Rules of the Strange: I Can See Through All the Weird

Qi Tong was surprised. Was this a little girl? She really couldn't tell.

The little water ghost was dressed as a boy from head to toe, even with short hair that reached his ears. Qi Tong subconsciously thought it was a little boy.

Suddenly, an old woman covered in blood sitting next to the little girl grabbed her ear and yelled, "You good-for-nothing, what nonsense are you spouting? Even if you become a ghost, you'll still take our whole family's lives!"

"I don't like you, and according to you I'm sexist, but what's wrong with liking boys? Our Zhao family has only had one son for three generations, and you're the only one to cut off the family line! If I kill you, I'll be sorry. You can kill me, but what do you mean by dragging your parents and old man down with you? Now you're debating right and wrong!"

Seeing herself being scolded, the little girl wasn't about to be outdone. Gone was her pitiful demeanor from before. Pointing at the old woman's face, she angrily shouted, "If you kill me, your whole family will be buried with you! Besides, I was already consumed by resentment at the time, only wanting revenge. How could I know who I should or shouldn't kill!"

The two argued quietly, then simultaneously turned to Qi Tong: "Tell me, who's right and who's wrong!"

Qi Tong was completely overwhelmed. Everyone had their own version of events, and she felt that both of them were at fault!

She wanted to remain silent, but she had no choice but to speak. The two ghosts kept staring at her and were gradually showing signs of becoming ghosts themselves. The little girl's face grew paler and paler, and her eyes turned red.

The old woman was also furious, her clothes were tattered, and there were bloodstains on her neck and face.

Qi Tong pondered for a moment before speaking, "I understand what you mean. It's normal, because I too am a strong person who fought my way up from the bottom. I was an unparalleled genius in a certain field from a young age, but no one discovered my talent. In the end, I had to realize my potential on a tortuous path for revenge, enduring countless humiliations, defeating numerous powerful enemies, and climbing to the top. I can't imagine how the world will tremble and fear a strong person like me will in the future!!!"

"Actually, I already..." Before Qi Tong could finish speaking, the little girl reached out and covered Qi Tong's mouth, the icy touch making Qi Tong shudder.

"Stop talking! My old man wasn't as garrulous as you when he was alive!" The old lady had stopped her ghost transformation and was scolding Qi Tong with her hands in her pockets.

"Stop talking!" The little girl lowered her hand only after Qi Tong obediently nodded.

They just asked for answers, not required correct ones, right? If they argue about who's right and who's wrong, the end result will definitely be that she was wrong and they'll kill her! So, can't I just reply randomly after reading her message?

The little girl stared at Qi Tong quietly for a long time. The redness in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by an expression that Qi Tong couldn't understand.

"You don't want to choose, right?"

This is not a question.

The little girl raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Qi Tong seemed to have entered a dream world.

In the illusion, she became a little girl. She was obedient and sensible, knowing that her grandmother did not like her, and that no one in the family except her mother treated her kindly.

My grandfather was an alcoholic who did nothing but drink every day. My father was unemployed and sponged off his parents at home. He would use the excuse of having a business to go out gambling, which only made our already poor family worse off.

Scenes flashed through her mind, as if Qi Tong had personally experienced them; she knew all the events and all the details.

Her mother works in another city and can only come back a few times a year when she is busy. She stands at the entrance of the village, stretching out her hands to count the number of times her mother has come back this year. She can count them on both hands.

The little girl wondered if her hands would grow bigger and longer, so that her mother could come back more often and spend more time with her.

Dad went to do business again, but this time he called home saying he didn't bring any money and asked her to run an errand to deliver it to him. She was so happy, finally she could help Dad!

She asked her grandfather for money, and he exhaled a foul breath, then kicked her angrily: "Money, money, money! All you think about is money! Just like your dead mother and your worthless father! I have no money, get out..."

She struggled to her feet, brushed the dust off her clothes, and took out several hundred yuan from under her pillow, which she had found while washing her blankets.

But she didn't know who put it there; she knew the money existed but never dared to touch it.

Without thinking twice, she ran to the location her father had described.

Along the way.

She wondered if her father's business would be successful this time.

Will Dad be happy if we succeed?

If she succeeds, will she no longer have to be beaten so often?

If I succeed, will Mom come back?

……

Just as she was about to reach where her father was, she passed by the river and saw her grandmother.

Grandma was carrying a vegetable basket in one hand, her clothes were covered in dust, and she was cursing and swearing. It seemed that she had gotten into an argument or even a fight with someone while shopping for groceries.

Qi Tong instinctively tried to hide from her grandmother, but her grandmother saw her immediately and quickly walked to her side, scolding her for not staying home properly and what she was doing.

Qi Tong opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, her grandmother saw the bright red money clutched in her hand.

"Slap!" A slap landed on my face, stinging painfully.

"You little slut, you've even learned to steal money? Just like your dead father, you only learn bad things and nothing good. Do you know that because of you, I get laughed at even when I go to the market to buy groceries? What kind of karma have I created?!"

As he spoke, he snatched the money away, shoved Qi Tong to the ground, and cursed as he prepared to go home.

Qi Tong's eyes were fixed on the banknotes in her grandmother's hand. This was a task her father had given her, and if she didn't complete it, her father wouldn't be able to do business.

He gets unhappy when he can't make a deal, and when he's unhappy, he hits her.

She looked down at her hand, which had been shoved and scratched. Her ill-fitting clothes revealed most of her arm, which was covered in bruises. She gritted her teeth and called out to her grandmother.

"Grandma! That money is from Dad's business! You can't take it; I need to take it to Dad!"

The old man's hunched back stopped abruptly, and then an even greater hatred welled up in his heart.

"You brat, how dare you yell at me?! No matter what, I'm still your grandma!" Then she walked towards Qi Tong step by step.

"Your dad, that good-for-nothing, says he's in business and you're the only one in the family who believes him! Don't mention him to me again!"

He then started slapping Qi Tong, yelling, "I'll slap you to death, you little slut! How dare you talk back to me!"

Qi Tong instinctively tried to run away and kept backing away, but her grandmother pressed on step by step until Qi Tong stepped onto the riverbank. The soft mud tripped Qi Tong, and she fell into the river.

But this height would be life-threatening only for a small child like her; any adult could stand inside it.

Qi Tong flailed wildly in the water, trying to get out and calling for help, but couldn't utter a word.

Seeing Qi Tong fall into the water, a hint of panic flashed in Grandma's cloudy eyes, followed by a fierce spit.