A Strange Encounter at the Flour Mill

In this world, many things may seem ordinary but are filled with mysteries. Sometimes, you get startled by the unexpected, and by the time you realize what happened, it's already over. Initially, the person who told me this story didn't mention these details, but upon careful consideration, I pieced it all together.

The story takes place over thirty years ago. It was a scorching June that year. Chen, an elderly man who lived near the flour mill, had retired but couldn't stay idle. So, he took on a night watchman job at the mill's shipping and receiving office. His wife wasn't pleased with his decision, arguing that after a lifetime of labor, he should be enjoying a peaceful retirement at home. However, Chen paid little heed to his wife's complaints, as older generations of workers tend to do. They believed that once they stopped working, they might as well be dead. Moreover, the mill was conveniently located nearby, making the daily commute hassle-free.

The flour mill had been established for many decades, long before the founding of the nation. It was rumored to have been built by foreigners. When Chen first started working at the car factory, the flour mill was already a prominent local business. However, it had experienced a catastrophic fire about twenty years ago. The fire turned the sky red, and even water trucks from neighboring cities had rushed to help. The exact cause of the fire remains a mystery to this day. Various speculations have arisen, including electrical faults, lightning strikes, and flour dust explosions. Regardless, the mill claimed many lives in that devastating fire.

Because of the era and transportation difficulties, proper cremation was impossible, especially for those who had died in the fire. Therefore, the mill workers had to bury the deceased in a nearby graveyard. There was already a cemetery, and some graves had been abandoned, with no family left to mourn them. Over time, the mill workers began to tell strange stories about the mill's vicinity. They spoke of restless souls wandering at night and tales of people falling victim to evil influences. These stories had led to the hanging of protective talismans on the mill's rear entrance.

However, Chen was a pragmatic man who didn't believe in ghosts or superstitions. Despite working there for over a year, he had never encountered anything unusual during his nightly shifts.

One night, as it neared midnight, the retiree Chen was about to finish his shift when an unexpected event occurred. Another retired mill worker named Lao Feng arrived at the office, intending to take over the night shift. It was odd because it was Chen's scheduled shift.

Lao Feng, in his sixties and another retiree from the flour mill, was there to trade shifts with Chen. His son, working in another city, was returning home the next day, and Lao Feng wanted to be there to greet him. Chen had no objections; it was just a shift change.

Chen, even though a bit perplexed, finished his work, collected his things, and headed for the mill's rear exit. It was an eerie route, passing the old cemetery, but he didn't mind.

However, as he walked along the path, he noticed three figures sitting on the ground, playing cards. There were two kerosene lamps beside them. Chen wondered why anyone would be out here playing cards so late at night.

The man in black, who appeared to be the eldest of the three, spoke with a raspy voice, inviting Chen to join their game. He insisted, saying they were missing a player, and they were just starting to enjoy themselves. Chen declined, explaining that he had to return home.

The second man, whose face Chen couldn't clearly see, chimed in. He claimed that playing with just three people wasn't much fun, and they needed a fourth player. Moreover, they weren't betting much money, and Chen likely had some cash on hand.

Chen was a sociable man who enjoyed card games. He decided to stay for a few rounds, but he was cautious.

They played for a couple of hours, and after winning and losing a few rounds, Chen had accumulated a small pile of cash. But the encounter felt strange. He couldn't shake the feeling that these people were acting oddly.

After winning one final round, Chen decided it was time to leave. As he stood up and prepared to say goodbye, the man in black urged him to stay and play a couple more rounds. Chen politely declined, explaining that he had to return home.

The man in black laughed and mentioned that they had been waiting for someone for over twenty years. Chen was puzzled and asked who they were waiting for. The man replied, "We've been waiting for you."

Chen was taken aback by this cryptic statement and the absurdity of the situation. He hurriedly left and didn't look back. He couldn't help but think of the eerie nature of their words.

As he continued his way home, Chen's path took him past the same cemetery he'd encountered earlier. He wasn't sure what to make of the bizarre experience and decided to dismiss it as an odd dream.

However, when he returned home, he learned some shocking news. Lao Feng had suffered a sudden heart attack while working in the receiving office and passed away during the night.

Chen was startled by the news. Lao Feng was in good health, and the heart condition he had was relatively minor. The thought of the strange encounter he'd had earlier that night suddenly resurfaced. He couldn't help but wonder if the men he'd met were somehow connected to Lao Feng's death.

To confirm his suspicions, he decided to investigate the contents of his pockets. When he pulled out the money his wife had given him, he found it mixed with some partially burnt joss paper.

The shocking realization sent shivers down Chen's spine. He knew the joss paper was a form of offering to the deceased and was often burned during funerals and ceremonies to honor the spirits of the dead.

In a daze, Chen couldn't help but think that the strange card game he'd encountered was far more than just a dream.