Chapter 13: Refining the Child's Bones
I felt it must be that child. After Bai Jie lit the fire, the child started pulling at the corner of my clothes and wouldn't let go. No matter what I did, I couldn't work. They wouldn't let me work.
"Bai Jie, go find Master Yun Zheng right away."
Bai Jie looked at me blankly, because she could tell from my previous behavior that it was a bit strange.
"What happened?"
"Just go ahead."
Bai Jie went to find Master Yun Zheng, and I sat there. It seemed that I could not work now.
The master came in hurriedly and brought Yi He with him.
"Yihe, you work."
I didn't expect that as soon as Master Yunzheng arrived, the child relaxed and didn't make any sound.
I'm out.
"Master, that kid is pulling me down and I can't do my work."
"It seems like it's time, Bai Jie , you go home!"
"oh."
Bai Jie left, and I followed my master into the office, a small red brick building on the second floor. My master and I were in the room on the easternmost side. Later, Bai Jie came, and I became his apprentice, so I was in the room on the right after entering the first floor.
The master said after sitting down.
"Ke Zuo, I don't know the origins of this child yet. I heard a soft cry, but I don't know what happened. Now it's just you and I who have heard this cry, but it's never bothered us. The crematorium is full of yin energy, so it's normal for this to happen to us, but it unexpectedly haunted you."
I'm scared. Even the master doesn't know what's going on. Wouldn't I be in trouble?
"master……"
My voice shook.
"It's okay, don't be afraid, the master is here, you don't have to worry about anything."
The master was smoking a cigarette, and I sat on the side, looking at him, waiting for him to give me an answer.
"Come with me."
The master stood up after he finished speaking. I got on his second bike and he rode out of the crematorium. He suddenly stopped and almost fell. He thought for a long time, got on his bike and went back. I chased him for a long time but couldn't catch up. What was he doing?
I got even more scared.
I ran back to the crematorium, but I couldn't find the master. The car was parked in front of the small building. Where had he been?
I entered the crematorium and saw Yi He working.
"Have you seen Master Yunzheng?"
"It's okay. Didn't I go out with you?"
I turned around and came out, but I couldn't find it. I couldn't find it at the crematorium. I was so scared. The driver clearly came in and the car was there. There must be no problem. How could it be gone?
I entered the office, sat in front of the window, and looked at the master's bike. He had to come to pick up the bike anyway. In this era, owning a bicycle is like owning an Audi A6. The master also cherished the bike and was always very careful with it.
However, I waited until dark, but the master didn't come back. The small building was empty, and I felt a little uneasy.
I still insisted on waiting. I looked at my watch and it was already half past six. I stood up, pushed the driver's car into the corridor of the small building, and went to the driver's home. The driver had not come back yet.
I went home, but couldn't sit still, so I went out and went to the crematorium again. The gatekeeper said that the master had not returned.
It seems I can’t find it today. I don’t know where the master went.
The next day, I went to the crematorium early in the morning, but the master still hadn't shown up. I thought, if the master didn't come, I would have to go find the director.
The master is here, I'll go in.
"Where did you go yesterday? I was so worried."
"It's okay. There's one thing you should know. Don't tell anyone else. Today, the two of us are going to burn someone."
Yihe is in our cremation room.
"Go back!"
After Yi He passed away, I carried the body in and put it in the furnace. The master closed the door and dug in a corner of the crematorium with a shovel.
"Master, I'll do it."
"Just watch the stove and make sure nothing goes wrong."
The master was digging so hard that I was stunned. The door was locked and I didn't know what the master was going to do.
After digging for half an hour, the master sat down, lit a cigarette and said.
"Ke Zuo, you don't know, this used to be a barren mountain. Many children were buried on this hillside. Medical facilities were poor, so many children were buried here. It seemed like an unwritten place to bury children. Later, when a crematorium was built, it was cleared. No one came to the children's graves after they were buried. I think that child must have been a resentful child, unwilling to die, and it's normal for him to haunt you."
I just didn't understand it, but you had to pester me.
The master rested for a while and then dug again. He dug out bones. Sure enough, they were children's bones.
The master dug out all the bones, wrapped them in cloth and placed them in the corner.
"What do we do after we're done?"
"Work first."
My master and I worked until noon, and he carried the bag of bones back to the office.
"It's really pitiful. Buried in the mountains, they will never be forgotten by their parents."
The master did not change his clothes or eat, but went up to the second floor, which was the westernmost room and was locked.
"This office has been operating forever. I don't know why, but a man who worked there hanged himself in here, right after the small building was finished."
When the master opened the door, I felt the cold air hitting my face, but it was not the kind of cold you get in winter.
I looked inside and was shocked to see a coffin.
"master……"
"It's okay. I got it from the countryside. There are no coffins in the city now. Some people bury people secretly and make coffins."
I don’t know why the master brought the coffin in. He must have brought it in in the middle of the night. The master threw a piece of black cloth to me.
"Hang it up."
I hung it on the window, and the master put the child's bones in the coffin.
"That's all right, don't worry."
My master and I came out, our clothes were soaked with sweat. After locking the door, the master told me.
"Don't go up to the second floor again, especially you."
I would never go up to the second floor, or it would cost me my life.
Today is Bai Jie and my class. Bai Jie came dressed beautifully.
I kept silent while changing my clothes.
"Master, you don't look well."
"fine."
We entered the crematorium and I glanced at the corner. The body had been buried there, but it was still visible. However, the light was dim and I couldn't see it without paying attention.
I'll bring the body in, said Bai Jie.
"Master, come to our house tonight."
I was stunned for a moment.
"Why?"
"My father is better now and wants to treat you to a drink."
"good."
It wasn't a smooth day. The oil in the stove ran out once, and I added more oil. But when I tried to turn over the body, I couldn't get it to turn over. It took a lot of effort. The job that should have taken four hours took six hours.
I didn’t eat lunch. I’m not used to eating there, and Bai Jie is the same.
After get off work, we went straight to Bai Jie's house.
While drinking, Bai Jie's father brought up the matter between him and Bai Jie. He said that as long as we love each other, we should decide on it as soon as possible. I just said that I should go home and discuss it with my father. I must ask for his opinion on this matter. Even if my father disagrees, I can accept his opinion because he raised me.
This matter is reasonable, but it cannot help but make people think too much about it.
Of course, in the evening, I went home and told my father about it.
"Son, I respect your choice."
My father is always the one who gives me warmth and makes me feel strong.
When I go to work and enter the office, I always think about the coffin upstairs. Of course, I won’t tell anyone about this, not even Bai Jie.
I told Bai Jie that my father meant that we could do it. Bai Jie smiled and lowered her head.
I know that I am happy in the face of this love, but I don’t know how to get along with it. Maybe I have experienced too much loneliness.
My master has always been a mystery to me.
There are many legends about Master Yunzheng. During the time I have been here, I have heard some of them, but I have never said anything.
Master Yunzheng built a coffin upstairs and put the remains of a child in it. This made me feel so creepy. Also, when Master Yunzheng was picking up the bones, he said that each bone had a different smell, just like a person's body odor, which was different. He could tell them apart, but I couldn't. He said that when he was picking up the bones of the deceased, he could smell it, but I couldn't smell it at all. I couldn't figure it out, and it made me feel afraid of Master Yunzheng.
In the crematorium, Bai Jie was doing her own thing and she didn't ask about transporting the corpse.
I have always been reluctant to talk about the situation inside the crematorium. In fact, everything is not that simple. Some things are out of respect for the deceased, or talking about them will make people feel extremely uncomfortable.
Bai Jie was holding the chisel and suddenly screamed. I jumped up, went over, and looked inside through the small window. She was sitting up and convulsing. Bai Jie's face turned pale with fright. This is a very normal phenomenon. I forgot to tie her legs when I sent her in today.
I took the chisel and pushed it down.
Bai Jie was sweating.
"This is normal, nothing serious."
Only after I told her the reason did Bai Jie come to her senses.
"Okay, I'll do the rest, you go back to the office."
Bai Jie went out and I sat aside smoking until noon.
When I came out, the manager came over.
"Ke Zuo, I have a friend the day after tomorrow, in cabinet number one."
I nodded. The first furnace is cleaning. In fact, this kind of thing has to be done every day. There is actually no difference. I can only say that I need to be more careful in some aspects.
When I returned to the office, Bai Jie still looked unhappy.
"It's okay, it's okay."
"I'm scared."
I hugged Bai Jie.
That day, during dinner, I told Bai Jie to go to the office and say that Master Yunzheng was fine, as the director would give Master Yunzheng 70% of his face.
Bai Jie shook her head.
I don’t know why Bai Jie didn’t go, and I didn’t ask too much.
After get off work, Bai Jie and I buy groceries, then go home and cook.
When my father came back and saw the dishes on the table, he was a little touched. This was the first time I cooked for my father, and Bai Jie's father liked it very much.
My father was very happy that day.
I sent Bai Jie back, said my father.
"The girl is good, cherish her well."
I know my father's worries and expectations for me.
