In the meantime, I wanted to gather more information about the killing puppet. Unfortunately, Witch Yan wouldn't tell me anything more on the matter, no matter how much I pleaded. Fortunately, my mother had taken Xue'er to get food, or else she likely would have asked why I looked so disappointed.
At least I have a thousand things to distract me, I thought wryly as I slipped on my shoes to head to the Ghost House.
However, when I arrived, I didn't see Sister Hua anywhere. Lulu and the other women were running around working, and I joined them doing the daily tasks. Eventually, Sister Hua arrived.
As the Ghost House opened its doors for the day, Sister Hua came down from the second floor. I was about to approach her, but I quickly realized that she was preoccupied.
Sister Hua passed me and went up to the day's guests to greet them warmly. When I turned back to my task, I realized Lulu wore a sour expression. Throughout the day, whenever I tried to catch Sister Hua alone, I saw that same cold face judging me for abandoning my work.
Finally, after all of the guests had left, and there was nothing left for Lulu to make me do, I had an opportunity to talk with Sister Hua.
"Sister Hua, I'd like to ask you something."
Sister Hua smiled and said, "Okay," then turned to the other women and said," Sisters, Little Wu invited us to have dinner tonight. Everybody get ready to go out."
Ah! How did my request become an invitation? I touched the 1200 yuan I had in my pocket, 1000 yuan of which was to pay for the last debt.
"You'll treat, won't you?" Sister Hua asked charmingly.
Between saving money and my life, I would always choose the latter. I nodded with a forced smile at the eager crowd of women.
-----
Business seemed to be booming at the night market; it was crowded with people rushing from stall to stall. I hoped the boss had had good luck earlier in the evening and wouldn't dare to ask me for money tonight.
When we arrived at his stall, not a single guest was there. The little boy was also nowhere to be seen. Only the boss was present, dozing off at one of the empty tables. He must have been eager for us to arrive, although whether he was waiting to meet his deceased relatives or make the profit off another one of our feasts, I wasn't sure.
Although he seemed deep in sleep, the boss bounced up as soon as we arrived. He's a light sleeper to have woken up because of one person's footsteps, I thought.
The boss looked over my shoulder, as though he wanted to confirm for himself that the ghosts were there, even though we both knew he couldn't see a single one. Then he began pushing tables together and asked, "The same as last time?"
I nodded, and the dishes began to arrive.
After Sister Hua had devoured some food, I took out the drawing. She took it, observed it carefully, and then strangely looked at me. "You do this on purpose," she said. "Every time you're involved, there's some big event."
I objected, but remained silent. After all, I needed her help.
Sister Hua handed the drawing to one of the ghosts wearing a long shirt next to her. "You've been eating for a long time. You must help him."
The person with the long shirt laughed and said, "Yes, I should." As he took the picture, his laughter immediately stopped and he said seriously, "The killing puppet."
A moment later, he coughed and said, "I'd certainly help you, but I really don't have time. I'm still looking for Xiao Pang and Little Thin." He seemed a little embarrassed.
Sister Hua smiled slightly and said, "Okay, then I'll find someone else."
The ghost exhaled as though he wanted to say something, but Sister Hua had already turned to Yan'er and said, "Yan'er, your turn."
Yan'er nodded. The long shirted person's face changed several times and he said in disgrace, "But I might be able to find the time. So just let me help."
Sister Hua and Yan'er looked at each other with a smile. Tricky.
Then Sister Hua turned to me again. "Don't go to work for the next few days. Help him look for Xiao Pang and Little Thin. People will help you, so you have to help others."
I was stunned for a moment. It wasn't that I didn't want to help. I worried that when I left the Ghost House, my safety would be in question.
Sister Hua seemed to understand my thoughts, and continued, "Don't worry, the long-shirted people will come forward to help you. It's just a killing puppet, right?"
The last question was directed at the long-shirted person, and he bitterly nodded.
I was a little bit relieved. As for the two who were missing, I was a little stumped. I had heard people say that they were picked up by a wandering kid, but Yan'er and the long-shirted person had been looking for a long time. How could I find them if they couldn't?
I didn't know why I suddenly thought of the boy who had saved me from the ghost. Could it have been him? The identity and appearance were very similar. But even if it were him, I didn't know what to do with that information. I hadn't seen him for a long time.
At the end of our feast, I left the boss' stall with my head hung in shame, a 2000 yuan debt hanging over it. The boss laughed good-naturedly and began to clean up after us. It was already 5:00 in the morning, and the sun would soon come up.
Just as I passed the alley where the accident happened previously, I saw a thin boy behind a trash can. I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but there was nothing there. It must have been my imagination.
For the next few days, I didn't go to the Ghost House. Instead, I roamed the streets, looking for any sort of clue. However, I found nothing.
When I was about to give up, I stumbled upon the child.
It was very early in the morning, and I was tired after already having walked for a few hours. I sat on a bench on the pedestrian street to rest, and accidentally fell asleep. I was woken up by a rustling sound.
I looked around, and caught sight of a child digging through the rubbish. I immediately hurried over, and the sound of my footsteps caught the child's attention.
Thin, arms like withered branches. Greasy hair covering half of his face. He's definitely the child I've been looking for.
The child was murmuring, saying something that sounded like he was unable to find something. It seemed like he remembered me after a few moments. His eyes bulged and the corners of his mouth turned up in a small smile.