The haunted house the older sister mentioned was known to Chen Lan. He had heard about it from Old Man Zhang during a casual chat.
He said the haunted house was also located in Nangang District. It was rumored to have been a synagogue for Jewish people in its earliest days. Later, during the warlord era, it was forcibly occupied by a warlord. Eventually, the warlord's sixth concubine, for reasons unknown, hanged herself in her room.
However, after the sixth concubine's suicide, many strange things began to occur in that building. Some people claimed that on stormy nights or during full moons, one could hear a woman's crying emanating from the room where the sixth concubine had hanged herself, along with the sound of glass bottles shattering on the wooden floor.
It was said that a few daring individuals, disbelieving the tales, decided to enter the room in broad daylight. They claimed to have actually seen the wooden floor covered in blood and shattered glass. Thus, the story spread, with everyone recounting it as if they had witnessed it themselves.
Coupled with later reports of people hanging themselves in that house, the legend of a vengeful spirit spread. The tales became increasingly exaggerated, with multiple versions of the vengeful spirit's story circulating, each more fantastical than the last.
Initially, only those living nearby knew about it. Then, it spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, becoming more terrifying with each retelling. Eventually, the number of people who knew about it grew, and no one dared to go near that house anymore. Even those who had to pass by the area would usually take a detour. Over time, the place became increasingly dilapidated, eerie, and frightening.
Precisely because Chen Lan knew this, he dared to go to the haunted house during the day to find someone, unafraid of being targeted by those with ill intentions.
As soon as Chen Lan approached the building, he felt a chill. A cold wind blew in his face, making his hair stand on end. This was during broad daylight, in the sweltering heat of summer.
Chen Lan looked up and saw that on the exterior wall, whether by prank or by deliberate design, someone had scrawled a blood-red character for "death" (死). It looked as if the character had been written with human blood.
Combined with the eerie environment, it would have startled anyone even in broad daylight, let alone at night. Those with timid hearts would surely be terrified.
Chen Lan speculated that it was likely due to this bloody "death" character, coupled with the deaths in the house and the prevailing rumors, that the place had become known as a haunted house.
Chen Lan couldn't help but admire the teacher's family for their courage in staying here. At least, this would provide temporary respite from the harassment of the Revolutionary Committee.
Chen Lan took a few steps forward and faintly heard the sound of a child crying. He decided to go in and see. Upon reaching the entrance, he discovered that the teacher's entire family was crammed into the small gatehouse by the main entrance.
Seeing Chen Lan approach, they all looked at him with fear, and even the child stopped crying. The family sat on the floor, their hair disheveled and their faces haggard.
Chen Lan sighed, seeing their state. He spoke, "Don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person." After saying this, Chen Lan felt a bit awkward. Such a meaningless sentence was as good as saying nothing.
Especially for a family that had just been betrayed by their student and implicated by their teacher.
So, Chen Lan stopped explaining and took a bag of corn buns from his satchel, offering it to a middle-aged woman about his age.
Seeing her hesitate, Chen Lan casually took a bun from the bag, broke off a piece, and chewed and swallowed it.
Then he said, "Sister, there's no poison. Eat quickly! The child is still young and can't go hungry."
After saying this, Chen Lan took out a White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket and handed it to the little boy nestled in the arms of a young woman, his eyes red and swollen from crying.
He then said softly, "Little fellow, are you hungry? Here, have a candy to sweeten your mouth."
The child looked to be about three years old. Chen Lan guessed that his crying was due to hunger.
At this moment, the woman about Chen Lan's age spoke with a hoarse voice, "Comrade, we're telling the truth. Our family really doesn't have the things you're talking about."
Chen Lan was taken aback. The things they were talking about? Could it be that, as Zhao Hongmei had said, their family possessed something valuable that the Revolutionary Committee had their eyes on?
This middle-aged woman was likely the teacher's wife. She continued to explain, "Comrade, I'm telling the truth. The children's great-grandfather did work in the Manchukuo Imperial Palace, but he was just a young helper who procured supplies for the back kitchen. How could he have had access to the inner palace? Much less obtained any treasures from it! You've searched our home thoroughly. Even if you kill us, it's no use. Our family truly doesn't have what you claim."
Chen Lan heard this and realized it was indeed as Zhao Hongmei had suspected. The Revolutionary Committee was framing them for the teacher's family treasures.
Now, not only had they arrested the teacher, but they had also sealed his home, leaving his family homeless. This was clearly intended to force them to hand over the items willingly.
These members of the Revolutionary Committee were utterly lawless. Even heaven couldn't bear to watch, and by chance, he had encountered this situation. It seemed he was meant to deal with them.
Chen Lan knew that no matter what he said now, the older sister and her family wouldn't believe him. So, he said, "Sister, I know you won't believe anything I say right now. I'll only say this once. I'll say it again: I'm not aware of any dealings between you and the Revolutionary Committee, and I'm not a member of the Revolutionary Committee. I'm just a passerby. Today, when I passed by your house, I saw your family in distress and felt sympathetic. After all, there's a young child suffering along with you adults."
Chen Lan paused here. Seeing that the older sister and her family remained silent, not eating the food, nor responding to him.
Only the young woman holding the child tightened her grip on him. The child, who had been suckling the candy, became uncomfortable and whimpered a few times.