Chapter 7 Truly Bullying People

Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Truly Bullying People "When will these days ever end?" Since returning from the old fire pit, Hu Ma had lost all thoughts of escaping. Now, not only did he not think about running away, but he also had to stay close to Granny every day without leaving her side. Granny’s unintentional words seemed to unravel his confusion faintly. So, those torturous memories were just side effects of returning to the mortal world. Was Granny really always saving him? It seemed like she was really good to him, always looking after him. Even when she had to go out during the day, saying she was going to cut Tai Sui and couldn’t take Hu Ma with her, she would leave the little red-dressed girl to watch over him. He still didn’t know where this was or what era it was, but he was sure this world had too many strange and terrifying things. Even during the day, he often felt an eerie unease. He felt okay when staying near Granny or in that gloomy room. But once he stepped out the door, or if he got too far from Granny, or if Little Hongtang ran off playfully, he started to feel uneasy, as if something ominous was always watching him. Turning his head suddenly, he saw nothing. On occasion, when lost in thought, he would suddenly hear laughter behind him or the whoosh of a strange wind. It was hair-raising, leaving him restless. Under such circumstances, let alone escape, it was impossible to even gather some information. The people in the village looked more afraid of him than he was of an evil spirit. Being suspicious during the day was one thing, but the nights were harder to bear. The failure to worship at the old fire pit seemed to have increased Granny’s stress. Not only did she make him eat that strange meat every day, but she also burned talismans on him, placed incense at the head of the bed, and muttered sutras outside his room nonstop through the night. Hu Ma felt clear-minded, yet disoriented, often unable to distinguish between truth and illusion. He was unsure of his state of health now. But he was certain of one thing: he had become neurotic. Day after day, the pressure doubled, and Hu Ma’s head ached. Once, unable to bear being woken, he stealthily stepped out the door. He first poured Granny a cup of water and cautiously asked, "Granny, don’t you need rest?" Granny glanced at him, her eyes full of bloodshot veins. She took the water, silently sipped it, and said in a low voice, "You just need to sleep soundly. The more night falls, the more powerful the evil spirits get. I need to chant sutras for you so they don’t come close. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even be able to get a good night’s sleep." "Ah?" This reason never crossed Hu Ma’s mind, and a pang of guilt struck his heart. "But at this rate, don’t you need rest?" Suddenly, Granny looked up at him with an extremely cold gaze. Hu Ma felt a slight jolt. Did he say something wrong? But she deals with endless herbal medicine, makes paper men and carves bone talismans during the day, and goes out every day to who knows where to get Tai Sui meat for him. And at night, she chants sutras all night, so was it not right for him to express concern? Feeling anxious, Granny slowly withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Granny is fine. I’ll figure something out. I’ve already thought of a way." Hu Ma quickly nodded and returned to the side room. "Little Hongtang, Granny said she’s thought of a way. What is it exactly?" After all, with worries in his heart, Hu Ma feared saying too much and getting exposed, daring not to ask Granny many things. When he couldn’t hold it in, he would quietly seize Little Hongtang and ask. In this world, others didn’t dare speak much to him, but this theoretically frightening little girl was innocent, making it easier to get answers. "Get married..." Little Hongtang grinned, poking her small head out from the ceiling beam, shaking her two small pigtails, and said, "If you marry someone from the Four Surnames, you’d be one of them, and their ancestors would naturally protect you." "Ah?" Hu Ma never expected this to be the plan. He never managed to get married in his past life, and now he was going straight to the altar here? He felt a bit nervous suddenly. "To whom?" Little Hongtang pouted. "They picked someone from the Zhao Family." "The Zhao Family..." Hu Ma wasn’t sure who the Zhao Family was, but vaguely recalled Granny and Little Hongtang mentioning that within Dayang Village, the Hu Family were newcomers, a minor surname, while there were several big surnames who had lived here for generations. These big surnames buried more ancestors in the old fire pit and were, therefore, most blessed by it. Their children were less susceptible to evil spirits. Still, the idea was shocking... and he subconsciously asked, "Pretty?" "..." Little Hongtang got a bit excited. "Very pretty, famous for her beauty, the flower of the village." "Village flower level..." Hu Ma seriously pondered. He didn’t go out much, and most people he’d seen in the village were dark and slow, with only a few elder women—short, dark, wearing baggy cotton jackets and pants—not much to look at. But every place had its standouts, and a woman labeled the village flower likely wouldn’t be too lacking, right? His heart, unbidden, lightened a bit with unexpected anticipation. Unable to help himself, he asked again, "How old is she? Do you know?" "Not very old." Little Hongtang tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Only seventeen when she died." "?" Hu Ma was completely dumbfounded. "Dead?" "Yeah..." Little Hongtang cheerfully said, "If she were alive and married into your Hu Family, there still wouldn’t be anyone from the Hu Family in the old fire pit. But if you marry into her family, you’d get the ancestors’ protection from the old fire pit, though your Hu Family would have no one. So, Granny is helping you find a ghost spouse. Once married, your wife can protect you below, and you can burn paper for her." "Clan Leader and the others came up with this idea not long ago, and Granny agreed after a few days of consideration." "It’s just the Zhao Family is a bit greedy, asking Granny for lots of betrothal gifts..." "..." "What the hell is this ghostly reasoning?" Hu Ma nearly exploded with anger. Only then did he understand what the Old Clan Chief had said to Granny after they worshiped at the old fire pit. After two lifetimes without marrying, my first marriage is going to be a ghost marriage? Even in my previous life, this kind of ghost marriage would make people’s skin crawl, let alone in this world with so many ghostly things! If I really go through with it, wouldn’t she haunt me for the rest of my life? I’ve muddled through many things, but this... this I absolutely have to discuss with Granny first, try to change her mind. He quickly grabbed a small stool, sat by the door, and waited for Granny to return. Granny came back as it was getting dark. She leaned on her cane, carrying a large piece of meat tied with a hemp rope, swaying back and forth. Hu Ma immediately recognized it as Master Tai Sui’s meat, and it was even larger than what he usually ate. Were the betrothal gifts ready? "Well..." Hu Ma stood up, intending to speak, but stopped when he saw Granny’s weary face. The words died on his lips. He quickly supported Granny and took the meat from her hand. "You sit down and rest first." While putting the meat in the jar, he poured Granny a bowl of water and handed it to her. Granny glanced at Hu Ma, slowly took the bowl, and drank bit by bit, her expression seeming somewhat complex. "Don’t sit outside for long. Though your body has improved, you must still avoid the wind." Granny finished the water and handed the bowl back to Hu Ma. He wanted to refill it, but she gently shook her head and said, "Before, I took you to the old fire pit, but the ancestors didn’t recognize you. Can’t blame them; dead people are like that, they only recognize kin, not reason." "Someday when I die, and you carry me into the old fire pit, that’s when our Hu Family will truly have taken root here." Hu Ma hurriedly said, "Don’t say that, Granny. You being healthy is better than any blessing." Hearing this, Granny fell silent for a while, her eyes seeming to quiver slightly. "Yes..." She sighed and said, "This old woman cannot lie in the fire pit yet, but you need protection..." "The Clan Leader feared I had lost heart, so he suggested a marriage for you that day..." "..." Upon hearing this, Hu Ma’s heart clenched. Finally, they were getting to the point. He was pondering how to persuade her to refuse. But then he heard Granny sigh and say, "I thought about it and ultimately refused." "Ah?" Hu Ma was pleasantly surprised and quickly glanced at Granny. "Your health is frail. If you married a ghost bride, I’m afraid you wouldn’t withstand her torment." Granny slowly continued, "Moreover, you’re the last of our Hu Family. We need you to carry on the lineage, to have sons and daughters. But with this kind of marriage, either you’d live with a ghost wife your whole life, or you’d have to divorce her later to remarry. Neither is a reliable option." Is that why? Hu Ma’s heart relaxed. While massaging Granny’s shoulders, he said, "I’ll do whatever Granny says." That night, after he fell asleep, he dreamily saw a slender young girl dressed in floral red clothes come to his bedside. She was crying, wiping her tears, and saying, "When my family asked me initially, I didn’t want to marry. But your Granny offered so many betrothal gifts, so I agreed. "But just as I had prepared everything to climb onto your marriage bed, your Granny canceled the wedding... "Your family is bullying me! How am I supposed to face everyone in the underworld now..."