I sat facing Tong Liu, peeling peanuts and starting to drink.
"Changming, it seems Hu Ergou really has some skills," Tong Liu said, taking a big gulp of beer.
"Yes, otherwise he wouldn't dare take on this kind of job. Everyone in the neighborhood speaks highly of him." I nodded and said softly.
“I heard from my dad that your grandpa was also a very capable person, very impressive.” Tong Liu peeled a peanut and threw it into his mouth, chewing as he spoke.
"Hmm." I nodded gently, my expression somber, because I was thinking of my grandfather again, the kind old man who had given me countless care and attention, but sadly I would never see him again.
Tong Liu seemed to sense my low spirits. He raised his beer bottle and tapped it against mine, comforting me, "Changming, don't be sad. The old man also hopes you live a good life, find a girl, and settle down."
"Hmm." I nodded gently, and a bitter look appeared on my face as I thought about the vague, seemingly destined calamity I still had to face.
Tong Liu glanced at me and changed the subject, "Hey, Changming, do you think Hu Ergou really sent that little girl away?"
I slowly suppressed my sadness and said softly, "They should have been seen off by now."
“Yeah, I think so too. That feeling of being constantly watched is gone.” Tong Liu nodded heavily and continued, “Hu Ergou is really quite capable. To be honest, I’d like to join him. Seeing him in his Taoist robe, holding the seal, he looks quite imposing.”
"You want to get into this industry too?" I looked up at Tong Liu and asked.
"Yeah, exorcising ghosts and catching ghosts, how impressive!" Tong Liu gulped down a mouthful of wine and asked in return, "From what you're saying, have you thought about it too?"
"I've thought about it," I replied casually, taking a sip of my drink.
Actually, I can roughly guess why Tong Liu wanted to learn the skill of catching ghosts. It wasn't because of the prestige he mentioned, but because I know Tong Liu as a person. From childhood to adulthood, he has been almost fearless, except for his mother—no, now there's another one: evil spirits.
When Tong Liu was in junior high school, he was playing basketball on the playground and provoked some older students. At that time, there were only five of them, but there was a whole class of boys, about twenty, from the older students. Tong Liu took the lead and rushed up to start a fight. Although he was beaten so badly that he couldn't get out of bed for three days, some of the older students didn't fare well either. Tong Liu seized the opportunity and beat them to a pulp.
As for why I learned to catch ghosts, it was actually because of the calamity I would face on my birthday. I always had a feeling that something evil would appear on that day, and it would definitely be very powerful.
Another point is that I have a suspicion that my grandfather died so mysteriously on the night of my 12th birthday.
Moreover, it seemed that Grandpa already knew he was going to die, and he told me about Fifth Grandpa in advance.
If I learn how to catch ghosts, I might be able to find out why my grandfather died that night. I think the village chief, Feng Dahai, definitely knows something, but every time I ask him, he just laughs and changes the subject. Maybe it's because I don't have the ability, and he doesn't want to tell me anything.
"Then shall we both go and become Hu Ergou's apprentices?" Tong Liu asked, clinking his wine bottle against mine.
"Sure, but I don't know how much he charges. I've heard that you have to abstain from sex when you learn that profession, and you can't get close to women," I said, taking a swig of my drink.
"Bullshit! If Hu Ergou didn't care about women, then Hu Tudao must have been born from a stone. Judging from their character, they are undoubtedly related by blood." Tong Liu took a sip of wine and cursed.
"Haha." I couldn't help but burst into laughter. Alcohol is a wonderful thing; it allows me to temporarily forget my worries and enjoy the present moment.
In fact, what Tong Liu said makes a lot of sense. Apart from their age, Hu Ergou and Hu Tudao are quite similar. Hu Tudao loves to brag, and Hu Ergou is not much better. It's just that in recent years, perhaps because of his age, he has become much more silent, which may also be largely related to his wife's departure.
“What we need to learn are real skills. As for precepts, to hell with them. Take the monks in the temple, for example. They chant sutras and recite Buddhist scriptures during the day, looking like they’ve seen through the world and are all sanctimonious. Do you know how they spend their nights?” Tong Liu put the empty bottle in his hand on the ground and asked me.
I shook my head, munching on peanuts and waiting for Tong Liu to continue.
"Hmph, how else can he live? He's living a carefree life, still indulging in food, drink, and women. He really enjoys spending the money in those donation boxes." Tong Liu snorted and said slowly.
"ah?"
I was shocked. I never imagined that monks in temples had this unknown side. But what Tong Liu said was probably just an isolated case. At least I know that some monks are very strict with Buddhist teachings and are pure in mind and disciplined.
Tong Liu picked up another bottle of beer, bit it open, took a sip, looked at me and said, "Changming, since we brothers all want to learn, then we should act without delay. Tomorrow or the day after, I'll take some time to go back and find Hu Ergou to finalize this matter. I believe that considering our distant cousin relationship, he won't dare to charge too much tuition."
“Okay, it’s the off-season anyway, and I’m not too busy at work. Half a day is enough. I can use the rest of the time to learn how to catch ghosts from Hu Ergou.” I nodded in agreement.
After finalizing the matter with Tong Liu, we talked about many things from the past, bursting into laughter from time to time.
Perhaps it was because Xu Huihui's matter was resolved, or perhaps it was because I was with my buddies, but I was having a good time drinking tonight, and before I knew it, I had drunk four bottles of beer.
I know my own alcohol tolerance very well; one glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) and I'm out of control, but I can drink three and a half bottles of beer.
I glanced at the time; it was already 11 p.m. I set my alarm, told Tong Liu that I had overdosed, and then, feeling dizzy, I lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
I slept very soundly that night, without a single dream.
the next day.
The alarm clock jolted me awake. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the familiar roof. The slight worry that had been lingering in my heart vanished the moment I stretched.
I didn't dream about Xu Huihui last night, and I was still sleeping in this little house, with Tong Liu sleeping next to me, snoring loudly.
To be honest, if I hadn't often slept in the same bed with Tong Liu before, I really might not have been able to stand his snoring. I remember back in school, almost everyone in the dorm except me complained about him, and even the class teacher couldn't do anything about it.
After a while, everyone got used to it. I remember one time when Tong Liu took leave, our roommates couldn't hear Tong Liu snoring and hardly slept all night. The next day, they all went to class with panda eyes, which startled the class teacher, who quickly called to urge Tong Liu to come back to class.
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