Making withdrawals and doing the shopping in the big town went smoothly. By four in the afternoon, I was hurrying back to the hospital with an extra-large bag slung over my back. Zhao Fen, Zhao Fang, and Fang Yanmeng met me at the door, all three staring speechless at the figure behind me.

“This lady is Xiao Chuchu. I met her in the big town. She’s a reporter and photographer who said she was heading to Peach Blossom Village to sketch, so I brought her along.”

Zhao Fang muttered quietly to the side, “Hmph, he must have seen she was pretty and started scheming. Aren’t the three at home enough to look at?”

I felt so wronged in my heart. I ran into Xiao Chuchu by chance at the post office. She was asking the staff for directions to Peach Blossom Village. Since I was going that way, I offered a word or two. When we set off at noon, she followed behind me. On the road, I saw she was struggling with the load, so I voluntarily helped her carry two of her bags. Nothing else happened at all.

Although Xiao Chuchu had been silent on the road, she was suddenly very proactive and enthusiastic in greeting the three women. “Hello everyone. Can I stay here tonight and head to Peach Blossom Village tomorrow?”

Who could refuse a request from a beautiful, mature young woman? Zhao Fang took Xiao Chuchu’s bag while saying, “Sister Xiao, what are you going to our village for? There are no peach blossoms at this time of year. If you’ve come to see the blossoms, you should wait until spring.”

Xiao Chuchu looked surprised. “You’re from Peach Blossom Village? Oh, that’s wonderful! I was just worrying about not finding a guide. Can you take me to your village? I can pay you a reward.”

Zhao Fang hesitated and looked at me. I said, “I only agreed to bring Miss Xiao to the small town. She has to sort out the rest herself. You know I’m busy buying medicinal herbs during the day. Besides, your sister just had an accident; I don’t want you going back home for the time being.”

Zhao Fang gave Xiao Chuchu an apologetic smile,

“I’m sorry, Sister Xiao, the road to our village is very difficult. Brother isn’t comfortable with us going back.”

Xiao Chuchu frowned but quickly broke into a smile. “That’s fine. Let’s not talk about that for now. Can you invite me to dinner tonight? I’d really love to taste the mountain flavors.”

Fang Yanmeng chimed in eagerly, “Yeah! The congee I had last night was so fragrant, and those shredded pickles were delicious! Can you make another plate tonight?”

Zhao Fen smiled. “No problem, but everyone has to pitch in. It feels better that way.”

The three girls tried to carry the things I bought into the house for a closer look, but no matter how much they strained, face red, they couldn't budge the big bag I was carrying on my back.

Fang Yanmeng told the three of them, “Don’t bother. Someone will naturally carry it inside. Let’s go cook.”

In the big town, I withdrew all my savings, then dived into the town’s shops and stalls for a massive haul. Of course, I didn’t forget to set aside the 2,300 yuan I was buying Fang Yanmeng with. When it was time to leave, I realized I had too many things to carry.

A shop owner gave me a huge sack used for grain for free. I dumped everything inside and hoisted it onto my shoulder to walk the thirty li back. Luckily, I was quite strong now; otherwise, I might not have made it back before morning.

Just before dinner, Sun Lao Er came to collect the money. He spent over ten minutes counting the twenty-three RMB notes, examining each one back and forth. From the meticulous care the two brothers showed last night, it was clear that these 2,800 yuan might be the savings of their better part of a lifetime. If I had stubbornly refused to pay them, it probably would have cost the two brothers their lives.

Watching Sun Lao Er walk away beaming with the money, I felt a pang of reluctance in my heart. After all, that was money I had earned through hard labor. Although I had gotten a rather delicate girl for cheap, I knew she wouldn't listen to me. Besides, she promised to pay me back.

If Fang Yanmeng didn't pay me back, wouldn't it be wonderful if I could truly buy her out? Just like Sun Lao Er said last night, hehe, big breasts and a firm butt are for childbearing; small breasts and a small butt are for playing with... Pah, pah! Why are my thoughts getting so vulgar and base?

When we finally sat down at the dinner table, the four girls were already as familiar with each other as family. Xiao Chuchu even ranked them by age: she was 23 and declared herself the eldest; Fang Yanmeng was 21; Zhao Fen was 20; and Zhao Fang was 14. Upon hearing Zhao Fang’s age, Xiao Chuchu and Fang Yanmeng reacted even more strongly than I had.

I began to doubt Xiao Chuchu's true purpose for being here. Why would a young, beautiful female reporter come to the deep mountains for sketching? One must remember that even seemingly ordinary forests can take a life if danger strikes—something I’ve experienced myself. Xiao Chuchu isn't a child; she wouldn't have come here on a mere whim.

Just a few days ago, my room was desolate and quiet at night, but now... Zhao Fang’s liveliness is a complete contrast to her sister’s composure. Fang Yanmeng and Zhao Fang get along like a house on fire, often matching each other blow for blow, and with Xiao Chuchu occasionally ‘fanning the flames’ from the side, the room was filled with laughter and playful noise.

After dinner, the four of them moved to the corner that used to be my private space. I had intended to take Zhao Fen out for a walk, showing off the things I specifically bought for her, but Fang Yanmeng and Xiao Chuchu gripped Zhao Fen’s arms on either side, refusing to let her get up. Although Zhao Fang understood my intentions, she could only fret, giving me constant reassuring glances.

Xiao Chuchu’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming serious. “Sisters, since we all get along so well, I won’t hide it from you. I actually came to the mountains this time—to be precise, to Peach Blossom Village—to investigate the truth behind a photograph.”

Fang Yanmeng is interested in everything. She immediately pressed, “The truth behind a photograph? Sister Chuchu, can you tell us more details? Don’t keep us in suspense, okay?”

Xiao Chuchu picked up her bag, opening it to look for something as she addressed Zhao Fen. “I have a photograph taken in your Peach Blossom Village. You might recognize the people in it. Look here.”

Zhao Fen took the photo, while Zhao Fang and Fang Yanmeng leaned over her shoulders to see. Fang Yanmeng glanced at it and said, “It’s an old black-and-white photo, probably a family portrait of some household. What truth is there to investigate?”

Zhao Fen examined it closely. “It should be the Zhang family portrait. The photo is certainly old. All four elders seated in the front row are long gone. The strong men in the back row are old and frail now, only the few children held in front of the elders are in their prime.”

Xiao Chuchu smiled. “Sisters, is there no one who notices anything unusual about this photo?”

“Unusual?” The three girls looked quite surprised and all bent down to examine the photo again.

Fang Yanmeng scrutinized the front and back, even holding it up to the light, peering at it sideways, and even sniffing it. Finally, she concluded, “There are no bloodstains, no strange smells, and no secret codes or patterns. What’s unusual? Unless it’s like some secret documents that require special developing fluid?”

Xiao Chuchu chuckled heartily. “It’s not that complicated. Look closely at the image itself. Let’s see which one of you can find the abnormality. Zhao Qian, you come over too! Don’t just stand there alone downstairs, it’s so boring.”

She finally remembered to call me. Hmph. If it weren't for the chance to sit next to Zhao Fen, I wouldn't bother climbing up. This was originally my room and my bed, but now it’s turned out that I’m like a guest and they are the hosts.

Zhao Fen shifted to the side, making space between herself and her sister for me. I sat down right next to Zhao Fen and happened to glance at the photo in her hand—an old, yellowed black-and-white picture.

The background of the photo was an ancient peach tree in full bloom. The photographer captured the moment perfectly, getting the scattering petals into the shot, adding a hazy, dreamlike beauty to the whole image. It would have been even prettier in color.

In the absolute center of the photo were three rows of villagers: the first row consisted of five children, some sitting on laps, others held in front; the second row had four elderly people nearing the end of their lives; and the last row had five able-bodied men. On the surface, there really seemed to be nothing abnormal.

“Well, Big Brother Zhao, did you see anything?” Zhao Fen asked me.

Fang Yanmeng snatched the photo. “Zhao Qian might be strong, but these tests of eyesight might not compare to us girls.”

“That’s not true,” Zhao Fang retorted. “Big Brother Zhao will definitely find the abnormality Sister Xiao mentioned. I believe in him.”

Fang Yanmeng shoved the photo into my hand. “Zhao Qian, you’re something else. What trick did you use to get the sisters so devoted to you? Confess how many girlfriends you have back in the capital. Did you come to this remote mountain area because you couldn’t make it there?”

“Fang Yanmeng! I warn you, theoretically, I have paid for you, and I have absolute dominion over you. I order you not to verbally attack or slander me again.”

Zhao Fen pinched my waist lightly from behind, chiding playfully, “Big Brother Zhao, Sister Mengmeng was just joking with you.”

Fang Yanmeng turned her head away angrily, her delicate, crystal-like little mouth slightly pouted, which made my heart skip a beat. I almost regretted losing my temper with her just now.

But a man of honor keeps his word; the words spoken are like water spilled. How could I abandon my principles just because she is delicate and charming? Let her be angry; I must carefully examine the photo. I absolutely cannot disappoint Zhao Fang.

Seeing that I was observing closely, Xiao Chuchu reminded me, “Look carefully for anything that doesn’t follow the rules. This photo was taken thirty years ago by a lost photographer and has absolutely no artistic manipulation. I came here specifically to find out what caused this eerie photograph.”

Eerie photo? A sudden chill ran down my spine. Could one of the people in the photo have already been dead at that time? Impossible. If that were the case, Xiao Chuchu wouldn't be testing our eyesight; we wouldn't have known beforehand who had passed away.

Wait, the two men on the far left of the photo seem off. The man standing in the back row has his right hand clearly hanging vertically along his trouser line, but there is another hand on the right shoulder of the elder in front of him! Is it the left hand of the man behind him, or the right hand of another person next to the man?

But upon closer inspection, this hypothesis cannot stand. No matter the angle, the two men behind could not position their arms in such a manner resting on the elder’s right shoulder, unless their arms were detachable.

But what if their arms aren't detachable? That would mean there is an extra, inexplicable hand in this photograph! A ghost hand? A spectral claw? The more I thought, the more chills I felt down my back, especially since my seat was near the window, and the outside was pitch black. Who knows what might be lurking in the darkness?

“Fenfen, does this family have anyone who wears a prosthetic? This is so strange; there’s an extra hand here.” I pointed it out to Zhao Fen, hoping she could give a definitive answer.

Zhao Fen’s hands had been resting neatly on her lap, but after following my gesture to look at the photo, one hand involuntarily wrapped around my waist from behind. She wanted to gain a sense of security from me, but she hadn’t warned me beforehand. Just as I was lost in thought, her hand suddenly landed on my waist from behind, nearly making me jump out of my skin.

Zhao Fen’s voice trembled slightly. “N-no. I’ve never heard of anyone in our village wearing a prosthetic limb. This hand is really abrupt, as if... as if it appeared out of thin air.”

Fang Yanmeng snatched the photo. “Let me see.” Zhao Fang also leaned close to her. Both their expressions changed after a quick look.

“G-g-ghost... ghost hand.”

It wasn't so bad until they said it aloud. It seemed the very air changed its flavor. We heard a few howling gusts of wind outside, and whether it was insects or something else, there was a screeching, grating sound as something left streaks on the glass. Zhao Fen cried out and dove into my arms. Fang Yanmeng, unwilling to be left behind, also scrambled toward my embrace. Since Zhao Fen was already next to me, she leaned over and hugged me tightly.

I won’t boast, but I’m actually quite timid. Even five years of military service didn't make me brave. But with beautiful women present, how could I show my cowardice? Besides, even if I wanted to dive into someone else’s arms, I’d need someone to let me!

I forced a laugh to bolster my courage. “Look at you all, so frightened. It’s just an extra hand, and it’s in a photo, not like one suddenly appeared here.”

Xiao Chuchu said from the side, “It’s normal for you to be scared. The first time I saw this photo, my scalp tingled, and I felt cold all over. However, there is one more thing in this photo for you to find.”

With this hint, I quickly found the other strange spot. On the right side of the photo, two old men are sitting side-by-side. There should clearly be four legs, but no matter how I counted, there were five legs! A fifth leg was clearly visible between the legs of the two elders. No matter how long the legs of the people standing in the back row were, they couldn’t possibly maintain a standing posture and still stretch a leg between the two elders.