Chapter 004: The Stand-in with the Iron Hat

After my grandfather finished speaking, without saying a word, he found a piece of black cloth to cover me, then carried me on his back and headed outside.

Seeing my grandfather's expression, I couldn't help but curiously ask him, "There is no one over there, who are you talking to?"

In the summer, the weather is scorching hot, and the cicadas on the trees are incessantly chirping. I sit under the large willow tree at my grandfather's house, my eyes fixed on the great river, hoping to see that unfortunate scapegoat come to take over the shift

Seeing the farmer leave, I finally breathed a sigh of relief, but when I turned around, I found my grandfather standing behind me, looking at me coldly

A person attending a market bought a large iron pot, which he placed on his head to shield himself from the sun. He walked to the riverbank, feeling extremely hot, and set down the pot, preparing to take a bath

I only heard my grandfather say: "Who are the people changing classes?"

Hearing her grandfather's words, Mother couldn't help but ask worriedly, "What happened?"

I was gripping a small peach wood knife tightly in my hand, and for a moment, I was so frightened that I couldn't move at all

"Do not make it difficult for him on my account. Yesterday, someone wanted to cross the river, and I stopped him. Since that is the case, I will let him go for your sake. However, you must remember, three days later, ominous signs will surely appear. Do not blame me for not reminding you!" After the cold voice finished speaking, a long laugh echoed and then faded away.

In the pitch-black environment, everyone would feel afraid, so at that moment, I felt a chill all over my body and couldn't help but shout, "Grandfather, let me out, it's too dark, I'm scared"

Once that sound faded away, the outside was immediately bathed in bright sunshine, with the glaring sun overhead

But just as he was still striking, a sudden thunderclap echoed in the clear sky, and torrential rain poured down.

The next day, upon waking, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Suddenly, I recalled what Er Ya Zi had mentioned about the water ghost seeking a substitute. Thinking back, that shadow from last night must have been the water ghost, and the one he referred to as wearing an iron hat was likely his substitute

At that time, I was curious about where the person wearing an iron hat came from on such a hot day. So, I spent the entire day not playing, but sitting under the willow tree, waiting to see if anyone wearing an iron hat would come to bathe and drown.

He rushed in front of him, shouting: "No bathing allowed, bathing is not permitted here"

Haha, alright, alright, let's talk about ourselves. This child is quite perceptive, but timid. Don't scare him anymore, " said the grandfather, finishing his words, and then he looked at the shadow again.

Grandfather trembled as he walked into the house, throwing the hoe he held onto the ground. He gasped and lay down, weakly saying, "If it weren't for the forty-nine cups of wine I have offered him, I would have lost my life to him today." After saying this, he took out a small peach wood knife from his waist and handed it to me, saying, "Dadong https://m.hetushu.com.com, keep it on you and never take it off. For the next three days, your great-grandfather may be in a deep sleep, so you must take care of yourself. I, I, you must not run around, absolutely do not leave the house"

"You have caused a great disaster; is the River God someone to be trifled with?" Grandfather shouted as he struck me.

In the countryside at that time, people would bathe without any clothes, unlike in the city where there are swimming trunks.

At that time, because my grandfather was present, I relaxed a bit, ate something, and listened attentively to their conversation.

I was shrouded in darkness, unable to see anything, only hearing my grandfather's footsteps echoing as he walked forward, surrounded by complete blackness

The sunlight streams in from outside. Grandfather's house is situated beneath a large willow tree by the river, surrounded on all sides by soft sandy ground, covered with dense, lush grass that extends all the way to the riverbank, resembling a large green carpet.

Upon seeing this situation, my grandfather's expression changed dramatically. He pushed me into the house and then stood at the door with a hoe in hand, facing away from me, shouting: "No matter what you hear, do not come out, do you understand!"

At that moment, I also realized the seriousness of the situation, trembling with fear as I hid in the room, peeking outside with my head drawn in, too afraid to go out

At that moment, I suddenly saw a shadow appear, and with the cool breeze by the river, I was covered in goosebumps and shivers. I was so frightened that I clung to my grandfather's leg, saying, "Grandpa, I'm scared!"

"You little child, what does my bathing have to do with you?" That person was a farmer, with a dark complexion, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

I remember that day coincided with the market day, and people from nearby villages all went to the market. On the bridge over the big river, people came and went, yet there was no one wearing an iron hat to be seen

After walking for half the night, I unknowingly fell asleep along the way

The heavy rain continued to pour down, and the surroundings were shrouded in dark, oppressive clouds, with the light dimmed as if it were nighttime.

Grandfather took a puff from his pipe and looked at the doorway, saying: "This is not a case of losing one's spirit; it has been followed. This child must come with me; we need to hide for a while."

Grandfather spoke, then closed his eyes and lay down on the ground, falling into a deep sleep

"Haha, what ethereal aura, I am merely a ghost of stagnant water." Just as my grandfather was speaking, I suddenly heard a rough voice coming from across the table, and then I saw a shadow appear at the opposite table, resembling a very tall person, sitting there, staring at me with a pair of eyes.

As soon as I saw it, I immediately understood that this is the "Iron Hat".

Hearing my words, the farmer hesitated a bit, glancing at the passersby, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He then picked up the pot and left.

Upon hearing my grandfather's words, the shadow gradually faded away; however, I could still hear the sound.

At that moment, I seemed to hear a sound like "crash and clatter," followed by my grandfather's loud voice outside saying, "Old brother, I apologize, it's all because the child is ignorant, please forgive him, I will kneel down for you, I beg you, I beg you.

I saw the sunlight, and finally felt much more comfortable in my heart, sensing that my body was no longer sore. So I got up and walked out the door, just in time to see my grandfather weeding the watermelon field with a hoe. Upon seeing me up, my grandfather kindly looked at me and nodded, saying: "Yes, you are much better now. Datong, go and have your meal. I have saved some for you in the pot. After you finish eating, come and help your grandfather with the weeding."

At noon, I began to feel drowsy, and I was about to fall asleep with my eyes half-closed, but at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before me

After grandfather's voice came to an end, the outside fell into a momentary silence; however, shortly after, a cold laugh echoed, as if someone were conversing with grandfather

Hearing my words, my grandfather scolded me, saying: "Lie still, you cannot come out now; that filthy thing is following you, and you must not let her see you." After saying this, he continued to walk forward

The person spoke in a muffled voice: "Logically, I shouldn't tell you, but since we are old friends, I will reveal a little; it is someone wearing an iron hat"

Upon seeing that he was an honest man, I thought that perhaps he had a wife and children to support at home. At that moment, I was even less inclined to let him go into the water, and I hurriedly pushed him away, saying: "You are not allowed to take a bath. You come and go so often, aren't you ashamed to be a grown man without any clothes on?"

"Grandfather, what is wrong with you?" I asked

When I woke up, I found that my grandfather was already at my house

Grandfather smiled kindly and continued to speak to the air opposite him: "Look, this is my grandson, full of spirit. Even at this age, he can still see; his heavenly eye is not completely closed. Why not let him take a look at you and absorb some of your celestial energy?"

Oh, then let me toast to you once more. The two seemed to have drunk a few more cups before parting ways, and I also unknowingly fell asleep.

Grandfather looked at me, his expression serious as he furrowed his brow and said, "This child, calling him is of no use."

By the time I woke up, I was already at my grandfather's house

"Who told you to do this? Do you know you have caused a great disaster?" My grandfather grabbed me and dragged me to the front of the house, relentlessly spanking me.

However, by noon, I had not noticed anyone.

I agreed, then went to have a meal, and afterwards took a small hoe to help my grandfather with weeding, staying busy all day

During dinner, my grandfather moved the table out and sat under the big willow tree, inviting me to sit beside him. He took a pot of old wine and a wine cup for himself, then placed another wine cup and a pair of chopsticks on the opposite side of the table. He filled both wine cups and raised one towards the opposite side, saying: "Come, let us have a drink. You are about to leave, so it is time to send you off."