Changping Village, by the river at the foot of Mianniu Mountain.

In the dead of night, everything is silent except for the mountain wind howling in the forest. The water in the river at the foot of the mountain has receded to its lowest point, almost drying up in some places, leaving only a small puddle.

Withered and rotten aquatic plants clung to the mud in the river, emitting a fishy stench.

On the river dam, a carriage was approaching from far away. A windproof lantern was hung on the front of the carriage, and two farmers sat side by side to drive the carriage.

In the carriage, the eldest Sun and her sisters were also sitting next to each other, talking quietly.

Whether it is at the front or the rear of the car, there is a butcher's knife.

When he went out earlier, Yang Huazhong prepared to put a hatchet in the car, firstly to ward off evil spirits, and secondly to defend himself.

As a result, he was directly replaced by Da Sun. In Da Sun's words, "Your hatchet has never seen blood and has no murderous intent. Use mine!"

A wide butcher's knife and a long, thin boning knife.

As soon as the two knives were placed on the carriage, the horse became a little restless when he saw the two knives. Yang Huazhong gently stroked the horse's head and pressed his ears to soothe the horse for a while before it calmed down.

So along the way, with the shock of these two knives, the four of them became a lot more courageous.

It's two or three miles from Changping Village to the Taoist Temple. After leaving the village, walk all the way to the foot of the mountain behind, then turn right when you reach the river, and continue walking along the river dam on the right.

This road is all uphill, and there are large fields of crops on the right side of the river dam.

The fields in Changping Village, Lijia Village, Yujia Village, and Zhengjia Village are all grouped together.

In spring and summer, this field is very pleasant, but in the middle of winter, the field is barren and barren. Looking at it, in the vast and barren field, I wonder whose cotton stalks have not been pulled out in time, or whose family.

The scarecrow planted in the ground to scare the birds has not been removed. At first glance, it looks like someone is standing there stiffly with arms crossed.

"You can't look around at night. You can't see clearly when you look at it. It'll scare you to death!"

Mrs. Sun lowered the curtains of the car, touched the hairs on her arms and said this to Mrs. Sun next to her.

Mrs. Sun twitched the corner of her mouth, because she was pretending to be worried, so she put on a forced smile to deal with Mrs. Sun.

Mrs. Sun said not to look around, but she couldn't sit still for a moment in the car. In addition, Mrs. Sun spoke in a low voice and was a bit perfunctory, so Mrs. Sun turned her head and looked out the right window.

On the right is the river, and on the other side of the river is the mountain. The mountain at night is like a sleeping black beast, lying there, from south to north, traversing east and west.

"Sister, you said I am fearless today, but why am I feeling a little flustered tonight?"

Mrs. Sun looked at the mountains outside the right window, patted her heart and said again.

Mrs. Sun raised her head and smiled and said, "Sister, then don't look outside."

Xiaojie's father, who was driving the carriage in front, also said after hearing this: "My sister is right, don't keep looking outside. It's dark everywhere at night, there's nothing good to see!"

Mrs. Sun curled her lips and said, "Why do men interrupt women when they are talking? If you rush your carriage, you will drive us into the ditch soon. I am asking you!"

Xiaojie's father laughed twice, and Yang Huazhong also laughed.

The laughter of the men emboldened the women that night.

After two or three miles of journey, the four of them arrived at an uphill ridge called "Yikeshu".

There are so many trees in this place. There are trees on both sides of the river dam. Because of the high terrain, the river ditch is nearly twenty meters high from the river dam. Extending downward from the river dam, there are trees layer upon layer. In spring and summer,

When we are here, these trees simply block out the sky and the sun. If you look up from the river below, you won't be able to see the sky.

If you stand on the river dam and look down, you can't see the river either.

Some drunkards passed by here after drinking. If they walked incorrectly, they might have fallen from the right side.

But because the bottom was supported by trees, he didn't fall into the river if he fell, but hung on a branch. When his family came to find him, they found that he was still sleeping soundly in the tree!

These trees act as a natural protective barrier, which has benefits, but also disadvantages.

For example, some men and women in Shiliba Village like to take other people's wives, or they like to go out to do some things with other people's men. They wait in the village, in the wheat fields, in the cotton ditches, in their own firewood houses, or behind the latrines.

When there is something inconvenient to do somewhere, I will choose to come here.

Because under the layers of trees is soft riverside grass, a stone arch bridge is erected on the river, and the arch bridge can provide shelter from wind and rain.

So, when the carriage arrived nearby and started to turn on the arch bridge towards the Taoist temple at the foot of the mountain, Mrs. Sun once again raised the curtains of the carriage to look outside.

At the same time, he was still suppressing a smile and said: "I have never been to these places in such a late night. I want to keep my eyes open and take a closer look to see if I can catch a few pairs of wild mandarin ducks."

Mrs. Sun didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Sister, stop looking at it. It's such a cold day and water turns to ice. There can't be anyone outside."

But Mrs. Sun said: "You can't say for sure. Wild mandarin ducks are not afraid of the cold. They can hug each other and sleep in the snow even if it is freezing or snowy."

Mrs. Sun was speechless.

The eldest sister is still so playful despite her age. She just hopes that the two men in front of her won't hear these words, otherwise it will be a bit embarrassing.

As for the two men in front, how could they not hear it? They both have ears!

But both of them pretended not to hear, and drove the carriage carefully past the arch bridge... Suddenly, Mrs. Sun suddenly shouted:

"Yeah, look, there's someone over there!"

Mrs. Sun in the carriage was startled.

In a place like this late at night, you tell me there is someone there?

Someone!

"Sister, please stop looking blindly and quickly put down the curtain."

Sun's first reaction was to pull Sun's door open and lower the car curtains.

But Mrs. Sun became excited, "There are really people. Look, they are walking under the bridge and by the river, holding torches!"

Mrs. Sun subconsciously looked in the direction directed by Mrs. Sun.

There were indeed lights dancing by the river, and it really looked like someone was walking with a torch.

At this time, Yang Huazhong and Xiao Jie's father in front also heard the noise. They stopped the carriage and looked under the bridge.

Yang Huazhong said: "It's a bit far away. I can only see the torches, but I can't tell which one they are."

Da Sun said: "Walking along the river, it looks like I have lost something and I am looking for it while walking there!"

Yang Huazhong added: "There should be someone here grazing cattle in broad daylight. Maybe something dropped here while grazing cattle."
Chapter completed!