Chapter Three: Running Away from Home

“Second Uncle, our family has only me as its sole heir. If I marry her, what will happen to us?” That was truly my concern. I didn’t care whether my bride was beautiful or ugly, but marrying a corpse—how could I? Most importantly, what about those... conjugal matters? “No, maybe I could take her as a concubine in name only.”

Second Uncle slapped me hard across the face. “Nonsense!”

Terrified, I fell silent. Second Uncle paced back and forth in the room, then steeled himself. “Dachuan, everything depends on your fate now. Take this. I’ll handle things at home; officially, she’ll be your wife. If you have the ability to win her over in three years, you may marry another. If not, she’ll be yours for life. This is a cursed fate, and there’s nothing anyone can do.” As he spoke, he handed me the white porcelain bottle from yesterday, containing the silver needle pulled from Wang Ying’s lower abdomen. From Second Uncle’s expression, it seemed Wang Ying’s ghost now resided in that needle.

I took the bottle, opened it, and saw the solitary silver needle inside.

Then, Second Uncle did something astonishing. He had my mother pack my things and gave me two thousand yuan. “Dachuan, leave now. Go to Weijia Vegetable Garden Village at the foot of Fulaishan in Juxian, Shandong. Find Wei Qi, and stay with him from now on. Remember, for three years, do not return. Your wife’s aura is very dangerous now. If you stay in the village, it will harm everyone.”

My mother cried endlessly, asking Second Uncle if I could stay. He said I must leave and, at the third crow of the rooster, I had to depart Wangjiakou.

Although I didn’t want to leave, I knew Second Uncle’s temperament. He wasn’t hard-hearted—he was forced into this for the sake of the entire village. But I had no idea how I would live from now on, nor whether my ghost bride, Wang Ying, truly existed. If she did, what would she do to me?

As I was about to leave, Second Uncle reminded me again, “Dachuan, your wife is in this bottle. Remember, every seventh day, drip a drop of blood from your right middle finger into it. Don’t forget—you must nourish her.”

The east was beginning to brighten, and the stars in the sky were growing sparse. Dragging my simple suitcase, I stood on the high ridge at the edge of Wangjiakou, the village where I’d lived for nineteen years. The mountain village lay dim and silent in the hollow, with only a few distant dog barks breaking the stillness.

Staring at it, tears welled up in my eyes. When I was three, my unreliable father left me and my mother, abandoning us to Second Uncle, who treated me as his own. Now, I was being sent away in the middle of the night, saddled with a ghost bride—everything felt surreal.

Wiping my tears, I glanced once more at the lonely, dark village and strode forward.

After a bumpy journey, I finally arrived at Weijia Vegetable Garden Village beneath Fulaishan by midday. It was a small, natural village nestled against the mountain, facing south, feeling a bit better than Wangjiakou. At the entrance stood an old gingko tree, lush and thriving, with some villagers chatting in its shade. I approached an elder to ask about Wei Qi’s house. He pointed: “Go past the crossroads, turn right twice. There’s a thick locust tree at the gate—that’s his house.”

Thanking him, I walked on.

Wei Qi. I’d often heard Second Uncle mention him—one of the best in the trade, skilled and righteous, though I’d never met him.

Following the elder’s directions, I found myself at Wei Qi’s gate. To my surprise, a young woman stood outside, about twenty, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at the dark door, cursing loudly. Five or six children watched the spectacle.

“Wei Qi, you fat hypocrite, come out! If you have any guts, come out!” The village girl was young and pretty, but her behavior was bold.

It baffled me—what had Wei Qi done to offend her, to be shouted at at his door?

“Wei Qi, come out! If you eat my rooster, you’ll never find a wife, and if you do, your child will be born without an anus!” The girl kept cursing without care.

What was happening? It looked like he really had eaten her chicken.

“Sister, what’s going on?” I moved closer.

She sized me up. “Who are you?”

“I’m a friend of Brother Wei.”

“That damn Wei Qi stole my rooster and now he’s hiding like a turtle.”

“How much is it? I’ll pay you.” I still had two thousand yuan and hadn’t brought a gift for my visit, so I figured I’d settle this first.

She looked me over again. “You’ll pay? One hundred fifty yuan.”

I handed her two hundred. “Take it, that’s enough, right?”

She shot me a sideways glance, said nothing, grabbed the money, and strode off. The group of children dispersed as well.

Standing before the dark door, I readied myself to knock when it swung open. A round head poked out, scanned the surroundings, then pulled me inside.

A chubby face, round head, small but lively eyes, young yet with a protruding belly.

“Are you Master Wei Qi?” I doubted the man before me was the Wei Qi I’d been told about—he had no aura at all!

His face tensed. “I’m Wei Qi. Who are you? Want your fortune told, or a hex, or something else?”

Hearing he was Wei Qi disappointed me. He didn’t look the part—not even like a neighbor’s kid, and seemed more like a petty thief. Why would Second Uncle send me to him? Wei Qi suddenly slapped his thigh in realization. “I remember now, you’re Wang Jun’s son!”

I hurriedly shook my head. “I’m not Wang Jun’s son, but his nephew. He did send me to find you.”

“Have you eaten? Come in.” Wei Qi grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, his enthusiasm almost overwhelming.

His house was simple, lacking proper furniture. Along the southern wall was an iron barrel stove, wood crackling, a black iron pot bubbling with steam, the scent of chicken wafting out—reminding me of the girl who had been cursing outside. Apparently, Wei Qi really had stolen her chicken.

“Brother, I’m a bit short on cash. Lend me some?” Wei Qi rummaged around, grinned sheepishly.

What the hell? Is this the person Second Uncle recommended? Asking for money right away? Is he really a master in the trade, or just a scammer? He’s young, too. “Are you really Master Wei?”

“You kid, why don’t you believe me? I’m Wei Qi, your dad—no, your uncle’s good friend. Hurry up, give me a hundred yuan, I’m out of wine.” As he spoke, he began searching my pockets, so I quickly handed him a hundred.

He pointed to a small stool, signaling me to sit, then quickly left. I looked around—this didn’t seem like the home of a master, but more like a layabout’s. I wanted to call Second Uncle to confirm, but his words echoed: no contact for three years. So I held back.

A few minutes later, Wei Qi returned carrying two bottles of Fulaichun liquor, smiling with the grin of a drunkard.

“Dachuan, let’s welcome you! We’ll drink well at noon, and tonight we’ll take a trip together.” In the trade, “take a trip” meant going out to buy corpses.

“How did you know my name was Dachuan?”

“You kid, your dad—no, your uncle called me earlier, checking if you’d arrived, reminding me to keep an eye on you and not let you contact home. What did you do to get kicked out?” Wei Qi sat down, wiped two black cups with his shirt, eagerly opened the bottle with his teeth, and poured two drinks.

It seemed I had found the right person; he was indeed Wei Qi. Still, I couldn’t understand why Second Uncle sent me to someone like him—a drunken glutton, hardly seemed capable.

“Dachuan, dish up the chicken and bring it over to drink together.” Wei Qi sipped his wine, looking deeply satisfied.

I was sulking. He’d used my money to buy wine and expected me to serve him, but since I was here and hungry, I might as well. I dished up the chicken and brought it over.

“Dachuan, your Second Uncle is my brother. He once saved my life. Treat this place as your home, don’t be shy. Come, cheers!” As soon as I set down the chicken, Wei Qi toasted me.

Though uncomfortable, I knew I’d be here for three years, so I had to learn to adapt. Since I was here, I’d settle in. Despite his drunken ways, Wei Qi was warm-hearted, so I slowly adjusted and took a sip.

“So, what did you do to get kicked out?” Wei Qi drank, his face slightly flushed, smiling.

I hadn’t wanted to tell him the truth, but I was still confused about it myself. So I recounted how, by accident, I’d arranged a ghost marriage for the Li family and ended up with a ghost bride myself.

As soon as I finished speaking, I felt something move in my pocket. I reached in, and it was the bottle—so startled I dared not say another word.