九两, after a round of maneuvering, used this opportunity to ask us to help treat her elder brother. Rather than saying it was her father who needed an equivalent exchange, it was more like she needed it as well. I had no reason to refuse this request, so I took her to find Fatty. But Fatty adamantly refused, saying, in essence, that it was not appropriate or possible to save九两's brother. The person's fate was already decided, and he was not meant to be alive.
Finally, Fatty simply moved in with Lin Erdan's family, creating an atmosphere of seclusion. We refused to see anyone.九两 was also very helpless. I felt the same way. Over this time,九两 and I had developed a good friendship. I, deep down, also wanted to help九两 and cure her brother's illness. It would have been a happy outcome for everyone. Fortunately,九两 only wanted an equivalent exchange. When Fatty said no, she said to me, "After I return home, I'll talk to my father again and see if he has any other solutions. I'm not in a rush about my brother's situation."
After九两 finished speaking, she didn't stay long at Lin's house and left in her car. After she left, Fatty came back to me and pointed at me, saying, "You, ah, you really know how to cause trouble for me! This matter with her brother is a big deal, and you're making me deal with it?"
I said, "What exactly is going on with九两's brother? Why are you so scared?"
"Sorcery. Someone put a deadly curse on九两's mother. It's really ominous. If it was an ordinary family, I'd give it a try, but if I can't dispel it, I'd give up. But since they are powerful, if I fail to cure the illness, someone will die. How am I supposed to explain that?" Fatty looked at me with anguish.
I was speechless. Though I didn't know what sorcery was, I understood Fatty's words well. Curing the illness would be beneficial, but if it failed, it would be catastrophic. Although the person didn't have a pulse, strictly speaking, they couldn't be considered a dead body. If you tried to cure them and failed, what would that make you?
I decided not to force Fatty to do anything. He wasn't related to my family, but rather a wise man interested in Feng Shui who stayed, advocating a style of selfless dedication. He didn't owe my family anything. When I returned home, however, I saw Second Uncle packing his things. He had very few belongings, just a few clothes and a small bag packed simply.
When I saw Second Uncle's hurried movements, it surprised me. The pressure on me now was incredibly high. Despite using money as a last resort, I truly had no power to resist. Second Uncle was my greatest support at this time, but at this critical moment, he planned to flee?
"I'm going to Luoyang to talk to Black Three's family." Second Uncle smiled and told me.
"I've asked九两's family to attempt it, to see if it can stop everything." I said to Second Uncle.
"I've seen that little girl's fortune and have an idea how far her family can go. I doubt it will work. By the way, if you see her again, tell her that her father will face a disaster soon. Remember, in the coming year, she mustn't be too overbearing." Second Uncle instructed me.
He was a decisive man, leaving before my father returned from the fields, setting off courageously. To describe Second Uncle at this time, the adage 'brave in arts, bold in heart' couldn't be more appropriate. Under these circumstances, why would he choose to have a conversation with someone? Thinking back to the night he attacked Black Three, I worried--was Second Uncle planning to eliminate him and his family?
Second Uncle left so quietly. The arrival or departure of a person made a world of difference at home. Grandma, after struggling to accept the existence of this illegitimate son, suddenly saw him leave. I could perceive a hint of unnaturalness on her face.
After Second Uncle left, there was no more news about the demolition office resort. The villagers, though initially excited about the demolition, gradually calmed down. These days, the government's words couldn't be trusted at all. Without the demolition to rely on, they focused on the coffin matter. At least that was valuable; they started bothering us again. In the end, I made up an excuse to brush them off: "They admitted their mistake in the past. It's been a long time, have you seen them come back?"
As they contemplated, they realized it was indeed the case. After the group associated with Black Three visited the village head at Ma's, they never appeared at Lin's house. Both incidences shattered their two hopes. However, it didn't undermine their spirits, and life soon returned to normal. Later,九两 visited once and said that her father confirmed that there was nothing he could do this time. But strangely, after much commotion, there were suddenly no more updates about it. Nobody mentioned it again?
I said, "That's because my Second Uncle went to negotiate with someone. You know his capabilities."
After a two-month vacation,九两 became busy. Later, I relayed my Second Uncle's message to her. She was also somewhat surprised and nodded, saying, "Please thank Second Uncle for me. I will tell my father."
Life went on like this until a month later, but Second Uncle still hadn't returned. Now, everyone in the family was worried. After all, he was dealing with a powerful and somewhat mafia-like family. My father urged me to find out what had happened to Second Uncle.
But what could I do? Second Uncle didn't have a phone. How could I contact him? However, I felt that nothing was wrong. Second Uncle was a capable man, and he wouldn't undertake anything uncertain.
During this time, we had a joyful event in our family. Lin Xiaoyao really didn't disappoint my efforts the night before! She was pregnant. This news was enough to excite everyone in the household. After becoming pregnant, this little girl was extremely anxious, and so was Mother Wu. So, they immediately moved into a room together. After just a month of pregnancy, Lin Xiaoyao was afraid of my nighttime fumbling, fearing it might affect the pregnancy.
I returned to my sleepless nights. It was on one such day that I, bored, finally remembered the black book Second Uncle had left me and thought to flip through it. After all this time, what if I could understand it now? Second Uncle had previously said, "One day you will comprehend it." But when exactly that day would come, he didn't specify.
As I opened the first page, I found a neatly folded piece of paper inside. I opened it and discovered it was a letter from Second Uncle.
Xiao Fan,
By the time you read this letter, I will have left Lin's village. You needn't worry about where I am, because I'm fine. If even I'm in trouble, then things have spiraled out of control.
I always felt that you were a naive and kind child. There are many secrets that I didn't want to and couldn't tell you. I thought you'd press me for answers, and at times, I even thought of concocting reasons to deceive you. But you never did, and that made me feel that I owe you an answer.
Some answers still remain a mystery to me, but I believe that the kind of person I am is the answer you seek.
I am like you, but also different from you. I was merely an experiment for your grandfather at the time. He wanted to create a yin-yang master, but I wasn't the result he desired.
In the red coffin was my mother.
You may have already guessed this answer, so my gratitude to your grandfather is filled with conflicts. He did something dishonorable, akin to a thief, a shameless and selfish man. I harbored great hatred towards him, but he was my only family.
Just as your mother played an irrelevant role in your life, mine was the same. Later, I realized that your grandfather's selfishness was something everyone would do once they obtained that ability. He spent his life fearing my mother's revenge, and so did many things.
When I first returned, I also wanted revenge and was entangled in hatred for a long time. Even though I had no emotional attachment to my mother, she was still my child.
But I realized that no matter what kind of person you are, you still need a family. Your grandfather's greatest skill was that despite his selfishness, he was very cruel, both to others and himself.
When he learned that I had returned, he chose to end his own life. I hope you won't hate me after reading this letter. Your grandfather didn't die of fright, and definitely not due to your grandmother's actions. He chose to bury himself alive.
Perhaps he thought this was his responsibility.
Just like he treated my mother back then.
He then entrusted a group of unsuspecting people to me. Your grandfather was a man who knew how to wield the greatest weapon: humanity. He bet on not harming any of you because he had raised an innocent son and a kind grandson.
It was that night when my mother let your father go that I learned that this woman never truly harbored hatred towards the man who did such things to her. Your grandfather's years of fear and unrest stemmed from his own guilt.
Otherwise, why would people say 'what goes around, comes around'?
Later, I buried the two of them together, fulfilling my mother's last wish.
Overall, your grandfather is still a charismatic person.
You needn't look for me. Perhaps one day I will suddenly appear in Lin's village. By then, you will be very strong, and only after that can I simply be your second uncle.
Lin Baqian.