Chapter 1 What a Life!

The more Hu Ma understood this world, the more tormented he felt. After returning from the Old Fire Pit, he had no thoughts of escaping.

Not only could he not think of escaping, but he also had to stay by the old woman's side every day.

Even if the old woman went out during the day to supposedly cut *taisui* (a type of medicinal fungus), and wouldn't let him follow, she would have that little girl in red watch over him.

He didn't know where this was, what dynasty, but he was sure that this world had too many strange and terrifying things. Not to mention the night, even in broad daylight, he often felt uneasy.

He felt better when he was with the old woman, or in that gloomy house.

But once he left the house, or was far from the old woman, or when little Hongtang ran off to play, he began to feel uncomfortable all over. He always felt like something was watching him eerily.

He would suddenly turn his head, but couldn't see anything.

Sometimes when he was lost in thought, he would suddenly hear a burst of laughter behind him, or a strange gust of wind.

It was chilling and disconcerting.

In this situation, let alone escape, he couldn't even find someone to ask for information. The people in the寨zi (village) seemed more afraid of him than they were of evil spirits.

And if being suspicious during the day wasn't enough, the nights were even harder to bear.

Failing at the Old Fire Pit seemed to have put the old woman under a lot of pressure as well. Not only did she cut that strange meat for him to eat every day, but she also burned *fu* (talismans) on him from time to time, lit incense at the head of his bed, and at night, she would mumble and chant scriptures in the outer room, all night long.

Hu Ma felt like he was awake, but also in a daze, often unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.

He wasn't sure if he was better now.

But he was sure of one thing: he had neurasthenia.

Day after day, the pressure increased, and Hu Ma had a headache. Once, he couldn't help but sneak out of the house after being awakened.

First, he poured a glass of water for the old woman, and then carefully asked, "Granny, don't you need to rest?"

The old woman looked up at him, and he could see that her eyes were full of bloodshot.

She still took the water and drank it silently, whispering, "Just sleep well. Those evil spirits are more powerful at night. I need to chant scriptures for you so they don't dare to come near, otherwise you won't even be able to sleep peacefully."

"Ah?"

Hu Ma never expected this reason, and felt a little guilty, "But like this, aren't you going to rest?"

The old woman suddenly looked up at him, her eyes extremely cold.

Hu Ma was slightly startled. Had he said something wrong?

But she had endless herbs to handle during the day, paper dolls to make, bone *fu* (talismans) to carve, and she had to go out of the寨zi (village) every day to cut *taisui* (medicinal fungus) for him. At night, she had to chant scriptures all night long. Wasn't it normal for him to say a word of concern?

Just as he was feeling uneasy, the old woman slowly withdrew her gaze and said faintly, "Granny is fine. It'll be alright once I think of a way. I already have an idea."

Hu Ma nodded quickly and returned to the side room.

"Little Hongtang, Granny said she thought of an idea. What is it?"

After all, Hu Ma had a guilty conscience, and was afraid of revealing himself if he said too much. He didn't dare to ask the old woman many things.

When he couldn't hold back, he would grab little Hongtang and ask in a low voice.

In this world, others didn't dare to talk to him much, but this little girl, who should theoretically be quite scary, was simple-minded and easy to ask questions of.

"Get married..."

Little Hongtang grinned, poking her little head out from the roof beam, shaking her two little pigtails, and said, "If you marry someone from the Four Surnames, you'll be a member of their family. The ancestors of the Four Surnames will naturally protect you."

"Ah?"

Hu Ma never expected this idea.

He hadn't even had time to get married in his previous life, and he was taking the express lane here?

He immediately became a little nervous, "Marry who?"

Little Hongtang pouted, "They picked someone from the Zhao family."

"Zhao family..."

Hu Ma didn't know who the Zhao family was, but he vaguely heard the old woman and little Hongtang mention that in Daya寨zi (village), the Hu family was an outsider, a small surname, but there were also several large surnames who had lived here for generations.

These large surnames had more ancestors buried in the Old Fire Pit, so they were most protected by the Old Fire Pit. The children of these large surnames were less susceptible to evil spirits.

But he was too shocked, and subconsciously asked:

"......"

Little Hongtang became a little more excited when she heard this, "She's very pretty, famously good-looking, the most beautiful girl in the寨zi (village)."

"寨zi (village) beauty level..."

Hu Ma thought seriously. He rarely went out, and most of the people he had seen in this寨zi (village) were dark, dull, and slow-witted. Occasionally, there were a few women who were short, dark, and wore baggy cotton-padded clothes, really nothing to look at.

But every place would have some outstanding people. A woman who could be called the most beautiful girl in the寨zi (village) probably wouldn't be too bad, right?

He felt a little more hopeful, and inexplicably had some anticipation.

He couldn't help but ask, "How old is she? Do you know?"

"Not very old."

Hongtang tilted her head and thought for a moment, "She was only seventeen when she died."

"?"

Hu Ma was stunned, "Dead?"

"Yes..."

Little Hongtang said happily, "If she was alive, people from the Hu family still wouldn't be in the Old Fire Pit if she married into your family. But if you marry into her family, you can get the protection of the ancestors in the Old Fire Pit. But your Hu family won't have anyone. So Granny is helping you find a *yinqin* (ghost marriage). After you have a *yinqin* (ghost marriage), your wife is in

"This matter was recently suggested by the patriarch and others. Granny considered it for a few days before agreeing."

"It's just that the Zhao family is a little greedy and asked Granny for a lot of betrothal gifts..."

"......"

"What the hell is this?"

Hu Ma almost exploded.

He finally understood what the old patriarch had said to the old woman after worshiping at the Old Fire Pit.

He hadn't gotten married in two lifetimes, and now he had to have a *yinqin* (ghost marriage)?

Even in his previous life, this kind of ghost marriage would make people feel uneasy, let alone in this world with so many ghosts?

If he really married her, wouldn't she be entangled with him for the rest of his life?

He felt endless resistance in his heart. He thought about whether it would be better to stay with the old woman for the rest of his life, or to have a ghost with him for the rest of his life, but he still felt that the latter was unreliable. He hurriedly moved a small stool and sat by the door, waiting for the old woman to return.

He was worried that the old woman would quietly finalize the marriage without him being able to refuse, so he had to quickly tell the old woman his opposition.

The old woman returned near dusk.

She leaned on her crutch and carried a large piece of meat, tied with hemp rope, swinging back and forth.

Hu Ma recognized it at a glance. This was the meat of *taisui* (Grand Duke Jupiter), and it was even bigger than what he usually ate.

Had the betrothal gifts been prepared?

"That..."

Hu Ma got up, and was about to speak when he saw the old woman's tired face.

The words came to his mouth, but he swallowed them back. He hurriedly helped the old woman and took the meat from her hand, "You sit down and rest."

While putting the meat in the jar, he poured a bowl of water for the old woman and handed it to her.

The old woman looked at Hu Ma and slowly took the bowl, drinking it little by little, her expression seemingly complicated.

"Don't sit outside for too long. Although your body is much better, you should still avoid the wind."

The old woman finished drinking the water and handed the bowl to Hu Ma. Hu Ma wanted to pour her some more, but she slowly waved her hand and said, "I took you to the Old Fire Pit before, but the ancestors didn't recognize you. I can't blame them either. The dead are the dead, they only recognize kinship, not reason."

"When I die, if you carry me into the Old Fire Pit, our Hu family will truly have a foothold here."

Hu Ma hurriedly said, "Granny, don't say that. It's better for you to be healthy than to have any protection."

The old woman listened to these words and was silent for a while, her eyes seeming to tremble.

"Yes..."

She sighed and said, "I can't lie in the Fire Pit yet, but you need someone to protect you..."

"The patriarch was afraid that I would be disappointed, so he gave me an idea that day, wanting to arrange a marriage for you..."

"......"

Hu Ma's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. The main event was finally here. He was hesitating about how to persuade her to refuse.

Then he heard the old woman sigh and say, "I thought about it, and still refused."

"Ah?"

Hu Ma was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly looked up at the old woman.

"Your body is weak. If you have a *yinqin* (ghost marriage), I'm afraid you won't be able to stand the torment of that ghost woman."

The old woman slowly said, "Moreover, you are the last of our Hu family. In the future, we will rely on you to have children and grandchildren. If you have this marriage, either you will spend your life with a ghost wife, or you will have to divorce her and remarry afterwards. Neither is reliable."

"So that's the reason?"

Hu Ma felt relieved. He massaged the old woman's shoulders and said, "I'll listen to Granny in everything."

That night, after he fell asleep, he vaguely saw a slender young girl in a brightly colored dress come to his bed, crying and wiping away her tears, saying, "My family asked me before, and I didn't want to marry at first, but your granny gave a lot of betrothal gifts, so I agreed. But I was all ready to climb into your bed, but your granny called off the marriage..."

"Your family is bullying people, how are others going to look at me..."