Chapter Six: The Old Crone

  We walked in silence for another two minutes, and suddenly two iron trees appeared in front of us, short and stout, only as high as a person's chest. A delicate small gate appeared before our eyes, with two rows of copper wind chimes hanging from the eaves, rusty and mottled. I jumped up and touched them, and the sound was still crisp. The door was single-leafed, with a lock hanging on it. Jiang Zhun took out a key from his pocket, inserted it, and turned it, and the copper lock fell with a clang.

  The first thing that caught my eye was a small and exquisite backyard, typical of the layout of a southern Chinese garden. On both sides were winding corridors embracing it, with a narrow path paved with cobblestones allowing two people to walk side by side, surrounded by lush green grass. However, nowadays the grass is no longer well-maintained, having grown into weeds that have covered up the path.

  We exchanged a glance and stepped forward together, walking into the interior.

  It took us more than an hour just looking around in a circle.

  I sat down on the steps in front of the main hall, pinched my calf, and frowned: "Strange, why can't I find any strange places?"

  "I also feel that way, this house feels normal everywhere, there's nothing strange about it. I even used my own abilities to sense it, but didn't find any abnormal objects." Jiang Zhun sighed.

  "Hey, senior, don't sigh, it's a waste of your good looks." I smiled, showing my two big front teeth. I looked around and raised my index finger: "Let's go out and ask around."

  "What's up?" Jiang Zhun was taken aback.

  "Of course, it's about asking about rumors in the streets. For this kind of strange and supernatural thing, historical records are often not as reliable as word of mouth." I smiled slyly, "The more normal it is, the more I feel there's something fishy going on."

  We went back the same way, walked out through the small gate and arrived at that residential area. It was just before lunchtime, every household had wafted out the aroma of food, we smelled it and felt a bit hungry, so we quickly found a fast-food restaurant and ordered two portions of noodles.

  The shop owner was a very enthusiastic uncle, who said while cooking noodles: "Are the two young men new to the neighborhood?"

  I exchanged a glance with Jiang Zhun, and he smiled: "No, uncle, we're here on vacation. I heard there's an old mansion around here that my girlfriend really likes. She wants to take a look. Do you know where the mansion is, uncle?"

  I listened and curled my lips, thinking that I still shouldn't refute the fake identity of "girlfriend" for the time being.

  The old man shook his head: "Young man, you don't know, this house is strange."

  We heard him say that and thought it was interesting, so we kept a straight face and continued to ask: "Oh? Uncle, tell us what's going on?"

  "I really don't know the specific situation, do you want to know? Go over there and ask that old lady in the tailor's shop, she might know." The uncle pointed to a tailor's shop on the corner of the street diagonally across from them.

  These days, tailor shops are rarely seen. This store has a very small storefront and is squeezed into a small corner by high-end decorated stores. Three trash cans are piled up at the entrance, and a pile of white plastic packaging bags on the ground.

  After finishing our noodles, we are now standing in front of the store.

  "I suddenly said, 'I feel... really anxious.'"

  Jiang handed his hand over in front of me, and a voice with a hint of a smile sounded in my ear: "Come on, junior sister, senior brother will take you."

  I rolled my eyes and dodged his hand, pushing the door open to walk in. Jiang Zhun gazed at my back, curled up the corner of his lips, then followed me in as well.

  The small shop was very quiet, with a faint scent of spices floating in the air. The floor was cluttered with various fabrics, and several rolls of leather were stacked on top of them. The passageway was narrow, with some fabric samples hanging on both sides, which had been there for years and were not particularly bright in color.

  We quietly passed through a corridor of over three meters and entered a small courtyard. An old woman with white hair was sitting in a bamboo chair, sunbathing, with a black cat crouching beside her, looking at the newcomer with narrowed eyes.

  The old woman heard the sound, turned her head around, and with great effort, her dim eyes made out that it was a man and a woman. She then said in a hoarse voice: "Two little ones want to buy fabric?"

  "No, grandma." I walked up and squatted beside her, "We came to ask about the old Tang family mansion."

  The old woman's eyes flickered slightly, then she bent down to pick up the black cat, stroking its back hair with her hand, closing her eyes: "What old house, the old lady doesn't know."

  "Ah, grandma..." I was reluctant to give up and was about to say something when Jiang Zhun pulled me up. Jiang Zhun gave me a signal with his eyes, then said loudly: "Forget it, Lingling, look at Grandma's expression, she doesn't even know. Sigh, it seems we can only buy it first and talk later..."

  I don't know what kind of medicine he bought in the gourd, and I had to follow him. We were just about to leave when we heard the old woman say in a low voice: "Can't buy."

  "What?" I turned back.

  The old woman looked at the two of them, seemingly engaged in some sort of internal struggle. In the end, she let out a sigh and shook her head, saying: "That house is haunted, can't buy it."

  "Grandma, please tell us about it. To be honest with you, my aunt fell ill after seeing this house. We're also here to try our luck and see if we can find a solution."

  The old woman's face changed greatly, the black cat in her hand let out a sharp cry and then darted out. The old woman's body seemed to lose its strength all at once, leaning back against the chair: "Evil deeds..."

  "Grandma." I knelt down again, reached out to hold her dry palm like tree bark, and pressed it against my face. "Grandma, please tell us."

  "Alas..." The old woman's face, as dry as withered skin, fell and she let out a sigh. "Sit down, young one."

  I felt a surge of joy and looked up at Jiang Zhun. Backlit, Jiang Zhun seemed to have also let out a sigh of relief, and then sat down cross-legged beside me. The sunlight was soft and gentle, casting a warm glow over the small courtyard. The elegant and refined Jiang Zhun, who always carried himself with poise, had sat down beside me without regard for his image, quietly listening to a distant and long-forgotten story.

  I don't know why, but suddenly I felt a sense of relief in my heart. I lifted my face and looked at the old woman.

  The old woman, however, didn't look at us. She raised her head, and her turbid eyes seemed to be staring into the distance. It was as if a huge book had been spread out before her, and she was laboriously searching for her memories within its pages.

  "I am a servant of the Tang family." The old woman's first sentence shocked us.