CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
WARNING :
They thought Feifei is a woman. They will refer to Feifei as a "she" or "her".
"Is there a terrifying story behind that house too?" Feifei can't help but ask.
Deng Mian laughed. "No story. The son got a job in Chandraneel and brought his parents along with him. So they decided to sell the house and live in Chandraneel instead."
Feifei has no problem about the smell. She can make a potion that would lessen the smell from the pigsty. Then give it to the pig raisers to try.
"I'm good with that. Is it convenient to see it now?"
Deng Mian looked at the skies. Thought for a moment then brought them to the Village Head's house.
The Village Head was outside his house smoking a pipe.
When they explained their purpose, the Village Head knocked his pipe at the side of the bench, he was sitting on, and stood up. He then asked them to wait as he gets the keys of the house.
When Feifei saw that the house is decent enough, he paid for it right away.
Feifei took a parchment and a reed pen from his bag. He wrote a note that the money of this amount was given by him and accepted by the Village Head as sales payment for the house.
Two copies was handwritten. One for each party. Then both parties signed.
The Village Head asked when she would be available to get the land certificate?
"Tomorrow I can get a leave and be here before noon." Feifei answered.
"I'm planning to live here beginning tomorrow." He continued.
Both the Village Head and Aunt Mian looked at Feifei strangely.
"So fast?" Aunt Mian asked.
Feifei smiled. "I'm the type of person who wants to get things done quickly."
The Village Head chuckled.
"Okay, come here before noon. I will be going to Town early tomorrow and transfer the certificate to your name."
"Thank you, Uncle."
The Village Head handed the keys to Feifei and asked them to go to his house for dinner.
They refused politely. The Village Head then said his goodbyes.
-----------------------------------------
Deng Mian looked at Feifei with new eyes.
"I never thought a young girl like you can be decisive."
Feifei just smiled but did not answer.
Feifei looked at Aunt Mian. Wavered a bit, then asked.
"Aunt, there really is no story behind this house, right?" Hesitation is written on Feifei's face.
It's too late to regret it now but he still has to know!
He will be living alone here! And its quite a walk from the main village circle.
Aunt Mian looked back at Feifei with the same hesitation written on his face.
"Well, its not a bad thing. Really. I assure you, this house has no history of tragic deaths whatsoever." Deng Mian sighed.
"Let's sit down and I will tell you a story, okay? Anyway, sooner or later, you will know the truth."
Feifei can feel his body tense with nerves.
Did he made a mistake in buying this house? He wants to hit the wall for being impulsive!
Yanyan and Feifei sat side by side while Deng Mian sat opposite them.
"There's nothing to be afraid of. This is actually a love story." Deng Mian smiled lightly.
"The owner of this house has only one son. This son had a beautiful childhood sweetheart. They shared open crotch pants together, went to school together, until they became more than simple friends. They are what we call, an unofficial couple. But all the villagers know, marriage is just around the corner." Deng Mian smiled with memory.
"This house is near a pigsty, yes? One time, the young woman came here to visit her sweetheart. She was seen by an old man butcher. Before anyone has the time to blink, the young woman was sent off to marry this old man butcher. It turns out, the young woman's father sold her to pay off his gambling debts. And old man butcher was more than happy to buy the young woman from her family." Deng Mian stared into space as she sneered.
Feifei held his breath as an idea suddenly came to him.
"That old man butcher. Is it the old man who died with the twisted neck?" Feifei murmured.
Feifei prayed he was wrong!
Deng Mian looked at Feifei in surprise and fondness. She likes this young beauty.
Then she looked at her boorish daughter, and sighed.
Yanyan looked at her mother's face looking at Feifei with partiality, then looked at her with a sigh. What did Yanyan not understand!
She was clearly despised! Hmpf.
Deng Mian's eyes showed a far away look then answered.
"Yes, he is. He is the old man who died with the twisted neck. But that's all there is to it. The young woman's sweetheart was devastated and moved to Chandraneel with his parents."
Feifei closed his eyes in terror. That dead young woman won't come to this house looking for her sweetheart, would she?
PAK!
A window was suddenly closed!
They all turned to look at the window in unison.
PAK!
The window is opened again!
Yanyan and Feifei embraced each other in fright. And cried in terror!
Mother! Is the young woman here listening to the story too?!
"Mo...mother.." Yanyan cried.
Deng Mian just glanced at them and walked to the window.
"The wind in this part is quite strong. That's the reason why this house also remained vacant for so long. The strong wind brings the heavy smell from the pigsty."
"Really...just the wind? Not the young woman?" Feifei asked with a shiver.
He regretted! He escaped from Yuan but he fell from the ghost's hands instead!
"No. I haven't heard of any stories about this house. Just the son's affair." Deng Mian said firmly.
"And also.."
Feifei and Yanyan looked at Deng Mian with the window at her back.
Deng Mian was also looking at them expressionless, standing still, unmoving. She looks eerie.
Feifei felt her hair raising!
"Mo..mother? What...what is it?" Yanyan stammered.
"The daughter that died, it was said to be the child of her sweetheart. Not the old man butcher's." Deng Mian whispered softly.
Feifei gasped! He wanted to ask what actually happened to the mother and daughter. How did they die?
But.
He is scared already. His body in cold sweat. And asking more might also scare her soul away!
"Aunt... Let's... Let's continue some other time, okay?" Feifei stammered.
He stood up and also pulled Yanyan along with him.
He wants to run away now! But he already bought the house.
Damn, Yuan! Its all on him!
-----------------------------------------
When they all closed the windows and locked the door, Feifei turned to Deng Mian.
"Aunt, can I bother you to ask some women to clean the house tomorrow morning? I will pay them for it."
Deng Mian smiled. "Just leave it to me. I know a couple of honest folks that does a good job in cleaning."
"Thank you, Aunt. So I will leave the keys to you, okay?" Looking at the dark sky, Feifei has to hurry and go home.
Its already late and it would be scary to walk up the mountains alone if it gets any later.
So Feifei said her goodbyes to Aunt Mian and together with Yanyan, they went back to the wagon.
-----------------------------------------
"Feifei, we will be neighbors beginning tomorrow!" Yanyan exclaimed in excitement.
Feifei just smiled. Still thinking about the young woman's tragic life.
At the wagon, both Nan Sheng and Peng Jian were laughing and talking.
They are really good friends. Feifei thought.
With the promise that Peng Jian will pick him up later, they left Nan Sheng with Yanyan.
With Peng Jian as driver, they set out for Guhya Village.
Feifei can't help but think there must be a conspiracy on the mother and daughter's tragedy. Including the old man butcher's death.
Or is he thinking too much again?
Still.
Did he find a sanctuary or did he put himself into an even greater danger?