"Dear guests, I'm really sorry. It's the dry season now. The rivers are sandy and the rivers are blocked. Our boat is quite big. It's probably difficult to negotiate this bend today."
"I can only force everyone to go ashore. There is a fishing village ahead. Let's stay overnight. I will find someone to pull the boat through this section early tomorrow morning. After that, it will be smooth sailing."
On the Ganjiang River, the riverboat carrying Song Mu and others was stuck in a bend in the river in the afternoon. The boat owner and a few guys tried their best to pull the boat out of the mud, but it never happened again.
There was no way to get this large river boat across the shoal in front of us, so we had no choice but to turn back and stop in front of a breakwater on the riverside.
This river boat from Jizhou Prefecture to Xunyang Prefecture not only carried hundreds of people, but also carried a large amount of cargo.
The passengers who heard the news were furious at this moment, but they had no choice but to do it. The ship was packed with cargo below the deck, and the autumn night was still a bit cold. Now they could only pack up their things and head to the breakwater.
Song Mu also stood up, hugging his suitcase and luggage, and quickly disembarked from the boat with his friends.
The shipowner was still confessing to everyone, and some people had already arrived at the small fishing village on the shore.
"In the low water season in autumn, it is really difficult for large ships to move, but it should be no problem, but it may take two days to get to Shiyang County."
Next to Song Mu, Kong Zongzheng and Shao Le were talking.
The two people talked without saying a word, and everyone soon arrived at this fishing village near the river.
At this moment, the elders in the fishing village had already come out to welcome them. Perhaps they had never seen so many scholars and scholars arrive before. The whole village was a little shocked. Both adults and children stood at the entrance of the village and looked around.
Song Mu and others arrived and took a look at these people. They all had skinny faces and were too dark.
At this moment, Master Xun had already handed over his waist badge, talked with the elders of the village for a few words, and finally decided to arrange for everyone to stay temporarily in the village's ancestral hall.
At this moment, Song Mu finally knew that this village was called Xiaoyang Village. It was a small existence with only about two hundred people. It was not easy to survive surrounded by these mountains.
The houses in the fishing village are very low, mostly built with loess. There is only an ancestral hall in the center of the village, which is made of wood and stone. There is also a Tongwen tablet inside, which is used to offer sacrifices and provide basic protection for the village. It is cleaned on weekdays.
It is very clean and enough for everyone to rest in it.
"I've really wronged you all, all the talented scholars. We're just boiling water for cooking, and it's just a simple meal. Please forgive me."
The speaker was an old man. Behind him, several women from the fishing village were gathering. Outside the ancestral hall, several men from the fishing village were standing on the mud stove, preparing a large pot to heat hot water for the literati.
Master Xun was a little embarrassed by the enthusiasm of the people, so he refused many times and asked a few students to find the shipowner in exchange for some goods.
Song Mu was quite emotional when he saw this scene. He put the things away and came out to help.
A man who was setting up the stove saw a tall scholar approaching with his sleeves rolled up, and he quickly stood up and shook his head.
"Master, don't come here, the mud will stain your clothes later."
Several people were chattering away, but Song Mu smiled. In the end, he could only step forward to help carry a bundle of firewood, but he did not leave and chatted with them.
It turns out that this small fishing village has existed for many years. The original villagers lived in the mountains. Later, the demon was born, and the small village lost its protection and could not move out. The villagers relied on the river in front of them and the surrounding mountains and forests to make a living.
Life is poor, and the people are sallow and thin.
Although Jiangnan West Road is becoming increasingly prosperous, there are still people who don’t have enough to eat.
"Now we have opened more than 20 acres of land on the south slope, and the government has said that there will be no taxes for three years, so we can still fill our stomachs."
A dark, thin, muscular man set up the earthen stove, wiped his sweat and said to Song Mu, with a smile on his face.
"In addition to the daily catch and game, occasionally merchant ships will dock, and we can also exchange some things."
When the other party said this, Song Mu nodded immediately.
But at this time, a man next to him straightened up and looked at Song Mu with a sudden flash in his eyes.
Song Mu noticed this situation immediately, turned his head and asked quickly.
"Here, I wonder what's going on?"
The thin black man turned his head, but the short and stocky man looked at Song Mu. He seemed to have made up his mind and was about to speak to Song Mu.
But the thin, dark man was the first to start the conversation.
"Young master, what can we do? Third brother, the stove has been set up. Go get some water!"
The thin black man even urged the other party to leave at this time, and the short and sturdy man had a look of reluctance on his face. Song Mu naturally saw the clues, and immediately said with a smile,.
"If you two elder brothers have any unspeakable secrets, you might as well tell me. If we can help, we will naturally not refuse."
When Song Mu said this, his tone was calm. The thin black man grinned, but he still smiled and waved his hands.
"No, no, sir."
But at this time, the short and sturdy man refused. He turned around, with a stunned look on his face, and said directly to Song Mu.
"Sir, I do have something to ask of you."
As he said this, the man immediately knelt down.
Song Mu quickly reached out to help him, but the thin black man was a little annoyed at the moment and kicked the pretender hard.
"Third brother, what are you talking about? We will just go to the officers and soldiers when the time comes. Do you think Young Master can help us solve it?"
Although he said this, the actions of this short and sturdy man at this moment also attracted the attention of many people. Kong Zong also walked over and asked.
Only then did the short and stocky man speak.
It turns out that about half a month ago, a monster seemed to come from the mountains not far from this fishing village.
This monster dragon has never seen its head and tail, but it is extremely ferocious. It shuttles through the surrounding mountains and forests. At first, it only hunted wild animals. Until not long ago, this monster found this fishing village and started to eat people.
Three men who went up the mountain to collect medicine have been eaten, and the entire village is in danger.
Later, the village reported it to the government, and the government sent a team to search, but there was no trace of the guy at all.
Moreover, on one occasion, the officers and soldiers lost their way in the mountains. By the time they found the exit, they were already thirty miles away from the fishing village.
Such a strange thing naturally led the officers and soldiers to keep cleaning up, but it has been seven days now and there is still no progress.
Moreover, a more urgent situation has arisen. The monster has actually started to appear a hundred meters outside the village. Even the Tongwen Monument cannot deter it.
"To tell you the truth, sir, this morning my fourth son went to the mountains to chop firewood, but he also got into trouble. He ran fast and rolled all the way back, but a large piece of meat was torn off his thigh."
After hearing this, Song Mu suddenly clenched his fists.
Monsters can hurt people to such an extent.
When the scholars nearby heard this, their faces were filled with indignation.
But Song Mu and others soon showed bitterness on their faces, and suddenly felt that there was nothing they could do about such a thing.
Although everyone is a scholar, they have just become scholars. Although they have a lot of literary skills in their hands, they have no lethality.
What I can really rely on is that I am Master Xun.
But the short and stocky man didn't know this, and he said even more anxiously at this moment.
"Young masters, I know that you are literati, and you literati have extraordinary abilities. I ask you to help me with such a monster."
Saying this, the thin black man actually knelt down, and his face was a little moved at this moment.
"I don't dare to bother you gentlemen with this matter, but now that the third child has mentioned it, I also beg you. Several men have died in the village one after another, making life difficult for the children and wives."
After the thin black man finished speaking, everyone looked at each other in confusion, and these series of actions also attracted Master Xun who was talking to the village chief on the other side.
After understanding the whole story, Master Xun sighed.
"Although we are willing to help you, there is nothing to track the monster in this vast mountain. How can we find it?"
"Besides, we are leaving early tomorrow morning."
"This matter should be left to the local officers and soldiers."
"What I can do is give your ancestral hall a monument and add a layer of strength."
After Master Xun said this, the faces of the two men were ashen.