006 The Disciple of the Spirit Medium
For two consecutive nights, Ma Laosan's wife had visited our home, each time leaving behind just one cryptic sentence. The sense of terror she brought was unprecedented, and it felt like we might die from fear before she could actually harm us. No one in the family slept that night, except for three-year-old me, who was oblivious and slept soundly.
The following morning, Grandpa made a decision. He instructed my father to travel to Sanshilipu, a village thirty li away, to seek out a spirit medium named Liu Pozi for help. Liu Pozi was known as a "spirit medium disciple" (出马仙) and had a reputation for resolving such matters. However, there was a catch: Liu Pozi charged exorbitantly for her services. Her starting fee was at least 100 yuan, along with offerings of high-quality alcohol and cigarettes.
To put it in perspective, 100 yuan might not seem much today—just the cost of a meal—but back then, an average worker earned barely a little over one yuan a day. For our family, this was a considerable expense. But what was money compared to the life of my grandson? Moreover, there was a chance Ma Laosan's wife could harm our entire family.
At the crack of dawn, my father, with dark circles under his eyes, made his way to Sanshilipu, carrying money and gifts. Persuading Liu Pozi to come wasn't easy—she had a reputation for being difficult to invite. My father pleaded and reasoned with her until she finally agreed to come, but only if she was transported by donkey cart. My father had to spend a few more yuan to rent one and brought her to our home.
Liu Pozi was a petite woman in her sixties with bound feet. She held a long tobacco pipe and spoke with an air of superiority, as if looking down on everyone. Even my usually confident grandfather treated her with utmost respect, knowing her reputation for never failing in her work.
After puffing on her pipe, Liu Pozi exhaled a cloud of smoke and demanded, "Bring the child out. Let me take a look."
Grandpa hurriedly instructed my mother to bring me out. When Liu Pozi saw me, she gave me a quick glance, and her face changed drastically as if she'd seen something terrifying. To everyone's astonishment, she immediately dropped to her knees before me, trembling uncontrollably, and said:
"Disciple Liu from Sanshilipu, who has worshiped the spirit of Changxian for 40 years, humbly greets the venerable spirit. I beg forgiveness for disturbing your presence."
She kowtowed several times, the sound of her forehead striking the ground echoing through the room.
Her behavior left my family utterly bewildered. We had gone through great trouble to bring her here, and now she was kneeling before a three-year-old child. What was going on?
Oblivious to the gravity of the situation, I merely giggled, finding her bowing amusing.
After finishing her kowtows, Liu Pozi remained kneeling, not daring to rise. Grandpa tried to pull her up, saying, "You're being too polite. Why bow to a child? Please, get up."
"I cannot rise until the spirit gives permission," Liu Pozi said, keeping her head lowered.
Grandpa, helpless, looked at me and said, "Xiao Jie, ask Liu Pozi to stand up."
I said casually, "Get up."
As if relieved of a heavy burden, Liu Pozi slowly stood up, trembling, and backed away cautiously.
My mother, still in shock, hurriedly took me back into the house. Only after I was out of sight did Liu Pozi breathe a sigh of relief, though she still looked uneasy. Turning to my grandfather and father, she said reproachfully:
"Why didn't you tell me your family harbored such a powerful spirit? Bringing me here was unnecessary and has put me in an awkward position!"
"What spirit? We don't have a shrine or anything in the house. What do you mean?" Grandpa asked, puzzled.
"Your grandson is harboring a mighty spirit—a thousand times stronger than any I've ever encountered. My skills are nothing compared to it. Frankly, I shouldn't even be here. I'll take my leave now before I embarrass myself further."
"Wait! He's just a three-year-old child. If he had such powers, we wouldn't need to call you for help," my father interjected anxiously.
Liu Pozi hesitated and said, "Can I look at the child again?"
"Of course. I'll call him out now—"
"Don't!" she interrupted. "I'll go in myself. I don't want to disturb the spirit unnecessarily."
With that, Liu Pozi shuffled into the house with her bound feet.
When she saw me again, her demeanor remained reverent. Smiling nervously, she said, "Great spirit, I'm here to examine things. Please forgive my intrusion."
She then placed her hand on the top of my head and began muttering incantations. As she chanted, her entire body started trembling. After a moment, her eyes flew open, and she staggered back several steps before dropping to her knees again. She kowtowed three more times, her voice trembling as she said:
"Great spirit, forgive me. I had no intention of offending you."
Liu Pozi left the house looking shaken, and my father and grandfather followed her outside. Once in the courtyard, she handed back the 100 yuan my father had given her and even added another 100 yuan of her own.
"Take this, brother," she said earnestly.
Grandpa was taken aback, thinking Liu Pozi was refusing to help us. "What do you mean by this, Liu Pozi? You're not going to help us anymore?"
"It's not that I won't help; I just can't take your money. Being able to assist such a powerful spirit is a blessing for me. How could I dare accept payment? Please, take the money back as a token of my respect," Liu Pozi replied, her earlier arrogance replaced by humility.
Under Grandpa's persistent questioning, she finally revealed the truth. From the moment she laid eyes on me, she felt an overwhelming aura of an ancient spirit surrounding me. Initially, she thought our family were spirit medium disciples. Upon closer examination, she realized I was carrying the essence of a millennia-old spirit that had suffered severe injuries and was lying dormant within me.
As a disciple herself, Liu Pozi understood the significance of such a spirit. She didn't dare show any disrespect, let alone charge for her services. Although she wouldn't accept payment, Liu Pozi swore to help our family with all her might. She even vowed to risk her life if necessary to ensure my safety.
It was only then that my family understood why, from the day I was born, foxes and yellow weasels had knelt outside our house.