Chapter 0012: Guard Dogs and White Geese
My father stormed out of the house, blood streaming from his head, eyes blazing with fury. In his hand, he gripped a gleaming machete, its blade catching the light ominously.
"How dare you lay a hand on my wife and child? I'll kill every one of you bastards!" he roared.
Seeing my father in such a state, the five Zhang brothers, who had been so aggressive moments earlier, turned into cowards. Without a word, they bolted. My father chased them as far as the gate, brandishing the blade, until my mother rushed forward and clung to him, stopping him in his tracks.
Although he seemed ready to fight to the death, my father's body couldn't keep up. He was beaten badly, blood dripping down his face, and soon collapsed from exhaustion. My mother, terrified of what might happen if he pursued them, held him back with all her strength. Once he calmed down, she helped him inside to tend to his wounds.
Not long after, my grandfather returned with Granny Liu. When they stepped into the chaotic scene at home—my father bloodied and battered, my mother visibly shaken—my grandfather's temper flared instantly.
Unlike my father, my grandfather was notorious for his fiery temper. A veteran who had fought in wars, his reputation as a fighter was well-known. Had he been home when the Zhang brothers came, they wouldn't have dared lay a hand on anyone in our family.
Grabbing the machete, my grandfather was about to storm over to the Zhang household to demand justice when Granny Liu stopped him.
"Old Wu," she said, her tone serious, "there's no need to go. The Zhang family will face their punishment soon enough."
"What are you talking about?" my grandfather demanded, still seething with rage.
Granny Liu pointed at the clear handprint swelling on my cheek. "Someone struck your grandson. That's not something the spirits will take lightly."
Her words only stoked my grandfather's anger. "Those little bastards even dared to hit a child! I'll teach them a lesson myself!"
"Listen to me, Old Wu," Granny Liu said, her voice firm. "Don't go. If you do, you'll only make things worse. The one who struck your grandson will not survive the night."
My grandfather froze, confused. "What do you mean?"
Granny Liu sighed and explained. "Do you remember what happened to Ma Laosan's wife? She hit your grandson, and the next day, she was dead. Your grandson has a powerful spirit bound to him. For six years, the foxes and weasels have watched over him. Harming him is an offense against them, and they will seek revenge."
Hearing this, my grandfather felt a chill run down his spine. While the Zhang brothers were in the wrong, he didn't want their lives on his conscience. He asked Granny Liu if there was any way to save Zhang Laowu, the youngest brother, who had struck me.
Granny Liu hesitated. "This is fate. Wu Jie was born under a cursed star—every three years, there's a trial, and someone must pay the price. But…" She paused, then added, "There's a slim chance."
She then gave my grandfather specific instructions:
"Tell Zhang Laowu to release several guard dogs in his yard tonight—make sure they're not tied up. Also, place a few large white geese in his bedroom. The geese must be well-fed, so they'll defecate in the room. This might give him a chance to survive."
Granny Liu explained her reasoning. Guard dogs in rural areas are highly attuned to threats and will chase off intruders, including weasels. While yellow weasels are cunning, they're no match for dogs in size or strength.
As for the geese, they're territorial and aggressive, often scaring even dogs. Their powerful beaks make them formidable against smaller creatures like weasels. Additionally, weasels have an intense aversion to goose droppings, which can corrode their paws.
Though Granny Liu was reluctant to suggest such measures—given her spiritual connection to the foxes and weasels—she couldn't refuse my grandfather's persistent pleas.
That evening, my grandfather went to the Zhang household to deliver the warning. However, when he arrived, he found the door tightly shut. He knocked repeatedly, but no one answered.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhang Laowu was hiding inside, terrified. He knew my grandfather would come, and fear kept him from opening the door.
Frustrated, my grandfather tried to find Zhang Laowu's brothers, but they were either hiding or had fled. The few he managed to locate sent their wives to apologize on their behalf. After a fruitless search, my grandfather returned home, shaking his head in resignation.
The next morning, Zhang Laowu's eldest brother found him hanging from the rafters in his home, lifeless.
No one could explain what had happened during the night, but the villagers whispered about the mysterious foxes and weasels that had always been seen near our home. Those who knew of Granny Liu's warning believed her words had come true: to harm me was to invite death.