Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2 – Child Trafficker

“Later, you are not allowed to say that you can see Jinhu and all, understand?” After returning home, Liu Qiaoye promptly warned Zhang Jiaohua.

Zhang Jiaohua looked at the five silent young companions that had been following by his side. He didn’t understand why his mother would tell him to lie. When Kindergarten Teacher said that good child shouldn’t lie?

If there was a choice between listening to Mother’s words or the Teacher’s words, the majority would choose the latter. The teachers were the role models. Therefore, Zhang Jiaohua didn’t answer.

“Do you understand what mother told you?” How could Liu Qiaoye be aware of the psychology of her child.

“En.” Zhang Jiaohua was very unwilling.

Although such a big matter happened, the life in Meizi’ao would continue. For several days, laughter couldn’t be heard at Meizi’ao. There appeared to be an unusual silence inside the village.

However, life must continue, the fields also cannot be left abandoned. The five children left the memory of Meizi’ao, only several freshly dug up unmarked graves remained. Jinhu and all who had died so young couldn’t be admitted into the Ancestral grave, even couldn’t be made into ma.s.s grave. They were set aside from the memory of Meizi’ao perhaps just like their tombs, slowly submerged by weeds.

For a long time after the mishap, Zhang Jiaohua’s parents didn’t permit him to go out.

Zhang Jiaohua was forced to sit on the main gate’s threshold looking at the blue sky and the white clouds floating, and the five young companions sitting at his side.

“Jinhu, why don’t you talk to me? It doesn’t feel good being alone at home.” Zhang Jiaohua said looking at Jinhu sitting.

If anyone was here, they would definitely notice that Zhang Jiaohua was talking to the air.

Jinhu, Fugui, Xiaoshuan, Gouwa, Mancang, were all naked with the appearance of just having taken a dip in the pond. A village child being naked wasn’t much of an issue, Zhang Jiaohua also didn’t find anything wrong. Originally, Mother had told him, that Jinhu and all had died, people after death would become ghosts. What he was seeing were ghosts. Zhang Jiaohua feared ghosts very much since childhood, but he also didn’t know why but when he saw these five little friends, he actually felt that these little friends were still living.

Zhang Youping carrying a heavy load of beans on his shoulderpole, laid it down in the courtyard, while using the towel wrapped on the pole to wipe his sweat. Then he took down his bamboo hat, intending to enter the house to drink water.

“Son, who were you talking to just now?” Zhang Youping while entering the courtyard just a moment ago, seemed to have heard his son talking, and a bad feeling arose in his heart.

“Jinhu. Fugui, they all are here.” Zhang Jiaohua said pointing at the threshold.

The Jinhu, et al’s group of five just blankly stared at Zhang Jiaohua.

Zhang Jiaohua could apparently feel an ill wind blowing at his face, his heart became sad, knowing that his son had become entangled in some dirty things. He was anxious in his heart, but he didn’t have any least bit of a solution.

At night time, Zhang Jiaohua’s Grandpa and Grandma came over, Uncle and Aunt also followed behind. Grandpa and Grandma lived with Zhang Jiaohua’s Uncle. Living in an old house. Zhang Jiaohua’s house was constructed last year, and at that time they had moved out of the old house.

“Jiaohua is apparently being tormented by the little ghosts of those five. This period, Jiaohua has been talking everyday with those five little ghosts.” Zhang Youping heavy heartedly, continued puffing on his tobacco pipe.

“Youping, just go call Daoist Priest Ma to come and see.” Jiaohua’s Grandpa offered a suggestion. Daoist Priest Ma was called Ma Wulang. He was a Meishan Sect Shuis.h.i.+. Usually liked wearing Daoist robes, so the villagers called him Daoist Priest Ma. Usually, when the cemetry needs to be looked at, or the foundation need to be looked at, or whenever, superst.i.tion arises then also he is asked to come. He also simultaneously acts as a doctor. Some sicknesses which the barefoot doctors in the villages are unable to treat, then also he is sought for.

[TLNote: Literal translation of Shuis.h.i.+ or 水师 means Water Master. Basically, Shuis.h.i.+ here is an honorific/t.i.tle bestowed upon a special category of people found in Hunan, Jiangxi and Guangxi parts of China who use Talismans and a Cup of fresh water to set bones and cure people’s illnesses]