Chapter 3: Not Even in Death Will I Forgive You

Apart from the women, who dared not utter a word, the men’s expressions were all filled with anger. They seemed to believe it was only right for Yang Jian’s wife to accompany him in death, thinking it was her fault he died.

Several men grabbed Yang Jian’s wife by the arms, preparing to push her into his coffin. But suddenly, she found a burst of strength and shook off their hands, lifting the red veil from her head.

What I saw scared me so much I almost cried out. In the short time she had been inside, her face had turned deathly pale, devoid of any color, resembling the expressionless face of Yang Jian lying in the coffin. It was like she had become a lifeless corpse herself.

Yang Jian’s wife clutched her belly, trying to escape again. She said, “I can’t die. I promised Yang Jian I would protect our child. You can’t do this to me.”

The village women understood her desperation but dared not speak out. Before she could take another step, a villager struck her head with a shovel. She collapsed instantly, unconscious. The men then pushed her into Yang Jian’s coffin. With her last breath, she shouted, “Not even in death will I forgive you!”

Everyone heard her. Though they trembled in fear, they didn’t dare defy the village chief. They quickly sealed the coffin, and after covering it with fresh earth, they dispersed.

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They didn’t know I had been hiding in the bushes behind the villagers the whole time.

I didn’t follow them back. It was still dark, and Aunt Li wouldn’t notice my absence, assuming I was asleep in the pigsty.

Once the villagers left, the place became desolate. The moon hung high, casting light on the freshly covered grave. The surroundings were eerily quiet, the rustling of trees and the wind sounding like mournful cries. I regretted not going back with the villagers.

But what if she wasn’t dead? I hardened my resolve to save Yang Jian’s wife. She didn’t deserve to die, especially when she was pregnant. The child was innocent.

I had been in the village long enough to know Yang Jian wasn’t a bad husband. Unlike others, he didn’t abuse his wife. If he were aware of this from the afterlife, he surely wouldn’t want this to happen. He would want her to live safely.

Shortly after the villagers left, the place fell silent. The moonlight made the fresh earth look stark, and the surrounding silence was unnerving, broken only by the rustling of trees and the wind sounding like wails. I started regretting not returning with the villagers.

But then, I heard a cry coming from Yang Jian’s grave—a baby’s cry, loud and clear like a newborn’s. My first thought was, could the baby have been born? Was Yang Jian’s wife still alive? Was Yang Jian aware from the afterlife and protecting them?

No, no... Was he aware from the heavens and protecting them?

At that young age, I didn’t fully grasp fear, but I felt an overwhelming urge to help. I ran toward the grave, but as I got closer, I saw the grave move slightly. Instinctively, I hid.

To my horror, a faint light appeared from within the grave, and then Yang Jian and his wife emerged. I was terrified. How could this be? How could the dead come back to life?

Yang Jian was supposed to be dead. What terrified me even more was that his wife was holding a tiny, blood-soaked baby!

The baby cried loudly, and yet the couple showed no reaction. They looked just as they did when alive, except their faces were as white as if covered in layers of powder.

Terrified, I fainted on the spot.