To Raise a Soul 6

The wooden wedge was worn, and there were no replacements in the toolbox. 

After repairing the broken door frame, Yin Yan walked out of the temple and brought back a block of sturdy wood. 

“Hatchet and planer.” 

Immediately, Yu Zhen found and handed over the tools. 

Accepting the tools, Yin Yan then efficiently cut the wood into uniform sections. His stance and motion were relaxed as if cutting tofu instead of wood.

Yu Zhen’s eyes widened slightly. He didn’t expect the ill and feeble-looking Yin Yan to cut the wood effortlessly.

In comparison, the image of him straining to chop wood several days ago was pathetic.

After cutting the wooden blocks to size, Yin Yan examined the planing tool and worked on the wooden blocks.

As bark and sawdust flew, the chopped wood slowly changed shape. A new wooden wedge gradually took form in Yin Yan’s hands. 

Yu Zhen felt the urge to applaud him. 

Once the new wooden wedge was inserted, Yin Yan set down the tools and lifted the door. He moved the door onto the doorframe and said to Yu Zhen, “Give me a hand.”

“Ah? Oh, oh.” 

Promptly, Yu Zhen retracted his hands which were about to start clapping, closed the toolbox, and walked over. He reached out and held the door in place. 

While they were squatting, Yu Zhen didn’t notice their height difference, but once they stood side by side, he discovered Yin Yan was very tall. Looking up, he also noticed Yin Yan’s handsomeness.

How could there be such a good-looking person in the world? His facial features weren’t too different from other handsome men, but somehow, he still looked much more so. Each casual movement of his hands and head carried a fascinating appeal.

That wasn’t right. 

Yu Zhen vaguely felt something was wrong with him. His reactions were unusual. As he approached Yin Yan, the faint warmth from the other person made him unable to think clearly about what was amiss.

“Hold this part.”

The back of his hand suddenly warmed up. The hand he was staring at a moment ago moved over and covered his. It gently shifted his hand to the upper section of the door. After making sure his grip was tight enough, Yin Yan naturally moved his hand away.

His hand was very pale, slender, and good-looking. It looked cold, but when their hands touched, Yu Zhen felt the warmth of his hand. He almost couldn’t resist holding the man’s hand back.

Yin Yan moved around the door and began to put the door back in its place.

The old fashioned door was covered with familiar veined patterns which Yu Zhen studied. As his gaze swept over the surface, he noticed the remaining traces of yellow talisman paper. He abruptly took a step back.

Some distance was put between him and the warmth. At the same time, a burst of wind dispersed some of the odd atmosphere. 

The blank expression on Yu Zhen’s face gradually cleared, and his muddled head began to work normally again. Everything before his eyes seemed strange and suspicious.

The guests appeared suddenly. The man hugged him and took the initiative to fix the door. Everything was weird.

Tightening his grip on the door, Yu Zhen suppressed a feeling of dread and asked, “You. . . Who are you?”

Was it a person? A ghost? Or a demon that confused the hearts of humans?

The knocking stopped. A pale hand extended from behind the door and gripped a lower section of the door. The door was gently lifted up.

“It’s crooked.”

After a few more knocks, Yin Yan stepped out from behind the door with the hammer in hand. He gently brushed off wood shavings from his sweater and replied, “I’m Yin Yan, the person you saved half a month ago in the red sports car. I’ve come to express my thanks.”

Half a month ago? Sports car?

He recalled the scene from that night. There was a body that gradually turned cold. A scene filled with blood. . . And a finger that twitched suddenly.

Yu Zhen’s face became deathly pale, and he let go of the door. As he stared at Yin Yan’s pale face, his heart tightened. He carefully took a step backward, then ran back to the temple and slammed the door shut.

Click.

He locked the door.

“Amitayus Buddha, Great Founders, please protect me.Tian ling ling di ling ling. May the demons scatter.”

With hands clasped in front of his face and his back against the door, he chanted phrases he learned from his grandfather and from television. Fear and nervousness grew with each passing moment, causing him to almost burst out in tears.

Before even solving the mystery of the peach flowers, the moving corpse had shown up. What to do? What should he do?

“Grandpa, save me.”

He looked at his grandpa’s portrait and remembered the protective bead. He reached into his pocket but found it empty. In a frantic state, he lit candles and joss sticks to worship the image of his grandfather and the statues of the Great Founders. 

Knock knock.

“Yu Zhen, open the door.”

A cool voice sounded from beyond the door. Without the distraction of being face-to-face, the voice sounded familiar. 

The forgotten memories emerged. Yu Zhen knelt on a cushion and trembled. The small amount of courage he possessed had been scared away. With jumbled thoughts, Yu Zhen randomly recited the values of a socialist system.

“Prosperity, democracy, culture, harmony, freedom, equality, justice. . . No ghosts. There are no such things as ghosts in this world. It’s all lies. It’s all fake.”

He chanted to convince himself. Following the upward movement of smoke from the joss stick, his gaze landed on the statues of the Great Founders. The statues of the Great Founders which he grew up with appeared to have changed. Taking in a shaky breath, Yu Zhen threw away the joss sticks and ran towards the backyard. 

Yin Yan stopped knocking and sighed quietly. He easily pushed open the door, as if the locks were of no consequence. 

“Still so timid.”

“Brother! What happened? Why did he run away?”

Yin Le quickly made his way over.

The two people were working together very harmoniously moments ago. Why did future sister-in-law suddenly run off? He didn’t even say a word to them first.

“He was scared,” Yin Yan replied. He held out a hand to prevent his brother from entering the temple. Looking at the half-repaired temple door, he quietly said, “Someone is coming.”

“Huh?”

Like his brother, Yin Le stopped to look at the courtyard’s door.

The village head, Old Huang, received news from the children who went up the hill to catch rabbits. They informed him someone was walking around the temple. Old Huang, guessing Yu Zhen must have returned for the New Year, visited with a portion of the New Year’s subsidies and some gifts.

When he arrived at the temple, he saw the door was open, and a black car was parked outside. He looked back at the car with puzzlement while stepping over the temple’s threshold. 

Why was there a car? Did Yu Zhen buy a car?

“Yu Zhen, the village has gifted everyone with an allowance. You-“

As they did not pay much attention to manners in the countryside, the village head called out to Yu Zhen as soon as he entered the temple grounds. When he turned his head back toward the temple, he saw Weng Xiping, a man in his thirties with gold-rimmed glasses, standing close to the doorway. The village head asked in surprise, “Who are you?”

He then noticed two young men standing by the temple’s door. Both were dressed in expensive clothes. With one glance, it was clear they came from the city. Recalling the car outside, he lowered his voice and politely spoke, “You must be Yu Zhen’s guests. I’m the village head. I’ve come to give him something. Do you know where he is?”　

While talking, he took a measure of the guests. Unexpectedly, he felt he shouldn’t have come. 

With such refined friends, Yu Zhen probably did well for himself in the city. He might not care about the little gift of rice crisp cakes. Yu Zhen was a careless kid. How could he let the guests stand there instead of inviting them in?

Yin Le and Weng Xiping did not speak. They simply looked at Yin Yan.

Yin Yan first gazed at the reliable-looking village head then at the open back door and the backyard beyond it. His presence became more friendly as he approached Old Huang.

. . .

“Ah! So it turns out you’re here to express thanks. You’re welcome, you’re welcome. Yu Zhen, this child, he has such small courage. It’s all Old Man Yu’s fault. Who asked him to fill the child’s head with strange stories to scare him. Wait here, I’ll get him to come out. ”

After listening to Yin Yan’s explanation, the sternness and politeness on Old Huang’s face disappeared. He warmly greeted the three people and sat them down by a side table in the hall before walking towards the backyard. 

“I didn’t expect someone who lived in a temple would be afraid of ghosts,” Yin Le whispered. “And Brother, how does your appearance look like a ghost’s? You’re obviously so good-looking. . .”

Yin Yan looked away from the cold peach blossom congee and replied, “During the accident, I passed out and was covered in blood. It’s normal Yu Zhen would misunderstand.”

Yin Le was stunned. He didn’t expect a serious explanation to his comments. The reply was even in defense of Yu Zhen. He stepped on Weng Xiping’s foot under the table. 

The pain made Weng Xiping sit up straight and turn to him with an indescribable expression.

Yin Le gave him a meaningful look.

Weng Xiping returned a confused look.

Truly, a pig teammate!

Yin Le ground his teeth as he paved the road himself. Feigning nonchalance, Yin Le asked, “So you’ve now officially met each other. Big Brother, what do you think of Yu Zhen? Do you still. . . like him?”

Yin Yan looked at him and didn’t speak. 

“. . . Ah. I just wanted to check. I didn’t have other reasons.”　

Yin Le absolutely would not admit he wanted to gossip. He guiltily avoided the gaze directed at him and coughed to cover up the awkwardness. He continued, “Since you like him, Brother-not that I’m trying to dampen your enthusiasm, but from Yu Zhen’s reaction don’t you think your chances of winning him over are a bit. . . And we’re about to head back to B City. What will you do next? After the New Year’s will you continue to chase him?”

Instead of replying, Yin Yan picked up the cold congee and headed to the backyard.

“???”

Yin Le called out, “Brother, Brother, what are you doing?”

“Sit.” Yin Yan ordered.

The butt that Yin Le had lifted immediately sank back down. He sat very obediently. After two seconds, he couldn’t believe he was scared to that extent, but he no longer had the nerve to chase after his brother.

In the backyard, Yu Zhen was coaxed back by Old Huang. After repeatedly confirming the man standing opposite him was the real village head, he loosened his grasp on the wooden sword. Using a strained smile, Yu Zhen said, “Un-Uncle Huang. It’s not necessary. I’ve got all the food and drink I need. Y-you should give these to the village’s elderly, widows, and orphans instead.”

“Child, there’s no need to be so polite. We still have plenty. We have a portion for you. But this peach wood sword, isn’t it your grandad’s treasure. Why did you bring it out?”

Old Huang held his arm gently. He dragged Yu Zhen towards the temple while he chuckled, “You’re so timid. You’ve saved people. It’s a good thing. What are you afraid of? Instead of saying the person is living well, you say they’re already dead. As their savior, even if they become a ghost, they wouldn’t harm you. Quickly, go accompany your guests. You have to properly entertain them.”

Yu Zhen shook his head madly. He reached out a hand and clung tightly onto a pillar on the porch. His teeth clattered as he trembled from fear and cold. His grip tightened on the wooden sword, causing his knuckles to turn white. Without a word, his resistance was clearly expressed.