Early in the morning, before the sky had even fully brightened, the village was already bustling with activity.
The Sacrificial Hall had been set up, its platform draped in red silk hanging proudly in the open space, radiating a strong festive atmosphere.
In front of the platform, tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and near the riverbank, the villagers had built earthen stoves.
Alongside the stoves, long cutting boards stretched out, where the village women stood in a line, methodically preparing the ingredients in their hands.
Every face was glowing with joy.
The Village Chief, accompanied by several men, cheerfully delivered a set of clothes to Chu Zhou’s home, urging them to get ready quickly and head over.
Zhuang Meng smiled and agreed.
Zhang Ren struggled to suppress his displeasure and calmly asked, “Aunt Zhuang, what kind of celebration is this? Why is Zhou Zhou dressed in festive clothes?”
Zhuang Meng casually placed the clothes on the table, revealing for the first time a cold expression. “These are ritual garments.”
Zhang Ren restrained his emotions and asked, “What exactly is going on here?”
Zhuang Meng didn’t answer him directly but gently stroked Chu Zhou, her tone tinged with melancholy. “You’ve already guessed, haven’t you?”
Chu Zhou’s eyelashes trembled, his voice wavering with a hint of tears. “Yeah.”
She smiled softly and brushed the stray hair from his cheek with her chilly fingers. “Don’t be afraid. If I can send you out once, I can send you out again. They won’t harm you.”
Chu Zhou grasped her hand tightly. “If you don’t go, I won’t go.”
“Don’t say such foolish things,” Zhuang Meng pulled her hand away and turned to Xie Qi with a smile. “Sir, everything outside is prepared. You and Zhou Zhou stay inside the inner room. Don’t go out. If anything happens, please take extra care of him.”
“No matter what you see or what happens, don’t go outside,” she patted Chu Zhou’s head and emphasized again, “I’ve arranged… people to protect you. They’re all good kids. Don’t be afraid. After today, you’ll be able to leave.”
With that, Zhuang Meng took the ritual garment and retreated into the room.
“Mom!” Chu Zhou stood up, wanting to follow, but Zhang Ren held him back by the shoulder. Obviously, even he had sensed Zhuang Meng’s unusual behavior at this moment.
Zhuang Meng changed clothes inside the room. She tied her hair up and tucked it under her hat.
Her gentle features became strikingly beautiful with makeup, and after putting on specially padded elevated shoes, she pursed her lips silently. The resemblance to Chu Zhou was uncanny.
She pushed open the window and softly spoke outside, “Mother is leaving. You must protect your brother well.”
“Understood, Mother.” A soft childish voice answered from outside, letting her feel reassured as she walked away.
Chu Zhou’s eyes were red as he watched Zhuang Meng slowly walk away.
She smiled and pinched his nose. “You’re almost grown up, still crying like a baby.”
Chu Zhou hugged her tightly. “Can’t we leave together?”
Zhuang Meng sighed deeply and pushed him away. “Zhou Zhou, Mother is bound to this village, and so am I. I can’t leave, and neither can the villagers.”
Ever since the village began worshipping the so-called Ling Spirit, nothing had stopped.
Zhuang Meng pulled away Chu Zhou’s hand, straightened her back, and slowly walked out.
The large wooden gate creaked closed behind them, as if separating them from the village.
The rising sun cast shimmering reflections on the river, and lively drums began to sound.
The Spirit Woman, dressed in wide-sleeved robes, stood atop the platform. “Please, Holy Child—”
The drumming men followed behind Zhuang Meng, cheering enthusiastically.
Zhuang Meng’s face remained calm as she ascended the platform step by step.
The Spirit Woman carried a bowl of water in her hands and slowly circled around Zhuang Meng, sprinkling water from the bowl on her while muttering incomprehensible blessings.
When the incense in the censer burned out, the Spirit Woman stopped, raised her arm, and loudly sang, “The ritual is complete. Please, Holy Child, enter the Ling Hall.”
Zhuang Meng stood and followed behind the Spirit Woman, slowly approaching the only house in the village aligned north-south.
The villagers below the platform erupted in cheers. The women weaved through the banquet, carrying steaming hot dishes fresh from the oven.
The men smiled broadly, clinking cups with clear, crisp sounds.
Chu Zhou pressed himself tightly against the window, watching the figure in red slowly enter the house where no one ever returned.
He stared blankly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Zhang Ren stood behind him, gently patting his back.
“Before… no child who entered that house ever came out…” Chu Zhou covered his eyes and slowly spoke.
“The villagers say the Ling Spirit requires a Holy Child to serve it, chosen every year from among the village boys, offered to the Ling Spirit. In return, the Ling Spirit blesses the village with favorable weather and protection from disasters.”
“My mother feared I would be chosen, so she raised me as a girl since I was little. But she never imagined that when I was seven, the Ling Spirit would still select me…”
Chu Zhou choked back a sob. “At night, she secretly sent me away in a wooden basin down the river.” That was why he had grown up in various orphanages and foster homes, never mentioning his parents or family.
Zhang Ren suppressed the turmoil in his heart and gently patted Chu Zhou’s back. “Aunt Zhuang will be fine.”
Chu Zhou shook his head, silent. He had long suspected his mother’s strangeness but was too young and naive to understand.
Only after returning as an adult did he confirm her unusual nature.
Yet, faced with friends who cared sincerely, he didn’t know how to explain.
“Brother, don’t cry.” A pale little face peeked through the window.
“Yes, don’t be afraid. We promised Mother to protect your head,” said a soft childish voice to Chu Zhou.
He choked up, glaring at the suddenly appearing tiny furry heads by the window.
Their expressions were innocent, their hair neatly combed, but their eyes were black pits.
—Clearly, they weren’t ordinary children.
And since they had entered the village, Chu Zhou had never seen children like these before. Where had these strange kids suddenly appeared from?
The little furry kids grew shy when Chu Zhou glared silently. They glanced at each other and shrank down below the window. The smaller one whispered, “Did we scare Brother?”
The bigger one pressed down gently. “Shh, don’t talk. Let’s hide down there so Brother won’t see us.”
So the little furry heads really did retreat.
One of them muttered, “…”
Among them, Chu Zhou, who had never seen ghosts before, was the most shocked. “What was that just now?”
Qu Yanning and Zhang Ren spoke almost simultaneously:
“Dumplings?”
“Just kids.”
Chu Zhou looked at Zhang Ren and asked Qu Yanning, “Why do you say dumplings?”
Qu Yanning awkwardly glanced at Xie Qi and stammered, “They look kinda like dumplings in TV shows.”
Chu Zhou was silent for a moment before asking, “Do you know something?”
Zhang Ren and Qu Yanning exchanged glances, and with perfect tacit understanding said, “Just a little.”
Chu Zhou turned away, ignoring them, tapped the window, and asked, “Are you still there?”
The little radish-headed kids crouching by the window looked at each other and asked, “Brother, are you calling us?”
The older one nodded seriously. “Yeah, you can come up and see.”
The smaller one timidly climbed the window, gripping tightly with sharp little claws, and shyly asked, “Brother, are you calling me?”
Chu Zhou looked at his sharp little claws and forced himself to calm down, gently asking, “Why are you all outside? Did Mother send you?”
The little radishes nodded, their pale faces round and a bit cute on closer inspection. “Mother told us to protect Brother. She went to fight the bad guys.”
Hearing this confirmed Chu Zhou’s suspicions, he clenched his fingers. “Really?”
The little radish grinned, showing sharp teeth proudly. “Mother’s awesome. The bad guys can’t beat her.”
Chu Zhou forced a smile, worry flickering across his face, but still kindly asked, “How many of you are there? Want to come inside?”
The little radish was stunned and looked wide-eyed at Chu Zhou. The bigger one peeked out from below. “Really can come inside?”
Chu Zhou smiled, now used to these little kids and finding them quite cute. “Yeah, come in. Don’t stay outside.”
The radishes cheered and strange whistles sounded outside. Then the big door opened, and five little heads peeked timidly inside.
Chu Zhou twitched the corner of his mouth. “Come on in.”
The five radishes cheered again and rushed in. They stopped right in front of Chu Zhou and timidly looked up, calling him Brother.
If not for their sharp little teeth, it would have been a warm family reunion.
Chu Zhou tentatively reached out and patted their heads. Except for their cold body temperatures, they were no different from ordinary children.
His eyes dimmed as he talked to the radishes.
Qu Yanning and the others stood nearby, completely stunned. Chu Zhou’s ability to accept this was far beyond their expectations.
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