The two villagers stood a little farther away. One was outside the courtyard, while the other squatted on the steps before the threshold, puffing away at his pipe. But when he noticed Yu Chengmu's gaze, the smoking villager froze, looking utterly confused.
A Biao stood up and waved to the villager with the pipe. The man immediately put it away and jogged over. "What can we do for you, masters?"
A Biao grabbed the villager by the collar and slammed him down onto the table. The veins on his forehead bulged as he glared fiercely at him. "Why... is this chicken missing its head? What are you people really up to?"
The villager had never seen anything like this. One glare from A Biao was enough to make him go limp. "The chicken has no head... That can't be. I... I swear I didn't steal the head and eat it! Please believe me!"
"Who brought this chicken here?" Yu Chengmu demanded.
"It... It was arranged by the village chief." As soon as the villager finished speaking, he suddenly seemed to realize something and struggled a few times. "No, that's not right. The village chief arranged this meal, but... but there haven't been any chickens in the village for a long time. They said they didn't want to disturb the River Goddess, so they slaughtered them all. Only... only the Night Watchman has chickens. He needs their crowing to tell the time."
That Night Watchman again... Everyone's expressions darkened.
"Heh heh heh..." A sudden burst of laughter drew everyone's attention. They looked toward the sound and saw someone sitting astride the courtyard wall, turning his head to grin foolishly at them.
It was the Crazy Beggar!
Seeing everyone look his way, the Crazy Beggar bared his teeth and shouted, "Five grains