Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“If it doesn’t work this time, Dongzi will really become a wandering ghost with nowhere to go.”

Tang’s Mother had tears streaming down her face. She reached out, trying to grab the hem of my shirt.

I dodged her. “Tang Dong and I may not be mortal enemies, but we’re enemies all the same. There’s no way I’m helping him with Calling Back the Spirit.”

Tang’s Mother was about to beg again when two people came running up from the stairwell.

“Auntie!”

“Oh, come on, old lady-”

The ones who came were Tang Dong’s cousin Jiang Kai and his brother-in-law Lai Zhi.

I knew both of them well too.

Jiang Kai was from the same village as us, and Lai Zhi was from the neighboring village. We’d all seen each other around when we were kids.

Jiang Kai didn’t quite dare say anything when he saw me, but Lai Zhi’s face soured first, all sneers and contempt.

“Well, well, isn’t this Brother Long? How’d you end up living in this dump?”

“Heard your company went under. What, turtle flipped on its back and still can’t turn itself over?”

“Dazhi!” Tang’s Mother still wanted to plead with me, but Jiang Kai helped her up, and she hurried to stop Lai Zhi.

Lai Zhi grinned at her. “Old lady, what are you begging him for? Is he the only man in the world who can drive a truck?”

“What do you know?” Tang’s Mother was so angry at Lai Zhi she nearly jumped in place.

“The family has already found six groups of people. I’ve invited several masters who can look into these things.”

“If the Soul Summoning Banner can’t be brought back again, your brother-in-law is going to turn the whole house upside down!”

My brows tightened. From what Tang’s Mother had said, it seemed I wasn’t the only one who had seen Tang Dong after his death.

Lai Zhi didn’t take her words seriously at all.

He had started mixing with the wrong crowd when he was still young and had never held a proper job, but he knew plenty of people from all walks of life, decent and otherwise.

“Don’t worry, old lady. My sister told me all about it. I’ll find someone to handle the Calling Back the Spirit for you. This time, it’ll definitely be done right.”

After saying that, Lai Zhi glanced back at me. “Long Changdong, stop dwelling on my brother-in-law screwing you over.”

“You’ve been out in the world for so many years. If you’re not as skilled as someone else, just admit you lost. Maggots from a latrine can’t fly into the sky, so why keep pretending you’re some big bad wolf?”

Lai Zhi had clearly come here today looking for trouble, and I couldn’t be bothered to waste my breath on him.

I turned around, grabbed the wooden stick propped behind the door, and took two steps forward. Lai Zhi and Jiang Kai were so frightened they immediately backed away again and again.

But Tang’s Mother stood in front of me once more. “Changdong, your auntie has already thrown away every last bit of pride to come and beg you so many times.”

“Today, I’ll ask you one last time. Are you going to help with Dongzi’s matter or not?”

I almost laughed from sheer anger.

Three people in my family had died one after another, and Tang Dong had swindled me out of everything I had.

How did they have the nerve to stand in front of me today and make such righteous speeches, begging me for help?

“If one day you want Tang Dong’s soul scattered to the winds, I’d be willing to lend a hand. But you want me to help Tang Dong with Calling Back the Spirit? Dream on!”

Tang’s Mother was so choked by my words that she nearly stopped breathing. Jiang Kai supported her, while Lai Zhi tugged them both toward the door.

“Anyone would be better than him. He really thinks he’s somebody…”

“Long Changdong, after all those years as brothers, you have no heart-”

Tang’s Mother had been dragged out of the building entrance, but she started wailing loudly again.

My mother-in-law heard the commotion from inside the apartment. She filled a basin with cold water, opened the window, and dumped it straight down. Chaos erupted downstairs all over again.