Lao Zhang is naturally an honest man.

People have been selling peaches here for generations. It can be said that they are honest people and make money in a clean way.

In this neighborhood, who from all over the country would not say good things to him?

But it happens.

Obviously, I sold a cart full of peaches during the day, and my family's life is getting better and better. It can be said that it is prosperous.

But he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

"The Taoist priest said that I have had some troubles recently."

"But I am just a small peach farmer, and I stay in the peach forest all day long. How can there be any twists and turns here?"

"Could it be possible that someone could come and cause misfortune?"

Lao Zhang squatted in his small courtyard, smashing the rotten peach stones and smoking his own dry pipe, feeling a little depressed.

Of course he didn't blame Wei Yi.

After all, the little Taoist priest, he knew right away that he was destined and capable.

And he is just honest and not stupid.

Obviously, people said this because he gave the Taoist priest a few peaches to quench his thirst because of his philanthropy.

Otherwise.

An ordinary Taoist priest might tell you: "The secrets of heaven must not be leaked."

If you meet a monk, they might even give you some tricks.

It is often the people at the lowest level who can truly feel the kindness of others.

At this time, a woman wearing a small flowered gown came over. Although she did not have the appearance of a beautiful woman, she had the unique simplicity of the villagers:

"Master, what are you muttering about there?"

"Come over quickly for dinner. I specially made a soft-shelled turtle today."

Hear this.

Lao Zhang, who was still depressed just now, was instantly resurrected with full health.

"You made a turtle?"

"This is a great supplement!"

"Hurry and call some children over and let's drink turtle soup together."

Lao Zhang knocked the stem of his pipe, patted his butt, and immediately forgot about the matter.

After all, turtle is not a cheap thing.

Being able to wear flower gowns and eat turtles, it is obvious that Lao Zhang and his family are considered rich farmers.

After dinner.

After the family chatted lively for a long time, Lao Zhang packed his bags and headed to the peach grove opposite.

Taolinzi is not close to home.

If he didn't keep watch at night, maybe a thief would steal the peaches.

I don’t care if I eat one or two during the day.

But if you steal a lot at night, you are trying to steal his lifeline, and you have to guard your precious food.

The night is quiet.

The dark clouds in the sky also gradually covered the moon, making it almost impossible to see the moon.

Stayed for the first half of the night.

In the second half of the night, Lao Zhang felt that he had fallen into a drowsy sleep.

I have never slept so peacefully before.

Half asleep and half awake, I heard a chirping sound next to my ear, as if someone was chatting.

The original sound was very complicated.

He heard a squeaking sound in his ears, which made his head buzz.

If he was awake, he would definitely go out with the soles of his shoes in hand and ask who was crying and howling here in the middle of the night.

But the problem is.

He was half asleep and half awake at this time. He couldn't wake up when he wanted to, and there was another noise in his ears when he wanted to sleep.

That made Lao Zhang very angry!

He didn't know what was going on. He was very irritable and still confused. He suddenly said something out of nowhere:

"If you want to say it, just make it clear."

"You are chirping there, crying like ghosts and howling like wolves, what are you talking about in a whisper?"

Not to mention it would be okay.

As soon as these words came out, the noise that had been very loud just now suddenly became lighter.

It seems to be slowly disappearing.

Just when he thought he could have a good sleep, he found that the very noisy and inaudible sound in his ears turned into the sound of two people talking!

A very thick voice seemed to be complaining with some displeasure:

"How are you doing, Mr. Water Ghost? My life is getting more and more sad these days. No one comes to offer incense, and my life is becoming more and more miserable. I have no taste in my mouth and am almost like a bird."

the other side.

A very eerie, but somewhat sharp voice sounded:

"Brother Shitou, you are so blessed that you don't know how blessed you are. You have gone ashore, but I am still in the river."

These words seemed to open up the conversation.

suddenly.

The owner of that eerie and sharp voice suddenly and mysteriously lowered his voice:

"Brother Shitou, I'm telling you quietly, today I got a secret and learned the secret in advance. There's no way I'll be able to go ashore at this time tomorrow."

"When the time comes, I will go and join your brother, and the two of us can live happily, right?"

Brother Shitou seemed a little curious and asked in a low voice:

"What kind of secret has my brother got? Can you tell me about it?"

Hear what he said.

The water ghost brother chuckled sharply, seeming to be very proud:

"Brother doesn't know."

"Those of us who are water ghosts have to struggle in the water day and night, and it's dark and wet all day long."

"But tomorrow will be different."

"Tomorrow at 3:30 noon, a middle-aged man with some bald hair will come. He will shake the iron pot on his head three times at a time. By then, he will be extremely thirsty and squat down by the Xiliang River to drink water."

"He is our scapegoat."

"When the time comes, we will drag him down to replace us. We won't have to be controlled by the river water, and we won't have to work hard to chat with you, Brother Shitou..."

In the end, the sound became lower and lower, and after a while, the sound was no longer audible.

And this time.

Lao Zhang also woke up suddenly.

He opened the small wooden house where he was guarding the peach tree, held a peach wood stick in his hand, and went out.

But looking around, he didn't find anything strange.

Don't call it a human being.

Not even a shadow of a ghost!

He was really tired, so he went back to his room, closed the door, and fell asleep.

But for some reason, what he said last night seemed to be a needle pricking his heart, making him a little worried.

finally.

During the day, Lao Zhang went back early, finished breakfast quickly, and squatted by the Xiliang River.

Today he had to find out whether he was dreaming last night or whether he really heard some strange words.

He had to see if there was such a person.

There is a specific depiction of the body shape, with an iron pot on the head, shaking three times with each step. How can this be a normal person?
To be continued...