Chapter Sixty-One: Paper Figures, Paper Horses, Stone Coffin

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We returned to the village together. It seemed that after I relayed my elder brother’s words to Chen Dongfang, though he appeared calm on the surface, he became strangely distant, almost deliberately avoiding me. When we arrived at his home, he continued to greet those who had come to help. Among the Chen family, I truly was an outsider. Even in this modern age, prejudices lingered in the village, and I felt awkward on my own. Besides, it had been so long since I’d seen my Xue’er. Quietly, I slipped away and returned home alone.

When I arrived, Han Xue was in the courtyard. The usually reserved girl rushed over and wrapped her arms around me, holding me tightly at the waist. My mother glanced at us, smiled quietly, and went into the kitchen.

“What’s gotten into you today? My mother’s here—aren’t you embarrassed?” I said, hugging her.

“That video in your friend circle—I saw you in it. You’re never allowed to fight with anyone again!” Han Xue looked up at me, her eyes red.

“It wasn’t me fighting, it was the Blind Monk. No, it was Lee Qing,” I replied.

“The village chief told me everything! Before that, you chased someone with a kitchen knife. I knew you wouldn’t tell me the truth!” Han Xue said, pinching my waist.

I hadn’t expected Chen Qingshan to be so loose-tongued—could he not keep such things from the women in the house? I laughed, “He betrayed me! I’ll settle the score with him later.”

“What score? You’re hiding things from me—is that reasonable?” Han Xue snorted.

I hugged her again. “Alright, I need to talk to Mom about Uncle Zhuzi. I’ll deal with you, little vixen, tonight.”

That “our mom” made Han Xue blush deeply. She twisted my arm lightly and whispered, “You rascal!”

But she continued, “Go on. The day Uncle Zhuzi had trouble, Mom—no, Auntie—was secretly wiping her tears alone at home.”

I separated from Han Xue and went to the kitchen. My mother was preparing vegetables. I said, “Mom, don’t worry. Uncle Zhuzi will be fine. The doctor said he just needs time to recover.”

She nodded, eyes red, still working with the vegetables, and quietly said, “You and your brother both need to be careful.”

I nodded, saying nothing more. By now, my mother knew things wouldn’t just stop.

I ate at home, chatted with Han Xue for a while, and lay with my head in her lap, breathing in her scent. Without realizing it, I drifted off to sleep. By the time I woke up, night had fallen and Han Xue was beside me, helping the children with their homework.

Between a man and a woman, after the first time, the second comes naturally. For example, sleeping in Han Xue’s bed—the first time, both of us were nervous, but tonight everything felt so natural. I gently hugged her from behind and felt her body shudder. She laughed, “Stop messing around, I’m marking homework.”

Night in a room for two always brings a certain intimacy. I softly blew on her translucent, rosy ear. “Did you miss me?”

As I blew on her ear, Han Xue stiffened, then struggled, “Let me go, it tickles!”

I refused to release her, turning her around to face me. “Xue’er, that night when I was nearly attacked, the person I thought of most was you. I’m not afraid of dying, just afraid of never seeing you again.”

“Then stay away from trouble next time. Fighting isn’t your strength,” Han Xue said, looking at me with concern.

“Mm, I’ll try.” At that moment, there was no point in arguing with her. After speaking, I lowered my head, aiming for her soft, red lips.

Han Xue hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes, surrendering herself. I gently pressed my lips to hers, and in that instant, my whole heart surrendered. We embraced, lost in each other.

The feeling was enough to wash away all worries.

I caressed her back, recalling the snowy white scene I’d seen that night.

Just as I was about to let my hand slide over her proud curves, Han Xue, who had been lost in passion, suddenly pushed me away decisively. “Not yet!”

Her firmness snapped me out of that state.

Han Xue bowed her head, like a child admitting fault. “Yezi, I know most couples do this nowadays, but really, not yet.”

Her demeanor made me ache with tenderness. I went over, pulled her into my arms, rested my chin on her head, and took a deep breath of her shampoo scent. “Sorry, it’s my fault, not yours. Honestly, having you love me is already the greatest blessing of my life.”

At that moment, my phone suddenly rang, startling us both. The call was rather abrupt, ruining the mood. I was about to toss the phone aside, but then saw it was Chen Dongfang.

“Third Grandfather’s son is a formidable man—the one who fought thirty at once is his subordinate,” I said to Han Xue.

She nodded. “Got it, answer the call.”

Before picking up, I checked the time—already half past ten. Why was Chen Dongfang calling so late? I recalled my elder brother’s message for him—could Chen Dongfang be in trouble tonight and seeking help?

I answered, “Dongfang Uncle, what’s up so late?”

“That matter your elder brother mentioned earlier—I didn’t want you to know, but on second thought, I’d like you to come and see,” Chen Dongfang replied.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“You’ll see when you arrive,” he said.

“Do I need to bring my brother?” I asked again.

“No, if he wants to come, he will. I’ll wait for you at the Chen clan ancestral hall.” With that, he hung up.

My phone was on speaker, so Han Xue heard everything. She came over, straightened my wrinkled clothes from my nap, and said, “Go, and be careful.”

“I’ll be back soon. Don’t sleep—wait for me,” I said.

“Go on.” Han Xue laughed softly.

I stepped outside, lit a cigarette, and headed straight for the Chen family ancestral hall. In the past, Third Grandfather tended the ancestral shrine, keeping everything neat. During annual rituals, the Chen family would put on grand performances for the ancestors. When I arrived, I saw Chen Dongfang and Lee Qing standing outside the shrine.

I walked over, asking, “Why come here at this hour?”

I thought perhaps Chen Dongfang, rarely home, was here to offer incense to the ancestors. But he simply said, “Come with me.”

I followed him into the ancestral hall. Inside, Third Grandfather’s body lay on the floor, dressed in burial attire, with makeup applied. Even with two others present, seeing a corpse in burial clothes amid the ancestral tablets sent chills down my spine.

“Why bring Third Grandfather here?” I asked.

“This is the secret of the Chen clan’s chief lineage,” Chen Dongfang whispered. By candlelight, I saw the confusion in Chen Qingshan’s eyes.

Chen Dongfang said no more, but began offering incense to the ancestors. Then he just stood there, lost in thought. I quietly asked Lee Qing, “What’s going on?”

Lee Qing shrugged. “Who knows.”

We waited for an hour. Finally, Chen Dongfang came over and said, “Come, over here. Remember, what you see next must never be spoken of to anyone.”

I felt a surge of nerves, not knowing what was about to happen, but followed Chen Qingshan quietly to the overgrown field beside the ancestral hall. The grass was thick, perfect for hiding.

Inside, I found the usually confident Chen Dongfang unusually tense, constantly checking his watch, as if time mattered greatly. I, too, began checking my phone for the time.

At the stroke of midnight, Chen Dongfang suddenly exclaimed, sweating, “It’s here!”

His voice was changed by tension.

Following his gaze, I was instantly terrified.

In the darkness of night,

A procession approached the Chen ancestral hall.

Paper men, paper horses, stone coffin.

Just like the offerings we present to ancestors.

Paper men leading paper horses, paper horses pulling paper carts.

On the paper cart, rested a stone coffin.

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