Chapter Forty-Four: Hysteria

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It was noon in Lyu Family Village.

Three men entered the village from its edge. One of them bent down to show the way, his expression deferential to the other two.

“Master Li, please, this way. Once we go through this alley, we’ll arrive at my home. I don’t know what happened—some days ago, my father went to the back mountain to dig for bamboo shoots, and after he returned, he seemed unwell. That very night, he had stomach trouble and a high fever. We called the village doctor, got some medicine, but he didn’t improve. He sleeps during the day, wanders around at night, muttering nonsense, talking out of his head. He won’t answer questions, doesn’t recognize anyone. There are times he’s lucid for a moment, but after a word or two, he goes back to how he was.”

The young man leading the way was named Lyu Ergou. The two masters he had invited were Li Jianguo and Cui Yue. Lyu Ergou’s father was called Lyu Datong. The family lived by farming, and during the right seasons, the old man would always go into the mountains to dig up wild produce to supplement their household.

But ever since that day he returned, the old man had been complaining of discomfort. The moment he came in and swallowed a mouthful of rice, he fell into a fit, pacing and jumping around, terrifying the whole family. The daughter-in-law had grabbed her child and fled to her parents’ home that very night.

As they walked and talked, they soon arrived at a courtyard.

Lyu Ergou opened the courtyard gate. As Cui Yue was about to step inside, Li Jianguo raised his hand to stop them.

“Wait. Before stepping inside, we must first assess the site. The living, the dead, the feng shui—all must be observed. Whether the fortune is good or bad, a single word reveals the truth.”

Li Jianguo clasped his hands behind his back, assuming the air of a master.

Lyu Ergou did not quite understand Li Jianguo’s words. But since the master had spoken, he was sure it must be right.

“Everything depends on feng shui. If the layout is wrong, trouble will arise. So we must assess your house’s location first,” Li Jianguo explained, seeing that Lyu Ergou was lost.

Lyu Ergou’s eyes lit up with understanding. “Ah, so I just need to show you around the house,” he said, slapping his forehead.

Cui Yue watched Li Jianguo's affected airs with amusement, thinking he was just making things up to impress.

Li Jianguo busied himself: first taking out his feng shui compass to make calculations, then circling the courtyard to examine the surrounding buildings, peering here and there with great show.

Cui Yue, unconcerned, found a shady spot to rest and watched Li Jianguo’s antics with a smirk.

“Ergou, after using my compass, I’ve found that your feng shui layout does have some issues,” Li Jianguo said, wiping sweat from his chin.

At this, Lyu Ergou grew tense. “Master Li, what’s wrong with the feng shui of my house?”

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“First, look at the orientation of your courtyard. The rear wall has collapsed in one spot, leaving the southern corner missing. The four sides are no longer intact and sturdy, which means there is a risk of losing wealth.”

Lyu Ergou slapped his thigh. “Master Li, you’re absolutely right. We’ve worked hard these past years, but there’s been no harvest, and we’ve eaten through all our savings.”

Li Jianguo paused dramatically before continuing, “And then, look at the side wing: the eaves are more than three feet higher than the main house. As the saying goes, seniority has its place—when the main is lower than the side, it’s a sign of filial failure, one of the three great unfilial acts. This is a sign of a lack of filial piety. Do you agree?”

Lyu Ergou’s face filled with shame. He sighed, “Master Li, everything you say is true. My wife is always upsetting my father. Life has been suffocating.”

Cui Yue watched as Li Jianguo’s few words had Lyu Ergou completely convinced and wrapped around his finger. He rolled his eyes at Li Jianguo, fanning himself in the heat, thinking, In this weather, can’t you hurry up? Aren’t we here to treat his father? The feng shui looks fine to me; you’re just making trouble out of nothing.

Li Jianguo shot a triumphant look at Cui Yue, as if to say, Without a little flair, you’d underestimate me.

After all this fuss, Lyu Ergou respectfully invited Li Jianguo into the house.

Once inside the courtyard, Cui Yue quietly pulled Li Jianguo aside and asked uneasily, “Uncle, do you think this madness could be caused by a ghost? I’m feeling a bit nervous.”

“What’s there to fear? Do you know why I chose this time to come? Noon is when the yin energy is at its weakest. Even if we do encounter a ghost, it won’t be very powerful.”

Cui Yue was half convinced. He thought, If there really is a ghost, I’ll be the first to run. You’re on your own.

“Master Li, that’s my father’s room,” Lyu Ergou said, pointing at the main house. He stepped forward, took out a key, and unlocked the brass padlock on the door.

Looking through the window, they saw a white-haired old man sprawled on the kang bed, snoring thunderously. Now and then, he’d mumble, lost in sleep and oblivious to the world.

Lyu Ergou brought over a meal and called out at the edge of the bed, “Father, wake up and eat.”

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The moment those words rang out, the snoring Lyu Datong sprang up as if energized, flipping upright with agility. Without hesitation, he grabbed the food and began wolfing it down right there on the bed.

Cui Yue watched in surprise. The old man moved nimbly and didn’t look ill at all—he seemed perfectly fine, eating and drinking with gusto.

Lyu Ergou glanced at Li Jianguo, who also couldn’t see anything amiss and gestured for him to keep watching.

Lyu Ergou grew anxious. He’d gone to all this trouble to invite them here; if nothing was wrong, it would all be for nothing.

He thought for a moment, then asked, “Father, have you eaten your fill?”

“Today’s meal is most pleasing to me. I grant you the rank of Third-Class Minister of War—come, bring him a hat with a peacock feather!” the white-haired old man declared, setting down his bowl and wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he looked every bit the dignified monarch.

Cui Yue couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the absurd scene inside the room.

Lyu Ergou shot a helpless look at Li Jianguo—see, there’s the illness.

Li Jianguo hadn’t expected the old man to abandon farming and start playing emperor, comparing himself to a sovereign. He nodded to himself—yes, this was indeed an illness that required treatment.

Hearing laughter from outside, Lyu Datong’s face suddenly darkened. He slapped the table and shouted angrily, “Insolence! Who dares make noise here? Where are my first-rank guards? Bring the offender to my presence!”

Cui Yue hadn’t expected his laugh to provoke such a reaction. Still unable to contain his amusement, he joked mischievously, “Yes, Your Majesty, your humble servant confesses his guilt and awaits punishment.”

Lyu Datong seemed pleased by this and his expression softened. Reclining on the bed, he waved his hand magnanimously. “Forget it. I am in a good mood today and will not pursue the matter. By the way, where is my beloved Consort Hui? Why hasn’t she come to greet me?”