The Wang clan elder walked quickly to the gate. After learning the situation, he fixed his gaze on Zhao Liu. As Grandma Wang's closest honorary grandson at present, he had not only to handle Grandma Wang's funeral arrangements but also keep vigil for her for three nights.
Ding Shi confirmed it in his heart. Exactly right. Zhao Liu had not fulfilled his duty as a grandson, and now he had to pay the price.
Ding Shi was about to leave when he saw Zhang San and Sun Qi heading for the Wang residence. He went up to them, briefly explained the situation, and said, "Zhang San, remember to offer incense to San Niang." If you died, that was a small matter; don't drag me down with you.
Zhang San was displeased. "My affairs are none of your concern. I know what I need to do."
Ding Shi gave a dry laugh. "Sorry, I was meddling."
Sun Qi smiled wryly. "What am I supposed to do? Seven quests, and I haven't completed a single one."
Ding Shi looked at Sun Qi. "Good luck, goodbye." Go back to sleep; you're on your own.
Sun Qi jogged a couple of steps. "Wang Wu, help me think of something." She had run to seven households without any luck, and had gone to see Zhang San this morning. Zhang San told her that sincerity could move metal and stone—that she should use her own sincerity to sway the parents. A bunch of nonsense.
Ding Shi stopped. From Sun Qi's complaints he picked up some details about the families. "Tell the parents reluctant to spend money that students who pass the midterm exam can receive 10 dao."
Sun Qi asked, "Will they believe it?"
Ding Shi said, "Write them a guarantee."
Sun Qi said, "Where would I get 10 dao?"
Ding Shi said, "You're really honest. We'll be leaving in a few days. For those who carry their younger brother to school, have the sister pinch him—whenever the sister holds him, he cries, so the parents won't feel safe entrusting their precious son to the lowest-status sister. And for those who don't pay tuition and fees on time, tell them prices will go up next month. Whether it works or not, give it a try; either way, you lose nothing."
Ding Shi waved. "I'm going."
Back in the guest room at the village chief's home, Ding Shi bolted the door, lay down on the bed, and sank into a deep sleep.
He slept straight through until five in the afternoon. After washing up and tidying his messy hair, a handsome young man reappeared.
At seven, after dinner, Ding Shi accompanied the village chief to Grandma Wang's home. The poor Zhao Liu knelt before the coffin, burning joss paper in a brazier, while the Wang clan elder watched from the side.
The village chief and clan elder shook hands. The village chief said, "The Wang family—if you need anything the village office can help with, just say so. Don't be formal."
Ding Shi cursed inwardly, but kept a smile on his face.
The clan elder said, "There is indeed. During the day someone was sent to invite Blind Zhao to preside over the funeral affairs; a funeral rite has to be performed one way or another. Unexpectedly, Blind Zhao still remembers what happened 30 years ago. He said he and the Wang Zhu family have had no dealings with each other to the death, and told us to find someone else."
The village chief turned to Ding Shi. "Xiao Ding, remember to handle this. Anything else?"
Ding Shi was too well-mannered to curse people.
The clan elder said, "Grandma Wang's natal family still hasn't sent anyone. I was thinking of having Grandma Wang's grandson put on mourning clothes tomorrow and make the trip himself. No need to trouble the village office with this."
"Fine," said the village chief, looking at Ding Shi.
New quest: persuade Blind Zhao to assist with Grandma Wang's funeral arrangements.
Ding Shi smiled. "All right, I'll go right away."
Ding Shi held a flashlight in his left hand and rode his bicycle with his right. Following the route he had inquired about in advance, he reached Blind Zhao's home half an hour later. Blind Zhao's home was on the east side, rather secluded, with the nearest neighbor over 300 meters away, making it seem out of place.
Ding Shi knocked. "Uncle Zhao, I'm Xiao Ding from the village office. Could you open the door?"
"Coming." Blind Zhao was in his fifties, not actually blind—he just liked wearing sunglasses. Of course, he wasn't wearing them now. After opening the door, Blind Zhao sized Ding Shi up with a scrutinizing look and asked, "You're from the Wang family side, right?"
"Yes."
"Go back."
Ding Shi hurriedly said, "Uncle Zhao, as long as you give the village chief some face, the village chief has promised to get you state grain."
Blind Zhao asked, "What do you mean?"
Ding Shi said, "If you help with this, next month he will apply for a subsistence allowance for you." Let him boss me around, let him boss me around.
Blind Zhao was clearly swayed, but still hesitant. "This job for the Wang family isn't easy."
Ding Shi was puzzled.
Blind Zhao waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. Since we're fellow villagers, I'll make the trip. Let me get my things."
Blind Zhao soon brought out a canvas bag—a standard schoolbag from back in the student days. He sat on the rear seat of the bicycle. "Let's go."
Ding Shi pedaled away and asked, "Uncle Zhao, what isn't easy?"
Blind Zhao said, "Nothing. I can handle it."
……
Blind Zhao entered the memorial hall and first offered incense. His eyes fixed tightly on the three sticks of burning incense. Seeing him silent and so grave, the clan elder and two elders grew nervous.
A miracle happened then: the middle stick of incense burned very quickly until it reached the halfway point, then slowed down.
The clan elder's face changed drastically. "Two long, one short?"
Blind Zhao said calmly, "If it were two short and one long, there might still be hope."
Ding Shi: What are you talking about? Surely not what I'm thinking? No way? No way?
Blind Zhao glanced at Zhao Liu, slumped on the ground with a numb expression. "Grandson Wang, tonight you must keep vigil alone. If you see her, ask her what she wants. If she doesn't answer, follow her and see what she's doing."
Zhao Liu looked up and asked, "What?"
Blind Zhao watched the burning incense. "She has a lingering obsession that must be dispelled. Every day of delay makes it more dangerous."
Zhao Liu looked startled and doubtful. "The 'she' you're talking about wouldn't be..." He looked toward the coffin.
Blind Zhao: "No."
Zhao Liu and Ding Shi sighed in relief at the same time. Blind Zhao said, "That's just her mortal remains."
Ding Shi said, "Uncle Zhao, can't you speak more plainly?"
Blind Zhao said, "Don't speak of people during the day, don't speak of ..."
Ding Shi asked in alarm, "Is it what I understand?"
Blind Zhao said, "Mm. Grandma Wang was usually gentle with people, no big problem—she just had some unfinished business."
Blind Zhao looked at Zhao Liu. "You'd best find out tonight what her unfulfilled wish is. Otherwise, tomorrow night I can't guarantee she won't hurt you. Don't even think about running away—you're the person closest to her in the village now, so she'll definitely come looking for you."
Zhao Liu's expression wavered. He asked tentatively, "You mean she'll come back as a ghost to find me?"
Blind Zhao's face changed drastically. "I've said what I had to say. Take me back."
The clan elder hurried to stop Blind Zhao. "Uncle Zhao, you can't leave."
Blind Zhao said, "Not only must I leave, you must leave too. Otherwise, she won't come tonight. If she comes tomorrow night, it could cost lives. I've already given the solution: ask her clearly tonight, and once the matter is settled, I'll perform funeral rites so she can rest in peace."
Ding Shi did not sympathize with Zhao Liu. That was what happened when you lacked a sense of contract. His own assistant work was a hassle, but even if he quit, at most he'd lose some of the village chief's satisfaction. Sun Qi's quests were difficult, but there was no punishment for failing to complete them.
Zhao Liu's quest was to deliver a jar of pickled vegetables on time every day. Afterward, he could eat meat, flirt with Cuihua next door, and lie around sleeping to pass the time.
A casual instance: don't court death, and you won't die. The simpler the quest, the heavier the punishment for failure.
Were there really ghosts? Ding Shi believed there really were ghosts in the Yita World.
Most importantly, the incense Blind Zhao lit had been placed on the table; it wasn't something he brought himself. Ding Shi had watched the entire process of him offering incense and seen no cheating. Since science could no longer explain why that stick of incense burned at that speed, only the occult could be called upon.
Ding Shi suddenly thought of the book "On Ghosts" in the library. But the library was closed today; he could only borrow and read it tomorrow.
Chapter 11