The door slammed shut, and the light in the classroom dimmed considerably.
Zhu Shian said to Zhu Liang, "Close the windows too."
"Huh? Oh." Zhu Liang hurried to comply.
The old classroom had four wooden windows in all. Zhu Liang trotted over and shut them one by one. The older woman grew anxious. "What on earth is going on? We came to see a doctor, and this..."
Zhu Shian pulled the older woman to her side, far away from her niece-in-law, and asked, "What's your name?"
"I'm Zhang Huilan. Doctor, I... what murder case are you talking about? I came to you for treatment."
Zhang Huilan's cheeks were gaunt and fleshless, which made her eyes look all the more pitiful and pleading. Her body swayed, so frail it seemed she might collapse if she stood a moment longer.
Zhu Shian smiled with meaningful intent. "Oh, you don't know about any murder case? Then why is there a ghost clinging to you, gnawing at your neck this whole time? Doesn't your neck hurt?"
Zhang Huilan instinctively reached up to touch her neck, then, realizing what she'd done, immediately dropped her hand and forced a smile. "What are you saying? What does this have to do with my neck?"
There was indeed a large bruise on the back of Zhang Huilan's neck. She usually covered it with her hair.
Even now, her neck was hidden by the hair hanging to her shoulders—anyone standing across from her couldn't possibly see it.
The older woman stared at Zhu Shian in shock. "Doctor Zhu, is what you said true? How did you know Huilan has a bruise on her neck?"
Pointing at Zhang Huilan with a trembling voice, she said, "Huilan told me the bruise was from an accidental fall. It wouldn't heal for ages, so she even went to the hospital, and the doctor gave her some medicinal plasters."
Zhu Xing asked in a low voice, "If a ghost really is after her for revenge, who is the ghost on her back?"
Zhu Shian said to the male ghost, "He's asking you. What's your name?"
The male ghost said, "My name is Luo Kaifu."
Zhu Shian glanced around at the people nearby. Right—they couldn't see ghosts, so naturally they couldn't hear one speak either.
With one hand she formed a seal and opened their eyes. Once it was done, Zhu Xing closed his eyes and opened them again—and he really did see a male ghost riding on Zhang Huilan's back.
"What's your name? Where do you live?" Zhu Xing's fists clenched, though his tone stayed even.
"Kaifu, it's my nephew Kaifu!" The older woman stamped her feet and burst into sobs. "It's my dead nephew, Luo Kaifu!"
Seeing a ghost for the first time, Zhu Liang was frightened. He quickly shook off his father and hid behind Zhu Shian together with his mother, screaming inwardly—ahhh, ghosts really do float without touching the ground, this is terrifying.
Chen Si was scared too, clutching her son's arm tightly. Neither mother nor son dared make a sound, yet neither could resist their curiosity to keep watching.
It wasn't Feng-niang's first time seeing a ghost, so Luo Kaifu didn't frighten her. She just patted the older woman's arm consolingly. Ai, what a wretched mess this all was.
Luo Kaifu slipped down from Zhang Huilan's body, his ghostly eyes brimming with tears. "Aunt, don't be sad. I'll get my own revenge."
Hearing this, the older woman cried until she could barely breathe.
Zhang Huilan pressed a hand to her chest, weeping pitifully. "What? Kaifu is here? My husband hasn't gone to reincarnate yet? Quick, let me see him. I've missed him so much."
The older woman was furious. She strode forward in two steps and slapped Zhang Huilan several times. Zhang Huilan couldn't keep her footing and fell to the ground, and the older woman climbed on top of her, strangling her neck with deadly force, demanding she pay for her nephew's life.
Zhang Huilan couldn't breathe, her face flushing red. Zhu Xing hurried over and pulled the older woman off. She tried to hit him, but he pinned her arms.
"I'm with the public security. If your nephew really was murdered, we will investigate it thoroughly. If you beat her to death now, you'll turn a just cause into a crime."
"Then investigate quickly. I want this woman to pay for my nephew's life." The older woman wept and cursed. "This heartless woman! My nephew went to work at the steel mill after high school, and within two years the factory recommended him for university. After graduating, a government department recruited him for an office job. A young man with such a bright future—what kind of wife couldn't he have found? But he chose you, a girl from the countryside, never once looked down on you, treated you so well. Why did you kill him, you black-hearted thing? Speak! Zhang Huilan, speak!"
Zhang Huilan panicked, shrinking backward as if terrified. Luo Kaifu hurriedly said, "Don't be fooled by this woman—block the door, she's going to run out the back!"
Sure enough, Luo Kaifu was right. Zhang Huilan had retreated to the back door, yanked it open, and bolted—only to be blocked and driven back inside.
Zhu Jin came in through the back door with Ding Mao and Ye Dan. Zhu Jin turned to Zhu Shian and smiled. "We came to ask Master Zhu for a favor. Didn't expect to walk into a murder case."
Ding Mao waved at Zhu Shian with a grin. "Miss Zhu, we meet again."
Ye Dan looked a little pale. She nodded at Zhu Shian with a smile.
Zhang Huilan watched Zhu Jin's trio warily, seemingly searching for another chance to escape.
Luo Kaifu hated her to the bone. Afraid she really might get away, he said to Zhu Xing, "Comrade officer, Zhang Huilan is a spy. I caught her stealing classified state documents, so she killed me. Arrest her, quickly."
Everyone in the room turned to look at Zhang Huilan. Her clear, sharp gaze was nothing like that of a chronic invalid—nor that of any ordinary person.
Although Luo Kaifu hadn't managed to take her life, years of yin energy eroding her body had left Zhang Huilan extremely weak. After the recent struggle she had no strength left, and she barely managed to pull herself up by bracing against a table.
Zhang Huilan's eyes hadn't been opened; she couldn't see Luo Kaifu. Her gaze searched the dim room and finally settled on Zhu Shian, her eyes glistening with tears. "I don't understand how I offended you, that you'd ruin me like this."
Then she turned to the older woman, crying, "Aunt, I miss Kaifu terribly too, but he's gone all the same. Please don't let outsiders turn you against me."
Looking at her nephew, now a ghost, and listening to Zhang Huilan's words, the older woman trembled with rage. "You woman—what a thick skin, what a venomous heart."
Zhang Huilan said no more, only cried and cried, looking ever so pitiful.
Ding Mao crossed his arms and clicked his tongue. "Still trying to wash her hands of it at this point. This woman is definitely a spy. Any ordinary person would have confessed by now—nobody else has her glib tongue and quick mind."
With the victim's ghost identifying her and state secrets involved, Zhang Huilan certainly wasn't getting away.
Arresting a sickly, frail woman was no challenge. Once she was taken in, experienced public security officers would naturally have ways to pry open her mouth.
Zhu Xing escorted Zhang Huilan to the public security bureau, with Zhu Liang going along to help.
After Zhu Xing left, Zhu Shian said to Zhu Jin, "Your timing is perfect. I was planning to look for you all today. Since you've come, you've saved me the trouble."
Zhu Shian handed over the talismans she'd prepared the day before. "I hope these help you."
Zhu Jin thanked her at once. "With these talismans, the action team's casualties will surely be reduced. You've done us an enormous favor."
Ding Mao's eyes went green with envy at the sight of the talismans, and he quickly said, "Team Leader Zhu, everyone present gets a share. Last time I shared the talismans Miss Zhu gave me with everyone—it's only fair I get some this time too."
Zhu Jin smiled and agreed. "Don't worry, you won't be left out."
Hearing that, Ding Mao grinned from ear to ear.
Zhu Jin pointed at Ye Dan and said to Zhu Shian, "I guessed the exam results came out today and you'd be heading back in a couple of days. I hope you can take Ye Dan to Zhenshan County and help nurse her health back. Sorry to trouble you."
"No problem, it's a small thing."
Zhu Shian walked over to Ye Dan, took her pulse, and said, "Ye Dan hasn't entered the Dao. Though the yin energy was expelled through acupuncture and herbal decoctions, the bodily weakness it caused can't be nursed back in a day or two."
"Will there be lasting aftereffects?" Ye Dan asked worriedly.
"The Zhu family are hereditary Daoist physicians, and your condition is exactly what Daoist medicine handles best. Don't worry—we'll have you back to your old self."
Zhu Shian said to Zhu Jin, "As I said yesterday, if your action team ever needs it in the future, you can send people to Zhenshan County anytime."
"In that case, thank you, Master Zhu."
With everything settled between Zhu Jin and Zhu Shian, Ye Dan's mind was at ease.
Both Ye Dan and Ahua had suffered yin energy invading their bodies. Zhu Shian had given them acupuncture together and prescribed the same medicinal bath formula—yet Ahua recovered in two or three days, full of energy, and went off on missions with the action team, while Ye Dan got winded after a few steps and broke into cold sweats all over.
The masters in the team had examined her and all said the same thing: she hadn't entered the Dao and couldn't circulate qi to regulate her body, so she recovered more slowly than Ahua. Fortunately there was nothing seriously wrong with her—only weakness—but she had to recuperate properly, or it would shorten her lifespan.
When the report reached her superiors, her leader said there was no point troubling a second doctor when the first would do—they might as well ask Zhu Shian to nurse her back to health. If Zhu Shian was returning to Zhenshan County, so be it; Ye Dan could take leave and follow along.
Her leader told her not to worry about work—nothing mattered more than her health, especially at her age. Out of consideration for her, he contacted Zhu Jin, who was in Shanghai, and Zhu Jin brought Ye Dan over without hesitation.
With matters settled, Zhu Jin was leaving Shanghai that very day and took her leave. Ye Dan stayed behind to travel with the Zhu family to Zhenshan County in a couple of days.
Ding Mao wanted to go to Zhenshan County with Zhu Shian too, but another mission awaited him, so he could only say goodbye for now.
Once everyone who needed to go had gone, Zhu Shian asked Luo Kaifu, "Shall I send you on your way now, or do you want to see how Zhang Huilan's case ends before you go?"
Luo Kaifu bowed respectfully to Zhu Shian. "Thank you for your care, Master. I'd like to wait for the outcome before leaving."
"Fair enough. But I'm leaving in a couple of days and probably won't have time to wait with you." Zhu Shian turned to Ye Dan. "Your action team has people in Shanghai, right?"
"Yes, we have an office in Shanghai."
Zhu Shian said, "Then have someone come take Luo Kaifu. Once Zhang Huilan is sentenced, send Luo Kaifu to the underworld."
"Alright."
Ye Dan was an ordinary person too—she couldn't see where Luo Kaifu was. She swept her eyes around the room and roughly guessed his location from the direction Master Zhu had been speaking. "Wait in this room and don't go out. I'll have someone come for you shortly."
Luo Kaifu bowed to Ye Dan in thanks. She couldn't hear him, so his aunt quickly relayed it for him: "My Kaifu says thank you."
"It's only what we should do. No need to be polite."
Luo Kaifu's parents had died early, and as an only child he'd been raised entirely under his aunt's care. Nephew or not, he was practically her own son.
His accidental death had already grieved the whole family; learning he'd been murdered by his own wife made the older woman's sorrow unbearable.
Knowing someone was seeking justice for him, Luo Kaifu set aside his anger and busied himself comforting his aunt, trying to coax her into better spirits.
Chen Si, who had lingered at the back and watched the whole thing, came away with only one thought: the good die young.
Zhu Fengqin saw it differently. To her, Luo Kaifu was a textbook case of the kind being bullied—ghost or not. A murdered man like him, if he had any fire in him, would have turned vengeful and finished Zhang Huilan off long ago.
Once Luo Kaifu's arrangements were made, Zhu Shian opened the door and left, with Zhu Fengqin and Chen Si following, leaving Luo Kaifu to talk with his aunt.
By then, after all this time, the doctors who'd been outside checking exam results and collecting certificates had all gone. Only Zhang Qingfang, He Zhonghou, Doctor Huang, and a few others remained.
Seeing Zhu Shian come out, the impatient Doctor Huang rushed over. "Why did the police take the patient away? And how did that state security cadre show up? I've been dying of suspense—what happened?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't. Suffice it to say it was nothing good."
Zhang Qingfang asked, "You can't say?"
"I can't."
He Zhonghou asked about the patient. "What illness did that comrade actually have?"
Zhu Shian shook her head again. "I can't say that either."
Doctor Huang was old but bursting with curiosity. He pressed on: "So she wasn't sick at all? She certainly looked frail enough—not like a healthy person."
Zhu Shian only smiled without answering. She said to He Zhonghou, "Please keep the school gate open a little longer. Someone will be coming by shortly."
"Who? Someone from the public security bureau?"
"No. State security."
Zhang Qingfang, He Zhonghou, and the others were still baffled. State security and public security both—what on earth was the connection?
Zhu Shian couldn't say more and took her leave of them.
Zhu Shouguang, Zhu Shouxin, and the others were waiting for her at the school gate. Zhu Changfeng ran over. "Miss, should I go keep watch by the classroom?"
He'd already learned what had happened from Feng-niang, and he worried that someone ignorant of the situation might wander in out of curiosity and stumble onto something they shouldn't.
Zhu Shian nodded. "Alright. Go guard the door. Once someone comes to collect the ghost inside, you can come back."
"Got it."
Zhu Changfeng went to stand guard at the classroom door, keeping everyone else out. Zhang Qingfang and the others waited at the school gate. Over an hour later, a man with grizzled hair in a buzz cut and a long beard entered the school. He went straight into the classroom, then came out and led away the weeping older woman.
With that settled, Zhu Changfeng left too.
Doctor Huang was puzzled. "That older woman was the patient in yesterday's second exam. Anyone could tell from how talkative she was that she's a warmhearted soul. Surely she wasn't the one with problems?"
Zhang Qingfang was a fair judge of character herself. She shook her head. "No. That lady looked more like a patient or a victim's family member."
"If it wasn't her, then there's no one in that classroom—not even a ghost. It doesn't add up."
He Zhonghou pointed at the registration materials the Zhu family had submitted. "Maybe there really was a ghost."
Zhang Qingfang, Doctor Huang, and the others crowded around. In the Zhu family's registration file were two rather unusual characters: Daoist medicine!
"Really?" Doctor Huang was stunned.
He'd seen plenty of so-called Daoist physicians before. In his understanding, the term just meant a doctor who was also a Taoist priest—no different from ordinary physicians of Chinese medicine like themselves.
He Zhonghou nodded. "I think the Zhu family are genuine Daoist physicians."
Zhang Qingfang thought for a moment, then nodded silently as well.
The credentials that state security comrade had shown read "Department 3672." A state security department with a special number like that already implied a great deal.
"That old man who came just now—he looked like a Taoist priest to me."
"I thought so too."
The group exchanged glances. Who would have thought the Zhu family's hereditary craft was this? Which made it all the more impossible that Zhu Shian would stay in Shanghai as an ordinary doctor.
The world was vast, and full of wonders.
As it happened, Chen Si was thinking the very same thing at that moment—the world was vast and full of wonders.
Chen Si stole glances at Zhu Shian. She'd never imagined her husband's family could contain someone like this. Today had truly opened her eyes.
Chen Si racked her memory—surely she hadn't committed any misdeeds in her half a lifetime? After long reflection, she breathed a sigh of relief, and then another thought took root: she wanted to ask Zhu Shian to read her fortune.
The trouble was, this was her first meeting with Zhu Shian. They weren't close, and it felt awkward to ask.
Zhu Fengqin saw what Chen Si was thinking. She drew her into a side room to talk—first to thank her family for their help to the Zhu family, and second to tell her: "We're all family here. If there were anything wrong with you, the young miss would say so directly. If she hasn't spoken up, don't ask—just live your life in peace."
Second Grandaunt added, "A good fate needs no reading."
Chen Si thought it over and agreed. She smiled. "Thank you both for the advice, aunties."
Zhu Fengqin patted her hand and smiled. "Most people live their whole lives without witnessing anything this strange. It's only natural you're curious, seeing it for the first time."
Chen Si nodded. She was indeed curious.
Zhu Fengqin said to her, "Your branch may be a collateral line, but you can't write the character Zhu in two different ways. From now on, if you ever run into trouble, just write home. Whatever we can help with, we will. It's a pity Shanghai is so far from Zhenshan County—over a month for a round trip. Otherwise we'd truly love to invite you all to stay with us for a few days."
"Isn't that the truth. If it weren't so far, Zhu Xing and I would go back often," Chen Si said. "Though Zhu Xing works in Shanghai and has lived here over twenty years, he talks about the old home all the time. It's just impossible to get such a long leave, so he's never had the chance to return."
In all their years of marriage, Chen Si had only gone back with Zhu Xing once.
"Someday. Things will keep getting better. Last month I heard that Nanjiang County, just ahead of Zhenshan County, is getting a railway. If that really happens, getting out of the mountains will be much easier."
Second Grandaunt quickly asked, "Who told you that?"
"The county magistrate's wife. Their family once asked our young miss for help, so we got acquainted, and we exchange a few words when we meet."
"If the magistrate's wife said it, it's probably true. Right—will our county get the railway?"
"Afraid not. I heard the line is only planned as far as Nanjiang County, and that's because it connects Chongqing and Guizhou. Our Zhenshan County sits deep in the mountains—building a railway into our little backwater wouldn't pay off."
"Ah, what a shame."
"Nothing to be done. But if Nanjiang County gets a railway, our county will catch some of the benefit."
"That's true."
Zhu Fengqin and Second Grandaunt chatted idly, one picking up where the other left off. Chen Si didn't interrupt; she listened carefully—and heard something remarkable.
Zhu Xing had always said the Zhu hometown was just countryside, that the Zhu family were mere farmers who practiced medicine on the side. But from what the two elders let slip between the lines, it was nothing like what Zhu Xing described. The Zhu family were clearly the power of Zhenshan County.
Even the county magistrate's family came to their door seeking help—how could the Zhu family be any ordinary household?
And what's more, a state security department she'd never even heard of had ties with the Zhu family. What ordinary family had connections like that?
Chen Si made up her mind: whether or not the Nanjiang railway got built, her family's relationship with the main Zhu line absolutely had to be maintained.
Didn't her son want to combine Chinese and Western medicine? Come summer vacation, she'd simply send him to Zhenshan County.
