纸新娘 第一部分纸新娘 部分
新娘轿车凌晨三点停在我门口.新娘轿车凌晨三点停在我门口.
我被锣声和鼓声惊醒.推开车窗,我看到八个纸人推着一辆红色轿车.夜风吹起窗帘,露出一个幽灵般苍白的角落.那位铅纸人转过脸来,空洞的眼窝盯着我的窗户.我被锣声和鼓声惊醒.推开车窗,我看到八个纸人推着一辆红色轿车.夜风吹起窗帘,露出一个幽灵般苍白的角落.那位铅纸人转过脸来,空洞的眼窝盯着我的窗户.
"陈先生,新娘来找您了.""陈先生,新娘来找您了."
它的声音听起来像两张纸摩擦.它的声音听起来像两张纸摩擦.
我猛地关上窗户,心跳加速.三天前,我在古董市场买了一张共和时期的结婚证,花了五十元.卖家是一位驼背老人,带着诡异的笑容递给我:"这是一份幽灵婚约.一旦你买下它,你们就是夫妻了."我猛地关上窗户,心跳加速.三天前,我在古董市场买了一张共和时期的结婚证,花了五十元.卖家是一位驼背老人,带着诡异的笑容递给我:"这是一份幽灵婚约.一旦你买下它,你们就是夫妻了."
当时我以为这只是个新奇玩法.带回家后,我把证书装裱起来,挂在书房里.就在那个夜晚,噩梦开始了——在梦里,总有一个穿着红色婚纱的女人站在我的床边.我看不清她的脸,但能听到她低声说:"丈夫,我来找你了."当时我以为这只是个新奇玩法.带回家后,我把证书装裱起来,挂在书房里.就在那个夜晚,噩梦开始了——在梦里,总有一个穿着红色婚纱的女人站在我的床边.我看不清她的脸,但能听到她低声说:"丈夫,我来找你了."
现在,她真正高高在上了.现在,她真正高高在上了.
我妈妈的尖叫声是从楼下传来的.我冲出房间,发现父母被逼在客厅,八个纸人排成两排,堵住了所有出口.红色轿车停在中央,窗帘缓缓升起.
一只死气凌厉的苍白手伸出.一只死气凌厉的苍白手伸出.
"别靠近!"我本能地喊道."别靠近!"我本能地喊道.
那只手僵住了,轿车里传来轻柔的抽泣声."你害怕我吗,丈夫?我等了八十年,只为见你一面."那只手僵住了,轿车里传来轻柔的抽泣声."你害怕我吗,丈夫?我等了八十年,只为见你一面."
声音哀伤而感人,却让我的头皮发麻.我强迫自己保持冷静,盯着轿车看."你是谁?"声音哀伤而感人,却让我的头皮发麻.我强迫自己保持冷静,盯着轿车看."你是谁?"
"我叫沈如华,"声音从里面传来."共和国十四年,我十七岁时,父母为我安排了一场鬼婚.新郎是陈少爷,十九岁因肺结核去世.我穿上婚纱,并立上了纪念牌.我一辈子都是陈家寡妇.临终时,我只有一个愿望——看看我丈夫长什么样.""我叫沉如华,"声音从里面传来."共和国十四年,我十七岁时,父母为我安排了一场鬼婚.新郎是陈少爷,十九岁因肺结核去世.我穿上婚纱,并立上了纪念牌.我一辈子都是陈家寡妇.临终时,我只有一个愿望——看看我丈夫长什么样."
我的脑海闪过结婚证书.新郎的姓确实是"陈",但名字太模糊,无法辨认.我的脑海闪过结婚证书.新郎的姓确实是"陈",但名字太模糊,无法辨认.
"所以你是来找我的?"我的声音很紧绷."我只是碰巧买了那张证书!""所以你是来找我的?"我的声音很紧绷."我只是碰巧买了那张证书!"
"这不是巧合,"沈如华的声音带着固执."这是命运.结婚证承认其主人.你一碰到它,你就成了我的丈夫.陈先生,您的生日是仁虚年十月十日,子时吗?""这不是巧合,"沉如华的声音带着固执."这是命运.结婚证承认其主人.你一碰到它,你就成了我的丈夫.陈先生,您的生日是仁虚年十月十日,子时吗?"
我血液都凉了. 我血液都凉了.
这些确实是我的出生细节,连我自己都记不清.她怎么知道的?这些确实是我的出生细节,连我自己都记不清.她怎么知道的?
"你不必害怕,丈夫."窗帘又拉开了一些,露出一件红色的袖子."我只想圆房我们的婚姻,完成多年前的婚礼仪式.那我就不再打扰你了.今晚是第三更的吉时——完美的时机.""你不必害怕,丈夫."窗帘又拉开了一些,露出一件红色的袖子."我只想圆房我们的婚姻,完成多年前的婚礼仪式.那我就不再打扰你了.今晚是第三更的吉时——完美的时机."
"做梦去吧!"我母亲突然冲上前,站在我面前."我儿子还活着,身体健康.他怎么能娶一个鬼!""做梦去吧!"我母亲突然冲上前,站在我面前."我儿子还活着,身体健康.他怎么能娶一个鬼!"
她刚说完,八个纸人立刻转头,空洞的眼窝盯着我母亲.一阵冷风吹过,客厅里所有的灯都熄灭了.在黑暗中,我听到母亲的尖叫,紧接着是身体倒地的声音.她刚说完,八个纸人立刻转头,空洞的眼窝盯着我母亲.一阵冷风吹过,客厅里所有的灯都熄灭了.在黑暗中,我听到母亲的尖叫,紧接着是身体倒地的声音.
"妈妈!""妈妈!"
我试图冲向前方,却被一股无形的力量束缚住.轿车里传来一声叹息."我不想伤害任何人,但这是我最后的执念.如果你同意,丈夫,我会饶你全家.但如果你拒绝..."我试图冲向前方,却被一股无形的力量束缚住.轿车里传来一声叹息."我不想伤害任何人,但这是我最后的执念.如果你同意,丈夫,我会饶你全家.但如果你拒绝......"
她没说完,但威胁已经很明显了.她没说完,但威胁已经很明显了.
我咬紧牙关,脑海飞速运转.嫁给一个鬼魂绝对不是个好主意,但如果我反抗,我的父母可能会有危险.我需要时间找到解决办法.我咬紧牙关,脑海飞速运转.嫁给一个鬼魂绝对不是个好主意,但如果我反抗,我的父母可能会有危险.我需要时间找到解决办法.
"好吧,我同意,"我深吸一口气."但婚姻是一件大事.我需要时间准备.给我三天时间.三天后,我亲自去陈家老庄园,我们会举行一场正式的婚礼.""好吧,我同意,"我深吸一口气."但婚姻是一件大事.我需要时间准备.给我三天时间.三天后,我亲自去陈家老庄园,我们会举行一场正式的婚礼."
轿车内一片寂静.轿车内一片寂静.
"丈夫会守信用吗?""丈夫会守信用吗?"
"绅士的承诺就是他的承诺,"我说."但你也必须答应这三天里不要伤害我的家人.""绅士的承诺就是他的承诺,"我说. "但你也必须答应这三天里不要伤害我的家人."
又是一阵沉默,沈如华轻笑."很好.我等了八十年.再多三天也无所谓.但如果你敢违背承诺,丈夫..."又是一阵沉默,沉如华轻笑. "很好.我等了八十年.再多三天也无所谓.但如果你敢违背承诺,丈夫..."
她的声音突然变得阴险."我会让你希望自己死了."她的声音突然变得阴险. "我会让你希望自己死了."
As she finished speaking, the cold wind rose again. When the lights came back on, the sedan and paper figures had vanished without a trace, leaving only scattered paper money on the floor as proof it hadn't been a hallucination.她话音刚落,寒风再次袭来.当灯光再次亮起时,轿子和纸人已经消失得无影无踪,只留下地上散落的纸钱,证明这不是幻觉.
My mother lay unconscious on the ground, my father slumped pale-faced on the sofa.母亲躺在地上不省人事,父亲脸色苍白地倒在沙发上.
I helped my mother up, my hands trembling. Three days. How was I going to break this ghost marriage?我把妈妈扶了起来,双手颤抖着.三天.我该如何打破这段鬼婚姻呢?
Part Two 第二部分
First thing the next morning, I went looking for the hunchbacked old man who'd sold me the marriage certificate.第二天一早,我第一件事就是去找那个卖给我结婚证的驼背老人.
The antique market was still as dilapidated as ever, stalls filled with items of dubious origin. I searched the entire street but couldn't find any sign of the old man. When I asked several vendors, they all said they didn't know any hunchbacked elder.古玩市场还是一如既往的破旧,摊位上摆满了来历不明的物品.我找遍了整条街,也没有发现老人的踪迹.我问了几位商贩,他们都说不认识驼背老人.
"The person you're describing might be a wandering spirit," said a woman who sold incense and candles, her eyes flickering. "From your description, he sounds like someone who deals in underworld business. These people come and go without a trace. You won't find him.""你描述的这个人可能是游魂."一名卖香烛的妇女说道,她的眼睛闪烁着光芒. "从你的描述来看,他像是一个做黑社会生意的人,这些人来去无踪,你找不到他."
My heart sank. I pressed her about how to break a ghost marriage.我的心沉了下去.我向她询问如何打破鬼婚姻.
The woman looked me over for a moment, then lowered her voice. "Ghost marriage is tricky. The key is whether the ghost bride harbors deep resentment. If she just wants to fulfill her wish, it's manageable. But if she's filled with resentment and wants to drag you down with her, that's trouble."那女人看了我一会儿,然后压低了声音. "鬼婚这件事很棘手,关键是鬼新娘是否怀有深深的怨恨,如果她只是想完成自己的愿望,还可以,但如果她心里充满怨恨,想把你拖累,那就麻烦了."
"How can I tell?" "我怎么知道?"
"See if she has malicious intent," the woman said. "Think carefully—did she actually hurt your family last night?""看看她是否有恶意."女子说道. "你仔细想想,昨晚她真的伤害了你的家人吗?"
I thought about how my mother had only fainted and suffered no serious harm. It didn't seem like she wanted to kill anyone.我想到母亲只是晕倒了,并没有受到什么严重的伤害.看起来她并不想杀人.
"There's another method." The woman pulled out a red cloth bundle from under the counter. "This is a Yang-Return Talisman. Keep it on you at all times. If nothing happens to you in three days, it means she truly just wants to fulfill her wish. If the talisman spontaneously combusts, it means she intends to take your life. Go find a Taoist priest immediately.""还有一个方法."女人从柜台下拿出一个红布包. "这是回阳符,要时刻带在身上,三天之内如果没有任何事情,说明她只是想完成自己的心愿.如果符自燃,那就是要取你性命了,赶紧去找道士吧."
I took the talisman, feeling like I'd grabbed a lifeline.我接过护身符,感觉就像抓住了救生索.
Leaving the antique market, I drove south. According to the address on the marriage certificate, the old Chen estate was in Locust Tree Lane in the southern district. This area was full of Republican-era buildings, long designated as dangerous structures, with most residents having moved away.离开古玩市场,我驱车向南.根据结婚证上的地址,老陈庄园在南区槐树巷.该地区到处都是民国时期的建筑,长期以来被列为危险建筑,大多数居民已经搬走了.
Locust Tree Lane was at the very end, lined with old locust trees whose branches blocked out the sun, making it feel eerie even during the day. I walked along the stone path and finally saw a dilapidated two-courtyard compound at the end of the lane.槐树巷在最后,两旁都是老槐树,树枝遮住了阳光,即使是白天也感觉阴森森的.沿着石板路走着,终于在巷子尽头看到了一座破旧的两进院落.
A black lacquered plaque hung above the gate with "Chen Estate" written on it.大门上方挂着一块黑漆牌匾,上面写着"陈氏庄园".
I pushed open the half-closed gate. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, several windows in the main hall were broken, revealing the dark interior. Strangely, the deeper I went, the more familiar everything felt, as if I'd been here before.我推开半掩的大门.院子里杂草丛生,正殿的几扇窗户都被打破了,露出里面的阴暗.奇怪的是,越往深处走,一切感觉就越熟悉,就好像我以前来过这里一样.
Was it just my imagination?难道这只是我的想象?
I entered the main hall. The furnishings were sparse, covered in a thick layer of dust. In the center stood a memorial tablet inscribed "Spirit Tablet of Chen Junmo." In front of the tablet was a yellowed photograph of a refined young man in Republican-era robes, smiling warmly.我进入了正殿.家具简陋,上面覆盖着厚厚的灰尘.正中立着一座牌位,上书"陈君莫灵牌".牌位前放着一张泛黄的照片,照片上是一位穿着民国时期长袍的儒雅青年,笑容灿烂.
I stared at the photograph, suddenly struck by a splitting headache.我盯着照片,突然头痛欲裂.
Fragmented images flashed through my mind—this courtyard, this room, and a girl in red standing under a locust tree, turning to smile at me. But how could this be? I'd never been here before.脑海中闪现出一些零碎的画面——这个庭院,这个房间,还有一个红衣少女站在槐树下,转头对我微笑.但这怎么可能呢?我以前从未来过这里.
"Husband, you've come." "老公,你来了."
A familiar voice came from behind. I spun around to see Shen Ruhua standing in the doorway.身后传来熟悉的声音.我转身,看到沉如花站在门口.
It was daytime, and I could finally see her clearly. She wore a Republican-era wedding dress, her features delicate, but her skin was pale as paper. Most terrifying were her eyes—hollow and lifeless, like two dry wells.天已大亮,我终于能看清楚她了.她穿着民国时期的婚纱,五官精致,但皮肤却苍白如纸.最可怕的是她的眼睛,空洞无生气,就像两口干涸的井.
"What are you doing here?" I instinctively stepped back.
"This is my home," Shen Ruhua slowly walked in. "More precisely, this is our home—mine and my husband's. After I married in, I lived here until I died.""这是我的家,"沉如花缓缓走了进来,"更准确地说,这是我们的家,我和我丈夫的家.我结婚后,就一直住在这里,直到去世."
She walked to the tablet and caressed the photograph. "This is what my husband looked like when he was alive. Every day I faced this photograph, imagining what kind of person you were, what you liked, what you would say to me. But a photograph is cold. For eighty years, I never even heard your voice."她走到平板电脑前,抚摸着照片. "这就是我丈夫生前的样子.我每天对着这张照片,想象你是什么样的人,你喜欢什么,你会对我说什么.但照片是冰冷的.八十年来,我什至没有听过你的声音."
Her voice carried deep resentment, and an inexplicable emotion welled up in my chest.她的声音带着浓浓的怨恨,我的胸口涌起一种莫名的情绪.
"You... suffered," I heard myself say."你...受苦了,"我听见自己说.
Shen Ruhua turned around, her hollow eyes fixed on me. "Are you willing to understand my suffering? I'm very pleased. But I know, in your heart, you're still afraid of me, aren't you?"沉如花转过身来,空洞的眼睛盯着我. "你愿意理解我的痛苦吗?我很高兴.但我知道,你心里,还是怕我的,不是吗?"
I didn't deny it. 我没有否认.
She smiled bitterly. "I understand. I look frightening now. But I was once a vibrant young woman too, with dreams and hopes. Then at seventeen, a marriage certificate destroyed my entire life. Do I hate it? Of course I do. But what I hate most isn't the Chen family, isn't this ghost marriage—it's fate."她苦笑道. "我明白,我现在看起来很可怕,但我也曾经是一个充满活力,有梦想,有希望的年轻女子.然后十七岁那年,一张结婚证毁了我的一生.我讨厌吗?当然讨厌.但我最讨厌的不是陈家,不是鬼婚,而是命运."
"Why me specifically?" I couldn't help asking. "After eighty years, there must be other Chen family descendants, right?""为什么专门是我?"我忍不住问道. "八十年后,一定还有其他的陈家后裔吧?"
"Because only you look exactly like him," Shen Ruhua pointed at the photograph. "Look for yourself if you don't believe me."
I approached the photograph and examined it carefully. The more I looked, the more alarmed I became—Chen Junmo in the photograph did indeed look remarkably similar to me, almost like the same person.我走近照片并仔细检查.越看越惊——照片上的陈君墨确实和我长得惊人的相似,简直就像同一个人.
"This is impossible..." "这不可能..."
"That's why I say it's fate," Shen Ruhua said. "Husband, do you know that reincarnation follows certain patterns? Some souls carry obsessions from their past lives and seek out unfinished connections in the next life. You are Chen Junmo's reincarnation, and I've waited eighty years for you to return.""所以我说是缘分."沉如花说道. "老公,你知道轮回有一定的规律吗?有些灵魂带着前世的执念,在来生寻找未了的缘分.你是陈君墨的转世,我等了你八十年才回来."
Her words hit me like a hammer blow.她的话就像重锤一样打击了我.
Reincarnation? Past and present lives? This was too absurd. But if not, how could I explain our resemblance? How could I explain this inexplicable sense of familiarity with this estate?投胎?前世今生?这实在太荒唐了.但如果不是,我该如何解释我们的相似之处呢?我该如何解释这种莫名的熟悉感呢?
"I don't believe it," I shook my head. "Even if we look alike, that doesn't prove I'm him.""我不相信,"我摇摇头. "即使我们长得很像,也不能证明我就是他."
"Then let me ask you," Shen Ruhua stepped closer. "Have you been afraid of the dark since childhood? Do you particularly love the scent of locust flowers? Do you cough for no reason every spring?""那我问你吧."沉如花走近了一步. "你从小就怕黑吗?你特别喜欢槐花的香味吗?每年春天你都会无缘无故咳嗽吗?"
My face paled. 我脸色苍白.
How did she know all this? These peculiar habits—even my parents hadn't paid much attention to them.她是怎么知道这一切的?这些奇特的习惯,连我的父母都没有太在意.
"Because that's how Chen Junmo was," Shen Ruhua said softly. "He was frail since childhood, afraid of the dark, but loved locust flowers most. Every spring when the flowers bloomed, he would cough because he had a lung condition. In the end, tuberculosis took his life.""因为陈君墨就是这样."沉如花轻声说道. "他从小体弱多病,怕黑,却最喜欢槐花.每年春天槐花盛开的时候,他都会因为肺部有问题而咳嗽,最后肺结核夺走了他的生命."
I opened my mouth but couldn't speak.我张了张嘴,却说不出话来.
"Husband, do you remember?" Shen Ruhua's voice became ethereal. "Remember that year when the locust flowers bloomed, when we first met? You said you would marry only me in this lifetime.""老公,你还记得吗?"沉如花的声音变得空灵. "还记得那年槐花盛开的时候,我们第一次见面吗?你说过,这辈子只娶我一个."
She reached out, her pale fingers almost touching my face.她伸出手,苍白的手指几乎触到了我的脸.
I suddenly snapped back to reality and pushed her hand away. "Enough! I'm not him. I don't remember any of this! Even if I really am some kind of reincarnation, that's a past life. It has nothing to do with who I am now!"我猛地回过神来,猛地推开她的手. "够了!我不是他,这些我都不记得了!就算我真的是某种转世,那也是前世了,和现在的我无关!"
Shen Ruhua's hand froze in midair.沉如花的手僵在了半空.
Her expression changed from hope to disappointment, then from disappointment to rage. A cold wind surged from all directions, making the windows rattle violently.她的表情从希望变成了失望,又从失望变成了愤怒.一阵冷风从四面八方涌来,吹得窗户剧烈地嘎嘎作响.
"Nothing to do with you?" Her voice suddenly turned icy. "What you owe me, you'll repay for a lifetime!""与你无关?"她的声音突然变得冰冷. "你欠我的,你会用一生来偿还!"
Before she finished speaking, everything in the room began to float—tables, chairs, vases, candlesticks, swirling in the air before flying at me. I dodged frantically and bolted from the main hall.她话音未落,房间里的一切都开始漂浮起来——桌子,椅子,花瓶,烛台,在空中旋转,然后向我飞来.我慌忙躲闪,冲出了大殿.
Behind me came Shen Ruhua's furious roar. "You think you can escape? One day of the three has passed. Two more to go. I'm waiting for you to come marry me willingly! Otherwise, I'll come fetch you myself, and then you'll have no choice!"身后传来沉如花愤怒的吼声. "你以为你能逃得掉吗?三天已经过去了,还有两天,我就等你心甘情愿地嫁给我!不然的话,我就亲自来接你,到时候你就没有选择了!"
I stumbled out of the Chen estate and ran all the way to my car. The moment the engine started, I saw in the rearview mirror Shen Ruhua standing at the gate, her red wedding dress whipping in the wind.我跌跌撞撞地走出陈家,一路跑向我的车.发动机一启动,我就从后视镜里看到沉如花站在门口,红色的婚纱在风中飘扬.
Her eyes no longer looked hollow—they burned with green ghostfire.她的眼睛不再显得空洞——它们燃烧着绿色的鬼火.
Part Three 第三部分
That night, I couldn't sleep.那天晚上,我无法入睡.
Lying in bed, my mind was full of the day's events. Shen Ruhua's words kept echoing—"You are Chen Junmo's reincarnation," "What you owe me, you'll repay for a lifetime."躺在床上,我的脑子里全是今天发生的事情.沉如花的话不断回响——"你是陈君墨的转世","你欠我的,你会一辈子偿还."
I tossed and turned, suddenly remembering the Yang-Return Talisman the woman had given me. I pulled it from my pocket. The red cloth bundle was still there, but when I opened it, the talisman had burned to ash.我翻来覆去,突然想起了那个女人给我的回阳符.我把它从口袋里拿出来.红布包还在,但当我打开它时,符已经烧成灰了.
My heart sank to the bottom.我的心沉到了谷底.
The talisman had spontaneously combusted. What did that mean? Did it mean Shen Ruhua harbored deep resentment and truly wanted my life? But she had just said she only wanted to complete the wedding ceremony and fulfill her wish. Was she lying?符咒自燃了.那是什么意思?难道沉如花心怀怨恨,真心想要我的命?但她刚刚说过,她只是想完成婚礼,完成自己的心愿.她在撒谎吗?
Or perhaps she herself didn't realize that her resentment had grown deep enough to harm others?或许她自己并没有意识到自己的怨恨已经深到足以伤害别人?
The more I thought, the more confused I became. I decided to find the woman again and ask for clarity. But it was already late at night, and the antique market had long since closed. I would have to wait until tomorrow.我越想,就越困惑.我决定再次找到那个女人,询问清楚.但此时已经是深夜了,古玩市场早已关门了.我得等到明天.
In the early morning hours, I dozed off fitfully. In my dream, I returned to the Chen estate.清晨,我断断续续地打瞌睡.梦中,我回到了陈氏庄园.
This time the estate wasn't dilapidated but completely renewed. Red lanterns hung high, the courtyard filled with wedding banquet tables. I wore a Republican-era robe, standing at the entrance to the main hall, holding a cup of wine.这次庄园不再破旧,而是焕然一新.大红灯笼高高挂起,院子里摆满了婚宴桌.我穿着民国时期的长袍,端着一杯酒站在大殿门口.
"Junmo, the bride has arrived," someone whispered in my ear."君莫,新娘来了."有人在我耳边轻声说道.
I looked up to see a red sedan slowly entering through the gate. The curtain lifted, and out stepped a girl in a red wedding dress, wearing a phoenix crown, her face covered by a red veil. Someone helped her walk to stand before me.我抬头一看,一辆红色轿子缓缓驶入大门.帘子掀起,从里面走出来一个身穿红色嫁衣,头戴凤冠,脸上蒙着红色面纱的少女.有人搀扶着她走到我面前.
I reached out to lift her veil, but heard someone shout: "You can't look! The groom is dead. The bride is marrying a tablet. She cannot see a living person's face!"我伸手掀开她的头纱,却听见有人喊道:"你不许看!新郎死了,新娘嫁牌位,她看不到活人的脸!"
As the words fell, my throat tightened and I began coughing violently. What I coughed up wasn't phlegm but blood. The blood stained my robe as I collapsed to the ground, my vision gradually blurring.话音落下,我的喉咙发紧,开始剧烈咳嗽.我咳出来的不是痰,而是血.血染红了我的袍子,我倒在地上,视线渐渐模糊.
The last image I saw was the bride lifting her veil. Her face had no features—only a sheet of deathly white.我看到的最后一个画面是新娘掀起面纱.她的脸没有任何特征,只有一片死白色.
"Husband, I'm waiting for you," she said."老公,我在等你."她说.
I jolted awake, drenched in sweat.我猛地惊醒,浑身是汗.
Dawn had broken, and birdsong came from outside the window. I sat up and noticed a few drops of blood on my pillow. I touched the corner of my mouth—my fingers came away bloody.天亮了,窗外传来鸟鸣声.我坐起来,发现枕头上有几滴血.我摸了摸嘴角——手指流血了.
This wasn't a dream. 这不是梦.
I had actually coughed up blood.我真的已经咳血了.
Fear surged over me like a tide. Could I really be Chen Junmo's reincarnation? Would I die of tuberculosis like he did?恐惧像潮水一样席卷了我.难道我真的是陈君墨的转世吗?我会像他一样死于肺结核吗?
No, impossible. This was the 21st century. Tuberculosis was curable. There must be another reason.不,不可能.这是21世纪.肺结核是可以治愈的.一定还有别的原因.
I forced myself to calm down and went to the bathroom to wash my face. The person in the mirror looked pale, eyes bloodshot. I suddenly remembered something and pulled out my phone to search for "Chen Junmo" and "fourteenth year of the Republic."我强迫自己冷静下来,去卫生间洗了把脸.镜子里的人脸色苍白,双眸布满血丝.我突然想起什么,掏出手机搜索"陈君墨"和"共和国十四年".
The search results made me gasp.搜索结果让我倒抽一口气.
There was a record in a local gazetteer mentioning the ghost marriage between the Chen and Shen families. Chen Junmo had indeed died of tuberculosis in the fourteenth year of the Republic at age nineteen. When Shen Ruhua married in, Chen Junmo was already buried. She remained a widow her entire life until her death in 1987, never remarrying.地方志中曾有记载,提到陈家和沈家的鬼婚.陈君墨确实于民国十四年因肺结核去世,时年十九岁.沉如花嫁进来的时候,陈君墨已经下葬了.她一生守寡,直到1987年去世,从未再婚.
The record mentioned one more detail—before her death, Shen Ruhua had become mentally unstable, repeatedly saying "Husband will return, husband will marry me."记录中还提到了一个细节——沉如花生前精神不稳定,反复说"夫君归来,夫君娶我".
My hands began to tremble.我的手开始颤抖.
This wasn't a simple ghost marriage. This was a vengeful spirit with deep obsession who had spent eighty years waiting for an impossible wish.这不是一场简单的鬼婚.这是一个有着深深执念的复仇之魂,他花了八十年的时间等待着一个不可能的愿望.
And she had succeeded. She had waited for Chen Junmo's reincarnation.她成功了.她一直在等待陈君墨的转世.
Now she wanted to complete the wedding ceremony that never happened. If I refused, what would she do? Kill me and make me marry her in the underworld?现在她要完成这场从未发生过的婚礼.如果我拒绝,她会怎么做?杀了我,让我在阴间娶她?
I couldn't just wait for death.我不能就这样等待死亡.
After breakfast, I rushed to the antique market. This time, I not only found the woman who sold incense and candles but also several Taoist priests who performed rituals. After hearing my story, they all shook their heads.吃完早饭,我就赶往古玩市场.这次,我不仅找到了卖香卖烛的女人,还找到了几位行礼的道士.听完我的故事,他们都摇摇头.
"Ghost marriage is serious business, especially when the other party harbors such deep resentment," an old priest said. "The best solution is to find a substitute. Find a woman to marry—that will break the ghost marriage contract.""鬼婚是一件严肃的事情,尤其是当对方心怀如此深的怨恨时."一位老神父说. "最好的解决办法就是找一个替代者.找个女人结婚——这样就能打破鬼婚契约."
"No," another priest objected. "Once a ghost marriage contract is established, unless the ghost willingly lets go, no one can break it. Finding a substitute will only harm that woman.""不,"另一位牧师反对道. "鬼婚契约一旦成立,除非鬼自愿放手,否则任何人都无法毁约,寻找替代者只会伤害那个女人."
"Then what should I do?" I grew anxious. "Do I really have to marry a ghost?""那我该怎么办?"我变得焦虑起来. "我真的要嫁给鬼吗?"
"There's a risky approach," the woman suddenly spoke. "Go find Shen Ruhua and ask what she truly wants. If she really just wants to fulfill her wish, hold a fake wedding ceremony, go through the motions, let her wish be fulfilled, and her spirit will naturally dissipate.""这是一个冒险的做法."女子突然说道. "去找沉如花,问问她到底想要什么,如果她真的只是想完成自己的愿望,举办一场假婚礼,走走过场,让她的愿望得以实现,她的精神自然就会消散."
"A fake ceremony?" I frowned. "Will she agree?""假仪式?"我皱起眉头. "她会同意吗?"
"Try it," the woman said. "Better than doing nothing.""试试吧,"女人说. "总比什么都不做要好."
I thought about it. This was indeed the only option right now.我想了一下.这确实是目前唯一的选择.
That afternoon, I returned to the Chen estate. This time I came prepared—carrying a peachwood sword, five protective talismans on my body, and a Taoist priest waiting outside.那天下午,我回到了陈家.这次我是有备而来,身上带着一把桃木剑,身上有五张护身符,还有一个道士在外面等候.
Pushing open the gate, the courtyard was silent. I walked into the main hall. Shen Ruhua was already waiting.推开大门,院子里一片寂静.我走进主厅.沉如花已经在等着了.
She still wore that red wedding dress, sitting in a chair, quietly watching me.她依然穿着那件红色的婚纱,坐在椅子上,静静地看着我.
"Husband has come," her voice was calm. "Have you decided?""老公来了."她的声音很平静. "你决定了吗?"
"I've decided," I took a deep breath. "I can complete the wedding ceremony with you, but on one condition.""我决定了."我深吸了一口气. "我可以和你一起完成婚礼,但有一个条件."
"Speak." "说话."
"After the ceremony ends, you must let me go and never entangle with me again.""仪式结束后,你必须放开我,不要再与我纠缠."
Shen Ruhua fell silent. After a long while, she said: "You still don't trust me, do you? You think I want to harm you."沉如花沉默了.良久,她才说道:"你还是不相信我,是吗?你以为我想害你."
"It's not distrust. I'm truly not Chen Junmo," I tried to keep my tone gentle. "Even if I look like him, even if I have some of the same habits, I'm not him. I have my own life, my own family. I can't give up everything now because of a promise from a past life.""这不是不信任,我真的不是陈君墨."我尽量让语气保持温和. "即使我长得很像他,即使我有一些相同的习惯,我也不是他.我有我自己的生活,我自己的家庭,我不能因为前世的承诺而放弃现在的一切."
"But you owe me," Shen Ruhua stood up, walking toward me step by step. "Do you know how I spent these eighty years? Every day facing a cold memorial tablet, every day enduring loneliness and humiliation. I never blamed heaven or others. I only thought that one day, I could see him just once. Even just once. Now I've seen you, but you say you're not him.""可是你欠我的."沉如花站起身来,一步步朝我走来. "你知道我这八十年是怎么度过的吗?每天面对着冰冷的牌位,每天承受着孤独与屈辱.我从来不怨天怨人,只以为有一天,我能见到他一次,哪怕只是一次.现在我见过你了,你却说你不是他."
Blood tears flowed from her eye sockets.血泪从她的眼眶里流出来.
"How can you ask me to let go? I waited eighty years. I finally found you, and you want me to let go?""你凭什么要我放手?我等了八十年,终于找到你了,你还要我放手吗?"
My heart softened, but reason told me I couldn't be soft.我的心软了,但理智告诉我,我不能软.
"Then what do you want?" I asked. "Do you really want me to die and accompany you in the underworld?""那你想要什么?"我问. "你真的要我死了,陪你一起去阴间吗?"
"I never wanted you to die," Shen Ruhua wiped away her blood tears. "I only want you to sincerely complete a wedding ceremony with me. Not fake, not perfunctory, but like Chen Junmo promised me back then—properly married, with three bows and nine kowtows, truly becoming my husband.""我从来不想让你死."沉如花擦掉血泪. "我只想你真心实意的和我完成一场婚礼,不假,不敷衍,而是像陈君墨当年向我承诺的那样——正式结婚,三拜九叩,真正成为我的丈夫."
"And then?" "进而?"
"Then I'll be satisfied," she smiled, the smile bitter. "I know you have your own life. I won't disturb you. Just give me this once, even if only for one night, I'll be content.""那我就满足了."她微笑着,笑容苦涩. "我知道你有你自己的生活,我不会打扰你,只要给我一次,哪怕只是一个晚上,我就满足了."
I looked at her and suddenly realized she wasn't an evil ghost—just a pitiful woman. She'd been trapped in this obsession for eighty years, just wanting a complete ending.我看着她,突然发现她并不是恶鬼,只是一个可怜的女人.她被这份执念困了八十年,只求一个彻底的结局.
"Alright," I said. "I agree.""好吧,"我说. "我同意."
Shen Ruhua's eyes lit up.沉如花眼睛一亮.
"Really?" "真的吗?"
"Really," I said. "But you must also promise me that after the ceremony, you'll let go of your obsession, reincarnate, and stop suffering in this world.""真的,"我说. "但你也要答应我,仪式结束后,你会放下执念,投胎转世,不再在世间受苦."
She paused, then nodded. "Alright, I promise."她停顿了一下,然后点点头. "好吧,我保证."
Part Four 第四部分
The wedding was set for the third day at the midnight hour.婚礼定在第三天午夜.
Shen Ruhua said the midnight hour was when yin and yang intersected, most suitable for completing this marriage that spanned the divide between life and death.沉如花说,午夜时分是阴阳相交的时候,最适合完成这场跨越生死的婚姻.
During these two days, I arranged everything that needed arranging. I told my parents I was going on a business trip, delegated my work, and even wrote a final letter just in case.这两天,我把需要安排的事情都安排好了.我告诉父母我要去出差,委派了我的工作,甚至还写了一封最后的信以防万一.
The woman gave me final advice: "When marrying a ghost, the most important thing is to guard your mind. No matter what she says or does, you must remember—you're alive, she's dead. There's a boundary of life and death between you. As long as you're clear about this, she can't drag you to the underworld."女人给了我最后的建议:"嫁给鬼的时候,最重要的是守住自己的心.无论她说什么做什么,你都要记住——你是活的,她是死的.你们之间有生与死的界限,只要你清楚这一点,她就不能把你拖到阴间."
I kept these words firmly in mind.这句话我牢牢记在心里.
On the third night, I returned to the Chen estate once more.
This time the estate had completely transformed. Red lanterns covered the entire courtyard, the main hall was set up as a wedding hall with tall red candles burning and incense smoke curling from the burner. Dozens of paper figures stood in the courtyard wearing festive clothes, like guests attending a wedding.这一次,庄园彻底变了样.大红灯笼笼罩了整个庭院,正殿被布置成结婚礼堂,高高的红烛燃烧着,香火袅袅.院子里站着几十个穿着喜服的纸人,就像参加婚礼的宾客一样.
Looking at these paper figures made my scalp tingle.看着这些纸人,我头皮发麻.
"Husband, please change your clothes," a paper figure approached, handing me a Republican-era groom's outfit."老公,请换衣服."一个纸人走了过来,递给我一套民国时期的新郎服装.
I took the clothes and went into a side room to change. The fit was eerily perfect, as if custom-made for me. Wearing them, I looked at myself in the bronze mirror and for a moment felt as if I'd truly become Chen Junmo.我拿着衣服,进一间侧房去换.这套衣服出奇的完美,就像是为我量身定做的一样.戴着它,我看着铜镜里的自己,一瞬间感觉自己真的变成了陈君墨.
Outside came the sound of gongs and drums—the bridal sedan had arrived.外面锣鼓喧天,花轿到了.
I walked out of the side room and saw that familiar red sedan stopped in the courtyard. The curtain lifted, and Shen Ruhua stepped down.我走出侧房,看见那辆熟悉的红色轿子停在院子里.帘子掀起,沉如花走了下来.
Today she was different. Her skin was no longer pale as paper but had a faint rosy tint. Her eyes were no longer hollow but brimming with tears. She wore a brand new phoenix crown and霞帔, beautiful like a real bride.今天她不一样了.她的皮肤不再是苍白如纸,而是泛着淡淡的红润.她的眼眸不再是空洞的,而是充满了泪水.她头戴崭新的凤冠霞帔,美丽得像真正的新娘一样.
I stood frozen. 我愣住了.
"Husband, it's time for our wedding ceremony," she said softly."老公,我们的婚礼到了."她轻声说道.
A paper figure announced loudly: "First bow—to Heaven and Earth!"一个纸人高声宣布:"初拜天地!"
Shen Ruhua and I stood side by side before the wedding hall and bowed outward.我和沉如花并肩站在婚礼殿前,向外行礼.
"Second bow—to parents!" "二拜——父母!"
We turned and bowed to two paper figures in the main hall. I knew they represented Chen Junmo's parents.我们转身向大厅里的两个纸人鞠躬.我知道他们代表的是陈君墨的父母.
"Third bow—husband and wife bow to each other!""三拜——夫妻二拜!"
I turned to face Shen Ruhua. She also turned, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes. We bowed deeply to each other.我转身面对沉如花.她也转过身来,泪水从眼角滑落.我们互相深深地鞠了一躬.
"The ceremony is complete! Escort them to the bridal chamber!""仪式完毕!迎送他们入洞房!"
The paper figures surged forward, surrounding us as they led us into the inner room.纸人向前涌动,将我们团团围住,带我们进入内室.
The room was decorated festively—bright red bedding, dragon and phoenix bed curtains, ceremonial wine cups on the table. The paper figures withdrew and closed the door.房间里布置得很喜庆,大红色的床上用品,龙凤床幔,桌上摆满了礼仪酒杯.纸人退出并关上了门.
Only Shen Ruhua and I remained in the room.房间里只剩下我和沉如花.
She sat at the edge of the bed, head lowered, fingers twisting a handkerchief. In the flickering candlelight, her profile was incredibly beautiful.她坐在床边,低着头,手指捻着手帕.摇曳的烛光下,她的侧影美丽得令人难以置信.
"Husband, let's drink the ceremonial wine," she said."夫君,咱们喝喜酒吧."她说道.
I walked over and picked up the wine cup. We crossed arms and drank it all. The wine was sweet with a strange fragrance.我走过去,拿起了酒杯.我们交叉双臂,一饮而尽.这酒甜甜的,带着一股奇怪的香味.
Setting down the cup, Shen Ruhua looked up at me. "Husband, do you regret this?"放下杯子,沉如花抬头看着我. "老公,你后悔吗?"
"Regret what?" "后悔什么?"
"Marrying me." "嫁给我吧."
I thought for a moment and shook my head. "No regrets. You waited eighty years. This is what you deserve."我想了想,摇了摇头. "不后悔,你等了八十年,这是你应得的."
Her tears flowed again. "Thank you, husband."
She reached out and gently pulled at my sleeve. "Husband, I have one request."她伸出手,轻轻地拉了拉我的袖子. "老公,我有一个请求."
"What is it?" "那是什么?"
"Stay with me and talk until dawn," her voice carried a plea. "I want to know what the world has become in these eighty years. I want to know what kind of life I would have had if I'd lived.""留在我身边,聊到天亮."她的声音带着恳求. "我想知道这八十年来世界变成了什么.我想知道如果我还活着,我会过什么样的生活."
My heart ached. I sat beside her. "Alright. Whatever you want to hear, I'll tell you."我的心好痛.我坐在她旁边. "好吧,你想听什么,我就告诉你."
That night, we truly talked until dawn.那天晚上,我们真的聊到了天亮.
I told her about the outside world—skyscrapers, cars and planes, the internet, smartphones. She listened intently, her eyes sparkling with childlike curiosity.我告诉她外面的世界——摩天大楼,汽车和飞机,互联网,智能手机.她专注地听着,眼睛里闪烁着孩子般的好奇.
I told her about women's status—how girls now could go to school, work, fall in love freely, choose their own lives. As she listened, tears flowed again.我告诉她女性的地位——现在的女孩可以自由地上学,工作,自由恋爱,选择自己的生活.她听着,眼泪又流了下来.
"If only I'd been born now," she murmured. "Then I wouldn't have had to marry a dead man, wouldn't have had to remain a widow my whole life. I could have gone to school, had someone I loved, lived like a real person.""要是我现在出生就好了,"她低声说道. "这样我就不必嫁给一个死人,也不必一辈子守寡.我可以去上学,有我爱的人,像一个真正的人一样生活."
"You were always a real person," I said. "It was just the wrong era.""你一直都是一个真实的人,"我说. "那只是一个错误的时代."
She shook her head. "No, it was the wrong fate."她摇摇头. "不,这是错误的命运."
Outside the window gradually lightened, the east showing a pale dawn. Shen Ruhua stood and walked to the window, gazing at the sun about to rise.窗外渐渐亮了,东方露出苍白的晨光.沉如花站起来,走到窗前,看着即将升起的太阳.
"Husband, dawn is breaking," she turned back to look at me, her face bearing a released smile. "It's time for me to go.""老公,天亮了."她回头看着我,脸上露出了轻松的笑容. "我该走了."
My heart tightened. "Where are you going?"我的心一紧. "你要去哪里?"
"Where I should go," she walked back and gently kissed my forehead. "Thank you for giving me a complete wedding ceremony, for spending this last night with me. My life is finally complete.""我该去哪里."她走回来,轻轻吻了一下我的额头. "谢谢你给了我一个完整的婚礼,谢谢你陪我度过了最后一晚,我的人生终于完整了."
"Wait—" I tried to grab her, but my hand passed through her body."等等——"我想抓住她,但我的手却穿过了她的身体.
Her figure began to fade, the red wedding dress gradually becoming transparent.她的身影开始变淡,红色的婚纱渐渐变得透明.
"Husband, in the next life, don't meet me again," she said finally. "In the next life, find someone who truly loves you—someone alive—and live that life well.""老公,下辈子,不要再遇见我了."她最后说道. "下辈子,找到一个真正爱你的人——一个活着的人——并好好地过这一生."
With those words, she disappeared completely.说完这句话,她就彻底消失了.
All the decorations in the room vanished—the red candles, the wedding curtains, the ceremonial wine—everything disappeared without a trace. I stood in the empty room, holding a handkerchief embroidered with a locust flower.房间里所有的装饰品都消失了——红蜡烛,婚幔,喜酒——一切都消失得无影无踪.我站在空荡荡的房间里,手里拿着绣着槐花的手帕.
It was the only proof Shen Ruhua had left behind.这是沉如花留下的唯一证据.
I walked out of the Chen estate. The sun had just risen. Locust Tree Lane bathed in morning light, everything so peaceful and serene. I looked back at the old estate. Half the characters of "Chen Estate" on the gate plaque had fallen off.我走出了陈家庄园.太阳刚刚升起.槐树巷沐浴在晨光中,一切都是那么的安宁与安详.我回头看了看这座古老的庄园.门牌上的"陈氏"大字已经脱落了一半.
Perhaps from now on, there would be no more ghosts here.
Epilogue 尾声
A month later, while organizing my study, I discovered the marriage certificate was gone.一个月后,我在整理学习时,发现结婚证不见了.
I searched the entire room but couldn't find it. Finally, I found a small pile of paper ash on the windowsill, the handkerchief with the embroidered locust flower pressed beside it.
The marriage certificate had burned itself.结婚证已经被烧毁了.
This meant the ghost marriage contract had been dissolved. Shen Ruhua had truly let go. She had gone to reincarnate.这意味着冥婚契约已经解除.沉如花真的放下了.她已经去投胎了.
I felt both relieved and somehow lost. The woman who had waited eighty years for me had finally found release, and I had been freed from that absurd ghost marriage.我既感到如释重负,又感到有些失落.那个等了我八十年的女人终于得到了解脱,我也从那场荒唐的鬼婚中解脱出来.
But strangely, after that, I was no longer afraid of the dark, nor did I enjoy the scent of locust flowers anymore. Every spring, I no longer coughed for no reason.但奇怪的是,从此以后,我不再害怕黑暗,也不再享受槐花的香味了.每年春天,我不再无缘无故咳嗽了.
It was as if those marks belonging to Chen Junmo had disappeared along with Shen Ruhua's departure.仿佛那些属于陈君墨的痕迹,随着沉如花的离开而消失了.
I had finally completely become myself.我终于完全成为我自己了.
That night, I had a dream. In it, I saw a girl in modern clothes standing on a university campus, holding books, smiling at the rising sun.那天晚上,我做了一个梦.在里面,我看到一个穿着现代服装的女孩站在大学校园里,手里拿着书,微笑着看着初升的太阳.
Her features bore some resemblance to Shen Ruhua.她的五官与沉如花有几分相似.
But in her eyes, there was no resentment, no obsession—only longing and hope for the future.但她的眼里,没有怨恨,没有执念,只有对未来的憧憬和希望.
I knew she had begun a new life.我知道她已经开始了新的生活.
And I should continue with mine.我应该继续我的.
Spring came again, locust flowers blooming throughout the southern district. I never went back to Locust Tree Lane, never saw Shen Ruhua again.春天又来了,整个南区槐花盛开.我再也没有回到槐巷,也没有再见过沉如花.
But I know that in some parallel dimension, there's a young man named Chen Junmo and a girl named Shen Ruhua who met under a locust tree.但我知道,在某个平行空间里,有一名叫陈君墨的少年和一个名叫沉如花的少女在槐树下相遇.
This time, they needn't be torn apart by fate.这一次,他们不必再被命运撕裂.
This time, they can properly live out their entire lives together.这一次,他们可以好好地在一起度过一生了.
—The End— ——结局——