Xiaoyaoshanjun

Chapter 118 Sacrifice
Tiancun is located in the south of Qitian Prefecture and west of Yanque County.

There is a big mountain near Yanque City. The mountain is high and steep, and only swallows can cross it.

The mountains are high and steep, so there are naturally many canyon undercurrents nearby.

There is a large lake called Yanshui Lake in the mountains. Because there are many fat fish in the lake with big and delicious meat, people often go there to fish, and people often drown there.

As time went by, many people died. Twenty years ago, a county magistrate banned fishing and eating fish, and anyone caught selling or buying fish would be beaten with a stick.

As a result, the number of fishermen drowning decreased significantly, and only children and villagers drowned every year.

The death of children in these families did not alert the government. When the county found out, they thought it was their own fault and ignored it.

That county magistrate passed away long ago. Although some people still eat fish in recent years, the custom of not eating fish still exists, but it is not popular.

Every summer, some idle people come to Yanshui Lake to swim and escape the heat, and many people also come to catch fish and sell them.

Although people die, they don't die every day, but it happens every year.

There are even strong men who specifically build houses and settle down near the lake, occupy the lake water and collect money, and nearby fishermen have to give them gifts when they come to fish.

That day, the grandfather and grandson came to the lake again.

After the two came over, they took the initiative to go outside a small house by the lake.

"Is Yutou'er here?" Old Man Lu called out softly towards the house.

"Here I come!" Soon, a young man in his thirties came out.

The man was well built, wearing a coarse linen shirt, with his hair tied tightly with a square scarf. He looked like a capable and efficient man.

Yutou'er's real name is Kang Gu, and he is a distant relative of the Kang family in Yanque City. Because he has been guarding the fishery here for many years, people also call him Yutou'er.

Kang Gu pushed open the courtyard door and walked out. He looked at the old man and the young boy and said with a smile, "I have put your fishing nets in good condition. I will fetch them for you right now. Do you want to go fishing today?"

"That's right!" Old Man Lu took out a string of copper coins he had prepared from his arms and handed it to Kang Gu.

Kang Gu took the copper coin and weighed it in his hand. When he felt that the weight was about right, he accepted it with a smile.

"Wait!"

"Excuse me!"

Kang Gu went back to the house with a smile and soon came out with a small net in his hands.

"It has been well kept these past two days, and I even showed it to you guys."

Old Man Lu took the fishing net and said, "Thank you, Fish Head!"

Few people know Kang Gu's name. Those who come to fish only know that his surname is Kang and that he is a distant relative of the Kang family.

Mr. Kang of the Kang family was a juren, and the Kang family became wealthy during Mr. Kang’s generation, but Mr. Kang’s parents were not poor either.

It was a wealthy family that produced a scholar like Mr. Kang.

Scholars can never be poor, and this is especially true for those who have served as officials. The Kang family is the tyrant in Yanque City, but it's not that they can be called poor, they are just that.

There are young and promising scholars like Kang Biyong, and there are also playboys who like cockfighting, dog walking and women playing.

Kang Gu is just a servant not many people know here, and one of the thugs attached to the Kang family.

Even so, Kang Gu also has his own preferences.

Normally, he would collect money and chase away many fish thieves, but when he met a poor person, he would turn a blind eye.

Old Man Lu's son and daughter-in-law drowned while fishing. Kang Gu felt bad for them and tried to take care of them.

"If you want to fish, fish near the water plants. Don't go into the water, and don't go into the lake. Although the fish there are big, they can make your broken boat shake its head and tail if you are not careful, and you will fall overboard if you are not careful."

While his little grandson was sorting out the fishing nets, Kang Gu pulled Old Man Lu aside and told him about some recent events.

"Someone has drowned again in the past few days. I once saw a dark shadow underwater pulling a swimmer under the water. After a few breaths, there was no movement."

Old Man Lu nodded quickly, "Yes! I know everything. Everyone who comes here to fish knows that the water is deep and dangerous, but due to life pressures, we only have this much skill. We dare not not come, nor do we dare to report to the authorities."

Kang Gu sighed and said, "I have also told the master that I hope he can invite Taoist priests and monks to help the dead souls here to be reincarnated, but the master doesn't care about these trivial matters and doesn't let me talk nonsense." Old Man Lu is older and knows more.

"The monks and Taoist priests ask for a lot of money. If this alarms the government and they issue a ban, not only will Mr. Kang not agree, but those who sell fish and fish will also not agree."

Kang Gu smiled helplessly, "Why did you only bring one grandson here today? Where are the other two?"

The old man smiled and said, "Tianjia Village in the southwest of the city is hiring people to work and farm and raise cattle. We fishermen have long lost our land. We plan to catch some more fish to save some money. When we plant the land and harvest the wheat next year, we won't have to come here to beg for food."

Kang Gu asked curiously, "Is it the family of Mr. Tian?"

"Exactly."

Kang Gu knows what’s going on in the county, and people of his age all want to do something.

I am also particularly envious of my peers who have achieved success.

Hu Yuwei and Tian Buli have both been prominent figures in the past two years. Although Kang Gu spends most of his time in the mountains looking after the business, he also goes to the city to have a drink and have fun. He gets to know many people in the city and knows a lot about Tian Buli.

Nowadays, people younger and older than me have become successful, but I am still working as a servant for others, doing these risky things.

As I was sighing with emotion, I suddenly saw the child unbuckle his belt and try to urinate in the lake.

Kang Gu quickly walked over, his footsteps stepped into the shooting star, and suddenly grabbed the child's shoulder with one hand, throwing him on the grass behind.

"Ah!" The child felt pain and lay on the ground looking at the person who did it, feeling frightened.

Kang Gu pointed at the kid and said angrily, "I told you not to pee in the lake. Why don't you learn your lesson? Do you want to be beaten?!"

The child lowered his head and dared not speak. The old man came over quickly and said, "Fishhead, please forgive me! This kid is stupid. He drank water on the way and got anxious. I know all the rules here! I will teach him a lesson!"

The old man quickly apologized, and when he saw that Kang Gu had not continued to have an attack, he quickly went over and hit his silent grandson a few more times, both on the back and shoulders.

Kang Gu also knew that the old man was protecting his grandson, and he also knew that the two would not come here many times in the future, so he said in annoyance: "There are rules here. If you break the rules, you will suffer!"

Kang Gu didn't want to say more. The money had already been collected, and there were other people nearby, and many more would come over later, so he went back to the house to continue eating, drinking and resting.

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, looked at his grandson who was not convinced after being beaten, and comforted him: "You are just stubborn, hurry up and fix the net, we will leave after we catch the fish today, and after selling the money, we will go to Tianjia Village with your brothers to rent a piece of land to live, and you don't have to get up early to catch fish in the future."

The grandson lowered his head to sort out the fishing nets. He had just been frightened and temporarily stopped wanting to urinate.

Kang Gu returned to the house and smelled the stench of alcohol as soon as he entered.

The two people inside were drinking and eating, both looked half drunk.

"How come brother was so happy when he went out, but he looked like this when he came back? Did someone outside offend brother?"

Hearing his friend's question, Kang Gu sat down and told him what had just happened.

The drunkard laughed and said, "It's hard to persuade a damned ghost with good words. Why do you care about him? Just take the money. What does their life or death have to do with us? Seven or eight people die every year, but more and more people come to fish."

Another drunkard smiled and said, "Every time someone dies, the lake becomes quiet for five or six days. The fishermen always hope to sacrifice a sacrifice first, and then they can fish without any worries."

Kang Gu asked in confusion: "What do you think? Is there a water ghost or a monster in this lake?"

The two drunkards smiled and said, "Who cares what it is? As long as it doesn't interfere with our ability to make money!"

The three of them ate and drank together and chatted for more than ten minutes.

Suddenly, there was a shout from outside the door, followed by a lot of noise.

"Someone fell into the water!"

"Someone's dead! Someone's dead! Haha! He deserves it!"

Kang Gu was shocked, and the alcohol in his body turned into cold sweat. He quickly picked up the harpoon next to him and quickly got out.

After I got out, I immediately regretted it. There was no one near the water grass. The grandfather and grandson must have not listened to the advice and went into the lake!

The fishermen nearby did not feel very sad, and no one went to the lake to rescue or salvage people. Instead, they all went to the shallow and middle areas nearby to cast nets and catch fish in a relaxed manner.

It is like this every year. When one person is blessed, a hundred people will benefit.

(End of this chapter)