Chapter 12: The Goose Is Fierce

Seven geese were thrown into the house in two batches.

The two uncles and Liu Cui peered curiously through the window into the room. Meanwhile, I found a place to sit and took off my backpack, pulling out a measuring stick made from peach wood.

Peach wood, being of the yang nature, is especially effective against evil spirits and ghosts, and peach wood swords are renowned for their potency. But I couldn’t always carry a peach wood sword on me, so my grandfather had the clever idea to craft a peach wood ruler for me instead. I’ve found it quite handy—not only does it aid my studies, it’s also a useful tool for my work.

“Liu Cui, I’m sure your husband got cheated. These geese…” One uncle hadn’t finished his sentence when a deafening shout erupted from inside the house!

“Ah! You… you damned beasts…”

“I’m human now! How dare you still attack me…”

“Ow! It hurts so much…”

Immediately after, a thunderous crash of breaking and overturning objects echoed from within. With a bang, the door was violently smashed open from the inside. Gu Yu, covered in swollen welts from goose bites, glared menacingly at the room. But as the seven geese flapped and squawked their way out, their wings whirring chaotically, it was clear their target was Gu Yu.

Seeing this, Gu Yu turned to flee.

But I was already standing at the entrance, gripping the peach wood ruler, waiting for him.

“Get out of my way! Move!” he shouted.

“Move? You’re the one who should be moving,” I replied.

Gu Yu was much taller and stronger than me, so blocking him head-on wouldn’t work. As he tried to rush past, I sidestepped and stuck out my leg, tripping him straight to the ground. Without giving him a chance to recover, I flipped onto his back and sat firmly on his lower spine.

I bit my finger, smeared fresh blood on the peach wood ruler, and chanted, “Yin and yang divide all things; evil spirits have no place to hide; by the urgent decree!”

With both hands, I pressed the peach wood ruler against the back of Gu Yu’s head.

“Ah… ah…”

Gu Yu’s entire body trembled. He tried to lift his head, but it was as if a thousand-pound stone pressed him down.

“I… won’t… won’t let you all off… I want your whole family… your whole family… dead…”

I spat, my words sharp: “You talk too much. I don’t care to argue with you—scram!”

I pressed harder; smoke began to curl up from where the ruler touched Gu Yu’s skull.

“I’ll be back…”

“Ah!”

After a wretched scream, Gu Yu’s body went limp, collapsing motionless onto the floor.

I breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and shielded Gu Yu’s physical form. I’d rather liked those geese—they’d helped me out quite a bit—but now things had changed. They’d lost all sense of friend from foe, and were trying to bite me.

“Ow!” Luckily, they only got my clothes. If my grandfather found out about this, he’d laugh himself silly.

“Sister-in-law, Gu Yu is safe for now.”

Both Liu Cui and the two uncles stood stunned. If I hadn’t called for their help with the geese, everyone in our courtyard might have ended up as a feast for their beaks.

“Kid! You’re truly remarkable! You used geese to settle Gu Yu’s problem?”

Embarrassed by their praise, I smiled, “Really, I owe thanks to your geese, uncles.”

The two uncles were genuinely kind, helping me carry Gu Yu back into the house. After they left, Liu Cui cleaned up inside. I stood in the yard watching the geese, while Grandpa Gu boiled water with mugwort and chicken comb.

After she finished tidying, Liu Cui came out, her face full of gratitude. “Little…”

I quickly introduced myself. “Sister-in-law, my name is Jiang Huai. Just call me Xiao Jiang.”

“Oh, Xiao Jiang, our family truly owes you. You don’t know what it was like with Gu Yu… I really…” Liu Cui broke down in tears. “You’re our benefactor. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let me cook for you.”

When she mentioned cooking, Grandpa Gu called out, telling her to use the freshly slaughtered rooster.

Grandpa Gu, carrying the mugwort-chicken comb water, came over. “Jiang Huai, should I feed it to him?”

I shook my head, took the bowl from him, and bit my finger, letting two drops of blood fall into the water.

Then I turned and entered the house.

Gu Yu was still unconscious. Sitting at the bedside, I propped him up, pried open his mouth, and asked Grandpa Gu to help pour the water down his throat.

It took some effort, but finally, Gu Yu hiccupped, looking as if he might vomit.

I understood: after being possessed, the impurities in Gu Yu’s body were clashing with the mugwort-chicken comb water.

I clamped his mouth shut; if he spit it out, we’d have to slaughter another chicken, which would be a waste.

Fortunately, after a minute, Gu Yu managed to swallow all the water.

Grandpa Gu sat beside me, pointed at Gu Yu, and asked, “Jiang Huai, my grandson—is he all right now?”

I glanced at Gu Yu and replied, “Give it some time. He just drank it; soon he’ll expel the impurity.”

Grandpa Gu hurried to fetch a basin, but I stopped him, saying it wasn’t worth catching; just mop the floor later.

He nodded at my advice.

“Jiang Huai, you’re just like your grandfather was in his youth—your methods, your tone, everything.”

I chuckled. Grandpa Gu’s words made sense; I’d grown up with my grandfather, learning by example.

Grandpa Gu grasped my hand. “You’re the great benefactor of our family. If my grandson had died, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

I quickly shook my head. “Grandpa Gu, you’re wrong. You’re the benefactor of our Jiang family. Without you, my grandfather would’ve died long ago, and I’d never have been born.”

Turning to look at Gu Yu, I continued, “Though Gu Yu will be fine after he expels the impurity, this isn’t over yet.”

That beast may have been driven from Gu Yu’s body, but weasels are vengeful creatures. It will certainly return—and quickly. If this isn’t handled properly, disaster could strike three generations. Not just Grandpa Gu’s family, but mine as well.

Checking the time, it was four in the afternoon, still some hours before dusk.

I told Grandpa Gu, “I checked the bus schedule. The last bus to town leaves at six. There’s time. Once Sister-in-law finishes cooking, you should take the couple to the town for the night. Don’t come back until after noon tomorrow.”

From my pocket, I pulled out three triangular talismans and handed them to him. “Grandpa Gu, keep these talismans close to each of you. Before you leave, I need a bit of hair from each person, as well as your birth dates and times.”

I was certain the weasel would return tonight for revenge. If the three stayed, I feared trouble.

“Mm… ugh… ugh!”

Just as I finished speaking, Gu Yu rolled over and began hiccuping violently.

Grandpa Gu wanted to pat his back, but I quickly pulled him away.

“Bleugh…”

A puddle of foul, black water spilled from Gu Yu’s mouth onto the floor.