Fate Trading System – Chapter 139

Plan A

Red Moon in the Barrier 3

Sharing a bed

That was an exceptionally joyful tone, as if encountering a great blessing.

Tong Manwen rubbed his ears and widened his eyes upon hearing his mother’s words.

Su Xin’s eye twitched as she listened. Aunt Cui’s words carried a hint of persuasion. If it were the original owner of this body, she might have been moved, but Su Xin absolutely wouldn’t be.

Get married? She’d rather be shot dead.

“Aunt Cui, I don’t have such plans right now. I just want to raise my little brother well. Besides, we can’t even leave now, so let’s not think about these things for now,” Su Xin said somewhat embarrassedly.

It was too strange. Su Xin wasn’t panicking or afraid because she wasn’t originally from this place, treating it like a mission world, knowing there must be a way out. But why weren’t these people afraid?

These native villagers who originally lived here couldn’t leave, and with the possibility of ghosts, how could they still have the heart to play matchmaker for others? It was too weird.

“You’re thinking about it wrong. If no one helps you share the work, look how busy you are every year. Wouldn’t it be better if someone could help you take care of your brother together? Besides, there’s no rush to leave. This situation is strange, but humans act while heaven watches. When we can leave, or whether we can leave at all, is up to fate,” Yang Cui said with a smile, her words carrying a hint of nonchalance.

“Mom, what are you saying? She’s still young, and I really see Sister Ning as my sister. You’re making me embarrassed,” Tong Manwen said somewhat shyly and coyly, even glancing at Su Xin with a bashful look.

Su Xin: Meow meow meow???

“Where are your thoughts wandering? Staying at a young woman’s house really makes you up to no good, you little rascal. Who said I was introducing a wife for you? You can’t even farm well, wouldn’t a girl marrying you just suffer?” Yang Cui glared at Tong Manwen, trying to grab his ear again. Tong Manwen immediately stepped back, avoiding his mother’s evil clutches.

“Who else but me? Look, there’s no suitable man of the right age in our village now. We can’t go out either. You don’t want to introduce someone from another village, do you?”

Tong Manwen mumbled, as if muttering something about keeping resources within the family.

What Tong Manwen said was indeed true. There were no men of suitable age for Su Xin in this village now. These men were either already old or in their thirties or forties, and the rest were just boys.

“Who says? Isn’t your uncle just right?”

Yes, there was this exception, the only man who was past the marriageable age but still unmarried, a single older youth, Tong Xi.

“Mom, are you joking? You want Sister Ning to marry him? It’d be better to wait for me to grow up and marry her! Uncle’s health is poor, you know that, everyone knows that. Do you expect him to work in the fields for Sister Ning? This is clearly just making Sister Ning take care of him for nothing. It would be good enough if he’s not a burden.”

Tong Manwen said angrily.

“You usually say you like Sister Ning a lot. If you really liked her, you wouldn’t want her to marry a medicine pot, and you clearly know that medicine pot won’t live past this year!”

A loud slap interrupted the rest of Tong Manwen’s words. Tong Manwen’s eyes immediately turned red, covering his face.

“You hit me again, you hit me for him again! What did I say wrong? Tell me!”

Tong Manwen shouted at his mother, covering his face as he ran away.

Su Xin frowned at this turn of events. Yang Cui’s behavior was indeed quite excessive.

Let’s not even mention that Tong Xi was ten years older than her. Just look at Tong Xi’s sickly appearance, bedridden all year round, coughing blood and fainting. Isn’t this harming someone?

Moreover, Su Xin could see that Yang Cui’s slap was truly merciless. How could a mother be so harsh with her own child?

“Ning girl, listen to me carefully. Your aunt has practically watched you grow up. How could I possibly harm you? I want you to marry into our family. We can help you pay for your brother’s schooling, help you with your family’s fields, and my Tong Xi is handsome and well-educated, just not in good health. What? The rumors that he won’t live past the end of this year are all lies, spread by some damned person. Those are all baseless claims.”

Yang Cui had a loving expression, but Su Xin felt a bit creeped out.

Su Xin now truly believed what Tong Manwen had said was correct. Looking at this situation, Yang Cui indeed seemed to treat Tong Xi not as a brother-in-law but as if raising him as a son. Yang Cui’s behavior was particularly like promoting her precious son to others, with an expression of a mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law when she looked at Su Xin.

“Aunt, I…”

Su Xin opened her mouth to refuse, but was interrupted by Yang Cui.

“Ning girl, auntie isn’t trying to force you. Oh my, I still have soup simmering at home, I need to go check on it. You bring Tong Qing to my house for dinner tonight, I’ll make you something delicious. Remember to come, okay?”

Yang Cui said while walking back home, not giving Su Xin any chance to refuse.

What’s all this about? If she goes for dinner, it’s obvious what might happen. Su Xin might not go if it were just her, but under the original owner’s identity, she had to make an appearance. However, no one would actually set up a blind date for Su Xin.

Su Xin closed her own door and went into the room to tell Tong Qing about going to Tong Manwen’s house for dinner tonight. Tong Qing nodded.

“Sister, if you really want to get married, don’t consider me. If you can’t be truly happy because of me, I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

Tong Qing, though small in stature, spoke with an adult’s tone, quite mature.

“Where did you read that? Don’t overthink things. Raising you and seeing you study well is my greatest wish. I don’t have time to think about other things. I’m happy when you’re doing well.”

Su Xin rubbed her brother’s fair and clean face. This little guy.

“I saw it in an essay at the teacher’s place last time. I understand, sister. I will definitely make you proud and not disappoint you and our parents.”

Tong Qing answered honestly, his clenched fist representing his determination.

“So, sister, when you go for dinner tonight, will you refuse Aunt Cui’s matchmaking?”

“Umm, I don’t have those kinds of thoughts about Brother Tong Xi. I’ve always seen him as a brother. Look at how big the gap between us is, and besides, the person I like must know how to cook.”

Su Xin played with her braid. Looks were the first priority, and cooking skills were equally important. If someone wasn’t good-looking and couldn’t cook, what use were they?

Tong Qing nodded her little head and hugged Su Xin’s arm.

“Sister, when I grow up and become successful, I’ll definitely find you a good one.”

“By the time you grow up, I’ll be old. Don’t worry about my business. Sister knows what she’s doing with these things.”

After talking with Tong Qing, Su Xin returned to her room, took off her outer clothes, and lay in bed. In this cold, boring winter, only the bed had a bit of warmth.

In the afternoon, Aunt Cui came to call for people. Su Xin responded from her room and went out with Tong Qing.

When leaving, she locked the door carefully. This wasn’t necessary before, as everyone was from the same village, but ever since that unknown knife appeared on the inner room’s eaves, the original owner developed a habit of locking the door.

As soon as Su Xin entered, she saw that man sitting in the chair. He didn’t look old; if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t think he was 28 or 29, but rather just in his early twenties. His face was very pale, a sickly white without any color.

“Uncle Tong, Brother Tong Xi, Grandma Tong.”

Su Xin greeted them, and Tong Qing followed, looking very obedient.

The head of the household, Tong He, sat in the chair and nodded at her.

Tong He had dark skin and was quiet by nature, barely communicating with others. Yang Cui managed all household matters, big and small.

Grandma Tong was a bit senile, sitting blankly in the chair, staring emptily ahead, with no reaction to Su Xin and Tong Qing’s greetings.

Tong Manwen wasn’t there, who knows where he went.

“Auntie Cui, where’s Manwen?”

“He ran out, don’t know where he’s messing around now. You sit first, there are two more dishes coming.”

Yang Cui said casually, going into the kitchen without much concern, as if she didn’t care where her son went.

“We should still look for him. It’s not like usual times now, what if something happens to him?”

Tong Xi frowned disapprovingly, saying with some worry.

What made Su Xin feel a bit uneasy was that Tong He didn’t express any opinion on this matter, nor show any attitude, as if he thought it was just a normal small thing, appearing to have no care at all for his own child.

“He tore up your book, aren’t you angry anymore?”

Yang Cui set out the dishes, wiping her hands on her apron.

“He’s just a kid, why be mad at him.”

Tong Xi shook his head.

“I’ll go out and look for him.”

Tong He stood up, walking towards the door.

Su Xin quietly sat down with Tong Qing, feeling increasingly strange inside.

This… who’s whose mom here?

Who talks like this, not only not speaking up for their own child, but being so harsh. Tong Xi’s attitude was also weird, he seemed used to Yang Cui trying to calm him down about her own son like this. Tong He was even more so. It seemed Tong Manwen had no status to speak of in this family.

Su Xin didn’t say anything, this was someone else’s family business after all, she couldn’t interfere or say much.

Tong He came back soon, without Tong Manwen by his side.

“Can’t find him, don’t know where that kid ran off to.”

“Never mind, let’s eat first. That kid will come back obediently on his own tonight, where else could he sleep?”

Su Xin picked up her chopsticks, patting Tong Qing’s hand with her other hand, indicating he could start eating.

---

Tong Manwen discovered he was lost, which was truly unbelievable. He was born and raised in this village, and the village was only this big. He had been here for 14 years, and there wasn’t a place he hadn’t touched. Whether it was climbing trees or going down to the river, helping grandmas pick vegetables or running errands for uncles, he had been everywhere. He could tell you about every household’s situation, but now he was lost.

The winter wind was cold and merciless, yet it wasn’t direct, but damp and chilly. It was like some creature hiding in a corner that couldn’t bear the light, creeping into the bones through the gaps in breathing, sticky and moist, releasing water vapor with each breath.

Wang Manwen could clearly feel the mist from his breath slowly disappearing in front of him. Sweat dripped from his forehead, changing from scorching hot to ice-cold, sticking to his face, creating a very uncomfortable feeling. He wiped his forehead and looked at the surrounding scenery.

The red swelling from the slap on his face was still clearly visible, but that pain had been replaced by another emotion.

Tong Manwen had been slapped hard by his mother without mercy, and then he ran away. He ran without purpose, just wanting to leave this place, faster and faster, not wanting to see that woman called his mother. How could she slap him so mercilessly in front of other girls? He hadn’t said anything wrong. He could never understand his mother’s feelings for his uncle. The emotions buried in his heart exploded, and he ran very far in one go.

He actually wanted to leave this village, but he didn’t know where to go if he left. At that moment, his thought was just to leave, but then he remembered he couldn’t leave this village. It was like hitting a ghost wall, constantly going in circles. Even though he walked straight, he ended up back at the village entrance, like an inescapable curse.

Tong Manwen ran in another direction, leaving the village entrance. He stayed somewhere in the village for a very long time. The sky gradually darkened, and it should be close to dinnertime. Everything around was silent, as if there were no living people in the entire world.

After all, Tong Manwen was just a fourteen-year-old child. He became a bit scared and wanted to go home. Even the familiar place where he grew up became eerie and terrifying when night fell.

If he just walked straight along this road and then turned left, he could reach his home. He said he could see his mother standing at the door with an impatient face, and he could hear her calling him a “little brat”.

He walked back according to the route in his memory, but didn’t see his destination.

Go straight, then turn left and there’s nothing, no familiar home, no familiar villagers.

Tong Manwen suddenly turned his head and saw a small house. He knew where this was, but he had just turned so many circles without seeing this thing, and its sudden appearance was quite scary.

This was the Old Man Hu Temple. Tong Manwen felt relieved seeing the familiar building, although he didn’t know how he got here, but that wasn’t important. He continued running towards home.

But it seemed like he hit a ghost wall, he ran a circle and came back to the original spot.

The Old Man Hu Temple wasn’t a very large temple, just a small house, very low. Tong Manwen had been inside before, and the interior space was quite spacious.

Although he didn’t know why the ancestors built the temple this way, it had been like this for a long time without much damage, and people would come to burn incense.

Tong Manwen swallowed and bowed to the Old Man Hu Temple, then crawled inside.

---

This meal was hard for Su Xin to swallow. Yang Cui’s cooking skills were very good, and the food she made was really tasty. There were both meat and veggie dishes, looking very well-balanced, but the atmosphere was very awkward.

Yang Cui was hinting at matchmaking Su Xin and Tong Xi in her words. Tong Xi kept smiling at Su Xin, seeming to agree a lot.

Tong Qing wasn’t using his chopsticks anymore. He held Su Xin’s hand silently listening to the adults talk. His little face had no expression, but no one would think he was unhappy because he always looked like that.

“Auntie Cui, I really don’t have that plan. Please don’t try to convince me. I know you mean well, but this kind of thing can’t be forced. Brother Tong Xi is great, but I don’t like people much older than me. I see him as a brother, it’s different.”

Su Xin put down her bowl and chopsticks and spoke plainly.

“Really no hope at all?”

Su Xin shook her head, showing her determination.

“Okay then… Auntie acted on her own, making you feel awkward. I’m sorry. Auntie meant well, I really can’t bear to see a young girl like you working so hard.”

“I know, Auntie. Thank you for your concern.”

Su Xin shook her head and thanked her.

“Want to read some books?”

Tong Xi wasn’t angry about being rejected in person. He still had a smile, looking very gentle. He asked Tong Qing this question, pointing at his own room.

“No need, thank you, Brother Tong Xi. I haven’t finished my textbooks yet.”

Tong Qing shook his head and politely thanked Tong Xi.

“Alright then, you’re welcome anytime. I have many books in my room. Since you can’t go to school now, I can teach you anything you want to learn.”

Tong Xi was surprised, as if he didn’t expect Tong Qing to refuse.

“Really?”

Tong Qing’s eyes opened a bit wider.

“Really.”

Tong Xi nodded, the smile on his face deepening.

“Yeah, yeah, you can come over to our place anytime. Our Tong Xi is very knowledgeable.”

Yang Cui said while cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks.

Grandma Tong stood up. Her meal was specially made rice porridge that Yang Cui had fed her. She took a couple of shaky steps, mumbling something unclear.

“Tong He, help mom back to her room.”

Yang Cui said to Tong He as she stacked the bowls and chopsticks together.

Tong He stood up, his tall figure blocking some light. He supported his mother as they walked towards the inner room.

Yang Cui went into the kitchen. The sound of water being scooped could be heard from inside.

“If you want to see, you can come over. I can also lend you the books, but I’m afraid you might not understand them. I can read them to you too.”

This time, Tong Xi was speaking to Su Xin, his gaze gentle, like soft clouds.

“Mm, thank you, Brother Tong Xi.”

Su Xin left with Tong Qing, seeming somewhat like they were fleeing in panic.

After walking for a while, Su Xin relaxed, looking completely different from earlier.

“Sis, I won’t go.”

Tong Qing put his hands in his pockets and shrank his neck a bit.

“What?”

“To Brother Tong Xi’s house, you know. I know you don’t like him. I’ve already finished my textbooks, read them several times.”

“Ghost smart.” (A casual expression meaning someone is very clever or cunning)

“Sis, let’s not go to Aunt Cui’s house anymore, I always feel uncomfortable there.”

“Okay, whatever my little brother says goes. We’ll just stay at home and not go anywhere.”

Su Xin ruffled Tong Qing’s cool hair, then quickly put her hand back in her pocket, shivering from the cold.

Su Xin noticed that this body seemed particularly sensitive to cold, unable to tolerate even a little chill. But it wasn’t like the skin was cracking or swelling; the whole body just felt cool, and any bit of wind would instantly dissipate any warmth.

Su Xin boiled some hot water, washed her face and feet with Tong Qing, then went to dump the water.

The water couldn’t be poured directly into the courtyard; it would definitely freeze overnight, and someone might slip. Su Xin poured it into the grass in the corner of the yard, yawned, and returned to her room.

Before falling asleep, she vaguely wondered if Tong Manwen had come home.

The next day passed similarly, except Su Xin’s cooking tasted even stranger.

Su Xin felt like she was cooking by following a recipe, but not quite. She had a rough idea in her mind, but always worried about making it too salty, so she used less salt. As a result, the food came out bland, with hardly any flavor, just cooked.

“Sis, did your hands freeze, or did you forget to add salt to the dishes?”

Tong Qing sensed something was off; these weren’t the familiar flavors.

Su Xin was at her wit’s end too; she thought not burning the food was already an achievement.

【Host, this is something I can’t help you with.】

Fourteen didn’t know what to do either. Cooking was a strange thing, and Tong Qing was a sensitive child who immediately noticed the unfamiliar taste. Su Xin couldn’t recreate the familiar flavors.

Tong Ning, watching the big screen in the system space, was a bit anxious and pacing back and forth.

“My little brother has eaten my cooking for so many years, he can really tell with just one bite. What should I do? Will my little brother find out?”

Just like Tong Ning’s worries, Su Xin was thinking the same thing.

【Don’t worry, host. This kind of thing absolutely won’t happen. Just like our high-quality mosaic service, this operation is also very simple. No one will suspect anything.】

Fourteen dared to guarantee that if anyone could recognize that the shell had been switched, their system wouldn’t be able to continue operating.

That’s good.

Su Xin and Tong Ning heard the answer at the same time and both sighed in relief.

“My hands have been freezing quite badly lately.”

Su Xin rubbed her hands together.

As expected, Tong Qing didn’t ask anything more and just nodded.

In the afternoon, someone came knocking on the door.

Su Xin thought it was Tong Manwen again, but the knocking didn’t sound like him. It was very gentle, while Tong Manwen always slapped the door directly.

Su Xin opened the door and saw Mu Qi standing at the doorway.

“Qiqi? What’s the matter?”

“I want to ask you for a favor.”

Mu Qi smiled a bit embarrassedly, her soft eyebrows also tinged with a hint of shyness.

“What is it? What favor?”

“Can you help me wring out my clothes? I don’t have the strength.”

“Oh, that’s a small matter. No problem.”

Su Xin shouted towards the inside of the door, telling Tong Qing that she was going to Mu Qi’s house and asked him to close the door properly.

Tong Qing came out and nodded at Su Xin.

Mu Qi glanced at Tong Qing with a friendly expression.

Su Xin, walking next to Mu Qi, asked a somewhat strange question.

“Qiqi, didn’t you wash your clothes yesterday? Why are you washing them again today?”

“I took a bath.”

“Oh, oh, oh.”

Su Xin didn’t have the courage to ask further questions like “Do you take a bath every day even in winter?” and walked on in silence.

The original owner usually bathed once every two or three days in winter, which was normal and fine, after all, it wasn’t summer.

Su Xin actually bathed every day even in winter, but that was with modern bathing facilities. Here, one had to heat the water themselves, which was very troublesome.

It seemed that Mu Qi was a very hardworking and clean person.

Yesterday’s clothes had already been taken in, probably dried and stiffened by the wind, and possibly even had ice crystals on them.

Su Xin wrung out the clothes and hung them up, then rubbed her hands together and exhaled a breath.

“Do you want to come in and sit for a while? I’ll go make food, and you can warm yourself up.”

“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony then.”

“What ceremony? You’re the one who helped me.”

Today, Mu Qi made eggplant and green beans, which smelled very fragrant. She also made an egg drop soup and served a bowl of rice.

Su Xin looked a bit hungry, her appetite aroused by the aroma. She hadn’t eaten much earlier because she didn’t like what she had made herself.

“Are you hungry? Let’s eat together.”

Seeing Su Xin swallowing, Mu Qi stood up, went to the kitchen to wash a bowl and chopsticks, filled it with rice, and handed it to Su Xin.

“Thank you.”

Su Xin started eating without being polite, looking very satisfied.

“Your stir-fried dishes are really delicious.”

As Su Xin chewed the food, she felt a familiar sensation, but she quickly brushed it off, thinking that maybe everyone cooks this way.

At least Su Xin had never noticed any difference between the tomato and egg stir-fry from this hotel and that from another hotel.

“Thank you, please eat more if you like it.”

Mu Qi pursed her lips and smiled, not showing her teeth, very ladylike.

After finishing the meal, Su Xin continued talking.

“Qiqi, aren’t you scared living alone?”

“I’m used to it, I’ve always been alone.”

Mu Qi was washing the dishes, her face showing no trace of loneliness.

“Do you want to move in with us and live with me?”

Su Xin didn’t ask this question rashly; she felt that this girl really had some issues. From a suspense film perspective, this might be a very important character.

“Huh?”

Mu Qi stopped washing the dishes, looking very surprised.

“If you don’t mind sleeping in the same bed with me.”

Su Xin added, because there were only two beds, and the house couldn’t fit any more beds. If Mu Qi was willing to come, they would definitely have to share a bed.

“My bed is very big, you won’t be cramped.”

“If you move to my place, can you cook for me and my little brother? Because your cooking is very delicious. I can help you boil water and wring out clothes.”

The most important reason wasn’t that Mu Qi’s cooking was delicious.

“I don’t mind, thank you. I can move over after I finish washing the dishes.”

Su Xin didn’t expect it to be so easy to get someone on board; she thought Mu Qi would definitely refuse.

“Okay, do you still need bedding and such? If so, I’ll move them over first.”

“That’s not important. Apart from some clothes and a few of my books and pens, I don’t need to bring anything else. I can still come back here often and use this place as a study.”

Mu Qi had many books, but she said she only needed to bring a few.

Master Fourteen, I feel something’s off, but I can’t put my finger on it.

【Host, this one does not have human perception, but based on general logical thinking, she indeed seems problematic.】

But I feel she’s not dangerous; it’s comfortable to interact with her.

That Tong Xi is different. Although she looks harmless and gentle, Su Xin always feels uncomfortable.

【This one will help you monitor.】

When Su Xin brought the person back, Tong Qing looked puzzled.

“From now on, Qiqi will live with us.”

“Hello, Sister Qi.”

Tong Qing didn’t ask why. Except for learning-related issues, he rarely asked why in life matters. He was good at accepting and liked to observe things himself.

“Good boy, here you go.”

Mu Qi said softly, opening her palm in front of Tong Qing. It was a candy that looked very pretty.

Su Xin indeed felt goodwill from Mu Qi, but now she felt that Mu Qi’s goodwill towards Tong Qing seemed even greater. She appeared to like Tong Qing very much, and her already gentle voice became even softer, as if afraid of disturbing something.

“Thank you, Sister Qi.”

Su Xin started helping Mu Qi organize her things. What Mu Qi was carrying were rice and vegetables from her home, not much.

In the evening, Tong Qing loved the food Mu Qi cooked. His initial half-reluctance was gone, and he ate a bit more than usual.

Su Xin began diligently boiling water, letting Mu Qi take a bath.

The bath was taken in the main room. Su Xin prepared the wooden tub, then went into Tong Qing’s room, assuring Mu Qi that the only boy definitely wouldn’t peek.

After Mu Qi finished bathing, Su Xin lifted the water bucket to dump it out. Mu Qi originally wanted to ask if she needed help but stayed silent upon seeing this.

The original owner’s strength was indeed very great, not just ordinarily great.

Village people usually sleep early, and even earlier in winter. Su Xin crawled into the blanket shivering, with Mu Qi leaning against her side.

Su Xin smelled a very pleasant scent, indescribable, a bit like flower fragrance.

Mu Qi closed her eyes and said goodnight to her.

“Goodnight.”

Su Xin replied, closing her eyes.

Su Xin seemed to have a dream where cold air invaded, making her shiver uncontrollably.

But the next moment, all that coldness was driven away. She felt like a cat curled up by a fireplace, enjoying warmth, falling into a comfortable sleep.

Sleeping until daybreak, Su Xin first released her hand holding Mu Qi’s, saw that Mu Qi was still sound asleep, glanced at the still-early sky outside, and continued to sleep with her eyes closed.

Since there was nothing to do anyway, might as well keep sleeping.

After the three of them finished lunch, a big event happened in the village.

Tong Manwen, who had been missing for two days and two nights, was found, in another form.

Tong Manwen was dead.

When Su Xin heard this news, she was a bit dazed. How could he be dead? Just two days ago, he was still full of life, clinging to her door, thick-skinned, asking if he could lay low at her house.

Su Xin didn’t dislike and even quite sympathized with this child, so upon hearing the news, she immediately took Tong Qing to rush over, with Mu Qi following by her side.

Tong Manwen was found in front of Old Man Hu’s temple, discovered by Uncle Tong.

It wasn’t yet time for New Year’s worship, so there weren’t many people going to Cloud Lady Temple and Old Man Hu Temple. Cloud Lady Temple had an old lady who kept long-term watch and maintained the incense, while Old Man Hu Temple didn’t.

Uncle Tong wanted to go pray at the Old Man Hu Temple this afternoon, hoping Old Man Hu would bless Da Ya and Er Ya to have a good afterlife and be reborn into a good family next time. But who knew that as soon as he got to the temple door, he’d find a pair of feet sticking straight up in the air.

Tong Manwen died in a weird way – he buried himself alive.

His head was in a dug hole, with his legs pointing straight up at the sky.

Uncle Tong knew something was wrong but didn’t know who it was. He didn’t want to handle it alone, so he found Mr. and Mrs. Tong Shanfeng who lived nearby. The two men pulled the person out of the dirt while Mrs. Tong Shanfeng watched, her face turning pale from fear.

As soon as they realized it was Tong He’s son Manwen, Mrs. Tong Shanfeng quickly ran to tell them. But she couldn’t keep her voice down, so everyone in the village found out.

Yang Cui and Tong He brought Manwen’s body home and hung up white cloth.

When Su Xin ran over, she heard Uncle Tong talking.

“Our village must have angered Old Man Hu, or maybe this kid did something bad. Why else would he die in front of the temple?”

Uncle Tong’s beard was scruffy, he was breathing heavily, and his tone was strange.

The hole Manwen dug to bury himself was very deep, up to his thighs. Otherwise, his legs wouldn’t have been pointing at the sky – they would’ve fallen down.

How could a 14-year-old kid dig such a deep hole, especially in hard winter soil with no rain? There weren’t any tools around Manwen either. It was all too weird.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Cui, try to cope with your grief. Let’s bury him after the first seven days of mourning. Poor kid.”

Mrs. Tong Shanfeng was speaking. She and her husband were actually pretty unlucky. They had a son in his twenties who was doing okay outside the village. They were waiting to move to the city with him this year for a better life. Who knew this would happen? Now they can’t leave the village, and people probably can’t come in either. So their plans are on hold.

Yang Cui looked very sad with red eyes.

Tong He was smoking, looking troubled.

“Auntie… he’s full of…”

Su Xin walked to Yang Cui’s side and gently patted her arm as comfort.

“I thought this child was afraid I’d punish him, so he didn’t come back. I never expected…”

Yang Cui covered her face, looking powerless.

“The cat crying over the dead mouse, fake kindness.” (A Chinese idiom meaning someone is pretending to be sympathetic)

A sentence like this came from the crowd, making the atmosphere tense.

“Great-aunt, what do you mean by that?”

Yang Cui wiped her eyes and raised her voice, questioning the crowd.

Everyone stepped aside, watching Yang Cui’s heartbroken questioning target.

No one knew what Great-aunt’s real name was, everyone just called her Great-aunt. She was very old and the most respected person in the village. She was the one who looked after the Cloud Lady Temple, keeping the incense burning.

“Whatever you think it means, that’s what it means. Let the child rest in peace. It’s better that he’s dead, at least better than being alive and despised by others.”

Great-aunt’s speech was still clear, but inevitably had some weak, drawn-out sounds. She took two shaky steps with her walking stick, shook her head, and slowly moved away.

The sound of the walking stick hitting the floor seemed to strike people’s hearts. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

“Dead, all dead.”

Uncle Tong mumbled, his red eyes suddenly fixed on Tong Qing, revealing a strange expression.

Tong Qing fearfully shrank behind Su Xin, timidly looking at Uncle Tong.

Su Xin patted his hand, blocking Uncle Tong’s line of sight.

Uncle Tong chuckled twice, then turned and left.

This was definitely not normal. Uncle Tong wasn’t usually like this. Even if he had lost his beloved daughter, his personality shouldn’t have changed to this extent, all gloomy and saying strange things.

“You should go and see him off. Manwen always liked you quite a bit.”

Yang Cui sighed, and Su Xin nodded.

The white cloth covering the body was lifted at the edge. Su Xin saw Tong Manwen’s face, a lifeless face belonging to the dead, never again able to make lively expressions like before, not even able to open his eyes.

Su Xin wasn’t unfamiliar with dead people, but those who had died around her were always insignificant people. Su Xin thought about how just two days ago, Tong Manwen was still calling her “Sister Ning”, and felt somewhat melancholic.

This place was too strange. Tong Manwen’s death was definitely not suicide, but this also allowed Su Xin to eliminate one option: the formation eye wasn’t Tong Manwen.

Tong Xi wasn’t here, but in his own room. Yang Cui said she was afraid the death energy would harm Tong Xi, making his already weak body even worse, so Tong Xi didn’t come.

【Host, something’s odd.】

What?

【His cause of death wasn’t suffocation, but blood loss.】

Su Xin looked back at the body covered by the white cloth, her melancholy turning into complexity. Not a ghost, but a person?

But why kill Tong Manwen, and make the body look like it was buried alive?

Su Xin stared intently at the white cloth. Just now, she heard a soft, familiar calling voice.

“Sister Ning…”

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