She looked around and saw no one nearby, with a long mountain range in the distance. Indeed, staying in this place during the hot summer noon was quite eerie, no wonder the villagers knew about the abundance of fish but dared not come here.
Not thinking about it more, Yang Chuxia aimed at a fish and thrust her fork down, catching several in no time. She thought that since the villagers feared this place and fish were expensive, it was hard for them to enjoy fish more than a few times a year. She might as well catch more today, cook plenty when she got back, and satisfy everyone’s craving.
With this in mind, she caught some more until she had half a bucketful, then put down the wooden fork. Looking at the big shrimp hiding under the water grass, she decided she must get a net next time. With so many big shrimps, it would be a waste not to take some home.
As she thought this and looked back, she unexpectedly saw something swiftly sink to the bottom of the river. She wondered if the red shadow she saw earlier meant that the river was really cursed.
Never mind that for now, she would deal with it when she encountered it again. However, she would warn the village children not to come here easily, though she wasn’t scared herself.
When she returned to the village, Land Officer Yang and his wife were already there, with his wife helping Ms. Wang cook.
"Mom, I’m back. I’ll clean these fish in the bucket. Cook a few in red sauce later and make a pot of soup too."
"Wow, where did all these fish come from?" Land Officer’s wife heard her and came to take a look, seeing half a bucket of fish.
Yang Chuxia chuckled but didn’t answer.
Land Officer Yang heard the noise outside and walked out of the house, saw the fish in the bucket, and frowned, "You naughty girl, did you go to that cursed river? I knew you always managed to catch these fish. You’re really lawless." Then he fiercely glared at Dachuan, "See, it’s all your fault for spoiling her. Is it a place you can casually go? Have you forgotten how many people have died in that river over the years?"
"Grandpa, don’t blame my dad. I didn’t go into the water, I just stood on the bank," Yang Chuxia thought of the red shadow and continued, "Don’t worry, I won’t go to that river easily in the future."
Land Officer Yang snorted, "You’d better not. If I hear of it again, I’ll break your legs."
"Alright, alright, you old man, don’t get worked up." Land Officer’s wife saw that he was becoming more and more severe, fearing that it would upset Yang Chuxia, so she smoothed things over, "Xiaxia, come with your grandma to wash the fish and don’t listen to that old man. But you must listen to your grandma’s words and never go to that place again. It’s not a good place."
"I know, grandma. Grandpa is just worried about me. Don’t worry, I won’t go there next time." Yang Chuxia was not upset by Land Officer Yang’s harshness but rather happy, knowing that he truly cared for her.
This distant grandpa cared about her much more than her own biological grandpa did.
"Yes, it’s best not to go there. Many people died in that cursed river years ago."
Thinking of the red shadow, Yang Chuxia asked curiously, "Grandma, how did those people die?"
"How else can they die? They went in to catch fish and shrimp or take a bath in the past and never came back. It’s said that you’re really brave, no one has been to that river for more than ten years."