South Mao, North Ma.

Summary

In a county town, a house with two courtyards is described, where the narrator, Ma Nao, and Shi Ye gather in the back courtyard. Shi Ye recounts his experiences with Boss Zhao, a generous man whose mother recently passed away. She had lived in the ancestral home but preferred staying there despite Boss Zhao's relocation to Shenzhen for business. The old lady's health fluctuated, seemingly improving when Boss Zhao visited but declining when he stayed away. Eventually, she became fond of raising cats, which seemed to help her health. Tragically, she later hanged herself, leading to a horrifying discovery by the household staff, revealing a shocking end to her story.

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