Chapter Twelve: Borrowing a Corpse to Resurrection Part 1
"July, Zhongyuan. It is said that this day is the day when the gates of hell are opened. The evil ghosts in hell will come to the world after the sun goes down to enjoy the incense. Women and children should stay in their rooms before dark and never come out. Men Do not disturb the burning paper money on the roadside, so as not to offend the undead and bring unnecessary bad luck."
On the streets of Dongcang County, there is a blind old man who makes a living by telling fortunes. His surname is Zhang. Outsiders call him Blind Zhang. Before the sun goes down, there are a few regular customers who set up a fortune-telling stall and listen to his stories. Blind Zhang Laocheng is serious. He said that today is the traditional Ghost Festival. He originally made a living by fortune telling and Feng Shui divination. Everyone listened to his few words and fiddles, and immediately felt that the originally quiet Dongcang Street was suddenly filled with dark winds. It only took a few strokes. After a while, they dispersed and went home.
Looking at the sunset as red as blood, the blind man Zhang shook his head and said to himself: "If you never do anything bad in your life, there is no need for ghosts to knock on the door in the middle of the night. I haven't told you that the daughter of the Cai family will be resurrected tonight. .You guys who have evil thoughts are running so fast one by one. Looking at the end of the street, you can no longer see the passers-by. The blind man Zhang secretly sighed that he might have lost the money for drinks and food today. I started to pack up the cloth that said "The Immortal Guides the Way" hanging on the fortune-telling stall and prepared to go home.
The autumn wind blew through Dongcang Street, blowing up a lot of smoke and dust. The setting sun was like blood. I am afraid that in less than a quarter of an hour, night will come. On this Dongcang County street, it is as sad as a dead rabbit or a dilapidated ancient temple that has been hundreds of years old. A group of people dressed simply and walking very hastily came toward the blind man's Gua stall.
"Clang."
It was the sound of money falling on the wooden table. The blind man Zhang put away his cover and said, "My guest is a divination or fortune teller."
"Today is the Ghost Festival. There are many strange things happening in the house. I also asked the old man to go to the house and do some rituals to ward off evil spirits and protect the house. This is the deposit. After that, I will thank the old man again."
Blind Zhang weighed the bulging money bag in his hand. "If someone came to ask me, Blind Zhang, to exorcise evil spirits, I wouldn't dare to postpone it. However, the yin energy in Chai Daguan's house has been too strong recently. It's not me, Blind Zhang, who can't do it." But if you don’t have the right way to go, you’d better hire someone else.”
He returned a full twenty taels of silver to Chai Jinyan. The blind man Zhang had already left carrying a fortune-telling box.
"Old sir, wait a minute. If the gift money is not enough, I can add more." Although Chai Jinyan does not believe that Meng Xinghe can really resurrect his body, today is the Ghost Festival and it is the night of the full moon. He is a person who believes in the fate of ghosts and gods. I heard that There was an old blind man on the street in Dongcang County who was a very good fortune teller. So he took advantage of the darkness and brought a group of servants to come to pray to the god.
The blind man Zhang turned around and smiled. His empty eyes were like evil spirits emerging from hell. Chai Jinyan and others were shocked.
"My lord, please come back. Although I am blind, my heart is not yet blind. To untie the bell, you must tie the bell. Before it gets dark, prepare three sacrifices and a wine ceremony to entertain the ghosts from the underworld. Otherwise, the house will be dead tonight." There will be a bloody disaster. Remember, remember.”
After giving two serious warnings in succession, the blind man Zhang was already walking forward step by step with a bamboo stick in his hand.
"Wow. Wow."
The setting sun on the horizon buried half of my face. The crows of crows could be heard in the wilderness. The slightly desolate Dongcang Street was empty. Even several restaurants that used to be bustling had closed early and stopped doing business. Because they We all know that today is the Hungry Ghost Festival, so there won’t be many people on their way to stay overnight.
Facing Blind Zhang's rejection, Chai Jinyan's face twitched a few times. Then he took a group of servants and followed Blind Zhang's reminder and immediately prepared the three-sacrifice wine ceremony. As long as he could survive the night safely, he would be in good luck.
On the other hand, Meng Xinghe, who originally only planned to stay in Dongcang County for one night, now had to stay longer because of the case of the old man of the Cai family.
Since I have to go to Chai Mansion to investigate the case tonight, the county magistrate Mr. Bai had already prepared a sumptuous dinner. But no one at the table was in the mood to eat. It was not that they had no appetite. It was because they felt that reviving a dead body was not a good idea. How could the Meng Xinghe in front of me do what I have heard in strange novels? Moreover, at noon, the Yamen sent to Chai Mansion had already sent word that the woman from the Cai family who had fallen into the well and died had been fished out. Although The body was not damaged. But it would be more difficult to bring such a dead person back to life than it was before when the Miss Lu family joked and asked Meng Xinghe to get her stars in the sky.
A group of people finally had a peaceful dinner in silence. Luo Feng and Xue Rengui had already assisted Mr. Ji in preparing for tonight's case handling. They dispatched manpower and arranged the case scene. They also had to ensure that everyone in the Chai family was safe. Can't be absent. These trivial hours can be regarded as training for the two of them.
After dinner, it was still early. Mr. Chai and Wang Guinian asked Meng Xinghe if he wanted to go out for a walk. If the truth about tonight's case could be revealed, then Meng Xinghe's reputation would undoubtedly spread throughout Dongdu because he represented the Cai family. The woman's trial has become a hot topic. Even people from several nearby states and counties came to Dongcang County to watch the excitement. They were both afraid and looking forward to Meng Xinghe's uncanny ability to try the case beautifully.
Meng Xinghe had long ago ordered that the trial time be set at Haishi. The location is the Chai family compound. That is the scene of the unjust case. The soul of the Cai family woman will return there tonight to complete the so-called repayment of injustice and revenge. These Meng Xinghe's words were as mysterious as possible. The purpose was to make the Chai family afraid. Because he knew that only those who are afraid will quickly break through their inner defenses.
Master Bai and his daughter Bai Ningshuang stood in the distance and looked at the three people fighting side by side in the yard. Except for the young man named Chai Shao who was not an official of the imperial court, the other two were officials of the imperial court. Their official titles were higher than Bai's. He was several levels older. Naturally, he did not dare to disturb the two adults' contemplation. He just stood in the distance and talked quietly with his daughter. No doubt it was about tonight's case.
Bai Ningshuang knows the pain in her father's heart. Cases involving Feng Qilou and the Cai family women have emerged in Dongcang County one after another. Her father, who is the county magistrate, is afraid that it will be impossible to get rid of the relationship. But now Master Meng has no time to visit. Master Bai It's just temporary stability. I'm afraid that after this incident, Mr. Bai's position as county magistrate will be over.
It is said that the daughter's family is thoughtful. Miss Bai, who has been smart since she was a child, can always share Lord Bai's suffering. She smiled awkwardly at Lord Bai, and then walked behind Meng Xinghe and others with careless steps. "Master Meng."
Miss Bai said softly, quite shyly.
Meng Xinghe turned around and said, "Miss Bai, is something wrong?" Mr. Chai and Wang Guinian turned their heads at the same time. Miss Bai was wearing a white dress tonight, with her black hair tied up behind her head. She didn't wear any makeup. She has no eyebrows and no face. She is a good-looking woman.
Facing the gazes of the three men, Miss Bai's face turned red and she said: "Master Suwen is very interested in poetry and calligraphy. I wonder if I can give the little girl some pen and ink today. Or hang it in the room every day. I'll read it morning and night. Just one glance can make Ningshuang remember you, Sir."
Why are you playing with writing poems and inscriptions again? Meng Xinghe scratched his head: "Okay. Miss Bai, prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone."
Miss Bai was also very agile. She quickly brought the Four Treasures of the Study.
Meng Xinghe placed these things on a stone bench in the courtyard. Miss Bai immediately diligently polished the ink for Meng Xinghe.
What should I write? A love poem, an obscene poem, or a famous aphorism.
No, no. If you write love poems, you will be scolded by your wife. If you write obscene poems, you will be beaten by others. After thinking about it, Meng Xinghe still felt that it was okay to plagiarize two famous aphorisms. Today happens to be the Ghost Festival. There is no need to worry about finding the subject matter. Meng Xinghe wrote a paragraph on the fine rice paper with a stroke of his pen.
"If you are an official and don't make decisions for the people, it's better to go home and buy tofu."
It's common practice. It's also the truth.
After Meng Xinghe finished writing, Miss Bai held the calligraphy he left behind and looked at it for a long time. She then felt that the lingering poems and sentences she had heard before were not as shocking as these two sentences.
Miss Bai thanked her and took the things Meng Xinghe gave her and left. Next to him, Mr. Chai suddenly pushed Meng Xinghe, who was in a daze. His eyes were ambiguous and he said, "Not bad. We hooked up so quickly. You are worthy of being Mr. Hualiu of Taoyuan. Third brother, I bet that the door of Miss Bai’s room must be reserved for you tonight. Take out your heart that would rather find a cabbage than a piece of weed. Tonight Just take this chick down."
Meng Xinghe directly rewarded the heartless Mr. Chai with one word: "Get lost."
Chai Shao and Wang Guinian smiled at the same time. Anyone who understands would know that look.
After the last beautiful touch of dusk, night fell quietly. The sky was filled with stars. A large, round moon hung high in the sky, resembling a white jade plate.
Xu Shi began. From time to time, the sound of autumn insects gradually began to chirp. When the people were quiet at Hai Shi, the gate of the county government opened with a clang, breaking the silent night. From the gate, there were about ten people, all wearing dignified official uniforms. Wen. Under the protection of a small team of Tsing Yi Yamen servants, they slowly walked towards the Chai Family Courtyard in the city.
The body of the Cai family woman was laid in the lobby of the Chai family. This was ordered by Meng Xinghe himself. Not only that, Meng Xinghe also ordered that all the families around the Chai family, including the Chai family, should be the same before midnight tonight. No lamps are allowed, otherwise the souls of the Cai family women will not return to the sun. Although Mr. Chai thinks this is extremely unlucky, but because Meng Xinghe personally ordered it, he just has to admit defeat.
Arriving at Chai Mansion, the dark red door looked a little desolate under the light of a few torches. The door was open. According to Meng Xinghe's instructions, there were three-foot intervals from the door to the road where the Cai family woman's body was parked. Everywhere, incense candles were lit and paper money was burned. All the people avoided it. The remaining people stayed outside quietly. After the Cai family woman in the house came back to life, she would naturally go to the person who killed him to pay for her life.
Meng Xinghe is very feudal and superstitious and makes these things very mysterious. This makes Chai Daguan, who has always been uneasy, even more scared. Maybe tonight, on the night of the Zhongyuan Festival, the dead woman from the Cai family will really come back to life and stand beside him. He was also worried about this and asked Mrs. Chai to prepare more than ten jade Buddha pendants to wear with her just in case.
A gust of cold wind blew by, making everyone standing in front of the Chai Mansion shiver.
At this moment, Meng Xinghe, whose expression remained unchanged, waved his hand. He stepped on the road with incense, candles, money and paper still burning on both sides: "Let's go." He ordered softly and walked in first.