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shortstorychan · 6 years

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Ghost Wedding 㝠婚

August 2018

I just bought a painting of a beautiful girl dressed in Chinese marriage gown from Shanghai, China. I have been thinking for a long time where is a good place to hang it. Finally, I decided to hang it on the wall facing my bed. This is a large painting. The background of which is a garden pavilion. There is a red plum tree behind the pavilion. There are a round table and four chairs in the middle of the pavilion. A dish of fruit, a pot of tea and a cup are placed on the round table. Inside the pavilion, there sits a young girl who appears to be eighteen years old. She wears a red see-through thin silk scarf over her head. Through the scarf, you can see a pretty innocent young girl. Her hair is combed up high like a hat. Her hair is filled with gold jewelry. She also wears an ivory head pin consisting a string of pearls. Four of them are white and the bottom one is black. Strangely enough, if you focus on the black one, you will feel it is glittering.

The beautiful girl in the painting is wearing a traditional wedding dress in red color. The dress is embroidered with golden thread to show patterns of a dragon and a Phoenix. She also wears a dragon and Phoenix gold necklace. She looks elegant with such a made up. But if you pay attention to her eyes, you will feel there is a hidden sadness. I find it very strange that a bride should be joyful instead of being sad.

Looking at the beautiful girl in the painting, I felt like I have known her before. But I cannot remember where I might have met her.

In fact, I only saw this painting the first time during my recent tour of visiting a water village in the suburb of Shanghai. This place of interest has its special characteristics. The village is surrounded by a narrow river. On both banks, there are single-storey houses. You can see women washing clothes and hanging them on the bamboo poles to dry on the roof of the houses.

Boats are their major means of transportations. The roads in front of the houses are very narrow. They are only suitable for villagers to walk by. The road could accommodate a limited number of bicycles.

The houses on both sides of the road are used for both business and residence. Each one is no more than three hundred feet in size. The front of the house is used as shops and the back as residence.

Most of the shops sell handicrafts or dried seafood, and the smell from the dried seafood can be unpleasant. Occasionally there is a small gallery between seafood shops. I found my picture hanging in one of these galleries for sale. I still remember the shop is called "Chung Hing Gallery.” The artist is called Au Chung Hing. He paints and sells his paintings in the same shop.

At my first glance of the painting, I felt the eyes of the girl in the picture are telling me she has a lot to share with me but she wants me to take her home before she explains everything to me. But I did not intend to buy the painting. So I walked out of the gallery. Before I took the first step to leave, I suddenly heard a soft and sad voice, whispering to me, “Sir, take me home." I do not believe in hallucinations, and I continued to move forward to leave the shop. But the voice constantly echoed in my mind, and I also felt as if the bride in the painting followed me. I shook my head and thought I could get rid of this illusion, but the more I wanted to get rid of it, the more vividly the girl reappearing in my mind. Finally I stepped back to the gallery and bought the painting.

Now lying in bed and looking at the painting hanging on the wall, I feel happy and calm inside myself. I felt comfortable having a beautiful girl accompanying me in my sleep. Such feeling is inevitably sweet.

Since I had a busy day, It was time to go to bed. When I turned off the lights and looked at the painting, I could see no girl anymore, but the black pearl was shining like a star in the sky. Gradually the black pearl becoming an infinite bright star and multiplied by glittering stars.

Strangely, the shiny stars did not bother me but made me sleep peacefully. I did not know how long I have been sleeping. I felt someone is tapping me. Although I realized someone pushes me gently, I did not respond. I just turned around and continued my sweet dream. But the seemingly patted hand on my shoulder still keeps on pushing me. I finally opened my eyes slightly, and I saw a girl sitting on the side of my bed. I was scared to death. Immediately the girl disappeared and I told my self it must be just a bad dream.

Next night, while I was sleeping, someone was whispering to me, “ it is time to wake up.” I did not open my eyes but continue to sleep. Yet someone was pushing me to get up. I finally opened my eyes and looked around. I immediately was scared to death. I saw a ghost floating around in the room. Such experience

gave me a chilling feeling. Subconsciously I turned on the bedside lamp. As soon as the lamp light was on, I did not see any ghost.

The same terrified experience repeated on a few consecutive nights. Each time I was scared to death. So tonight I kept the light on. But honestly I could not sleep with the lights on. In the end, I still turned the lights off to force me to sleep. Yet, this time, I felt someone is trying to wake me up again. I heard a whisper which says, “Do not turn on the lights, I will not harm you." Reluctantly I opened my eyes and discovered a female corpse lying next to me. I immediately scream aloud.

I haven’t had a good sleep for a few nights. I finally decided to keep the lights at the bathroom on. Hopefully doing some reading will make me sleep soundly.

Unfortunately, I still could sleep and it is now 2:00 am in the morning. So I decided to turn off the lights at the bathroom. I got up and walked to the bathroom. As soon as I switched off the lights, I saw the bride from the painting inside the mirror. I was so scared that I fell onto the floor. I faded away but the bride held me up. She was looking at me with her eyes full of self pity and helplessness.

I was trembling and became speechless. The bride gently said to me, "Do not be afraid, I will not harm you and come with me."

She held my hand and helped me get up from the floor. I then walked slowly with her. She led me through a beautiful garden. The place is deserted and there is no other people in the garden except a red plum tree. We passed a pond and came to a gazebo with a round table and four chairs in the middle of the pavilion. She asked me to sit down with her.

Although with a scarf over her head, I could see a glimpse of her tears slowly flowing down. I really wanted to comfort her, but I did not know what to say. Fortunately, she began to speak, "Sir, when I saw you the first time, I know you are a good man. We are destined to meet and God sends you to help me fulfill my oath." Her voice is soft but sad,”I know you were also born in Zhou Village but you left there when you were young."

"Yes," I answered. "who are you?"

"My name is Xiao Feng and I am from Zhou Village. Tinping from the same village was childhood sweetheart. When I was only twelve years old, Tinping and I were running in a wild field. There was a wild dog chasing us, I was terrified.

Although the dog looked lovely, I was afraid of dogs. Tinping held me tight and talked to the dog with a low and friendly voice, “ Little dog, be nice to Xiao Feng.”

The little dog was very friendly and it wagged its tail as if it was welcoming us.

Tinping turned to me and said,” Don’t be afraid. The dog is friendly. Be brave and pad and stroke it.”

Tinping then held my hand to stroke the dog lightly. The little dog looked at me as if it was saying,” Don’t be afraid. Pretty girl. I am a friendly dog.”

Tinping mischievously talked to the dog, “ My little beloved dog, can you be our witness. When I grow up, I will marry this pretty girl.” Then, he turned around and kissed me the first time.

I pushed him away but the dog barked and wagged its tail. Then it ran away. I too, started to run away from Tinping.

That was our vow to get married. Unfortunately my father forced me to marry the son of his good friend. It was an arranged marriage when I was born. Both parents agreed to the marriage "

“What did you say? There is still such an arranged marriage in today’s world.” I couldn’t believe what I heard.

"Indeed it was true in those days. On my wedding day, I killed myself with a pair of scissors when the marriage cart stopped at the front door of my parents in law. My sweetheart was heartbroken that he hung himself on the tree in front of my parents in law ‘s house that night," said Xiao Feng sobbing as she finished her tragic story.

Such a touching story made me weep for them too. "Mr. Zhao, can you do one thing for us." Said Xiao Feng.

"What, if I can, I will help you." I sympathized with her. She told me what I needed to do.

The next morning, I clearly remember what happened last night. I was wondering if I was just dreaming. Or did I make a promise that must be carried out. I looked at the beautiful girl of the painting hoping she would tell me what happened last night. But she did not say anything. Yet I have to ask her clearly, “ Are you Xiao Feng ?"

She did not answer me but that black pearl seemed to flash a few times. I did not believe my eyes. I asked again a few more times, the results were the same. The black pearl really shone each time.

I immediately went to buy train tickets to go to Zhou Village. I obeyed Xiao Fung’s instructions. I rolled up the painting and used an oil paper umbrella to protect the sun from shining onto the painting,.

I could shut down the umbrella when on board the train. As soon as getting off the train, I did opened the umbrella again to protect Xiao Feng. We then walked about half a mile to get to the Zhou Village.

The Zhao family belongs to a high class society. Their front entrance has a staircase of five steps. The top of the main door reads “ Family of Zhou”. There are two poems on both sides of the door. On the left reads" Friends haven’t visited yet.” The right reads “Your house is right in the corner.”

The wooden door is red. I knocked the door a few times. Finally a servant came out to open the door.

“ Excuse me, who are you looking for?” The servant asked me politely.

"I am representing Miss Zhou to pay respect to Mater Zhou.” I replied in a polite way.

The servant asked again in horror. I repeated my answer again.

The servant invited me to enter the house. I still held up the oil paper umbrella to protect the painting. Walking through the front yard, I noticed the flowers were elegantly taken care of. The pavilion looked the same as the one in the painting. Even the blossoming red plum tree also looks exactly the same. Finally we entered the main living room. I could fold up the paper oil umbrella. I then could put down the painting on a chair.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhou came out to greet me. The first thing they asked me was how I got to meet Xiao Feng. I truthfully told them the whole story and opened the painting to show them Xiao Feng. As soon they saw the picture, Mrs Zhao cried loudly.

I comforted her, I told them Xiao Feng’s request was to marry Tin-ping.

Early the next morning, Mr. Zhou had to rush to Tinping’s parents' house to discuss the ceremony of marriage. The two families after serious consideration, they decided to hold the marriage ceremony on that day because they believed that day was s good day for marriage. Immediately they held a wedding ceremony at Tin-ping’s family home.

When the marriage ceremony starts, both parents sat in the middle of their family room. Two big paper dolls were used represent the bride and the groom. They served tea to the parents first. Then they followed the tradition to thank heaven first, then the parents and finally thanked each other to be able to go through both thick and thin for thousand years to come.

After these proceedings, the drum players started the music. Xiao Feng’s coffin was being carried to Tin-ping’s tomb for them to be buried together. All a sudden, a little dog ran around and then stopped in front of the graves. It wagged its tail and barked quietly. After that, it ran away.

Then both parents asked the monks to start singing the prayers. To serve the dead, both families have prepared wine and rice, sweet cakes, meat buns, a big roasted whole pig, whole cooked chickens with heads and tails, vegetables etc. there were a few more local dishes.

Friends and family burned paper money or gifts to the dead. These gifts included a big paper house, a few servants, a paper carriage cart and four paper carriage servants. In addition, they burned paper boxes of jewelry.

After the funeral ceremony was completed, Xiao Feng’s parents asked me to burn Xiao Fend’s painting in order to make her Rest In Peace. Originally, I wanted to keep Xiao Feng’s painting. Finally I reluctantly agreed to do so. However, I would like to see the painting once more. When I opened the painting, Xiao Feng’s parents looked at it the last time. Xiao Feng’s mother said, "Do you see it? Xiao Feng’s eyes are no longer sad , but with some happy smile."

I didn’t understand why Xiao Feng's mother could see Xiao Feng’s eyes turned into a smile as I found Xiao Feng no longer existing in the painting.

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剛剛従中國上海海買了了⼀一幅美女圖,我想了了很久都不知道该掛在哪⾥里里好。後來來決定掛在睡房,放在牀上對正的牆壁上。這是⼀一幅闊⼤大的掛畫,畫中的背景是⼀一個花園涼亭,涼亭後⾯面有⼀一棵紅⾊色的梅梅花樹,亭⼦子中間有⼀一張圓枱和四張椅⼦子,枱上放著⼀一碟⽣生果,⼀一壺茶茶和⼀一隻杯。畫中有位看似⼗十八歲的少女坐在亭中,她戴上⼀一條紅⾊色的頭⼱巾,從透明的頭⼱巾可依稀看到⼀一位貌似天仙的少女。她的頭髮向上梳⾼高,好像戴着⼀一頂帽⼦子,髮上插滿了了⾦金金⾊色的头饰,其中有⼀一串串珍珠,共有四粒⽩白⾊色⽽而最尾的⼀一粒是⿊黑⾊色。說來來奇怪,如果你專注望著⿊黑⾊色的,你會覺得它閃閃發光。

畫中美麗的少女穿著⼀一件中國⼈人结婚时候的紅⾊色禮服。服飾是傳統的結婚嫁衣,有龍有鳯的圖案,��身上還戴着⼀一條龍鳯項鍊鍊,显得雍容华贵。但如果你留留意她的眼神, 你會感觉到眼神裹的哀怨。我覺得很奇怪,為什什麼會帶哀怨⽽而不是含羞暗喜呢?我對著這幅畫中的美⼈人,感到似曾相識,但沒法想起在何處⾒見見過她。

當⽇日我在上海海的⽔水村旅遊,這個地⽅方很有特⾊色,⼀一條狹窄的⼩小河,河的兩兩邊是⼀一排單層的住宅,可以看⾒見見有⼈人洗衫,洗完的衣服掛在⽵竹竿上晒乾,河上有⼩小艇,⼩小艇是交通⼯工具。岸邊有狹窄的⾏行行⼈人道,只可以⾏行行走,單⾞車車免強也可通過,但⼈人却⽆无法容納其他交通⼯工具。路路的兩兩旁是前鋪後居的商店,每間商舖都是⼤大約不超過三百尺, 賣的⼤大多是⼯工藝品,或者是晒亁的海海鮮,氣味最難聞的是醎⿂魚舖。

這地⽅方有不少畫廊,相隔⼗十多間舖位有⼀一个⼩小畫廊。我這幅畫是在掛在其中的⼀一間舖位出賣,我還記得這間叫「中興畫店」。這個畫家叫歐中興,他在舖內⼀一邊畫畫⼀一邊賣畫。

第⼀一眼⽬目睹這幅美⼈人圖時,感到她那雙可憐可哀的眼睛好像有很多話想對我诉説, 想让我先带她回家,然後慢慢對我説清楚。但我不打算買這幅畫,于是我移步走出畫廊,才踏出第⼀一步,恍然聽到⼀一個柔美悽涼的聲⾳音,低聲叫,「先⽣生,請帶我回家。」我不相信幻覺,繼續向前⾏行行。但這个聲⾳音不断在我腦海海裏回荡,⽽而且還看⾒見見

畫中的新娘⼦子。我搖搖頭以為可以擺脫這幻象,但愈想擺脫愈是不停􏰀複出現在腦海海,到最後還是⾏行行回那間畫廊,買了了這幅美⼈人圖。

臥在床上,看著掛在牆上的美⼈人圖,我內⼼心感到欢喜。有個美女陪伴的確不錯,睡覺也甜蜜起來來。今天忙了了⼀一⽇日,是時候睡覺了了。我関燈後望了了望那幅畫,再也⾒見見不到美⼈人,只⾒見見那粒⿊黑明珠熠熠⽣生辉,好像天上的星星,由⼀一粒漸漸變成漫天無數的星星。

奇怪得很,閃亮的星星使我安然熟睡,不知睡了了多久,有⼈人輕輕的推我,我不回應, 轉過⾝身再尋好夢,但輕拍我肩膀的⼿手仍然不停的推我,我最後忍不住微微睁開眼睛, 只⾒見見⼀一片⿊黑漆漆,連⿁鬼影都没有。我想⼀一定是做了了發夢,於是再入夢乡。熟睡後⼜又再次感覺有⼈人拍我的肩膀,打開眼睛⼀一看,嚇死⾃自⼰己,看⾒見見⼀一個少女坐在床邊,再望清楚,甚麼⼈人影都沒有。⾃自⼰己安慰⾃自⼰己説是發夢。

第⼆二晚,熟睡之時,有⼈人在耳邊說:「是時候起來來,但我沒有打開眼睛,繼續睡覺。跟著有⼈人輕輕推我,直到我忍不住打開眼睛,看⾒見見⼀一位少女的⿊黑影在房內⾏行行來來⾏行行去, 立即覺得⼼心寒,潛意識下打開床頭燈,却再也沒有看⾒見見什什麼⿊黑影。

連續幾晩都是⼀一樣,每次我都嚇了了⼀一跳,今晚沒關燈去睡,但是開著燈我⽆无法入睡, 始終都要関燈才能入睡,朦朦胧胧中感覺到有⼈人推我,⽽而且低聲説,「不要開燈, 我不會害你。」無可奈何打開眼睛⼀一看,嚇到魂⾶飛魄散,原來來有⼀一條女屍睡在我⾝身邊,我當堂⼤大聲叫起來來。

連續幾晚都沒法有個甜蜜的美夢,有的只是惡惡夢,⽽而且嚇到⼼心寒。今夜我開著睡房和浴室的燈,打開⼀一本書閲讀,期望可以累了了,就算是開著燈也可以安⼼心去睡。

可惜到零晨⼆二時還未能入睡。到頭來來要向燈光低頭,勇敢起床,先⾏行行入浴室把燈関掉,就在燈熄滅的⼀一刻,鏡⼦子出現新娘⼦子的影⼦子,我被嚇昏過去倒在地上。當我張開眼睛,畫中的新娘走了了出來來站在我的⾯面前,那雙楚楚可怜的眼睛望著我。

我已經全⾝身發抖,懼怕到发不出聲。新娘⼦子溫柔的對我説,「你不⽤用怕,我不會傷害你,跟我來來。」

她握著我的⼿手,從地上扶我站起來來,慢步跟着她走,眼前是⼀一個美麗的花園,地⽅方是冷清清,整個花園沒有其他⼈人,只有⼀一棵梅梅花盛開的樹。我們經過了了⼀一個池塘, 来到⼀一個涼亭,亭⼦子間有⼀一張圓枱和四張椅。她請我与她⼀一同坐下。

雖然帶著頭⼱巾,可瞥⻅见她的淚淚⽔水缓缓流下來來,我好想安慰她,但不知説什什麼好。幸好她开始说话了了,「先⽣生,我⼀一⾒見見你便便知你是⼀一位好⼈人,⽽而且是我們有緣,上天安排由你來來成全我的誓⾔言。」聲⾳音柔軟淒慘。「我知你也是在周家村出⽣生。但很早便便離開了了。」

「對呀。」我回答。「你是誰?」

「我叫⼩小鳳,來來⾃自周家村。我和隔離村的天平是青梅梅⽵竹⾺馬,兩兩⼩小無猜,有⼀一年年,我只是⼗十⼆二歲,我和天平兩兩⼈人在⽥田􏰁中追遂,有⼀一隻⽩白⽑毛⼩小狗,不知從那裡來來,它不停跟著我們走,雖然⼩小狗可愛,但是我是怕狗的,天平擁抱著我,低聲對⼩小狗説, 「不要欺負姐姐。」

⽩白⽑毛⼩小狗很可愛,停下來來搖搖尾巴。

天平説,「⼩小鳯,不⽤用怕,看看⼩小狗多友善。」

天平輕輕的掃掃⼩小狗,⼩小狗好像歡迎我們,不停的搖擺尾巴。

天平向我說「⼩小鳯,不⽤用怕,⼤大膽⼩小⼩小,掃掃⼩小狗。」

天平握著我的⼿手掃掃⼩小狗。⼩小狗好像對我說,「姐姐,你很美麗呵,不⽤用怕,我是很友善的。」

天平頑⽪皮地對⼩小狗說:「⼩小狗,⼩小狗,我長⼤大時,我要娶這個姐姐,你可否替我們作証。我是真誠的要娶這位姐姐。」跟著天平給我⼀一個吻。

我推開天平 ,⽽而⼩小狗叫了了幾聲也走了了。我跟隨也起跑走。

天平追著我,⼤大聲叫,「⼩小鳯,我愛你,我⼀一定要娶你。」

可惜造化弄弄⼈人,我的⽗父親逼我嫁給他的書友的兒⼦子。我極⼒力力反對都沒有効,他説婚事是當初我出⽣生时,雙⽅方⽗父⺟母就已经同意定下来的。」

你說什什麼,今⽇日還有此事。」我不相信⾃自⼰己的耳朵。

「的確是真的,當⽇日我在花轎到达男⽅方家⾨門前的⼀一刻⽤用剪⼑刀⾃自殺。⽽而天平哥傷⼼心欲絕,当晚也在男家⾨門前的⼀一棵樹上掛頸⽽而⾃自盡。」⼩小鳳泣聲道出她們的慘劇。

我好像看⾒見見當⽇日感⼈人的画⾯面。我也開始為他們流淚淚了了。

「周先⽣生,你可否替我們做⼀一件事。」

「是什什麼,如果我做得到,我⼀一定幫你。」我很同情地答應她。她告訴我怎麼去完成她的諾⾔言。

第⼆二天早晨,我清楚記得昨晚發⽣生的事情,我在想我是否只是做梦,還是我有個諾⾔言,⼀一定要去实现。我望著畫中的美⼈人,她現在沒有出聲。我只好問清楚,「你是否叫⼩小鳳?」

她沒有答我,但那粒⿊黑珍珠好像閃了了幾下。我不相信⾃自⼰己的眼睛。再問幾次都是⼀一樣,⿊黑珍珠真的在闪着光。

我立刻買⾞車車票去往周家村,我聽從⼩小鳯的吩咐,捲起⼩小鳳的畫,⼀一路路上撑著油傘擋著⼩小鳳,直到上了了火⾞車車為⽌止。下了了火⾞車車我同樣撑著油傘替⼩小鳯擋光,走了了⼤大約⼀一个半公⾥里里终于到达周家莊。

周家莊⾨門前⼀一派辉煌,⾨門前有五級樓樓梯,⾨門上寫著「周府」,⾨門兩兩邊有對詩,左邊寫著「朝來來惆悵宣平過」,右邊寫著「柳柳巷當頭第⼀一家」,⽊木⾨門是紅⾊色,我扣了了幾下⾨門,終於有家丁前来应⻔门。

「請問先⽣生你找誰?」家丁很有禮貎的問我。

「我是代表⼩小姐周⼩小鳳來來拜訪你家周老爺。」我也很有禮的回答。

家丁驚恐地再問了了一次。我也再次覆了了我的答案。

家丁請我入内,我仍然撑着油傘,經過了了前庭。前庭的花草打理理得很清雅。庭中的涼亭和畫中⼀一模⼀一樣,亭後的梅梅花也盛開艶麗。到了了⼤大㕔,我才関好油傘,把美⼈人圖放在另⼀一張椅上。

周老爺和周老太出來來招待我,第⼀一句句就問我是如何認識⼩小鳳的。我如實告訴了了他們, 並打開美⼈人圖給他們看。老夫⼈人⼀一看便便⼤大哭起來來。

我安慰她⼀一番便便告訴他們⼩小鳳的要求。

第⼆二天晨早時,周家已去天平⽗父⺟母之家商談結婚的儀式。兩兩家認為即⽇日是好⽇日,於是便便在男家舉⾏行行結婚儀式。

儀式開始時老爺奶奶坐在中間,兩兩個紙公仔代表新郎和新娘,他們先⽤用茶茶恭敬老⼈人家,繼⽽而進⾏行行⼀一拜天,⼆二拜地,三拜⽗父妻,跟著同葬享萬年年的仪式開始。

紧接着打鑼⿎鼓送⼩小鳳的棺⽊木到天平的墓前,把他們安排在⼀一起。就在下葬完成之時, 特然有隻⼩小狗興𡚒地走來來走去,後來來就停在墓前,⼀一邊揺擺尾吧,⼀一邊低聲吠了了幾聲,跟著便便走了了。

此時兩兩⽅方家長開堂打齋念念經,拜祭禮品有酒有飯,發糕,⾁肉飽,整隻燒豬,⽩白切雞, 齋菜,等等,品种多到數不盡。

親朋好友也要烧紙錢和禮物,送給新⼈人的禮物有紙⼤大屋⼀一間,家僕有男有女,抬轎也有⼀一部,轎夫有四位,珠寶⾸首飾有幾盆。

葬禮完成之後,⼩小鳳的⽗父⺟母請我燒了了⼩小鳳的畫,以此讓她安息。本來來我想留留下⼩小鳳的畫,無奈之下我答應了了,但我想再多看這幅畫⼀一次,當我打開畫時,⼩小鳳的⽗父⺟母⾯面露安然。⼩小鳳的⺟母親說,「你看⾒見見嗎?⼩小鳳的眼神已不再有哀怨,反⽽而有些喜悅的笑容。」

我不明⽩白為什什麼,⼩小鳳的⺟母親會看⾒見見⼩小鳳的眼神已從哀怨改變為喜悅。⽽而我則發覺⼩小鳳却已不在畫裡了了。

#love #ghost #wedding

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