Chapter 125: Strange Noises from the Water Well

Lu Dama slapped her thigh and said, "Sigh~ this matter is quite eerie when you talk about it..."

But she had only said half a sentence when several people living in the same room and their family members all looked over.

Bai Fengyu was staying in a general ward, eight people to a room; including family members, there were over a dozen people sitting or standing in the room.

Lu Dama was not stupid; she reacted immediately that this was not the right place, hurriedly stopped her train of thought, and smiled unnaturally: "Actually, it's nothing, I just wasn't careful while walking and took a tumble~ took a tumble."

Ning Weidong frowned slightly, knowing it wasn't that simple, but this was indeed not the place to talk, so he nodded and didn't press for details.

He turned to look at Bai Fengyu and asked Lu Dama, "What did the doctor say? Is the situation serious?"

Lu Dama said, "They said it's a lower leg fracture. It was just set, and a cast was applied. But it takes a hundred days to recover from an injury to the bones and tendons, so I'm afraid it will take some time to heal."

Ning Weidong nodded; it was about what he had expected. Coming to the orthopedics department shouldn't be a big problem, and the worst-case scenario would be a severe fracture potentially leaving a disability.

But looking at Bai Fengyu's condition, it shouldn't be that bad.

It's just that she was fine, so how did she end up in the hospital? At this moment, the two sisters, Bai Fengyu and Fengqin, had vented their emotions and gradually calmed down; Bai Fengqin kept saying that it would have been better if she had come back earlier.

Bai Fengyu didn't mind, instead comforting her a few times, then turned to look at Ning Weidong, her eyes full of words, but she couldn't say them out loud.

Ning Weidong said to Lu Dama, "Lu Dama, why don't you go back and rest first? You've been busy for a long time."

Lu Dama looked at Bai Fengqin and nodded, saying, "Alright, now that Fengqin is here, I can rest easy. Fengyu, I'll head back first then. You rest well, and I'll come again tomorrow."

Bai Fengyu nodded and thanked her, and Bai Fengqin also stood up to thank Lu Dama profusely.

Ning Weidong then said, "Fengqin, watch your sister; I'll go see Lu Dama out."

Lu Dama knew that Ning Weidong wanted to go out to ask about the situation, so she didn't decline.

The two left the ward and arrived in the corridor. Ning Weidong asked, "Lu Dama, it wasn't convenient with so many people just now. Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

A flash of panic crossed Lu Dama's face, and she organized her words: "I'm not sure about this myself, but it sounds a bit eerie..."

Ning Weidong went with Lu Dama to a deserted spot by the corridor to listen to her recount the cause and effect.

Actually, Lu Dama didn't have the information firsthand; she had heard it from Bai Fengyu after the incident.

It turned out that Bai Fengyu had gone to the Neighborhood Committee to work overtime today for some business.

At this time, it wasn't called overtime; anything outside of the eight-hour workday was called voluntary labor, and it was spontaneous.

Bai Fengyu had finally managed to get a job at the Neighborhood Committee, so she naturally wanted to perform actively and be at the forefront of any tasks.

But today, she encountered a situation.

In the courtyard of their Neighborhood Committee Office, there was a well that was said to be several hundred years old.

Due to the terrain, most of the groundwater in Beijing was bitter water, and only a small portion were sweet water wells.

This made sweet water wells a scarce resource, and before tap water was installed, many people had to buy water.

These wells also became resources fought over by some minor gang figures.

Sometimes, the person guarding the well would have to be replaced in less than a week, especially during those years of war and chaos, when human life was worth even less.

The well at Bai Fengyu's Neighborhood Committee was said to have been the site of several major battles the year before liberation, where dozens of people died, and blood flowed into the well, turning the well water red.

Later, rumors spread that the well was unclean, and people sealed the wellhead with large stone slabs.

Later still, after liberation, it was opened and used for a time, but it wasn't long before tap water was installed.

However, just yesterday, as it was getting dark and Bai Fengyu was preparing to finish work and go home, she suddenly heard strange movements from inside that well!

At the time, it was getting dark but not completely dark yet. Bai Fengyu and another older woman from the Neighborhood Committee were together, and both of them heard the movement and were startled.

At this time, no one dared to easily mention supernatural phenomena.

Although the two were startled, neither dared to say anything and just hurriedly walked away.

But at that moment, it was just Bai Fengyu's bad luck; as she stepped down the stairs, her feet got tangled, and she took a tumble. It was such a coincidence that she actually broke a bone!

Understanding the general situation, Ning Weidong didn't know what to say.

Bai Fengyu's injury this time could only be called extremely unlucky.

As for what exactly the movement in the well was, Lu Dama couldn't explain it clearly in a few words.

After seeing Lu Dama off, Ning Weidong returned to the ward.

Bai Fengyu was lying down with a cast on her leg. Seeing Ning Weidong return, she asked, "Lu Dama left~"

Ning Weidong gave a "Hmm" and didn't ask about the well.

There were many people in the room, and this matter was superstitious; it wouldn't be good for others to hear.

Bai Fengyu, however, was very concerned. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and finally asked, "Did she tell you everything?"

Mentioning this, she still had lingering fears, and her voice was trembling slightly.

Ning Weidong nodded, feeling a bit puzzled in his heart.

Just now, listening to Lu Dama, he was mostly skeptical about the well being haunted.

But Bai Fengyu's state made him feel uncertain; could it really be that she saw a ghost? Mainly because Ning Weidong himself was not exactly scientific; if one were to say there were unclean things in this world, he wouldn't be completely unable to accept it.

Ning Weidong reached out and patted Bai Fengyu's arm, which was exposed outside the quilt, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll go find a comrade from the Police Station to take a look later. Don't look at what era it is now; even if there really is something, I'll have it set straight."

When Bai Fengyu heard this, she smiled along. She couldn't say what was going on, but as soon as she heard Ning Weidong say that, she felt much more at ease.

On the contrary, Bai Fengqin next to them was confused, not knowing what riddle the two were speaking in.

Ning Weidong didn't stay long. On the surface, he and Bai Fengyu were just neighbors; it was fine to come and check on her after an accident, but staying too long, beyond the normal level, would easily lead to gossip.

He left twenty yuan and then stood up to say goodbye.

Bai Fengyu didn't decline and gave Bai Fengqin a look to tell her to accept it.

Bai Fengqin was a bit surprised, not understanding why Ning Weidong gave so much money.

At this time, a typical State-owned Worker only earned forty yuan a month, so twenty yuan was equivalent to half a month's salary.

If converted to before Ning Weidong transmigrated, it would be about three or four thousand yuan.

Visiting a patient in the hospital, even giving two or three hundred would be about right, and at most, one might throw out five hundred yuan.

What's more, it was now, and he just casually left twenty yuan; what kind of relationship was this? Usually, he hadn't seen Ning Weidong and Bai Fengyu being that close~ Bai Fengqin was puzzled, and looking at Bai Fengyu's expression, she seemed quite at ease accepting the money.

Ning Weidong ignored Bai Fengqin's thoughts and rode his bicycle back from the hospital.

Arriving on Fuchengmen Street, under the veil of night, he could see from afar a lamp hanging on the construction fence atop the White Pagoda Temple, which was undergoing repairs.

Across the street was the construction site where demolition had already been completed; the construction waste had been hauled away, leaving a pitch-black expanse that looked rather eerie.

Ning Weidong rode his bicycle through and went straight home.

He had been called away by Bai Fengqin just as he returned earlier, before he could reach the East Cross Courtyard, so Ning Weiguo and Wang Yuzhen thought he had only just returned now.

"Weidong, you're just back?" Wang Yuzhen asked with a smile; returning so late suggested he had gotten along well with Zhao Ruyi during the day.

Ning Weidong took off his overcoat and said, "Actually, I came back a while ago, but I ran into Bai Fengqin from the side wing at the gate..."

He rattled on, explaining the situation of Bai Fengyu's injury and fracture.

Ning Weiguo and Wang Yuzhen were both somewhat surprised.

Although Wang Yuzhen didn't think much of Bai Fengyu, she wasn't one to gloat over others' misfortunes, so she hurriedly asked what had happened.

Ning Weidong only said it was an accidental fall and didn't mention the suspicious nature of the well in the Neighborhood Committee courtyard; it was best not to talk nonsense about such hearsay without solid evidence.

Wang Yuzhen sighed, "She looked perfectly fine when I saw her this morning."

Ning Weiguo didn't say anything; Bai Fengyu was a beautiful, single woman, and while it was fine for Wang Yuzhen to express her feelings, he couldn't easily state his own, or he might easily fall into a trap.

A man must watch his tongue to live a happy life.

Ning Weidong didn't say much more either, mentioning it briefly before letting it drop, turning instead to talk about his date with Zhao Ruyi during the day.

Ning Weiguo and his wife didn't know the progress between Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi, and were still a bit worried that a young lady like Zhao Ruyi would be hard to get along with.

The next day, Ning Weidong got up early and rode his bicycle to the Manager.

He was still thinking about Bai Fengyu's situation and that water well that made strange noises.

He certainly couldn't just ignore what was going on, but Ning Weidong was too lazy to handle such matters personally.

Upon arriving at the Office, he immediately called Zhang Dajun: "Hello, Zhang, it's me, Ning Weidong~"

Zhang Dajun had just arrived at his unit and thought there was some urgent matter.

After Ning Weidong finished speaking, he wore a strange expression, holding the phone and not knowing what to say.

Ning Weidong could guess what he was thinking and laughed it off, saying, "Zhang, I also feel it's unlikely, but since the masses have reported it, we can't just ignore it."

On the phone, Ning Weidong didn't mention Bai Fengyu, saying directly that Lu Dama had reported there was movement in the well in the Neighborhood Committee courtyard.

Ning Weidong continued, "In any case, find two comrades to go over and take a look. The Neighborhood Committee is full of elderly female comrades and older comrades; don't let any trouble start."

Zhang Dajun thought that made sense; it was best to take precautions for this kind of thing.

Moreover, it was in his jurisdiction, and if something really happened, it would fall on him.

He hung up the phone and shouted, "Qian Qiang, Sun Mu."

In the large Office, the two immediately stood up and came over.

After Zhang Dajun explained the situation, Qian Qiang and Sun Mu were also dumbfounded.

What era was this, and there were still reports of supernatural occurrences? But since the leader had given the order, the two didn't talk nonsense; they would just go over and take a look to give the aunties and older women at the Neighborhood Committee some peace of mind.

However, to their surprise, they actually caught a big fish!

Meanwhile, after making the call, Ning Weidong put the matter aside for the time being, waiting for word from Zhang Dajun.

Unexpectedly, by nearly noon, there was no word from Zhang Dajun, but instead, Wu Bingzhong came over in a panic.

——

Hit a writer's block.

(End of chapter)