The Ji Family had always been the envy of the village for producing an esteemed child student. Recently, however, they had become the center of everyone's attention because of Ji Huan.
No one could speak of the second son's family without a sigh. All the villagers disapproved of how Aunt Kang cruelly mistreated the family's orphaned daughter.
But for one, it was someone else's family business, and it wasn't their place to interfere. For another, no one could afford to provoke Aunt Kang. Otherwise, she would plant herself at your doorstep and curse at you for days on end.
Then the rumors started that she was a jinx, and what little sympathy people had for her vanished. Everyone couldn't wait to steer clear of her. Even when Aunt Kang tried to sell her own granddaughter, not a single person stepped forward to say a word on her behalf.
The strange part was that, after several attempts, they still hadn't managed to sell Wuan. It was said that she later tried to kill herself by smashing her head against a pillar.
Only, she didn't die. Instead, she disappeared. The Ji Family's official story was that they had found her a wealthy husband from out of town.
But how many days had it been? And now she's come back in this state.
"I knew that Aunt Kang was up to no good," Aunt Wang muttered to Sixth Sister-in-law Feng, who was walking beside her. "She doesn't even treat the second son's family like human beings. How could she possibly find a good husband for Wuan? Does she take us for fools?"
"Isn't that the truth? I've never seen anyone so vicious. Look at her—a perfectly fine girl tormented until she barely looks human. I don't think she's... well, it doesn't look good..."
Ji Huan overheard these whispers, but her expression didn't betray a thing.
'Although the villagers had their own motives, people are naturally inclined to pity the weak. Add to that a herd mentality, and they were no longer afraid of her ominous reputation.'
'Whether they were here for a good show or to see justice done, as long as they followed her, they would become her backing.'
'And with this backing, she could achieve her goal with half the effort.'
Meanwhile, the Ji Family was in a complete panic.
Despite Aunt Kang's usual ferocity, perhaps because she had a guilty conscience, she was terrified of ghosts and ghouls.
'Could it really be that jinx's vengeful spirit, come to claim her life?' The more she thought about it, the more her courage failed her.
Just then, a sudden pounding echoed from the main gate.
"Grandma... open the door... It's me, Wan..."
The faltering voice drifted through the door, startling both Mrs. Zhu and Yang. Mrs. Zhu, in particular, let out a scream, clapped her hands over her ears, and hid behind Yang.
Hearing the commotion, Ji Qingshan and his two sons emerged from their respective rooms, parting the door curtains. They all looked to Aunt Kang.
Aunt Kang had bullied her way through life and wasn't about to lose face in front of the younger generation. She put on a brave face and said forcefully, "What ghost would dare show up in broad daylight? Even if she really is one, when she was alive, I could do whatever I pleased with her. You think I'm going to be afraid of her as a ghost? Don't be ridiculous! Mrs. Zhu, go open the door!"
Mrs. Zhu cursed inwardly, 'If you're not afraid, why don't you open it yourself!'
She wanted to push the task onto Yang, but the ever-unreliable Yang was already scared stiff.
With no other choice, she had to brace herself and inch her way toward the gate.
As she slowly slid the bolt, the gate opened a crack.
Mrs. Zhu craned her neck and squinted one eye to peek at the ground. Letting out a long sigh of relief, she turned and shouted excitedly, "Mother, she has a shadow! The wretched girl isn't dead!"
The moment Aunt Kang heard this, she stopped standing rooted to the spot and rushed out of the courtyard gate in a few quick strides.
"That accursed jinx! If she isn't dead, she must not want to live! Coming here first thing in the morning to scare me! Watch me tear her..."
As the gate swung open, she finally noticed that besides Ji Huan, a large crowd of villagers was standing outside.
Aunt Kang's expression was a sight to behold. After a long moment, she managed to choke out, "What kind of trouble are you stirring up this early in the morning?"
The people outside looked on, ready for a good show. 'This Aunt Kang changes her tune fast,' they thought. 'A moment ago she was spouting pure filth.'
Ji Huan was deathly pale and looked to be on her last breath. She was too weak to even stand properly, barely managing to hold herself up by leaning against the wall.
She pleaded weakly, her lips dry and peeling, "Grandma, please give me something to eat. I'm so hungry it hurts..."
Ji Huan swore that her pleas of hunger were absolutely genuine.
The people in the crowd began to chime in.
"Aunt Kang, look at the state the child is in! It's not like your family is starving. Why must you be like this?"
"Exactly, don't take things too far..."
Aunt Kang's anger flared. 'This jinx has the gall to ask me for food?'
Her reply was blunt and brutal. "There's nothing! I don't have a single grain of rice for you!"
"Aunt Kang, now you've gone too far!"
Aunt Kang was completely shameless. "I'm drinking water used to wash the pot myself! Where would I find extra rations?"
Aunt Wang, never one to mince words, shot back, "She's your granddaughter, for goodness' sake! You've worked her like a beast of burden since she was a child, and now you won't even give her a single bite of food?"
With her hands on her hips, Aunt Kang sprayed spittle as she shrieked, "It's easy for you to stand there and talk! If you're so charitable, why don't you take her home and feed her until she's full! You can work her like an animal, too! Any of you who can't bear to watch, feel free to take this jinx off my hands! Otherwise, stop acting all high and mighty in front of me!"
The crowd was furious, but no one actually dared to play the hero.
Whether they could spare the food was a secondary concern; the real question was, who would dare bring a jinx into their home?
Aunt Kang sneered. 'It's easy to talk when it's not your own skin on the line. They've all gone quiet now, haven't they?'
Seeing that her "backup" was losing ground, Ji Huan spoke at the opportune moment.
"...It's my fault for being ignorant. My life is worthless. Even if I starve, I shouldn't fight with the rest of the family over food... I don't want anything to eat. I only beg you, Grandma, to call a doctor for me. I... I don't want to die. When I'm well again, I'll slave away for you for the rest of my life to repay your kindness..."
Her small face was devoid of expression, and her tone could even be described as calm, yet her words sounded to everyone like a tearful plea. The hearts of everyone present ached for her, and a few of the more soft-hearted women even shed a few tears.
"Aunt Kang, jinx or not, she's still a human life! If you just stand by and watch her die, how will you face your second son when you meet King Yama in the afterlife!"
"Just let a doctor see her. The child can't hold on much longer..."
In her heart, Aunt Kang cursed the jinx. 'Why didn't she just die completely last night!'
"No money! We don't even have food, where would we get money!"
"Grandma..." Ji Huan's grip on the doorframe loosened as she slid slowly downward, almost collapsing to her knees.
"I don't resent you for selling me. I don't even blame you for trying to send me into a ghost marriage. It's my own fate that's too tough. I only hate that I wasn't good enough to fulfill your wish, Grandma, to earn more Silver for the family... Last night, when you and Grandpa saw I was about to die, you had Third Uncle and the others carry me to that dilapidated shed. You were afraid my death would ruin the family's feng shui and affect my youngest uncle's chances of passing his exam. Your granddaughter understands. I can only blame my own stubborn will to live—even King Yama wouldn't take me. But now I'm so hungry and in so much pain, I really can't go on... Grandma, for my dead mother and father's sake, please, save your granddaughter..."
The crowd erupted in an uproar!
What did Wuan just say?!
Sixth Sister-in-law Feng was stunned. "Aunt Kang, you cruel-hearted woman! There can't be another grandmother in the entire world as vicious as you!"
"Exactly! Good heavens, how is that any different from murder! I can't believe the Ji Family would do something like this..."
"I heard that old shed is haunted! How could they have the heart to dump a young girl there? The fear alone could have killed her."
The murmurs grew louder, and every stare felt like a stinging slap across Aunt Kang's old face. Seething with shame and anger, she was about to fly off the handle and start screaming when she saw Ji Qingshan step out of the courtyard.
Seeing the head of the household, along with her son and daughter-in-law, coming to back her up, Aunt Kang's confidence immediately returned.
But unexpectedly, Ji Qingshan immediately unleashed a torrent of abuse on her.
"You clueless old fool! No matter what, Wuan is a member of this family! Things may be tight, but can't we scrounge up a few copper coins? Go get the money and call a doctor!"
'This kind of shameless business was usually Ms. Kang's domain, but the old woman was being incredibly stupid today. If she kept carrying on like this, what would be left of the Ji Family's reputation?'
'Just get her inside and shut the door. As for whether they'd actually feed her or call a doctor... well, that would be for them to decide.'