The lingering clouds in the sky were almost reaching the treetops, and the surrounding fields were dark and damp.
"Mr. Sir, this Sihusa is just a mediocre official, so why bother traveling all the way for this?"
On the bank of the river, a pretty young woman rubbed her feet and kept complaining.
"I have heard that now there are ten rooms and nine empty rooms in Dantu City. If you, the secretary, are gone, there will be no use for you."
"It is rumored that there is a demon nearby that likes to prey on women. Are you anxious and eager to take advantage of the narrow streets? Are you not afraid that I will be captured by that demon?"
"It's better if we catch him!"
Hu Yanyi cursed secretly and didn't say anything. He took out his water bag and went to the river to fetch water.
A woman's view!
Hu Yanyi was quite annoyed.
Doesn't he know what's going on in Dantu City now? Doesn't he know what will happen after the army breaks the city?
It is true that the sihu is only a minor official, but which high-rise building is not built on the ground?
It is true that being an official in this newly restored land must be difficult, but if not so, how can he show his ability?
I have been studying hard for decades, just for today?
At this moment, he wished he could grow wings on his back, fly into that alchemy disciple and take office. He was already impatient just walking around.
"If I had known earlier, I would have come here alone to avoid the noise in my ears."
He grunted and raised the full water bag to take a sip.
"Mr. Sir, it's best not to drink from this river."
At this moment, an old voice suddenly interrupted.
The couple were both startled and quickly turned around to look, but they didn't know when they saw an old man holding a bamboo pole standing next to them.
This old man was dressed in silk and satin. He seemed to come from a wealthy family, and he looked quite friendly with a smile on his face.
It's just that this place is out of the blue, how can an old man show up?
Hu Yanyi's wife murmured in her heart, her mind filled with strange stories, and she quickly returned to her husband regardless of her sore ankle.
Hu Yanyi didn't think much about it, he just said out of curiosity:
"What do you mean, father? Is this river water not drinkable?"
The old man smiled and pointed to a certain surface of the river with his bamboo stick.
"Master, let's see."
Hu Yanyi took advantage of the situation and looked around.
A huge object emerged from the turbid rapids in the middle of the river. The couple stood up and looked at it, their tailbones trembling.
It turned out to be a dead man!
The corpse has been swollen by water, and it is almost impossible to distinguish the limbs. It has the appearance of a giant. (I will not describe it in detail here. If you are interested, you can search it on Baidu.)
"Quack."
A crow flew from the other side, fluttered and landed on the corpse, and its sharp beak landed on the swollen belly. This time it seemed like the urinary cysts had been punctured, and there was only a "bang" sound, yellowish water, and rotten internal organs.
They exploded together and scattered all over the river.
The crow, which was blown up, fluttered a few times with its intestines hanging on its body, but finally did not enter the river.
The stench spread all the way to the shore.
Hu Yanyi was startled. The water bag in his hand was like a red-hot iron and he threw it into the water. After that, he quickly pulled his pale wife away from the river bank.
The old man followed up with a smile and said: "This river is a branch of Surabaya River, and the upper reaches is connected to Dantu's moat."
"Although General Luo defeated Liu Heizi, he also killed too many people. Fortunately, Mr. Lang didn't come here yesterday. At that time, the river was full of corpses, the stench was thousands of miles away, and flies and insects gathered like black clouds..."
"Hi." The old man shook his head, "It's a pity that people all over the city have gained weight for nothing."
After avoiding him for a hundred steps, the stench in front of his nose eased slightly, and Hu Yanyi bowed to express his thanks.
"Thank you, husband, for reminding me."
"No, it's just a matter of words."
After saying that, the old man looked at the couple with a smile, and suddenly said:
"The old house is nearby, sir. Why don't you go and have a rest and have a bowl of wine to quench your thirst?"
……………………
The two followed the old man, left the road, threw themselves into the forest, and headed for the house the old man mentioned.
Along the way, the trees get taller, the forest gets denser, the light gets darker, and the cold gets deeper.
Looking around, there are all tall and lonely pines and cypresses.
The wife was getting more and more palpitated, so she quietly pulled her husband's sleeve and whispered: "Mr.
Hu Yanyi replied impatiently: "You have so many thoughts, but don't you want to rest?"
I want to take a rest, but not at this time, let alone here!
The wife was full of grievances and was about to argue.
The old man suddenly turned around.
"It doesn't matter, Lao Chan's house is a bit remote... By chance, we're here too."
As he said that, he led the two people forward more than ten steps.
I saw a large house with high walls and cornices surrounded by a lush cypress forest. In front of it, a red painted door looked quite old, and two stone beasts beside the door were also hidden in the thatch.
"Make your husband and wife laugh." The old man still had that kind smile on his face, "I just bought this house not long ago, and I haven't even finished it yet. I feel really ashamed."
With that said, he pushed open the door and walked in. Hu Yanyi also followed in without thinking, leaving his wife lingering in front of the door.
At that time, the wind was blowing in the woods, the forest was wailing like ghosts, and the cold air was coming from all around. She shuddered, clutched her clothes, and hurriedly caught up with her husband.
Then, the wind became louder and louder, pressing down on the thatch in front of the door, revealing the stone beast with two horns on its head and a ferocious face with four eyes.
……………………
Hu Yanyi originally thought that the old man lived here alone, but he didn't expect that there were several dull-looking servants in the house.
After arranging for his wife to go to another courtyard to rest, he was taken to a banquet by the old man.
He didn't want to stay here for a long time, and just when he was about to refuse, the old man poured a glass of wine and put it in front of Hu Yanyi without saying anything.
The rich aroma of wine hit his nostrils, and Hu Yanyi was stunned but could not say any words of refusal.
He was not a drinker, but this old man's wine seemed to have a special mellow aroma.
Hu Yanyi couldn't help but drink a glass, and then everything fell into place.
"...This woman is really ignorant!"
I don't know if the wine was too strong, or because the old man persuaded him diligently, Hu Yanyi's cup was full of wine and he talked too much.
Not only did he shake himself to his core, he also poured out all the depression in his heart.
The old man smiled and comforted:
"A woman only cares about the love of her children, but how can she care about her husband's ambitions?"
After speaking, his voice changed.
"But, Madam Ling is also delicate and frail. How can she withstand such asceticism? Let's do this..."
The old man poured another cup for Hu Yanyi and said with a smile:
"How about leaving him here with me for the time being, and then sending carriages and horses to welcome him after he takes office?"
……………………
The wife never expected that her husband would abandon her in this stranger's home.
It's a pity that tears all over my face can't save my beloved's eagerness to go to his new post.
Tired from crying, he had no choice but to follow the old man's arrangement and move into a small courtyard. Under fatigue and fear, he fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, it was already night.
The room was silent, and an oil lamp stood like a bean in the center of the house.
The light was so dim that it couldn't even illuminate the wall, leaving darkness surrounding it on all sides.
For a moment, the woman did not dare to leave the bed.
I just listened to my heartbeat getting faster and faster, and my breathing getting longer and longer.
finally.
She asked in a trembling voice:
"anyone there?"
No one answered.
After a long time, she mustered up the courage, tiptoed out of bed, picked up the oil lamp, and gritted her teeth and pushed open the door.
There was no sound in the yard, and there were no stars or moon above our heads.
She hugged her chest with one hand, and raised the oil lamp with a trembling hand. However, the thick darkness was like an iron wall, pressing the light back heavily.
She shivered again and didn't know whether she should step out of the door.
Suddenly.
"Dong dong dong."
Deep in the darkness, there was a knock on the door.