Chapter 11: Grandmother

After knocking for quite a while, the sound of a door opening finally came from inside.

As the door creaked open, a foul stench, like rotten eggs and dead mice, seeped through the gap. Jiang Zhiyue covered her nose and stepped back repeatedly.

A gaunt old woman, her face as dry and withered as cracked earth, peered through the crack. Her voice was hoarse. “What are you doing?”

Jiang Zhiyue, who had initially rolled up her sleeves ready to confront her, silently lowered her hands upon seeing the elderly woman. “Grandma, someone left their trash at my door.”

The old woman glanced at the rubbish outside Jiang Zhiyue’s door with little expression. “Oh, it’s just trash. You can help me take it down and throw it away.”

“We don’t even know each other. Why should I take out your trash?” Jiang Zhiyue asked.

The grandmother scanned her from head to toe. “If you want to live here, you have to help me with the trash. I’m too old to manage these things.”

“Huh?” Jiang Zhiyue laughed bitterly. “Why should I?”

“Because I’m old. You young people these days have no manners. All dressed up but can’t even show basic respect to the elderly. I’m too weak to carry the garbage—why is it a problem for you to help me?”

“Huh? Grandma, I don’t even know you. You think this is okay? Did I make you old?”

“I don’t care. Anyone who lives next to me has to help me, or you can move out. As long as you live here, you have to help!”

“Throwing out trash won’t cost you a thing. You can’t even help with this? I wonder how your parents raised you.”

With that, the old woman rudely spat toward Jiang Zhiyue’s direction before slamming the door shut.

“Hey, you...” Jiang Zhiyue pursed her lips, staring at the closed door. But after that brief exchange, she had a clear impression of the woman’s character.

Tsk, tsk... Fate has its cycles, but that’s no reason for her to take out the trash.

She took out her phone and messaged the property management to send someone to handle it, then headed downstairs.

She had noticed several noodle shops outside the complex during her arrival, so she decided to get something to eat first.

At the noodle shop’s entrance, the enticing aroma stirred her quiet appetite.

The Jiang family’s diet was usually light, and it had been a long time since she’d tasted something so hot, spicy, and full of life.

Chitterlings, beef, pickled vegetables, chicken giblets...

She wanted to eat everything!

Unable to decide, she called out, “Boss, the usual: two bowls of beef noodles, one bowl with chitterlings, extra spicy sauce.”

Jiang Zhiyue’s eyes burned with intensity as she watched the man taking orders. The freedom of ordering her own food felt wonderful.

Perhaps because of her gaze, the man looked at her curiously. “Young lady, why are you staring at me?”

Her eyes darted away as she quickly approached him. “Uncle, want a fortune reading? Today’s special: just one bowl of noodles! I can do fortune-telling, feng shui, and exorcisms.”

The men around burst into laughter.

“Little girl, you look like you’re still in school. Did you run away from home after arguing with your parents?”

“Uncle, have you been having bad dreams lately? Is your luck really bad?”

The middle-aged man looked surprised for a moment, then laughed again.

“See, book-smart kids are clever! You guessed it. My sleep’s been terrible lately—look at these dark circles and bags under my eyes.”

Jiang Zhiyue shook her head. “It’s more than just poor sleep. Your forehead is dark, your yang energy is leaking. If you don’t fix it soon, your life might be in danger.”

“What? What do you mean?” The man and his two companions eyed her warily.

“I said, young lady, why are you cursing people?”

“Yeah, we have no grudge with you, Ming. Why say such things?”

“Spit, spit, spit! Get rid of all that bad luck talk.”

The man called Ming awkwardly smiled.

“Little girl, you’re about the same age as my son. How about this: I’ll treat you to a meal today, and you stop saying such ominous things. Just say something auspicious.”

Jiang Zhiyue sighed. “Uncle, have you been having a streak of bad luck lately? At first, you’d trip for no reason while walking, choke while eating. Then you found yourself walking toward the river without knowing why, and while working at heights, you’d lose your footing uncontrollably?”

Ming was stunned. His two friends exchanged thoughtful looks.

They worked at a nearby construction site, and recently, the usually steady Ming had several close calls while working at heights, as if possessed.

Jiang Zhiyue pressed on. “These aren’t coincidences. Your yang energy is leaking, making you susceptible to evil spirits that affect your luck, which is why your fortune keeps declining.”

Having dealt with the unlucky Pei Heng before, Jiang Zhiyue didn’t find Ming’s problem hard to solve.

Ming was skeptical but saw the earnestness in her eyes and wavered. “So... what should I do? Do I need to buy a safety amulet?”

He had sensed the recent misfortunes and felt anxious every time he left the house.

From experience, the girl would likely produce a talisman and ask him to buy it.

“So, uncle, would you be willing to pay me to resolve this issue?”

She couldn’t interfere with someone’s fate without their consent. Only if Ming asked her and paid would their agreement be sealed.

Ming laughed heartily. “Boss, another bowl of noodles, please. By the way, little girl, what kind of spicy sauce do you want?”

Jiang Zhiyue licked her lips. “Beef. I want beef!”

Soon, a steaming bowl of beef noodles with double spicy sauce was brought over.

She preferred this kind of trade to money—truly a win-win!

She hurriedly picked up her chopsticks.

Slurp, slurp...

“Uncle, your problem isn’t difficult. It’s just...”

Slurp, slurp...

“You’ve been haunted by spirits entering your dreams too often, draining your yang energy.”

Slurp, slurp...

“You just need to find the ghost invading your dreams and tell it to stop.”

Slurp, slurp...

Delicious!

Ming and his two friends watched the girl devour the noodles and felt a bit unsettled.

What nonsense was she spouting? Ghosts entering dreams? Telling them to stay away? Is that even possible?

“Haha, this little girl’s sharp, right, Ming? Nightmares are scary. It makes sense if you dream about ghosts.”

“Hahaha, you don’t get it. It’s an art of words.”

Ming ignored his friends’ teasing because he knew that lately, every time he fell asleep, he dreamed of the same ghost.

He also started having bad luck after these dreams.

He hadn’t told anyone about this dream—how could this girl possibly know? Or was she just guessing?