The Stone Carver.

Summary

In a traditional courtyard, Aunt Li is distressed over her son Lele's fever and strange behavior. As she cries for help, Zhao Xiao Min and the narrator observe ghostly figures resembling Lele's deceased playmates and their scarred parents. The ghost couple attempts to attack Aunt Li, but the duo intervenes, using a rope to bind them. After a tense confrontation, they manage to subdue the ghosts, who vanish. Aunt Li, confused and frightened, seeks help for Lele, who is found unconscious. Zhao Xiao Min reassures her that Lele's condition is due to evil energy and prepares to exorcise it, requiring a mix of cinnabar and boy's urine for the ritual. Despite initial embarrassment, the narrator collects the necessary ingredients, and Zhao Xiao Min performs the exorcism, drawing protective symbols on Lele's body.

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