Chapter 54: Scared Half to Death

“Do you think that neighbor next door will end up with some kind of psychological issue from the fright?” Tang Lin asked, her heart still racing.

They felt no guilt about scaring off the troublemakers, but they felt a bit uneasy about having frightened the surrounding neighbors.

Leng Hui lit a candle, went into the kitchen, and brought out a basin of warm water. “She’s quite old; shouldn't you be more worried about her dying of fright first?”

“That’s actually a possibility.” Tang Lin’s heart tightened again.

She wanted to go into the courtyard to listen for any movement next door.

Leng Hui peeled the facial mask off Tang Lin's face, bunched it up with the piece she had peeled off her own face, and tossed it into the toilet to flush away.

“Wash your face first.”

After washing her face, Leng Hui went out for a moment.

When she returned, Tang Lin pulled her toward the bed and asked, “How is it?”

“It’s quiet outside now. That old woman was probably taken back by her son.”

Leng Hui yawned and pulled up a thin quilt. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep.”

Hearing that there was no more commotion, Tang Lin assumed there wouldn't be any major issues.

Time to sleep.

They were so tired they could fall asleep even with a facial mask on; their sleep quality was something many people would envy.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Tang Lin was jolted awake from her slumber. She didn't even want to open her eyes. “It’s the middle of the night—it’s a bit unconscionable to keep disturbing people's dreams like this!”

Leng Hui rolled over and opened one eye to look out the window; it was already daylight.

She gave Tang Lin a nudge with her foot. “It’s light out. Go see who’s knocking.”

Tang Lin opened her eyes and saw that it indeed was morning. It felt wonderful to have slept until dawn, but it was a pity to be woken up.

She threw on a jacket, went out, and stood in the courtyard. “Who is it?”

“Comrade Tang, are you two alright?”

Tang Lin recognized the voice as Auntie Qin from next door. She opened the courtyard gate, her tone softening significantly. “Auntie Qin, what could possibly be wrong with us while we're sleeping at home?”

Seeing the expression on Tang Lin's face, Qin Baiqiu gasped. “Comrade... Comrade Tang, did you really not feel anything unusual about your face last night?”

“No.” Tang Lin feigned innocence, touching her face. “What’s wrong with my face?”

Qin Baiqiu looked around to make sure no one else was nearby before whispering, “Your face looks so pale... could your *yang* energy have been sucked away by a ghost?”

Tang Lin felt a knot in her chest. “...”

*Can you please watch what you say so early in the morning?*

“There are no ghosts in this world, Auntie Qin. You shouldn't say such things recklessly. If someone with ill intentions heard you, you'd get criticized.”

“Right, right, right.” Auntie Qin’s face paled slightly, annoyed at her own lack of filter. “I’m only telling you—don't go spreading this around.”

“I certainly won't, but you should watch your mouth normally.”

“Yes, yes. Um, I’ll be going now. I have breakfast cooking at home. Once you've eaten, remember to spend more time in the sun to get rid of the bad luck.”

Auntie Qin wanted to leave as quickly as possible; even standing at the gate, she felt a chill, as if a ghostly wind were blowing.

However, after taking just a few steps, she turned back. “That, Comrade Tang, don't take my warning lightly, do you understand?”

Tang Lin played along. “Understand what?”

Auntie Qin pointed next door. “That old woman next door—she ran into a ghost when she got up in the middle of the night!”

Tang Lin glanced at the small courtyard next door. “No way, right?”

“What do you mean 'no way'? I heard her son talking about it this morning, so I went in to check on her. You didn't see her state—her face was deathly pale, as if a ghost had smeared a layer of ash over it.

She was even a bit delirious. When she saw me, she kept saying she saw two female ghosts in your courtyard with glowing green faces, and one of them was smiling at her eerily, showing teeth covered in flesh and blood.

Oh my, hearing her talk, it sounded like she was describing the Soul-Reaping Messengers from the underworld!”

Tang Lin felt guilty and cleared her throat to correct her. “What Soul-Reaping Messengers? They're called the Black and White Impermanence.”

“Right, the Black and White Impermanence. I heard the elders say one is dressed in black and the other in white, and when they appear, they've come to reap souls...”

As she spoke, Auntie Qin stared at Tang Lin with terror, confirming once more, “Are you two ladies really alright?”

“We're really fine.” Tang Lin found it funny and spun around to show her she was perfectly okay.

*Sigh, this kind old lady worries too much.*

“But I heard that woman next door say that what she saw last night were the Black and White Impermanence...” Auntie Qin was at a loss. What should she do about this?

“How about this: why don't you two move out for a few days and come back once this streak of bad luck has passed?”

Tang Lin was helpless; she couldn't tell the truth. “Auntie, don't worry, we are doing just fine. Besides, where would we move to? We have to live here eventually.”

Despite her words, Qin Baiqiu remained uneasy. Unable to convince Tang Lin, she could only head home, glancing back three times along the way.

Tang Lin closed the gate and returned to the room, where Leng Hui was already washing up in the bathroom.

Leng Hui hung up the towel and asked, “How is that old woman next door? Did she die of fright?”

Tang Lin shook her head. “I heard she was quite shaken up.”

Leng Hui nodded. Her appearance last night had been an accident; she would consider it interest paid for the last time she had disgusted her.

“What are we eating for breakfast?”

They had made porridge yesterday afternoon, which was supposed to last through the night, but the extra person last night had finished it all. They would have to make more.

While brushing her teeth, Tang Lin asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“Large meat buns!” Leng Hui pulled out the available money from her spatial storage. “But I only have eight yuan and sixty-five cents left.”

The mother and daughter's rations consisted mostly of coarse grains; they had very little fine flour. Their food stamps for this month were also pitifully low, making it impossible to go to a restaurant.

Tang Lin spat out the foam and rinsed her mouth quickly. “Meat buns are out of the question this month. Let's wait until next month's supplies come in.”

“I brought back ten chili seedlings from Auntie Qin yesterday and already planted them in the courtyard. Remember to infuse them with some ability after you finish washing up.”

Leng Hui poured out some sorghum flour, intending to try making sorghum pancakes for breakfast.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The courtyard gate was being pounded again.

“Heh, our courtyard is certainly lively today.”

Tang Lin: “Go see who it is.”

Leng Hui held up her hands, which were covered in sorghum flour. “Can't you see I'm working? You go.”

“Is there no end to this so early in the morning?” Tang Lin hung the face towel on the line, smoothed her hair, and walked out.

When she opened the gate and saw the person standing outside, the expression on Tang Lin's face froze for a moment.

“Deputy Factory Director Qi, morning.”

Qi Nanyang’s smile was as refreshing as the morning breeze, light and warm. “Morning. I didn't expect you to be up already. I was worried I might disturb your rest by coming too early.”

Tang Lin glanced at the watch on his wrist and said blankly, “Deputy Factory Director Qi, it's the weekend. You don't have to work today.”

*So, if you aren't here to supervise my work, why are you at my house so early?*

Qi Nanyang couldn't help but chuckle. “I know it's the weekend. I was just worried you wouldn't know how to install the glass, so I came to help you with it.”

Only then did Tang Lin notice a tool bag tied to the bicycle behind him, and a mesh bag hanging from the handlebars.

The mesh bag contained paper-wrapped bundles; even through the door, Tang Lin could smell the scent of large meat buns.

“Ms. Tang Lin, who is here?”