Ashley Grant glanced again at those paper effigies and said with some nostalgia, “My grandfather used to make these too. Big items like this aren’t something every family is willing to buy; you can only make a few each year.”

So that’s how it is. The head photographer nodded in understanding. “Yeah, old customs. These banners are meant to accumulate merit and bring blessings for the deceased. If they can’t be set up, people will gossip... Well, it’s got nothing to do with us anyway. Who knows what’s really going on—let’s go, let’s go.”

……

The rented place, though an old-style residence, was lived in year-round. Aside from being a bit dim due to poor lighting, the conditions were decent. After Ashley Grant finished unpacking, he saw Brian Carter enter his own room—they were neighbors.

Brian Carter was gnawing on a marinated chicken claw from who knows where, talking as he ate: “Weren’t we supposed to shoot a night scene at the residence tonight? I heard the location is just across from the funeral hall. I just heard the director is discussing it…”

“Will there be a change?” Ashley Grant asked.

“Not sure, maybe.” Brian Carter replied.

After dinner, they received a last-minute notice: tonight’s shoot was canceled.

“I guess the director is still worried about disturbing the deceased,” Brian Carter said. “All the night scenes are postponed until the funeral is over. They’re revising the call sheet—we’ll start again tomorrow during the day.”

The person passed away just yesterday, and the funeral hall was set up near one of the filming locations. They couldn’t have predicted it in advance, and in this industry, there are plenty of people who are superstitious. They’d rather delay work than risk it, so this outcome wasn’t too surprising.

“Come with me to buy a pack of cigarettes,” Brian Carter called to Ashley Grant, his craving kicking in. There was only one small shop in the village, at the main road intersection.

Ashley Grant complained, “Did you need classmates to go to the bathroom with you in elementary school too? You’ve really matured a lot since then.”

He was just teasing, but still went with Brian Carter.

They passed by the funeral hall again. Night had just fallen, and according to custom, the family had to keep vigil—this was just the beginning. A few family members in mourning clothes at the intersection were once again trying to set up the banner, apparently not wanting to waste the expensive item that cost over a thousand yuan.

Brian Carter muttered to himself, “Why isn’t it up yet?”

Ashley Grant thought, if it keeps getting pushed the wrong way, it really is hard to set up the banner pole.

Brian Carter went into the shop to buy cigarettes, and didn’t notice that Ashley Grant had disappeared. When he came out, he saw Ashley Grant walking out of the funeral hall and exclaimed in surprise, “What were you doing?”

Ashley Grant glanced back. “Nothing, just felt awkward standing around, so I offered a stick of incense to the old man.”

The incense wasn’t great quality—the powder was uneven, and he even caught a whiff of mold.

“Really?” Brian Carter was confused, scratching his head. “...Should I go too?”

Ashley Grant: “Haha, it’s fine. Let’s go.”

At the door, Brian Carter said again, “Wait, let’s go next door and get a couple more chicken claws—they’re really good.”

The crew’s meals were cooked by local women, all gathered next door because there was a well outside, making it easy to wash vegetables.

At the door, Brian Carter winked at Ashley Grant to get him to ask. He’d already asked once during the day, and from experience, Ashley Grant always got better treatment.

There were a few women in the courtyard preparing ingredients for tomorrow’s breakfast. Ashley Grant knocked politely and asked, “Sisters, could I buy two marinated chicken claws?”

Though the women didn’t know Ashley Grant, his handsome looks—especially his clear eyes and sweet dimples when he smiled—made them instantly soften.

“No need to buy! I made a big bowl myself, much more flavorful than the ones you get outside. Hold on, I’ll get you some…” One of them wiped her hands and went to fetch the secret-recipe chicken claws.

Ashley Grant followed, trying to pay, but the women had already started chattering, asking about him—how old was he, he must be an actor, what shows had he been in, did he have a girlfriend...

Brian Carter sighed, as expected, whenever the ladies saw Ashley Grant, they’d open up within three minutes.

Ashley Grant wasn’t really paying attention to their questions, just staring at the chicken claws.

The porcelain bowl holding the chicken claws looked old, and the claws had all been cut in half, marinated to perfection, glistening red and tempting, garnished with dark braised scallion and ginger bits, dried chili, and bay leaves. The rich, savory aroma was mouthwatering.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Ashley Grant’s wrist as he reached for a chicken claw. The woman picking vegetables said mysteriously, “Young man, you all should be careful tonight. The house next door is where Old Miller, the one who passed away yesterday, used to live.”

The half-smoked cigarette in Brian Carter’s mouth instantly lost its appeal. “What the hell,” he blurted out. “You’re really open with us! Why did your village even rent us this house?? Which room did he live in?”

“Old Miller’s son rented it out—he lived in the room on the east side.”

“Don’t scare them! Young people these days don’t believe in that stuff. Besides, the house was cleared out a couple of days ago. He passed away in his younger son’s room.”

“We weren’t going to say anything... but it’s all settled in the village now…”

The women all chimed in, explaining that although the deceased had lived there, he hadn’t actually died in that house. Still, it was his residence while alive, and he hadn’t been gone long.