Ernui was quite clever. It huddled in the corner eating a plump chicken, not making a single sound. The enticing aroma of the chicken was masked by the damp earthy scent after the heavy rain.
After devouring the plump chicken in no time, Ernui contentedly narrowed its eyes. This was truly a dog’s life of bliss, a far cry from the plain buns this morning that had nearly choked it.
Ernui stood up, shook off the water droplets from its body, and suddenly perked up its ears.
Two people were approaching from afar, skulking around the courtyard entrance.
“The gate is locked. How do we get in?” asked Eighth Aunt, wrapped from head to toe in black cloth.
Eighth Uncle, similarly shrouded in black with only his face exposed, replied, “The wall isn’t high. I’ll boost you over.”
“What about you?” Eighth Aunt asked, clutching the black cloth at her collar.
“Foolish woman, can’t you unlatch the door from inside once you’re in?”
Eighth Aunt had a sudden realization. “Right, that’ll make it easier to slip away after scaring that girl.”
Once Xie Qing’ao saw a ghost, she would surely scream. By then, the servant girls and older women who had retired for the night would certainly get up to investigate. At that point, climbing back over the wall to escape would be too late and conspicuous. Slipping out through the gate amidst the chaos would be the best option.
Eighth Aunt looked at the wall, which was half a head taller than her, and felt a bit nervous. “Old man, be careful not to drop me.”
“Stop yammering and hurry up,” Eighth Uncle said as he crouched down and extended his interlocked hands.
In the shadows, Ernui sat steadily, tilting its head to observe their actions.
Eighth Aunt stepped onto Eighth Uncle’s hands and, with his boost, climbed to the top of the wall, carefully swinging herself over.
Eighth Uncle, pressed against the wall, heard a faint thud from inside and couldn’t help but smile.
Soon after, the gate opened slightly, and Eighth Aunt poked her head out, whispering, “Old man, come in quickly.”
“Why are you shouting!” Eighth Uncle scolded as he hurried towards the gate.
Ernui tilted its head, watching Eighth Uncle walk past. It stood up, shook its fur, spraying water droplets everywhere, and silently followed. After slipping into the courtyard, it raised its front paw to close the slightly ajar wooden door, then used its mouth to push the latch back into place.
The large dog’s movements were smooth and silent throughout the process, while Eighth Uncle and Eighth Aunt, preoccupied with surveying the courtyard, were completely oblivious to the changes behind them.
The courtyard where Xie Qing’ao lived was called Zhen Xia Residence. Fragrant grass grew abundantly, and an apricot tree had already borne unripe fruit, its branches reaching out over the wall.
After looking around, both felt nervous in the quiet, desolate courtyard.
After a moment, Eighth Uncle pushed Eighth Aunt. “What are you waiting for? Hurry and take off that black cloth!”
Eighth Aunt pulled off the black cloth and stuffed it into Eighth Uncle’s hands, revealing a ghastly white outfit. She then took something from her bosom and put it on her face.
Ernui’s eyes widened in surprise at Eighth Aunt’s transformation.
Eighth Aunt now wore a white paper mask with narrow slits for eyes. Though simple, it was frightening enough to see in the middle of the night.
“Go quickly, the sooner we finish, the sooner we can go back to sleep.”
Eighth Aunt took a nervous breath, walked a couple of steps forward, then stopped and turned back to ask, “Is it enough to just stand by the window?”
Being her first time playing a ghost, she lacked experience.
“Knock on the window first!”
Eighth Aunt hesitantly reached out her hand.
Ernui narrowed its eyes and leaped into the air, pouncing on Eighth Aunt just as she was about to stand by the window.
Already guilty and still haunted by the ghostly encounter at the funeral hall, Eighth Aunt instinctively screamed when suddenly tackled by a dark shadow: “Ghost!”
Her piercing scream echoed far and wide.
Eighth Uncle was momentarily stunned by fear, frozen in place until several lights flickered on. Finally coming to his senses, his only thought was to flee this troublesome place at all costs, lest he be caught!
Eighth Uncle rushed to the courtyard gate and yanked it hard without looking.
The gate didn’t budge an inch.
A chill ran up Eighth Uncle’s spine.
He had deliberately left the gate ajar when entering, how could it not open?
Recalling the strange occurrences in the funeral hall, Eighth Uncle’s legs went weak: Could there be ghosts?
The suddenly darkened funeral hall in broad daylight, the unexpected thunderclap and downpour, and two women going mad simultaneously – these scenes flashed through Eighth Uncle’s mind like a zoetrope.
It was impossible that he hadn’t had any suspicions then, but fearing his wife might ruin things, he had forcefully maintained an unperturbed facade.
Though this seems long in the telling, it all happened in an instant.
Ernui moved its paw from Eighth Aunt’s face, tensed its body, and darted behind Eighth Uncle, biting his backside fiercely.
“Ahhh!” Eighth Uncle let out a scream even louder than Eighth Aunt’s.
This commotion not only stirred up activity within the courtyard, but people from other courtyards who heard the noise also came running, some with lanterns, others with clubs, and some so hasty they didn’t even put on shoes.
Eighth Uncle lay prone on the ground, unaware of what had attacked him, struggling desperately.
Ernui turned its head to see people rushing out, calmly released its bite, and slipped away to the banana grove by the wall.
“Who’s there?” the arrivals called out, swinging their lanterns back and forth, suddenly illuminating the once quiet and desolate courtyard.
The window opened silently, and Jiang Si stood shoulder to shoulder with Xie Qing’ao, peering out.
A cry of alarm came from the courtyard: “Ghost!”
It was a young servant girl, her face terror-stricken as she pointed at the disheveled figure on the ground, her legs giving way beneath her.
The woman on the ground was face-down, her pale profile indistinct, one hand stretched out, as withered as a twig, appearing bloodless in the lamplight.
Such a sight would have terrified anyone alone, but thankfully there were many people present. Apart from a few screams, there was no further commotion.
Another exclamation was heard: “Oh, that looks like Eighth Master.”
Jiang Si looked carefully and whispered to Xie Qing’ao, “That woman is wearing a mask.”
Anger flashed in Xie Qing’ao’s eyes as she turned and walked out, standing on the stone steps outside and calling out, “Tie up these two mischief-making thieves!”
Hearing the young lady’s command, everyone immediately surrounded the pair.
Eighth Aunt, having regained her senses, jumped up and tried to run.
With safety in numbers, the crowd’s fear dissipated upon seeing the “female ghost” attempt to flee. An older woman decisively stuck out her foot, tripping the “ghost.” The paper mask fell from Eighth Aunt’s face, fluttering in the wind on the ground.
“It’s Eighth Madam!” exclaimed the woman who had tripped her, instantly recognizing her.
Seeing the servant girls and older women surrounding them, Eighth Uncle, clutching his bleeding backside, hurriedly said, “It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!”
Xie Qing’ao approached the pair and coldly said, “A misunderstanding? Well, Eighth Uncle and Eighth Aunt can explain this misunderstanding to our clan members and my uncles later.”
Eighth Aunt panicked upon hearing this and pleaded, “Qing’ao, we’re family. How can we let outsiders see such an embarrassing situation?”
Xie Qing’ao sneered, “That’s your embarrassment, not mine. Someone, go invite the Young Master, the clan elders, and my uncles to come here!”