Deserted Village Apartments

Chapter 13 Tenth Day

10--

This is a special number, I think it is more like a gate, before "10" we wandered slowly in front of the gate, we can wait or turn back.But as long as we walk through this door, the number "10" will become a bundle of ropes, wrapping around our necks and leading us to run wildly forward, no matter whether it is heaven or hell ahead.

Today is the tenth day of this story.

Exactly ten days ago, those four college students dropped by my house and told me about their daring expedition.On the same night, I received another mysterious email from a girl named "Nie Xiaoqian".Since then, they have dragged me into the vortex, leading me step by step to the gate of fear.

Should I go in?

This question haunted me all day and disturbed my mind.In the evening, I couldn't sit still anymore. It seemed that the ringing of the bell from the deserted village and Han Xiaofeng's screams of fear from yesterday morning were still in the room.So, I hurried out of the door and walked towards South Shaanxi Road.

—I'm going to find someone.

I finally stopped in front of the small tea shop on Shaanxi South Road. Across the traffic on the road, I saw the ice cream shop opposite—the red neon lights illuminated the shop entrance, and a few little girls who were not afraid of getting fat were licking with ice cream.The girl at the counter was wearing orange overalls and was frantically making ice cream, her ponytail bouncing back and forth.

She is "Nie Xiaoqian who sells ice cream".

The ice cream business was surprisingly good tonight, and finally the counter was vacant, and she finally had a chance to raise her head.I was still standing across the road, looking into her eyes quietly like watching a city street at night, and it took about 1 minute until she saw me too.

I'm not used to meeting other people's eyes, especially across a busy street.Many cars whizzed by between me and her, but strangely, the neon lights on the street always illuminated her face, and her eyes were always clearly in my line of sight.

The green light is on.

I walked across the street calmly and came to the counter of the ice cream shop.She looked at me quietly, showing no surprise.There was no one else at the counter, so I pretended to be casual and said, "I want a strawberry ice cream."

She gave me a cold look, then turned around without saying a word, and handed me a strawberry ice cream.

"Thank you."

I stood in front of the counter and took a bite of the ice cream and said, "Well, I haven't eaten anything with strawberry flavor in a long time."

Finally, she spoke: "Do you like ice cream?"

"No, I seldom eat it." I licked the ice cream while talking, "However, today is an exception."

With the same expression, she calmly watched me eat the ice cream little by little, and suddenly said, "I'm sorry, you haven't paid me yet."

"Sorry." I hastily handed over the money to her, and suddenly said with some embarrassment: "When do you get off work, I want to talk to you."

"Then you may have to wait a long time, because I have to wait for the successor to come."

I replied in a nonchalant tone: "It doesn't matter how long you wait."

Then, I dodged to the door of the ice cream shop and looked at her at the counter out of the corner of my eye.

But the successor arrived soon, and she seemed a little helpless at the counter. After 2 minutes, she changed her clothes and came out.

It was still the tight black dress, outlining her figure under the neon lights.She walked to me with her head down and said, "Should we still go to the opposite side?"

"okay."

We crossed the road and walked into the small tea house.

After she sat down, she still put on a flat expression and said, "Is this the place you wrote about in your novel?"

"what?"

"In the novel "Desolate Village" - after you and Xiaozhi met for the first time, you took her to a small tea house near the subway and asked her to go to the deserted village."

"Yes, although these contents are fictitious, this small tea house is real. In fact, I often come here, but I never notice you on the opposite side." After finishing speaking, I looked at the ice cream across the road store, and now there is a queue again in front of the counter.

"I only worked there last month."

"You look like you're still studying, right? Which university are you from?"

She replied noncommittally, "I guess. But I won't tell you about my school."

"Who are you?"

"Does it matter?" She avoids my gaze.

"Okay, since you won't say it, let me change the question - do you really know about the deserted village? Or is it just your own fantasy?"

"Of course not." Her expression became extremely serious, "I swear, everything I said about the deserted village is true. Not everyone can joke about the deserted village."

I admit to her last sentence, so I also became serious: "Then, please tell me about the well in the barren village. Is it your fantasy after reading the novel, or is it just hearsay?"

"Did you really see that well?"

"Of course I saw it. It's in the backyard of Jinshi's old mansion. However, I feel that the well has a special smell, and I dare not write it into the novel."

"A special taste?"

"Yes, when I faced this well, I immediately felt sick. Besides smelling that special smell, I seemed to be able to hear some kind of strange sound—"

Suddenly, I thought of something, and immediately stopped speaking, how could such words be said in front of her?
She looked into my eyes as if expecting my next words, but I didn't say anything.After a moment of stalemate, she finally said slowly, "I know what that special smell is—the smell of a dead person."

Immediately, her words pierced into my heart like ice, making my heart beat wildly for no reason.I shook my head and said, "Are you trying to scare me again?"

She shook her head and said calmly: "Now, let me tell you—the secret of this well."

"The secret of Gujing?"

Nie Xiaoqian nodded her head slightly, took a sip of her tea, and then said eloquently: "At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, although the barren village was still barren, the Ouyang family started the sea smuggling business and became the richest family in the barren village. The Ouyang family Living in the ancient Jinshidi, living a life of bells and lanterns, the front and back three yards are magnificently decorated, in a place like a barren village, it is like a palace. The backyard of the Jinshidi ancient house was a small garden at that time. It is filled with all kinds of precious trees and flowers, the ground is paved with cobblestone paths, and there are a few artificial rocks from Taihu Lake among the flowers and plants, and the plum blossoms will quietly bloom in the coldest time of the year."

"Plum blossom?" As she narrated softly, the scene of the backyard of the ancient house seemed to appear in front of my eyes.

"Did you see the plum blossoms blooming?"

"Yes. The backyard of the ancient house I saw was not the small garden you described at all, but a small and desolate yard. The ancient well was in the middle of the yard, and there was a plum tree blooming beside the well, and there were some petals Scattered on the edge of the well. Maybe it’s a coincidence. When I went to the deserted village, it happened to be the coldest time, and the plum blossoms seemed to be waiting for me. It’s a strange feeling. Gujing and Kazuki plum blossoms are like a scene from another time and space."

"Another time and space?" She nodded thoughtfully, "Your metaphor is very good, so let's talk about a deserted village in another time and space. In the early years of the Republic of China, the master of Ouyang's family was over 40 years old, but There were no heirs. At that time, the Ouyang family was a single lineage, and the master had no other brothers and nephews. This ancient family was about to lose its incense. Although the business of the Ouyang family was booming, and he seemed to be the emperor of the barren village, Master Ouyang was happy no matter what I can't get up, and the wife who has been married for several years and has not been pregnant is crying all day long. In order to continue the blood of the Ouyang family, the wife finally came up with a way-a pawn wife."

"I remembered - I read Rou Shi's novel "Mother as a Slave" a long time ago."

In an instant, the words in the book reappeared, and I frowned and thought of that tragic novel—in the early years of the Republic of China, there was an unfortunate young woman in the countryside in eastern Zhejiang. At the price of 100 yuan, he "rented" his wife to an old scholar who was eager to have a son.The young woman gave birth to a son for the old scholar, named Qiubao. The old scholar also liked the young woman very much, but the old scholar's wife did not allow her to stay.The young woman can only go back to her wimpy husband alone, and spend the long night hugging her sick son Chunbao...

But I still shook my head: "But, what does this have to do with the barren village?"

She spat out two words coldly: "Dian Wife."

"What did you say?"

""Mother as a Slave" talks about the custom of "pawning wives". According to a certain price, the wife is "rented" to others, and after the lease period is over, she will be returned to the original husband. Roushi is a village in the eastern coastal area of ​​Zhejiang. "Dian Wife" was a popular custom along the eastern coast of Zhejiang at that time."

"The barren village is also on the coast of eastern Zhejiang—I understand what you mean. Back then, the vulgar custom of 'pawning a wife' was also prevalent in barren villages?"

She nodded: "Yes, back then, Master Ouyang and his wife chose a poor couple in a deserted village in order to continue the family tradition. The couple had a healthy son, but the husband was weak and sick, and the young wife took care of everything in the family. Mr. Ouyang spent 80 yuan, and the young woman became his "pawn wife" for a three-year lease. The young woman was sent to the old mansion of Jinshidi, and she served the master at night when she entered the door. "Pride wife" Although she was born in a poor family, she has a somewhat natural beauty, much more beautiful than the lady in the house with heavy make-up, so she is very pleased with the master. One year later, the "pian wife" really gave birth to a son for the master. The Ouyang family finally has a successor."

"The ancients said: mothers are more expensive than children. The life of this 'pawn wife' will definitely be easier."

"What's the matter. After giving birth to the son, the wife's expression towards the 'pendant wife' changed. She beat her and scolded her from time to time. Master Ouyang was afraid of guilt and did not dare to protect the 'pendant wife'. The lease period is For three years, the "pawn wife" will stay in Jinshidi for another two years. She misses her husband and son very much, but the master does not allow them to meet each other. The "pride wife" is locked in the backyard of the old house. Living a life like a slave, she began to curse this ancient house and the Ouyang family who brought her suffering. She tried to escape from Jinshidi several times, but failed, and was beaten all over her body every time. .”

Hearing this, I couldn't help sighing: "It seems that she is worse than the 'pride wife' in the novel."

"Yes, one day at last, she escaped from Jinshi University and found her former husband and son. They wanted to escape from the closed deserted village together to find freedom in the outside world. However, Ouyang's family was powerful in the deserted village. How can we allow the 'Dian Wife' to escape. Soon, they were caught by Ouyang's family on a nearby mountain. The poor husband had his legs broken, and the 'Dian Wife' was escorted back to Jinshidi. Mrs. I have long regarded the "pian wife" as a thorn in my side, and believed that the "pian wife" was unfaithful to the Ouyang family during the lease period, and the barren village is a conservative and backward place, and the punishment for infidelity to a woman is to lynch the sinking well."

"Shen Jing?"

"Even though Master Ouyang is still a bit reluctant, the wife has already lost her humanity. She tied up the 'pride wife' and took her to the backyard, and then - pushed her into the ancient well with her own hands!"

"My God."

Suddenly, I seemed to hear a sound of falling water, and the well water splashed onto the damp well walls around me, and then there was eternal darkness... I clutched my chest, unable to speak for a long time.

"What's wrong with you?" Her bright eyes moved closer to me.

"It's nothing, it's just that the story you told is too tragic, and I feel a little chest tight after hearing it."

She suddenly sneered contemptuously: "Aren't you a writer? You have written so many thrillers and so many tragic stories, how can you be afraid of this?"

"I don't know what happened, maybe I'm just a sentimental person." I shook my head and smiled wryly.

"Okay, I've already told you about the secret of the well in the deserted village."

"But what happened later? Was the well never used again?"

"Will anyone dare to drink the water in the well that has drowned people? Not only the well, but even the small garden in the backyard, no one dares to go. It is said that the ghost of the 'pawn wife' is still alive, and often Crying in the garden late at night."

"So, the small garden in the backyard gradually became deserted, leaving only a well and a plum tree." Suddenly, I thought of something terrible, "No wonder, the plum tree blooms so strangely and beautifully, that's because of the 'Dian It's because my wife is at the bottom of the well."

Having said that, I am a little scared myself.

"Stop being sentimental, you should trust me now."

"Is this the secret of the deserted village?"

"Of course not, this is only a small part of the secret. For those of us, the deserted village will always be a mystery."

"You mean: the barren village has many more important secrets?"

She nodded solemnly: "You will never imagine—how terrible the secrets of the deserted village are."

I asked suspiciously: "Is it really so terrible?"

She stared into my eyes for a moment, then stood up suddenly: "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"But you haven't answered my question yet?" I was a little surprised for a moment.

"Wait until next time, I will answer all your questions." She said that she had already walked to the door of the tea house, "It's too late today, I have to go home."

Coming to Shaanxi South Road, the Huaihai Road not far away was still brightly lit, illuminating her Nie Xiaoqian-like face.

Finally, I couldn't help calling out: "Xiaoqian—"

She turned around and looked at me with a strange look.

"Excuse me, can I call you that?"

She paused for a while before saying, "Of course."

"Where do you live? I'll take you back."

"Don't, don't—" Her words suddenly stopped, as if she remembered something, "Remember, don't answer the phone tonight."

"What do you mean?"

But Xiaoqian didn't answer, and immediately got into the nocturnal crowd, and was soon overwhelmed by men and women on Huaihai Road.

I can't see her anymore, standing alone on the side of the road, a cool night wind blows, and suddenly reminds me of the story of the "pawn wife".

On the way home, I repeatedly thought about Xiaoqian’s words and the image of the well—no, maybe it was just her imagination, maybe after she read my novel "Desolate Village", she thought of Rou In Shi's novel, he put the plot of "Mother as a Slave" in the environment of the deserted village and Jinshidi, and weaved this terrible story about the deserted village and the "pawn wife".

But, that well really exists?And the plum tree, I never told anyone else.Moreover, her eyes told me that everything she said was serious, and she really didn't look like that kind of harasser.

No, I shouldn't be deceived by her appearance, God knows what else she would say?

After thinking wildly all the way, I finally returned home.It was getting late, and I felt very tired, so I went to bed early before turning on the computer.

But when I was sleeping on the bed, I still felt uneasy, and I tossed and turned for a long time without falling asleep.I don't know how long it took, but I felt more and more irritable, and silently counted sheep in my heart.

One sheep, two sheep... a hundred sheep—

The cell phone rang suddenly!

I sat up from the bed reflexively, opened my eyes wide in the dark, and seemed to see something——I came back to my senses, and all the sheep disappeared in an instant, leaving only the ringing of the mobile phone next to my ear .

"Don't answer the phone tonight."

Suddenly, I thought of her last words when she was parting. Could it be her phone call?
Thinking of this, I immediately picked up the phone: "Xiaoqian, is that you?"

But to my surprise, a boy's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"No, I'm Huo Qiang."

"Huo Qiang?" It's the college student who went to the deserted village - hearing this name, my heart immediately turned cold, but I still pretended to be calm and asked: "Where are you?"

"We've already returned to Shanghai."

"Back so soon?"

This news surprised me very much. Now that I have returned to Shanghai, I should be happy for them, but I can't say anything happy.

"Yes, we are getting off at the long-distance bus station on Hanzhong Road, and now we are going to take the bus back to school."

I heard a lot of car horns on the phone, probably at the station.

"Are you four all right?"

Huo Qiang was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "No—it's okay, everyone is safe."

My hanging heart was finally relieved, and I let out a sigh of relief and said, "It's good to be safe and well. I have advised you to come back early. Alright, go back to school now."

The other party was silent again, and I only heard some noisy voices and cars.

My heart suddenly tightened again: "Hey, what's the matter with you? Talk?"

But there was still no answer on the phone, I waited for a few seconds, and then ended the call.

Strange, why is there a lot of sweat in the back vest?
In the dark, I fumbled to turn on the light, and it was twelve o'clock in the middle of the night.In other words, those four college students rushed back to Shanghai from the deserted village overnight.

I let out a long breath, and suddenly thought of Xiaoqian. She said not to answer the phone tonight, and she must be referring to this call—but how did Xiaoqian know?

I shook my head, I really had no way to explain it, so I turned off the light and lay down again.

May they all be well.

(End of this chapter)