Original text:

Shadow ghost

"Shadow, Yin and Yang Road, don't look back, Qingming Diaozi, solitary grave, light a ghost lamp, spend the night, life and death, ghosts turn back ..."

It's already spring, but the weather in March is still bitterly cold. There are already fingernail-sized buds on the branches outside the window, but they are shivering in the cold wind. The old man said, "it's cold in spring, and when it's cold, it's three or nine days." Coupled with the cold drizzle, there is no joy of spring at all, but it is biting cold and bleak everywhere.

I'm a person who doesn't like getting up early, but I had to climb out of bed reluctantly because of an art class arranged for the first class this morning.

There are many shops selling breakfast around the school gate, and Li Laotou, who sells steamed buns, is one of them with a good business. It can be said that my breakfast is solved there every day.

As usual, I bought some steamed bread and ate it at the same time. I can't help it It is too late to get up. If Bai Yi hadn't reminded me that today is the inspection of the guidance office, I guess I could stay here for a while.

With a sigh, I took a bite of steamed stuffed bun and hurried to school. At this time, Li Laotou, who sells steamed buns, hugged me tightly with his withered hands and stuffed two big meat steamed buns into my bag.

I'm confused at first sight. "Uncle Li, what are you doing?"

Li Laotou looked around with a strange face, making sure that no one else was there. He said to me: "Teacher An, Nong (you) can help me find Miss Bai for help. My granddaughter has always said that Miss Bai is very good. But I didn't know him well until Nong took care of my business. Can Nong call him for me? "

The old man speaks Mandarin with a strong accent. It took me a long time to understand that he wanted me to help him find Bai Yi, so he gave me two big meat buns for nothing.

It is true that the granddaughter of the old man is also a junior two student in this school. It's not surprising to know that there is Bai Yi. I just wonder what the old man asked Bai Yi to help his granddaughter with her lessons. So I asked, "Grandpa, do you want Mr. Bai to help your granddaughter make a small stove?"

The old man waved nervously and put his head closer. He said to me in a low voice, "I, my granddaughter, must be haunted!" " "

I was stunned. Originally, I didn't believe in ghosts and gods in the world, but my Marxist materialism collapsed since the last ghost night. I lowered my voice like an old man and asked, "Ghost?"

The old man nodded and dragged me into the back room of the steamed stuffed bun shop. The room is a mess, there are steamers everywhere, and there are several bags of flour piled up in the corner. The old man moved a stool for me to sit on, and then began to recall what happened recently.

"My granddaughter is a child who doesn't like talking to others. I haven't seen her get along with any classmates. At most, she only finds two children to jump rubber bands together. She likes to jump rubber bands. But recently, she has stopped looking for someone to dance, and she doesn't care more about people than usual. She is in a daze almost all the time except going to school to eat and sleep. At first, I thought I was at odds with my children. Just a few days ago, I saw something that scared me for half my life! "

The old man swallowed, took a deep breath and walked on. "That night, I prepared the steamed bread to be sold tomorrow morning. Steamed buns are wrapped at night and steamed in the morning. When I was packing, I found my granddaughter jumping up and down on the street corner alone. I wonder what this girl is doing. I approached and shouted twice, but the girl didn't look back. It seems that she didn't even hear me call her, and she kept jumping up and down, which surprised me. I shouted twice again, but the girl didn't look at me. I suddenly felt something was wrong. There are only me and my granddaughter in this corner, but ... but ... there are three people on the wall next to it.

Li Laotou stretched out a dead finger and made a gesture of three with trembling.

I was so scared that I ran away with my granddaughter in my arms, but the shadow suddenly turned around and hugged her shadow. Then I felt that my granddaughter was pulled, and her strength was surprisingly great. I thought it was over! It's over! Hit something dirty. I've had enough of this old man, but my granddaughter is still young. How could I be dragged away by this ... this damn thing? I'm completely distracted. Run back with all your might. I didn't expect to have the strength to hold my granddaughter. I took my granddaughter back to her room and stayed at her bedside all night.

When she got up the next day, it was as if nothing had happened. I thought I was senile, but, but! Because my granddaughter has a child-sized handprint on her arm. I'm sure what happened last night was not a dream! "

I interrupted her and asked, "So your granddaughter met again?"

He was a little excited and said to me with his fist, "Yes! As long as it is midnight, my granddaughter will go to that corner. I can't stop it. I locked her in the room and she hit the door with her head. And those things were hanging in front of my house, and I heard the sound of knocking at the door in the middle of the night. Nobody answered the door. But there are obvious shadows. My granddaughter dances there almost every night. " Then he covered his face with his hand and sobbed bitterly.

I think that 17-year-old 80-year-old man is here looking at my young man with a runny nose and tears. It's really a little hard to see. So I got up and stood up, patted the old man's hand, told him that I would leave the matter to the next year and advised him to help.

The old man was so grateful that he forced me five or six different steamed buns. I walked out of his shop and looked at the corner he said, but it was actually just the corner of the intersection.

This is the old town. It seems that it hasn't been decorated for many years. The road is so small that it is almost impossible for large motor vehicles to drive. There are many such forgotten corners in this city. Because there is no urban management for a long time, a lot of garbage is piled there at sixes and sevens. To tell the truth, I really don't see anything different except a little dirty.

Being delayed by the old man for a long time in the morning, it is impossible not to be late. The result was caught by Pan Guangtou of the guidance office (his surname is Pan, and his head is like a shiny poached egg). I seem to be teaching my son a lesson. Also try to pick something wrong and bigger, and only after his infinite amplification can it be mentioned to a new height and a new level. So I staged a personal criticism meeting in the office!

After a morning, I sat glumly in my office during my lunch break, sorting out the materials needed for class in the afternoon and preparing to eat after my lunch break. Mouth kept muttering about how to make that bald pan completely change from bald to bald.

Bai Yi's desk is right opposite me. When everyone in the office was clean, he finally poof, and then he couldn't stop laughing. My face is getting darker, and I think you are still a buddy, your depressed attitude!

I can't help but leave my book behind and say with a cold face, "Smile, your boy will be caught in the future, and I'll see how you can be called a grandson by Pan Guangtou!" "

When he saw that I was really angry, he stopped laughing, but his mouth was slightly upturned. Obviously, he is still laughing at me.

"You also need so long to buy a steamed stuffed bun. I kindly told you to arrive early. Today, Pan came to the picket. I cann't believe you're still 45 minutes late for a whole class ~ brother! Very good, very powerful. "

Li Laotou mentioned steamed stuffed bun before I remembered his strange things, so I leaned in and squinted and said, "Do me a favor? You must be interested in this. "

Bai Yi shrank back uncomfortably, then raised her eyebrows slightly and asked what it was. I told him exactly what the old man told me this morning.

I saw him lower his head and think for a moment, but I didn't know what he was whispering. Then he looked up at me and said seriously, "lunch is on you, and we will go to the Li family together in the evening."

"It's me again! I have no money. " My salary is pitifully low. Without the help of my parents, I think I'll have to sleep on the street.

In the evening, the school gate is very lively. After school, there are obviously more cars. There are all kinds of snacks and gadgets at the gate, and the noise is almost as loud as in the morning.

Bai Yi and I came to Li Laotou's booth. Business there is obviously not as good as in the morning, and it is a bit deserted. Li Laotou looked at the stove alone and looked into the house from time to time.

I walked up to Li Laotou first and told him with a smile that my name was Bai Yi. What can I do for him? In fact, I still hate the two pieces of shredded green peppers at noon. ...

When Li Laotou saw us coming, he immediately stood up and took us into the room regardless of the stall. I feel the helplessness and anxiety of the old people. Who doesn't care about their children? We sat down and the old man made us some tea. Everything was served, and he sat opposite us, looking at a door of the room, his eyes dim and frightened.

"Miss white, it's very kind of you to come and see. I heard that you know this very well and are very knowledgeable. For those of us who haven't learned, I really don't know what to do ... "The old man was obviously restrained and his speech was irrelevant. I'm funny and knowledgeable. I'll take a look at this for you. I just called the counselor directly.

I looked at Bai Yi. He didn't answer. He just blew the tea, sipped it, and then continued to wait for the old man's words. I think if this continues, things will not be explained at night, so I began to say, "Laobai ... you see, this matter may only be helped by you, and the old man may feel dizzy, but the situation of children is not once or twice." If he is really dizzy, not so many times, it is a cataract ... "I feel more and more unreliable, just shut up and pick up the cup and concentrate on drinking tea.

Bai Yi obviously don't like me to interrupt first, cocked his head and frowned at me. Then he turned to the old man and said, "I've heard a lot about your granddaughter." But I don't know some details if I don't see them with my own eyes. If you don't mind, we'd like to see them again in the evening. It won't take long. I just have something to confirm. "

Of course, the old man won't mind. Not counting thanks, he has to keep us for dinner. Before we refused, we rolled up our sleeves and went to cook.

Although we are embarrassed, two single young people really have nowhere to eat except going to the canteen every day to solve their livelihood problems. As for the kitchen, I definitely won't go. Eating is an advantage. ...

While eating, we saw his granddaughter and two teachers went home for dinner. The girl was obviously a little surprised and at a loss. Say hello like a mosquito and eat without looking up. The atmosphere is obviously stiff. ...

I coughed and wanted to ask Lao Li's granddaughter about her recent study. This is a problem that teachers should care about.

"Li Ai, do you have any problems with your studies recently?" I regret asking this sentence, and I don't understand the main course either. ...

"Very well, thank you for your concern." Li Yi still didn't look up and continued to eat.

"Li Tongxue, how did you feel when you walked at night recently?" Bai Yi asked.

The girl suddenly looked up at Bai Yi, but soon she fell down again and said softly, "No, I didn't feel anything."

"Nobody called your name?" Bai yi is still asking

The girl's hands are shaking. She put down her chopsticks, didn't eat or look up at us. The old wall clock on the wall rattled, the heat of the food rose slowly, and the girl's face felt a little fuzzy for an instant.

Bai Yi frowning, looking at the other side of the child, slightly slowed down. "Are you sure you didn't hear your name called?"

"I didn't, I just ... heard someone reading children's songs. A very strange nursery rhyme. I don't know what that is. He has been reading it. Then there was no sound ... "The girl said intermittently after cold.

"Can you tell us what kind of nursery rhyme it is?" A few unobservable nodded, and Bai continued to ask next year.

The child looked up with a strange smile on his white face and said, "No, because it's a secret."

I said, "Who's your secret?"

The girl was a little anxious and shook her head and said, "I can't tell you that' he' will be unhappy."

I'm a little speechless. Such a question is so meaningless that I didn't ask anything. Children's songs, so strange. What kind of nursery rhymes can make a girl play shadow every day? I looked at the old man again. He's a little excited. He probably can't stand his granddaughter's strange behavior and has been suppressing his fears. Suddenly, he began to read, "Shadow ghost, Yin and Yang road, don't look back, hang a tomb on Qingming Festival, light a ghost lamp, spend the night, live and die, and the ghost turns back ..."

The girl stared at her grandfather and looked at the old man painfully with almost angry and shocked eyes.

The old man is pale. He said, "That's what the child read. I remember ... "

The girl was very angry. She stood up and walked to the door. Li Laotou hugged Li Yi, almost dragging his feet.

Bai Yi looked outside the door, and the cold street lamp shone on the concrete road, uneven, and then turned to me and said, "Go, go out and have a look."

It was completely dark, obviously the weather was not very good, and there was not even a moon. On such a cold day, there are no pedestrians outside. Except where the street lamp shines, everything else is gray, and the rusty iron gate is creaked by the wind. Occasionally, a wild cat came out from under the car, but immediately entered another dark space.

I wrapped my clothes tightly to prevent cold air from blowing into them. Bai Yi came up to me and said to me, "I'm calling a name now. You can help me with it. If you see anything, don't panic. I will be fine. " But remember, you can't stop Take a step and shout, understand? "

I nodded. Walking side by side with him, we walked step by step from the door of Lao Li's shop to the crossroads not far away.

"Li Ai" Bai Yi took the first step. Nothing happened, and then I came out and shouted "Li Ai".

So, Bai Yi called out my voice for the second time and took the second step. ...

On the silent road, only Bai Yi and I shouted Li Ai's name. Just as I was about to go to the corner, I felt something was wrong, right! My shadow became two shadows! One is obviously a child. Much shorter than my own shadow. But he followed in my footsteps, exactly at my pace. As if that shadow were mine. I looked at Bai Yi's again. Although his shadow did not change into two, he trembled badly. That strange shadow just wants to paint me as Bai Yi's shadow. Sandwiched between us, I glanced out of the corner of my eye. There is a vague figure between Bai Yi and me, right among us.

My cold sweat just came down, my hands tightened and I felt numb. It's Li Ai again. The name is strange like a spell. I followed and shouted "Li Ai", and my voice was obviously shaking. That's not my original tone, but hoarse and empty.

I found Bai Yi's voice changed, too. It's a shrill voice like a wild cat barking. I can hardly hear Li's name. I didn't forget that I had to keep up, and I shouted. I feel that the sound is not coming from my mouth, but from my side, as harsh as the sound of plastic friction.

13 ... We're coming to the corner. Our voices became the shouts of three people. Yes, I and Bai Yi's voice, and then we made the voice. Three voices and three shadows, there are only two people in a space.

Finally, I came to the corner. I can hardly stand up. I really can't imagine what I'm carrying. I can feel it right beside me.

I licked my lips and squinted at Bai Yi. He suddenly grabbed my hand and didn't continue calling names. Fortunately, he didn't keep shouting. I really can't hold on. It feels like summoning a soul!

I stared at the shadow on the wall, because the illumination of the street lamp became very clear, obviously bigger than when I was on the road. This shadow kept beating regularly, and then the children's song "Shadow Ghost, Yin and Yang Road, Don't Look Back, Qingming Hangzi, Lonely Grave, A Ghost Lamp, A Night Road, Life and Death, Ghosts Turn Back ..." suddenly sounded in my ear.

The shadows we bring are always jumping, and the children's songs are constantly repeating. Will ghosts really turn back? I dare not look back, and I don't want to see that strange shadow. I suddenly want to run and leave this place. This is crazy. This is a nightmare. But holding my hand obviously increased my strength. I know I can't run away, or I can't run away at all. My shadow has something to do with that ghost ... which means that thing will follow me everywhere. I think I will die if I run now.

Standing for a long time can hear the sound of several cars passing by. But there was still not even half a passer-by, only Bai Yi and I stood motionless at the corner, and the cold wind made me shiver. Children's songs finally stopped, and the shadows stopped jumping. It was still connected to our shadow, and suddenly the shadow reached out and I felt someone touching me. I can't stand it anymore, my teeth are shaking.

"You can leave now." Bai Yi said, "As for the conditions you want, I will help you realize them. I hope you will abide by the agreement. "

Suddenly the shadow slowly twisted, like an ugly black fog, gradually dissolved into the ground and disappeared in this corner. The cold light still shines on the street, and there are still no pedestrians on the road. The strength of holding my hand finally relaxed, and I felt Bai Yi patted me on the shoulder. I nodded weakly, indicating that I was fine.

"Are you okay? Will you come again? " I relaxed and felt my legs almost numb. I squatted down. Actually, I wanted to sit down, but it was so embarrassing. Bai Yi lit a cigarette, looked at me and touched my head.

"No, it's not over yet, because we haven't fulfilled our promise with him."

"What promise?"

"I used to ask ghosts in front, which is also a kind of whitsunday method. I changed it, so what is attached to Li Ai is attached to us. This skill can make the ghost promise you to do one thing, obviously. I told him to leave the living alone. Becoming a Buddha or not is his pleasure, and I can't control it. "

"So when did you agree to his request? I didn't agree. " It feels more and more puzzling.

Bai Yi shook her head, pulled me up and walked to Li Laotou's house. "Don't stand at the intersection and talk like two idiots. Go back to Lao Li's house first."

Lao Li's granddaughter is no longer noisy. The old man just used almost all his strength to hold Li Ai, and now he is holding his granddaughter's hand and panting.

Seeing us come in showed that his granddaughter was fine, and he carefully let go of her hand. The girl walked into her room decadent, as if she had lost something.

"Lao Li, you didn't tell us that you had killed people before." When Li Yi closed the room door, Bai Yi asked. Hearing this, the old man's eyes got wide open, and he was like an old monkey with a broken tail and jerked.

I can't believe it. How can an old man selling steamed stuffed buns kill people? I suddenly looked at the old man carefully, afraid that he would really take out a knife to kill us.

The old man's eyes dimmed, lifeless collapsed on the stool, hoarse voice, as if from the throat "kill, kill my own daughter. My own daughter! "

I feel a tingle in my scalp. Although I don't know much about the old man, I know that the buns he sells are delicious, honest and honest. I love my granddaughter more. It's impossible to kill your own daughter.

"Now do you understand what that shadow is?" Bai Yi still stared at the old man, capturing any expression on his face.

The old man held his head in pain and collapsed from the stool. He was prone on the ground and almost growled, "I know, I don't know. When Xiao Ai read this nursery rhyme, I knew it was an evocation song in my hometown. I taught my daughter karma as a nursery rhyme. I feel sorry for her, but she was born an idiot. How can I support her? She will eventually live in pain. It is better to ... It is better to ... "

I said coldly, "Because of this, you killed her. She has your blood on her!" " "

The old man looked up at me with tears in his eyes and shouted, "I didn't have enough to eat at that time." I have to think about this family! " "

"Your daughter's name is Li Ai, right?" Bai Yi asked indifferently.

"Yes, I want my granddaughter to be called by this name, not my daughter. This is my guilt for her."

"You killed him at the corner, didn't you? There is not even a grave. "

"I ... I ... I can't let my wife know ..."

I can't listen to it anymore. The old man killed his stupid daughter, then buried her at the crossroads, and went back to his life as if nothing had happened, saying that his daughter was lost. The poor child was buried in a field not far from home by his biological father because of his natural mental retardation.

"The agreement she asked me to make was to take her to her biological father, and I did." White next year looked at Li Laotou with a straight face. Li Laotou suddenly found his shadow close to a dark shadow in horror and gradually became a person. He tried to escape, only to find that the shadow gripped him tightly, and he seemed to be torn alive. Li Laotou watched and pulled his own shadow in fear, and he screamed in pain. His shadow began to roll, and the two shadows intertwined, like ink dripping into the water, twisted and fused.

I want to help, Bai Yi grabbed me and shook her head at me. He said, "People's sins are paid with equivalent pain. He doesn't want to drag down his mentally retarded daughter, so now he must bear her soul and live with her. And we can only watch, because this is our contract with the ghost.

Bai Yi here, turned and left the house. I turned around and saw the ghost dancing and pulling the old man, just like a newborn animal pulling his parents. The old man frantically unplugged the light bulb and threw it out the door. He doesn't want to see his own shadow. He hid under the table, hugged his head and shook his body as if to throw something away. The old man was obviously crazy, and Li Ai's deep voice came from the back room. "Shadow, Yin and Yang Road, don't look back, Qingming Diaozi, solitary grave, a ghost lamp, a night road, the road of life and death, ghosts turn back ..."

I know the old man has to pay for his selfishness, but Li Ai is innocent ... but sometimes the most important people have to pay their debts together.

Later, the old man's steamed stuffed bun shop never opened again, and Li Ai was taken to another city by his parents. It is said that the old man lives in a nursing home. It is also said that the old man died soon after spring. In short, in addition to his steamed stuffed bun, it is sometimes mentioned. Besides, no one mentioned him.

That day, I hurried around the corner and vaguely saw two figures. A crouching in the corner, the thin shadow beside him is jumping happily. The evocative shadow songs echoed in my ears. ...

Don't abandon the people you love for any reason, because they have never left you.