From the very founding of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, its responsibility had been to guide the departed souls of the mortal realm, ensuring they passed smoothly from Wuwang Hill into the underworld to find peace.
But among the countless souls, there would always be a few stubborn ones. When conventional guidance failed, the directors of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, generation after generation, would raise their shovels and use the methods passed down through the ages. They would physically, forcibly guide those souls into the underworld, preventing them from causing harm in the living world.
Sometimes, when Hu Tao's grandfather was digging graves at Wuwang Hill for clients, he would encounter troublesome spirits. Whenever that happened, he would raise his shovel, and the spirits would usually flee. Occasionally, however, a bold spirit would challenge him, even overpowering him and playing tricks on him. In those cases, he would bring out the family heirloom, the Staff of Homa, and send all offending spirits straight to the underworld.
Seeing her grandfather's confidence, Hu Tao mimicked him, raising her shovel and cautiously watching for spirits.
"Hehe, no need to be afraid of ghosts now!" she cheered, holding her shovel high and striding boldly behind him.
Before long, they reached the designated spot, marked by her grandfather's earlier preparations. He looked at the markings and laughed.
"Little Hu Tao, don't think digging a grave is simple. There's actually a lot of skill involved. Watch your grandfather carefully."
With that, he swung his shovel and began digging with the simplest, most straightforward method. Hu Tao eagerly jumped to his side.
"Grandfather, let me help you! Don't underestimate me just because I'm thirteen—I'm really good at digging!"
Though she had just turned thirteen and her strength was still limited, the clever and mischievous Hu Tao was a true experimentalist with excellent hands‑on skills. Digging was no challenge for her. In fact, she dug faster than her aging grandfather. In just an hour, she had dug a hole deep and wide enough to bury a child her size.
"Grandfather, look! How's my hole?" Hu Tao ran to him, breathless and grinning, seeking his approval.
Her grandfather walked over slowly, coughing. "Let me see."
He covered his mouth with a tissue and coughed heavily. When he lowered it, he saw flecks of blood. His illness was growing worse, beyond the point of no return. But the grave wasn't finished yet, and he couldn't die. He still had to teach Hu Tao everything about funeral rites and prepare her to become a qualified director.
Seeing her grandfather lost in thought, Hu Tao smiled. "Grandfather, what's wrong? Did a ghost scare you? Let me chase them away!"
She made a scary face at the nearby bushes, and sure enough, a few mischievous spirits fled in fright.
Her grandfather laughed heartily. "Making ghost faces to scare ghosts—you're smarter than they are!"
He walked over to the hole and looked at what Hu Tao had dug. He nodded approvingly but then began pointing out flaws.
"It's too small—it won't fit a proper coffin. Too shallow—won't bury deep enough. You'll need to make it bigger."
He used his shovel to mark out a larger area on the ground for her. Hu Tao felt a little disappointed but quickly perked up.
"Got it, Grandfather! This time, I'll dig a big hole—big enough to bury a grown adult."
She raised her shovel again and dug with all her might. By the time dawn broke the next day, she had finished a hole that met her grandfather's approval.
"Grandfather, look! How's this one?"
He nodded with a smile. "Good. It's daylight now. Let's head back. We can use this hole for the next customer."
With that, he slung his shovel over one shoulder and took Hu Tao's hand with the other, leading her away from Wuwang Hill. By then, he knew his health was failing and that he didn't have long left. But he had no idea this would be his last visit to Wuwang Hill, his last time digging a grave.
Back at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, they had breakfast, and her grandfather sent the exhausted Hu Tao to rest. He stayed busy, organizing the parlor's records and preparing for Hu Tao to take over.
At noon, when Hu Tao woke up, he was waiting for her as usual with a mountain of documents spread out before her.
"Little Hu Tao, these are all the business records from the parlor over the years. If you ever run into trouble, look through these records—you'll find answers."
Hu Tao looked at the towering stack and shook her head with a grin. "Grandfather, don't worry. I've memorized all of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's rules backward and forward. I won't have any problems. I could even host a funeral right now. By the way, Grandfather, when are you going to pass the director's position to me?"
Seeing her aging grandfather, Hu Tao wanted to lighten his burden. If she became director, he could retire and enjoy life.
Her grandfather chuckled. "You little rascal, only thirteen and already trying to take the director's seat from your grandfather."
Hu Tao laughed. "Hehe, I'm not trying to take it—I want you to rest more, go out for tea, walk your bird. It's time for you to retire."
Her grandfather smiled too. "It seems I misjudged you, little Hu Tao."
They sat together in the parlor's main hall, going through the business records, carefully explaining the details of each ritual and the taboos to avoid during work. Life was peaceful and content.
But such peace could not last. Within a month, her grandfather felt his body growing weaker. He could no longer dig graves, nor even walk the streets to promote their services. He could only sit in his chair each day, holding a book and teaching Hu Tao.
His mind grew fainter. His thoughts grew more scattered. Sometimes, in the middle of a lesson, he would suddenly forget where he was, and Hu Tao would have to remind him.