Chapter 2 Yizhuang

"Fatso, I'm truly at my wit's end. You've dragged me all the way to this impoverished mountain region, and I'm utterly exhausted."

On a secluded forest path deep within the mountains, a group of young people trudged along. Some were still clad in school uniforms, each carrying a hefty backpack, laboring their way up the rugged trail.

Lin Xiaofeng brought up the rear, shouldering an enormous pack filled with supplies destined for the impoverished mountain villages. Just thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel a pang of bewilderment. A few days ago, the school had organized a charity event to support these remote areas. Logically, such a mundane activity would hardly attract many participants. Yet, to his surprise, Xiao Lili, the student council president and the campus goddess adored by every male student, had volunteered to lead the group into the mountains. Instantly, the entire male population of the school had sprung into action.

Among them was Lin Xiaofeng's longtime friend, Huang Qianyi, affectionately known as "Fatso." True to his nickname, Huang was far from the elegance his given name might suggest. The only connection to his name was his surname, Huang, which humorously aligned with his rotund figure. Since middle school, Huang had developed a penchant for watching films far beyond the appropriateness of his age, often indulging in them to the point of neglecting everything else.

Now, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, Huang turned to Lin Xiaofeng and said, "Xiaofeng, I'm not trying to screw you over. Just look ahead."

Lin Xiaofeng glanced forward and saw Xiao Lili leading the group. Dressed in a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her figure was nothing short of perfection.

"Xiaofeng, how is it that Xiao Lili, only a senior in high school, has such an incredible figure?" Huang remarked, drool practically dripping from his mouth. This was no exaggeration—he was genuinely salivating.

Lin Xiaofeng shot him a look of disdain. "Buddy, you've got your work cut out for you. Plenty of guys are after Xiao Lili."

In this entire expedition, Lin Xiaofeng was likely the only one who had been dragged along by Huang. It wasn't that Lin Xiaofeng wasn't interested in Xiao Lili—as Huang put it, no man could resist her charm. However, Lin Xiaofeng had been warned by his mentor, Master Mao, that he must avoid any romantic entanglements before the age of twenty, or it would bring grave consequences.

Finally, the group arrived at their destination: Hongshu Village, a place of stark poverty. The village was populated mostly by the elderly and children, as the younger generation had long since left to seek work in the cities.

Upon their arrival, Xiao Lili led the group in distributing supplies to the留守老人 (left-behind elderly). Lin Xiaofeng trailed behind, bored and grumbling to himself. Tonight was his seventeenth birthday, and he had originally planned to celebrate in style. Instead, he found himself in this remote wilderness, spending his birthday with this fool, Huang.

The distribution went smoothly, and the elderly villagers were deeply grateful. The village chief, a sprightly man in his seventies, suggested that the group stay the night, as the mountain paths were unsafe after dark. Exhausted from the day's trek, the students readily agreed.

The chief arranged for them to stay in a large, empty house at the edge of the village. The building was spacious, spanning over two hundred square meters, but it was dilapidated and covered in cobwebs. The students settled in, most of them clustering around Xiao Lili, eager to chat and offer their assistance.

Lin Xiaofeng, however, felt uneasy. Something about the house didn't sit right with him, though he kept his concerns to himself.

As the sun began to set, casting a beautiful glow over the mountains, Wang Muyang approached Lin Xiaofeng and Huang with a smile. "Fatso, Lili has a bit of a cleanliness obsession. This place is too dirty for her to stay comfortably tonight. She asked me to tell you to clean it up."

Though everyone had brought tents, the house offered better shelter from the elements. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but chuckle. Wang Muyang was Huang's greatest rival—his father was the school's vice-principal, he drove an Audi to school, and he was the captain of the basketball team. Among the group, Xiao Lili only seemed to laugh and chat with Wang Muyang.

Thrilled that his goddess had entrusted him with this task, Huang eagerly agreed. Wang Muyang then asked, "What about the rest of you?"

Huang naturally meant Wang Muyang and the other followers. Wang Muyang replied, "Lili wants to watch the sunset from the mountaintop. I can't let her go alone, so we'll accompany her."

Huang was momentarily stunned. Wang Muyang, seeing his expression, thought to himself, "This fat fool actually thinks he can compete with me for Lili's affection? How delusional."

Xiao Lili, however, turned and gave Huang a sweet smile. It was no wonder she was the campus goddess—her smile instantly melted away Huang's frustration.

After Xiao Lili and Wang Muyang's group left, Lin Xiaofeng sat behind Huang, stifling his laughter.

"D*mn it! I'm stuck here cleaning this dump while they go off to watch the sunset?" Huang grumbled through clenched teeth once he snapped out of his daze.

Lin Xiaofeng, still chuckling, said, "Better get to it. If your goddess comes back and finds this place still a mess, she'll be furious."

Lin Xiaofeng couldn't understand why his friend was so persistent. Xiao Lili's indifference was obvious, yet Huang continued to chase after her like a fool.

Huang, gritting his teeth, grabbed a broom and began cleaning. Lin Xiaofeng, however, had no intention of helping. He leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette, and enjoyed the one perk of being in this remote area—no one to scold him for smoking.

"D*mn it!"

Just as Lin Xiaofeng was exhaling a cloud of smoke, he heard Huang shout from outside.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xiaofeng quickly stubbed out his cigarette and rushed out.

Huang stood there, pale-faced, staring at the plaque above the house. When they had arrived, the plaque had been covered in dust, rendering it illegible. Now, after Huang had wiped it clean with a feather duster, two characters became visible: "义庄" (Yizhang—a funeral parlor).

Lin Xiaofeng's suspicions were confirmed. This place was indeed strange.

"Let's go find the village chief and ask for a different place to stay," Lin Xiaofeng said, grabbing Huang's arm.

"Are you scared or something?" Huang teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "What's the rush? Let's stay here tonight."

Lin Xiaofeng frowned. "Don't mess around. This place gives me a bad feeling."

"The creepier, the better!" Huang exclaimed, his excitement growing. "Those jerks went off to watch the sunset, right? I've got an idea, and I need your help, Xiaofeng."

Lin Xiaofeng felt a sense of foreboding. Judging by Huang's grin, nothing good could come of this.