When I arrived at the intersection on my bike, it was already 11 p.m.
Late at night, only the main road direction of the traffic light at this intersection flashed a yellow light, reminding passing vehicles to slow down.
There's a large streetlight at the intersection, but tonight it's been flickering, I don't know if it's a wiring problem or what.
This intersection is usually deserted late at night, with hardly any cars passing by, let alone pedestrians.
I mustered my courage and looked around, but I didn't find anything. I was still very nervous, and my hands and feet felt a little unresponsive. I shakily took out a cigarette, lit it, and took two deep drags before I calmed down a bit.
Since I was already here, I figured I had to get things done. Following Hu Tudao's instructions, I placed the contents of the box by the roadside.
As he instructed, place the pig's head in the middle, the duck on the left, and the chicken on the right.
Then place glutinous rice opposite the pig's head, clean rice opposite the duck, and sweet rice opposite the chicken.
The so-called "pure rice" is just like the rice we eat at home, without anything on it. Because it is used for religious ceremonies, it has this unique name.
When people argue, they often curse others to eat sweet rice, which is actually a way of wishing them dead.
After setting out the food, I took out three pairs of chopsticks, pointed them upwards, and stuck them into the three bowls of rice.
Place two rows of small cups, three in each row, in front of the food.
Place three incense sticks in front of the cup, and to the left of the incense sticks, place a lit egg lamp.
I took out the teapot and poured half a cup of tea into the first three cups. Then I picked up the wine pot and poured a small half cup of wine into the middle row of cups. Then I stood up, bowed, put my hands together, and bowed three times from top to bottom.
These were all instructed by Hu Tudao to be done. Actually, I had done them before, but the number of tea and wine cups and the offerings were different. During festivals, I would go to my family’s hall to worship. Usually, I would use a duck or a chicken, and then sweet rice. In the hall, I would use five tea and wine cups for each.
After waiting a while, I offered another toast, and then stood up to bow again.
A few minutes later, I offered the toast for the third time. Next to the incense burner, I lit the yellow paper and some paper money that Hutudao had given me with a lighter, then stood up and bowed, reciting a few incantations that Hutudao had taught me.
Actually, I didn't know what I was chanting, because I couldn't understand it myself, let alone what it meant. Hu Tudao taught me four or five times before I could barely chant it clearly. Because I was too nervous at the time, I didn't know if I was chanting it correctly.
After doing all this, I stood aside and waited silently, scanning the surroundings with my eyes. Hu Tudao once said that sometimes if something doesn't want to be seen, it can't be seen with the naked eye. But if something does appear, it will definitely be accompanied by some noise, such as a sudden cold wind or the egg lamp's flame turning a ghostly blue.
At this moment, I am struggling internally. I hope to successfully bring Ma Jiajie back, but I don't want to see her. I am afraid that if I see her, I will not be able to suppress my fear and will run away.
Time passed by, minute by minute. I checked the time and five minutes had already gone by, but I didn't feel anything unusual.
I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I have a feeling that Ma Jiajie is already here, as if she's watching me closely from somewhere.
Thinking of this, I suddenly felt a chill down my spine. This time, I didn't dare to look around, afraid that if I turned around, I would see Ma Jiajie's pale face pressed tightly against me.
It was very quiet all around; even the chirping of insects at night was hard to hear. The only thing that could be heard clearly was my own heartbeat.
Just as I was in a state of high tension, I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder.
In an instant, I shuddered, cold sweat poured down my forehead, my hands and feet began to tremble, and my voice trembled as I said, "The...thing...is on the ground. Eat whatever...you want. After you're done eating, come...home with me."
At that moment, who else could be behind me but Ma Jiajie? However, I didn't expect that I would not run away. Perhaps my legs were so stiff with fear that I couldn't even run away, or perhaps I was so terrified that I forgot to run away.
Just when my heart was pounding in my chest, I heard an old man's frail voice behind me, "Kind man, I'm so hungry, could you give me something to eat?"
Um?
It's a man. Could it be that Ma Jiajie isn't the only filthy thing here?
I still didn't dare to turn around, and mustered my courage to ask, "Who are you?"
"Kind person, I've forgotten who I am. I'm so hungry. Do you have anything to eat?" The old man's frail voice sounded behind me.
Could it be a homeless ghost?
Were they attracted by the food I offered?
Judging from the old man's tone, it didn't seem like anything evil. I mustered my courage and looked back, while also preparing myself mentally.
Just when I thought I was about to see something incredibly terrifying, the scene before me stunned me. Standing in front of me was a hunched old man with messy white hair, a dirty face that seemed to be covered in wounds, a carrying pole slung over his shoulder with a tattered burlap sack hanging from each end, and a cane in his hand.
I finally recognized what was in front of me; it was a homeless man. No wonder he was here so late.
"Grandpa, where are you going?" My fear lessened a lot. There aren't any homeless people like this around here. I heard that they were secretly brought over from the mentally ill ward in the next county and dumped on the roadside at night. I don't know if that's true or not, but I still feel sorry for these kinds of people.
The old man still had injuries on his face, so he must have been beaten up not long ago. I don't know who could be so cruel. This old man was already pitiful enough, and they still had the heart to hit him. Don't they have any conscience?
"I'm so hungry, I want to eat."
The old man didn't answer me; he just kept asking for food.
"Sigh!" I sighed, feeling very sad. It seemed that this old man was not very bright. But where could I find him something to eat at this time?
"I'm so hungry, I'm so hungry," the old man said hoarsely again.
I was also in a real dilemma. There was no village or shop in sight. Where was I supposed to get him food? I glanced around and suddenly saw the offerings on the ground. After hesitating for a moment, I went over, squatted down, tore off a chicken leg, and handed it to the old man.
The old man took the chicken leg, smelled it, and a happy smile spread across his aged face. Without even thanking me, he leaned on his cane and slowly walked away, muttering to himself, "That woman in red was too fierce; she called my name but wouldn't answer..."
"Sigh!" I sighed again and glanced at the offerings on the ground. They were originally prepared for Ma Jiajie, but now I've torn off two legs from a chicken. I don't know if Ma Jiajie will mind. Oh well, I've already torn off two legs. Seeing that the old man is starving, I might as well make him a chicken wing.
"Grandpa, if one chicken leg isn't enough, I'll give you a chicken wing..." I said, turning my head to look in the direction the old man had left, but there was no one there.
"That's strange. They were just walking that way, how come they disappeared in the blink of an eye?" I was very puzzled. Before I could think about it further, a cold wind suddenly blew up, and I shivered all over.
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