Chapter 44: The Red Lanterns Hung High

One day later, Zhang Sheng arrived at Conghua County; this place had been subordinate to Guangzhou Prefecture since the Ming Dynasty, and now it was under the jurisdiction of Yangcheng.

Although it was close to Yangcheng and had been impacted by Western thought, it had no effect on the local commoners; the influence was mainly on the wealthy residents, merchants, and the local gentry and landlords.

Therefore, when Zhang Sheng walked onto the streets of the county town, he could see foreign goods, see gentlemen wearing Western suits, and of course, he could also see wealthy gentry wearing long robes and mandarin jackets, and commoners in short jackets.

The women seen on the road were generally women bustling about for their families; occasionally, one could see a woman wearing a qipao, though one feared she was engaged in the entertainment industry.

Of course, there were also young girls wearing student uniforms, overflowing with the aura of youth, with a young man following by their side, chatting about the future.

Zhang Sheng walked into a restaurant; the exterior was decorated in a very Western style, but the internal structure remained in the local style.

As soon as he walked in, a waiter immediately came forward and asked, "Welcome, how many people, sir?"

Zhang Sheng nodded slightly and said, "Just me, sitting in the main hall is fine."

He then ordered a few dishes; the meat was mainly pork belly, along with a vegetable dish and a portion of soup.

He was a Daoist of the Orthodox Unity Sect; the Orthodox Unity Sect did not have too many strict commandments regarding diet, though one could not eat the five pungent spices, and there were four things one must not eat regarding meat.

The "four things not to eat" refers to the meat of the four animals: ox, dog, wild goose, and snakehead fish.

Because the ox works hard throughout its life and has merit toward humans, it represents loyalty; the dog guards the home and protects the courtyard, working without complaint, representing righteousness. Furthermore, there is an ancient saying: "The character for 'prison' contains the character for 'ox', and the character for 'jail' contains the character for 'dog'; by not eating ox or dog, one avoids prison forever."

The wild goose loses its mate and lives alone for the rest of its life, never seeking a new partner, representing chastity; when a snakehead fish gives birth, its eyes become dim and it cannot hunt for food, so the small snakehead fish automatically swim into their mother's mouth to provide her with sustenance, representing filial piety.

Therefore, there are these four things not to eat.

Moreover, the higher your status, the more commandments you must observe.

Zhang Sheng was just eating his meal when several people at the table next to him had drunk too much, and their desire to talk had arrived.

A fat-headed man said, "Do you know? That Master Chen didn't he marry a fifth concubine before? I heard that on the wedding night, it was haunted!"

A small-eyed man hurriedly asked, "How do you know? Did you go to eavesdrop under the window that night?"

The others burst into loud laughter. The fat-headed man waved his hand and said, "Go, go, don't interrupt. Let me tell you, it was a servant of the Chen mansion who let it slip."

"Recently, that Master Chen has been inviting people everywhere; it's quite a commotion."

The small-eyed man immediately poured a cup of wine and smiled, "Tell me more."

The fat-headed man said smugly in a low voice, "Heh, let me tell you, this matter goes back to last year; didn't his third concubine die?"

"I tell you, she didn't die of illness; she was secretly killed because she gave Master Chen a green hat."

The small-eyed man widened his eyes and said, "What a sin, that third concubine was so pretty."

Another person immediately asked, "Who was so bold as to sleep with Master Chen's woman?"

The fat-headed man smiled, "Why, that Doctor Gao who returned from studying abroad."

The small-eyed man said indignantly, "Heh, these people who learned the foreigners' ways all have black hearts, bah!"

Zhang Sheng withdrew his focus; it seemed he would have to intervene in this matter.

This was a matter involving a human life, and now that it was one-husband-one-wife, marrying concubines was actually illegal.

That third concubine and someone else having an affair was indeed wrong, but the crime did not warrant death.

Cheating is a wrong, but murder is a great wrong! One cannot resolve one error with a greater error.

Moreover, he did not believe this Master Chen killed out of deep love; it was more about the face of the Chen family, not wanting family scandals to be made public—a habit of thousands of years.

Zhang Sheng finished his meal and left in a hurry, then he changed his outfit and arrived in front of the Chen mansion.

The Chen family's architecture was very exquisite, surrounded by high walls on all sides,

and one could even stand on them to keep watch.

However, when the Chen mansion's servants saw Zhang Sheng's appearance, they dared not be negligent and hurriedly called the gatekeeper to fetch the steward.

Chen Dashun, this old steward, came to the entrance in a hurry and received Zhang Sheng.

He fished for information, "Daoist, you are so young. I have accompanied the Master to visit nearby Daoist temples and have never seen you. I do not know which sect or school you belong to; I fear I might lose proper etiquette."

Zhang Sheng smiled, "I am a disciple of Maoshan; the Great Master Jinbao is my master."

Chen Dashun was greatly shocked; Maoshan, that was a major sect. He immediately became more respectful, lowered his head, and said, "So it is a high expert from Maoshan. This lowly one has been disrespectful, disrespectful. Daoist, please, come in."

He did not doubt at all that Zhang Sheng would impersonate a Maoshan Daoist; after all, Maoshan Daoist practice sites were spread throughout Guangdong Province, so verifying his identity was very simple.

Zhang Sheng followed Chen Dashun and met that Master Chen, Chen Zuoqian. Chen Zuoqian stood up and said, "Daoist, please sit."

After the two sat down, Chen Zuoqian briefly explained the situation, saying, "After my third concubine died, I had people burn quite a few things for her, and I have burned incense on every holiday. I truly do not know why her vengeful spirit refuses to dissipate."

Zhang Sheng did not jump to a conclusion; whether it was true or false, he would know once he caught the female ghost and asked.

He stood up and said, "Then let us go take a look at the courtyard where that concubine lived while she was alive."

Walking through the corridors of the Chen mansion, Zhang Sheng only felt it was low, cramped, and somewhat gloomy.

Soon, the group arrived outside the courtyard of the third concubine, Mei Lan. In the corner, a woman wearing a blue top and a black skirt ran out and shouted, "They killed someone! It was I who caused her death—no, it wasn't me who caused it, it was that damn feudal morality! It's not my fault!"

Chen Zuoqian's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly shouted, "Lock her back up!"

He explained somewhat awkwardly, "Daoist, do not be offended. This is the fourth concubine I married a year ago. After Mei Lan died, she went mad. Sigh."

Zhang Sheng did not respond; he reached out directly, snapped the iron chain, and opened the courtyard gate.

A gust of yin wind blew out, and the people behind all felt goosebumps rise all over their bodies.

Zhang Sheng immediately performed the spell, "The Supreme Lord Laozi divides into the Three Pure Ones, the Great Sun Tathagata fixes the Three Souls, Heaven and Earth combine three to ignite three fires, grant me the Dharma Eye to observe Yin and Yang!" (This is just the incantation I found; I didn't make this up.)

As a golden light flashed before his eyes, Zhang Sheng saw the door of the room directly opposite open by itself; inside was a performer wearing a stage costume.

The woman's eyes were filled with resentment and unwillingness, and there was a red ligature mark on her neck.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Sheng understood everything; this woman had been strangled to death.

He turned back to look at Chen Zuoqian and said, "Mr. Chen, this female ghost has great resentment. Only by fulfilling the female ghost's wish will she depart."

Chen Zuoqian hesitated for a moment and asked, "Then what should I do?"

Zhang Sheng looked at Chen Zuoqian and said, "You certainly know."

Having said that, he lifted his leg and left the small courtyard.

Chen Zuoqian was startled in his heart and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Daoist, I am willing to pay money—money that will satisfy you!"

Zhang Sheng shook his head slightly and said, "This is karma; I cannot intervene. Besides, I hate it most when others lie to me."

Having said that, he did not linger and left directly.

In truth, if Chen Zuoqian had told the truth from the beginning, he could have stepped in to save him, but unfortunately, one cannot live if they bring disaster upon themselves.