102 New Year’s Eve
Old Man Jian burst into laughter. Tears streamed down his face as he laughed, and he sighed. “I’ve had a good life, but I pity Erlang. He hasn’t had a good life since he was born. I couldn’t even afford to buy meat on the day he joined the army.”
Everyone’s hearts felt heavy at the mention of Erlang Jian, and Xiao Ye even began to cry silently.
Two years ago, Great Wei and the neighboring countries started a war. Every family had to recruit one male. The Jian Family had two males, and Old Man Jian did not want any of them to go. No matter how unwilling they were, one of them still had to go.
Old Man Jian asked them to draw lots, the last one to go was Jian Erlang. Xiao Ye was only three years old at the time, and he cried so hard that his heart was breaking. Less than half a year later, the news of Jian Erlang’s death came, and Xiao Ye’s mother could not bear the blow and followed him to her death.
Jian Qingqing helped Xiao Ye wipe away his tears. “Be good, Don’t cry anymore. Your father and mother will definitely be watching you from the sky. They will definitely feel sorry for you if you cry.”
Xiao Ye sobbed and asked, “Really? Can father and mother really see me?”
Jian Qingqing nodded seriously and said, “Of course. They love Xiao Ye so much. They will definitely be watching you to see if you have eaten, or if you have grown up properly, or if you have studied hard. They did not abandon you. They just changed to another form to protect you by your side. If you are sad, they will also be sad.”
Xiao Ye held back his tears, he said to the sky seriously, “Then I won’t cry anymore. I will grow up properly and live a good life. Father and mother must also live a good life.”
The cold moon shone in the courtyard. The candlelight cast the happy shadow of the whole family on the window.
In the most remote mountain col of Jian Family Village, there was a shabby and simple thatched cottage. The interior of the cottage was simple. There was only a wooden bed and a stool that lacked legs. However, there was a spiritual altar placed on the wall facing the door, the spiritual altar was filled with rows of seats.
An old woman was kneeling under the spiritual altar. The burning sandalwood incense and candles on the table shone on the old woman’s face. The old woman’s scarred face could be vaguely seen in the half-light and half-darkness. It was terrifying and strange.
The old woman’s hoarse voice sounded like sandpaper rubbing against each other. “Lin Clan, please bless that everything goes smoothly. Old Dog Song will be struck by lightning… He will die a horrible death!”
As she spoke, the old woman’s voice was filled with surging hatred. The scars on her face moved like ugly maggots.
…
On New Year’s Eve, Cairo City was brightly lit and the crowd was surging. The streets were filled with the joyful conversations of adults and the laughter of children.
Outside a slightly dim alley, a boy was picking up something with his head lowered. The moment he raised his head, his eyes seemed to have seen something, and his eyes lit up. He shouted excitedly to his parents who were standing at the side, “Father, mother! I saw someone who can fly!”
The parents did not take it seriously. The father patted the boy’s head, ���What nonsense are you talking about? How can a person fly?”
The boy grumbled unhappily and persistently, “But I really saw it. It was a black person. With a whoosh, he flew over the wall.”
The boy’s parents were frightened by his serious tone. The two looked into the dark alley at the same time. There seemed to be nothing but a pair of eyes staring at them in the darkness.
The two shivered violently. They looked at each other and quickly left with the boy.
A group of men in black stood outside a hidden wall of a high gate. The leader of the men in black stood quietly, as if waiting for a certain moment to come.
Suddenly, a heavy banging sound came from the quiet Aalley. The man made a hand gesture and said in a low voice, “Follow the plan.”