Chapter 12: Still on a Mission

After hearing that, I felt extremely awkward, so I lowered my head and ate quietly, saying nothing more. He Yanran, on the other hand, kept a gentle smile on her face.

After the meal, He Yanran went to clear the dishes. I had intended to help, but Granny Wang stopped me, saying, “Zhang Xiaobei, come with me.”

I glanced at He Yanran in the kitchen and then followed her grandmother out into the courtyard.

“What is it, Granny Wang?” I asked.

“She’s going to the city with you, isn’t she?” she asked sternly.

Seeing her expression, I worried she might scold me like she did when I was a child, so I quickly took a step back and said, “I asked her. It was her own decision!”

“I know. I heard just now—she’s a foolish girl, but I can’t control her. Still, don’t you think you owe me a promise?” she said, staring at me seriously.

“Uh… What kind of promise do you want?” I asked nervously.

“Take care of her. Her father died young, her mother remarried, and she’s only had me, an old woman, for company. So don’t you dare bully her.”

“That, I can promise!” Seeing she wasn’t making any unreasonable demands, I immediately agreed. Even without her saying it, I would look after Yanran when we left home. Though she was older than me, I was the man, and I was the one taking her away from her hometown—I felt that responsibility.

“Good. And another thing: that girl has always been different when it comes to you. So when the time comes, I expect you to give me an answer.” Granny Wang continued sternly.

I didn’t immediately understand. “What do you mean, an answer?”

Seeing I didn’t get it, she angrily picked up her cane and hit me with it, scolding, “What, you think you can get something for nothing? Of course I mean you should marry her!”

At that, I finally understood. Rubbing the sore spot, I replied, “I know. If she’s willing, I will!”

“What do you mean, if she’s willing? Isn’t it obvious enough? She’s already agreed to go with you—would she do that if she were unwilling?” Granny Wang huffed at me.

“I understand!” I quickly promised.

“All right, off you go—come back for dinner this evening!” With that, she turned and went inside, leaving me a bit bewildered in the courtyard.

Back home, I lay on my bed and looked through the Yangchai Manual. It said that most ghosts linger in the mortal world for a reason—either they’re unwilling to depart, or they have unfulfilled wishes.

Some, especially those who died unjustly, haunt the scene of their death, or sometimes follow the person who caused their demise.

Reading this, it seemed my parents had no lingering wishes—if I hadn’t rushed to the cowshed, perhaps I wouldn’t even have seen their spirits.

Oh right, what about Tan Xiao? Thinking of this, I took out the Yangchai Token and called her name. Sure enough, she appeared quickly, though looking quite frail.

I hurried over to support her. “How are you? Feeling any better?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. I just need a bit more rest. Did you need something?”

“No, I just wanted to check how you’re doing,” I replied.

“Are you worried about me?” She looked at me with an innocent smile.

“Sort of. After all, you got hurt because of me,” I said.

She scoffed, “Protecting you is my duty now. It’s no big deal.” With that, she made her way to my bed and lay down.

Seeing her like this, it was just like someone convalescing. I sat by the bed and asked, “Do ghosts have medicine for illness or injuries?”

“Yes, but you have to find a ghost doctor,” she replied.

I was surprised there were such things. “Then you should go see one!”

“No, seeing a ghost doctor is a hassle, and I really don’t want to go,” she said, pulling my blanket over herself.

“All right then. Get some rest here. I’ll head out.” Even though she was a female ghost, I felt awkward watching her sleep in my room.

Stepping outside, I suddenly remembered that my Nether Jade had been stolen—could I still live past twenty? I went back inside to ask Tan Xiao.

But she seemed to be asleep, so I didn’t wake her. There was someone else I could ask.

I took the box I’d found in the cowshed and went to the main hall, knocking twice. Soon, the ghost in Republican-era attire appeared.

“Master Yangchai, did you call for me?” he asked.

“Yes. I wanted to ask: now that my Nether Jade is gone, can I still live past twenty?”

“Yes. You are now a Yangchai and have ten years of lifespan as such,” he replied.

I realized that since I wouldn’t die before twenty anymore, the Nether Jade might not be as important to me as before.

“What about after ten years?” I pressed.

“Ten years as Yangchai grants ten years of life. So you can live at least twenty more years. Why do you ask—is there anything else you want to know?”

I thought for a moment, “Then what’s the significance of the Nether Jade for me?”

“It means you can keep living. If you stop being Yangchai after ten years, do you want to die after another ten years?” He looked at me seriously.

After hearing that, I realized that in twenty years, I might not fear death as much—so maybe the Nether Jade didn’t matter. But then I remembered it was purchased with my parents’ lives. Even if not for myself, I had to reclaim it—it was rightfully mine.

“Oh, I forgot to mention—because Dong Wutian altered your family’s fate, if you have children in the future…”

“Wait, you mean I’ll have children?” I asked, surprised and delighted.

“Why, don’t you want any?”

“Of course not—please continue!” I had always thought my fate would leave me childless.

He went on, “Dong Wutian changed your family’s fate, so your children will be like you—they won’t live past twenty.”

I had felt happy at the thought of having children, but now, hearing this, my joy was gone.

“So what should I do?” I asked.

“If you don’t want your child to have to rely on being Yangchai to prolong their life, the Nether Jade can help. That’s eighty years’ worth of life from both your parents—are you willing to leave that in someone else’s hands?”

“Of course not!” I replied.

“So do you still think the Nether Jade is meaningless to you?” he asked.

I shook my head. Even if not for myself, I had to reclaim it for my future children.

“Anything else you want to ask?” he said, about to disappear again.

I quickly stopped him, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Who will be my wife in the future?”

“I can’t tell you that,” he refused.

I was exasperated, “You told me I’d have children—why not tell me who my wife is?”

“As long as you live, you’ll have children. Does it matter who your wife is? Besides, I never said it had to be your wife who bore them.” With that, he vanished, leaving me stunned.

His information was overwhelming—I’d have children, but not necessarily with my wife? And my wife’s identity didn’t matter?

Come on, that’s important! Am I some scoundrel? I don’t think so—I’m a pretty loyal guy.

“Zhang Xiaobei, what are you doing standing there with a box?” Suddenly, Tan Xiao came over and patted my shoulder.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I shook my head. “Nothing, just thinking about something.”

“Oh, did you find the soul of that female corpse from this morning? The underworld has started asking—she’s been dead several days already, so we need to hurry,” she said, still looking a bit weak.

If she hadn’t reminded me, I’d have forgotten all about it. Embarrassed, I said, “I don’t know where to find her!”

“Did you read the Yangchai Manual?” she asked, a bit exasperated.

“I read some, but not all.”

“…Brother, can you try to be a bit more responsible? We ghost messengers are judged by our performance!”

There was such a thing? I was surprised. “How’s your performance evaluated?”

“It’s the condition for me to stay in the mortal world. If I don’t do well, I’ll be forced back to the underworld, then sent for reincarnation. And because I was murdered, I can’t be reborn as a human in my next life. So please, do give me some consideration,” she said seriously.

She didn’t seem to be joking, so I nodded. “All right, I’ll look for her now!”

“Thank you. Please try harder. If you see any little ghosts around, just ask them. Her name is Zhao Xue, by the way!”

“Got it. What about you?” I asked.

“I’ll go to the police station and see if there are any other leads.” With that, she vanished.

After she left, I took my Yangchai Token and went out.

But did this Zhao Xue woman really die in our village? I searched around.

Just then, I heard voices as if someone were gossiping. I looked around but saw no one.

The voices seemed to come from behind the big banyan tree ahead, so I crept over quietly.

As soon as I got there, I was spotted by the two of them—or rather, they weren’t human at all. One look and it was obvious they were ghosts.

“Did he see us?” the square-faced little ghost asked the round-faced one.

“Seems like it. But how can he see us? Is he a ghost like us?” the round-faced one replied.

They were chatting as if nobody else was there, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to break the ice.

“I don’t think he’s a ghost. Should we scare him?” said the square-faced one.

“But he can already see us, how would that work?”

“Good point. Maybe we should run!” As they prepared to flee, I called out, “Stop!”

Hearing me speak, the two little ghosts froze, then started whispering again.

“Is he talking to us?”

“Seems like it!”

“Could he be a ghost hunter?”

“Maybe!”

“What should we do?”

“Enough. I’m not here to catch you, but I want to ask you something, and you need to answer honestly!” I interrupted their endless chatter.