our lives are much easier now..." the deacons said sincerely. "You truly benefit this region!"

Wulongzhai, Baolongzhai, Duolongzhai, Yazhai, Baizhai...

The leaders of more than a dozen villages rushed to offer their congratulations upon hearing the news. The sound of firecrackers was incessant, and red and green firecracker paper scraps were scattered all along the way.

The joyful atmosphere continued until the eighth day of the lunar new year. During this time, only Xiaoyu secretly wept. She couldn't understand: how had the world become so upside down? Those who harm others were respected, while wise words were treated like dirt. For money, for themselves, people cared about nothing. She seemed to hear the little girl's pitiful cries again: "Don't sell me! Don't sell me!"

13. Her ghostly figure could be seen everywhere in the village.

In early spring, poppy seedlings sprouted from the ground, turning the fields a vibrant green.

More and more mountain villagers are planting poppies, and the practice has spread to villages large and small in the Qinglongzhai mountain range. The planting technique is extremely easy to master; "the capable are teachers," and everyone helps each other—it's easy to learn in a short time. The neighboring Baolongzhai village, eager to make a fortune, sowed too many seeds. The poppy seedlings grew densely packed, and they worried that they wouldn't bear fruit. They specifically asked Yang Hong to inspect the seedlings and determine if thinning was necessary, and if so, how. That day, he went out early in the morning.

Seeing this lush greenery, Xiaoyu felt uneasy, unable to find peace day or night.

Yang Hong persisted in his reckless actions, causing harm to an ever-widening population, which fueled Xiao Wang's anger. In her extreme fury, she rushed into the poppy field and ripped the seedlings off one by one, handful by handful.

"Madam, how could you pull up poppy seedlings?" People were puzzled and came over.

She didn't answer, she just kept pulling hard with her head down.

"You can't pull up the poppy seedlings!" came a chorus of dissuasion.

Zhu Hu and Lao Hu rushed over upon hearing the news: "Madam, we can talk things over. Don't take your anger out on the poppy seedlings!"

"I hate opium and I want to tear up the poppy seedlings!" Xiaoyu shouted, her hands still pulling and her feet stomping as if she were crazy.

Seeing that he couldn't stop her, Zhu Hu hurriedly rode his horse to Baolong Village to report to Yang Hong. Yang Hong was shocked and rushed home, only to find that Xiao Yu had torn down the poppy seedlings in several fields, some of her own and some of others', leaving a mess.

Yang Hong was both anxious and angry, his hands trembling, almost erupting in fury, but he managed to restrain himself; in front of so many people, he didn't want anyone to see him lose his temper. He watched her frantically tearing up the poppy seedlings without looking back, but didn't immediately stop her. He asked Zhu Hu to bring a cup of fragrant hot tea from home, and he personally brought it to her, saying kindly, "Tired? Take a break, have a cup of tea, and then you can tear them up again—"

Xiaoyu stopped, taken aback. She had expected him to get angry, to hit her, to yell at her; if that happened, she would have a huge fight and refuse to give in! But nothing happened, and she stared at him blankly.

"Look, you've only pulled this much this morning," Yang Hong said, seemingly implying that she hadn't pulled enough. "Look around, there are so many poppy seedlings, how are you going to pull them all?"

"I can finish it!" she said defiantly. But she clearly knew in her heart that she couldn't finish it all by herself in a year.

"Should I light a torch for you tonight?" Yang Hong said casually.

"You..." Xiaoyu couldn't figure out what he was up to. She turned around and found that the poppy seedlings that had been pulled up earlier had been replanted. The old man who was bending over to replant the poppy seedlings rubbed his back and sighed, "What a waste! At my age, I still have to do this work, and I haven't offended anyone!"

Those standing by the ground suspected she was possessed by a ghost, which was why she did such an irrational thing. Seeing that she had angered everyone, Xiaoyu had no choice but to give up.

Xiaoyu denied being possessed by a ghost, saying that everyone else was being possessed and that the ghosts should be kept away from them. Her words sounded more like nonsense, and everyone believed she was possessed, so they asked the master to quickly draw a talisman to ward off the ghost.

After chanting the incantation, the master used a peach tree branch to perform a ghost-repelling ritual on Xiaoyu. Sure enough, Xiaoyu felt refreshed and all her illness disappeared.

When the gossipy women were relieved that she had "cured her illness and escaped disaster," she inexplicably said, "The worst is yet to come!" This greatly puzzled the mountain people.

Yang Hong thought he had completely subdued Xiaoyu, so he paid her no attention and went to various villages every few days to check on the growth of poppies.

With favorable weather, the poppies are thriving, changing every day. During the Dragon Boat Festival, every valley and ravine in the folds of the Qinglong Mountains is covered with bright red poppies, vibrant and eye-catching; from a distance, the terraced fields stretching from the foot of the slope to the top look like a long red carpet hanging down to the sky.

Harvest season is here again, and Zhu Hu is not without worry:

"We'll definitely have more e-liquid this year than in previous years. How will we manage?"

Yang Hong thought for a moment and said, "The opium processing plant needs to be expanded. We need to build more warehouses, install more large iron pots, and add more manpower. Then we won't have to worry about delays."

Zhu Hu nodded in approval, and Yang Hong then instructed him to take charge: "Don't be afraid to spend money; you must refine all the looted opium into opium!"

Xiaoyu, who was listening nearby, was extremely worried. She knelt down in front of Yang Hong and pleaded, "I beg you, please stop refining opium! It's a heinous crime!"

Yang Hong waved his hand, and Zhu Hu stepped out. He tugged at her, saying, "Look at you... get up quickly!"

"I won't get up unless you agree!"

"You want to stop me?" Yang Hong withdrew his hand and sneered, "Don't be silly. You can worship for as long as you want. More and more people are smoking opium, why don't you go worship them?"

After saying that, Yang Hong didn't look at her again and strode out.

Xiaoyu cried sadly. She stood up and walked aimlessly along the yard, walking slowly until she unknowingly arrived at the old house.

Seeing the old house, long abandoned, reminded her of the days she spent with the village elder. Before, when she was sad, the elder would comfort and console her; now, she had no one to confide in. People were all addicted to opium, driven mad, and no one wanted to listen to her ramblings. Everyone believed Yang Hong's words; she was utterly alone and helpless.

Pushing open the door, a musty smell hit her, and the room's furnishings remained unchanged. Every item in the room where the old woman had lived evoked memories. Looking down, a sealed jar in the corner of the bed caught her eye, and she remembered: it was the poisonous jar that the old woman had passed down to her before she died.

After the old woman died, this jar has been left here. What use did she have for it? But how could I throw it away and face the old woman in the afterlife?

She removed the jar, lifted the lid, and found that the dozens of poisonous insects and scorpions inside had vanished, leaving only tiny specks of insect droppings smaller than grains of rice, and a round, plump worm resembling both a pine caterpillar and a silkworm. The worm was golden yellow all over, with bright red, bluish-green eyes. Xiaoyu was about to reseal the jar when she suddenly remembered something. She used a small copper spoon to scoop out the droppings and ground them into a fine powder in a mortar… As she did this, she kept muttering, “I didn’t really use a Gu poison; I was just trying to scare Yang Hong…”

They were refining opium again, the opium processing plant brightly lit all night. A fragrance even richer than osmanthus lingered, permeating the entire Qingzhu Village. Yang Hong stayed at the processing plant every day, returning home very late. Xiao Yu would warn him as soon as they met: "Don't do anything bad anymore, you'll be punished!"

Yang Hong retorted sarcastically, "What retribution? Are you afraid that having too many silver dollars will displease Heaven?"

Xiaoyu said angrily, "Opium poisons people, and it shortens their lives; they die a terrible death!"

"Nonsense!" Yang Hong replied irritably.

Xiaoyu kept warning him, but Yang Hong found her noisy and annoying, and couldn't be bothered to respond. He thought to himself: How did she become such an annoying gossip? She's nothing like the gentle and obedient woman she used to be; living with her is really boring.

As soon as Xiaoyu opened her mouth, he turned and left, leaving Xiaoyu disappointed. She realized that simply threatening or warning him verbally was no longer effective.

Ding Er arrived at Qingzhu Village with several of his men, saying that Chief Ouyang knew this year's opium production was several times greater than last year's and, fearing something might go wrong on the way, had specially asked them to come and provide backup. Ding Er also told Yang Hong that last year's three loads of opium had lasted almost a year; this year's opium production would last for several years without any problem.

Yang Hong instructed people to treat the guests well and asked Lao Hu to prepare more than a dozen Guizhou horses to carry the opium.

Before leaving, Xiaoyu personally cooked a bowl of smoked bacon, Yang Hong's favorite dish. Yang Hong chewed it with relish, unaware that Xiaoyu had put a poison in the bacon.

Xiaoyu stood by his side, diligently serving him food: "This cured meat is smoked with fragrant leaves and wood, it smells especially good, you should eat more."

"Mmm, delicious." Yang Hong wiped his mouth, walked to the threshing floor, and instructed his servants on what to keep in mind after he left, telling them to make sure the maidservants took good care of his wife. He specifically called the foreman, Old Hu, aside, saying he would give him his wages and urge him to bring his wife and children over so he could take charge of things. He then solemnly instructed Old Hu:

Whether he is at home or not, poppies must be planted in the fields, and opium must be refined. He will then send Zhu Hu to help him.

After making these arrangements, Yang Hong and his men set off on their journey with more than ten packhorses loaded with opium.

Xiao Wang seemed to have a premonition that Yang Hong would not return. He escorted him to a pavilion several miles away, reminding him repeatedly along the way: "This trip is different from the past. If you change your mind within forty days and decide not to do opium business anymore, you must come back quickly, or your life will be in danger!"

Yang Hong said unhappily, "Can't you say something else?"

"Of course I hope you come back safe and sound," Xiaoyu said, her hope tinged with worry. "But the opium trade is a harmful business, and harming others will bring retribution!"

"That's what I hear all the time!"

Yang Hong turned his head away, no longer looking at Xiaoyu. He was thoroughly fed up with her; he had made up his mind that once he went to Guangzhou, he would never come back, and he would spend the rest of his life with Ouyang.

They traveled by day and rested by night without incident. Upon arriving in Guangzhou, Ouyang was already waiting at home. Seeing Yang Hong, he exclaimed, "I've been so worried about you!"

Yang Hongdao said, "Me too."

After dinner, having washed away the dust of their journey, they returned to their room, and Ouyang couldn't wait to throw herself into his arms...

How much longing can passion melt away? Her hands caressed him incessantly, still wanting more; he responded to her, almost emptying himself completely. Finally, she said tenderly, "The opium is enough for several years. You don't need to go back. Isn't it wonderful that we're together?"

"That's what I think too," Yang Hong said tenderly. "I've already arranged things at home, and from now on I'll stay by your side every day."

“I know you can’t live without me!” Ouyang smiled.

The nights of pleasure seemed too short, and forty days passed in the blink of an eye. That evening, Yang Hong felt unwell, weak and listless, and did not become intimate with Ouyang. She asked with concern, "Are you sick?"

He shook his head, covered his head, and went to sleep.

The next morning, Yang Hong woke up still listless, with a bloated stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. Ouyang helped him to a hospital run by foreigners, where the doctor diagnosed him with a severe cold and dysentery, and prescribed injections and medication. By nightfall, his condition had worsened; his stomach was distended like a drum, his whole body was swollen, and his skin had turned yellow. Ouyang panicked and woke Zhu Hu, asking him to carry Yang Hong to the hospital. Just as they left the guild hall, Yang Hong suddenly remembered something and asked to be put down so they could find raw soybeans or taro. Ouyang had someone bring him raw taro, and after taking a bite, he found it not bitter but fragrant and sweet, and then he understood everything; groaning, he said to Ouyang, "I'm hopeless; this is retribution!"

After Yang Hong left, Xiao Yu counted the days on her fingers, looking out the village entrance every day. The expiration date of the poison was drawing ever closer, and she felt both fear and regret. The forty-day deadline had passed, and there was still no news of Yang Hong. Clinging to a sliver of hope, she told herself, "The poison won't kill anyone; Yang Hong won't die!" She reassured herself, "He'll be back tomorrow; the poison's expiration date won't be that precise!" So, she checked the antidote she had prepared long ago again. Different poisons require different antidotes; her antidote consisted of *Gynura divaricata*, white mint, *Changshan*, *Aristolochia debilis* vine, and *Auspicious Grass*.

It's made from pomegranate peel, raw beans, and the root of *Gnaphalium affine*, and comes in both liquid and powder forms, all passed down to her by her late grandmother. She thought:

As soon as Yang Hong returns, give him the medicine immediately, tell him the truth, and beg for his forgiveness.

In the unbearable longing, in the days and nights intertwined with hope and despair, Xiaoyu felt her spirit was about to collapse; she stubbornly clung to one belief: even if Yang Hong died, he should still send a message; if he didn't send a letter, it proved that he was still alive!

That day, Zhu Hu's tall figure appeared before her, as if carrying an ominous premonition. She asked in a trembling voice, "Yang Hong... is he... alright?"

"He's dead!" Zhu Hu lowered his head in grief. "He died in great pain, constantly calling your name..."

"...You...don't...scare people...this..."

It's not true..."

"He's really dead!" Zhu Hu cried out in anguish. "We buried him in Guangzhou..."

"..." Xiaoyu trembled all over.

"He said it was retribution before he died!"

"Retribution—" she murmured, her face deathly pale. Suddenly, she screamed "Ah!" and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Zhu Hu was terrified. He hadn't expected Xiao Yu to be so devoted, and Yang Hong's death to have such a huge impact on her; he hurriedly went to call his sister-in-law and aunt, asking them to think of a way to save her.

They frantically pressed Xiaoyu's philtrum, scraped her chest with ginger, and gave her a "soul-awakening soup." After a while, Xiaoyu finally opened her eyes, sighed, and cried out, "I shouldn't have done that!"

He saved Xiaoyu's life, but he couldn't save her heart; she valued love more than life itself, and losing Yang Hong meant losing the meaning of life. She lost her appetite and spent her days in tears. Because she herself had used the poison to trick her husband into eating the poisoned smoked meat, Yang Hong fully understood that she was responsible for his death, leaving this world with deep resentment towards her. She couldn't find peace psychologically; soon after, she suffered a mental breakdown and became mentally unstable.

Throughout the village, her ghostly figure could be seen everywhere. Whenever she met someone, she would say, "I used a curse to harm him, I regret it so much!" People would comfort her, saying, "Yang Hong won't know, he doesn't blame you!" Then she would mutter with relief as she walked away. Later, people grew tired of hearing it and would impatiently reply to her:

"Yang Hong knows you used a curse, he will never forgive you, even in death!" She burst into tears, snot and tears streaming down her face. More often, she would dress up beautifully and run to the stone-paved official road, asking any passing caravans, "Have you seen Yang Hong?" "Yes." "Did he say he'd be back?" "Yes, he'd be back." She would stand motionless, like a stone statue.

As darkness fell, people still saw her standing at the village entrance, calling out affectionately, "Yang Hong! Yang Hong—"

The only answer she received was an echo from the valley...

(over)