The Weight of a Favor

As soon as they stepped into the house, too much noise of children.

Yue Meixue's eyes scanned the room before she scowled and waved her hand sharply. "Get out of the way, you little bastards! What are you giggling for? Stop making noise!"

Startled, the children scattered like birds. Mo Ring, flustered, rushed in behind them, patting the older kids on the shoulder.

"Take the little ones out. Go play in the yard. Close the door behind you."

With a quick shuffle of feet and reluctant looks, the children obeyed. The door creaked shut, muffling their fading voices.

Yue Meixue glanced around. "Where is he?"

"In the inner room," Mo Ring replied quickly. "I was just about to bring you in."

Yue Meixue waved her off. "No. Don't take me there. Bring the boy to the kitchen. Around the stove."

"The stove?" Mo Ring blinked.

"Yes. That's where the fire breathes. If something's wrong, we'll find it near heat."

Mo Ring didn't question further. "I'll go get the child."

With the help of Gu Suqing, they carried Gu Chen into the kitchen and gently laid him across the worn wooden table. A straw mat was placed beneath him to soften the surface.

Yue Meixue stepped closer, eyes narrowed.

She said nothing at first. Her aged hands, though weathered, moved with a practiced calm. She touched the boy's legs first, kneading gently at his calves, then slowly sliding her fingers upward, across his stomach, chest, and finally to his face.

She stopped at his shoulders.

There, she pressed gently, almost as if feeling for something not quite physical.

The room was silent except for the faint crackle of embers in the stove and the anxious rustle of Mo Ring's sleeves.

After a while, Yue Meixue spoke.

"Sister Ring, did you do the calling ritual?"

"Yes!" Mo Ring said at once. She quickly reached for the bowl of water and needle she had used earlier and brought it over.

But the moment she saw inside the bowl, she gasped. "Ah!"

The water had turned murky. The needle, once clean, was now corroded with rust. Not just rust, red rust, spreading like a stain through the water. It looked as if the needle had bled.

Gu Suqing, who stood nearby, leaned in and glanced at the bowl. Her brows furrowed. Quietly, she stepped closer to her mother and whispered what she saw into her ear.

Yue Meixue's face darkened.

She took a slow breath and let it out. "Sister Ring… the boy is possessed."

Mo Ring's knees nearly gave out. "What?" she cried. "No… no, please, Sister, save him! My daughter only has this one child. I can't let anything happen to him."

Tears were beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. Her hands shook as she pulled a few coins from her pocket, pressing them into Yue Meixue's hands. "Here. Take this, please, whatever you need—"

But Yue Meixue took a step back and pushed the coins away.

"I won't take your money," she said quietly, but firmly.

"Please, Sister, my child—"

"I won't accept it," Yue Meixue said again.

She turned to her daughter with a bitter smile. "Did you hear that? He's the son of your Uncle Liang's favorite little girl."

Gu Suqing's lips parted. "He's Sister Nan's son…?"

Yue Meixue nodded.

Sister Nan, full name Gu Nanru, had been Mo Ring's daughter. Gu Chen's mother.

Back then, when the village whispered that Yue Meixue's household was cursed, other children were told to stay away from Gu Suqing. She had been treated like a ghost even before she could understand what a curse was. Doors were closed when she came near. Adults gave her sharp, judgmental glances. Other children mimicked their parents.

But Gu Nanru didn't care. She had always invited Gu Suqing to play, offering her sweets, sitting beside her, walking with her when others walked away. Their friendship had lasted until Gu Nanru left for university. After that, she never really returned.

Yue Meixue lowered her eyes. For a long time, she said nothing.

Gu Suqing looked at the sleeping boy, then spoke softly. "He really does look like Sister Nan. He's a good-looking child."

Mo Ring nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on Yue Meixue, unsure if she would help—or if she was just preparing to walk away.

Gu Suqing added, "My daughter, Aue, told me something the day before yesterday. She said she met a boy named Chen. He gave her chocolate and took her to the stream to collect pretty stones."

Mo Ring blinked, distracted. "Chen…?"

"Yes. Aue said the other children told him not to play with her. But he didn't listen. He gave her chocolate anyway."

Her voice trembled, almost imperceptibly.

Gu Suqing's daughter, like her, was isolated. She stood at a distance whenever other children played, too afraid to join in. When she tried, they would laugh, run off, and say, "My mom said I'm not allowed to play with you."

But that day, she came home glowing. For once, someone had chosen to stay.

Yue Meixue looked at her daughter. So strong, so quiet, so full of the pain she'd inherited. Her heart ached.

Finally, she turned to Mo Ring.

"Sister," she said, "Let me be honest with you."

Mo Ring nodded. "Please. Go ahead."

"In twenty cases like this, fifteen are just nerves. People get scared, and they want a little comfort, a few prayers, something symbolic. It calms their hearts."

She continued, "In another four cases, there's something a little strange maybe a nightmare, a passing spirit, nothing dangerous."

"But sometimes, just sometimes there's one that isn't like the others."

Mo Ring's face had turned pale.

Yue Meixue said gently, "I won't take your money. First, because your husband helped me and my daughter when no one else would. Second, because in cases like this, money doesn't mean anything. I can't be half-hearted."

Mo Ring's hands trembled as she covered her mouth.

"Then…" she whispered, "Sister Meixue… will you help him?"

Yue Meixue nodded slowly, the lines in her face tightening with purpose. "I'll help him."

She turned toward the stove, her eyes scanning the shelves.

"Bring me incense ash from the stove. Quickly."

"Okay." Mo Ring moved at once, heading to the stove with shaking hands.

Gu Suqing reached over and gently smoothed the hair back from Gu Chen's pale forehead.