Gao Zhiguo was badly startled. He couldn’t remember much about his childhood, but his mother had talked about this matter more than enough times. Since it was his first time seeing the person, it was inevitable he would be frightened.
Huang Daxian took in his reaction without the slightest bit of anger; many people acted like this the first time they met her. Old Mrs. Song, on the other hand, was not only unafraid but even looked excited, as if seeing this face finally put her mind at ease.
"Huang Daxian," Old Mrs. Song called out excitedly.
In her carelessness, her voice pitched far too high, sounding especially piercing in the dead of night.
"What are you doing? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!" Huang Daxian herself was startled by the sudden shout.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was just too excited to see you." Old Mrs. Song hurriedly slapped her own mouth in apology.
"Enough." After the two of them entered, Huang Daxian quickly shut the door.
"Offer incense first. Ten cents a stick." Three sticks meant thirty cents, and for two people, it was sixty cents. That was quite expensive.
Old Mrs. Song didn’t hesitate. She led her son forward to offer incense. Inside the room sat a blackened table displaying deities and Buddhas. To the side was another box containing a good amount of money. She paid and offered the incense with practiced familiarity.
It pained Gao Zhiguo to see the money go, but since his mother was paying, he kept his mouth shut and respectfully offered his incense.
"What brings you here this time?" Huang Daxian sat directly across from the money box. Seeing that they had finished their offerings, she immediately asked.
"Daxian, it’s like this." Old Mrs. Song hastily recounted the situation with her daughter-in-law.
It took her quite a while to finish. Huang Daxian watched her spit fly everywhere with a look of utter disgust.
"Hold on." Huang Daxian pulled something unknown from under the table and lit it over the candle. Sparks flew everywhere, nearly scaring Old Mrs. Song and her son half to death.
After she muttered under her breath for a good while, the sparks in the air finally died out. Opening her eyes, Huang Daxian said, "Your daughter-in-law has been possessed by a Water Ghost. Your family has been losing quite a bit of wealth lately, haven’t you?"
"Yes, yes, yes, Daxian, you’re absolutely right!
"That wretched woman is completely ruthless. Not only did we lose money, but she also beat up everyone in the family." Old Mrs. Song was consumed by hatred.
"Then there’s no mistake. It’s a Water Ghost possession. Not only will your family lose its wealth, but your luck will be ruined as well. Eventually, the Water Ghost will eat everyone in your family, and by then... your family will be destroyed and everyone will die."
Coupled with Huang Daxian’s fierce and ugly expression, those last few words scared even Gao Zhiguo half to death.
"Oh, heavens!" Old Mrs. Song cried out in shock.
Huang Daxian moved with lightning speed, immediately grabbing incense ash from the table and shoving it into the old woman’s mouth to silence her.
"What are you shrieking like a ghost for in the middle of the night? Are you trying to get me killed?" This person was far too erratic; she absolutely could not let her come back again.
"MMPH, MMPH! Daxian, save us!" Old Mrs. Song swallowed the incense ash with great difficulty, nearly choking to death.
Gao Zhiguo was also growing terrified. He had a bright future ahead of him and couldn’t afford to be dragged down by his family.
"Daxian, what must we do to destroy that ghost?" Gao Zhiguo asked.
Hearing this, Huang Daxian smiled. He was a ruthless man.
"Driving it away is easy, but destroying it is very difficult." Since money was delivering itself to her doorstep, of course she wouldn’t refuse it.
"Please, Daxian, point us in the right direction." Gao Zhiguo was truly anxious now.
"A Water Ghost, a Water Ghost... although its name suggests water, what it fears most is actually water, because it died in the water."
As Huang Daxian spoke, she pulled a piece of yellow paper from the table. She used something unknown to scribble and draw on it a few times, then picked up a water cup from the side, took a sip, and spat it directly onto the paper. A red line immediately appeared on the paper, transforming it into a talisman.
"Take this back. After you throw the Water Ghost into the water, throw this paper onto it. That will guarantee it never comes back up." She spoke with practiced ease; clearly, she had done this sort of thing many times before.
"If the Water Ghost dies, will my daughter-in-law still live?" Old Mrs. Song had never actually taken a human life before, so she was more than a little afraid.
Huang Daxian’s head snapped up, her eyes locking onto the old woman. "She is no longer your daughter-in-law." After saying that, she lowered her gaze again.
Old Mrs. Song and Gao Zhiguo were terrified.
"Can’t we pull the Water Ghost out first and then throw it into the water?" Gao Zhiguo asked fearfully.
"No. I’ve given you the method. Do it or don’t, it’s up to you. I’m not the one suffering anyway." With that, Huang Daxian started shooing them out. She didn’t even hand over the talisman. "Since you don’t believe me, just leave. I’ll pretend I know nothing about this matter."
Old Mrs. Song looked at Xiang the Second. Gao Zhiguo also looked at his mother, his eyes full of fear and pleading. He did not want to be dragged down.
Old Mrs. Song gritted her teeth.
"Daxian, please don’t be angry. We’ll do exactly as you say. Exactly as you say." Turning around, she picked up the paper from the table. "Daxian, I wonder..."
"Five dollars for a peace-of-mind fee." Huang Daxian was no longer trying to chase them away.
After paying the money, the mother and son hurried back home through the night.
When they returned, Old Man Gao was still awake. Hearing the noise, he asked, "You’re back?"
"We’re back. Let’s get inside quickly," Old Mrs. Song replied.
Inside the unlit room, Old Mrs. Song relayed the information she had heard from Huang Daxian. Old Man Gao took a few puffs of his pipe, then looked toward his son. Although it was too dark to see, he knew his son was standing right there.
"All right. The production team leader said we’re distributing meat tomorrow. I reckon Gao Laosan’s wife will be coming back too. When the time comes..." Old Man Gao said with a hardened heart. He couldn’t let one person from Gao Laosan’s family ruin the entire household.
"Okay."
"Second Son, hurry back to your room and sleep."
The next morning.
"Mother, don’t forget the things I brought for Brother Gouwa."
"And for Brother Aiguo too."
Early in the morning, Bai Jiu left home under the earnest reminders of her son and daughter. Bai Xingguo had borrowed a bicycle first thing in the morning for Bai Jiu to ride back.
She wandered around town for a long time first, selling off quite a few things. With no less than four or five hundred dollars in hand, she bought some goods and headed back to the village. Rushing all the way, she finally made it back just before noon.
However, the village was bustling with activity. She hurried toward the commotion. Such a massive gathering definitely meant something big was happening, and Bai Jiu certainly wasn’t going to miss out.
When the villagers spotted her, they immediately started calling out, "Isn’t this Gao Laosan’s wife? You’re finally back! If you hadn’t come back, your family’s meat wouldn’t have been saved."
Bai Jiu was a bit bewildered, but she quickly realized what was happening when she looked at the meat in the aunt’s hand. "Auntie, is our production team distributing meat today?"
"That’s right! We talked about it a few days ago, but it’s a pity your maiden home is too far away to send you a letter. You’re lucky, you came back at just the right time." The aunt speaking was a warm-hearted woman. "But you’d better hurry over there. I heard your mother-in-law is trying to claim your meat for you, and she’s causing a scene with Sister Peng."
Hearing this, Bai Jiu didn’t dare delay. She pushed her bicycle and ran straight toward the open square.
When she arrived, she heard Old Mrs. Song right in the middle of cursing out Aunt Peng.