Overnight, most of the water in the riverbed dried up.
Every now and then, you could spot a fish kicking up muddy ripples.
Soon enough, people from the village started showing up, seeing that almost bone-dry river, equal parts shocked and overjoyed.
"Haha, we've got fish for dinner tonight!"
Every year the river had a drought season, with the water dropping low.
Sometimes it dropped so much the villagers could block both ends, scoop out the water, and all that's left inside were shiny, fresh fish.
You can't imagine how delicious they were.
A whole group called out, went home to grab farm tools, dug up dirt, snapped off branches and weeds, mixed it with mud, and blocked off both ends of the riverbed.
Day and night, no breaks, taking turns to pump the water downstream.
Soon enough, you could spot fish swimming around the riverbed.
Folks acted like it was New Year's.
But, with all that rowdy excitement, voices with totally opposite opinions started popping up.
"How'd the river dry up so fast this year? Hope this doesn't mess with the crops!"
······
For days on end, the village was buzzing—every household got a few fish to split.
But as time went on, those worries some folks had started coming true.
This area was definitely showing signs of drought!
An invisible gloom slowly settled over this land.
"Back in the old days, the most terrifying thing wasn't either wild beasts or hard work, it was disasters and people's own messes!"
"Disasters come first—people's messes come after!"
Lu Chang'sheng held his wooden stick, staring off in the distance.
The sun overhead looked almost warped.
Honestly, it shouldn't be this hot so close to the end of the year, but today, the weather was just off.
"With the river almost dry, there's no slacking off fishing anymore. Gotta find another way!"
Lu Chang'sheng got to his feet.
He'd memorized all 168 words, smooth as butter; as long as he understood their meaning, he'd be a "learned man" who could read.
That way, even after heading off to Black Mountain Prefecture, he wouldn't have to worry about work.
Still, whatever happens, he had to tough out the end of this year first.
He grabbed a dried fish off the rack.
Lu Chang'sheng circled most of the village, stopped in front of a courtyard door.
The yard was tucked away, green moss covering the threshold.
Just as he was about to knock, he heard a voice from nearby.
"Lu Erdan, king of slacking off fishing?"
Lu Chang'sheng turned to look—some man stood not far off.
"Uncle!"
Zhao Family Village was pretty big.
And since they weren't the same age group, Lu Chang'sheng didn't know his name, so he just called him "uncle."
"You're after Old Que's craft, aren't you? Let me tell you, that guy's no good. When he was younger—"
"Aiyaa," came a sound.
The courtyard door opened from the inside.
The man shivered, feeling a chill, turned around and left.
"Kid, you want to learn my archery skills?"
"Yes, sir! Please teach me!"
Lu Chang'sheng felt the old guy's gaze was sharp—nothing like regular village folks, more like an outlaw in his memory.
"I picked up these skills crawling through mud half my life! Ever heard of the Nujiang Gang up in Black Mountain Prefecture?"
"Nope!"
Lu Chang'sheng said honestly.
"Hmpf, you're just a kid, barely seen anything, so it makes sense you haven't heard! Today, I'll tell you about that Nujiang Gang!"
The old man got started—telling Lu Chang'sheng all about the so-called Nujiang Gang.
Truth was, three parts blood and thunder, seven parts cunning and daring!
By the time dusk settled, it was only Lu Chang'sheng's reminder that got him to finally stop.
"Thanks, old man, for telling me all that! It's getting late—I'll head home now!"
"Mm—okay!"
The old man nodded on reflex.
As Lu Chang'sheng reached the gate, the old guy suddenly remembered something.
"Hold up! The dried fish—"
Lu Chang'sheng stared at him, half-smiling.
The old man glared at him a while, snorted, and said, "You think you'll get me to teach you skills with no sincerity? Dream on!"
Lu Chang'sheng turned, about to leave.
"Wait!"
The old man called out again.
"One lesson—one dried fish!"
"Deal!"
Lu Chang'sheng cracked a grin and laid the dried fish on the table beside them.
"I'll come see you every morning!"
"Get lost!"
······
Lu Chang'sheng left the courtyard and glanced up at the sky.
The heat was oppressive!
His mind drifted back to what Mr. Lu always said.
"Old Que from East Village is really Zhang Village—used to be one of the best hunters in Zhao Family Village. Family was broke so he went off to Black Mountain Prefecture alone and nobody heard a word from him for twenty years. Later on, people said he got mixed up with some gang there! Not sure what he did, but a few years after, when he came back, his leg was busted. Said someone broke it!"
"Zhang Village's got a weird streak. Back in the day, he'd keep scheming for crooked ways. First came back, tons of folks knocked on his door, hoping their kids could learn archery from him. He said yes, but he never truly taught anyone. He just mooched off whatever tribute the kids brought. You shouldn't really bother going after him!"
Lu Chang'sheng showed up sincere enough, but after hearing Zhang Village talk, he'd wised up inside.
"The guy talks in circles half the time! Logic all over the place—never really lines up! Maybe the rumors weren't as bad as people say, but he's definitely not pouring his heart out!"
So, Lu Chang'sheng switched tactics—straight up used incentive and tied it to interests.
"Gangs, martial arts—who knows if any of that's actually true!"
By now, Lu Chang'sheng was half-convinced this world might just be a supernatural one—but couldn't be sure yet.
Still, that was something to work out once he got to Black Mountain Prefecture.
Until he could prove it, he'd keep his focus on reading. No harm in learning both right now.
······
The missing dried fish at home was quickly noticed, but when they heard Lu Chang'sheng took it, nobody made a fuss.
He had brought back plenty of fish before.
Poor families knew how precious food was, so whenever they had some extra fish, they'd save a few and make dried fish.
After a few months, their stash wasn't huge, but it wasn't tiny either.
Still, Mr. Lu reminded him not to hang around that cripple too much.
"Lucky for me, my standing in the family's way higher now—otherwise I'd have no chance dealing with stuff like this!"
Lu Chang'sheng thought to himself.
The next day.
East Village, inside Zhang Village's yard.
"No dried fish?" Zhang Village looked annoyed at Lu Chang'sheng.
"Got chewed out by the family for it yesterday. Have to wait till tomorrow to swipe another one!" Lu Chang'sheng put on his 'ashamed' face.
Before Zhang Village could blow up, he said, "If the old man thinks this won't work, then forget it! I don't have to learn archery—I've got my fishing skills. Once the river fills up again, archery won't matter!"
Zhang Village sneered, "Shortsighted! You can never have too many skills! Don't look down on archery! Your fishing trick is only gonna fill your belly for now, my trick can get you a real future!"
Almost spat out a "scram," but swallowed it down.
His leg was busted, he was old now, no kids left, and even getting a bite to eat was tough. Someone finally showed up—no way was he letting the kid go.
"A tough one—but still just a kid!"
Zhang Village thought to himself.
He wasn't sure if this was Lu Chang'sheng's little trick, but either way, it didn't change his plan.
······