Indeed, it was Wang Dali and others who encountered a tiger at the outskirts of the forest, and the snow kept falling without pause. The villagers grew increasingly fearful, worrying that the wild beasts in the mountains, driven mad by hunger, might rush down to seek food and harm people. Even Little Flower and the local dogs couldn't reassure them, so the patrol team began to brave the severe cold and patrol every night once again.
The villagers' concerns were not unfounded; the snow had reached knee depth, and it was proving very difficult for the animals in the mountains, whether they were birds or beasts, to find food. Previously, many birds had alighted on the Mo Family's courtyard wall, waiting for an opportunity to steal the grain for the roosters in the backyard.
