21. Du Lingran

In the height of summer, it got light early in the morning. The townspeople were used to going to bed and getting up early, and several little breakfast shops opened their doors early.

The aunties and older women who had come out for a stroll sat by the roadside, in front of shops that hadn't opened yet, chatting away.

"Hey, hey, did you hear? Granny Tian's whole family of three is gone!"

"Widow Tian too? She was so young! What happened?"

"They say she died of anemia. Natural causes!"

"Tell me, our town may be remote, but we've got plenty to eat. How could people die of anemia—and all three of them at once?"

"I'm telling you, there's something wrong with this. Something seriously wrong. It must be that our ancestors are angry and have sent down retribution!"

"People in Box Town have been buried in the ground for generations. It's an old tradition!"

"Ever since that Bai Ye Group came last year, everyone thought it was a good thing!"

"But what happened? They built houses up on the mountain, and they built a crematorium!"

"They've ruined our feng shui and customs. How could our ancestors not be angry?"

"The Town Mayor's young son is very close to that Bai Ye Group. He even took the lead in opposing the Ghost Festival!"

"Hey, I'm telling you, I knew something would happen if they kept making such a fuss!"

"Now that you mention it, that really could be it. Before six this morning, I saw a car from the Security Post speeding down this road!"

"Brother Justice looked awful. I'm afraid something's happened again!"

"Oh dear, what are we supposed to do?"

"Forget the Bai Ye Group. Even among those tourists, several of them have the look of people who won't