William stepped off the boat, feeling reassured by the weight of copper coins in his arms.
He had been weathered by the constant River Wind, and a satisfied smile came upon his wrinkled face as he thought about buying things at the market before heading home.
"Hehe!" He chuckled, thinking of his wife and children's faces when they saw the gifts.
Suddenly, drums and gongs sounded from the pier, and three small boats adorned with red cloth and flowers left the pier, heading towards the center of the river.
William hesitated for a moment. How could these wooden boats dare to sail on the River Water?
A familiar boatman nearby explained to him, "Don't worry, those are boats going to offer sacrifices to the River God; they won't encounter any dangerous creatures."
"While you were away, something big happened in Yukou Town. Did you see that huge tree in the center of the river? That is the River God!"
