"Aren't they tiger-fighting heroes from other places?"
"Even a predatory tiger can be beaten to death. They shouldn't lie to us."
"Actually, I don't believe there are evil spirits seeking life..."
The criticism was initially one-sided, but the louder the doubts became, the uglier the expressions on the faces of the men on stage became.
Song Che comforted the people and said:
"Dear fellow villagers, we did take shelter from the rain in the temple last night, and we heard strange noises and saw green will-o'-the-wisps;
But the sound was due to the strong wind in the forest and the mass grave site being on a windward slope, so the sound sounded like the roar of a ghost;
As for the will-o'-the-wisp, it's actually 'phosphorus' produced in the bones of people after death. This thing ignites in the poles and will burn when the temperature is high, thus emitting a strange light;
My brother's words just now were a bit extreme, but what he expressed is the same. If there are ghosts and gods in this world, then my grandfather will not get rich even if he prays to the God of Wealth. Is that right for you? "
Talking is an art, which not only prevents the common people from losing their money, but also gives the powerful a step down, and can also save yourself from getting into trouble.
Liao Heng knew what Song Che meant, but not much.
But Mr. Huang was unforgiving: "It's you three foreigners again! What? If you kill a tiger, you will really consider yourself a hero? Do you know how many business travelers have died in mass graves? All of them. I was scared to death by the evil ghost!"
"Then why were we in peace last night? Could it be that the evil ghost is still picky about food?" Song Che asked with a smile.
"This..." Master Huang didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Song Che then turned to face the county magistrate and the noble gentry, and suggested: "Officials, in my opinion, if you really want to appease the people and the ghosts and gods, it would be better to put the bones in the mass graves back into the ground, so that there will be no more violent deaths in the future." People, helping them buy a coffin can be regarded as accumulating some evil virtue for themselves, right?"
After that, he ignored the expressions of several people and pulled Liao Heng out of the city.
After this commotion, 80% of the people stopped responding and dispersed, and the donation was completely abandoned.
…
Song Che and others ordered a table of wine and food at the best restaurant in the county. After eating and drinking, it was already mid-afternoon.
Yun Niang wanted to hurry back to the tavern, but Song Che decisively kept her. After the donation, the conspiracy in Shima County has almost come to light. It is definitely true that I have not passed by the mass graves in recent days.
It was a little late for Yun Niang to see the situation. She was a woman with only a half-grown man, and she was scared to walk at night. So he stayed in Shima County.
Song Che then opened an upper room for her in the inn, even though she tried her best to refuse, as long as she had a place to shelter from the wind and rain.
But last night, in order to prevent a few people from entering the stone forest, she was willing to let a few people stay in the tavern for free. Whether it is helping her sell wine today or letting her live in a house, these are the rewards that a kind person deserves.
After sleeping in the open for several days without enough food, Song Che was already exhausted. Now that he had money in his pocket, he put on simpler clothes, took a hot bath, and planned to have a good night's rest before continuing on his journey tomorrow.
The master may have a bad waist, frequent urination, and urgent urination.
The drizzle fell continuously from early morning to evening, and then turned to heavy rain after nightfall, and the rain continued endlessly.
Song Che was still thinking about taking a boat to go south when the rain stopped. It was obvious that he was so unimpressed that he didn't dare to hold out hope.
"Is the rain in Suzhou also so annoying?"
The longing for each other is heartbreaking.
Song Che let out a long sigh, closed the window against the wind and rain, and was about to lie down and fall asleep——
"Snapped!"
The door was kicked open.
Jiang Yun appeared at the door holding his sword, and Liao Heng followed behind him. Both of them had a look of determination?
Song Che said bitterly: "I am a married man, I don't want to drink flower wine."
"We originally wanted to drink wine, but suddenly we thought there was something we didn't understand, so we came to see you first." Jiang Yun and Liao Heng entered the room and closed the door.
Jiang Yundao: "We must act chivalrously and eliminate harm for the people."
Song Che narrowed his eyes, "Would it be more appropriate to mind your own business?"
"It's up to you to do it or not!" Liao Heng said directly.
How dare Song Che not do it? If he really parted ways with them, he would have to go to Jiangnan alone. After many days of getting along, the friendship has gradually become more sincere. He has to do it both emotionally and rationally.
"Dry!"
He added: "But with just the three of us, what can we do?"
Jiang Yun raised the sword in his hand: "Do you doubt that my sword is not sharp enough?"
"Killing is easy, but killing requires a reason," Song Che sighed: "You have also seen today that the magistrate, the wealthy gentry, and even the immortal master all wear the same pants, and they have power, money, and spirit. How do you find a breakthrough in someone else’s hands?”
Liao Heng pursed his lips: "After getting along with each other for a few days, I feel that your mind is full of ideas, and you will definitely be able to come up with a solution."
Song Che was pacing in the room.
To deal with such intricate local forces, even if they find evidence, they will use various means to destroy it——
If you want to make this big tree wither, there are two methods. One is to uproot it with the help of external force, and the other is to destroy its rhizome from the inside. Based on the current situation in Shima County, it is obvious that the latter is more suitable.
The most direct way to destroy rhizomes is to change the soil. The so-called "soil" refers to the people of Shima County.
When the government's credibility collapses in the hearts of the people, the butterfly effect it brings is the best weapon.
As the ancients said, "Water can carry a boat but it can also capsize it." Once public anger spreads, paper cannot contain the fire.
But how to make the soil deteriorate?
"Both brothers, don't be anxious. The other side is very powerful and this matter cannot be settled in a day. Today we have cut off their financial resources. They will definitely find ways to steal people's wealth and support again. We might as well wait for the situation to change and then think about countermeasures. "
Discussions come and go, but no results can be achieved. Liao Heng and Jiang Yun did not stay any longer, but went to rest separately.
Early next morning.
It was not yet bright and the market had not started yet, Song Che was woken up by a burst of noise:
"It's terrifying! It's terrifying! I was bitten to death by a zombie when I was so excited last night!"
"There are holes all over the body from the bite! All the blood has been drained!"
If that's the case, that's really scary.
Song Che rubbed his sleepy eyes and couldn't help but laugh secretly. Last night, he was worried about the change. Isn't this exactly what happened?
He went downstairs. Almost all the tenants were awakened by the horrific news.
"There are no evil spirits yet, they have all come to the city to harm people!"
"Didn't you listen? It's not a ghost, it's a zombie! A blood-sucking zombie is more terrifying than a ghost!"
"I heard that if someone is bitten by a zombie, he will turn into a zombie! This... what should I do!"
People are panicked!
