Ghost Stocks

Chapter 34

"Zhenzhen's dad thought it was a good idea, but her mom objected, thinking that the old man had been thinking about this for a long time. The two of them argued at the dinner table, which made me very embarrassed. In the end, they still got the house, which is the house we live in now. I don't know the specifics of how they did it, and I was too embarrassed to ask. Later, I heard that Lin Zhenzhen's mother became wary of me and once told Lin Zhenzhen: 'Be careful when dealing with men like Feng Junzi.'"

Chang Wu: "Did Lin Zhenzhen tell you what her mother said?"

Feng Junzi: "Yes, Lin Zhenzhen told me this as a joke."

Chang Wu: "You really have to be careful when dealing with someone like you. You can easily be tricked and deceived. Today you even tricked her out of a jade pendant."

Feng Junzi: "It's just a jade pendant. I didn't steal her away."

Part 4: A Pair of Chopsticks, Episode 10: A Suspected Old Friend Returns to His Dream

Counting the days, more than a week had passed, and Old Master Xiao should be home by now. That day, Feng Junzi took the pair of chopsticks from Tao Muling and invited Professor Song to go to the Xiao family home. Professor Song had classes and didn't have time, and Feng Junzi, knowing the way well, went alone.

It was Xiao Yunyi who opened the door. Old Master Xiao wasn't home; he'd gone for a walk in the seaside park. But there was one other person in the Xiao family—Old Master Xiao's eldest son, Academician Xiao Xinhong, who had returned from Beijing to visit his father. It seemed that Old Master Xiao's recent departure from home had caused quite a stir, and Academician Xiao had also returned to Binhai.

Feng Junzi had long admired Academician Xiao's reputation, so he introduced himself and expressed his admiration. Academician Xiao asked Feng Junzi the purpose of his visit, and Feng Junzi said he had a very strange object for Academician Xiao to appraise. Xiao Yunyi, who was standing nearby, asked, "Is the object you're talking about the jade pendant on your waist? It is indeed very strange, and its origin is extraordinary. Take it off and let me take a look."

Feng Junzi quickly explained, "It's not this jade pendant, it's a pair of chopsticks, which I brought today as well."

Xiao Yunyi: "Putting everything else aside, this jade pendant you're wearing isn't something an ordinary person can wear. It has a spiritual quality, but it also has a lot of yin energy. I could sense that as soon as you entered the room. Let me take a look at it."

Academician Xiao was a little unhappy: "Yunyun, your grandfather is a good person in every way, but he shouldn't have taught you these superstitious things. What kind of young lady talks about spirituality and yin energy all the time? I think this Mr. Feng is wearing a Tang suit and the jade pendant on his belt is very well matched. He is the image of a traditional Chinese scholar."

Feng Junzi came to see Grandpa Xiao today, specially wearing a silver silk Tang suit with floral patterns. Before leaving, he remembered the jade pendant he had "tricked" Lin Zhenzhen, and hung it on his belt with a red silk cord, peeking out from the hem of the Tang suit—a rather unique decoration. Academician Xiao, who had studied abroad for many years and was used to seeing people in suits and ties, also found Feng Junzi's Tang suit and cloth shoes very traditional, but he was quite disgusted by Xiao Yunyi's talk about the spiritual power of ancient jade.

Before Feng Junzi could even pick up his chopsticks, Xiao Yunyi inexplicably became interested in the jade pendant. Could this jade pendant really be some kind of antique? Or some kind of treasure? Thinking this, Feng Junzi also realized this jade pendant was unusual. No wonder it looked so familiar when he first saw it, which was why he had used a trick to get his hands on it. Feng Junzi took off the jade pendant and handed it to Xiao Yunyi: "Then please, Miss Xiao, examine it carefully and see what's so special about this jade pendant." He then turned to Academician Xiao and said, "Academician Xiao likes Tang suits, I can introduce you to a good tailor. It can be made in a few days, and you can wear it back to Beijing."

Xiao Yunyi took the jade pendant and said while playing with it, "This blood stain is the most standard jujube skin red. It is said that the jujube skin red on the jade is formed by the infiltration of human essence and blood."

Academician Xiao reached out and took the jade pendant, saying in a lecturing tone, "What nonsense about 'blood and essence seeping in' or 'red blood seeping from jujube skin' is all unfounded. Let me tell you what's going on. The soil where the jade was buried is acidic and rich in iron. Over time, minerals will be replaced. The so-called 'blood seeping' component is likely ferric oxide or ferrous sulfate. We must be scientific and not indulge in such idealistic ideas."

Xiao Yunyi didn't seem afraid of her father at all. Instead, she asked in a playful tone, "Dad, you're so knowledgeable! The way you talk about Chinese jade culture makes it sound like plain water, tasteless. You said that blood staining is formed in this way. Have you ever done any experiments? And as far as I know, human blood has the highest iron content among physiological components. The reason why blood is red is because hemoglobin contains iron, is that right?"

Academician Xiao: "Biology is not my specialty, and I don't know much about it."

Xiao Yunyi: "Oh? So even you, Dad, don't know things? Then why do you always have that stern face and lecture people? Do you know anything about antiques? Do you know anything about spiritualism?"

Feng Junzi sat to the side listening to the father and daughter bickering, finding it quite amusing, and chimed in, "How old is Xiao girl this year? Why do you speak like an old man? Do you have a strong opinion about this jade pendant?"

Xiao Yunyi: "I'm not young anymore, I'm already twenty-two by the traditional Chinese age reckoning. My grandfather has always said that I have an extraordinary eye. Actually, as soon as you came in, I felt that something was wrong, and then I found out it was this jade. I've heard that some things can attach themselves to old objects like jade, and it's hard to predict whether it will bring good or bad fortune to the owner. I think this jade seems to be attached to something spiritual."

Academician Xiao: "Yunyun, what you're saying is getting more and more absurd. Are you trying to provoke me on purpose?"

Feng Junzi didn't know whether Xiao Yunyi was deliberately teasing his father or had really figured something out, so he tried asking, "Actually, there's something strange about me. I wonder if you've noticed it, Xiao girl."

Xiao Yunyi: "Really? Maybe. You are a very strange person. Your aura is different from that of ordinary people."

Academician Xiao said helplessly, "Girl, are you praising someone or criticizing them?"

Feng Junzi smiled and said, "I think she's praising me."

As they were talking, the sound of the door opening came from outside the courtyard; Old Master Xiao had returned from his walk. Feng Junzi quickly got up to greet him at the door, as he was also eager to meet this legendary figure. Old Master Xiao's full head of white hair shone silver in the sunlight, and his complexion was rosy like that of a baby; seeing him made one involuntarily think of the idiom "white hair and youthful face."

Seeing Grandpa Xiao walk in, Xiao Yunyi stepped forward and said, "Grandpa, this is Mr. Feng who came to see you last time. He has been waiting for you for a long time."

Old Xiao stared intently at Feng Junzi, as if he had seen something very strange, and did not answer Xiao Yunyi's question. Feng Junzi thought to himself, "What's wrong with this old man? I heard he's in good spirits and doesn't have dementia. Why is he looking at people like that?" Old Xiao's gaze made Feng Junzi feel uneasy, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and introduce himself, "Old Xiao, my name is Feng Junzi. I'm a friend of Professor Song Zhaonan. Recently, I've encountered a strange thing, or rather, it's related to something peculiar. Professor Song introduced me to you for advice."

Old Xiao stared blankly at Feng Junzi, then suddenly asked, "Are you really surnamed Feng?"

Feng Junzi was baffled by the question: "Yes, my surname is Feng... no, no, my surname is not Feng."

Xiao Yunyi was also baffled: "Mr. Feng, what is your surname?"

Feng Junzi: "My surname is Xu, and Feng Junzi is not my original name."

Old Xiao still asked, puzzled, "Were all your ancestors surnamed Xu?"

Feng Junzi: "I can't speak for things that are too far back, but our ancestors for seven generations back were indeed surnamed Xu for two hundred years. I know their given names, no doubt about it. Why is Mr. Xiao asking about this?"

Old Master Xiao said, "The surname Feng is quite rare. I had a senior fellow student with the same surname when I was young, so I was just asking." As he spoke, Old Master Xiao's demeanor returned to normal, and he gestured for everyone to return to the living room and sit down again. After everyone was seated, Old Master Xiao asked Feng Junzi, "You said you brought something very special for me to see. Where is it?"

Feng Junzi: "It's a pair of ivory chopsticks. I heard many strange sounds coming from these chopsticks, which I couldn't explain, so I came to ask Elder Xiao for advice." As Feng Junzi spoke, he took out the wooden box containing the chopsticks.

Before Old Master Xiao could speak, Xiao Yunyi interjected, "Grandpa, actually there are even stranger things on him. Take a look at this jade pendant; it was taken from his waist. Dad and I even had a debate about this bloodstain. Grandpa, take a look at this bloodstain." As she spoke, Xiao Yunyi eagerly handed the jade pendant to Old Master Xiao and briefly explained the argument between father and daughter about the bloodstain.

Hearing Yunyi's words, Elder Xiao reached out and took the jade pendant, examining it closely. Seeing Elder Xiao's serious expression, Feng Junzi also sensed something was amiss and temporarily put down his chopsticks. After a few minutes, Elder Xiao spoke, "Xin Hong, what you said about blood staining might make sense from a chemical perspective, but the blood staining on this jade couldn't possibly be ferric oxide or ferrous sulfate as you described. It's said that only ancient jade, thousands of years old, develops blood staining, which is why it's so precious. However, this jade doesn't seem to be very old; it's from the Republic of China era, less than a hundred years old, probably younger than me. Buried for such a short time, it's impossible for the reaction you described to occur."

Academician Xiao nodded in agreement when he heard his father say that: "Then it is probably an impurity in the jade itself."

Old Xiao shook his head: "This is a piece of jade. It shouldn't have these jujube-skin red patterns. These patterns aren't the original color of the jade; they are definitely jade stains that formed later."

Xiao Yunyi: "That's the real blood staining."

Mr. Xiao: "That's the strange thing. It's said that jade that's only a few decades old shouldn't have blood stains, but it does have blood stains, and it doesn't look like it was done by hand. According to folk legends, there's only one explanation: the original owner of this jade must have experienced something unusual, or perhaps he was filled with resentment or had some injustice. Even though his body had decayed after death, his spirit didn't dissipate and condensed on the ornament, turning into blood stains."

Academician Xiao said, "Dad, what you're saying is too outrageous. You'd better stop talking about these unfounded things, or you'll corrupt the young people." He then glared at Xiao Yunyi.

Old Xiao sighed, "Xin Hong, you're right. This kind of legend is indeed too bizarre. You don't need to believe it. But I've experienced too many bizarre things in my life. Your equations can't solve this. Mr. Feng, could you tell me who the original owner of this jade was? How did you obtain it?"

Seeing the sincerity in Old Master Xiao's tone, Feng Junzi couldn't hide anything and recounted the whole story of how he obtained the jade. After listening, Old Master Xiao said, "It seems this item is destined for you. Wearing it shouldn't be a problem. Everything in this world has a cause and effect. Taking this jade from your friend might be a good thing for her. Let's not talk about ghosts and spirits here. You'll find out what's going on with this jade in the future. Now, let's look at these chopsticks. What's going on with these chopsticks?"

Feng Junzi then recounted to Academician Xiao how he had heard strange noises while meditating at night, and how he later discovered that the noises originated from the chopsticks. After Feng Junzi finished speaking, both Academician Xiao and Xiao Yunyi stared wide-eyed, full of questions, seemingly very curious about what Feng Junzi had said. Academician Xiao's curiosity was tinged with disbelief, while Xiao Yunyi's curiosity was tinged with interest.

After Feng Junzi finished speaking, he waited for Mr. Xiao to speak, but Mr. Xiao closed his eyes and seemed to be asleep, sitting motionless on the sofa. Everyone waited there for Mr. Xiao to open his eyes, but eventually Xiao Yunyi became impatient and reached out to nudge her grandfather. Mr. Xiao suddenly spoke: "I heard the sounds you mentioned, were they the sounds of waves, gunfire, and the crying of women and children?"

Feng Junzi: "That's right. Mr. Xiao is indeed extraordinary. He can enter a meditative state simply by sitting on the sofa and closing his eyes."

Hearing Feng Junzi say this, Xiao Yunyi asked curiously, "Does it require meditation? I'll go to the study and try it too."

Old Master Xiao opened his eyes and said, "Yunyun, don't be silly. This matter has nothing to do with you, and you probably can't hear it anyway."

Xiao Yunyi: "Relationship? Does this pair of chopsticks have anything to do with you, Grandpa?"

Mr. Xiao: "I feel like I've seen him before, but I can't remember when. He certainly looks quite old."

Feng Junzi: "Then what does this pair of chopsticks have to do with me? I just happened to run into the person who was holding them."

Old Xiao: "As I just said, everything in the world has a cause and effect, but you need to discover it yourself. This pair of chopsticks belongs to a Japanese woman, so you have to ask her why she brought this pair of chopsticks all the way to China, and what she is looking for?"

Feng Junzi recalled the night he suffered from amnesia, and it seemed he had already asked Tao Muling this question. However, he didn't want to talk about this experience, so he asked again, "What if the owner of these chopsticks doesn't know either?"

Old Xiao: "If you're looking for something, you first need to know where it is. In short, it's related to the history of Binhai. The one who tied the knot must untie it. You shouldn't ask me, but you should ask her, the Japanese woman who lives in your house."

Xiao Yunyi: "What Japanese woman? Mr. Feng didn't mention that just now. How did you know, Grandpa?"

Feng Junzi: "The Japanese woman holding these chopsticks does indeed live in my house. Mr. Xiao, can you tell me how I should ask her?"

Old Xiao: "You should help her, but it seems you're already helping her. You should find out where she wants to go, or if she's already been there."

Feng Junzi suddenly remembered that the place Tao Muling wanted to go to during their second meeting was Heilongjing, which is today's Longwangtang. He also recalled the strange story he heard a few days ago at Lin Zhenzhen's house about a family of five who suddenly died of leukemia, which also happened in Jinsha Village of Longwangtang. So he said, "The place she wanted to go was Heilongjing, and she has already been there."

Xiao Yunyi: "Where is the Black Dragon Well?"

Old Xiao: "Black Dragon Well is now Dragon King Pond. Mr. Feng, you should go there. When you make any discoveries, don't forget to come back and tell this old man. I might have something else for you."

Feng Junzi was a little confused by what Professor Xiao said. At this moment, Academician Xiao, who had been observing coldly, finally couldn't help but speak up: "Mr. Feng, perhaps you could go and ask a psychologist. I think that sometimes psychological suggestion can lead to the same hallucinations, including your and my father's hearing."

Feng Junzi found it amusing. A psychology PhD lived in his house, and it was precisely this psychologist who had caused so many problems. It seemed that Academician Xiao had been quite polite by not advising him to see a psychologist, probably out of consideration for Old Master Xiao.

When it was time to say goodbye, Old Master Xiao actually got up and very politely escorted Feng Junzi all the way to the front door. As Feng Junzi was leaving, he suddenly turned around and asked Academician Xiao, "Academician Xiao, have you ever heard of Chang Hong turning into jade?"

Academician Xiao was taken aback by the question and didn't know how to answer. Feng Junzi had already walked away. The old gentleman stared blankly at Feng Junzi's back, muttering to himself, "So alike, so very alike."

Xiao Yunyi asked from the side, "Grandpa, who does he look like?"

Old Xiao: "It's not that he looks like me, but his mannerisms and demeanor are exactly the same. He was someone from many years ago, someone you could never have met. He was four years older than me, and if he were still alive, he would be ninety years old now."

Part 4: A Pair of Chopsticks, Episode 11: Where is the Ancient Well Where the Azure Dragon is Bound?

Pingyou Port is located 30 kilometers south of Binhai. Binhai is situated on a long, narrow peninsula, bordered by the sea on its east and west sides, extending south to Pingyou Port where the sea continues. Longwangtang is located at the narrowest point of the peninsula between Binhai City and Pingyou Port, with a straight-line distance of only one kilometer between its east and west beaches. Originally a small fishing village, it has developed into a sizable town over the decades. Binhai is mountainous, and the peninsula's topography is formed by continuous mountain ranges extending into the sea. In the mountains near Longwangtang, there are two legends of unknown origin.

The first legend is about an ancient well. Near Longwangtang, on a mountain, there is a well with an iron chain inside, and a black dragon is chained to the bottom of the chain. Similar legends are not unique to coastal areas in China; there are also legends of ancient wells locking dragons in Yunnan, Shanxi, Henan, Beijing, and other places. When Feng Junzi was young, he also saw more than one ancient well with an iron chain. Why a long iron chain extends into the ground from the wellhead is something many people don't know today.

Not long ago, during the construction of Yonghegong Station on Beijing Subway Line 5, an ancient well was unearthed, sparking much discussion among Beijing residents about whether it was the legendary Beixinqiao Dragon-Locking Well. The legend of the Beixinqiao well goes like this: the well connects directly to the North Sea Eye, and an iron chain binds a dragon to the well, suppressing its feng shui. During the Japanese occupation of Beijing, Japanese soldiers attempted to pull out the iron chain from the well to investigate. However, before they could pull it all the way down a street, a roaring sound came from the bottom of the well, and black water churned within. The Japanese military police were too frightened to continue pulling.

Feng Junzi noticed this Beijing legend because its content was almost identical to the legend of the Longwangtang Ancient Well in Binhai. It is said that during the Japanese occupation in the 1930s, Japanese soldiers also went to the Longwangtang Ancient Well to investigate. While pulling the iron chain, the same thing happened: the Japanese soldiers threw several hand grenades into the well, but they didn't explode. Enraged, the Japanese soldiers covered the well opening with stone slabs and piled up earth to completely seal it off, so the ancient well can no longer be found.

The legends in Beijing and Binhai are so similar, and there are many similar ancient wells throughout the country. Feng Junzi specifically consulted his friend, Song Zhaonan, a professor at Binhai University of Finance and Economics and a renowned folklorist. According to Professor Song's analysis, most folk legends are based on historical events, but the time and place may have changed during the transmission process. In other words, it is very possible that an event occurred in history where Japanese soldiers pulled the iron chain of an ancient well, and this event later became the source of folk legends in Beijing or Binhai.

The second legend about Longwangtang is that it's an underground labyrinth. The coastal beach is a typical rocky terrain, with many large and small fissures and holes left by the sea eroding the huge rocks. It is said that there is a long, winding passage in the fissures of the mountains near Longwangtang, which can stretch for thirty miles and cross the entire peninsula to reach the beach on the other side of the peninsula.

Not long ago, fishermen discovered a long crack on a cliff near Longwangtang. A reporter also went into the crack with tools to investigate, but after walking more than 30 meters, he could not pass through because the crack was too narrow, and ultimately found nothing. This incident was even reported in several local newspapers in Binhai. Feng Junzi didn't pay attention to it at the time, but now he remembers it.

The two legends above were told to Tao Muling by Feng Junzi. Tao Muling listened intently with wide eyes the entire time Feng Junzi was telling the stories. Only after Feng Junzi finished and took a sip of water did Tao Muling ask, "Feng Junzi, is it possible that the legend you're telling is true? I'm referring to that ancient well."

Feng Junzi: "I have a friend who specializes in folklore. He said that this legend may be a real historical event, and that this real event happened in Longwangtang, a coastal town. The reason is simple: during the Japanese occupation, the place name Longwangtang was changed to Heilongjing (Black Dragon Well), and Heilongjing is the ancient well in the legend that locked up the black dragon."

Taomu Ling: "Why are the legendary ancient wells always associated with Japanese soldiers? It's like this in Binhai, and it's like this in Beijing. Don't you Chinese people ever wonder if anyone has ever tried to pull those iron chains?"

Feng Junzi: "That's not the case either. There is also an ancient well in Henan with the same legend, but the people pulling the iron chain were not Japanese soldiers but Red Guards. The incident happened in the 1960s. At that time, the Red Guards destroyed a Dayu Temple in the area and wanted to pull out the iron chain from an ancient well in the temple. As a result, the same thing happened as in the two legends above."

Tao Muling: "Red Guards? Destroying the Four Olds? What kind of army is this? Have you Chinese people done the same things as the Japanese soldiers on your own land?"

Feng Junzi was speechless for a moment, knowing that he couldn't explain it in a few words, so he didn't bother to explain: "Let's not think about other things. The key question is, is the Black Dragon Well related to your purpose in coming to Dragon King Pond?"

Peach Bell: "I went to Longwangtang just to find some old people and see if anyone had ever seen these chopsticks. I have never heard of the legend you just told me."

Feng Junzi: "So what exactly do you want to know?"

Peach Bell: "Didn't I tell you everything on the first night I arrived at your house?"

Feng Junzi: "Unfortunately, I've forgotten everything that happened that night. Really, I don't remember anything at all what happened that night." Feng Junzi finally couldn't help but tell the truth.

Tao Muling didn't seem surprised at all by Feng Junzi's words. Instead, she calmly replied, "Feng Junzi-kun, I'm really sorry, but you promised you wouldn't ask again. I don't think you're the kind of person who goes back on your word, are you?"

Feng Junzi was both amused and exasperated. He couldn't remember what he had promised Tao Muling; he just went along with whatever Tao Muling told him to do. At this moment, Tao Muling continued, "What did you gain from taking these chopsticks to see that old gentleman?"

Feng Junzi: "Old Mr. Xiao didn't say anything at all. He told me to go to Longwangtang and take a look myself, and said that I should have asked you."

Peach Bell: "This old gentleman is a good person, and he also asked you to help me."

Feng Junzi was utterly helpless against this strange woman who seemed to know everything he was thinking. He had just realized why Old Master Xiao wanted him to help Tao Muling, and Tao Muling had already revealed it. He wondered how he could help her. Should he really go to Longwangtang to look for something? The ancient well? The well was probably gone. Right, hadn't a strange case of a family of five just occurred in Longwangtang? Just as Feng Junzi thought this, he heard Tao Muling's voice in his ear: "Would you like to come with me to Longwangtang? Perhaps we can find some clues from other things."

Feng Junzi: "I'm not going with you. You'd better stay at my house and don't go out. Don't forget you're hiding from your pursuers. I'll find someone to go with me."

Tao Muling nodded obediently. Feng Junzi also noticed one of Tao Muling's strengths: although she often seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, she was very conscious of not going against others' wishes. If it had been a girl like Lin Zhenzhen who had just gone through that incident, she would definitely have insisted on going along.

While Feng Junzi was still lost in thought, Tao Muling said something strange again: "Don't mind that you forgot something that night. I have a feeling that you've forgotten a lot of things, and there are many buried memories that need to be slowly retrieved."

Part 4: A Pair of Chopsticks, Episode 12: Right and Wrong Are Hard to Judge, Who Is Wrong?

"Chang Wu, find an opportunity to accompany me to Longwangtang. You have a car anyway."

“Our company vehicles are for official business, how can they be allowed to run around with you?”

"Then you can go to Longwangtang on official business. Isn't it a big deal that five people died inexplicably?"

"No one reported it to the police, the hospital has already diagnosed him with leukemia, and he's already been cremated. Do you want me to go and yell at the leaders?"