Chapter 05: Yes, I'm a 60s Kid
"What?"
Captain Yang was completely baffled. He turned to his two lieutenants, "What did he say?"
Accountant Liu's face scrunched up, "He said something like, 'Leave me alone'?"
Keeper Huang bent over to take a look, waved his hand in front of Chen Fan's eyes. But Chen Fan didn't react at all, so he quickly retracted his hand and whispered to Captain Yang, "This boy, he's probably been possessed by a water ghost, isn't he?"
As soon as he said that, Accountant Liu's legs went weak.
Although it had been ten years since the eradication of feudal superstition, these things had been around for thousands of years, and almost everyone had grown up hearing about them. How could it be so easily dispelled? Especially now, with so many things that couldn't be explained, people often attributed them to ghosts and spirits. They couldn't help but believe, and the older they got, the more they believed, with all kinds of taboos. On the other hand, young people were fearless, they would go to any temple, shrine, or ancient tomb, and dare to tear it down.
Captain Yang was also startled, immediately put on a stern face, "Nonsense, there are no water ghosts in broad daylight. Besides, he was perfectly fine just now."
He then took a step forward, preparing to call out again.
At that moment, Chen Fan heard their voices and suddenly looked up, grinning, "Captain Yang, you guys are here."
His sudden words startled Captain Yang, who shuddered and quickly straightened up, coughing, "Ah, yes, we are."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt something was wrong. Why did it feel like he was visiting someone's house?
What the heck.
Captain Yang went to the chair on the other side and sat down. He winked at the two henchmen who were still a little scared, waiting for them to sit down before turning to Chen Fan and saying kindly, "So, Xiao Chen, how old are you?"
Chen Fan also turned to him, with a humble smile honed from years of experience in the workplace, "I'm 28 this year, 29 in the lunar calendar."
"Nonsense!"
Accountant Liu immediately raised his eyebrows, with a look of wisdom on his face, "You're 28? You're at most 16 or 17, you're not 28..."
28?
Accountant Liu suddenly froze, his face immediately changing. He sat up straight and cautiously approached Captain Yang, leaning into his ear and whispering, "Two years ago, Chen Ergou, who drowned in the village next door, wasn't he 28?"
After he finished speaking, he looked like he had a sudden epiphany, "Oh, they both have the same surname, Chen!"
Case closed!
Hearing this, Captain Yang also felt his mouth go dry and his hair stand on end. For a moment, he was a little uneasy.
Chen Fan was completely bewildered, Me? At most 16 or 17?
Am I that young?
He suddenly remembered that his hands had become softer, so he raised his hand to take a look, then touched his face, and turned to ask, "Captain Yang, is there a mirror here?"
Keeper Huang immediately got up and ran outside, shouting, "Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang."
Jiang Lili quickly ran out, "Keeper Huang, I'm here."
Keeper Huang, "Do you have a mirror?"
Jiang Lili seemed to hear something terrible, quickly shook her head and waved her hands, "No, no, I don't have a mirror, and I never look in a mirror. You can come in and check if you don't believe me."
Keeper Huang frowned, "How can a girl not even have a mirror."
Jiang Lili lowered her head and said nothing.
Keeper Huang seemed to have thought of something, so he coughed and stopped bringing up the subject, turning instead to say, "Forget it, I'll go home and get one."
He was about to walk out. It was only a few steps away, he could get it back in two minutes.
The reason he was so eager was because he had heard old people say that some people were possessed by ghosts. The ghosts thought they were still alive, but if they saw a mirror, realizing that they weren't themselves, their possession would be broken.
He had just taken two steps when Jiang Lili suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Keeper Huang, will that mirror do?"
Keeper Huang turned around, then looked in the direction she was pointing. He saw a small palm-sized mirror hanging on the transom above the door of the room.
Jiang Lili added, "That's from an educated youth who came here two years ago. He went back to the city two months ago and didn't take it with him."
Keeper Huang immediately slapped his thigh, overjoyed, "That's perfect!"
There was a custom in rural areas of hanging a mirror on the transom, above the front door. The old saying was that it kept evil spirits away, warded off bad luck, drove away evil, and exposed demons. The new saying is that you should look in it before entering to tidy up your appearance.
Actually, it was just an excuse. Who looks in that thing before entering? It's like saying you're a demon.
But using this mirror for Chen Fan, wouldn't that be perfect?
So he quickly moved a chair, stood on it, took the mirror down, and wiped the dust off with his sleeve. It was instantly shiny and bright.
He then ran to Chen Fan's room and handed it to him, "Here, a mirror."
He then winked at Captain Yang and Accountant Liu, staring intently at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan took the mirror and looked at himself. When he saw his face, he was stunned.
It was the same face, but his skin was white and smooth, his eyes were clear, and he looked at least ten years younger!
Does time travel have this effect?
He made faces at the mirror, it was definitely him, this face was his.
At the same time, his mind was racing. He couldn't tell the truth; if he told them he was 28, no one would believe him. No matter how young his face was, he couldn't look that young, especially since he didn't even have a baby face.
After looking for a long time, he put down the mirror, turned around, and saw Captain Yang and the other two exchanging glances, their eyes darting back and forth. He didn't know what they were doing.
He put the mirror on the table and coughed.
Captain Yang and the other two immediately turned to look at him. Keeper Huang had a hint of worry and hope in his eyes, "How is it?"
How is what?
Chen Fan felt something was off about him, but didn't think much of it. He said seriously, "Yes, I got it wrong..."
Before he could finish speaking, Captain Yang and the other two simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Especially Accountant Liu, the sweat on his forehead was clearly visible.
He wiped his sweat, "It's okay, it's okay."
Chen Fan looked at him curiously, "Ah?"
Accountant Liu's face froze. He smiled and said, "I mean, it's good that you remembered."
Keeper Huang asked again, "So how old are you?"
Chen Fan immediately gave the answer he had prepared, "18."
He was just 18, perfect!
Keeper Huang continued, "Lunar age or solar age?"
He then smiled and said, "This is for registering your information."
"Oh, oh."
Chen Fan's eyes darted to the side as he silently calculated 1977 minus 18 equals?
Accountant Liu kindly reminded him, "Just say what year you were born. If you were born in 1959, then it's solar age. If you were born in 1960, then it's lunar age."
"Lunar age!"
Chen Fan immediately corrected his age, very confidently, "The first day of the twelfth lunar month, 1960."
People in those days mostly calculated birthdays based on the lunar calendar, so he just gave his lunar birthday.
As for the year, someone born in 1959 would be a 50s kid, while someone born in 1960 would be a 60s kid. A huge difference, it had to be 1960.
Yes, I'm a 60s kid!
"The first day of the twelfth lunar month? So you just turned 16, going on 17?"
Captain Yang leaned back against the table and looked at him in surprise, "Was yesterday your birthday?"
Accountant Liu and Keeper Huang also looked at him, with a hint of pity in their eyes.
Poor kid, what kind of misfortune did he encounter, he had an accident on his birthday. His family must be waiting for him to go home to celebrate his birthday.
(End of Chapter)
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Translator's Note:
For those who wants to read in advance, this is for you.
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