charming young woman

The charming young woman,
Su Ying, is a beautiful woman with a great figure. She wore a long, strappy dress that showed off her long, slender legs. On her feet were white high-heeled sandals, the kind with two thin straps across the instep—very sexy sandals—and her toes were delicate and fair. She sat opposite me. I would say she was a very well-maintained woman; her shoulder-length, layered hair and sweet smile were quite alluring.

My name is Meng Zichen, and I live in a small town on the border of northern Anhui.

I've lived with my grandfather since I was a child. We run a funeral clothing shop in town, but the profits are meager, just enough to make ends meet.

In the corner of the shop, there's an old coffin that's been there for many years.

Every so often, my grandfather would personally apply a coat of black lacquer to that coffin, doing so very carefully and meticulously.

Over the years, whenever someone came to the shop wanting to buy a coffin, Grandpa would always order a custom-made one, never intending to sell this old coffin.

I asked Grandpa why he treasured this coffin so much.

Grandpa smiled and said that this coffin was for himself. He also said that when he died, the coffin must be sealed with peach wood nails, never iron nails or anything like that.

Sometimes I couldn't understand what Grandpa said; it seemed like a fairy tale. Gradually, after getting used to it, I didn't think much about the coffin.

Until that day…

It was a hot day at the end of July. Grandpa had gone out to visit friends, and I was alone in the shop. I was leaning on the glass counter, the fan blowing on me, playing on my phone, feeling lazy and listless.

Around noon, a soft cough came from outside the shop. I lazily looked up and was stunned by what I saw.

Outside the funeral shop, there was a person.

An old woman, who looked to be in her seventies, a little hunched over, holding a black umbrella, stood there quietly.

What stunned me was the old woman's attire.

Despite the sweltering heat, she wore long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, completely covered up – an autumn/winter outfit that looked unbearably hot.

Her face was covered in wrinkles, like old tree bark. Patches of age spots clung to her face, giving her a somewhat eerie

appearance. As I stared at her, the old woman grinned, a smile that sent a chill down my spine.

"May I come in?"

the old woman asked, her voice hoarse and sinister.

I blinked, a strange feeling creeping over me.

The door was open; she could just walk in, why was she asking me?

I quickly stood up, forcing a professional smile, and said, "Please come in. What would you like to buy?"

The old woman didn't respond. She walked into the funeral shop, holding a black umbrella, and slowly strolled around, looking at everything.

This doesn't seem like someone who's here to buy anything!

Besides, when the old woman walked into the shop, I smelled a strange odor.

It was a rotten smell, somewhat like the distinctive pungent smell of an old person, but stronger and more unpleasant.

I frowned slightly, looked at the old woman, and softly asked again, "What do you need?"

The old woman still ignored me. She walked to the old black coffin in the corner of the funeral shop, stretched out her withered hand, and gently stroked the coffin.

"How much is this coffin?"

Hearing the old woman's hoarse voice, I was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Oh, that coffin isn't for sale. If you want it, we can customize it, thick or thin..."

"If it's not for sale, why is it sitting here?" The old woman interrupted me directly, squinting at me, her smile seeming even more sinister, and said, "Fifty thousand yuan. If you agree, we'll trade now, how about it?"

As soon as she said this, my heart skipped a beat, and my eyes became wary of her.

I'm pretty sure I'm certain this old woman is mentally ill. She's bundled up in the sweltering heat, demanding 50,000 yuan for a coffin—what else could she be but a lunatic?

Even if she really did have 50,000 yuan, I wouldn't dare take it. First, I can't afford to mess with a mentally ill person, and second, this coffin is definitely not for sale. If I dared to sell it, given how much my grandfather treasures it, he'd beat me to death when he got back.

I coughed lightly, smiled apologetically, and said cautiously, "I'm really sorry, this coffin isn't for sale. If you want a ready-made coffin now, you can check other shops. The fifth shop on the right after you go out is also a funeral supplies shop; they have ready-made coffins there..."

"Forget it, I'm not buying it!" The old woman interrupted me, looking at me with a half-smile, and said, "What's your name?"

"Huh?" I was slightly taken aback, looking at her warily, and said, "What? If you're not buying anything, then please..."

"Meng Qianzhen is your grandfather, isn't he!" she interrupted me again.

Before I could respond, her somewhat sharp fingernails scratched a thin line across the coffin. The friction between her nails and the coffin lid produced a chilling sound,

like the unintentional scratching of chalk on a blackboard during a school day—very unsettling.

This old woman was deliberately trying to cause trouble!

I frowned at her, somewhat impatiently asking, "What exactly do you want?"

The old woman chuckled, looking at the black coffin. Her withered fingers tapped the coffin lightly twice, and she said in a strange, soft voice, "This coffin was prepared for him, wasn't it? Good, very good..."

Then, ignoring me, she walked straight out of the shop.

Stepping out of the shop and opening her black umbrella, she paused slightly, turned around, and gave me a somewhat eerie smile. "By the way," she said, "the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month is an auspicious day. I'll arrange a marriage for you. Let's get it done that day. Tell your grandfather to get ready!"

Before I could reply, the old woman quickly left, umbrella in hand.

Watching her retreating figure, I snorted angrily, "Sick!"

I was convinced this old woman was mentally ill, acting strangely for no reason, so I didn't take her words to heart. It wasn't

until evening that Grandpa returned, drunk. The two of us chatted for a while, had a simple dinner, and then went upstairs to sleep.

Our shop was a two-story building; the downstairs was the funeral shop, and the upstairs was my and Grandpa's living quarters—two bedrooms and a living room, about forty square meters.

Late at night, I tossed my phone aside, preparing to sleep, when I heard a noise. The sound was a dull

thud

. At first, I didn't pay much attention, but after several repetitions, I realized something was wrong.

The sound wasn't coming from Grandpa's room, but from downstairs.

A thief?

I jumped out of bed, grabbed a small wooden stool from the room, and quietly opened the door. I didn't call out to Grandpa; after all, he was old, and I didn't want him to be frightened.

Without turning on the light, I gripped the stool tightly and tiptoed downstairs, my heart pounding with anxiety.

Although the light was off, the moonlight streaming in from the window allowed me to vaguely make out the scene inside the funeral shop downstairs.

No one was there!

The doors and windows were intact and tightly closed.

I breathed a sigh of relief, turned on the light, and smiled helplessly, inwardly mocking myself for being paranoid.

Even if there were thieves, they wouldn't steal from a funeral shop!

Just as I was about to turn off the light and go upstairs to sleep, I glanced at the coffin in the corner out of the corner of my eye and froze.

The coffin lid was slightly off-center, quite noticeable.

My heart, which had just relaxed, jumped again. I stared intently at the coffin, my eyes twitching, and my grip on the small wooden stool tightened.

The coffin was fine before I went to sleep last night; someone had clearly moved it.

The doors and windows were tightly closed and intact, so how did the coffin lid shift?

As this question arose in my mind, and I even felt a little panicked, I suddenly heard light footsteps behind me, which startled me.

I quickly turned around and saw it was Grandpa, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Grandpa's face was grim. His gaze was fixed on the coffin, ignoring me as he strode towards it.

Reaching the coffin, his expression darkened further as he looked at the misaligned lid.

"Zichen, did someone touch this coffin during the day?" Grandpa asked, his voice heavy with worry.

Chapter Two: Sleeping in the Coffin

"No…uh!"

I stammered, then paused, startled.

Only the old woman had come during the day, leaving a thin mark on the coffin. But the misaligned lid shouldn't be related to that, right?

I glanced at the lid and was surprised to find a faint handprint besides the mark—it looked strangely imprinted on the lid.

What happened?

Who did it?

Grandpa, his face grim, his eyes darting around, stared at the handprint on the lid, saying nothing.

He pushed open the coffin lid and looked inside. His face instantly turned completely black, his lips twitched, and he gritted his teeth, muttering hatefully, "Damn it..."

I followed his gaze into the coffin and was immediately dumbfounded.

Inside, a set of red and black clothes lay quietly. The style resembled the attire of an ancient groom, but this clothing wasn't made of cloth; it was made of paper. The dyed paper clothes had a pungent smell; the red was bright, the black deep, the two colors blending together to create a strong visual contrast.

My heart skipped a beat, a nameless panic gripping me. At

that moment, for some reason, I remembered the old woman's last words, about arranging a marriage for me.

I couldn't help but shiver, my heart trembling. My gaze drifted into the coffin, and besides the paper clothes, I saw what appeared to be a black piece of paper with writing on it.

Just as I was about to examine what was written on it, Grandpa suddenly reached out and pulled me away from the coffin.

"Zichen, you go upstairs first!"

Grandpa's voice was deep and authoritative.

I felt a little nervous, but mostly confused. Seeing Grandpa's grim expression, I nodded knowingly, said nothing, and went upstairs.

Back in my room, I was wide awake. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I was lost in thought, pondering what I had just witnessed.

Whose handprint was on the coffin lid?

Who left the paper clothes inside the coffin?

Judging from Grandpa's expression, he seemed to know something. What was going on?

Lost in thought, Grandpa opened my door a short while later.

He sat beside me, looking at me solemnly, and said, "Tell me everything that happened during the day, don't leave anything out!"

I calmed my racing emotions and recounted the strange old woman from the day before.

After listening to me, Grandpa pondered for a moment, lost in thought.

After a while, he sighed deeply. I don't know if it was my imagination or what, but I felt that Grandpa seemed to have aged a lot all of a sudden.

He stood up gently, patted my shoulder, and said softly, "Alright, go to sleep!"

Without any further explanation, Grandpa simply walked away.

I couldn't help myself anymore. Looking at Grandpa's back, I cautiously asked, "Grandpa, do you know that old woman?"

Grandpa paused, his back to me, and said softly, "Yes, an old acquaintance!"

I wanted to ask more, but Grandpa didn't give me the chance. He walked out of my room and closed the door behind him.

That night, I slept very restlessly, having many nightmares.

In my dreams, I always saw that set of paper clothes and the old woman's eerie smile. I was awakened several times throughout the night.

The next morning, I got up listlessly, yawning constantly. After washing up, I felt a little better and went downstairs.

Grandpa was already up. Instead of going for a stroll in the park with the other old men as usual, he was sitting in front of the glass counter, looking at a calendar on the counter.

On the calendar, Grandpa had circled the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month several times.

It seemed he was also troubled by this matter.

In just one night, the wrinkles on his forehead seemed to have increased considerably.

"Grandpa!" I, who had suppressed my curiosity all night, couldn't hold back any longer and cautiously asked, "Can you tell me what's going on? I didn't sleep well at all, this…"

"Someone wants to wipe out the Meng family line!" Grandpa interrupted me abruptly.

While I was stunned, Grandpa stood up, walked to the entrance of the funeral shop, sat down on the threshold, lit his pipe, and puffed away.

I snapped out of my daze, quickly walked to his side, squatted down beside him, and looked at him anxiously, waiting for him to continue.

After a long while, just as I was starting to get impatient, Grandpa spoke again.

“If I’d known she’d find this place, I should have sent you out to work right after you graduated from high school. That way, she wouldn’t have seen you. Now look what’s happened, there’s no escaping it… A wedding on the fifteenth of July, huh, what a damn good day!”

Hearing Grandpa mutter like this, I stared at him wide-eyed and exclaimed in surprise, “Grandpa, you’re not serious, are you?! A wedding? I don’t even know who she is! That old woman is a complete lunatic!”

Grandpa didn’t look at me, smoking his cigarette, squinting his eyes, and said softly, “She’s not a lunatic… much more troublesome than a lunatic!”

As he spoke, Grandpa tapped the ash from his cigarette on the stone steps, and as if he had made a decision, he said to me very seriously, "I have to go on a long trip. I'll be back before the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month. During this time, you stay at home and don't go anywhere. Make sure the shop is closed before sunset, and don't open the door for anyone. Also, before you go to bed at night, light an incense stick behind the door. If the incense burns out, you can sleep peacefully. If the incense goes out halfway, you must quickly go to sleep in that coffin. No matter what noise you hear, don't come out. You must stay inside until dawn. Do you understand?"

Grandpa's words left me a little stunned. I stared at him blankly, my heart pounding.

"Grandpa...Grandpa!" I swallowed hard, stammering nervously, "Don't scare me! What you're saying is giving me the creeps!"

Lighting incense and sleeping in a coffin—it all sounds so mystical!

Grandpa didn't explain much, just gave me a deep look, and I saw a sense of helplessness in his eyes.

He patted my shoulder, sighed, and said in a low voice, "Just remember what I said. There are some things I can't say, not because I don't want to, but because I can't say them now. Alright, that's enough. The place is far away, so let's not waste any more time!"

Before I could reply, Grandpa strode away.

When I came to my senses, Grandpa was already far away, leaving me squatting there dumbfounded in front of the funeral shop.

I don't know how the whole day passed; my mind was a mess.

That evening, as Grandpa instructed, I closed the shop before sunset.

As night fell, I took an incense stick, lit it behind the door, and wisps of smoke rose.

Grandpa's last words, though unsettling, also filled me with deep doubt. I nervously watched the burning incense stick.

Nothing happened until it burned out.

I involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief, clearing my mind of the jumbled thoughts, went upstairs, took a shower, and went to sleep.

For several days, nothing unusual occurred, and my tension gradually eased.

Then, a week after Grandpa's passing, one evening, I lit an incense stick behind the door as usual, yawning as I waited for it to burn out.

Just as it was halfway burned, a strange thing happened.

The incense stick suddenly went out!

Without any warning, it felt as if an invisible hand had forcefully extinguished the flame.

Seeing this, my eyes widened instantly, a chill ran down my spine, every hair on my body stood on end, and all sleepiness vanished.

My heart pounded, a nameless panic gripped me. Ignoring whether it was a coincidence or not, I rushed towards the black coffin, trembling slightly.

Pushing open the lid, I quickly slipped inside and laboriously closed it again.

Once inside, I noticed a paper figure, slightly smaller than myself. This paper figure was peculiar; it wore black and red paper clothes, which looked quite strange.

Grandpa must have done this. I didn't have time to ponder his intentions then. I lay on my side in the coffin, my heart pounding, my body tense, my hands and feet trembling—I was incredibly nervous.

After what seemed like an eternity, I heard movement outside the coffin. Footsteps approached, very light.

In the silence, these faint footsteps were extremely jarring; my heart was pounding in my throat.

Who is it?

Chapter Three: Paper Dolls to Ward Off Disaster.

The doors and windows of the funeral shop were all locked from the inside. How did this person get in?

My heart was pounding because this situation was too eerie.

The footsteps grew closer and closer, reaching the coffin before disappearing. I didn't dare breathe, peering nervously through the small crack in the coffin.

Although I didn't understand why Grandpa had told me to hide in this black coffin, there must be a reason.

"Thump, thump, thump..."

A series of soft, muffled thuds came from outside, as if someone was gently knocking on the coffin.

I held my breath, my whole body tense, afraid to move.

The muffled knocking didn't last long; soon, there was no more sound outside.

Gone?

I wasn't sure if the person outside the coffin had left. I remained tense, sweat pouring down my body. After all, hiding in a coffin in such hot weather was incredibly stifling.

After a long while, there was still no sound outside. I breathed a slight sigh of relief, and my tense body relaxed a little.

"Thump~"

My foot lightly kicked the inside of the coffin. I'd been holding that stiff position, and when I relaxed, I accidentally kicked it.

My heart skipped a beat, and my body involuntarily stiffened again.

There was still no movement outside; they must have left!

The coffin was unbearably stuffy. Although I'd followed Grandpa's instructions to sleep in the coffin and not go out, I figured slightly opening the lid for some fresh air would be fine!

I carefully pushed open the lid, and just as I was about to sit up, the lights in the funeral shop suddenly flickered.

The lights went on and off, like the voltage was unstable.

Before I could even react, suddenly, an old face appeared before me, revealing a sinister smile.

It was the old woman I'd seen a few days ago!

Her face was covered in age spots, and the putrid, foul smell almost made me vomit.

Besides her chilling smile, what truly made my heart tremble was her eyes.

Her eyes were no longer cloudy; instead, they held a faint, eerie green hue, utterly unsettling.

Startled, I nearly screamed.

Instinctively, I wanted to get up and escape the coffin, but my grandfather's dying words echoed in my mind… Never leave this coffin!

To be honest, I was so terrified my legs were weak; I didn't have the strength to run!

A chilling, unpleasant laugh escaped the old woman's lips. Her voice was hoarse as she said, “A ghost marriage, a pact of yin, requires a little of your blood. I forgot to collect it last time… Don't be afraid, it won't hurt, it'll be over in the blink of an eye!”

The old woman's smile was sinister, the eerie green light in her eyes flickering slightly. She stretched out her withered hand and reached into the coffin.

Her withered hand, with sharp, shiny black nails, accompanied by a faint, fishy stench, reached past me… and directly pinched the paper figure beside me.

Huh?

Although I was frightened, I was still quite surprised by the old woman's actions.

What did this mean?

"Why aren't you saying anything? Scared silly?" The old woman spoke again with a sinister smile, her sharp, black fingernails digging into the paper figure's neck with considerable force.

Judging from her expression, it seemed she mistook the paper figure for me?

Was this old woman crazy or blind?

I didn't dare to utter a sound, holding my breath and staring wide-eyed at this bizarre scene.

The paper figure, of course, couldn't speak. The old woman frowned, the eerie green light in her eyes seeming to brighten slightly.

A hint of doubt appeared on her face, then was replaced by a sinister look. She tightened her grip on the paper figure's neck, her sharp, black nails piercing through it.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

"Thud..."

The sound of a sharp blade entering flesh rang out, and simultaneously, the old woman let out a painful scream.

I clearly saw that the instant the old woman's nails pierced the paper figure's neck, the paper figure moved!

Several thin, long, sharp bamboo strips burst from the paper figure, instantly piercing the old woman's arm, leaving deep wounds.

It felt like a mechanism, waiting for its prey to take the bait.

"Ah~"

The old woman let out a shrill scream, violently shaking her arm, trying to break free from the paper figure. However, the sharp bamboo strips that had burst from the paper figure were embedded too deeply in her arm, and the old woman couldn't break free.

At the wound on her arm, I noticed that what was flowing out wasn't bright red blood, but a dark liquid! And this black liquid was accompanied by a strong, pungent, fishy odor.

How could normal human blood be black?

The thought had barely formed in my mind when the old woman roared like a madwoman, dragging the paper figure out of the coffin, and tearing and slapping it repeatedly with her other hand.

The black and red paper clothes on the paper figure were instantly torn to shreds, revealing the bamboo skeleton underneath.

"Meng Qianzhen, you old bastard, you've tricked me again!"

the old woman roared angrily, her eyes gleaming with a bright green light, her face contorted with a vicious expression, staring intently at me lying in the coffin.

"Paper dolls to ward off disaster, fine, you've got guts!" The old woman ignored the paper doll hanging on her arm, as if she only now truly saw me. Her face was filled with a

sinister and ferocious expression as she hissed through gritted teeth, "Since that's the case, don't blame this old woman for being ruthless!" As soon as she finished speaking, her other hand suddenly reached out, her sharp nails aimed directly at my neck.

If I were hit, I would be crippled if not dead!

Lying in the coffin, I had no way to avoid it. In my tense panic, I instinctively crossed my arms and raised them, trying to block the old woman's attack.

"Boom~"

Just then, a loud bang echoed throughout the funeral shop, seemingly coming from the side of the shop door. Lying in the coffin, I didn't know what was happening.

With this loud bang, the old woman's grip on me suddenly froze, and an extremely painful expression appeared on her aged and ferocious face as she let out a shrill scream.

"Meng Qianzhen...you dare!"

Chapter Four Dead?

The old woman's shrill scream made me pause for a moment.

Grandpa's back?

Before I could even process what was happening, the old woman's piercing screams abruptly stopped. She froze beside the coffin, her contorted expression of pain gone, and the eerie green light in her eyes dimmed.

"Don't just stand there, get out!"

That was... Grandpa's voice?

I carefully rose from the coffin and peeked out.

It was indeed Grandpa, standing behind the old woman, his face grave.

The funeral shop's door was wide open, dilapidated, as if it had been violently smashed open.

"Grandpa!" I scrambled out of the coffin, my limbs trembling, still shaken.

Grandpa ignored me, his gaze fixed on the old woman's back.

Only then did I notice several black nails stuck in her back, made of some unknown material. One nail was stuck in the back of her neck, another in her tailbone, and the rest in her ribs!

That's how he immobilized the old woman?

It seems so mystical!

Before I could ask, Grandpa grabbed the old woman and, like lifting a chick, placed her in the coffin.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, a black nail, about half a foot long, appeared in his hand, which he plunged into the old woman's heart.

The old woman's body trembled violently, the dim light in her eyes gradually disappearing, leaving her lifeless.

Dead?

Although this old woman was strange, watching Grandpa kill her still made my heart pound wildly.

Grandpa's technique seemed too practiced!

At this moment, Grandpa gave me a strange feeling, something was off!

Grandpa took out a small, palm-sized bronze mirror from his pocket, placed it upside down on the old woman's forehead, and then gently closed the coffin lid.

After doing all this, Grandpa breathed a sigh of relief, looked at me, and said gently, "Were you frightened?"

I stared blankly at Grandpa and nodded blankly.

I had many questions in my mind, but didn't know where to begin.

"Actually, I haven't gone far these past few days. I've been hiding nearby, waiting for this old woman!"

Grandpa sighed softly, looking at me with a complex expression, and said softly, "After hiding for so many years, I never thought she would find me. I know you have many questions, but there are some things I can't tell you right now..."

He paused, seemingly hesitant, and looked at me gently, saying, "After the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, I will tell you something... about your parents!"

Hearing this, I was stunned and subconsciously asked, "Didn't they die in a car accident?"

Grandpa's expression changed, his lips twitched, and he didn't answer my question.

I stared blankly at Grandpa, a great wave of emotion surging within me.

I'm not stupid; seeing Grandpa's expression, I immediately understood that my parents' death was definitely not as simple as a car accident.

I've lived with my grandfather since I was little, never met my parents, and there aren't even any photos of them in the house. My grandfather told me about their death in a car accident, and now it seems he's been hiding a lot from me.

"My parents' situation, how could it be related to this old woman?"

I sensed something unusual in what my grandfather had just said.

"Yes!" My grandfather nodded, glanced at the black coffin, and said softly, "The things here are complicated, and I can't explain them in a short time. I wanted to keep it a secret forever, to let you live an ordinary life, but now it seems my thinking was a bit simplistic! After the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, we'll move, and I'll tell you some things then..."

"Why wait until after the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month? Can't I tell you now?" I interrupted my grandfather anxiously.

My grandfather looked at me deeply, his eyes unfathomable, and said softly, "Don't ask, you'll know when the time comes."

With that, he waved for me to go upstairs to sleep, clearly not wanting to say anything more.

Back in my room upstairs, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time, my mind filled with the old woman's green eyes.

Her eyes gleamed with an eerie green light, and her blood was a foul-smelling black—could a normal person possess such features?

Also, Grandpa's methods were quite eerie!

Finally, there was the matter of my parents. I had no memory of them at all, but after Grandpa said those words tonight, a deep-seated longing welled up within me.

For the next few days, Grandpa went out early and came home late, I don't know what he was busy with. He told me not to go near the black coffin.

At first, I thought the old woman was dead; the weather was hot, and if it wasn't dealt with quickly, the body would easily rot and stink.

But Grandpa said the old woman wasn't dead, just temporarily suppressed, and told me not to worry too much, just stay away from the coffin.

These past few days, I've been on tenterhooks. The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month quietly arrived.

The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month is called the Ghost Festival in our area, and there are many taboos on this day, so by eight or nine o'clock in the evening, there are practically no people on the streets.

That night, Grandpa carefully cleaned the funeral shop, set up a large round table, and laid a black cloth on it.

On the round table, two thick white candles were lit. In the center, a small incense burner held three incense sticks, each about the thickness of a finger, from which wisps of smoke rose.

Besides this, Grandpa had also prepared a jar of yellow wine and several empty bowls, placing them on the round table facing the shop entrance.

I didn't know what Grandpa was planning; he didn't explain, only telling me to sit at the table.

The shop door was open, and above the doorframe, Grandpa had hung a small black wind chime. Then, Grandpa carefully sprinkled a considerable amount of incense ash evenly in front of the shop entrance.

After doing all this, Grandpa came to my side, sat at the large round table, poured himself a bowl of yellow wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Want to be my Meng family's granddaughter-in-law? Let's see if you have the ability!"

Grandpa stared at the shop door, let out a burp, and said with burning eyes, "I want to see what kind of matchmaker that old hag is using. I've been hiding for so many years, but that doesn't mean I can let others mold me..."

Grandpa muttered to himself, drinking yellow wine one sip after another, his eyes fixed on the shop door.

I clung tightly to Grandpa, my heart pounding. My intuition told me that something very exciting was going to happen tonight.

Chapter Five: The Woman in White

Time passed slowly, and it was already late at night.

Grandpa waited patiently and calmly.

"Ding-ding..."

At this moment, the small black wind chime that had been hanging quietly on the door frame began to sway gently, moving on its own without any wind, which was very strange.

Grandpa looked at the shop door, squinted, and said to me as if talking to himself, "They're here!"

I stared wide-eyed at the shop, feeling very nervous.

There was no one there!

The area outside the shop was empty and pitch black, not a soul in sight!

No, something was wrong!

My gaze fell on the area in front of the shop threshold, where Grandpa had previously scattered a thick layer of incense ash. Now, on that ash, a jumble of footprints had appeared out of nowhere.

It looked as if someone had been wandering around on that incense ash.

Seeing this, I felt a chill run down my spine, straight to the back of my head.

A ghost?

This eerie scene made my face turn pale instantly, my teeth chatter, and I involuntarily moved closer to Grandpa.

"Grandpa...Grandpa, this..." I stammered, barely able to get the words out.

"Don't make a sound, just watch!" Grandpa interrupted me directly, not looking at me, still staring in the direction of the shop door, and said in a low voice, "Big ghosts, avoid! Little ghosts, hide! Wandering spirits, retreat!" As

soon as he finished speaking, Grandpa waved his hand, and a large bowl of yellow wine was poured directly outside the door.

The spilled liquor landed on the ash pile outside the shop, and the ash suddenly began to boil, sizzling like something was frying in oil.

Seeing this, Grandpa frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled.

Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in.

This breeze was abrupt and chilling, dispersing the stuffy atmosphere inside the shop, making me shiver involuntarily.

"Ding ding ding..." The small black wind chimes on the doorframe swayed rapidly, their crisp sounds continuous.

At the same time, the flames of the two thick candles on the round table shrank considerably, their once bright flames dimming, a faint green glow appearing in the light.

Grandpa's face suddenly turned grim, his eyes grave, his eye twitching, and he muttered, "What kind of ghost marriage is this old hag pulling? Looks like she's got quite a background!" As soon

as Grandpa finished speaking, the lights in the shop flickered, sometimes bright, sometimes dim.

The temperature plummeted, as if winter had suddenly arrived.

Then, a hazy figure appeared outside the shop—a woman.

When I saw her face clearly, I was completely stunned, staring at her blankly, almost speechless.

Beautiful, so incredibly beautiful!

Bright eyes, white teeth, skin as white as snow, exquisite features—even the actresses on television paled in comparison.

She was slender and curvaceous, dressed in white, her small, delicate feet treading the ground, so alluring that one felt an irresistible urge to hold and caress them. (

Due to space limitations, follow the WeChat public account [Red-Clothed Literature] and reply with the number 17 to continue reading the exciting story!) This woman could be described as peerless, beautiful without being gaudy, breathtakingly so.

The only flaw was that she seemed a little too cold; her beautiful eyes held an indifferent expression, as if she cared nothing for anything.

I'm not the type to forget everything when I see a beautiful woman. After a brief moment of distraction, I quickly regained my senses and looked at the woman in white standing at the shop entrance with mixed feelings.

From what I'd just witnessed, it was clear this woman in white wasn't human.

Was she the ghost bride that old woman had arranged for me?!

If only she weren't a ghost!

As my mind raced with these chaotic thoughts, my grandfather stood up beside me, his gaze fixed intently on the woman in white outside the door. He said in a deep voice, "Young lady, our family has been tricked. We do not agree to this ghost marriage. Please, young lady, show mercy!" As

he finished speaking, my grandfather pulled a piece of black paper from his pocket. This black paper had appeared in the coffin along with the paper clothes some time ago, and I hadn't expected my grandfather to have kept it close to his body all this time.

I was right next to my grandfather. (Due to space limitations, follow the WeChat public account [Red-Clothed Literature] and reply with the number 17 to continue reading the exciting story!) When he took out this black paper, I glanced at it. There were several lines of text written on it, seemingly a person's birth date and time.

Grandpa's hand trembled, and the black paper flew out, drifting towards the woman in white.

The woman in white gently reached out, her delicate hand catching the black paper. After glancing at the writing on it, she lightly rubbed her fingers together, and the paper vanished in a flash of fire.

Having done this, she didn't leave. Instead, she pointed to the black coffin in the corner of the shop and whispered, "Release the witch!"

Her voice was soft, but slightly stiff, as if she hadn't spoken in a long time, though it was very pleasant.

Grandpa's expression changed again, his eyes growing more serious, even showing a hint of wariness and apprehension.

"Young lady, what is your relationship with the witch?" Grandpa said in a deep voice, "She schemed against our Meng family. We finally managed to trap her, I can't just let it go so easily..."

"Ding ding ding..." The black wind chimes on the threshold swayed even more rapidly, interrupting Grandpa's words.

The woman in white ignored Grandpa, lifted her fair, jade-like foot, and slowly stepped over the threshold, one foot lightly landing in the shop.

"Whoosh~" A strong, eerie wind arose, and the surrounding temperature dropped significantly.

"Bang~" A muffled sound rang out, and the small black wind chime hanging on the doorframe shattered.

At the same time, Grandpa's face turned completely black.

The woman in white moved lightly, directly to the large round table. With her arrival, the flames of the two candles on the table had completely turned a ghostly green, a very eerie sight.

She ignored my grandfather and me, grabbed the rice wine on the table, poured herself a bowl, and took a small sip. At the same time, she casually extinguished the three smoldering incense sticks in the small jar with her fair hand. My grandfather stared wide-eyed, looking utterly incredulous.

Su Ying, the clerk at my company, is a beautiful woman with a great figure. She wore a long, strappy dress that showed off her long legs. On her feet were white high-heeled sandals—the kind with two thin straps across the instep, very sexy sandals—and her toes were slender and fair. She sat opposite me. She was the kind of woman who took excellent care of herself; her shoulder-length, tousled hair and sweet smile were undeniably alluring.

My name is Meng Zichen, and I live in a small town on the border of northern Anhui.

I grew up relying on my grandfather, who ran a funeral supplies shop in town. The profits were meager, barely enough to make ends meet.

In the corner of the shop, there was an old coffin that had been there for many years.

Every so often, my grandfather would personally apply a coat of black lacquer to it, working with great care.

Over the years, whenever someone came to the shop wanting to buy a coffin, my grandfather would always order one custom-made, never intending to sell this old one.

I once asked my grandfather why he treasured this coffin so much.

He smiled and said it was for himself. He also said that when he died, the coffin must be sealed with peach wood nails, never iron nails.

Sometimes I couldn't understand what my grandfather said; it seemed like a fairy tale. Gradually, I got used to it and stopped thinking about the coffin.

Until that day…

It was a hot day at the end of July. My grandfather had gone out to visit friends, and I was alone in the shop. Leaning against the glass counter, fan in hand, playing on my phone, I felt utterly listless and lethargic.

Around noon, a soft cough came from outside. I lazily looked up and froze at what I saw. Outside

the funeral shop stood a person.

An old woman, seemingly in her seventies, slightly hunched, holding a black umbrella, standing quietly.

What startled me was her attire.

Despite the sweltering heat, she wore long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, completely covered up—a winter outfit that looked unbearably hot.

Her face was covered in wrinkles, like old tree bark. Patches of age spots clung to her face, somewhat eerie.

As I stared at her, the old woman grinned, a smile that sent a chill down my spine.

"May I come in?"

the old woman asked, her voice hoarse and sinister.

I blinked, a strange feeling creeping over me.

The door was open; you can come in if you want. Why are you asking me what I want?

I quickly stood up, a professional smile on my face, and said, "Please come in. What would you like to buy?"

The old woman didn't respond. She walked into the funeral shop, holding a black umbrella, and slowly paced around, looking at everything.

This didn't seem like she was there to buy anything!

Besides, when the old woman entered the shop, I smelled a strange odor.

It was a rotten smell, somewhat like the distinctive pungent smell of an old person, but stronger and more unpleasant.

I frowned slightly, looked at the old woman, and softly asked again, "What do you need?"

The old woman still ignored me. She walked to the old black coffin in the corner of the funeral shop, stretched out her withered hand, and gently stroked the coffin.

"How much for this coffin?"

Hearing the old woman's hoarse voice, I paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Oh, that coffin isn't for sale. If you want it, we can customize it; thick ones and thin ones are both available..."

"If it's not for sale, why is it just sitting here?" The old woman interrupted me, squinting at me, her smile becoming even more sinister. She said, "Fifty thousand yuan. If you agree, we can trade now, how about it?" As soon as

she said that, my heart skipped a beat, and my eyes became wary of her.

I was basically certain that this old woman was definitely mentally ill. Wrapped up tightly in the sweltering heat, asking for fifty thousand yuan for a coffin—what else could she be but a lunatic?

Even if she really had fifty thousand yuan, I wouldn't dare take it. First, I couldn't afford to offend a lunatic, and second, this coffin really couldn't be sold. If I dared to sell it, given how much my grandfather treasured it, he'd beat me to death when he got back.

I coughed lightly, forcing a smile, and said cautiously, "I'm really sorry, this coffin isn't for sale. If you want a ready-made coffin now, you can check other shops. The fifth shop on the right after you go out is also a funeral supplies shop; they have ready-made coffins there..."

"Never mind, I won't buy it!" The old woman interrupted me abruptly, looking at me with a half-smile, and said, "What's your name?"

"Huh?" I paused slightly, looking at her warily, and said, "What? If you're not buying anything, then please..."

"Meng Qianzhen is your grandfather, isn't he!" she interrupted me again.

Before I could respond, her somewhat sharp fingernail scratched a thin mark on the coffin. The friction between her fingernail and the coffin lid made a chilling sound.

It felt like the sound of a teacher carelessly drawing chalk on the blackboard in school—very unsettling.

"This old woman is deliberately causing trouble!"

I frowned at her, somewhat impatiently asking, "What exactly do you want?"

The old woman chuckled, glancing at the black coffin. She lightly tapped it twice with her withered fingers, and said in a strange, low voice, "This coffin was prepared for him, wasn't it? Good, very good..."

Then, ignoring me, she walked straight out of the shop.

Stepping outside, she opened her black umbrella, paused slightly, turned back, and gave me a somewhat eerie smile, saying, "By the way, the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month is an auspicious day. I'll arrange a marriage for you; let's get it done that day. Tell your grandfather to prepare!"

Without waiting for my reply, the old woman quickly left, umbrella in hand.

Watching her departing figure, I snorted angrily, "Sick!"

I was already convinced the old woman was mentally ill, acting strangely for no reason, so I didn't take her words to heart.

Until evening, Grandpa returned, drunk. The two of us chatted for a while, made a simple dinner, and then went upstairs to sleep.

Our shop was a two-story building; the downstairs was the funeral shop, and the upstairs was my and Grandpa's living quarters, two bedrooms and a living room, about forty square meters.

Late at night, I tossed my phone aside, preparing to sleep, when I heard a noise.

"Thump~"

The sound was a bit muffled. At first, I didn't pay attention, but after several thuds, I realized something was wrong.

The sound wasn't coming from Grandpa's room, but from downstairs.

A thief?

I jumped out of bed, grabbed a small wooden stool from the room, and quietly opened the door. I didn't call Grandpa; after all, he was old, and I didn't want to frighten him.

Without turning on the lights, I gripped the small wooden stool tightly and tiptoed downstairs, my heart pounding with anxiety.

Although the lights were off, the moonlight streaming in through the window allowed me to vaguely make out the scene inside the funeral shop.

No one was there!

The doors and windows were intact and tightly shut.

I breathed a sigh of relief, turned on the light, and smiled wryly, inwardly mocking myself for being overly sensitive.

Even if there were thieves, they wouldn't bother with a funeral shop!

Just as I was about to turn off the lights and go upstairs to sleep, I caught a glimpse of the coffin in the corner of my eye and froze.

The coffin lid was slightly off-center, quite noticeable.

My heart, which had just relaxed, jumped again. I stared intently at the coffin, my eyes twitching, my grip on the small wooden stool tightening.

The coffin had been fine before I went to sleep last night; someone had clearly tampered with it.

The doors and windows were tightly closed and intact, so how did the coffin lid become tilted?

As this question arose in my mind, and I even felt a slight panic, I suddenly heard light footsteps behind me, which startled me.

I quickly turned around and saw it was Grandpa, which relieved me.

Grandpa's face was rather pale, his gaze fixed on the coffin. He ignored me and strode towards the black coffin.

Reaching the coffin, looking at the tilted lid, Grandpa's expression darkened further.

"Zichen, did someone touch this coffin during the day?" Grandpa looked at me and said in a deep voice.

Chapter Two: Sleeping in the Coffin

"No…uh!"

I responded instinctively, but before I could finish, I paused.

During the day, only the old woman had come, leaving a thin mark on the coffin. But the shifting of the coffin lid shouldn't be related to that, right?

I glanced at the coffin lid instinctively and was surprised to find a faint handprint on it, besides the thin mark. It looked strange, like it was imprinted on the lid. What happened? Who

did this ? Grandpa's face darkened, his eyes flickering as he stared at the handprint on the coffin lid, saying nothing. He pushed open the coffin lid and looked inside. His face instantly turned completely black, his lips twitched, and he gritted his teeth, muttering hatefully, "Damn it..." I followed his gaze into the coffin and was immediately dumbfounded. Inside, a set of red and black clothes lay quietly. The style resembled the attire of an ancient groom, but the clothes weren't made of cloth; they were made of paper. The dyed paper clothes had a pungent smell; the bright red and deep black clashed, creating a stark visual contrast. My heart skipped a beat, a nameless panic gripping me. Suddenly, I remembered the old woman's parting words—that she would arrange a marriage for me. A chill ran down my spine, my heart pounding. My gaze drifted to the coffin, where, besides the paper clothes, I saw a piece of black paper with what appeared to be writing on it. Just as I was about to examine it more closely, Grandpa suddenly reached out and pulled me away from the coffin. "Zichen, go upstairs first!" Grandpa's voice was deep and authoritative. I felt a surge of nervousness, but mostly confusion. Seeing Grandpa's grim expression, I nodded knowingly, said nothing, and went upstairs. Back in my room, I was wide awake. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared blankly, pondering the scene I had just witnessed. Whose handprint was on the coffin lid? Who left the paper clothes inside the coffin? Judging from Grandpa's expression, he seemed to know something. What was going on? Lost in thought, Grandpa opened my door a short while later. He sat beside me, looking at me, and said in a serious tone, "Tell me everything that happened during the day, don't leave anything out!" I calmed my chaotic emotions and recounted the strange old woman from earlier that day. After listening to me, Grandpa pondered for a while, lost in thought. After a while, he sighed deeply. I don't know if it was my imagination or what, but Grandpa seemed to have aged considerably all of a sudden. He gently stood up, patted my shoulder, and said softly, "Alright, go to sleep!" Without any further explanation, Grandpa simply walked away. I couldn't hold back any longer. Looking at Grandpa's back, I cautiously asked, "Grandpa, do you know that old woman?" Grandpa paused, his back to me, and whispered, "Yes, an old acquaintance!" I wanted to ask more, but Grandpa didn't give me the chance. He walked out of my room and closed the door behind him. That night, I slept very restlessly, having many nightmares. In my dreams, I always saw that set of paper clothes and that old woman's eerie smile. I was awakened several times throughout the night. The next morning, I got up listlessly, yawning constantly. After washing up, I felt a little better and went downstairs. Grandpa was already up. Instead of going for a stroll in the park with the other old men as usual, he was sitting in front of the glass counter, looking at a calendar on it. On the calendar, Grandpa had circled the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month several times. It seemed that Grandpa was also troubled by this matter. In just one night, the wrinkles on Grandpa's forehead seemed to have increased considerably. "Grandpa!" I couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer after a whole night, and asked cautiously, "Can you tell me what's going on? I didn't sleep well all night, this..." "Someone wants to wipe out the Meng family line!" Grandpa interrupted me directly.

While I was still stunned, Grandpa stood up, walked to the entrance of the funeral shop, sat down on the threshold, lit his pipe, and puffed away.

I snapped out of my daze, quickly walked to his side, and squatted down beside him, watching him anxiously, waiting for him to continue.

After a long while, just as I was starting to get impatient, Grandpa spoke again.

“If I had known she would find this place, I should have sent you out to work right after you graduated from high school, so she wouldn’t have seen you. Now look what’s happened, there’s no escaping it… a wedding on the fifteenth of July, hmph, what a damn good day!”

Hearing Grandpa mutter like this, I stared at him wide-eyed and exclaimed in shock, “Grandpa, you don’t really believe me, do you?! A wedding? I don’t even know who she is! That old woman is a complete lunatic!” Grandpa

didn’t look at me, smoking his pipe, squinting his eyes, and said softly, “She’s not a lunatic… much more troublesome than a lunatic!”

As he spoke, Grandpa tapped his lips on the stone steps … He tapped his cigarette ash, as if making a decision, and said to me very seriously, "I have to go on a long trip. I'll be back before the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month. During this time, you stay at home and don't go anywhere. Make sure the shop is closed before sunset, and don't open the door for anyone. Also, before you go to sleep at night, light an incense stick behind the door. If the incense burns out, you can sleep peacefully. If the incense goes out halfway, quickly go to sleep in that coffin. No matter what noise you hear, don't come out. You must stay inside until dawn, understand?"

Grandpa's words left me a little stunned. I stared at him blankly, my heart pounding.

"Grandpa... Grandpa!" I swallowed hard, stammering nervously, "Don't scare me! What you're saying is so creepy!"

Lighting incense and sleeping in a coffin, it all sounds so mystical!

Grandpa didn't explain much, but gave me a deep look. I saw a helpless expression in his eyes.

Grandpa patted my shoulder, sighed, and said in a deep voice, "Just remember what I said. There are some things I can't say, not because I don't want to, but because I can't say them now. Alright, that's enough. The place is quite far, so let's not waste any more time!"

Before I could reply, Grandpa strode away.

When I came to my senses, Grandpa was already far away, leaving me squatting there dumbfounded in front of the funeral shop.

I don't know how the whole day passed; my mind was a mess.

That evening, as Grandpa instructed, I closed the shop before sunset.

As night fell, I took an incense stick and lit it behind the door, watching the wisps of smoke rise.

Grandpa's words before he left had a chilling effect, but they also filled me with deep doubt. I watched the burning incense with a nervous look.

Nothing happened until the incense burned out.

I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, clearing my mind of the jumbled thoughts, and went upstairs to take a shower and go to sleep.

For several days, nothing unusual happened, and the tension in my heart gradually eased.

Until the night a week after Grandpa left, as usual, I lit an incense stick behind the door, yawning as I waited for it to burn out.

But just as the incense was half-burnt, a strange thing happened.

The incense suddenly went out!

Without any warning, it felt as if an invisible hand had forcefully extinguished the flame.

Seeing this, my eyes widened instantly, a chill ran down my spine, and the hairs on my body stood on end; all sleepiness vanished.

My heart pounded, a nameless panic gripped me, and without caring whether it was a coincidence or not, I rushed, trembling slightly, towards the black coffin.

Pushing open the coffin lid, I quickly crawled inside and laboriously closed it again.

Once inside, I discovered a paper figure, slightly smaller than myself, inside. This paper figure was a bit peculiar; it was dressed in black and red paper clothes, which looked quite strange.

Grandpa must have done this. At that moment, I couldn't think about his intentions. I lay on my side in the coffin, my heart pounding, my whole body tense, my hands and feet trembling—I was extremely nervous.

After what seemed like an eternity, I heard movement outside the coffin. Footsteps approached, very light.

In the silence, these faint footsteps sounded extremely jarring; my heart was pounding in my chest.

Who was it?

Chapter Three: Paper Figures to Ward Off Disaster .

The doors and windows of the funeral shop were all locked from the inside. How did this person get in?

My heart was pounding because this situation was so eerie.

The footsteps grew closer and closer, stopping at the coffin. I didn't dare breathe, peering nervously through the small crack in the coffin.

Although I didn't understand why Grandpa had made me hide in this black coffin, there must have been a reason.

"Thump, thump, thump..."

A series of soft, muffled thuds came from outside, as if someone was gently tapping on the coffin.

I held my breath, my whole body tense, afraid to move.

The muffled tapping didn't last long; soon, there was no more sound outside.

Gone?

I wasn't sure if the person outside the coffin had left. I remained tense, sweat pouring down my body. After all, it was incredibly hot inside the coffin in this sweltering weather.

After a long while, there was still no movement outside. I breathed a slight sigh of relief, and my tense body relaxed a little.

"Thump~"

My foot lightly kicked the inner wall of the coffin. Just as I was maintaining that stiff posture, I relaxed and accidentally kicked it.

My heart skipped a beat, and my body involuntarily stiffened again.

There was still no movement outside; they must have left!

It was unbearably stuffy in the coffin. Although I'd followed Grandpa's instructions to stay inside, I figured slightly opening the lid for some fresh air would help.

I carefully pushed open the lid, and just as I was about to sit up, the lights in the funeral shop suddenly flickered.

The lights went on and off, like the voltage was unstable.

Before I could even process what was happening, a ghastly old face suddenly appeared before me, a sinister smile on its face.

It was the old woman I'd seen a few days ago! Her

face was covered in age spots, and the putrid, foul smell almost made me vomit.

Besides her chilling smile, what truly terrified me were her eyes.

They weren't the cloudy kind anymore; they had a faint, eerie green hue, extremely unsettling.

Startled, I almost screamed.

Instinctively, I wanted to get up and escape from the coffin, but Grandpa's last words echoed in my mind... Never leave this coffin!

To be honest, I was so scared my legs were weak; even if I wanted to run, I wouldn't have the strength!

A harsh, chilling laugh came from the old woman's mouth, her voice hoarse as she said, "A ghost marriage, a pact of yin, requires a little of your blood. I forgot to collect it last time I came... Don't be afraid, it won't hurt, it'll be over in the blink of an eye!"

The old woman's smile was sinister, a faint green light flickering in her eyes. She stretched out her withered hand and reached into the coffin.

Her withered hand, with sharp, shiny black nails, accompanied by a faint stench, reached past me… and directly pinched the paper figure beside me.

Huh?

Although I was startled, I was still surprised by the old woman's actions.

What did this mean?

"Why aren't you making a sound? Scared silly?" the old woman said again with a sinister smile, her sharp black nails digging into the paper figure's neck with considerable force.

It seemed she mistook the paper figure for me?

Was this old woman insane or blind?

I didn't dare utter a sound, holding my breath and staring wide-eyed at this bizarre scene.

The paper figure, of course, couldn't speak. The old woman frowned, the green light in her eyes seeming to brighten slightly.

A hint of doubt appeared on the old woman's face, then was replaced by a sinister look. She tightened her grip on the paper figure's neck slightly, and her sharp, black nails pierced through the neck.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred.

"Thud..."

The sound of a sharp blade entering flesh rang out, and simultaneously, the old woman let out a painful scream.

I clearly saw that the instant the old woman's nails pierced the paper figure's neck, the paper figure moved!

Several thin, long, sharp bamboo strips burst from the paper figure's body, instantly piercing the old woman's arm, leaving deep wounds.

It felt like a mechanism, waiting for its prey to take the bait.

"Ah~"

the old woman let out a shrill scream, desperately shaking her arm, trying to break free from the paper figure. But the sharp bamboo strips that burst from the paper figure were too deeply embedded in her arm; the old woman couldn't break free at all.

At the wound on her arm, I noticed that the blood flowing out wasn't bright red, but a dark liquid! And this black liquid was accompanied by a strong, pungent, fishy odor.

How could normal human blood be black?

The thought had barely formed in my mind when the old woman roared like a madwoman, dragging the paper figure out of the coffin. With her other hand, she began tearing and slapping at the paper figure.

The black and red paper clothes on the figure were instantly ripped to shreds, revealing the bamboo skeleton underneath.

"Meng Qianzhen, you old bastard, you've tricked me again!"

the old woman roared angrily, her eyes gleaming with a green light, her face contorted with a vicious expression as she stared intently at me lying in the coffin.

"Paper dolls to ward off disaster, fine, you've got guts!" The old woman ignored the paper doll hanging on her arm, as if she only now truly saw me. Her face was filled with a

sinister and ferocious expression as she hissed through gritted teeth, "Since that's the case, don't blame this old woman for being ruthless!" As soon as she finished speaking, her other hand suddenly reached out, her sharp nails aimed directly at my neck.

If I were hit, I would be crippled if not dead!

Lying in the coffin, I had no way to avoid it. In my tense panic, I instinctively crossed my arms and raised them, trying to block the old woman's attack.

"Boom~"

Just then, a loud bang echoed throughout the funeral shop, seemingly coming from the side of the shop door. Lying in the coffin, I didn't know what was happening.

With this loud bang, the old woman's grip on me suddenly froze, and an extremely painful expression appeared on her aged and ferocious face as she let out a shrill scream.

"Meng Qianzhen...you dare!"

Chapter Four Dead?

The old woman's shrill scream made me pause for a moment.

Grandpa's back?

Before I could even process what was happening, the old woman's piercing screams abruptly stopped. She froze beside the coffin, her contorted expression of pain gone, and the eerie green light in her eyes dimmed.

"Don't just stand there, get out!"

That was... Grandpa's voice?

I carefully rose from the coffin and peeked out.

It was indeed Grandpa, standing behind the old woman, his face grave.

The funeral shop's door was wide open, dilapidated, as if it had been violently smashed open.

"Grandpa!" I scrambled out of the coffin, my limbs trembling, still shaken.

Grandpa ignored me, his gaze fixed on the old woman's back.

Only then did I notice several black nails stuck in her back, made of some unknown material. One nail was stuck in the back of her neck, another in her tailbone, and the rest in her ribs!

That's how he immobilized the old woman?

It seems so mystical!

Before I could ask, Grandpa grabbed the old woman and, like lifting a chick, placed her in the coffin.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, a black nail, about half a foot long, appeared in his hand, which he plunged into the old woman's heart.

The old woman's body trembled violently, the dim light in her eyes gradually disappearing, leaving her lifeless.

Dead?

Although this old woman was strange, watching Grandpa kill her still made my heart pound wildly.

Grandpa's technique seemed too practiced!

At this moment, Grandpa gave me a strange feeling, something was off!

Grandpa took out a small, palm-sized bronze mirror from his pocket, placed it upside down on the old woman's forehead, and then gently closed the coffin lid.

After doing all this, Grandpa breathed a sigh of relief, looked at me, and said gently, "Were you frightened?"

I stared blankly at Grandpa and nodded blankly.

I had many questions in my mind, but didn't know where to begin.

"Actually, I haven't gone far these past few days. I've been hiding nearby, waiting for this old woman!"

Grandpa sighed softly, looking at me with a complex expression, and said softly, "After hiding for so many years, I never thought she would find me. I know you have many questions, but there are some things I can't tell you right now..."

He paused, seemingly hesitant, and looked at me gently, saying, "After the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, I will tell you something... about your parents!"

Hearing this, I was stunned and subconsciously asked, "Didn't they die in a car accident?"

Grandpa's expression changed, his lips twitched, and he didn't answer my question.

I stared blankly at Grandpa, a great wave of emotion surging within me.

I'm not stupid; seeing Grandpa's expression, I immediately understood that my parents' death was definitely not as simple as a car accident.

I've lived with my grandfather since I was little, and I've never met my parents. There aren't even any photos of them in the house. My grandfather told me about their death in a car accident, and now it seems he's been hiding a lot from me.

"How could my parents' story be related to this old woman?"

From what my grandfather just said, I sensed something unusual.

"Hmm!" Grandpa nodded, glanced at the black coffin, and said softly, "The things here are complicated and can't be explained in a short time. I originally wanted to keep it a secret forever, so you could live an ordinary life. Now it seems my thinking was a bit simplistic! After the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, we'll move. I'll tell you some things then..."

"Why wait until after the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month? Can't you tell me now?" I interrupted Grandpa anxiously.

Grandpa looked at me deeply, his eyes unfathomable, and said softly, "Don't ask. You'll know when the time comes."

With that, Grandpa waved for me to go upstairs to sleep, clearly not wanting to say anything more to me.

Back in my room upstairs, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time, my mind filled with the old woman's green eyes.

Her eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and her blood was a foul-smelling black—could a normal person possess such a thing?

And Grandpa's methods were truly bizarre!

Finally, there was the matter of my parents. I had no memory of them whatsoever, but after Grandpa's words tonight, a deep-seated longing welled up within me.

For the next few days, Grandpa was always out early and back late, I didn't know what he was busy with. He told me not to go near the black coffin.

At first, I thought the old woman was dead; with the hot weather, her body would easily rot and stink if not dealt with quickly.

But Grandpa said the old woman wasn't dead, just temporarily suppressed, and told me not to worry too much, just stay away from the coffin.

These past few days, I've been constantly on edge. The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month quietly arrived.

The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month is called the Ghost Festival in our area, a day with many taboos, so by eight or nine o'clock in the evening, the streets are practically deserted.

That evening, Grandpa meticulously cleaned the funeral shop, set up a large round table, and laid a black cloth on it.

Two thick white candles were lit on the table, and in the center sat a small incense burner with three finger-thick incense sticks inserted, wisps of smoke rising gently.

Besides this, Grandpa also prepared a jar of yellow wine and several empty bowls, placing them on the round table facing the shop entrance.

I didn't know what Grandpa was planning; he didn't explain, only telling me to sit at the table.

The shop door was open, and above the doorframe, Grandpa hung a small black wind chime. Then, he carefully sprinkled a considerable amount of incense ash evenly in front of the shop entrance.

After finishing all this, Grandpa came to my side, sat at the large round table, poured himself a bowl of yellow wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Want to be my Meng family's granddaughter-in-law? Let's see if you have the ability!"

Grandpa stared at the shop door, let out a burp, and said with burning eyes, "I want to see what kind of matchmaker that old hag is using. I've been hiding for so many years, but that doesn't mean I can let others mold me..."

Grandpa muttered to himself, drinking yellow wine one sip after another, his eyes fixed on the shop door.

I clung tightly to Grandpa, my heart pounding. My intuition told me that something very exciting was going to happen tonight.

Chapter Five: The Woman in White

Time passed slowly, and it was already late at night.

Grandpa waited patiently and calmly.

"Ding-ding..."

At this moment, the small black wind chime that had been hanging quietly on the door frame began to sway gently, moving on its own without any wind, which was very strange.

Grandpa looked at the shop door, squinted, and said to me as if talking to himself, "They're here!"

I stared wide-eyed at the shop, feeling very nervous.

There was no one there!

The area outside the shop was empty and pitch black, not a soul in sight!

No, something was wrong!

My gaze fell on the area in front of the shop threshold, where Grandpa had previously scattered a thick layer of incense ash. Now, on that ash, a jumble of footprints had appeared out of nowhere.

It looked as if someone had been wandering around on that incense ash.

Seeing this, I felt a chill run down my spine, straight to the back of my head.

A ghost?

This eerie scene made my face turn pale instantly, my teeth chatter, and I involuntarily moved closer to Grandpa.

"Grandpa...Grandpa, this..." I stammered, barely able to get the words out.

"Don't make a sound, just watch!" Grandpa interrupted me directly, not looking at me, still staring in the direction of the shop door, and said in a low voice, "Big ghosts, avoid! Little ghosts, hide! Wandering spirits, retreat!" As

soon as he finished speaking, Grandpa waved his hand, and a large bowl of yellow wine was poured directly outside the door.

The spilled liquor landed on the ash pile outside the shop, and the ash suddenly began to boil, sizzling like something was frying in oil.

Seeing this, Grandpa frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled.

Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in.

This breeze was abrupt and chilling, dispersing the stuffy atmosphere inside the shop, making me shiver involuntarily.

"Ding ding ding..." The small black wind chimes on the doorframe swayed rapidly, their crisp sounds continuous.

At the same time, the flames of the two thick candles on the round table shrank considerably, their once bright flames dimming, a faint green glow appearing in the light.

Grandpa's face suddenly turned grim, his eyes grave, his eye twitching, and he muttered, "What kind of ghost marriage is this old hag pulling? Looks like she's got quite a background!" As soon

as Grandpa finished speaking, the lights in the shop flickered, sometimes bright, sometimes dim.

The temperature plummeted, as if winter had suddenly arrived.

Then, a hazy figure appeared outside the shop—a woman.

When I saw her face clearly, I was completely stunned, staring at her blankly, almost speechless.

Beautiful, so incredibly beautiful!

Bright eyes, white teeth, skin as white as snow, exquisite features—even the actresses on television paled in comparison.

She was slender and curvaceous, dressed in white, her small, delicate feet treading the ground, so alluring that one felt an irresistible urge to hold and caress them. (

Due to space limitations, follow the WeChat public account [Red-Clothed Literature] and reply with the number 17 to continue reading the exciting story!) This woman could be described as peerless, beautiful without being gaudy, breathtakingly so.

The only flaw was that she seemed a little too cold; her beautiful eyes held an indifferent expression, as if she cared nothing for anything.

I'm not the type to forget everything when I see a beautiful woman. After a brief moment of distraction, I quickly regained my composure and looked at the woman in white standing at the shop entrance with mixed feelings.

From what I'd just witnessed, it was clear this woman in white wasn't human.

She was the ghost bride that old woman had arranged for me?!

If only she weren't a ghost!

As my mind raced with chaotic thoughts, my grandfather stood up beside me, his gaze fixed intently on the woman in white outside the door. He said in a deep voice, "Young lady, our family has been tricked. We do not agree to this ghost marriage. Please, young lady, show mercy!"

With that, he pulled a piece of black paper from his robes. This paper had appeared in the coffin along with the paper clothes some time ago, and I hadn't expected him to keep it so carefully.

I was right beside him. (Due to space limitations, follow the WeChat public account [Red-Clothed Literature] and reply with the number 17 to continue reading the exciting story!) When he took out the black paper, I glanced at it. Several lines of text were written on it, seemingly a person's birth date and time.

My grandfather's hand trembled, and the black paper flew out, drifting towards the woman in white.

The woman in white gently reached out, her delicate hand catching the black paper. After glancing at the writing, she lightly rubbed her fingers together, and the black paper turned into a flame and disappeared.

After doing all this, she didn't leave. Instead, she pointed to the black coffin in the corner of the shop and said softly, "Release the witch!"

Her voice was gentle, but her tone was slightly stiff, as if she hadn't spoken in a long time, though her voice was very pleasant.

Grandpa's expression changed again, his eyes becoming even more solemn, even showing a hint of wariness and apprehension.

"Young lady, what is your relationship with the witch?" Grandpa said in a deep voice, "She schemed against our Meng family. We finally managed to trap her, I can't just give up so easily..."

"Ding ding ding..." The black wind chimes on the threshold swayed even more rapidly, interrupting Grandpa's words.

The woman in white ignored Grandpa completely, lifted her fair jade foot, and slowly stepped over the threshold, one foot lightly landing in the shop.

"Whoosh~" A strong gust of cold wind arose, and the surrounding temperature dropped even further.

"Bang~" With a muffled sound, the small black wind chimes hanging on the door frame exploded.

At the same time, Grandpa's face turned completely black.

The woman in white moved with light steps, arriving directly at the large round table. With her arrival, the flames of the two candles on the table had completely turned a ghostly green, looking quite eerie.

Ignoring my grandfather and me, she grabbed the yellow wine on the table, poured herself a bowl, and took a small sip. At the same time, she reached out her fair hand and effortlessly extinguished the three smoldering incense sticks in the small incense burner. My grandfather's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

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