Choses dans l'étang

Chapitre 58

"These are sung for the dead. For example, if a friend dies, you go to mourn him. You have something you want to say to him, and as you talk, you sing it out. Actually, the dead can't hear it; it's just the mourner's inner monologue. These elegiac songs sung for the dead are actually sung for the singer himself. This custom exists in many places, and these elegiac songs are mostly strangely sung with unclear pronunciation, making it difficult for others to understand what is being sung. As for those sung for the living, that's even more interesting. Ostensibly, it's a commemoration of the dead, but the words spoken are for relatives and friends. They either express how close you are to the deceased or praise the deceased's achievements in life. The content of these elegiac songs is similar to the inscription on the tombstone."

When did the custom of singing dirges begin?

"I'm not entirely sure either, but according to my research, dirges are the oldest songs. Primitive priests or shamans sang dirges when performing rituals. It is said that they were the sounds that could guide the spirits of the dead."

“The elegy is the oldest song? I remember Lu Xun saying that the oldest song is the work song. Songs come from labor.”

Professor Song smiled: "What Lu Xun said is not necessarily correct. Besides elegies, the oldest songs also include love songs. Love songs are the source of literature. And elegies eventually developed into an independent sacred branch, which is the ritual music used by emperors in sacrifices. You should have read the Book of Songs. The Book of Songs is mainly composed of love songs and sacrificial texts."

Feng Junzi: "I've read the story of 'singing while banging on a basin.' When Zhuang Da's wife died, someone went to Zhuangzi's house to offer condolences, only to find that Zhuangzi was singing while banging on a basin. Would you call that an elegy?"

Professor Song: "When Zhuangzi sang while drumming on a basin, it was Zhuang's sister-in-law who had died. If Zhuangzi himself had died, I wonder if he could still sing so happily!"

Feng Junzi: "Old Song, there's something wrong with what you're saying. If Zhuangzi is already dead, how could he still sing?"

Professor Song: "Who says the dead can't sing? You're not dead, how do you know? Does that mean only the living can sing for the dead, and the spirits of the dead aren't allowed to sing themselves? There's a legend that if someone dies alone and destitute, with no one to mourn them, their spirit will sing a dirge for themselves. Of course, that's a ghost story, there's no need to believe it! It's just a legend, and the storyteller is probably just reminding the deceased's relatives not to forget to pay their respects."

Although Professor Song said that the dirge sung by the deceased was merely a legend, it sent chills down Feng Junzi's spine. Because he had actually heard such a legendary dirge the night before.

...

Jadeite originates from Southeast Asia, and jadeite jewelry sold on the market is generally classified into three grades: A, B, and C. Grade A jadeite refers to raw jadeite that has not undergone any artificial treatment. Grade B jadeite refers to jadeite that has undergone processes such as acid washing to remove impurities and discoloration, followed by injection molding and filling. Grade C jadeite refers to jadeite with poor original color and quality that has been chemically and otherwise colored. Of course, many artificially treated jadeites undergo impurity removal, filling, and coloring processes simultaneously; these are classified as B+C grade.

In jadeite jewelry, Grade A is naturally the best. However, Grade A doesn't necessarily mean valuable. A piece of raw jadeite with very ordinary color, texture, and luster, if not artificially treated, will still be Grade A, but it won't be worth much. The jadeite ring that Feng Junzi wore yesterday is such an example.

After making the call to Professor Song, Feng Junzi realized his jade ring was missing. He'd left in a hurry last night, leaving it on the wrist of a young lady named Yangyang, and had forgotten to take it back. If it were anything else, he wouldn't have cared, but he was determined to find this one. Because the ring's origin was very special. Perhaps "special origin" wouldn't be the right word; rather, the ring itself had a very peculiar use.

Don't get me wrong, this ring wasn't given by a deity, nor was it obtained from a temple, nor was it found at an antique stall. Feng Junzi bought it at a department store counter. It was during the Spring Festival when Feng Junzi returned to his hometown for the New Year. While shopping, he ran into his old classmate Shi Ye, whom he hadn't seen in years. Shi Ye insisted on dragging Feng Junzi shopping, not understanding what two grown men could possibly want to do, but Feng Junzi was pulled along anyway. At the jade counter in the Wucheng Department Store, Shi Ye picked out the cheapest jade ring and insisted that Feng Junzi try it on.

Jade is all about fate. Feng Junzi slipped the ring onto his left ring finger, and it fit perfectly, not too big, not too small. Seeing that it wasn't expensive, he bought it. The ring was priced at 40 yuan, but with a 66% discount, it came to 26.4 yuan. Despite its low price, Shi Ye, who had always been a bit eccentric, mysteriously told Feng Junzi, "You've struck gold! This ring is a magical artifact used by cultivators. The outer ring can ward off evil spirits, and the inner ring can lock in spiritual energy. Wearing it will keep evil spirits away and also prevent your vital energy from leaking out."

Feng Junzi hadn't paid much attention to Shi Ye's words at the time, thinking that there was no such thing as a free lunch—a treasure bought for just over twenty yuan, and one that others had left over from the display case. However, later, he met a girl named Xiao Yunyi, a quirky and clever girl who discovered the ring in his house. She told him that the ring was strange, and that evil spirits shouldn't get close to it. Feng Junzi then remembered that Shi Ye had said the same thing. So, he often wore it on his wrist when he went out. Naturally, he couldn't easily lose such an item, so that night Feng Junzi had to go to the Hanhao Bath Center again to ask Yangyang for the ring back.

...

The working hours of the women at the bathhouse are different from those of ordinary people. For example, Liu Xin usually finishes get off work before 2 AM, grabs a quick bite outside, and then takes a taxi that's "on duty" in front of the Hanhao Hotel to go home. There are several small restaurants near Hanhao that operate late at night, almost exclusively catering to women like Liu Xin and taxi drivers. Night shift taxis waiting for passengers in front of Hanhao have to register and pay a fee. It's 400 yuan a month, and drivers who don't pay aren't allowed to park there. So Liu Xin has become familiar with several taxi drivers, making it more convenient and safer for her to get home.

Liu Xin usually gets up at 11 a.m., then cooks lunch for herself, sometimes eating alone, sometimes with Zhao Xue. In the afternoon, she either does laundry, cleans her room, or goes shopping. She eats dinner earlier than most, around 4 p.m. After dinner, she takes bus number 4 to Hanhao to work. Once there, she takes a shower, changes clothes, chats with the other girls in the break room, and then it's time to see a customer. Most of the other girls there follow a similar daily routine.

The guests arrived early that day. Liu Xin had just picked up her locker room key at the front desk when she ran into Sister Chen. Sister Chen greeted Liu Xin, "Number 29, why are you so late? A guest specifically asked for Number 18, but Number 18 didn't come to work. He then specifically asked for you, but you didn't come either. Where is Number 18? Why didn't she come to work with you?"

Liu Xin: "Yangyang is sick today. She's not feeling well and is lying there not wanting to move. She keeps talking in her sleep. Can I ask for a day off for her?"

Sister Chen: "Talking in her sleep in broad daylight? Could she be delirious from a fever? If you have time tomorrow, you should take her to the hospital. If you can't manage alone, call me. Hurry up and change your clothes; the guests are waiting."

Liu Xin: "Who is it? Why did you come without eating dinner? You're a lecherous bastard!"

Sister Chen: "You'll see if you take a look. It seems to be the guest who came yesterday, and you and number 18 were with him."

Liu Xin instinctively thought of Brother Chang, and felt a strange sense of joy and excitement. However, she was disappointed when she saw the person; it wasn't Brother Chang, but Brother Feng, who came alone.

Feng Junzi didn't wait for Liu Xin in the lounge; instead, he sat smoking in the private room where he had spent the night. When Feng Junzi entered the room today, he felt something was off. The room was arranged exactly as it had yesterday, nothing had changed, but a certain feeling was gone—the earthbound spirit, or rather, the spirit of the underworld, on the large bed was nowhere to be seen! Such a thing couldn't have left on its own; someone must have taken it away somehow. As Feng Junzi pondered this, Liu Xin entered. Seeing him when she opened the door, Liu Xin felt a pang of disappointment, but still greeted him with a smile: "Hello, Brother Feng, it's a pleasure serving you on the 29th."

A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Liu Xin's eyes, but Feng Junzi noticed it. He smiled and said, "Xingyu, are you a little disappointed to see it's me? It's not Brother Chang. But don't be disappointed, I wasn't looking for you. I was looking for Yangyang, number 18. When is she coming?"

Feng told Liu Xin not to be disappointed, but Liu Xin was even more disappointed, and not only disappointed, but also a little angry. It was bad enough that the person who came wasn't Chang, but this Feng actually bluntly said that the girl he was looking for wasn't her. It was so embarrassing. Although she was angry, she couldn't show it to the customer, so she still smiled and replied, "Number 18 is sick today and can't come to work tonight. If you need any services, just come to me... If you're not satisfied, you can change to another girl."

Feng Junzi: "You said Yangyang is sick? What kind of illness?"

Liu Xin: "I'm just not feeling well, probably caught a cold. I'm lying here and don't want to get out of bed—Brother Feng, what kind of service do you need?"

Feng Junzi: "Service? Forget it! ... Don't pout, give me the form and I'll sign it. Can I borrow an hour of your time? Come with me to find Yangyang... I asked, you live together."

Liu Xin felt another surge of displeasure upon hearing this, inwardly cursing the gossip. She hesitated before replying, "I'm at work right now. I can't go out with you; the bathhouse doesn't allow it… What do you need Yangyang for?"

Feng Junzi: "I left something with her yesterday, and I want to get it back."

Liu Xin clearly misunderstood Feng Ge's words and said with a slight agitation, "Feng Ge, are you sure you remember? The girls here are all very well-behaved and never take guests' things without permission... Yangyang would never do that, are you mistaken?"

Feng Junzi: "29th, I think you've misunderstood. I didn't say she took my things. I left in a hurry last night and left something with her but forgot to ask for it back."

"Brother Feng, regretting what you gave away? Want it back?" Liu Xin was increasingly misunderstanding Feng Junzi's words. Regular customers often gave their favorite girls small gifts, including lipsticks and perfumes. Some of the girls were quite shrewd; after becoming familiar with the customers, they would often go out and entertain them, ostensibly to "make friends," and would receive valuable gifts like jewelry and cell phones in return. She'd never heard of a customer ever asking a girl back for something they'd given her. As Liu Xin spoke, she felt a little contempt for Brother Feng.

Judging a person's character by their appearance is one of Feng Junzi's strengths. Feng Junzi saw through Liu Xin's thoughts and was somewhat amused and exasperated. He explained, "That's not what I meant. That thing is more important to me than to her. Can't I just buy it?"

Liu Xin: "Bought it? What exactly is it?"

Feng Junzi was about to say it was a jade ring when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He remembered that number 29 had said Yangyang was sick and wouldn't get out of bed! And when he came to this private room today, the ghostly spirit in the room was gone. Could it have been taken away by Yangyang? If so, the problem might really be with the ring! It was best not to tell this young lady; one person was already having problems, and he didn't want another one. So he replied, "Little one, I can't say for sure. I'll be fine as long as I see Yangyang."

Seeing that Feng Ge kept insisting on going to see Yangyang, Liu Xin felt a little uneasy. She remembered the "safety education" Sister Chen had given them at the weekly "work meeting": recently, there had been cases of burglaries, with criminals specifically targeting prostitutes in entertainment venues. Their method was to become familiar with the women and then find various excuses to come to their homes, often combining rape, murder, and robbery in one fell swoop. Sister Chen had warned them to be extremely careful of strangers and to always take the designated taxi from their doorsteps when returning home late at night. Thinking of this, Liu Xin's voice faltered: "If you want to find Yangyang, you can wait until she recovers and come here to see her. It's not convenient for her to come to your house."

Judging from her tone and expression, Feng Junzi could roughly guess what she was thinking, and couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. He straightened his face and said in a serious tone, "If I don't go to see her, her illness probably won't get better. She's not sick, she's possessed."

Liu Xin was shocked: "Brother Feng, what did you say? She's possessed? How is that possible!"

Ignoring her surprise, Feng Junzi continued, "Has she been in a daze and confused since last night? Since you live with her, do you remember what she looked like when she came home yesterday?"

When Feng Junzi brought it up, Liu Xin remembered it too. She and Zhao Xue took a taxi home at dawn. She was very sleepy, while Zhao Xue was still groggy, seemingly not fully awake, and didn't even look where she was going. Liu Xin had to pull her upstairs and into the house. From the moment Zhao Xue lay down on the bed, she started talking incoherently. Liu Xin couldn't understand what she was saying and at first thought she was talking in her sleep. As Liu Xin was recalling the incident, she heard Feng Ge ask again, "Did Yangyang say anything incoherent or in his sleep?"

Liu Xin answered instinctively, "Yes, she kept muttering to herself... How did you know?"

Feng Junzi didn't answer, but continued, "She doesn't have a fever, right? So she's not delirious from a high fever. She doesn't seem to be asleep either, so it's not sleep talking. Then what do you think she's doing?"

Liu Xin looked up, her eyes wide: "Brother Feng, how did you know? She stayed with you until midnight yesterday and ended up like this—what exactly did you do to her?"

Feng Junzi: "I didn't do anything, including paying for things I was supposed to do but not doing them... I'm just guessing. Most possessed people are like this. Don't tell me you didn't know this bathhouse was unclean. Do you ladies hear ghostly wailing sounds at night?"

Feng Junzi's words hit the nail on the head, and Liu Xin hurriedly replied, "That's true, but it's never happened..."

Feng Junzi interrupted her, saying, "How do you know nothing has ever happened before? Even if nothing has happened before, something could happen in the future. Yangyang was possessed because she took something from me. If this thing isn't returned, your family won't be able to stay clean."

Liu Xin was frightened. She asked Feng Junzi, "Brother Feng, how can you be so sure?"

Knowing he had said enough, Feng Junzi asked in a deep voice, "Number 29, I have a question for you. From this morning until now, have you called Yangyang's name? How many times? Did she respond?"

Part 5, Goddess's Heart, Chapter 10: Three Cries

Liu Xin asked Sister Chen for leave, saying that Zhao Xue, who was sick at home, had an urgent matter and needed her help, and Sister Chen granted her leave. After leaving the Hanhao Building, Feng Junzi was already waiting outside. Feng Junzi reached for a taxi, but Liu Xin stopped her, choosing a taxi that was queuing at the Hanhao entrance instead. Liu Xin knew the driver, Mr. Zhang, well, and felt safe taking his car. When they arrived downstairs, Liu Xin specifically asked Mr. Zhang to wait outside. Feng Junzi knew Liu Xin's cunning; this girl was very worried about him. Feng Junzi didn't know why, but this Miss Number 29 seemed to have a very bad impression of him.

Yangyang was still lying in bed, looking dazed and confused, still wearing Feng Junzi's jade ring on her left thumb. Feng Junzi reached out and took off the ring, examined it carefully, and found nothing changed. He then looked at Yangyang lying in bed, still in that half-asleep, half-awake state.

Standing to the side, Liu Xin kept a close eye on Feng Junzi's actions. When she saw Feng Junzi take a jade ring off Yangyang's hand, a ring she had never seen before, she couldn't help but ask, "Brother Feng, is this what you're looking for? Is it really yours?"

Feng Junzi laughed and cried, "Do I look like someone who would cheat a young lady out of her things? Whether it's mine or not, you can wake Yangyang up and ask her, and you'll know."

Liu Xin pushed Yangyang's shoulder and called her name many times, but Yangyang only mumbled a few incomprehensible words as if in a dream, refusing to open her eyes. Liu Xin turned to Feng Junzi and asked, "Brother Feng, didn't you say that Yangyang would be fine after you took the things away? Why is she still like this?"

Feng Junzi frowned, unsure how to explain. He simply put the ring back on Yangyang's hand. Then, he carefully reached out and lifted Yangyang's left eyelid. Above the white of Yangyang's left eye, three blood vessels, like blue veins, shot straight upwards! Feng Junzi gasped, taking two steps back. He whispered, "She's truly possessed. Tell me quickly, what's her name?"

"Don't you know? Her name is Yangyang!"

"I asked for her real name. I also know your name is Xingyu. Is that your original name?"

"Brother Feng, why are you asking her name?" Liu Xin was wary, unsure of Feng Junzi's intentions.

Feng Junzi glanced at her and asked in a low voice, "I wonder if you had a custom where you used to live? When a child has a fever and is delirious, the elders in the family would go to the door and call his name?"

Feng Junzi asked the right person. Liu Xin had indeed heard of this custom when she was a child. She answered somewhat uneasily, "Her name is Zhao Xue, Zhao as in Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li, and Xue as in snow. I called her name, but she didn't respond."

Feng Junzi nodded and said, "If you don't know how to shout, step back. Cover your ears, close the door, and I'll try."

Liu Xin stepped back to the doorway but didn't close it. Feng Junzi stood in the center of the room, facing Zhao Xue, closed his eyes, and began to deeply regulate his breathing, trying to enter a meditative state. Seeing that Feng Ge had been standing there motionless for a long time, Liu Xin couldn't help but want to go over and check on him. Just then, Feng Junzi suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, "Zhao Xue!"

The voice seemed to emanate from her dantian, loud and deep, like a thunderclap. The sharp shout made Liu Xin's ears ring; she was startled, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground. On the bed, Zhao Xue, in her sleep, frowned and groaned a few times, her face showing pain.

Liu Xin, rubbing her chest, was still in shock. Feng Junzi shouted a second time, "Zhao Xue!" This time the sound was shorter than the first, but even more deafening, like someone had set off a firecracker right next to Liu Xin's ear. Liu Xin quickly covered her ears.

Liu Xin covered her ears, only to see Feng Junzi take another deep breath, his face flushed. He let out a third, sharp shout: "Zhao Xue!" The shout seemed to shake the very space of the room, even the glass in the windows resonated with an echo! Just then, Zhao Xue on the bed lazily opened her eyes and asked softly, "Who's calling me?"

The instant Zhao Xue opened her eyes and spoke, Feng Junzi stepped forward, removed the ring from Zhao Xue's hand, and held it tightly in his left palm. Only then did Liu Xin release her hands from her ears, panting, and say, "Zhao Xue, you're finally awake. What happened just now?"

"I just fell asleep, I've never slept so soundly! ... Huh? How did I get home? ... Brother Feng, what are you doing here? Did you take me home?"

Feng Junzi shook his head: "I didn't bring you back. I heard you were sick, so I came to see you."

Zhao Xue wasn't fully awake yet. She sat up in bed, looked at Liu Xin, and asked, "Liu Xin, am I sick?"

Liu Xin nodded: "Zhao Xue, you were in a daze this morning and couldn't wake up after you got home. Feng Ge woke you up just now."

Zhao Xue looked at Feng Junzi again, probably still not quite understanding what was going on, and subconsciously said, "Thank you, Brother Feng, for still thinking of coming to see me."

Liu Xin thought to herself, "Why thank him? He's not doing this out of kindness; he just wants his things back! I was the one who took you home yesterday, why didn't you thank me first?" Just then, Feng Junzi said, "Zhao Xue, it's good that you're alright. Get some rest, I won't bother you anymore." He turned and left the room, and then the sound of the door closing could be heard. Feng Junzi left in such a hurry.

...

"Zhao Xue, Feng took one of your jade rings earlier, I forgot to tell you."

"Oh! That ring was originally his. It's a really good thing. I can't sleep so soundly without it! ... Liu Xin, do you know? Wearing that ring, I can't hear those noises from the bathhouse at night. This Brother Feng is really a genius!"

"Expert my foot! You wouldn't have been possessed if it weren't for that ring... Wait, Brother Feng told me he bought it, so why did he leave without paying? No wonder he ran off so fast..."

...

If Feng Junzi heard Liu Xin's words, he would definitely be furious and want to curse. If he had ignored Zhao Xue, he could have retrieved a clean ring, but in order to help that girl named Zhao Xue, he had to take away a wandering spirit. Feng Junzi left in a hurry, without even asking about Zhao Xue's situation in detail, because he had something on his mind.

The moment Zhao Xue opened her eyes and spoke, Feng Junzi took the ring back. He immediately sensed something was wrong! A jade ring usually only weighs two or three grams, but it felt significantly heavier—about one or two ounces. Two ounces isn't much weight normally, and you wouldn't notice it, but for a ring like this, it was different—even platinum wasn't this heavy, let alone something so sudden! Feng Junzi knew then that something was locked inside the ring. His classmate Shi Ye had said that the outer ring of this ring could ward off evil spirits, and the inner ring could lock away spirits; it seemed this time it truly had locked away a ghost!

Part 5: The Goddess's Heart 11, The Tale of the Black Basin

"In folk legends, Judge Bao can judge both the living and the dead. There used to be a famous traditional opera called 'The Story of the Black Basin,' which tells the story of a merchant who was murdered for his money. To destroy the evidence, the criminal used flesh and blood to make a ceramic black basin. Later, someone bought it and had a black basin made. After returning home, he heard the black basin talking and telling him his grievances. Later, this person took the black basin to Kaifeng Prefecture, where Judge Bao judged the case based on the black basin. ...What, Feng Junzi, are you going to have Chang Wu learn from Judge Bao?"

This is at Chang Wu's home. Feng Junzi, Professor Song, and Chang Wu are sitting together discussing the story of Bao Gong judging the ghosts. The person who just spoke was Professor Song.

After listening to Professor Song's words, Chang Wu asked curiously, "I've heard of plays about Bao Gong, such as 'The Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat' and 'The Case of Chen Shimei,' but I've never heard of 'The Story of the Black Basin.'"

Feng Junzi illustrated: "It's normal that you haven't heard of it. You must know 'Hai Rui Dismissed from Office,' right? It's a notorious poisonous weed. 'The Story of the Black Basin' and 'The Thunder Retribution' are traditional plays, but no one has performed them since the Cultural Revolution. I only know these two names, and I heard that they were also poisonous weeds that were criticized by the Great Leader."

Chang Wu: "How did this become a highly poisonous weed?"

Professor Song laughed: "The reasons are quite complicated, you could say they are too complicated. But the surface explanation is that these traditional plays promote karma and retribution, which are remnants of feudal superstition."

Chang Wu glanced at Feng Junzi and laughed: "Feng Junzi, if 'The Tale of the Black Basin' is poisonous, then what about your ghost stories? Aren't they even more poisonous!"

Feng Junzi glared at Chang Wu: "Forget about whether it's poisonous or not. I've invited you here today to put on a show called 'The Story of the Black Basin.' Professor Song will play Gongsun Ce, and Chang Wu will play Bao Gong."

"Then what role will you play?"

“I’ll play the black basin!” Feng Junzi replied irritably.

Here's what happened: After Feng Junzi retrieved the ring, he realized there was something extra inside. This thing made him very uneasy. He actually had a way to send it away, to send the ghost to its next life. However, Feng Junzi didn't want to do that, because it would mean taking the ghost's secrets with it. Feng Junzi knew that something terrible might have happened at the Hanhao Bathhouse, and this might pose a threat to Chang Wu, who was undercover investigating. Therefore, he decided to find out what happened to the ghost.

Feng Junzi's decision was extremely bold; he wanted to wear the ring himself and allow a ghost to possess him and speak. He summoned Professor Song and Chang Wu, explaining the ring's origins and his plan. Chang Wu was worried about Feng Junzi's safety, while Professor Song was concerned about his success. After all, ghost possession was merely a legend. No one had ever witnessed it firsthand. If it were truly possible, people would likely avoid it like the plague; who would willingly summon a ghost to possess them?

Feng Junzi said to the two of them, “It might be difficult for others, and even if they succeed, it's not very safe, but I'm confident. I've practiced the meditation technique of retreating and concealing the mind, although it's not very useful. But it has one advantage—it allows one's mind to retreat into a very deep state of concentration, while outwardly appearing to be in an unconscious state. If this ring really locks up a vengeful spirit, as long as I wear this ring, this vengeful spirit will occupy my surface consciousness. Chang Wu, what you need to do is make 'it' speak. ... Be careful not to take this ring off. If I don't wake up then, Chang Wu, you call my name loudly until I respond... But I'm afraid that won't happen.”

Professor Song: "Then what should I do?"

Feng Junzi: "You are responsible for recording the conversation between 'me' and Chang Wu. Don't miss a single word, because once I enter a meditative state, I can't remember the conversations 'outside'."