My name is Shen Du, and I collect stories. These days, few people are willing to listen to old folks tell tales, but seeking out those stories is what I do. Some say I’m building up good karma; others say I’m courting death. But I know that behind every seemingly outlandish tale lies a truth no one has ever told.
This time, I arrived at Zishan Village in western Hunan. As soon as I entered the village, I saw an old woman burning joss paper and muttering, “Xiulan, stop looking. Those shoes aren’t in the village...”
When she saw me approach, the old woman looked up in terror. “Young man, run! She’s back! She’s come back wearing those embroidered shoes!”
The “Xiulan” she spoke of was a young woman from the village who vanished ten years ago. And those red embroidered shoes led to a horrifying tale from the past...
