The Secret of the Index Finger

The index finger, not only symbolizes human greed for food but also conceals a mysterious forbidden technique capable of altering one’s physique. A woman, desperate for marital happiness, dared to experiment with this art, unaware of the terrifying curse lurking behind it.

In a southwestern town where I once resided, there lived an elderly man with sharp wit. Through conversations with him, I learned a mysterious tale related to the “index finger.”

In this town, a woman’s chances of marrying into a good family largely depended on her figure, especially the slimness of her waist. Rumor had it that some affluent households scrutinized brides’ waist measurements down to the millimeter, a stark contrast to the Tang Dynasty’s appreciation for plumpness.

Local residents despised the image of fat pigs, considering all forms of obesity as unsightly. Consequently, the local girls starved themselves, yearning for graceful and slender bodies.

Among them was a girl named Hieatt. Driven by her dream of marrying into wealth, she not only gave up meat but even abstained from consuming staple foods. However, fate played tricks on her—despite her laborious efforts and minimal fruit intake, her weight remained stubbornly unchanged. Perhaps it was genetics or an underlying health condition.

The thin girls around her mocked Hieatt, labeling her a “reincarnated pig spirit.” Her family worried about her future as her body continued to expand.

Hieatt and Noah, childhood sweethearts, eventually married. Unexpectedly, after joining Noah’s family, Hieatt’s figure began to rapidly slim down, making her the town’s renowned beauty. Yet, now a married woman, she faced unwelcome attention from admirers. Hieatt, discontent with her situation, adamantly refused to bear children, leaving Noah troubled. He knew that without children, he might lose Hieatt’s heart.

However, fate once again played its hand. Hieatt unknowingly regained weight, returning to her initial state as an ordinary farmer’s wife. She resented fate’s fickleness, while Noah secretly rejoiced, outwardly sharing her lamentations and consolation.

Over a decade passed, and Hieatt and Noah had several children. She gradually accepted her reality, settling into a peaceful life. Until their daughter Mary grew up.

Mary inherited her parents’ virtues and possessed striking beauty, yet her physique remained moderate, occasionally even slightly plump. By modern standards, Mary wasn’t considered overweight, but Hieatt dreaded her daughter following the same path. She strictly controlled Mary’s diet, with limited visible results.

As Mary neared sixteen, her waist circumference noticeably exceeded that of her peers, causing Hieatt sleepless nights. Witnessing her distress, Noah decided it was time to reveal a long-buried secret. He believed time had softened its impact, making it safe to share with Hieatt.

One night, lying side by side, Noah turned Hieatt toward him and solemnly said, “Do you know why you suddenly became thin after marrying into my family?” Hieatt shook her head, eager for an explanation.

Noah confessed that although their family was poor, they possessed a secret technique for weight loss. However, it was a forbidden family art, and misusing it could lead to consequences—though the specifics remained unknown.

After Hieatt’s marriage, Noah applied this technique to her. When she contemplated leaving, he reversed the spell, causing her to regain weight. He then explained the ancient Maoshan art: swallowing one’s own index fingernail temporarily slimmed the body, but the effect was limited, and frequent use had severe consequences, even potentially leading to horrifying events.

Hieatt, surprisingly, didn’t get angry. Instead, she urged Noah to help Mary lose weight using the same method. Despite Noah’s hesitation, he eventually agreed, warning Hieatt that further weight loss would come at a cost beyond mere fingernails.

With Noah’s assistance, Mary successfully slimmed down, becoming the most beautiful eligible girl in the vicinity. Coincidentally, the wealthiest local man sought a daughter-in-law, imposing strict weight and waist requirements. Hieatt fervently hoped Mary would be chosen. Although Mary was the slimmest candidate, she still fell short. The wealthy man declared that if no suitable bride emerged within a week, he’d look elsewhere.

Determined, Hieatt insisted Noah use the forbidden technique once more. Noah resisted, explaining that every spell had its limits, exceeding which would exact a heavy price. Undeterred, Hieatt insisted on securing Mary’s place in the wealthy household.

Reluctantly, Noah revealed that this time, it required more than fingernails—Mary had to consume her own index finger.

Driven by her mother’s wish, Mary painfully severed her finger and swallowed it. True to form, she rapidly slimmed down, successfully marrying into the wealthy family. Afterward, the town returned to tranquility, and Noah and Hieatt enjoyed newfound prosperity.

Not long after, Mary gave birth to a son, and everything seemed blissful. However, postpartum, her body swelled dramatically, and her weight spiraled out of control. Her in-laws were baffled by this sudden change and even threatened to divorce her if she continued gaining weight.

Worried and desperate, Hieatt questioned Noah about the cause. After researching ancient texts, Noah discovered that significant blood loss during childbirth could nullify the effects of the slimming technique. Unfortunately, during Hieatt’s delivery of Mary, the technique’s failure went unnoticed.

Facing their tearful daughter and wife, Noah’s heart twisted in agony. He explained that the technique could be used again, but…

Hieatt interrupted him, resolute: “No matter the cost, we must save our daughter.” Mary tearfully joined her plea.

Noah reluctantly revealed that their ancestors had sternly warned against abusing the technique, as it could incur divine retribution. No one in their lineage had repeatedly used it, leaving the consequences unknown.

Hieatt stubbornly believed that perhaps the ancient sorcerers had exaggerated. If no one had continuously employed the technique, how could they be certain of divine punishment? Yielding to the mother-daughter entreaties, Noah finally relented and decided to apply the technique once more.

However, this time, the price was far heavier. Both Noah and Hieatt had to sacrifice their index fingers, transferring the mystical power to Mary through an invisible blood bond. Enduring excruciating pain, they severed their fingers and had Mary ingest them. After the ritual, Mary swiftly regained her pre-marriage slender figure, and the relieved couple sent her back to her in-laws’ home.

The next night, horrifying news arrived: Mary died under mysterious circumstances. Her body appeared as if ravaged by wild beasts—barely more than a skeleton, bloodstains marking her struggle from the bed to the door. Clearly, she had endured immense suffering before her demise.

Noah, upon hearing this, felt his insides burn. When he arrived at the scene, he nearly fainted. Faced with his daughter’s gruesome death, he grappled with profound confusion and grief. Was this the so-called divine retribution?

Externally, Mary’s death was attributed to a sudden illness. To save face, the wealthy family paid Noah and Hieatt a substantial sum to leave. Upon learning the truth behind their daughter’s tragic end, Hieatt succumbed to guilt and chose to end her life. Noah, unable to bear the blow, vanished without a trace.

As I listened to the elderly man’s tale, I absentmindedly touched my own index finger, pondering whether consuming it could truly lead to weight loss. It was then that I noticed the man’s missing index finger—a silent witness to this ancient legend. Later inquiries revealed that people referred to him as “Uncle Noah,” a figure who emerged in the town only after liberation. His fingerless hand seemed to hold the secret of this age-old tale.