Chapter 186: The Black Dog |
Leaving the Mei family home in the predawn chill, Yu Xiao declined Uncle Mei’s offer of a ride back home. The empty streets, with their biting air, held a strange allure. She stopped at a street stall, drawn by the comforting aroma of grilled meat.
As plumes of white smoke curled into the darkness, her mind replayed the sights and sounds of the Mei household.
The visit had left her with a gnawing sense of helplessness. She had offered to hire a yin-yang master to perform the rituals – at the time, it felt like a tangible way to help Old Mr. Mei find peace, perhaps even offer herself some closure. Now, the idea struck her as naive. As the Director of the Horror Hospital, she knew better. Brother Bed’s grave was just that – a grave. A physical marker, not a spiritual dwelling. No amount of whispered words to cold stone would reach him.
Still, she had made the offer and would follow through with it. Zheng Dong Li, the only yin-yang master she knew, wouldn’t come cheap. Fortunately, money wasn’t a problem. She would find a way to obtain a suitable feng shui site for Old Mr. Mei. It was the least she could do, a small token of gratitude for Brother Bed’s kindness.
“Ready,” the vendor declared, handing her a bag of skewers.
**
The next morning, Zhao Lan’s knock was met with the lingering aroma of barbecue. Stepping inside, she was greeted by a table laden with takeaway containers. “Late-night feast?”
Yu Xiao, splashing water on her face at the bathroom sink, simply nodded.
Following Yu Xiao’s suggestion, the trio headed down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, settling on steaming bowls of wonton noodles.
- (Wonton Noodles [汉字 – Hànzì ] The Dish: A beloved staple in Cantonese cuisine, wonton noodles feature thin egg noodles served in a savoury broth, typically made with pork bone and dried seafood. The star of the show? Wontons – delicate dumplings filled with seasoned minced pork (and sometimes shrimp) that bob happily in the broth or are served separately.
- Irresistible Appeal: The magic lies in the contrast of textures and flavours: springy noodles, silky wonton wrappers, savoury broth, and the umami punch of the filling. It’s pure comfort food.)
“You went to Brother Bed’s family home last night?” Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her surprise evident.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Yu Xiao replied between sips of her broth. “Wandered around, bumped into his father.”
As Yu Xiao recounted the visit, sorrow washed over Zhao Lan. “But I thought ghosts could leave the hospital with a phone? That doctor, he’s a ghost too. Why can’t Brother Bed do the same? Not enough points?”
Yu Xiao shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s not about points. He’s… not Brother Bed anymore.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, utterly perplexed. “But you said he looks the same. Is it because he doesn’t remember his life?”
“No, that’s not it,” Yu Xiao paused, collecting her thoughts. “Imagine this: the body is like a container, a bottle. The soul, the ghost, is like water, shapeless. It takes on the shape of the container it occupies. The current attending doctor, Mei Huai Xin, may look like Brother Bed, but he’s just wearing his skin.”
“But…” Zhou Xiao Zhen struggled to understand the concept. “Then where did Brother Bed’s ghost go?” Yu Xiao poked at her noodles with her chopsticks. “Ghosts without containers exist as raw yin energy in the hospital. Brother Bed, he was already saturated with it before he even died. His body, it was full. And when he passed, his ghost… it simply became more yin energy. Like a single drop of water merging with a lake, indistinguishable from the rest.”
Understanding dawned on Zhao Lan’s face. “So you can’t use the Old Lord’s Talisman on him?”
“Exactly,” Yu Xiao confirmed with a nod. “The talisman expels yin energy from the body. But Brother Bed, he is yin energy now. Using it would just leave an empty shell.”
There was no solution. Letting Mei Huai Xin walk free, masquerading as Brother Bed, felt wrong. It would be like releasing an imposter into the world.
“So, you’ve met the family,” Zhao Lan said, steering the conversation away from the disheartening topic. “The gathering is tomorrow. What’s the plan for today?”
Yu Xiao hadn’t decided yet.
“Let’s climb the Great Wall!” Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed.
“I’ll contact Zheng Dong Li today and discuss the burial site with him. Then we’ll see.”
Zhao Lan sighed in relief. “Now that’s a plan.”
However, Zhou Xiao Zhen pouted. “But we’re finally in Beijing…”
Zhao Lan patted her arm reassuringly. “You want to be an Olympian, right? You’ll have plenty of time to conquer the Great Wall. Many times over.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen, feeling her mood instantly lift, silently agreed.
Yu Xiao scarfed down the last of her noodles and dialled Zheng Dong Li. The man always picked up promptly, but this time his voice was a hushed whisper. “Need something?”
“Busy?”
“No,” he breathed, “Just somewhere I can’t speak loudly. What’s up?”
“Decided on the meeting place yet?”
“Not officially, but should be sorted by afternoon. Are you guys coming to Beijing? Need a ride?”
“Nah, already here. Arrived yesterday. Need a favour. Have an elderly relative, over eighty, who wants a proper feng shui burial spot. Are you up for it? Don’t worry, we’ll pay.”
A soft chuckle crackled down the line. “Honoured the lady trusts me with her business. Where is he from? We can take care of it after the meeting.”
Yu Xiao mentally counted the days. Today was day four out of the hospital, the meeting tomorrow would be day five. Her out-of-hospital limit was about a week, meaning her delightful obsession could show up any time after that.
“Any chance it could be done today?”
“That urgent?” Zheng Dong Li hesitated. “Today’s tricky, got stuff going on…” He paused. “Remember that elderly patient I mentioned? Similar situation to us? He’s in the hospital, not looking good. Can’t really leave at a time like this.”
Yu Xiao’s eyebrows shot up. “He’s still alive?”
Most patients, once they had enough points, left the hospital, barely making it past seventy. Zheng Dong Li’s elder was definitely older, which begged the question: how many points did that guy HAVE?
Seemingly oblivious to her shock, Zheng Dong Li continued, “The man has staying power. He turns 123 this year.”
“Bloody hell,” Yu Xiao blurted out, momentarily stunned.
“Do you have something planned today, then?” Zheng Dong Li asked, his tone suddenly curious.
“Nothing planned,” Yu Xiao replied.
“Come to the hospital, then. Let’s see this old gentleman off in style. Might be the first of his kind in the world.”
Yu Xiao considered it for a moment. “Hang on, let me ask Misty and Precious.”
Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, intrigued, and with a gloriously free day, were easily persuaded.
On the way to the hospital, Zhou Xiao Zhen marvelled, “That old boy must be something else, racking up enough points to hit 120. Smiley, have you ever heard of anyone like that at the hospital?”
“Nope,” Yu Xiao said, shaking her head. She’d racked her brain, but she’d never encountered such a patient. Still, something about it felt… off.
The taxi deposited them outside the hospital’s inpatient entrance. A security guard chased a stray dog across the pavement as they headed inside, making a beeline for the cardiology department as instructed by Zheng Dong Li’s text.
The elevator spat them out on the fourteenth floor, where Zheng Dong Li was waiting. “Over here,” he said softly.
“The family’s here, I suppose?” Zhao Lan whispered. “Bit much for us to barge in, isn’t it?”
“He’s got no family,” Zheng Dong Li said, leading the way down the corridor. “His heart’s been troubled ever since his illness took hold. Never married, all alone all these years.”
The three friends exchanged glances, following in silence.
“The man’s ancient,” Zheng Dong Li continued. “His friends are long gone. Apart from the nurses, it’s just me and my uncle here today. He’ll be glad of the company.”
They reached a private room, the low hum of medical equipment growing louder as they approached. Several wilted bouquets decorated the bedside table. An old man, his skin paper-thin over bone, lay on the bed, a shock of white hair against the pillow.
As Yu Xiao looked at him, a peculiar sensation rippled through her. Her heart, usually a lump of unfeeling stone, clenched. She hurried to the bedside as Zheng Dong Li introduced them to an older gentleman seated nearby, referring to him as Uncle.
The older man, upon learning they’d come to see the patient, beamed. “Wonderful of you to visit. Old Zhou always loved company. Wouldn’t want him to pass with only strangers around, poor soul.”
Zhao Lan, noticing Yu Xiao’s strange demeanour, jumped in. “How is Old Zhou doing?”
“In and out of it,” the old man sighed. “He wakes up for a few minutes here and there, but his mind’s going. The doctor reckons it’ll be today.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen looked down at the patient. His eyes were squeezed shut, his frail body trembling.
“Is he cold?”
“Not cold,” Zheng Dong Li said, a sad smile touching his lips. “The doctor believes he’s having nightmares.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s heart ached for the old man. To be haunted by nightmares on the brink of death…
Yu Xiao leaned closer, her gaze fixed on the patient. As if sensing her presence, the trembling subsided, and his eyes slowly opened.
“He’s awake,” Zhao Lan whispered, capturing everyone’s attention.
His gaze, clouded with age, settled on Yu Xiao. His lips moved, forming three distinct words. “I’m sorry.”
Silence fell upon the room.
Recognition hit Yu Xiao like a wave. Beneath the frailty and decay, she glimpsed a flicker of the former director. It was startling, and then… it made perfect sense. Who else could have possibly accumulated so many points?
The old man’s eyes fluttered shut, his words dissolving into incoherent mumbles.
“Do you know Mr. Zhou?” his uncle asked Yu Xiao.
She shook her head, leaving Zheng Dong Li to explain. “He’s not quite himself. He’s been delirious these last few days. Keeps saying it’s dark, or cold… sometimes even cries.”
“Uhh…”
The old man on the bed groaned. Zheng Dong Li leaned in. “Mr. Zhou, what is it?” He listened intently for a moment, then straightened up. “Goldie, he says. He’s asking for Goldie.”
The elderly man threw up his hands. “He wants to see Goldie! Mr. Zhou has no wife, no children. Just his dogs. He’s had several over the years. Each time one passed, he’d get another, always called Goldie. So far, he’s had…”
“Three,” Zheng Dong Li interjected, holding up three fingers. “He’s had three Goldies.”
Yu Xiao’s mind snagged on the dog she’d seen outside, the one that refused to be chased away.
“We have to let him see Goldie one last time,” the elderly man pleaded, wringing his hands. “He won’t rest easy otherwise.”
“But pets aren’t allowed in the hospital,” Zheng Dong Li pointed out. “What can we do?”
The uncle rubbed his chin, then his eyes lit up. “Wait here, all of you! Leave this to me!” And with that, he bustled out of the ward.
Zheng Dong Li pulled up a chair for Yu Xiao. She sat, eyeing the frail figure on the bed. *What was the point of scheming your way out of the hospital if you were just going to spend your life with dogs?*
“What’s his name?” she asked, nodding towards the patient.
“Hmm?” Zheng Dong Li, who was pouring them all water, looked up. “Surname’s Zhou. Zhou Si Heng (周思衡: “Thinks cyclically, drawing on a broad perspective”; “”Ponders deeply, considering all sides with balance and fairness ”; “one who ponders deeply, drawing upon a rich heritage to seek balance and understanding in the world.).”
- 周 (Zhōu): This is a common Chinese surname, often transliterated as “Zhou.” It signifies “circumference”, “cycle”, or “week”. Historically, it was associated with the Zhou dynasty, a significant period in Chinese history.
- 思 (Sī): As a given name, 思 means “thought”, “reflection”, or “contemplation”. It represents intellectual depth and introspection.
- 衡 (Héng): This character can mean “balance”, “equilibrium”, or “measure”. It symbolises harmony and stability.
- In essence, 周思衡 could be interpreted as “Thinks cyclically, drawing on a broad perspective”; “”Ponders deeply, considering all sides with balance and fairness ”; “one who ponders deeply, drawing upon a rich heritage to seek balance and understanding in the world.”
“What’s he like?”
“Mr. Zhou?” Zheng Dong Li passed her a cup. “He’s a good man. My uncle told me he fought in the Resistance back in the day, earned quite a few medals. Never wanted to be an official after the war. Health wasn’t great, always had quiet jobs. By the time I met him, he was pushing a hundred. Don’t know much else, except he was always kind. Used to give me sweets when I was a lad.”
“He really loves his dogs, eh?” Zhao Lan remarked.
“Oh, yeah,” Zheng Dong Li chuckled. “Big black dogs, especially.”
The conversation lulled. “What about this elder of yours?” Zheng Dong Li asked Yu Xiao. “The one looking for a burial plot?”
“It’s Mr. Mei,” she said. “He’s over eighty, not well at all. Wants to get his affairs in order.”
“Any particular reason he’s so set on a burial plot?” Zheng Dong Li asked. “Not that cremations aren’t a perfectly respectable…”
“He’s convinced it’s all about feng shui,” Yu Xiao said with a shrug. “To be honest, I don’t know much about it.”
“It’s real enough,” Zheng Dong Li said, frowning slightly. “Finding a proper feng shui treasure land, though… that’s a different story. You’re a Taoist, though, right? Don’t you lot know all about that yin-yang, feng shui stuff?”
- (玄门 [xuán mén; Xuanmen] – A term referring to Taoist sects and practices.
- 阴阳风水 [yīn yáng fēng shuǐ; Yin-Yang Feng Shui] – A traditional Chinese philosophical system that emphasises the balance of Yin and Yang energies in relation to spatial arrangements, particularly in architecture and burial sites.)
Yu Xiao bit back a laugh. Taoist, she was not. More like a gatekeeper to the afterlife. “Nah, I just dabble in talismans.”
Zheng Dong Li looked even more confused. “Didn’t whoever taught you talismans teach you anything else?”
“Nope.”
He was completely baffled. Taoists rarely specialised in just one thing. Even if they had a focus, they usually knew a bit of everything. How could she be completely clueless?
Before he could voice his confusion, the door to the ward swung open.
Yu Xiao watched, eyebrows raised, as the old man barged into the hospital ward, his enormous hiking pack threatening to engulf him entirely. He slammed the door shut, leaned heavily against the wall, and wheezed, “Quick… get this thing off me…”
Zheng Dong Li hurried to unbuckle the pack, grunting at its weight. “What in the world is in here?”
“A dog, obviously,” Zhou Xiao Zhen said.
Zhao Lan nodded. “Had to be.”
The old man coughed, a dry, rattling sound. “What else would it be? Xiao Dong, be careful! Don’t let it bark.”
With exaggerated care, Zheng Dong Li unzipped the pack, revealing a large, black dog. It blinked at them with mournful eyes.
The old man, propping himself up with one hand on his hip, sighed dramatically. “This one has worn me out.”
Instead of barking, the dog padded over to the bedside and gazed at the old man in the bed, its sorrow palpable.
Yu Xiao, hesitating for a moment, guided the old man’s hand onto the dog’s head. The dog became still, letting out a soft whimper.
The old man’s hand trembled. His eyes opened, flickering between Yu Xiao and the dog, before fluttering closed once more.
A shrill alarm pierced the air – it was the heart monitor.
Doctors and nurses rushed in, their eyes widening at the sight of the dog. “Where did that come from?!”
Chaos erupted in the ward.
Yu Xiao and her companions, along with the bewildered dog, were quickly ejected.
“Did we ever arrange a cemetery for him?” Yu Xiao asked quietly.
“A long time ago,” Zheng Dong Li replied, his voice strained. “It cost a fortune.”
The dog sat by the door, panting, its gaze fixed on the ward. Every person who passed by, whether staff or patient, jumped back in alarm. Finally, a nurse who looked overwhelmed issued an ultimatum: the dog had to leave, or security would be called.
The dog refused to move. Eventually, Zheng Dong Li had to carry the despondent creature out.
Downstairs, the dog slumped to the ground, the picture of canine despair.
“What should we do with it now?” Yu Xiao asked.
Zheng Dong Li shook his head. “I can’t take it. I don’t like dogs. I have nightmares about them, always chasing me.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen, surprised by this admission from the usually composed man, turned to the old man. “Are you also scared of dogs, Uncle?”
Zheng Dong Li winced. “Actually, there’s something I need to talk to all of you about.”
“Go ahead,” said Yu Xiao. “We’re pretty laid-back, as long as it doesn’t involve anything extreme like human sacrifice.”
“Nothing like that,” he muttered, blushing slightly. “It’s just… could you maybe not call me ‘Uncle’ at the gathering tomorrow?”
Silence. Then, “Huh?”
“I’m not… that old, you know,” he said awkwardly. “All this ‘Uncle’ stuff… I’ve been having nightmares about my teeth falling out…”
Zhou Xiao Zhen suppressed a laugh, reminding herself that someone just died.
Yu Xiao, on the other hand, had no such reservations. “Ha ha ha ha ha…”
Zheng Dong Li squirmed uncomfortably.
“Tell you what,” Yu Xiao said, wiping tears from her eyes. “If you find Old Man Mei a good Feng Shui plot for free, we’ll consider calling you ‘Brother Li’ instead.”