Rules of the Strange: Starting with the Weird Peppa Pig

He lay on the ground, his hands behind his head, lost in thought.

He suddenly remembered that Wu Xin had told him before that every ghost story is a story, and if you can know the whole story, you can easily pass through the ghost stories.

This was the place where he had grown up, yet he couldn't think of a single useful piece of information.

Thinking of this, a strange fighting spirit ignited in Li Fan's heart.

This is the place I know best. Can't I lead my older brother and younger sister to victory?

You're so dense, hurry up and think of something!

When Li Fan was having a headache, he looked at Wu Yin next to him and suddenly felt that he had been very stupid just now.

Why bother racking your brains when there's someone quick-witted right next to you, and still can't come up with a solution?

So he spoke softly, "Big brother, are you asleep?"

"No," Wuyin replied, seemingly lost in thought as well.

"Actually, I feel like there's something I've overlooked, but I don't know what it is."

This is the place I've lived since I was a child, but this ghost story is of no help to you at all.

Li Fan said with some distress.

Upon hearing this, Wuyin said, "That's just a place you lived when you were very young. You left here a long time ago, so it's normal that you can't remember things from before. It's not your fault."

When Li Fan heard Wu Yin say this, he also carefully recalled his childhood and spoke up.

"You know what? When I was little, the person I envied the most was my mother. She was not only knowledgeable about astronomy and geography, but also incredibly beautiful, like a fairy."

If I ever see my mother again, I will definitely take you to see her.

Upon hearing Li Fan's words, Wu Yin seemed to have realized something.

He turned to look at Li Fan, whose profile, illuminated by the moonlight, revealed his exceptionally good looks.

However, since he was still a student, his face still had some immaturity.

If he hadn't been chosen by the ghost stories, he would definitely be a handsome guy by now, the kind of guy who wouldn't lack female admirers.

“Yes, I believe your mother is quite beautiful,” Wuyin agreed.

Li Fan seemed to get more and more excited as he recalled the events, and he kept talking on and on.

"But because I didn't do well in school and was quite naughty, my mother really disliked me."

My younger brother is well-behaved and gets good grades, so my mother dotes on him.

Do you think grades are really that important?

"However, Da Niu Niang used to be very kind to me, often giving me delicious food. Seeing her like that in this ghost story, I was actually quite sad."

Da Niu Niang's husband was a soldier. During that turbulent era, he did not return to the village for more than ten years.

When he left, Da Niu's mother was already pregnant. He never came back, even after Da Niu had grown up. I wonder if Da Niu has seen his father yet.

Da Niu used to be a quiet little boy, always staying on the sidelines and not hanging out with us kids.

I used to see that he was lonely, so I often took him swimming in the pond with us in the summer. He was very shy with us young guys and always refused.

Later, I left the village too, and I really wanted to see what Da Niu was like now.

Li Fan's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, as if he were dreaming, dreaming that he had returned to his childhood village and was climbing trees with his friends to raid bird nests.

Soon, Li Fan's even breathing could be heard.

Wuyin listened quietly to Li Fan speak, and a clue in her mind seemed to be gradually taking shape.

……

The next day, just as dawn broke, sounds that were somewhat different from usual came from the village.

It was a bit noisy, but it also seemed to bring a sense of life to the place.

When Li Fan opened his eyes, he saw that Wu Yin had already gotten up and was standing at the window looking out.

Two or three children were playing outside the window. Li Fan couldn't help but rub his eyes and saw the familiar figures of his childhood friends. He couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Am I still dreaming?

He raised his hand and pinched his cheek.

"Ouch, that hurts. It's not a dream."

Wuyin turned around and looked at Li Fan: "It's like we've gone back to when you were a child. Do you think that child over there is you?"

He pointed out the window, where a very cute little boy, somewhat similar to Li Fan now, was holding the hand of another short-haired boy and talking non-stop.

The short-haired little boy being led around blushed all the way to the roots of his neck and didn't dare to say a word.

Li Fan looked over and recognized that it was indeed himself when he was a child, which made him feel a little embarrassed.

But looking at the boy next to him, he excitedly said to Wuyin, "Yes, that boy next to me is Da Niu. He's been shy since he was little."

Wuyin asked, "Is it possible that Da Niu is actually a girl?"

Wuyin was only guessing last night, but seeing this appearance this morning, she is now very certain that Da Niu is actually a girl.

Li Fan was a little confused: "Huh, a girl? A girl with short hair, named 'Da Niu' (Big Ox), and her mother said she was a boy."

Wuyin smiled but didn't explain anything, because the truth was about to be revealed.

The group went outside and looked at the bustling village. Li Fan spoke in a low voice with some excitement.

"Wuyin, this is my second uncle, this is my third maternal uncle, this is my third maternal uncle's aunt... Does this mean I'll be able to see my parents again?"

The surrounding villagers all looked at the two strangers, some saying curiously, but no one went up to speak to them.

Thinking of this, Li Fan became even more excited, and his breathing became rapid.

He rushed to his old home and peered through the window. Sure enough, his parents, whom he had been longing for, were sitting inside.

At this time, his parents had not yet had a younger brother, and they were especially good to little Li Fan.

When Xiao Lifan returned home after playing outside, his mother gently patted his head and dusted off his clothes, but her expression was somewhat sad and forlorn.

But Wuyin, who was watching from the side, noticed something was wrong.

Li Fan's mother is indeed beautiful, and his father isn't ugly either, but his father always has a fierce look in his eyes. It's just a mystery whose son Li Fan is, given his goofy personality.

Moreover, it seemed that most of the women in the village looked unwell, while the men chatted and laughed freely.

Li Fan secretly watched the intimate interaction between Xiao Li Fan and his mother through the window, and before he knew it, his nose felt a little sore.

When he witnessed this scene, he felt a pang of envy for his younger self.

Chapter 97 The Truth About Childhood (1)

At this moment, Li Fan's mother seemed to realize something. She paused while touching little Li Fan's hand, frowned, and subconsciously glanced at the window, but there was no one outside.

She was a little confused, but just thought it was because she had some neurasthenia and didn't think much of it.

Li Fan, who quickly crouched down outside the window, breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw that his mother hadn't noticed him.

He hadn't figured out how to face her yet, even if it was just a figment of his imagination.

Li Fan blinked, sniffed, and then looked up at Wuyin standing by the wall, saying, "I didn't lie to you, did I? My mother is the most beautiful woman in the village."

Wuyin nodded and hummed in agreement.

Li Fan stood up, took one last reluctant look at the house, and continued, "I saw my mother, and I have no other wishes. Let's explore other places first and see if we can find any clues."

Wuyin said, "Wait a moment. I feel like something's not right around us. You can stay here for a while and observe the situation."

Li Fan also subconsciously looked around. The scenery around him was changing quite quickly, and the green grass could be seen to be getting dry.

Moreover, the weather has changed even more since this morning.

In less than half an hour, the surroundings became incredibly stuffy and hot, as if it were the hottest day of summer.

Suddenly, a loud slap, accompanied by a woman's scream and the sound of her falling to the ground, came from behind the window.

Li Fan's breath caught in his throat upon hearing the sound. He turned his head and looked out the window into the room. When he saw the scene inside, he felt a sense of disbelief.

His mother was kneeling on the ground, covering her face. Horrible bloodstains seeped from between her fingers, showing that the person who had hit her had used extremely strong force.

And there was only one person standing in front of his mother, and that was his father.

His father wore a gentle smile, as if he wasn't the one who had just hit the woman, but his bright red palms told Li Fan what he had just done.

"This is an illusion, right? It's an illusion from a ghost story..."

Li Fan grabbed Wuyin's shoulder, as if she were now trapped in darkness and the man beside her was her only lifeline.

Wuyin patted him on the shoulder and answered seriously.

"This is definitely an illusion, but even if it is, if your father makes another move, we still have the ability to stop him, right?"

Upon hearing this, Li Fan seemed to regain some composure, slowly lowering his hand from Wu Yin's shoulder and nodding slightly.

Wu Yin completely understood Li Fan's feelings at that moment. Watching his father beat his mother, he must have been mentally devastated.

However, they should indeed be in an illusion now, but it is likely that everything happening now is the reality of what happened back then, and all these facts have been observed by someone's eyes.

Although Li Fan's mother was slapped to the ground, her expression showed no sadness, but rather a resolute determination.

"No, no matter what you say, I will never agree to it. Isn't Xiao Fan your child? How could you be so heartless as to sell him?"

The man in front of me still had a smile on his face, but the words he spoke were so harsh.

"You bitch! Do you even know that you and your daughter are both mine? I can make you do whatever I want."

That kid does nothing but raid bird nests all day, and he eats and drinks all the rice and flour in the house for free. Finally, someone has taken a liking to him and wants to buy him. You dare to stop me again?

Besides, he used to be someone's son; maybe they loved him even more than you doted on him. He was living a life of luxury back then, hahaha.

Li Fan's mother pursed her lips and remained silent for a while. Then she slowly stood up, blew on Li Fan's father's red palm, and her attitude suddenly changed. She spoke softly:

"I only have one son, which is why I'm so heartbroken."

"How about this, we'll have another one. After the second child is born, Xiao Fan will be yours to do as you please, and I won't stop you anymore, okay?"

"Besides, I think the people who want to buy Xiao Fan are offering too little money. Xiao Fan is so young, so the price is low. It's just a matter of having one more pair of chopsticks for us. In a couple of years, when he's a bit older, we can sell him for a better price."

Li Fan's father thought about it and realized that it was indeed true, so he couldn't help but curl a more sinister smile into his lips.