C1 A Strange Scene in the Dream

Like many kids from his village, Changshun was expected to drift from city to city, working construction jobs, laying bricks, and painting walls. But one event would alter the course of his destiny.

It all began last winter. The construction site was rushing to meet year-end deadlines, and after three months of relentless overtime, Changshun's body gave out.

Lying in his spartan dormitory bed, he experienced an inconceivable dream. In it, his elderly grandfather lay on an ancient chair, stern-faced. "Boy, there's a cave behind our house with a piece of jade inside, handed down from our ancestors. You must keep it safe," his grandfather instructed.

No sooner had his grandfather spoken than Changshun found himself standing in the dim, musty cave. The air was thick with dampness, and the furniture was cloaked in dust, appearing as decayed and ancient as the cave itself. Insects scurried across the ground, tangling with one another.

A sudden chill breeze made Changshun shudder. Even within the dream, the eeriness was overwhelming. He desperately scanned the cave, seeking an exit, but was met with a haunting voice: "Now that you've arrived, where do you think you're going?"

The voice was soft and seductive, with a saccharine edge that tingled in his ears. Changshun spun around, searching for its source, but found no one. Instead, he spotted a quaint stone pedestal in the corner, holding a wooden box as timeworn as the rest of the cave's contents. The box was open, revealing a finely crafted jade pendant.

Just as he reached for it, a thunderous voice jolted him awake: "Don't move!" Startled, Changshun snapped back to reality, finding himself still in his construction site dormitory bed, his roommate snoring blissfully nearby.

But sleep eluded Changshun for the rest of the night, as he lay there, the vivid images of his dream replaying in his mind.

Filled with a sense of foreboding, Changshun sought out the foreman at first light the next day to request leave. He quickly rolled up his bedding and hurried back home. By the time he finally made it back to his village, night had fallen, and the whole place was enveloped in the distinctive stillness of the countryside.

"Grandpa, I'm back," Changshun called out loudly, but the expected scolding from his grandfather was absent. The house was shrouded in darkness, yet the front door was ajar.

"Could it have been robbed?!" A pang of fear struck Changshun's heart. He grabbed a thick wooden stick from beside the wall and stealthily entered his home.

Inside, there were no signs of thieves. Instead, he found his grandfather lying silently on the old, worn armchair that had been his companion for much of his life. Approaching hesitantly, Changshun touched the old man's fingers, the icy chill bringing tears to his eyes.

His grandfather had passed away quietly, looking serene in death. Though heartbroken, Changshun knew he had to lay his grandfather to rest. Having saved some money from three years of hard work away from home, he managed to buy a modest coffin and arranged for a funeral director to conduct the necessary rites, giving his grandfather a proper send-off.

With his parents having passed away early, Changshun was raised solely by his grandfather. Now, he was the only one left in the household. The entire village turned out to lend a hand, and after three exhausting days, the funeral rites were complete. Changshun was so worn out that he nearly collapsed.

Resting on his grandfather's favorite armchair, Changshun drifted into a dream once more. He was back at the cave, but this time he stood outside its entrance. Instinctively, he cleared away the thick vines blocking the collapsed entrance and braved the damp, chilly air inside.

The wooden box he had opened before was now securely closed. Changshun lifted the lid, and as expected, the piece of jade was still there. The stone was exquisitely carved with the image of a fox, its nine tails so lifelike they seemed to move. Compelled, Changshun reached out to touch it.

But the moment his fingertips grazed the jade, a sharp pain shot through him like a needle prick, causing him to involuntarily drop the stone to the ground. Changshun had the odd sensation that the jade had briefly glowed, but when he looked again, it lay still and silent on the floor.

As Changshun reached for the jade, a gentle voice whispered in his ear, "Don't touch me."

Startled, he looked around but saw no one. Yet the voice spoke again, "Someone is looking for you. Leave for now."

The voice barely faded when Changshun felt an immense force pulling him from behind. Blinking his eyes open, he realized he was still lying in his grandfather's armchair.

"Changshun, Changshun, are you there?"

The knocking and Liu San Ge's calls from the village made him drag his weary body to answer the door.

"Ah, you're here. I thought you'd gone out. Your sister-in-law made this for you. Eat it while it's hot. We all face life's inevitable sickness and death, don't take it too hard. It's late; I must hurry back. Take care."

Liu San Ge thrust a large bowl of covered rice into Changshun's hands and scurried off.

Holding the bowl, Changshun shook his head. He had no appetite at all. Just as he was about to set the bowl aside, a chill breeze brushed his ear, as if someone was watching him from behind. Turning around, he found nothing.

Thinking he was still groggy from sleep, a melodious voice laced with a hint of disdain called from outside, "This place is so run-down."

Changshun froze, not noticing when a thick fog had enveloped the front of his house, revealing a girl with a graceful figure standing amidst it.

As she stepped inside, the fog following her dissipated. Changshun saw a girl in a bright red Tang suit, her smile beaming at him. Golden bells jingled crisply on her delicate, pale ankles with each step she took, perfectly blending innocence with allure.

Noticing Changshun's fixed gaze, the girl slowly turned and coyly tilted her head, asking, "Do you like what you see?"

A tingling sensation shot through Changshun, jolting him to full alertness. He stumbled back and stammered, "Who are you?"

The young woman's eyes widened in astonishment as she asked, "Your grandfather arranged a betrothal for us when we were infants. How do you not recognize me?"

She glanced at the white silk draping the surroundings and realized, "Oh, so your grandfather has passed away."

"What? We were betrothed by my grandfather?!"

Changshun stared at her, taken aback. He was so surprised that he nearly dropped the bowl he was holding.

"Hehe, looks like you were in the dark too."

Changshun's inner turmoil was plainly visible on his face, prompting her to laugh uncontrollably.

"Hey!"

The girl suddenly called out and stepped forward, placing her hands on Changshun's shoulders and peering into his eyes with a coy voice, "Do you have a wife now?"

Changshun gazed into her captivating eyes and inhaled the subtle scent that lingered close by. With a dry throat, he asked, "A wife?"

She tilted her head, pondering for a moment before patting his shoulder and clarifying, "I mean a wife or a girlfriend. Do you have one?"

Changshun vigorously shook his head. If he had a girlfriend, he wouldn't have traveled back to the village alone.

He would have at least brought her to meet his grandfather. Sadly, his grandfather was no longer alive, and Changshun had no other family left in this world.

Noticing a flicker of sorrow cross Changshun's face, the girl unexpectedly wrapped her delicate, fair arms around his neck and proposed in a sweet voice, "How about I become your girlfriend?"

"Ah, girlfriend? You want to be my girlfriend?!"

Changshun, who hadn't quite grasped the situation, suddenly caught on and was left utterly speechless, managing only to express his astonishment aloud.

"What's wrong? Don't you like me?" She cocked her head and pouted her lips, her cuteness causing Changshun's heart to skip several beats.

"I was personally chosen by your grandfather as your betrothed; I'm meant to be your wife."

As she spoke, she playfully traced her fingertips along Changshun's neck, so close that he could distinctly feel the sweetness of her breath.