Following a discussion, Zhang Wei and Lu Lianxue decided to seek out the little girl's Grandpa Tang. They quickly went to the neighboring residential complex to ask residents about his whereabouts.
However, in this day and age, shadow puppetry is considered an antique art. If performed regularly in one place, no one would be inclined to watch for long; at most, they might watch once out of curiosity. Therefore, the residents did not know where Grandpa Tang set up his stall.
With no other option, Zhang Wei and the others could only visit other residential complexes. By evening, they returned to Grandpa Tang's complex.
Upon entering, they spotted an old man surrounded by a group of children on a lawn within the complex.
"That's Grandpa Tang," a resident of the complex pointed to the old man and told Zhang Wei and Lu Lianxue.
Grandpa Tang was very old, appearing to be around eighty. It was summer, and he wore a black short-sleeved shirt embroidered with the characters for shadow puppetry, suggesting he had sewn it himself. Besides that, he pushed an old bicycle, with a large leather case on the back seat – his shadow puppet box, and the tool he relied on for his livelihood.
At this moment, Grandpa Tang was surrounded by children, who were urging him to perform. Grandpa Tang nodded cheerfully. Despite having worked all day, he still opened his shadow puppet box for the children, set up the equipment, and performed shadow puppetry for them.
Seeing this scene, Lu Lianxue smiled. "Zhang Wei, this is my first time seeing shadow puppetry in my life. I used to hear my grandfather talk about it often. He used to tell me that when he was a child, they didn't have as many toys or cartoons as we do now; there was only shadow puppetry."
Zhang Wei replied, "Me too. This thing isn't common anymore. I've only seen it in movies, specifically those set in the 1980s and 1990s. Back then, people, both children and adults, would go to watch if they heard there was shadow puppetry. A crowd would sit and watch."
"Yes, but it's so rare now. This is my first time seeing it in my life."
"That's because shadow puppetry is intricate to make and troublesome to operate. Moreover, it lacks the grand special effects of cartoons. Although it's a folk art, nowadays, not only young people but even the older generation aren't interested in watching it."
Upon hearing Zhang Wei's words, Lu Lianxue looked at him with some surprise. "Zhang Wei, you know about shadow puppetry? I couldn't tell."
Zhang Wei replied, "It's not that I know it well. It's just that my dad told me about it before. He was once fascinated by shadow puppetry and even had me try making puppets. But it was too troublesome. You know how it is with a three-minute passion."
As he spoke, he watched Grandpa Tang, who was setting up the equipment and preparing to perform for the children. Zhang Wei continued, "Shadow puppetry isn't something you can learn just by liking it; you need perseverance. I learned this from my dad's experience when he was into it. To outsiders, shadow puppetry is just a piece of cloth, a puppet, plus some lighting, and then operated to perform for the audience."
"But it's not that simple. If it were that easy, shadow puppetry wouldn't be called one of the ancient folk arts."
"Anything called a folk art that has been passed down to this day must combine folk artistic craftsmanship and the wisdom of the people. It requires long-term learning to master. My dad, when he gave up shadow puppetry, once told me that liking it isn't enough; what's needed is passion."
Lu Lianxue nodded in agreement, watching Grandpa Tang perform. The shadow puppets moved vividly, and the children's laughter filled the air. "Yes, that's why folk arts are almost lost. No one is willing to learn them anymore, especially with the impact of more entertaining modern things like yo-yos and cartoons. Huh? Zhang Wei, what's wrong?"
As Lu Lianxue was speaking, she glanced at Zhang Wei beside her and noticed he was staring at Grandpa Tang, lost in thought.
Zhang Wei casually replied, "Nothing. I was just thinking, since shadow puppetry is almost lost, it's possible that today might be the first and last time we see it."
Lu Lianxue nodded in agreement and continued chatting with Zhang Wei. They didn't intend to disturb the children watching the shadow puppetry and decided to wait until Grandpa Tang finished his performance.
Because of this, and with Zhang Wei's casual remark and the captivating shadow puppetry, Lu Lianxue didn't notice that Zhang Wei's gaze had never left Grandpa Tang, both before and during their conversation. A strange glint was in his eyes. Otherwise, she would have been suspicious, as she knew Zhang Wei was stronger than her, and his Heavenly Eye could see more than others.
Indeed, this was the case.
At this moment, through his Heavenly Eye, Grandpa Tang, who appeared to be cheerfully performing shadow puppetry for the children, seemed kind and amiable despite his dark and thin physique.
However, in Zhang Wei's sight, Grandpa Tang was enveloped in a faint black aura, which was malevolent energy. And it wasn't just one strand; there were over a dozen, clinging to him like vengeful spirits.
At this sight, even Zhang Wei, if he were foolish, would understand. Grandpa Tang was not the next victim they had thought, but rather… he was the ghost exorcist who borrowed lives to extend his own.
Thinking of this, Zhang Wei frowned, looking at Grandpa Tang with disbelief. The man was currently performing for the children. Perhaps to cater to their preferences, Grandpa Tang was using shadow puppets of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf that he had specially made.
Influenced by his father, Zhang Wei understood shadow puppetry. The craftsmanship of the Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf puppets was exquisite and meticulously made, vastly different from his father's amateur attempts. Especially the genuine smile on Grandpa Tang's face…
It was impossible to associate him with an evil ghost exorcist who borrowed lives for longevity.
As he watched, Grandpa Tang was performing shadow puppetry for the children. Whenever the children were amused, he would often ask cheerfully, "Children, is Grandpa's shadow puppetry fun?"
"It's fun."
When he received the children's response, Grandpa Tang would perform with even more enthusiasm. Then he would say, "Then do you want to learn shadow puppetry? Grandpa can teach you."
In response, the children, who had already watched shadow puppetry several times, replied without hesitation, "Grandpa Tang, you always ask this. We're still in elementary school, we don't know how."
"We don't want to learn. My mom said it's very difficult to learn, and she said learning it means you won't have enough to eat."
"Hehe, Grandpa Tang, we just like watching."
Similar words were spoken. Although Grandpa Tang's smile remained and his hands continued to perform, Zhang Wei still saw a hidden hint of disappointment, or perhaps loneliness, in Grandpa Tang's eyes.
Zhang Wei took in all these changes. However, he didn't expose them, nor did he share what he saw with Lu Lianxue. This was because, at that moment, both Lu Lianxue and the children were engrossed in watching the shadow puppetry, and he didn't want to spoil the beautiful moment.
After some more time passed, the shadow puppetry performance concluded. As parents called their children for dinner, the children bid farewell to Grandpa Tang. Only then did Zhang Wei approach him.
Grandpa Tang also noticed Zhang Wei and Lu Lianxue approaching. A smile spread across his dark, honest old face. "Young man, young lady, I've finished my shadow puppetry performance. Do you still want to watch?"
To see young people interested in shadow puppetry, Grandpa Tang became very talkative. "I see you've watched from beginning to end. Do you really like shadow puppetry?"
"Haha, not many people like shadow puppetry these days. If you like it, I can perform again for you, or if you want to learn shadow puppetry, I can teach you."