How Could That Beast Be So Vicious?

Old Liu smiled and said:

"I come here to clean often. It doesn't get stuffy in here; the air circulates, so you can stay for a long time.

"But it's empty now. There used to be a lot of grain here too.

"Later, when the villagers didn't have enough to eat, all the grain in reserve here was used up.

"By rights, a certain amount of grain should be kept in reserve here every month. That's my duty as an elder, but unfortunately, I don't have the means."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him curiously. "Are you the only elder in our village? Who has more authority in Liu Family Village, the village chief or the elders?"

Old Liu burst out laughing.

"There are indeed many elders, but my status is different.

"My grandfather's status was exceptional, so naturally our family stands a level above the others in the village.

"Otherwise, why would they listen to everything I say?

"There are hundreds of people in Liu Family Village, and they all seem to be surnamed Liu.

"But in truth, only our branch is the true direct bloodline of the Liu clan, descendants of the clan with roots that run true and red!

"Those villagers from the collateral branches had ancestors who were servants and household slaves of our Liu clan.

"Back then, our ancestors fled disaster and came here, bringing them along to put down roots and settle. They faithfully followed us, standing guard generation after generation.

"As time passed, our ancestors remembered their contributions and loyalty, so they let them all take the surname Liu and enter the village clan register. To outsiders, they said only that they belonged to the same clan."

Old Liu continued:

"Over the years, they really have come to think of themselves as members of the Liu family, farming, weaving, gathering herbs, and protecting the clan alongside us.

"But when it comes to the roots of our bloodlines, we are different after all."

Only then did Zhou Wanwan understand why the village chief listened to Old Liu so readily.

This place really was excellent. Even if a year of disaster truly came and there was nowhere else to hide, they could still survive by hiding here.

Zhou Wanwan nodded.

"Then let's move all the grain at home over here!

"It really is quite safe here. Most people would never think to look here, and the important thing is that the floor down here is all cement. It's quite clean."

They went back and rested for a while, then moved everything in here. They also filled the buckets and water jars to the brim.

With these thirty-odd sacks of grain, Zhou Wanwan felt a little more at ease.

Early the next morning, Zhou Wanwan took her brothers straight to town and exchanged the remaining silver for grain.

They had just gotten the ox cart ready to head back when they saw Shen Dahai rushing over. "Zhou Wanwan, how can you and your family still be alive?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at Shen Dahai in surprise. "Uncle Shen, what do you mean by that? Shouldn't my whole family be alive and well?"

Shen Dahai looked at her, his face turning a little pale. "Impossible... Wanwan! You ate the pastries I gave you a couple of days ago, didn't you?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled sweetly. "Uncle Shen, I have to thank you for giving our family such delicious pastries. I've never eaten pastries that good before."

Shen Dahai's face grew even paler. Trembling, he said, "You... you came here to buy grain? Where did you get the money for it?"

Zhou Wanwan grinned. "We didn't come to buy grain. I came along with my grandfather while he bought it."

Shen Dahai's expression grew even uglier. "Zhou Wanwan, let's speak frankly. Did you steal something of mine?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him, her face full of alarm. "Uncle Shen, you can't accuse people like that! We've been staying at my grandparents' house these past few days. Didn't you know?"

Shen Dahai looked at her and said:

"Oh! Uncle Shen was only joking with you. You're buying grain?

"Why didn't you come to Uncle Shen's shop? My grain is very cheap!"

Zhou Wanwan grinned. "How cheap?"

"I'll practically give it to you. I couldn't charge you too much, could I? Why don't you come to the shop with me and have a look?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at Old Liu. "Grandfather, haven't we stocked up on about enough grain?"

Old Liu nodded. "Yes, we've bought everything. We don't have any silver left on us."

"Oh! Who said anything about silver? I'll let you have it on credit. How about it?"

Zhou Wanwan hurriedly shook her head. "My mother said we can't just accept things from other people. After we ate the pastries you gave us last time, she said you were a very good man and we shouldn't trouble you again."

"Oh! We're all neighbors. How could it be any trouble?

"Here, I'll take you to look at our grain. Our shop has been clearing out its stock lately, so I'll give you two sacks," Shen Dahai said with a smile.

Only then did Zhou Wanwan nod. "Thank you, Uncle Shen."

Shen Dahai led them toward the Shen Family Grain Shop. As they walked, he asked, "Wanwan, what made you decide to visit your grandparents these past few days?"

Zhou Wanwan sighed. "My grandmother hasn't been feeling well, so I thought I'd go keep her company."

"You really are filial. When you ate those pastries last time, did you have anything else?"

Shen Dahai's meaning was obvious: he wanted to sound her out and see whether it was a coincidence or something else.

Zhou Wanwan thought for a moment. "My mother cooked a big pot of mung bean soup that morning. I love mung bean soup."

"What? You drank mung bean soup that day?"

Zhou Wanwan nodded. "Yes! I had a big bowl!"

Shen Dahai coughed. "Oh, I see. Here's my shop. I'll show you around."

He took them straight to the granary and said:

"Here, I'll give you these two sacks of rice. I'm only doing this because we're neighbors.

"But this is old rice, so eat it soon, before it goes bad."

Zhou Wanwan nodded quickly. "Thank you, Uncle Shen. Uncle Shen, you're so kind."

"You mustn't tell anyone else about this. If word gets out, everyone will come asking me, and I won't be able to manage," Shen Dahai said softly.

Zhou Wanwan nodded. "All right, Uncle Shen, I understand."

Shen Dahai had two shop assistants help him load the grain onto the ox cart. Only then did Old Liu drive the cart homeward. He looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "This neighbor of yours is rather nice, giving you pastries and grain. I can't help feeling something's not quite right. When things are out of the ordinary, there's bound to be a demon behind them."

Zhou Wanwan said calmly, "He's not that kindhearted! The pastries from before were full of croton seeds, and who knows what's in these two sacks of grain."

"What? How could that beast be so vicious? Oh! How did you end up crossing him?

"If I remember right, he's a minor steward in the Liu family, and he has quite a bit of influence there." Old Liu was well acquainted with the world and knew most of the people in town to some degree.

Zhou Wanwan sighed and told him everything Shen Dalu had done. Old Liu said furiously, "That family is utterly shameless. They've gone too far."

Zhou Wanwan grinned.

"Anyway, I didn't let them have an easy time of it either, and from now on they can forget about having a single peaceful day.

"I plan to move all the grain and things from home over here. It really isn't safe to leave them there."