Chapter 2: The Overbearing Older Sister

"Xiao An, you... what is this?"

Xu Panpan grew tense as she entered the small courtyard and saw Xu An. The ancient villagers were superstitious, harboring a natural fear of the undead. Seeing her pale-faced brother, looking like a ghost who had been hanged, Xu Panpan couldn't help but feel afraid.

"Sis, you don’t need to worry. I’m not dead. I just drank too much water, which blocked my chest and made it hard to breathe. That’s why I looked like I was dead," Xu An said matter-of-factly, speaking nonsense.

If the ignorant villagers believed he had risen from the dead, who knew what measures they might take against him? Calling a Taoist to perform an exorcism would be mild compared to other possibilities. They might build a coffin, affix countless talismans to seal him inside—then there would be no way out.

"R-really?" Xu Panpan hesitated.

Xu An stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "Sis, look—my palm is warm. If I were truly undead, how could my palm be warm? Right?"

"It’s warm, it’s warm..." she murmured.

"Thank heavens, thank the Bodhisattva Guanyin, thank the Jade Emperor..." Xu Panpan felt the warmth in Xu An’s hand and believed his words. Immediately, she pressed her palms together and bowed repeatedly, thanking all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens.

Xu An watched her, somewhat speechless but also touched.

Outside the door, a crowd gathered, but no one dared enter. What if Xu An was really undead and suddenly went berserk, biting people?

After thanking every deity she knew, Xu Panpan quickly turned to Xu An. "Xiao An, how do you feel now? Are you alright?"

"If something’s bothering you, tell me, don’t do something foolish like jumping into the river."

"If anything happened to you, what would I do? You little brat!"

As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, and she covered her face, sobbing.

"Sis, sorry to worry you," Xu An whispered softly.

It had to be said, though Xu Panpan was famously fierce, she truly cared for her brother. Though Xu An was a scholar, he was also a complete prodigal. Since Xu Panpan married away, within less than a year, all the family’s valuables had been squandered.

Over the years, the money Xu An used for studying or secretly going to brothels to watch girls dance was mostly given by Xu Panpan. Besides money, she often brought him food and clothes. Otherwise, with Xu An’s uselessness beyond reciting a few Confucian phrases, he would have starved to death at home long ago.

---

"It’s good that you’re alright, really... If anything happens again, tell me. Don’t ever do something so reckless."

Xu Panpan wiped tears from her eyes gently.

"I know, sis!" Xu Panpan nodded.

Then she suddenly shouted at Zhao Hong, standing by the door, "Zhao Hong, you wretch! How dare you curse my brother as undead? Come in here this instant!"

Startled by his wife’s roar, Zhao Hong shivered. He looked at Xu An and saw that aside from his pale complexion, he appeared normal. Confused, he recalled he had just checked Xu An’s breath and confirmed he was dead.

How could a dead man suddenly come back to life without reason?

"What are you waiting for?" Xu Panpan’s loud voice rang out again, breaking Zhao Hong’s thoughts. The courtyard was crowded, but Zhao Hong felt no shame and braced himself to enter.

Xu Panpan roughly dragged him in front of Xu An, furious. "Open your eyes and look carefully! Is Xiao An undead? Huh? Were you hoping something bad would happen to him?"

Zhao Hong scrutinized Xu An, frowning deeper.

Xu An grinned broadly. "Hello, brother-in-law."

Zhao Hong felt his scalp tingle but forced down his fear. "You were clearly dead just now. How did you suddenly come back to life?"

Xu Panpan’s eyes blazed with fury at her husband. "You’re the one who’s dead! My brother is very much alive. He just drank too much water and couldn’t catch his breath for a moment."

Zhao Hong dared not reply. At a time like this, if he argued back, he’d be barred from Xu Panpan’s bed for at least a month. He was middle-aged but still vigorous. How could he afford that?

Yet his gaze on Xu An remained filled with doubt.

"I’m really not dead, brother-in-law. I just drank too much water and couldn’t breathe," Xu An insisted.

"But your body is soaked white. How can you still be alive?" Zhao Hong remained skeptical.

"My brother is standing here alive and well. How could this be fake?" Xu Panpan glared menacingly at Zhao Hong, silencing him.

Of course, with Xu An standing right there, Zhao Hong had no choice but to relent.

He sighed. "Madam, since Xiao An is alive, the coffin we ordered earlier is no longer needed. I’ll quickly go tell them."

"Bah! What do you mean ‘come back to life’?"

"My brother never died!" Xu Panpan nearly exploded at Zhao Hong’s words.

"Alright, madam, please don’t be angry. I misspoke," Zhao Hong immediately cowered and hurried outside.

Outside the yard, he apologized to the villagers still gathered. "My brother-in-law isn’t dead. He just choked on water. Sorry for the trouble, everyone, please disperse."

"Not dead? He had no breath. How could he be alive?"

"His body was stiff and soaked! Impossible!"

"Village chief, what’s going on here?"

The crowd bombarded Zhao Hong with questions. Still bewildered himself, he made an excuse and left.

The villagers, having seen Xu An standing normally inside with no strange behavior, were less fearful but still cautious.

A few bold village women even stepped into the yard.

At that moment, little Su Yan’er came out holding a bowl. She approached Xu Panpan carefully, bowed her head, and called her “Sister” before looking at Xu An. "Husband, the food is warm and ready."

"Good, thank you for your hard work," Xu An smiled at the little girl.

"No... it’s not hard work. It’s my duty," Su Yan’er said, glancing at Xu An briefly before lowering her head again.

Xu An looked at Xu Panpan. "Sis, you all go back first. I’m fine now."

"Alright, Xiao An. Rest well. I won’t disturb you. If you need anything, just tell me, okay?"

"I will, sis."

Though Xu An’s soul was not the original’s, because of the original’s identity, calling her “sis” felt perfectly natural.

Then he turned to the other villagers. "Aunts, uncles, thank you all so much for your help with my situation."

"My house is a mess now, so I won’t keep you. In a few days, I’ll bring Yan’er and come personally to thank you. Please take care on your way home."

The villagers looked as if they had seen a ghost. Xu An usually looked down on them and never spoke politely like this. Could he have been possessed?