Tricked 035: Nine Years Ago

At this point, Shen Xiaoxiao suddenly stopped talking and picked up the kettle to pour herself a glass of water.

This made the livestream viewers anxious, because the guests’ streams were all off while they slept, and Shen Xiaoxiao hadn’t turned on her stream when she got up, so no one knew what really happened.

【Hurry up and say it, come on, are you trying to kill me with suspense, what are you drinking water for!!】

【I hate people who take long, dramatic pauses!】

【If you don’t tell us soon, I seriously won’t be able to sleep, ok??】

“And then?” Jiang Yan was curious too.

Shen Xiaoxiao made two noises and turned away. Shen Huanhuan spoke for her sister, “I was woken by Xiaoxiao’s scream. I ran into the living room and saw her collapsed on the floor.”

Yu Renwan carefully interjected: “Did the snake knock you out?”

“……” Shen Xiaoxiao hid her face with her cup in embarrassment, “I fainted from fright.”

“Oh, come on, that’s totally understandable. I hope you guys can get it.”

Everyone: “…………”

Jiang Yan: “So how did you know the snake’s colour?”

“Because I turned on the small lamp in the living room while I watched TV. That thing was twisting in my hand, and I couldn’t help but sneak a look. It was definitely yellow-grey, more grey with hints of yellow.”

Shen Huanhuan added, “When I arrived, I didn’t see a snake. What Xiaoxiao was holding was just an ordinary TV cable.”

“And I turned off the TV before going to bed, I’m sure of it.”

Jiang Yan asked Shen Huanhuan: “You really didn’t hear any TV sounds? The sound of Xiaoxiao throwing the remote should’ve been pretty loud too, right?”

Shen Huanhuan shook her head: “Nothing at all, I only heard Xiaoxiao’s scream right before she fainted.”

In other words, the snake didn’t harm Shen Xiaoxiao physically, even when she had lost all self-protection from being so scared she passed out.

It seemed as if it just wanted to terrify Shen Xiaoxiao, especially staging a creepy late-night show to lure her out, causing Shen Huanhuan to find her after she fainted.

After Shen Xiaoxiao finished, Yu Renwan also recounted her own recent experience.

Once Yu Renwan finished, silence briefly took over.

Everyone was thinking.

Shen Huanhuan spoke first: “I’m reminded of the first round.”

“At that time, the children who were used as sacrifices were worried that we’d discover the secrets of Silkworm Village, so at first they tried to scare us into leaving—like the grease seeping out of the walls, and the insect legs wrapped in the buns. Those were their ways of frightening us.”

Jiang Yan had thought of this as well.

Shen Huanhuan continued analyzing: “But this time, the snake may actually be the opposite of Silkworm Village. The snake is highly spiritual. Since several snakes died in the factory here half a month ago, I’m more inclined to think this is about snake revenge—they discovered our identities and are afraid we’ll interfere with their vengeance, so they want to drive us out of this building.”

“What’s called ‘courtesy before force’—everything we experienced tonight was their courtesy. If we don’t leave, then in the next few days, we’ll face ‘force.’”

Jiang Yan leaned against the sofa, casually said: “You think it was the residents here who abused and killed the snakes, so now the snakes want to take revenge on each of them?”

Shen Huanhuan nodded: “I think it’s likely.”

Indeed, judging by the current information, it was a strong possibility.

So Jiang Yan did not object.

The twins got up to take their leave. There were only two hours until dawn, and everyone needed more sleep.

After seeing them out, Jiang Yan and Yu Renwan returned to the bedroom.

Lying in bed, Jiang Yan closed her eyes and pondered what had just happened to Yu Renwan and Shen Xiaoxiao.

Yu Renwan noticed the look on Jiang Yan’s face, turned over, and quietly asked her what she was thinking.

“I was thinking, if I were a snake, how would I scare two people?”

Would I wake up both at once to startle them simultaneously, or scare one and then leave?

Leaving aside the snake that scared Yu Renwan—since it left after being injured, it might have intended to hit Jiang Yan with an even scarier scare-package afterward.

Focusing on the snake that frightened Shen Xiaoxiao, its actions didn’t fit the logic of “scaring people to drive them away.”

Why did it expect Shen Huanhuan to believe Shen Xiaoxiao? If it wanted to make absolutely sure Shen Huanhuan believed there really was a snake, it should have left only after Shen Huanhuan had seen it.

Did it think sisters would simply trust each other?

Impossible.

Such thinking just isn’t likely for a nature spirit.

So why did it disappear so quickly?

Jiang Yan couldn’t come up with a truly reasonable explanation for now, so she merely shook her head in response to Yu Renwan’s question.

*

The next morning.

When Jiang Yan woke up, a faint, delicious scent of corn lingered at the tip of her nose.

She turned over sleepily—she was the only one in bed, Yu Renwan had gotten up sometime ago.

Jiang Yan lay there for another ten minutes, then got up, casually threw on a robe, and walked out of the bedroom.

Yu Renwan was in the kitchen, apron on, boiling corn porridge. On the counter were two plates of freshly mixed cold dishes. Seeing Jiang Yan, she quickly wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand and nervously asked, “Did I wake you?”

“The smell did.”

Jiang Yan headed to the bathroom to wash up. By the time she came out, Yu Renwan had already served up the porridge and brought out a big fan to cool it down.

Jiang Yan sat herself down at the table without a hint of politeness, resting her face in her hands and staring at the porridge.

Yu Renwan’s fanning sped up visibly.

Two minutes later, she quietly pressed her lips together and pushed the bowl of corn porridge in front of Jiang Yan. “The temperature should be about right. Want to try?”

“Where’d the corn come from?” Jiang Yan asked.

“Shen Huanhuan brought it over this morning. But this corn is a bit tough and might be hard to digest, so I thought I’d make porridge from it…”

Jiang Yan nodded. “Thanks.”

They had just finished breakfast when Shen Huanhuan showed up to fetch Yu Renwan. Because of her constitution, Yu Renwan was often especially good at gathering information.

Like how last night, Jiang Yan used Yu Renwan’s bad luck to help herself win at chess.

That was what the four of them had discussed last night. So Yu Renwan didn’t say much, packed up her things, and headed out with Shen Huanhuan.

Jiang Yan was left behind to look for clues at home.

She had volunteered to do so. Confident in Yu Renwan’s almost otherworldly bad luck, Jiang Yan was certain—Yu Renwan just wouldn’t pick a good apartment!

And yesterday, when they were choosing rooms, Yu Renwan’s comment about this place was, “It seems pretty good.”

So this place must be a haunted house.

Once everyone left, Jiang Yan began a meticulous search of the room.

It was a place of just over forty square meters, not too large, but with a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and storage room, all included. These four semi-enclosed rooms took considerable effort to search thoroughly.

Jiang Yan was methodical, and soon she found a dirty, passport-sized photo under the bed.

The bed in the bedroom was pressed right against the wall, and the photo was wedged in the angle where the bed met the wall, covered in a thick layer of plaster dust. Jiang Yan didn’t know how many people had lived here before, nor whether the owner of the photo had ever lived in this house.

She wiped off the photo with a tissue. On it was a high school-aged girl.

She had dark skin, a slightly plump figure, and wore her hair in two braided pigtails tied with simple, coarse cloth ribbons, very old-fashioned, but carefully knotted into bows.

The girl beamed at the camera, showing her teeth in a squinty-eyed smile.

Jiang Yan turned over the photo and saw three characters: “Lu Jingrong.”

No other information. Jiang Yan put the photo in her pocket and kept searching, but didn’t find any more worthwhile items after that, only a broken wooden comb, an eraser, and a well-worn pencil stub.

Jiang Yan straightened from under the cabinet, tucked some stray hair behind her ear, and walked out of the storage room.

It was already half-past ten in the morning. Shen Huanhuan messaged her.

She’d asked about the reason for the snakes’ deaths half a month ago.

“Just asked at the market, a tea vendor told us. She said her cousin used to live in the factory and is pretty superstitious. When the snakes died, her cousin had a bad feeling, so he left right after the first old man died.”

Jiang Yan asked: “Was it abuse?”

Shen Huanhuan replied: “Yes, they were abused. Those snakes died on the second floor, their bodies smashed flat, scales shattered, bloody and mangled. Several old folks in the building saw Shang Demin kill them with their own eyes. When people asked why, Shang Demin said he wanted to sell them for money.”

Jiang Yan: “Didn’t the snakes fight back?”

Shen Huanhuan: “I asked, and the vendor said those snakes were shedding at the time, very weak, their newly grown scales still tender. They were beaten to death before the shedding finished, and didn’t really fight back.”

Jiang Yan lowered her eyes, scrolling through Shen Huanhuan’s messages.

If the snakes were beaten to death while shedding, it would explain why, when Shang Demin died, it seemed like his bones were wrapped only in skin.

Jiang Yan drummed her fingers on the screen, then asked: “The other old man who died? Any info yet?”

Shen Huanhuan: “Not yet, but I suspect he was one of those who witnessed the snakes being killed.”

A reasonable suspicion.

If so, then this episode could be easily closed—snake revenge.

But Jiang Yan still felt something was off.

It was going too smoothly.

Way too smoothly—so smooth it was uncomfortable.

It was like, as soon as you began to suspect the snakes, they personally manifested to scare you; then every clue rushed forth to convince you it was the snakes’ doing, that the snakes were out for revenge.

But even if the elders’ deaths were caused by the snakes’ vengeance, that still couldn’t explain the factory’s intermittent energy disturbances over the years.

Jiang Yan rubbed her brow. She told Shen Huanhuan to keep looking into information about the two deceased elders.

After putting her phone away, Jiang Yan sat on the sofa for a long while.

Once rested, she stood, ready to continue searching—she hadn’t checked the kitchen yet, at the very least, all corners should be inspected.

After entering the kitchen, she emptied all the dishes, then moved the cabinets. There was nothing behind or under them. She checked the storage rack; aside from basic condiments, again, nothing.

Finally, Jiang Yan’s attention turned to the vent on the ceiling.

Old-style vents aren’t so easy to open. This one was metal, with a padlock. Jiang Yan dragged over a chair, climbed up, and simply twisted the lock off by hand.

The livestream was filled with 【????】

“Rusty to the point of crumbling, even crumblier than some cheap snacks.”

Jiang Yan explained with no credibility, which the viewers in the stream didn’t buy; she was annoyed and couldn’t be bothered with excuses, simply tossed the lock aside and opened the steel vent cover.

【Jiang Yan’s finally stopped trying to convince us (？】

【She’s likely realized that not everyone has the same strength (？】

【But I’m still fooled anyway :）】

Jiang Yan pulled on a mask and reached into the vent. Years of accumulated dust rained down; mask or not, she was coughing nonstop, tears squeezed shut from the dust.

But it was worth it.

Because she found something like kraft paper. Gripping it, she pulled her hand back, grey-black grime sliding down her arm onto the yellowing floor.

Jiang Yan removed her mask and shook out two thick bundles of documents, clicking her tongue lightly.

Such old factory buildings had no property management, and unless a resident paid to repair things, the vent was the safest place to hide a secret.

First, Jiang Yan wiped the dust off the kraft paper with tissues. Judging by its color and thickness, it had sat there at least seven or eight years. She’d expected the outside to have been corroded, but it wasn’t.

The kraft paper had a thick layer of plastic wrap around it. Jiang Yan carefully peeled this away, revealing the contents well preserved inside.

Inside every kraft envelope were pages filled with handwriting.

The first envelope contained three letters.

The second one contained a table densely filled with dates and times.

Jiang Yan picked up one letter and checked the signature.

Lu Jingrong.

She was the girl in the photo.

The girl’s handwriting wasn’t pretty, the strokes a little too forceful, but every line was written with care.

“Aunt, I know you’re busy. I’ve thought a long time about writing this letter, but I think I should tell you a few things.”

The girl’s words were very polite, slightly ingratiating.

“Yesterday I got ‘that’ for the first time. The pads are expensive, and I couldn’t borrow one. In the end, Teacher Chen lent me one, but my skirt was already stained, so my teacher let me go home early.

When I came back, Grandpa Shang on the second floor saw me. I wanted to hide, but he spotted me anyway. I was really anxious, afraid he’d laugh at me, but he praised me for being a ‘big girl.’ Grandpa Shang is kind. He often buys me snacks.

Yesterday he gave me another packet of treats. When Grandma Xu called him to dinner, she saw me, and suddenly slapped me really hard. It hurt. A neighbor saw and asked ‘what’s up,’ and Grandma Xu said I’d stolen her money, but I didn’t.”

“Auntie, if Grandma Xu calls you, please don’t give her any money. I really didn’t steal anything. I’m a secondary school student now. I know stealing gets you arrested. Grandma Xu just misunderstood.”

“Oh, and Grandpa Shang had me wash his trousers last night. I did as told. Sorry for dirtying his pants, but I don’t think it was entirely my fault? Really, he stood too close to me—then again, no, it’s my fault.

Sorry for bothering you. Auntie, don’t bother replying, and thank you for sending me living expenses—five hundred a month is really too much, it’s more than I can use. Three hundred is fine, two hundred’s enough. Oh, and next week is Mom and Dad’s death anniversary. I plan to take some flowers for them.”

“Tomorrow I’ll return the pad to Teacher Chen. If another girl needs one, I’ll lend it—if she doesn’t give it back, that’s fine too.”

“Wish you and Uncle health and prosperity, all the best!”

Jiang Yan set the letter aside and picked up the second one.

This was written soon after the first, because Lu Jingrong mentioned “stealing money” again.

“Good evening, Aunt—maybe good morning or good afternoon. I wish you and Uncle good health, and I’m really sorry to bother you again.”

This time, Lu Jingrong was even more polite.

“I don’t know if Grandma Xu has contacted you; since you haven’t replied, and I don’t have a phone, I’m kind of scared. After school, I went to see Grandma Xu and explained that I hadn’t been to her apartment and had never seen her wallet, so it was impossible to steal her money. But Grandma Xu pushed me.

She told me not to seduce men. I know what ‘seduce’ means—when I tried to explain, I bumped her, so she hit me with a broom. My head bled a bit, but it doesn’t hurt, don’t worry, Auntie!”

“Thank you for the money this month, still five hundred—there’s no need to be so generous, I really have nothing to spend it on.”

“Today I returned the pad to Teacher Chen. She said I’m a good kid. I’ll keep being a good kid and study hard to repay you in the future.”

Jiang Yan looked down and picked up the last letter.

The handwriting here had suddenly become ragged.

A quick scan revealed that this letter was written later than the previous two by some time. By now, the girl’s tone was even more fearful, her words more careful and guarded.

“Dear Auntie, hello, wishing you joy every day and family happiness.”

“I must have gotten your address wrong, because all the letters I sent this month were returned. The mailman said the people at that address had moved out. I know that isn’t your house, and you would have told me before moving. It’s my fault, I’m so forgetful, I forgot your address.”

“I don’t really know what to do. If by chance you get this letter, could you come to my school just once? I know I’m such a bother and you’re so busy, but a few days ago, a visiting school counselor held a talk, and when she was leaving, I asked her a few questions. She insisted on contacting my family. Auntie, you’re my only relative. Could you come just once? Just once, I’m begging you.”

“These days, Grandpa Shang keeps coming, asking me to wash his pants. If I don’t, he stands at my door and won’t leave. Every time I look out the peephole, I can see him. I’m so scared. I know I’m too sensitive, Grandpa just cares about me, but he always follows right behind me. Sometimes he suddenly hugs me, and if I scream, he covers my mouth and says I’m being disgraceful. I know I’m disgraceful. I must be making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Yesterday, Grandma Xu saw Grandpa Shang hugging me. I was grateful for that, but when Grandma came in, she started hitting me. She said I seduced people every day. I told her I only wanted to go home, but Grandpa Shang wouldn’t let me, and she called me a toad and said I was fat and ugly. If I didn’t go looking for Grandpa Shang, he never would look for me.”

“That’s not true, Auntie. I know Grandma Xu must have been beautiful when she was young. I know I’m dark and fat. When I run at school, the other kids always laugh, but I never tried to seduce anyone—I’m too ugly for that.”

“Auntie, can you come to my school?”

“It’s, of course, fine if you can’t, I know you’re busy. Wishing you great fortune.”

After reading all three letters, Jiang Yan put them back in the envelope.

Since all three letters were here, the answer was obvious.

—Lu Jingrong never received any help from her aunt.

Orphaned, Lu Jingrong lived alone for years in this old factory building. She was repeatedly molested by Shang Demin from the second floor, while Xu Jinhua enabled her husband’s actions and put all the blame on Lu Jingrong.

During this period, Lu Jingrong repeatedly sought help from her aunt, but her aunt quietly moved away, only sending five hundred yuan a month.

Jiang Yan curled her lips slightly.

She looked at the contents of the other kraft envelope.

It was a table—entirely covered with dates in pen, spanning from 2012 to 2014, with each date down to the day and hour.

Because it was only dates, no other Chinese words, Jiang Yan couldn’t interpret it precisely.

She could only temporarily treat it as a record of molestation.

After putting away the two sets of documents, Jiang Yan paced around the living room. Shen Huanhuan and the others would be back soon. Bored, she decided to try her luck online, typing “Lu Jingrong” into the search bar.

The page was filled with baby name websites for girls.

Jiang Yan cracked her knuckles and changed her search: “Changxia City, Lu, female.”

This time, she got all kinds of info. She scrolled several pages, then changed the search terms again.

“2014, Changxia City, factory, Lu, female”

The table stopped at 2014, which might mean something.

The loading circle spun, and after three seconds, the page refreshed.

Jiang Yan squinted at the screen.

She clicked the third result.

It was a Changxia City Evening News article from nine years ago:

“On April 3, 2014, an incident occurred at a factory complex in Changxia City. The victim, a ninth-grade girl, reportedly exhibited psychological abnormalities before her death. After an on-site inspection and investigation, it was confirmed as a high fall death. Police have ruled out criminal involvement.”