Denghuaxiao

Chapter 39 Pretend to be a ghost

 The uncle of the Ke family has gone crazy recently.

 The cause of the incident was the inexplicable appearance of a line of wet footprints in his study.

That day, the Ke family uncle was taking a nap in the study. When he woke up, he found a line of wet footprints of a woman in his room. He immediately became furious and asked the maid in the yard who it was. After a comparison, he couldn't find the owner of the footprints. Even though there were similar ones, they were working in the outer courtyard that day and didn't even enter the house.

Uncle Ke seemed to be worried because he could not find the owner of the footprints. At first, it was said that there were servants in the yard playing tricks, but gradually it became like being possessed by a demon, not saying that the house in the house was restless and that there were ghosts and ghosts at work. Despite Qin's obstruction, he invited Taoist priests to do the work.

The Taoist priest came to Ke's house for a tour and said that Ke's house was haunted by evil spirits and needed to be exorcised. So an altar was set up in the courtyard and the evil spirits were exorcised with great fanfare for three days. After receiving 500 taels of silver incense and candles as enshrinement fees, he left.

Since it was for the Ke family to do things, the money naturally had to be sent from the public. The Qin family, who was called the housekeeper, was very dissatisfied. Behind the back of Uncle Ke, she complained to the maid next to her: "The uncle said something was wrong, so he allocated five hundred taels of silver." . On the surface, those Taoist priests said they were exorcising evil spirits and catching ghosts, but I saw that they were just cheating. They defrauded several large meals of fish and meat, and also took away a large amount of money. How could you be so confused!"

The maid beside her thought for a moment: "Grandma, don't blame me for being worried, but just a few wet footprints, why did you scare the uncle like this? Not to mention whether there are ghosts in the world, why does the uncle look like something wrong?" "

When Qin heard this, his expression changed.

Ms. Qin doesn’t believe in ghosts and gods very much. As an official, if she takes ghosts and gods too seriously, she will inevitably be criticized by her colleagues and her career will not be smooth. The wet footprints thing did make her feel uneasy, but she was definitely not as frightened as Ke Chengxing.

Hurrying to ask someone to do something for you seems like you have a ghost in your heart.

The maid reminded again: "Speaking of which, the lady in front said that she threw herself into the pool because she was crazy. Could it be..."

“That’s all nonsense!” Mrs. Qin scolded, “You dare to say anything out loud. Then who can Mrs. Lu blame for her short life? Is it possible that this is also my fault?”

However, although she refuted the maid, Grandma Ke couldn't help but have some doubts in her heart. So when she met Uncle Ke in the evening, Mrs. Qin took the initiative to talk about Mr. Lu and asked Ke Chengxing: "Speaking of which, Mr. Lu is a Tou Chi Are you going? It’s so good, why can’t you think about it this far?”

Ke Chengxing had not yet drank the tea when he heard Mrs. Qin's words. His face stiffened and his tongue straightened. It took him a long time to say: "Why do you suddenly think of Mrs. Lu?"

Mrs. Qin looked at his face and said, "Isn't this the recent Taoist priest saying that there is something sinister in our house? I wonder if it is..."

"No!" Before she could finish speaking, Ke Chengxing interrupted her categorically and said sternly: "Ms. Lu has died a long time ago. This house has been stable for two years, how could it be her!" He said again and again Quickly and urgently, not knowing whether to convince Qin or himself, he put the teacup on the table and said, "It's getting late, I'm going to see my mother."

Ke Chengxing hurried out of the house, looking at his back as if he had fled. Mrs. Qin looked at the cold tea on the table, feeling a little uneasy for some reason.

On the other side, Ke Chengxing left the house and went to Mrs. Ke's courtyard first.

Mrs. Ke had a cold a few days ago.

Perhaps the weather is changeable. Sometimes the sun is shining brightly, and sometimes it’s raining coldly. It’s inevitable to feel the chill between hot and cold.

Mrs. Ke is not feeling well, so she is taking care of herself in the house these days. As soon as Ke Chengxing entered the room, Nanny Li was rubbing Mrs. Ke's legs and called him "Uncle" when she saw him.

Ke Chengxing’s eyebrows were irritated and he only asked Grandma Li to go out first.

Mama Li understood and called all the maids and servants out of the house before leaving. Only Mrs. Ke and Ke Chengxing were left in the house.

Mrs. Ke coughed a few times and looked at him with a frown: "Xing'er, what have you been doing these days? I heard Mrs. Qin said that you invited Taoist priests to come to the house to practice medicine, which made the yard full of smoke. What do you mean!"

　Ke Chengxing did not tell Mrs. Ke about the wet footprints a few days ago. First of all, Mrs. Ke was suffering from cold and ailments. She was afraid that she would worry if she told her, which would delay the course of her illness. Secondly, Ke Chengxing also suspected that he was being careless and that someone was causing trouble behind his back, so he didn't dare to draw conclusions easily.

But now, he is really afraid.

Ke Chengxing looked horrified and shouted in a low voice: "Mother, save me! Mrs. Lu... Mrs. Lu is back!"

"Lu?" Mrs. Ke's face turned cold: "What are you talking about?"

"My son is not talking nonsense," Ke Chengxing said with panic on his face, "These days, there are always some wet footprints in the house. I thought they were brought in by the maids, but none of the maids' soles matched the footprints! That's not all. Sometimes my son wakes up and finds that the clothes have been folded. The clothes are folded so that the four corners are tucked in. This is Lu’s folding method..."

He said in a panic, and Mrs. Ke became angry after hearing this: "That's ridiculous, the Lu family is not the only one in the world who can fold clothes like this? Or the Qin family, or the girls in our yard."

Ke Chengxing shook his head: "My son asked, but they all said they had not folded it. There are also my son's books, which are placed in the wrong position. They are placed according to Lu's old habits. Sometimes you will hear someone crying in the middle of the night." Ke Chengxing looked pale. , as if a frightened bird: "To tell you the truth, my son often dreams about Mrs. Lu at night these days... dreaming that she is dripping wet and coming with her son to claim her life!"

Mrs. Ke said angrily: "Shut up!" Ke Chengxing suddenly fell silent.

The room was quiet, and the firelight in the candlestick danced, casting a thin layer of firelight on Ke Chengxing's face, making his eyes even more terrifying and lifeless, and he didn't even look like a living person.

Mrs. Ke felt a sense of depression in her heart.

This son has been pampered by his family since he was a child. He is otherwise fine except for being timid. In the past, when the old man was still alive, he had scolded him many times for this matter. He always felt that the eldest son and his wife had a temperament that made it difficult for them to achieve great things.

Until the Lu incident, Ke Chengxing showed a decisiveness and ruthlessness that was completely different from the past.

This actually made Mrs. Ke feel relieved. After all, when one is responsible for the rise and fall of a profession, it is better to be the master with a cruel heart than a soft one.

However, nearly two years had passed since Lu's incident, and it was at this time that Ke Chengxing fell into a mad rage.

It doesn't matter if he goes crazy himself, but now that Qin has entered the house, it will be bad if Qin finds out the clues and becomes suspicious.

Mrs. Ke is old and does not believe in ghosts and gods. It is impossible to say that the Ke family's business has not been stained with blood at all. Everyone is dead, even ghosts can do nothing.

 Besides, the Lu family ended up in such a fate, and they couldn't blame the Ke family. If there is a blame and a debtor, it is time to find the culprit.

Seeing that Ke Chengxing was still in shock, Mrs. Ke slowed down her tone and said: "Xing'er, there is probably someone behind this, so you can't mess with it. If you think about it carefully, if it were really the ghost of the Lu family, he would have been looking for you a long time ago. Fate, what are you doing with this mystery?"

She hadn't recovered from the cold yet, so she stopped to calm down for a while after saying a few words: "I think most of the people in this hospital have different intentions. I haven't recovered from my illness yet, so I will first send Aunt Li to help you check the people in your hospital. . When I recover, I will find that person, and then I will see which kid is causing trouble."

"Don't panic now. Qin will see that something is wrong. Don't go to those Taoist priests to do it. If the word leaks and spreads, it will cause trouble."

She called Ke Chengxing, who was still lost in thought: "Xing'er?"

Ke Chengxing suddenly came back to his senses and was about to speak when he saw Mrs. Ke's sick and haggard appearance. He swallowed the words that came to his mouth and just responded in a low voice.

 After talking to Mrs. Ke for a few more words, Nanny Li came in to help Mrs. Ke take medicine, and Ke Chengxing withdrew.

As soon as he left the house, Wanfu came up to him outside the door and asked, "Sir, what did the old lady say?"

Ke Chengxing slowly shook his head and said in a frustrated tone: "Mother doesn't believe what I say."

Wanfu was startled: "Madam, don't you even believe me?"

Ke Chengxing smiled bitterly: "My mother has always attached great importance to the reputation of the Ke family. She is just afraid that my shameless behavior of fearing ghosts and gods will spread and make the Ke family a joke... How could she know my difficulties!"

Wanfu said hurriedly: "Young man knows that I am in trouble. Don't worry, sir. Even if your body is broken into pieces, you will still protect your safety."

After saying these loyal words, Ke Chengxing looked at Wan Fu with a touch of emotion and sighed: "Wan Fu, now you are the only one in this house who believes in me."

Everyone thought he was possessed by a demon, but Wanfu believed his words firmly. It was Wanfu's idea to find a Taoist priest to do it. Unfortunately, it only lasted a few days. After the Taoist priests left, the previous abnormalities reappeared.

It must be that Mr. Lu’s ghost is too fierce, but now Mr. Qin and Mrs. Ke probably won’t agree to him inviting a Taoist priest again. He will be tortured by Lu's ghost again, and he doesn't know when the end will be.

Wanfu thought for a while and suddenly said: "Sir, I have an idea."

 “What’s the idea?”

"Isn't there going to be a Green Lotus Festival in a few days?" Wan Fu approached Ke Chengxing and whispered: "They say that the Bodhisattva of Wan'en Temple is very spiritual. Please take advantage of the Green Lotus Festival on the first day of April to go to Wan'en Temple and ask for help. Bodhisattva. In this important place of Buddhism, no matter how ferocious Lu's ghost is, he can't even be afraid of Bodhisattva, right?"

Ke Chengxing’s eyes lit up and he said to himself: “That’s a good idea.”

After a moment, he clasped his hands together, his voice a little excited, and ordered Wanfu: "Quickly, ask someone to prepare some sesame oil, rice candles, and we will go to Wan'en Temple in two days!"

 (End of this chapter)