Over by the feet, Lü Jinlian seemed particularly interested in Master Wang’s leg. She was completely focused on hugging one of his legs, trying to take a bite. Master Wang was lying face down on the ground, his leg under pressure and unable to flip over. His broken sword was too short to be of any use. In his desperation, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: *An aircraft carrier capsizing in a ditch, Zhang Fei choking to death at the dinner table.*
Just when things seemed utterly hopeless, he spotted a few people approaching from the path near the Wei household. Overjoyed, Master Wang focused his eyes and realized—they were none other than the team leader and others! The team leader was striding forward with an angry expression, hands clasped behind his back, followed by several local militiamen.
Master Wang was so thrilled his eyes began to well up. When he saw the team leader pulling something out from behind his back, he nearly burst into tears from happiness. The team leader held up a stack of talismans and shouted, “Wang Weizhen, you better confess honestly—did you make these ghost-drawn scribbles? And what the hell are you doing lying on the ground like this?”
The team leader had poor eyesight. Only when he approached closely did he realize Master Wang was locked in a struggle with someone. Seeing this, his anger flared: “I found these talismans on the road and knew right away it was you causing trouble again! As soon as I heard you came here with Wei Fuguo, I brought people to find you! And now—you’re fighting with someone else’s wife? Do you have any shame left?”
Master Wang let out a bitter laugh. “Hey, Leader, hurry over here!”
The team leader stepped up and jabbed a finger at Master Wang’s nose. “This time, I’d like to see what excuse you come up with! Pull them apart!” Then he shouted, “Wei Fuguo! Wei Fuguo! Where did you go? Your wife is fighting someone and you don’t even try to stop her!”
Master Wang grew anxious. “Leader, quickly stick one of those talismans on Lü Jinlian’s head, or we’re in danger!”
The team leader was furious. “Now you’re trying to spread superstitious nonsense and drag me, an old revolutionary, down with you…”
The three militiamen who were trying to pull Lü Jinlian off suddenly cried out, “Leader, she’s holding on too tight—we can’t pull her off!” The team leader was so angry he couldn’t speak. He thought to himself, *Three strong men can’t even separate a single woman—what a joke!*
He joined the three and together they exerted all their strength—but still couldn’t budge her. Master Wang shouted, “Leader, don’t pull anymore! My leg’s going to break—just stick a talisman on her, please!”
Hearing this nonsense, the team leader grew even angrier and finally managed to pull Lü Jinlian’s hands loose.
Master Wang, now clutching his leg in pain, cried out on the ground. The team leader scolded, “Sister Wei, no matter how angry you are, you shouldn’t act like this—especially during the New Year! Hey, where the hell is Wei Fuguo?” As he was about to reason with Lü Jinlian, suddenly she rolled her eyes and lunged straight at him.
“Hey! What are you—” The team leader was puzzled, but suddenly found himself unable to breathe. The three militiamen rushed forward to pull her off, but couldn’t budge her.
“Come on, Sister Wei, let’s talk this through calmly… Don’t… don’t choke me…”
“Damn it! Did I kill your dad or chop up your mom? Why are you trying to kill me?!” The team leader swung his arms wildly to protect his neck, but couldn’t resist Lü Jinlian’s assault. Soon, he was gasping for breath, reduced to shouting curses without caring about his language.
As he ranted, the sound of footsteps echoed from the doorway. Everyone turned to look.
A moment later, an old woman appeared at the entrance. Her hairpin gleamed, her face wore a mocking smile, and her back was hunched—none other than Old Lady Fan. She carried a jar in one hand, the kind used in ancient times to store wine.
Glancing at the struggling Lü Jinlian, she quickly understood. Holding the jar in her left hand and forming a hand sign with her right, she took quick, small steps forward, like a moonlit dance, and reached the team leader’s side. With a graceful motion, she grabbed Lü Jinlian from behind, clenched her teeth, and used her heels to pull back with all her might. After three hard tugs, she finally separated Lü Jinlian from the team leader.
Just as Old Lady Fan was about to catch her breath, Lü Jinlian suddenly lunged forward again, abandoning the team leader and wrapping her arms tightly around Old Lady Fan’s neck, pulling her down hard. Lü Jinlian’s voice boomed like cannon fire, emitting a series of eerie tones.
“Oh no!” The team leader, still reeling from his earlier ordeal, instinctively cried out in alarm at seeing Old Lady Fan targeted.
Master Wang immediately snapped, “You wish! My senior sister isn’t as useless as you. She can break this!”
True enough, although Old Lady Fan was being choked, she remained calm. She pushed forward with both hands, loosening Lü Jinlian’s iron grip. Then she slammed her head forward, delivering a powerful headbutt straight into Lü Jinlian’s chest. The two separated.
*Thud!* Seizing the moment, Old Lady Fan stepped forward, twisted her hips, and kicked out hard, sending Lü Jinlian crashing to the ground. Then she quickly turned, grabbed the wine jar she had brought in earlier, and without hesitation, tore off the red cloth covering its mouth. Beneath it was a yellow talisman. Despite the dramatic setup, the jar was completely empty.
“Seal it!” Old Lady Fan formed a sword finger with her hand and pointed it at Lü Jinlian’s throat, three centimeters below her chin. Immediately, Lü Jinlian sat up, a thin wisp of white smoke rising from her head. The wine jar acted like a bellows, sucking in all the smoke. Everyone stood in confusion, thinking it might be some kind of Japanese poison gas bomb, and covered their mouths and noses.
Only Master Wang, enduring the pain, jumped up and snatched a talisman from the team leader’s hand, slapping it onto Lü Jinlian’s forehead. Lü Jinlian jolted as if struck by lightning, convulsing for a while before collapsing weakly, spitting out large mouthfuls of black, foul liquid.
Master Wang exhaled in relief, glancing nervously at Old Lady Fan, who gave him a sharp look, as if to say, *You old fool, that’s about all you’re good for.*
The team leader was still shaken when he was about to say something. Suddenly, Lü Jinlian slapped him across the face: “You damn bastard! How dare you hug me! I’ll—oh! Leader? It’s you!”
The team leader stood up furiously. His overcoat, usually reserved for official meetings out of town, was now completely ruined. He was so angry his face turned red and his neck swelled. Lü Jinlian, now smiling sweetly, said, “Oh, Leader! Who did this to you?”
Her voice had returned to normal now. Master Wang muttered in embarrassment, *Such a small matter turned into such a mess!*
The four inside the house, seeing the situation had stabilized, came out. The team leader pointed at Master Wang, then gave Old Lady Fan a cold snort: “You two! A few years ago, I thought you were improving, so I didn’t say much. But the moment I relaxed discipline, you brought back all your old tricks! Wang Weizhen, tell me—what were you trying to do today?” He stood with hands on hips, completely forgetting the terror he’d just experienced. People sure change fast—one moment thunder, the next moment sunshine.
Master Wang protested, “Leader, I was just using traditional methods to save someone’s life! Isn’t that folk wisdom?”
Ignoring him, the team leader called over Wei Fuguo: “Tell me, why did you call Wang Weizhen over?”
Wei Fuguo, sensing trouble, knew the authorities had recently tightened restrictions on such practices. If word got out he’d used superstitious methods to treat his wife, he might get into serious trouble.
“My wife has had a fever for a couple of days without improvement. I went to get the clinic doctor, but Master Wang said he could help… I didn’t think much of it and just called him over… I don’t know much about all this—my kids and I were inside the house the whole time…”
Lü Jinlian quickly chimed in: “Yes, yes! These past couple of days I’ve had a fever and was confused. I don’t remember anything—when I woke up, I was already outside…”
The team leader, hearing the couple’s vague explanation, turned to Liu Dashao and Ma Xiaoyan: “What do you two say happened?”
Earlier, Ma Xiaoyan had been feeling guilty for not helping, so she quickly replied, “Leader, we heard Auntie had gone mad, so we came over to check. But Master Wang used traditional methods and cured her!”
Master Wang, excited, said, “See? Even Chairman Mao’s children say so!”
The team leader’s anger flared: “You’re still trying to deceive these good kids! All of you, open your eyes wide and don’t fall for his tricks. If this really happened, I’ll have to file a report…”
Back then, if a cadre filed a report labeling someone as ideologically problematic, it could lead to serious consequences—ranging from public humiliation to being sent off to the northwest for labor. Thinking of this, the three fell silent.
Satisfied, the team leader turned back to Master Wang: “I originally came to arrest you, but since you showed a positive attitude toward admitting guilt, I’ll let you go home for now. Later, I’ll organize a criticism and education session for you at work!”
Master Wang’s heart sank. *Oh well, looks like my life’s about to get tough from now on!* Liu Dashao and Ma Xiaoyan exchanged uneasy glances, then quietly pulled Master Wang and Old Lady Fan toward home. Old Lady Fan didn’t speak, only sighed—and then they heard Lü Jinlian say:
“Leader, your coat got dirty. Let me wash it for you?”
The team leader replied, “No need. You don’t even have a bar of soap at home…”
Master Wang couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted back, “Wei Fuguo, you better bury those bones properly and burn some incense, or there’ll be more trouble!”
The team leader turned green with rage: “Still shouting nonsense!” As soon as the words left his mouth, Master Wang had already dashed off like a flash, leaving Old Lady Fan and Liu Dashao exchanging helpless, bitter smiles.
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