Geng Shiba, confined to his sickbed, knew his end was near. He told his wife, "You and I are about to part forever. After I die, will you remain a widow, or will you remarry?"

His wife remained silent.

Geng Shiba prompted, "Speak up, why the silence? Remaining a widow is certainly noble, but remarrying is only human nature. In any case, give me a clear answer."

His wife replied, "The house is so poor we don't even have a single shi of rice. When you were well, we barely ate enough. How am I expected to remain a widow?"

Hearing this, Geng Shiba grabbed his wife’s arm, his voice laced with resentment, "You are truly heartless." The words were barely out when he drew his last breath. Even in death, his hands were clamped tightly onto her arm, refusing to let go. Terrified, she shrieked until the family rushed in, taking considerable effort to pry his fingers open.

Unaware that he was dead, Geng Shiba’s spirit drifted out the door. He saw over a dozen small carts parked by the roadside. Each cart held ten men and women, all covered in slips of paper dense with names written upon them.

The cart driver spotted Geng Shiba and pointed to one of the carts, ordering, "Hurry up and get on." Geng Shiba dared not disobey and numbly boarded the vehicle. Nine others were already inside; with him, they made ten. A quick glance confirmed his own name on one of the slips, filling him with confusion.

The wheels began to turn, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at a certain location. Someone announced, "This is the Place of Yearning." He overheard the drivers whispering amongst themselves, "Killed three today."

Geng Shiba was struck by terror and immediately focused on the drivers' conversation. Discovering they were discussing matters of the underworld, he finally realized, "Could it be that I have become a ghost?" The thought of his recently departed body, his mother left uncared for, and his wife likely remarrying brought a wave of sorrow, causing him to weep.

The carriage continued its journey, stopping before a towering platform several zhang high. It was thronged with sightseers, all disheveled and wearing cangues. Someone remarked, "This is the Watch-Hometown Terrace."

The drivers forcibly ushered the group to the ground. The collection of souls jostled and scrambled, pushing to climb the high platform. The drivers grew angry, raising their whips and lashing out fiercely, shouting, "Stop right there! Not everyone is qualified to ascend the Watch-Hometown Terrace. Those who have committed numerous wicked deeds in life are strictly forbidden from climbing." The driver pointed at Geng Shiba and said coldly, "You, you may ascend."

Geng Shiba scrambled up using both hands and feet, reaching the summit in one continuous effort. He gazed out, and the scenery of his hometown unfolded before his eyes. Overcome by the sight, his eyes burned with emotion. A figure beside him inquired, "Brother, a grown man like you is crying? Is there something you can’t let go of?"

Geng Shiba sighed, "I worry about my wife remarrying and my aging mother having no one to care for her."

The other man scoffed, "Worrying is useless! Since you miss your mother, why not go home and see her? I can show you a clear path, but I fear you might lack the courage."

Geng Shiba stood tall, "Who says I lack courage?"

The man chuckled, "Good, you have spirit. To tell you the truth, I am a carpenter from the East Sea, my surname is Zhang and my given name is Wu. Like you, I am a spirit. But I don't want to die; I plan to escape. Do you dare to run with me?"

Geng Shiba asked, "How do we escape? What if we are discovered by the ghost bailiffs?"

The carpenter laughed, "Don't worry, I have everything covered. Brother, this chaos is the perfect opportunity to flee. I’ll count one, two, three, and we’ll jump off the Watch-Hometown Terrace together and run home, what do you say?"

Geng Shiba hesitated, "The Watch-Hometown Terrace is too high. What if I break myself when I land?"

The carpenter cursed, "Bah! You want to go home, but you’re afraid of a little fall. What kind of soft man are you? I’ll jump first. If you’re too afraid to jump, suit yourself." With that, he leaped, landing soundlessly and steadily on the ground below.

Geng Shiba gritted his teeth and jumped immediately after. Fortunately, the ground was soft, and he was uninjured.

The two men took off, sprinting with all their might. Geng Shiba remembered the slip of paper with his name on it still stuck to the cart. Taking advantage of the drivers’ inattention, he quietly returned to the carriage, moistened his hand with saliva, and secretly wiped his name away. The carpenter followed suit, mimicking his actions precisely.

The two ran home, breathless and parched. Geng Shiba entered the bedroom and saw his own corpse lying stiffly on the bed. He swiftly guided his soul back into his body and soon awoke, crying out, "Water! Bring water quickly!"

The family, terrified, brought clear water as requested. Geng Shiba gulped it down continuously, finishing an entire large bucket. He then strode out of the room to the open space outside, bowing repeatedly, kowtowing, and making gestures of respect for a long time before reluctantly returning inside.

His mother, summoning her courage, touched his forehead. Feeling warmth, she was both shocked and delighted, exclaiming, "Shiba, you're not dead?"

Geng Shiba smiled, "I died once, but your son couldn't bear to leave his mother, so I returned to life." He then used gestures and words to recount the entire episode.

His mother asked, "What were you doing outside just now?"

Geng Shiba replied, "I was saying goodbye to Big Brother Carpenter."

His mother then asked, "Why did you drink so much water?"

Geng Shiba explained, "Half was for me, and half was for Big Brother Carpenter to drink."

His mother finally understood. She immediately ordered the servants to prepare soup and rice. Geng Shiba took a few sips of soup and a few bites of rice. After resting for a few days, his illness was cured. However, disgusted by his wife’s heartlessness, he never shared a room with her again.