Just as I was about to open the door, I told the Jade Corpse to let go. That pitch-black, hideous-looking starving ghost fell to the ground, quickly crawled across the floor, and slipped out through the door crack. I patted Little Rascal’s head: “You’ve improved, kid. You can see starving ghosts now. But when you see that child later, don’t bark for now.”
When I opened the door, Xu Jun was already waiting outside with his wife and child, dressed in sportswear and carrying two bags.
“It’s eleven now. Can we leave?” Xu Jun asked.
The starving ghost outside had already vanished. I reached out to pat Xu Xiaokang’s head, but he still resisted me. I had no choice but to say, “Alright. Let’s go now.”
I packed my notebook, checked out, and left my motorcycle at Dabao’s place, paying him a small fee to keep an eye on it. The Jade Corpse was waving the red bridal veil around, so I stepped forward and took her hand.
Xie Lingyu glanced at me but still let me hold her hand. After leaving the “No Lies” shop, a few motorcycle taxis were still operating in the dead of night. Xu Jun and I each hailed one—his family took one, while Xie Lingyu, Little Rascal, and I got on the other.
“Is that starving ghost attached to one of the kids?” Xie Lingyu whispered.
“You noticed it too!” I replied. “Better let the medium handle it.”
“Driver, take us to Old Lady Wrinkles’ place,” I called out. The driver caught a few words and, after noticing Xie Lingyu’s red wedding dress, pulled over, jumped off without a word, and bolted.
“Hey, uncle, your bike—”
“Keep it…”
Xu Jun’s driver wasn’t much better. His family was forced off, and the driver sped away on his three-wheeler. Xu Jun walked over with his wife and son: “That driver was vicious. He said if we didn’t get off, he’d drive us into the river to drown.”
“No worries. We still have one bike. Let’s squeeze in.” I started the makeshift electric motorcycle, and it sputtered to life. Little Rascal refused to stay near Xu Xiaokang, so he jumped onto my head and perched there.
“Your dog really loves you…” Liu Yunxin remarked sarcastically.
Apart from the brightly lit areas near the hotels, the rest of the town was eerily quiet.
To be precise, it was deathly still. When we reached the alley, I had Xie Lingyu cover her head with the red veil. After walking a hundred meters, we arrived at a two-story house, pitch-black and silent. I checked the time—still fifteen minutes to go—so I didn’t knock, just waited outside.
Xu Jun handed me a cigarette: “Bro, do you think this will work?”
“As the saying goes, ‘Man proposes, God disposes.’ We’ll just leave it to fate.” I took the cigarette, though I had no clue myself. This Old Lady Wrinkles was shrouded in mystery. Even the motorcycle drivers in Tiger Leaping Gorge refused to come here at night, abandoning their livelihood—she definitely wasn’t ordinary.
After finishing the cigarette, Xu Xiaokang had devoured a pile of chicken bones and still seemed hungry. Liu Yunxin scolded him lightly: “Xiaokang, no more.”
Xu Xiaokang pouted and lowered his head. Two minutes later, he announced he needed to poop. Liu Yunxin panicked: “Can you hold it? We’ll go inside soon, and I’ll take you to the toilet.”
I bit the cigarette butt and pointed to the corner: “Just let him go there. No one’s watching.”
“No manners! Listen to your mom—hold it until we’re inside.” Liu Yunxin, being a city dweller, was strict about public hygiene. My image as a model citizen shattered instantly.
At exactly midnight, the two-story house lit up. Xu Jun and I knocked simultaneously. A black cat slipped out through the door crack, startling Xu Xiaokang, who hid behind Liu Yunxin.
“Come in,” Old Lady Wrinkles called. I led Xie Lingyu inside by the hand. The moment we stepped in, the idiot inside clapped and shouted, “I have a wife! I have a wife!” I looked at him—still dressed in black with red socks and shoes, drool dripping from his mouth.
Old Lady Wrinkles, meanwhile, had caked her face with thick rouge and white powder. The heavy makeup scared even Little Rascal. At her age, was this really necessary? She held a black bag at her side.
Seeing Xie Lingyu’s red veil and wedding dress, Old Lady Wrinkles nodded approvingly.
“Elder, where’s the bathroom?” Liu Yunxin asked politely.
“Find it yourself in the back. Hurry up—the ride’s coming soon,” Old Lady Wrinkles snapped.
“Okay, okay.” Liu Yunxin avoided looking directly at her and dragged Xu Xiaokang to the back.
“None of you speak later—only I will. Otherwise, I won’t take you,” Old Lady Wrinkles instructed, her voice quivering with excitement. I had no idea what was going on.
“We’re counting on you,” Xu Jun fawned.
“Good. Tell me—do I look beautiful today?” She pulled a small mirror from her black bag and admired herself.
I was at a loss for words. Applying powder and rouge to bark-like skin truly tested one’s limits. But avoiding her gaze now would seem insincere.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Even ancient beauties like Zhao Feiyan and Yang Yuhuan would only be fit to carry your shoes,” I said earnestly, counting the remaining strands of hair on her head.
“Exactly. Compared to you, Venus is just a country girl, and Helen of Troy is a streetwalker,” Xu Jun chimed in, showing off his Western literary knowledge. I had to admire his skill.
Old Lady Wrinkles frowned: “Wei-la-shi? Hai-men…?”
“They’re Western beauties—weird names, I know. Men there dream about them daily,” I quickly explained.
“Seems my beauty transcends borders. Not bad, not bad… Just missing some lipstick.” She happily took out a tube from her bag and applied it.
Liu Yunxin returned with Xu Xiaokang, grumbling, “That place was filthy,” while scolding him. Xu Xiaokang reeked of foul breath, so she made him rinse with bottled water.
With lipstick on, Old Lady Wrinkles looked even more garish.
“How old are you, elder?” I couldn’t resist asking.
“How rude! A woman’s age is a secret. Last time someone asked my 70-year-old cousin, she cursed them for three days straight…” she huffed.
Ding-ding-ding… A bell-like sound rang out.
“It’s here. Let’s go. A bigger group this time.” She stashed her mirror and lipstick, then slapped the idiot: “Stop staring—you’re not married legally.”
Holding her black bag, she sashayed ahead with cat-like grace. Step, step… The idiot followed reluctantly, glancing back constantly. I herded Little Rascal and pulled Xie Lingyu along. Xu Jun’s family trailed behind. The house lights went out as we left the alley.
A gleaming white motorcycle taxi awaited us, driven by an old man in sunglasses.
“Mo Bai, do I look pretty?” Old Lady Wrinkles asked.
“Still so coquettish at your age, just like your 80-year-old cousin,” the driver scoffed, then frowned. “Huh? Why so many people this time?”
Old Lady Wrinkles shushed us. I wondered—if her cousin was 80, how old was she?
“Just two groups. Squeeze in,” she said, swaying her hips.
“Enough with the act. Get on.” Mo Bai waved us aboard. The bike was tiny—only the women could sit. Xu Jun, the idiot, and I stood. Old Lady Wrinkles tried to sit up front but was shooed away.
Meow, meow, meow…
Seven black cats led the way as the white motorcycle started with a jerk, turning onto the empty, silent street.
Old Lady Wrinkles chattered nonstop, mostly asking why Mo Bai was still single and if he wanted a beauty like her. Mo Bai muttered, “What’s ‘Wei-la-shi’? Sounds like nonsense.”
“You’re so outdated. Wei-la-shi is a foreign beauty,” she bragged.
Mo Bai sighed. “Nah, I prefer being single. Flirting with grannies is fun. Marriage cramps my style. A man like me—how many women are worthy? Zhiling? Sora Aoi? None. I’m just too exceptional.”
Old Lady Wrinkles sniffled. “I understand. You’re dazzling, like a firefly in the dark. Those melancholic eyes, that stubble, your one-footed driving… But you still owe me fifty cents.”
Mo Bai coughed. “I thought our bond was beyond money. I’ll pay you back after I post about it online.”
Xu Jun and I exchanged exasperated looks.
Soon, we left Tiger Leaping Gorge, heading north on a wide road. A passing Honda Accord slowed down, the driver yelling, “Did I just see a white hearse…?”
“Idiot. If you’re tired, just say so…”
The motorcycle finally stopped close to 1 a.m.
“We’re here,” Mo Bai announced, hopping off on one foot…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage