Chapter 40.4: Thousand Songs

Li Zhuiyuan looked up and saw Runsheng’s skin turning a dark red.

He immediately looked down at himself. It seemed he was reddening too.

“Xiaoyuan, are we going to end up like that?”

“No. If it were going to happen, it already would have.”

“I’ll rinse off with well water.” Runsheng left the workshop.

Relieved, Tan Wenbin came back in. He wasn’t angry—on the contrary, he came over eagerly, asking with curiosity, “Tell me, what exactly happened?”

“Binbin-ge, wait for Runsheng-ge to tell you.”

“Still shaken?”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

“That bad?” Tan Wenbin hesitated. “Should we call the police?”

“No, absolutely not. We can’t go near that place right now.”

Dripping wet and wearing nothing but boxer shorts, Runsheng returned barefoot. “Xiaoyuan, the well water really works. My skin’s not red anymore. Come on, I’ll rinse you off too.”

Though he didn’t understand why, Li Zhuiyuan followed. A few buckets of well water were dumped over his head. His body shivered instinctively.

But sure enough, the red hue on his skin began to fade.

“Xiaoyuan, looks like we’re okay.”

“Yeah, maybe because we weren’t too close.”

“And we ran fast. Good thing you told me to jump out the window. If we’d taken the stairs, we’d be cooked by now.”

Hearing this, an image flashed through Li Zhuiyuan’s mind—two massive clots of flesh running through a rice field, one carrying the other.

“Ah!” Runsheng’s expression changed.

“What is it?”

“The array flags are still on the roof. And my corpse retrieval tools too!”

Seeing Runsheng’s pained, regretful face, Li Zhuiyuan tried to comfort him. “It’s okay, Runsheng-ge. We can make a new set.”

Then, to prevent him from doing something foolish, Li Zhuiyuan added, “Ge, without my permission, you’re not allowed to sneak back and get them.”

Runsheng quickly waved his hands. “No way, I wouldn’t dare. I’m really scared this time.”

“Let’s get some sleep.”

Li Zhuiyuan went upstairs. At his room door, he paused and glanced toward Bearded Man’s house. After a long hesitation, he stepped inside.

That night, Li Zhuiyuan had a dream. Not a trip on the path of the shade—just a plain old nightmare.

In it, he was still lying on the roof, watching two rows of Water Monkeys kneeling below.

They crawled out of their own skins, turning into Blood Monkeys;

Then they crawled back in, like putting on the very clothes they’d just shed.

Their agonized screams filled his ears the whole time.

And their eyes, from beginning to end, were fixed on him atop the roof.

Whether it was a dream right before waking or one that repeated again and again, he couldn’t say. But when he finally jumped off the roof in the dream, he woke up.

Turning his head quickly, he saw A’Li sitting by the door, holding a bowl.

Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and lay back down.

Seeing he was awake, A’Li came over with the bowl—this time, it had a small spoon.

She didn’t want to accidentally spill medicine on his head again.

Li Zhuiyuan sat up and let her feed him. The spoon was big, so he finished quickly.

He’d lost quite a bit of blood from his nose again last night. He needed the tonic.

A’Li put down the bowl and tilted her head, watching him. She seemed to sense his absentmindedness and looked puzzled.

“A’Li, last night, I saw something terrifying.”

The girl gently held his hand.

Li Zhuiyuan placed her hand over his chest. Feeling that warmth and softness, he closed his eyes again and drifted off for another nap.

Li Sanjiang yawned his way down the stairs. He’d drunk too much the night before and still felt groggy.

But when he saw the two boys sleeping on a table, tangled up together, he couldn’t help but raise his voice in a curse:

“You little punks, what kind of sleeping position is this?”

Tan Wenbin woke up to the yelling. He tried to wriggle free from Runsheng’s arm but failed. Helpless, he looked toward Li Sanjiang.

Li Sanjiang just cleared his throat with a few curses and walked out to the courtyard to stretch.

“Breakfast time!”

Hearing Aunt Liu’s voice, Runsheng stirred. Food was ready.

Xiaoyuan had A’Li; he had only A’Bin.

Li Zhuiyuan came downstairs with A’Li. Everyone took their seats.

This time, Tan Wenbin sat with Li Sanjiang.

Liu Yumei studied Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng curiously. Neither looked well-rested.

“Xiaoyuan, come here and try some of Grandma’s snacks.”

Li Zhuiyuan got up and walked over.

She handed him a pastry. “Had fun last night?”

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t know how to respond.

“Did you see blood?”

“Yes. A lot.”

“Was it your doing?”

“We didn’t do anything.”

Liu Yumei bit into her pastry, surprised. “Then I must’ve misjudged. Picking the tallest among the short ones.”

“No, you were right. There’s a king in the mountains.”

“How so?”

“It was skinned in one bite.”

“Skinned?” She was puzzled by the word. “One bite to swallow” would’ve made more sense.

Li Zhuiyuan wanted to tell Granny Liu everything that happened. But in this house, riddles were the rule.

“All right, I’m done.” Li Sanjiang put down his bowl and stood.

“There’s more in the pot,” Aunt Liu said.

“Drank too much yesterday. I’ve no appetite now.

“Tomorrow there’s a memorial feast in West Village. Runsheng-hou, come with me to Bearded Man’s—no, I mean Old Ding’s place—to pick up the tables, chairs, bowls, and lanterns we lent them. Don’t forget the lanterns.”

Runsheng curled into a corner with a giant bowl of congee, pretending not to hear.

“Hey, Runsheng-hou, I’m talking to you!”

“Taigong, I don’t feel well today.”

“Fine, don’t feel well? I’ll go myself. I’m not so old I can’t walk.”

With that, Li Sanjiang went to fetch the handcart.

Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng quickly forgot breakfast and rushed over.

“Taigong, we’ll go get it this afternoon. No need for you to go.”

“Yeah, I’ll go this afternoon.”

Li Sanjiang touched Runsheng’s forehead. “No fever. What’s wrong?”

“Just a little off. Nothing serious.”

“Hmph.” Li Sanjiang snorted, pulling out money and handing it to Runsheng. “Go see Old Doctor Zheng after breakfast. Get a shot or take some meds.”

Runsheng didn’t dare take the money. He was faking it.

Li Zhuiyuan took it and slipped it into Runsheng’s pocket.

“I’ll go with him. After seeing Old Zheng, we’ll collect the stuff.”

“If he’s fine, go get it. If not, call me.”

Li Sanjiang set down the cart handle, lit a cigarette, and prepared for his usual post-meal stroll.

“I’ll walk with you, Taigong.”

“You haven’t finished breakfast.”

“Like you, I ate too much yesterday. Upset stomach.”

“You barely ate. That big guy did, though.”

Tan Wenbin looked up, puzzled. “Taigong, I’m Binbin.”

“Let’s go, Taigong. I’ll walk with you.”

“Hmm.”

Li Sanjiang enjoyed these walks with Xiaoyuan-hou.

But Li Zhuiyuan worried he’d veer toward Bearded Man’s house, so he tagged along just in case.

Sure enough, once on the village path, Li Sanjiang headed that way.

“Taigong, let’s go to the shop.”

“So early? It’s not open yet. I’ll take you later.”

“Then how about Granny Liu’s place?”

“Nothing to talk about with Blind Liu.”

“Then let’s walk that way. The view’s nice.”

“In this village, what view isn’t the same? Come on, let’s check out your future house.”

“My future house…”

“When Old Ding kicks the bucket, won’t it be yours? Let’s see if he’s croaked yet, haha.”

“Taigong, they just moved in. Isn’t it rude to visit so soon?”

“Why? It’s not like it’s a wedding.”

A few steps later, he paused, muttering:

“Though now that you mention it, that secretary of his… who knows what she’s for. Probably still in bed with him.”

“Exactly.”

Grinning, Li Sanjiang picked up the pace. “All the more reason to check it out!”

Unable to deter him, Li Zhuiyuan grabbed his arm and confessed, “Taigong, something happened there last night. The whole funeral troupe, including Old Ding, got skinned. It was gruesome.”

“Xiaoyuan-hou, what kind of nonsense is that in the morning?”

“I’m serious, Taigong.”

“As fake as it gets. Ha.”

Li Zhuiyuan sighed. It always ended like this—Taigong never believed at the crucial moments.

“Xiaoyuan-hou, look, those skinned folks are back.”

Li Zhuiyuan looked up in confusion. A truck loaded with speakers approached. Four people in the cab, more standing in the back.

It was the funeral troupe from last night. All alive and well.

When they saw Li Sanjiang, the driver honked.

Those in the back waved and called out:

“Morning, Grandpa Li!”

“Morning! Out for a walk. You guys were up late with the show—already on the road again?”

“Got another gig. Slept in the truck.”

“Tough work.”

“See you later, Grandpa Li!”

“Take care!”

Li Sanjiang waved them off as the truck disappeared from view.

“Xiaoyuan-hou, if you’re gonna make up stories, make ’em believable. That’s how you write a good essay.”

Li Zhuiyuan stared at the receding truck, chilled to the bone.

Impossible. He was sure last night wasn’t a dream. Not a vision. Not walking the shade. He’d seen those Water Monkeys skinned with his own eyes!

Then who were those people on the truck?

“Sanjiang-hou, morning!”

“Morning, Lin-hou. Out for a walk too?”

“Yeah, old bones don’t sleep much. By the way, I had your tables, chairs, and lanterns packed up. When’ll you pick them up?”

“This afternoon. The mule’s not well—going to the doctor first.”

“Oh, I see. Hey, isn’t that Xiaoyuan-hou? Such a good kid, up early to walk with you?”

“Yup, my Xiaoyuan-hou’s the best and most filial. Come on, Xiaoyuan-hou, say hi to your Uncle Ding.”

Hearing that voice earlier had already stiffened Li Zhuiyuan’s body.

Now, he turned slowly, disbelief flooding his eyes.

Because—

Secretary Jin was helping Ding Dalin stand right in front of him.

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