The cause of the fire was soon discovered. Xiaomazi had used a match to light the pile of dry straw, which caught fire easily, and within less than an hour, everything was burned to this state. Xiaomazi was dragged by his father in front of Liu Laoshi and his wife. In front of them, his father slapped Xiaomazi across the face, saying, “Let’s see if you dare play with fire again.”
Xiaomazi burst into tears from the slap. As his father raised his hand again, Liu Laoshi stopped him, saying, “Brother, don’t hit him anymore. It’s just a pile of straw, not worth much money. If you really need some, just give me a share during the cold season. The boy is still young, it’s normal for him to like playing.”
Seeing that Liu Laoshi and his wife didn’t blame Xiaomazi anymore, his father let go of him, muttering, “Wait until tonight—I’ll deal with you then.” Wang Chunhua also said, “Alright, alright, don’t scare the child.”
In the evening, the Liu family were sitting around the dinner table eating, when someone knocked on the door. Wang Chunhua got up to open it, finding Xiaomazi’s father outside. They spoke something outside.
From the table, Liu Laoshi asked, “Wife, who’s there?”
Outside, Wang Chunhua replied, “It’s Xiaomazi’s father.”
Liu Laoshi said, “Ask him to come in and talk.”
After a while, Wang Chunhua and Xiaomazi’s father came inside. Wang Chunhua said to him, “You can see for yourself—Xiaomazi really isn’t here.”
Hearing this, Liu Laoshi immediately asked Xiaomazi’s father, “Brother, is Xiaomazi missing?”
Xiaomazi’s father, with a worried look, replied, “Yes, I thought he was just sulking for a while, but he really hasn’t come back. It’s all my fault for hitting him this morning. Sigh!”
Liu Laoshi said, “He really isn’t here. Could he have gone to Goudan’s house?”
Xiaomazi’s father said gloomily, “No, I just came from there.”
“Ahh, I told you there was nothing to worry about, and now look—you’ve scared the child so he dares not come home,” Liu Laoshi said, putting down his bowl.
Zhang Enpu said impatiently, “What are you still hanging around here for? Why don’t you go look for the child? Don’t let anything really happen to him.”
Liu Laoshi immediately stood up and said, “I’ll go with you to search.”
Liu Dashao put down his bowl and said, “I want to go too.”
Wang Chunhua scolded him, “What is a child doing going out at night?”
Xiaomazi’s father said to Wang Chunhua, “Brother’s wife, let Dashao come along. Maybe he knows where Xiaomazi is hiding.”
So, Zhang Enpu stayed at home, while Liu Laoshi’s family, Xiaomazi’s parents, and Goudan’s father went out to search for Xiaomazi. Everyone shouted his name, but no reply came. Xiaomazi seemed to have vanished. His father was extremely anxious, while his mother burst into tears, crying and scolding his father, “If anything happens to the child, I won’t live anymore!”
Seeing this, Wang Chunhua comforted her, “Sister-in-law, Xiaomazi will be fine. Maybe he just went somewhere to play and forgot to come back. Think again—could he have gone to your mother’s house? Didn’t he always like visiting his grandmother?”
Xiaomazi’s mother thought for a moment and shook her head, “Impossible! My mother’s house is over ten li away. How could a small child walk that far? Besides, I always take him there. He wouldn’t dare go alone.”
Wang Chunhua asked again, “Then think again—where else haven’t we searched?”
Xiaomazi’s mother said, “There’s nowhere left. I’ve checked the woodshed, pigsty, even the toilet. I couldn’t find San’er anywhere.”
Suddenly, Liu Dashao said, “Could he have gone to the old brick kiln on the back hill?”
His words lit up the eyes of all the adults, who turned to look at him.
Xiaomazi’s father said, “Impossible! That old kiln has been abandoned for over ten years. Besides, there are several ancestral graves nearby. How could Xiaomazi dare go there?”
Wang Chunhua said, “Why not go and check? Maybe Xiaomazi really is there.”
Her suggestion received support from others, and everyone agreed to check the kiln. So the group headed toward the brick kiln. Located on a small hill behind the village, Liu Laoshi said it was built together by several families over ten years ago for firing bricks and tiles. After those families built their houses, the kiln was abandoned and rarely visited, except by children who liked to play hide-and-seek there—but always during the day. Looking inside from the entrance, it was quite dark. The kiln was well-constructed and sturdy. Despite being over ten years old, it remained intact without any signs of collapse or leakage. The inside was spacious enough to hold dozens of people. Not far from the kiln were several graves. Children were afraid of grave mounds, so they always went there in groups, never alone. Liu Dashao didn’t know why he suddenly thought of this place.
Before long, the group arrived at the ruined kiln. Xiaomazi’s mother rushed to the entrance, shone her flashlight inside, and cried out, “My child!” Then she collapsed to the ground. Those behind didn’t know what had happened yet, but hearing her cry, they hurried forward.
When they reached the entrance, Liu Laoshi shone his flashlight inside. Liu Dashao saw, under the beam of light, Xiaomazi lying motionless on the straw on the ground.
Xiaomazi’s father rushed in and grabbed him, crying, “My son! Wake up! Don’t scare your dad!” One after another, everyone entered the kiln, calling Xiaomazi’s name. But Xiaomazi showed no response, nor did he open his eyes.
Xiaomazi’s mother crawled into the kiln, pushing Xiaomazi, but he still didn’t react. Sobbing, she cried, “My dear son! My child! Please open your eyes and look at your mother!” Then she fainted.
Wang Chunhua went over to support Xiaomazi’s mother. When she regained consciousness, she snatched Xiaomazi from his father’s arms, shaking him violently, but Xiaomazi still didn’t open his eyes.
Xiaomazi’s father panicked and turned to Liu Laoshi, “Brother, what should we do now?”
Liu Laoshi didn’t know what to do either, so he said, “Brother, I think we should first take the child to my house and let Master Zhang look at him. Maybe he has a way.” Others also thought this was the best idea. Supported by Wang Chunhua, Xiaomazi’s mother followed his father, who carried the unconscious Xiaomazi, heading toward Liu Laoshi’s house.
It was almost midnight when Liu Laoshi knocked on the door. As soon as Zhang Enpu opened it, he asked, “Did you find the child?”
Liu Laoshi said, “Master Zhang, quickly see what’s wrong with him?” Then Liu Laoshi let Xiaomazi’s father, still outside, come in.
Seeing Xiaomazi on his father’s back, Zhang Enpu asked, “What happened?”
Xiaomazi’s father pleaded, “Master Zhang, please help! Xiaomazi won’t wake up!”
Zhang Enpu asked Xiaomazi’s father to put the child down. After Xiaomazi was laid down, Zhang Enpu called to him, “Child, wake up! Look at Uncle!”
Still, Xiaomazi didn’t wake up.
Zhang Enpu examined Xiaomazi’s face and asked solemnly, “Where did you find him?”
Xiaomazi’s father tearfully recounted the events to Zhang Enpu, while his wife wept behind him, blaming him. Zhang Enpu frowned and said, “What a tragedy!” Then he reached out and touched Xiaomazi’s forehead.
Suddenly, Zhang Enpu cried out, “This child has lost his soul from being frightened by a ghost!”
“Ahh?” Everyone in the room stared at Zhang Enpu in shock, “Is that true?”
Zhang Enpu nodded. After a while, his expression eased slightly, and he said, “Fortunately, he still has breath. Brother Liu, quickly bring the rooster from your house!”
Xiaomazi’s father helped Liu Laoshi catch the rooster from the chicken coop, while others sat around the table watching the unconscious Xiaomazi. Soon, there was a crowing sound from the chicken coop, followed by barking from Xiaomazi’s dog. It was as if a thief had entered the house, causing chaos with chickens flying and dogs barking.
After a while, Liu Laoshi and Xiaomazi’s father each carried a rooster into the room. Xiaomazi’s father had a bleeding scratch on his face from the rooster’s claws, but he didn’t care anymore—it was urgent to save his son. Entering the room, he asked Zhang Enpu, “Master Zhang, what should we do now?”
Zhang Enpu said to Wang Chunhua, “Quickly bring me a pair of scissors.” Then he turned to Liu Dashao, “Dashao, quickly take the child to the table and lay him flat.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage