The "welcome" of moldy wine and ghosts
Rain cascaded down from the eaves of the ancient town's houses like unbreakable silk threads, weaving the entire alleyway into a layer of grayish-white mist. The bluestone pavement was slippery and black, making a dull, "crunching" sound when stepped on, as if something were moving beneath his feet. Lu Ye tilted his umbrella further toward Qi Chen, half of his shoulder soaked in the rain. The cold water slid down his neck, making him shiver.
"The navigation said it was just ahead, but why can't I even see a sign?" Lu Ye muttered, his eyes groping in the fog.
Qi Chen didn't answer, simply reaching into his pocket and groping for the silver soul-calming bell. The bell was icy cold, silent—a state of stillness only achieved by a spirit-transmitting person nearing a place of deep resentment. He tilted his head slightly, his nostrils quivering as he caught a faint scent in the air—not the damp, fishy smell of rainwater or musty wood, but the aroma of aged wine lees mixed with rotting flesh, faintly sweetened by the cloying sweetness of blood.
At the end of the alley, a crooked wooden sign finally emerged from the fog. The red paint on the characters "Li's Inn" had long since faded, and the broken strokes resembled dried blood, seeping through the damp wood grain. Below the sign hung a string of rusty copper bells. The wind blew, and they made a soft, ding-ding-ding sound, an odd rhythm, like someone tapping their ears with their fingertips.
"We're here." Qi Chen put away his umbrella and pushed open the half-closed wooden door.
The door hinge creaked, like an old man groaning in the night. A strong odor of alcohol hit him—not the fresh aroma of new wine, but the sour, rancid smell of aged wine, tinged with a faint, fishy sweetness. It choked Lu Ye's throat, causing him to cough twice.
The lobby was cold and empty, with several legless wooden tables standing crookedly, their surfaces covered in thick dust. Only the dust on the middle table had been rubbed into a circle, just the size of a wine jar, with a fresh water mark around the edge. The ledger behind the counter was half-open, with the account book spread out on the table, the pages wet from the rain, the ink smudged. Lu Ye leaned in to decipher it, barely making out a few lines:
"Ayao's Birthday - A Jar of Daughter's Red Wine"
"Ayao's Coming of Age - A Jar of Daughter's Red Wine"
"Ayao is getting married——"
The last line was halfway through being written when it was obscured by a dark stain, and only the last two words could be made out: "Wait for her..."
"Who is A Yao?" Lu Ye couldn't help but ask.
Qi Chen's gaze fell on the corner of the counter, where a thin gleam of metal shone. He squatted down and fished out a small brass key from a crack in the counter's wood. A tiny rose was engraved on the key handle, and a few dark red crumbs, like dried blood, were stuck between the petals.
"Don't touch it yet." Qi Chen put the key away and turned his gaze towards the door to the backyard. A faint yellow light shone through the crack of the door, but no sound could be heard.
The air in the backyard was even colder, the humidity clinging to skin like water. Rows of wine jars stood in the corner, their mouths covered with moldy red cloth, some already ripped open, revealing a dark brown liquid. In the center of the yard stood an old well, its edges covered in moss. A rope dangled from it, its wooden barrel at the end riddled with holes. When the wind blew, it made a hollow clang.
"The wine cellar is over there." Qi Chen pointed to a wooden door at the far end of the backyard. The door was made of thick wooden planks, the copper nails rusted green. The word "wine cellar" was engraved on the lintel, with black ink embedded between the strokes, like wine stains from years ago.
Lu Ye walked over and pushed the door, but it didn't budge. Just as he was about to greet Qi Chen, he heard a "gurgling" sound from behind the door, like wine tumbling in a jar, followed by a crisp "pop" sound, like a wine jar being shattered.
Qi Chen walked over, took out the small brass key, and tried to insert it into the keyhole - it fit perfectly. With a slight twist, the lock opened with a "click".
As the door opened, a stronger smell of alcohol gushed out, with a sickening sweetness. The wine cellar was pitch black. Qi Chen turned on his flashlight, sweeping the beam around—rows of carved wine racks lined the walls, filled with wine jars. Some were cracked, and the wine flowed down the cracks, forming dark puddles on the ground.
Lu Ye stared at one of the puddles and suddenly took a breath - what was reflected in the puddle was not his and Qi Chen's shadows, but a strange man's face, full of wrinkles, cloudy eyes, but with a strange smile on the corner of his mouth.
"Qi Chen..." His voice trembled.
Qi Chen followed his gaze. A flash of light flashed, and the face in the puddle immediately vanished, leaving only the reflection of the light. "Wine can reflect the soul, especially the daughter's red wine he brewed himself."
The two continued walking further inside. At the deepest part of the cellar stood a jar, larger than the others. Its mouth was covered with a new red cloth—a stark contrast to the moldy fabric surrounding it. Pinned to the red cloth was a silver hairpin, the head of which was carved with a blooming rose. The petals were stained with a dark red stain, like dried blood.
"This jar of wine..." Lu Ye squatted down and reached out to lift the red cloth, but was grabbed by Qi Chen.
"Don't touch it." Qi Chen's flashlight fell on the side of the wine jar, where a few lines of tiny words were engraved - "Yao'er, on your 20th birthday, I brewed this jar of girl's red wine. When you get married, you can drink it with your mother."
"Yao'er... is that A-Yao?" Lu Ye whispered, "Did she... get married later?"
Qi Chen didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the silver hairpin. His fingertips lightly touched the end of the hairpin, as if to confirm something. Suddenly, a loud "clang" sounded from the door of the wine cellar - the door closed by itself. Then, the wine jars on the wine rack began to roll down one by one. "Bang-bang-bang-bang-" the shattering sounds echoed in the closed space, and the wine flowed all over the floor, forming dark red streams, rushing towards their feet.
"What's going on?" Lu Ye was so scared that he took a step back, but he stepped in the wine and almost slipped.
"Boss Li's resentment has been disturbed." Qi Chen took out the soul-calming bell and shook it gently. A crisp "ding--" sound could not suppress the frantic movement. "He doesn't want us to touch this jar of wine."
At that moment, the largest jar cracked open with a crack, and dark red liquor gushed out, slowly forming a single word on the ground: "Mother." Then, the crack widened, and with a loud bang, the jar shattered in two. There wasn't much wine inside, only something wrapped in cloth that rolled out and landed at Lu Ye's feet.
Lu Ye squatted down, unwrapping the cloth with trembling hands. Inside was a yellowed photograph. Three people were in the photo: a middle-aged man (presumably Boss Li), a woman with a gentle smile (his wife), and a little girl with pigtails (Ayao). The woman was holding a wine jar, the man was holding the little girl's hand, and the little girl was holding a rose tied with red string.
"This is..." Lu Ye looked up at Qi Chen, "his wife and daughter?"
Qi Chen took the photo and lingered on the rose for a long time. As if thinking of something, he whispered, "This flower...is exactly the same as the pattern on the silver hairpin."
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint sob, like a woman's, emanated from the depths of the wine cellar. Then, a blurry figure slowly emerged from behind the wine racks—a woman in a blue cloth shirt, her long hair disheveled, half her face rotted to the point of revealing the bones. In her hands, she clutched a shattered wine jar. Her eyes, hollow, stared intently at the photo in Lu Ye's hand.
"It's his wife..." Lu Ye's voice trembled and he subconsciously stepped back.
The woman floated closer, making a humming sound as if she were saying something. She raised her hand, pointed at the little girl in the photo, then at the broken wine jar on the ground, and then slowly pointed her hand to a corner of the wine cellar.
Qi Chen looked in the direction she pointed. There was a stone slab there that was a different color from the rest, as if it had been added later. He walked over and tapped it with his fingers. The sound was muffled, as if there was space underneath.
"There's something here." Qi Chen glanced back at the woman's shadow. She had become very faint, as if she would disappear at any moment. He took out a small crowbar from the toolbox, inserted it into the crack of the stone slab, and pried it hard - the stone slab loosened.
Lu Ye hurried forward to help, and together they pried open the stone slab, revealing a small cellar with a wooden box inside. Qi Chen took the box out and opened it—there was a letter inside, along with a small wooden plaque with the word "Yao" engraved on it.
The letter has yellowed, but the handwriting is still clear:
Yaoer:
Your mother passed away early, and Dad had no ability, so he could only love you in his own way. Every year on your birthday, Dad would brew a jar of daughter's red wine for you. On the day of your wedding, we would open it together and pour your mother's cup as well.
When your mother passed away, she left her silver hairpin to you, saying that she would let you wear it on your wedding day and make you as beautiful as she was when she was young.
Dad is not well educated and can’t say nice things. I just hope you can live a safe and happy life.
Dad is waiting for you to come back.
--father"
At the end of the letter, there was a large dark stain, as if someone had shed tears here, or... had dripped blood.
After Lu Ye finished reading, his eyes felt a little sore. He looked up at Qi Chen, only to find that Qi Chen's face was even gloomier than before. Qi Chen pulled out another piece of paper from the bottom of the wooden box. It was a yellowed prescription with the names of several medicinal herbs written on it. The last line made Lu Ye's heart sink suddenly: "Ayao, the wind and cold have penetrated into your bones. You need to rest and rest. Avoid drinking alcohol."
"She can't drink?" Lu Ye murmured, "Then... that jar of daughter's red wine..."
Qi Chen didn't answer. His flashlight fell on the silver hairpin. There was something stuck in the gap at the end of the hairpin. He carefully picked it out with a knife - it was a small piece of red thread, faded, but still recognizable as it was in its youth.
"This red thread..." Lu Ye moved closer, "It looks like the one on the flower A Yao is holding in the photo."
Qi Chen nodded, as if he had finally put the puzzle together. "Boss Li's wife died in childbirth, and he raised his daughter alone. Every year on A-Yao's birthday, he brewed a jar of his daughter's wine, waiting to drink it together on her wedding day. When A-Yao was twenty, Boss Li brewed the last jar, ready to open it on her wedding day. However, A-Yao fell seriously ill before her wedding and could no longer drink. Perhaps fearing she would disappoint her father, she secretly left home, intending to return after she recovered. Boss Li, unaware of the truth, believed his daughter despised him and refused to return. He waited day after day, and eventually hanged himself in the wine cellar, his resentment entwined in these jars of wine."
"Then...what about his wife?" Lu Ye asked, "Why did she become like that?"
"She died in childbirth, and her resentment has not yet dissipated." Qi Chen's voice was very soft. "She saw her husband and daughter like this, and she felt unwilling to accept it, but she couldn't leave."
The wine cellar suddenly fell silent. The broken jars stopped rolling, and the wine on the ground slowly dried up. The shadow of the woman stood not far away, watching them quietly, as if waiting for something.
"We have to find A Yao." Qi Chen said, "Only when she comes back and tells Boss Li the truth in person can his obsession be resolved."
Lu Ye nodded and was about to speak when he heard a gurgling sound coming from outside the wine cellar, as if someone was rolling wine jars in the lobby. Then, a man's deep voice came through the door: "Who... is in my wine cellar..."
Qi Chen and Lu Ye exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of vigilance in the other's eyes. Qi Chen held the Soul-Calming Bell in his hand and whispered, "He's coming."
The footsteps outside the door were getting closer and closer, "dong-dong-dong", heavy and slow, as if each step was stepping on their hearts. Finally, the door creaked open a crack, and a cold wind rushed in, blowing the flame-like flashlight violently.
A tall figure appeared at the door, holding a wine jar in his hand. The jar was upside down, dripping with dark red liquid. His face was hidden in the darkness, and only a pair of cloudy eyes could be seen, staring at them intently.
"You... touched my wine..." The shadow's voice was low and hoarse, as if it came from underground, "Have you... seen my Yao'er..."
Lu Ye's heartbeat instantly reached his throat, and he subconsciously grabbed Qi Chen's hand. Qi Chen took a step forward, blocking him, and gently shook the soul-calming bell in his hand - "Ding -"
The shadow paused, as if stung by the ringing. Qi Chen's voice was calm, "Boss Li, we're here to help you. We found your letter and A-Yao's prescription. It's not that she doesn't want to come back, she's just sick."
"Sick..." Shadow muttered the word, as if chewing on its meaning, "She... is sick..."
"Yes." Qi Chen took out the prescription from his arms and held it in his hand. "She has a bone-chilling cold and can't drink. She was afraid of disappointing you, so she left home and wanted to come back after she recovered."
The shadow was silent for a long time, so long that Lu Ye thought he would never speak again. Finally, he slowly raised his head, and a glimmer of light flashed in his cloudy eyes: "My Yao'er...is she still alive..."
"We will find her." Qi Chen's voice was firm. "Calm down first and don't hurt innocent people."
Shadow was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned and slowly walked out, carrying the wine jar. When he reached the door, he paused, as if hesitating. After a few seconds, he whispered, "The well... the well... has something of hers..."
After saying this, his figure disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind only a faint aroma of wine and a biting chill.
Qi Chen and Lu Ye exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other's eyes. Something of hers was in the well? What was it?
The two of them hurried out of the wine cellar and came to the old well in the center of the courtyard. The moss on the well's edge was slippery, and the well was pitch black, making it impossible to see anything. Qi Chen turned on the flashlight on his phone and shone it into the well. Something floated on the surface of the water, like a small wooden box.
"I'll go down and take a look." Qi Chen took off his windbreaker and handed it to Lu Ye.
"No!" Lu Ye grabbed him, "It's too dangerous! Who knows what's in the well?"
Qi Chen looked at him, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes: "Don't worry, I will be fine."
He hung the soul-calming bell around his neck, grabbed the rope, and slowly slid down. Lu Ye stood by the well, holding the rope tightly with both hands, his palms full of sweat.
"Did you see it?" Lu Ye couldn't help but ask.
"Yes." Qi Chen's voice came from the well, "It's a small wooden box with the word 'Yao' engraved on it."
A few minutes later, Qi Chen climbed up holding a small wooden box. He was soaked, his hair stuck to his forehead, and his face was pale, but he still handed the wooden box to Lu Ye.
Lu Ye took the wooden box and opened it carefully - there was a letter inside and a small silver bracelet with a rose engraved on it.
The letter was written by A Yao:
"father:
I'm sorry, my unfilial daughter, that I can't be with you. I'm seriously ill and can't drink. I left home, worried you'd be disappointed. I'll take good care of myself and, once I'm well, I'll come back to be with you and drink the wine you brewed for me.
My daughter knows you will be worried, so I leave this silver bracelet to you. It is the birthday gift you gave me. My daughter has been wearing it, just like you are by my side.
Dad, you must take good care of yourself and wait for your daughter to come back.
——Yao'er"
The letter was dated ten years ago.
After reading the letter, Lu Ye couldn't help but shed tears. He looked up at Qi Chen and said with a sob: "She...she really left because she was sick...she always wanted to come back..."
Qi Chen nodded, took the silver bracelet in his hand, and gently stroked the pattern on it. "We must find her." Qi Chen's voice was firm. "Only when she comes back and tells Boss Li the truth in person can his obsession be truly resolved."
Lu Ye wiped away his tears and nodded vigorously. He looked at the letter and silver bracelet in his hand and swore in his heart that no matter where A Yao was, he would find her and reunite her with her father.
At this moment, a series of "ding-ling-ling" copper bell sounds came from the lobby of the inn, followed by a woman's scream - shrill and desperate, as if it came from hell.
Qi Chen and Lu Ye looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes.
"It's Ayao's mother!" Lu Ye cried out.
The two men hurried to the lobby, only to be met with a sight they would never forget. In the center of the lobby, the shadow of Boss Li was hugging the shadow of a woman. The woman's face was filled with pain, as if entangled by something. And at their feet, pools of dark red wine were slowly gathering into a giant "Yao" character.
"Yao'er..." Boss Li's shadow murmured, "My Yao'er..."
Qi Chen immediately took out the soul-calming bell and shook it vigorously. "Ding-ding-ding-" The crisp ring echoed in the lobby, as if to dispel some invisible thing. The woman's shadow gradually calmed down, and Boss Li's shadow slowly let her go.
"Boss Li," Qi Chen's voice was soft, but it carried an unquestionable power. "We will find A Yao. You have to trust us."
Boss Li's shadow slowly raised its head, a glimmer of hope in its cloudy eyes. He opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but ultimately nodded. Then, along with the woman's shadow, he slowly dissipated into the air.
The lobby returned to calm, only the rusty copper bells were still shaking gently, making a "ding-ding" sound, as if seeing them off.
Qi Chen and Lu Ye stood there for a long time without saying anything. After a long while, Lu Ye said softly, "Let's go find A Yao tomorrow, okay?"
Qi Chen nodded and put his hand on his shoulder: "Okay. No matter where she is, we must find her."
The two turned around and prepared to go back to the room to rest, but they didn't notice that the account book behind the counter suddenly turned to the last page, and a few lines of words slowly appeared on it:
"Yao'er, where are you..."
"Dad is waiting for you..."
"There's something in the well..."
The handwriting is crooked, as if it was written with a trembling hand.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com