Wang Cheng’an suddenly lifted his head and looked toward the night sky outside the courtyard wall, then turned back and said, “Yaya, did someone come?”
Wang Ya sneered inwardly, thinking, Good, let them come! She wasn’t afraid of them coming; she was afraid they wouldn’t. The eighteen Blood Talismans suppressing the courtyard outside would claim their lives tonight to avenge Grandma! She was just about to move when she saw Wang Cheng’an toss aside the palm-leaf fan in his hand and rush joyfully to the gate, waving his arms and shouting, “Chengwei, come quick! I’ll treat you to barbecue!”
It was her Second Uncle who had arrived? Wang Ya stood under the collapsed section of the courtyard wall with a large gap and peered out toward the distance. About a hundred meters away on the field embankment, two figures carrying flashlights were walking over. Judging by their silhouettes and the direction, weren’t they her Second Uncle and his companion?
The two men reached the courtyard below, and the flashlight beam shone on Wang Ya.
Wang Chengwei shouted, “Yaya, pack up. Come with us to town.”
Wang Ya asked, “What am I going to town for so late?”
Wang Chengwei said, “Look at this house of yours—how could anyone sleep here?” As he spoke, he probably thought of how even the bed in Wang Ya’s room had been shattered into pieces, and he cursed viciously several times.
Wang Ya said, “Second Uncle, we still won’t stay at your house. Consider it for Second Aunt and Guoguo’s sake. I’ll tidy up the room and make a floor mat; it’ll still be sleepable.”
“Be good and come with us to town to sleep. Cheng’an, let’s go. I’ll take you for barbecue—Luo Erwa’s barbecue.”
Wang Cheng’an perked up at the mention of barbecue and bounced happily in front of Wang Chengwei. He pulled out the hundred yuan Wang Ya had given him earlier from his pocket and said, “Chengwei, look, I have money. I’ll treat you to barbecue.”
Wang Chengwei said, “Good, Cheng’an’s treating!” He turned to Wang Ya again. “Let’s go, Yaya. Don’t be stubborn! I know you’re reluctant, but how about this: at year’s end, when I get my year-end bonus, I’ll help you rebuild the house. Your grandma hasn’t been found yet, right? As long as she hasn’t been found, there’s still hope.”
The policeman beside him also persuaded, “Exactly. What if those people from yesterday come back? A little girl like you has to listen! Listen to your Second Uncle. If you’re worried about causing him trouble, stay at the Police Station. I’ll stand guard at your door with my gun.”
Wang Ya looked at Wang Cheng’an and hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Give me two minutes.” She formed seals with her hands, clearing away the eighteen Blood Talismans suppressing the perimeter of the courtyard, along with the formations she had set inside and outside. Only then did she hug the Family Heirloom wrapped in clothes and leave the courtyard.
Wang Chengwei saw that Wang Ya was only wearing a tank top and said, “It’s the middle of the night—aren’t you cold in just a tank top? Put some clothes on!”
Wang Ya said, “I’m not cold.” She led the way ahead. The young policeman behind her, afraid she couldn’t see the road, specially directed the flashlight beam in front of her to light the path.
Wang Cheng’an followed behind Wang Ya, counting on his fingers the barbecue items he wanted to eat that night, listing off the dishes.
Soon, Wang Ya reached the village road and stood in front of the police van. Wang Chengwei and the young policeman lagged about twenty meters behind.
The night was quiet, and Wang Ya’s hearing was sharp. She clearly heard the young policeman quietly ask Wang Chengwei, “Brother Wang, does your niece have a boyfriend?”
“She doesn’t seem to. Why? What are you thinking, kid? Believe it or not, I’ll smack you?”
Wang Cheng’an asked, “Yaya, are you looking for a boyfriend?”
Wang Ya ignored Wang Cheng’an.
The drive from the village to town took only a few minutes, and nothing happened along the way—no sign of people, not even a Ghost Shadow.
The town was small. In Wang Ya’s childhood, it had only been one street. Over more than a decade, it had expanded along the highway with quite a few small buildings, totaling just three streets in an irregular V-shape leading to three different directions. Two of those roads went toward the county town, the city, and Chengdu.
The central old street in town was where the original town office and Police Station had been. At the end of the street, an open area had been developed into the Farmers’ Market. The Farmers’ Market had been built ten years ago—just a large shed surrounded by a row of small buildings with two supermarkets and the “Wangjia Town Grand Hotel.” The five-story “Grand Hotel” was considered top-tier locally! Next to the Farmers’ Market was the bus station, and a narrow alley between two small buildings allowed direct access from the market to the station.
The van stopped in front of the “Wangjia Town Grand Hotel” beside the Farmers’ Market. After getting out, Wang Chengwei pulled the car keys and went straight to bang on the door, shouting loudly, “Qin Siwa!”
Soon, a woman’s voice came from upstairs: “Who is it?”
“Qunying, it’s Wang Chengwei. Tell Siwa to come down and open the door. My niece and cousin-brother are staying here for a few days.”
“So late! Wait till we get up! Siwa, go open the door! Siwa, you little brat, I’m telling you to open the door and you’re still sleeping? Chengwei’s waiting downstairs!”
Lights came on upstairs. Before long, the shutter door rolled up, and a man with hair as messy as a chicken’s nest, wearing slippers, and eye gunk still in the corners of his eyes appeared at the door. He shouted, “Chengwei! Wu Wa’er, come on in!”
After entering, Wang Chengwei said, “My niece just came back from out of town. My wife’s asleep, so I brought her here. This is my cousin-brother, Second Uncle’s son.”
Qin Siwa went behind the counter to grab keys and said, “So late—you two stay here too! Plenty of empty rooms upstairs.” He took the keys and led them upstairs.
Wang Ya thought that this was the town’s only hotel. If Ghost Granny’s descendants came from out of town, they’d have to stay here, so she asked, “Uncle Qin Si, have any out-of-towners come these past few days? Southern accents.”
