Chapter Seventeen: The Ghost Presses Down on the Bed

  I nodded solemnly, not saying a word, but refusing to back down as I met Second Master's gaze. It wasn't until after a long while that I heard Second Master sigh and say, "This is all karmic debt."

  The Second Master is a relatively traditional person, I knew that once he found out we were good, he wouldn't pressure me anymore. It was the Second Master who told me that as a man, one must take responsibility. However, looking at his anxious and worried face, with furrowed eyebrows, I felt a bit uneasy in my heart. If he had known that we just kissed or got a little closer, it would have been nothing. I don't know if he would have driven me away again.

  Dachun didn't dare to speak, but he was still making faces and winking at him. He had no idea how dangerous it was. After a long silence, the second master sighed: "It's okay if you don't leave, but you must promise me that you will not leave Dachun's house for the next few days. If you don't want to see this old man live a few more years, then I'll send you away. Otherwise, don't acknowledge me as your master."

  The Second Master spoke with a loud and clear voice, making me pause for a moment. I knew this was the Second Master's bottom line, so I naturally didn't dare not to agree. I just nodded: "Then...Master, you take care of Xiaofeng's family..."

  "I know, I won't ignore it." The second master was somewhat impatient, hummed a sound, and fiercely stared at me: "You shouldn't be too happy too early, you and Xiaofeng's matter, when your parents find out, probably they will not agree, don't have too much hope."

  For a moment I fell silent, I didn't think that far, but thinking about my parents' personalities and temperaments, I reckon they wouldn't agree anyway. Struggling to leave the countryside, how could I possibly find another country girl to be my daughter-in-law? But now thinking about those things is still premature, let's just get through this difficult time first.

  The Second Master, having agreed, began to think about how to deal with the situation in front of him. After a moment's thought, he turned to Da Chun and took out several hundred yuan from his pocket: "Da Chun, go help me buy a truckload of lime, and on the way back, use the remaining money to buy some broken glass and salt, as much as you can."

  Dachun didn't dare ask why, he just responded with a "yes" and took the money to leave: "Don't worry, Second Uncle, I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

  Watching Da Chun go out, the sound of a tractor soon echoed, and Er Dajie temporarily put this matter aside. After pondering for a moment, he looked at me: "You'd better stay here honestly, if you dare to run out again, don't say I won't recognize you as my nephew."

  Seeing me wanting to speak but hesitating, Second Master waved his hand impatiently: "Alright, I'll go prepare now. This matter still needs those two fools, Dàzhùzi and Pànggǒuzi, there's no one more reckless than them."

  Although I didn't know what the second master wanted to do, I didn't dare ask either. I watched as the second master left, and I really didn't dare leave the courtyard again. I had no idea what would happen next, but my heart was like fifteen little monkeys scratching, it was so itchy. All I could do was sit restlessly in the house.

  After walking back and forth for more than half an hour, I happened to see Dachun's eldest son playing in the yard. My eyes lit up, and I had already thought of a plan. I sneaked out and pulled Dachun's eldest son: "Xiaogang, I'll give you 20 yuan to do something for me. Go take a look at what your second uncle is doing. Remember to keep a distance, be clever, and don't let your second uncle suspect anything. How about it?"

  Xiao Gang smiled and said in a low voice, "Little uncle, I can help you, but you must not tell my dad, and you have to bring the money first."

  "Alright." I happily handed over 20 yuan to Xiaogang, this kid is clever, if he didn't know what the second master was doing, I would have been suffocated to death. Watching Xiaogang run out quickly, I finally let out a breath.

  Then next was waiting, until almost noon, Xiao had sneaked back, with a mysterious face, whispering to me: "Young uncle, as you instructed, I've figured everything out. Second Master had my dad buy a truckload of lime, and they unloaded half of it at the old mansion of Li Heizi's family in the south of the village. Then he called Dazhu Ge and Pang Gouzi Shu, mixed the lime with broken glass, and spread a layer around the outside of the courtyard..."

  "What's going on, I really don't understand. And then running to Old Li's old mansion, what's the point? Just as I was thinking wildly, Xiaogang continued: "Young uncle, there's more. Second Master also asked my dad and them to mix the remaining half-car of lime and salt together, and spread another layer in the courtyard. That's all, really don't know what Second Master is doing."

  I didn't bother to ask Xiaogang, but I was also thinking about this question in my heart. What's the point of carrying a car full of lime? But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't come up with an answer, just like Xiaogang. The only thing that lingered in my mind was "why". In the end, I gave up thinking about it and spent the rest of the day in boredom and depression, eventually resorting to watching a soap opera on TV that annoyed me to pass the time.

  Unconsciously, it was already evening. After dinner, I simply went to sleep. After all, these past few days of running around had left me not sleeping well. So this night was especially sweet, and I didn't even have a nightmare. However, I did dream of Yang Xiufeng. In the dream, the two of us walked hand in hand under the bright moonlight, feeling warm and affectionate.

  On the high mountain top, I gently held Yang Xiufeng in my arms, looking at Yang Xiufeng with closed eyes. I wanted to kiss her like this, lightly and bit by bit, but just as our lips touched, the face in front of me suddenly changed, turning into San Gu Niang, who had a grudge against me. At that moment, San Mei was staring at me with an angry face, and she pushed me away fiercely. I was also startled, and involuntarily let out a sharp cry, retreating several steps, and accidentally rolled down the mountain.

  Nightmare, it's absolutely a nightmare. How could I go and kiss Sanmei? Looking down at the steep cliff below, if I fell, I'd have to accompany Sanmei. My heart was racing with fear and anxiety, and I suddenly woke up from the dream. I'm sure I've woken up because I remembered it and felt a surge of urine, but at this moment, I was horrified to discover that I couldn't move at all.

  My chest feels like it's being pressed down by a heavy stone, I'm clearly awake but can't move at all, not even my eyelids. I can feel every part of my body distinctly, yet I have no control over it. Although my eyes are closed, I can still see everything around me.

  Everything in the room is still the same, although it's pitch black after turning off the lights, I can see everything clearly. The table, chairs, bed and wardrobe, as well as the thermos and teacups on the table, even the painting hanging on the wall. Of course, this also includes me lying motionless in bed wearing only underwear. My vision extends outward, and I can even see the chickens resting in their coop in the yard, as well as the vegetables in the small garden, including the cicadas chirping inside.

  Honestly, this feeling is really weird. I can even see through the wall of a room that Da Chun has one leg pressed on his wife's body. As for Da Chun, I didn't pay much attention to him, but his wife was only wearing her underwear. However, when I glanced over, all I could see was her fat body; in the dark night, her white fat was quite eye-catching. What annoyed me was that Da Chun and his wife started snoring loudly, one louder than the other, as if they were competing. When I focused my attention back, I even noticed a birthmark on Da Chun's wife's buttocks.

  I'm really awake, right? If I am awake, then why can I see so much that doesn't make sense? But if I'm actually dreaming, then why does everything feel so real? Most dreams are just random thoughts or past experiences, and some are even premonitions, but they're not supposed to feel this real. All I know is what's around me, and even in a dream, I wouldn't dream of chickens or crickets, let alone Da Chun's wife, that fat woman.

  For a moment, I couldn't tell what was real and what was a dream. But one thing was certain - I couldn't move, except for the freedom to think whatever I wanted in my mind. In this place where I couldn't move at all, even breathing was a bit difficult, and my chest always felt like it had something pressing down on it. I could see everything around me, but the only thing I couldn't see was what was going on with my own chest. Was this because of the darkness under the lamp, or was there some other problem?

  I desperately wanted to see what was going on with my chest, but it felt like it only extended to my neck, and I could see my thighs, even the freckles that I usually didn't notice were clear, to be honest, I could even see a few strands of pubic hair, but my chest was like a blind spot, why is that? It feels like mercury pouring down, how can there be such a blind spot?

  This feeling is definitely not right, I must have something in my chest, what's wrong with me? This uncontrollable feeling really makes me feel terrified, yes, terrified, like a fish on the chopping board at the mercy of others, unable to control one's own fear.

  I want to scream, to vent the suffocating air in my chest. I want to sit up, at least be able to move my body. I want to open my eyes and see what's wrong with me, but none of this is possible. I refuse to accept all this, so I struggle desperately. All my thoughts are focused on wanting to look at my chest. This idea ferments in my mind, surging incessantly. Finally, it seems like I touched something, like I broke a mirror. My consciousness suddenly surged up, and in that instant, I saw the situation on my chest. But what I saw shocked me greatly, because I saw Sanmei.

  How could it be her? Suddenly I became suspicious that all of this was Third Sister's doing. At the time, Third Sister was sitting cross-legged on my chest, with a gloomy face staring at me, her eyes blazing with anger or hatred. Was it worth it? It wasn't like I had done anything big, just punched once. But I didn't have time to think about that much. In my heart, I let out a cold snort and directed all of my mental energy towards Third Sister, only wanting to flip her off. As soon as this thought arose, Third Sister let out a startled cry and was suddenly blown away from my chest.