The Funeral Shop Only Deals with the Dead

On the seventh night after his grandfather's death, the old telephone in Deshoutang, disconnected for thirty years, rang. On the other end was his grandfather, who had just died. His grandfather said, “Lin, remember: when the phone rings three times, you have to answer. Once you take a job, you have to see it through.” From that day on, Xie Lin inherited this funeral shop, which only opened at the third watch of the night. Those who came calling in the dead of night included water ghosts looking for shrouds, and skin-walkers wearing his grandfather's face, come to buy coffins. The living came to buy burial goods; the dead came to buy a dignified end. Others ran for their lives when they saw a ghost. Xie Lin simply lifted his soul-summoning bell and said unhurriedly, “Line up and come in one at a time. This shop treats everyone fairly, living or dead.”