Strange Supernatural Tales.

Summary

The passage describes a scene in the afterlife where the protagonist encounters souls waiting to be transported to their next destination. After bidding farewell to his friend Liu Peng, he observes the various spirits' reactions to death, ranging from despair to disbelief. A cunning merchant named Deng Zhong Hua approaches him, offering a cigarette and flattering him, recognizing the protagonist's unique status among the ghosts. The narrative explores themes of mortality, the equalizing nature of death, and the human tendency to seek validation and recognition, even in the afterlife.

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