The Secret in the Lock

Master Yao has been running a key stall at the intersection for ten years, witnessing all sorts of people and strange events. However, the person and event he encountered one day were truly unforgettable.

It was a chilly winter evening, and as Master Yao was about to close his stall, an elderly gentleman, about the same age as him, approached. Despite his age, the gentleman was well-dressed in a coat and scarf, exuding an air of dignity and respectability.

The gentleman walked straight up to the stall and asked, "My friend, could you do me a favor?" Master Yao replied, "Of course, is it that you forgot your keys and can't get home?"

The gentleman said, "No, it's not that. I have something locked at home, and I've lost the key. Could you come with me to help unlock it?"

Master Yao asked, "Can't you bring the item here?" The gentleman shook his head helplessly, "No, it's not something that can be moved around casually." Master Yao kindly said, "Alright, wait a moment, I'll close up and follow you."

After closing his stall and gathering his tools, Master Yao followed the gentleman through a maze of alleys into a residential area and up to the seventh floor. The gentleman unlocked the door, and Master Yao entered.

The gentleman offered Master Yao a seat and apologized, "I'm sorry, the house has been unoccupied for a while, there's not even a cup of hot water." Master Yao, already pulling out his tools, said, "No worries, what lock do you need me to open? Bring the item here."

The gentleman fetched a stool, stood on it, and took a box down from a high altar, placing it in front of Master Yao. Master Yao was startled; it was a urn. He asked, "My friend, why are you opening an urn?" The gentleman suddenly choked up and said sorrowfully, "My friend, you don't know, after my wife passed away, I put a lock on the urn to ensure her ashes were safe. Last night, she came to me in a dream, asking me to scatter her ashes in the river where we first met, but I... I've lost the key to this box! Please, consider it a good deed, a way to accumulate virtue."

Touched by the gentleman's words, Master Yao said, "My friend, don't worry, I will open it for you." He then took out his tools and swiftly unlocked the box.

The gentleman held the urn, staring at the ashes inside, tears streaming down his face as he spoke to himself, "Ah Rong, I've come to see you." Master Yao, not wanting to cause the gentleman more sorrow, comforted him, "My friend, don't be too sad. Talk to your wife, I should be going."

The gentleman wiped his tears and handed Master Yao a hundred-yuan bill, "Thank you, you've helped me greatly. This little money is not enough to express my gratitude." Master Yao declined, "This is too much, I just did a small task, I can't accept so much money." The gentleman insisted, "This small amount is not enough to show my thanks! Please take it, or I won't be able to rest in peace!" Master Yao reluctantly accepted the money. After leaving the gentleman's home, he was filled with emotion, thinking to himself, that gentleman is truly a man of deep affection and loyalty.

The next day, after breakfast, Master Yao was about to set up his key stall when he realized his hat was missing. It had been with him for over a decade, and like shoes, finding a comfortable hat was no easy task... Anxious, he searched everywhere and suddenly remembered, he had left his hat at the gentleman's house the night before. He had no choice but to go back.

Fortunately, Master Yao had a good memory and navigated his way back to the seventh floor of the gentleman's building. The door was closed, so he rang the doorbell. After a while, the door opened, and a slightly plump middle-aged woman poked her head out and asked, "Who are you looking for?" Master Yao replied, "Oh, I'm the key maker from the intersection. I came to unlock something for you last night and left my hat here." The woman said, "You've got the wrong place, we didn't have anyone here last night!" Master Yao said, "I'm sure it's the right place. Last night, a gentleman from your home asked me to come up and help unlock the urn on the altar."

The woman asked, "What did he look like?" Master Yao thought for a moment and said, "He was wearing a coat with a scarf around his neck, very distinguished. He said he wanted to scatter his wife's ashes in the river but lost the key. If you don't believe me, check the urn on the altar." The woman's eyes suddenly filled with horror, and she said, "Master, please come in!"

Master Yao entered the house and saw the urn still in its place. The woman fetched a stool, brought the box down, and upon opening it, she screamed and fell to her knees, "Mom, don't scare me, I was wrong to stop you from remarrying, I'm sorry! I deserve to die!"

Master Yao quickly asked, "Miss, what's going on?" The woman wiped her tears and said, "Master, you don't know, my father died early, and my mother raised us with great difficulty. A few years ago, she suddenly said she wanted to marry an old gentleman, but we, her children, afraid of what others might say, didn't agree. Last year, my mother passed away, and soon after, the old gentleman also died, I didn't expect..."

The woman took out a photo from a drawer and handed it to Master Yao, "Master, look, is this the person who asked you to come up last night?" Master Yao looked, and indeed, it was the gentleman from last night, sitting on a bench with an old lady, both with happy, intoxicated smiles on their faces. Master Yao said, "That's him, so he didn't scatter your mom's ashes in the river?"

The woman shed more tears and said, "Master, you don't understand, the old gentleman just wanted to trick you into helping him unlock the box. He never intended to scatter my mom's ashes in the river. All he wanted was to be with my mom. Look, the ashes in the box are twice as much as before!"