Knowing Ghost Street, no one is unaware of the Eight-Foot Coffin Shop with entrances in both the front and back.

Those who make a living off funerals are most wary of leaving doors open for ghosts. No one dares to build a back door for their shop. Even if there is one, it must be walled off to keep the ghosts out.

But the Eight-Foot Shop has an entrance in both the front and back. The front plaque reads "Eight-Foot Shop" from left to right. The owner says, "A seven-foot man, an eight-foot coffin. The coffin is a foot longer than the person, so Eight-Foot Shop is just right."

However, the plaque in the back is read from right to left. It should have been written "Eight-Foot Coffin Shop," but the plaque is missing the word "Shop." It can only be read as "Eight-Foot Coffin."

Many people have told the owner about this, saying that the missing "Shop" is unlucky, but he refuses to change the sign, saying that he should live in a coffin himself.

That coffin shop never closes. The front door opens at dawn and closes at dusk. The back door closes when the rooster crows and opens when the lamps are lit.

As long as you see two unlit white lanterns hanging at the entrance of the coffin shop, it means the shop is open.

According to the rules of the funeral industry, no one pulls coffins out at night. However, the Eight-Foot Coffin Shop has been opening at night in the dark for decades without interruption.

Even the people on Ghost Street don't know if the Eight-Foot Shop has any customers at night. They only know that this is the rule of the Eight-Foot Shop.

After the old man finished speaking, I slammed the money on the table again: "Old sir, I want to ask how to enter the Eight-Foot Coffin at night?"

The old man was startled and sized me up for a long time before saying, "Young man, what are you going to the Eight-Foot Shop for at night? If you have business, go during the day! There are people there during the day."

"I want to go at night!" As I said this, I placed another stack of bills on the counter for the fifth time: "Tell me how to enter the Eight-Foot Shop, and all of this is yours."

The people on Ghost Street don't remember how many years it has been since anyone inquired about the Eight-Foot Shop. However, with the money in front of him, the old shopkeeper couldn't refuse: "Young man, do you really want to see the shopkeeper?"

I added another stack of banknotes: "Is it not enough? Is this enough?"

The old man quickly put the money away: "Alright! If you ask others, they really won't know. The shopkeeper of the Eight-Foot Shop usually doesn't see people. If it weren't for my grandfather's generation having a relationship with the Eight-Foot Shop, no one would know how to get in!"

The owner said mysteriously, "There are rules for entering the Eight-Foot Shop at night. You have to walk through the ghost gate, throw big money, light white lanterns, and knock on the coffin to find the shopkeeper."

"After midnight, walk to the back of Ghost Street. There's a crossroads there."

"Stand at the crossroads, first burn some paper money to send away the nearby wandering souls, then step across the crossroads. When you hear three footsteps beside you, it means you've passed through the ghost gate."

"Don't be afraid when you hear the footsteps. It's the ghosts who took your money, sending you off and telling others not to block your way."

The owner saw that I wasn't afraid and continued, "After you pass the crossroads, throw big money on the ground. The further the big money rolls forward, the further you walk. When the big money stops, throw it again."

"When the big money rolls to the door and hits the threshold of the Eight-Foot Shop, stop throwing it."

The old man took out a string of big coins from behind the paper figures and placed them in front of me: "I have big coins here, take them. The big coins sold outside aren't reliable. Only mine are good!"

When I took the string of copper coins, I smelled the scent of a coffin.

These big coins are probably ya kou qian (coins placed in the mouth of the deceased) dug out of dead people's mouths.

I took the big coins without a word.

The old man continued, "When you get to the door, light the white lanterns. You can't use any other fire to light the white lanterns. You have to burn the money and point it at the lantern. If the wick lights up and you see a red light coming from the lantern, then you can enter."

"If the lantern doesn't light up, don't go in. If the lantern doesn't light up, it means the owner of the Eight-Foot Shop doesn't like you and doesn't want to see you. Going in is just asking for death."

The old man saw me nod and said, "There is no counter in the back entrance of the Eight-Foot Shop, only a coffin."

"Don't be afraid when you see the coffin. Go over and knock on the coffin three times. When the coffin rings, the shopkeeper will come out. Do you understand?"

I nodded and said, "I understand, but what if something else happens? For example, what if the big money falls on the ground and doesn't roll forward, or rolls somewhere else?"

The old man touched the banknotes he had just put away: "If the ghosts don't let you pass, the big money doesn't move, the lantern doesn't light up, and the coffin doesn't ring, then go back! Don't look for the shopkeeper of the Eight-Foot Shop."

"Thank you!" I stood up and was about to walk out when the owner stopped me from behind: "Young man, wait. If you really can't get into the Eight-Foot Shop, don't forget to leave some money at the crossroads."

"You don't need much money, a thousand is enough. It's not for the living, it's to help the Eight-Foot Shop thank the wild ghosts. The rules of the Eight-Foot Shop can't be broken!"

"Got it!" I walked away without looking back.

Ye Yang followed me for a distance before saying, "What do you think of this?"