Mick Hartley

A modern-day Chinese ghost story from the Qilu Evening News (via Japundit):

12 December: Villager Mr. Chen never imagined that a month after his mother’s death, the cell phone that had been buried with her would still be in use.

The story begins one months ago, with the tragic death of Chen’s mother, who lived in certain village in Anzhuang, Feicheng [Shandong Province]. The entire family was distraught, and as a filial son, Chen bought a monoblock Nokia to bury with her. He made sure the phone was charged, and he installed the phone chip his mother had used while she was alive. This symbolized that he could contact his mother in heaven any time he wished.

But just a few days ago, Chen accidentally dialed his mother’s phone number, which was still stored in his own mobile phone. He heard a busy signal. Thinking he had mis-dialed, he called again, and the line was still busy. But the phone had clearly been buried—at this thought, Chen broke out into a cold sweat. That evening, he lay awake tossing and turning. The more he thought about it the queerer it seemed, so he finally told his wife. After talking it over, the two decided to make an inquiry at the mobile company the following day. They had just asked their question when, to their surprise, something even stranger turned up: the computer showed that the mobile phone had racked up a month’s worth of charges after his mother had died. Man and wife stared speechless at each other and fright seized their hearts. Wracking their brains, they decided to report the matter to the police, and have them figure it out.

After they made a report to the Anzhuang station of the Feicheng PSB, an investigation started immediately. From the mobile company they obtained the phone’s call record, which ultimately showed that a certain Mr. Sun, a 62-year-old villager, was the prime suspect in the case. In the face of iron-clad evidence, Sun bowed his head and admitted his guilt. He confessed to the following facts: on the afternoon of 1 November, when Chen was busy with his mother’s funeral, he discovered a monoblock Nokia among the burial effects. Greed was kindled in his heart, and at 11 pm on 14 November, he dug up the grave, stole the mobile phone, and made use of it.