Chapter 134 The past 5 years ago
Chapter 134: Events Fifteen Years Ago
At this time, Granny Li came over with a smile, "Well done, two young men, you are indeed worthy of being heroes. These mermaids should be quiet for a while after being killed so ruthlessly.
It's almost noon, and I don't have much good food. I can only cook some porridge and grill some salted fish. Would you like to try it?"
The two looked in the direction of the thatched cottage, and sure enough, there was a pot of porridge cooking and a few salted fish roasting on the fire outside.
"Don't be polite, mother-in-law. We brought some food with us. You can do whatever you want."
"Then I won't be polite." He took out a small knife and started to dissect the mermaids. He cut off a few pieces of meat and put them away.
When the three of them returned to the thatched cottage, the young man looked at Granny Li with a melancholy face.
"Mother-in-law, are you eating the mermaid's meat again?"
"That's no big deal. Mermaids are not human beings. They are just fish monsters in the water. Your father is a fisherman. Isn't it natural for fishermen to eat fish? Just eat it."
Li Baoer looked gloomy, "I don't want to eat them. Although the mermaids are not human, they have some human-like appearance. I can't bear to see them like that."
"Tsk tsk tsk, you are a kind-hearted child. Then eat the salted fish and remember to drink more water."
As he spoke, he picked up a salted fish and placed it on the ceramic plate in front of the boy, and then served him a bowl of porridge.
Xiao Jie was originally wary of the old woman, so he was reluctant to eat the porridge and salted fish. But after meeting her, he realized that he was overthinking.
He wanted to get some information out of her, so he said, "I have some food here, why don't we share it together?"
As he spoke, Xiao Jie placed the steamed buns, bacon, roast chicken, roast venison, garden scones, and boiled eggs in his bag on the table one by one.
Li Baoer looked very surprised, and Granny Li also showed some joy.
[System prompt: Granny Li's favorability towards you has increased by 10 points, and is now 60.]
"Thank you very much." Without further ado, she picked up a roasted chicken and started to eat it. Although Granny Li looked old, her movements were quite generous and she ate with big mouthfuls.
Li Bao also picked up a steamed bun and started to eat it. His movements were quite gentle, with a bit of the reservedness of a scholar.
Granny Li took a few bites and sighed, "Thank God, I've been trapped in this small fishing village for more than ten years. It's rare to have such a sumptuous meal. Thank you, little brother. Oh, it would be even better if there was a pot of wine."
Xiao Jie smiled slightly, "That's a coincidence, I happen to have a pot of wine here."
As he said this, he took out a pot of Du Kang wine.
This pot of Du Kang wine was bought when I was learning to fish. It was originally intended for the fisherman, but he didn't expect that it would be needed because of the reputation and worship, so it was saved.
This will come in handy now.
Granny Li's eyes lit up when she saw it. She took it and sniffed it intoxicatedly, "Good wine!" Then she took a big sip. "It's really good wine."
[System prompt: Granny Li's favorability towards you has increased by 10 points, and is now 70.]
With a favorability level of 70, I should be able to get some useful information.
"Grandma Li, I am very confused about the behavior of these mermaids. I wonder if you can tell us what happened here? We have to know the reason for subduing demons and killing mermaids. It seems that these mermaids will not stop for a while and will come back again in the future.
If we can understand the key, it will be easier to defeat the enemy later."
"Humph, haven't you heard that less trouble is worse than more trouble? Even if I knew, what can you do?"
Li Bao also showed an expectant look, "Grandma, just tell me, I'm almost fifteen, you've kept many things from me over the years, how could I not know? Are you going to keep it a secret from me forever?
Where did my parents go? Did they meet with any misfortune? How can I, as their son, just ignore it?"
"Don't worry, baby. I've already told you that I'll tell you after your fifteenth birthday. Your birthday is only three days away, so just wait a few more days."
The young man sighed helplessly and stopped asking, but Xiao Jie didn't give up so easily.
He suddenly noticed that the young man had a gem hanging around his neck, emitting a faint halo, which was completely different from his rough clothes.
The mermaid seeking pearls - could this be what they are looking for?
"Let me guess. Since these mermaids are looking for pearls, could it be that they are looking for this? A pearl this big is definitely not an ordinary thing. There must be a story behind it. Could it be that this pearl was stolen from the mermaids? That's why they are harassing us."
Granny Li said helplessly, "Well, since you insist on knowing, I'll tell you.
Everything happened fifteen years ago. At that time, Fenghe Village was still prosperous and home to many families - yes, this is Fenghe Village.
In Fenghe Village lived a young fisherman named Li He. He was very handsome, well-educated, hardworking, and righteous, and he was quite famous in the village.
One day, Li He went out fishing and unexpectedly met an unconscious woman on the river bank. The woman was as beautiful as a fairy, but unfortunately after she was rescued, she was found to be mute. Li He was fascinated by her at first sight, and the beauty also fell in love with Li He at first sight.
Li He brought the beauty home, married her, and named her Yuniang.
Strange to say, ever since he married Yu Niang, the fisherman had good luck. He could catch a lot of fish every day and use the money he earned from selling them to spend on daily expenses and to buy some books to read and pass the time.
One of them fishes and the other weaves, and they live a happy life.
However, as expected, Yu Niang got pregnant after living with her for a few years. Unexpectedly, she became seriously ill after getting pregnant. She lost her appetite and couldn't eat or drink. Li He asked her what happened, and Yu Niang said..."
I want to become an immortal and said, "Wait a minute, isn't this Yu Niang mute?" The old woman was stunned and said embarrassedly, "Yes, but this Yu Niang is literate. The words were written by hand. She told Li He that her disease was incurable and she needed to go to the sea to catch a golden carp, which would heal her after eating it. For the sake of his wife and children, Li He had to sail down the river and into the sea, but he caught nothing after three days and three nights at sea.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Yu Niang gave birth.
Because of her serious illness, she had a difficult delivery and died when the child was born. Before her death, Yu Niang told the people in the village not to bury her in water, otherwise there would be disaster.
This is a custom in Fenghe Village. Our ancestors had a rule that people come from the water and must return to the water. People in Fenghe Village have been burying their dead in water for generations.
Hearing Yu Niang's firm words, the villagers refused to believe her and just agreed to her request casually. When she died, they still gave her a water burial.
Who would have thought that since then, mermaids have often appeared in the lake, kidnapping children, killing men and women, and harassing them day and night. The fishermen in the village could not bear it and moved away one after another, so Fenghe Village gradually became what it is today. "
"What about Li He?" Xiao Jie asked.
"Li He? Maybe he got lost at sea and can't be found."
There was a hint of sadness in Granny Li's voice.
Xiao Jie continued to ask: "What about the child?"
"It's right in front of you."
Looking at Li Baoer's stunned face, Xiao Jie suddenly realized that this was the child.
Fifteen years later, I have grown into what I am now.
But this still doesn't explain what's going on with these mermaids.
At this time, Li Bao also asked in a trembling voice, "Grandma, is my father dead?"
"Your father is a man of great fortune, so he must be fine. He might have been stranded on some deserted island and can't come back. When you are fifteen, I will go with you to find your father."
Li Baodao nodded, "Mother-in-law, I'm thirsty."
"Then drink more water. You eat too much salted fish."
I watched my mother-in-law scoop another bucket of water for Li Bao.
After feeding them water, Granny Li looked at the two of them again.
“Two brave men, I’m afraid those mermen will come again this afternoon to attack us, so I’m going to trouble you today.
Of course, you two will get paid. Today, you two killed a total of 29 mermaids. I remember them all. Here, this is your reward. From now on, I will settle it once every day at noon and evening. I will never default on it."
[System prompt: You have received a 1450-coin task reward.]
Since it was a team mission, the two of them took half each. One and a half taels, was not a small amount.
Xiao Jie thought that this mission was great as it provided a lot of experience, had low difficulty and offered generous rewards.
Could this reward be what the river god calls the deserved recompense?
Did the river god ask them to come here just to help the old woman kill the merman for three days? But what does this have to do with honesty?
And compared to an adventure event, although the reward is not small, it still feels a bit too ordinary.
There must be some secret hidden in this, it is definitely not as simple as it seems on the surface.
When Granny Li saw Xiao Jie was silent, she thought he thought the money was too little.
“You two, a little money may not be of interest to you two warriors, but the pearl is a family heirloom of my Li family. After my son Li He disappeared, I passed the pearl to Baoer. It has nothing to do with those mermaids.
I really don't know why those mermaids came to harass the fishing village, but no matter what the reason is, I will never let them hurt my Xiaobao. Xiaobao is the only bloodline of my Li family, and he must not be harmed.
Although this pearl is precious, it is nothing compared to my grandson's life. As long as I wait until my grandson's fifteenth birthday in three days, the matter here will be resolved. If you two can help me survive these three days and fight off those mermaids, I will reward you with this pearl after the task is accomplished.
This pearl is not an ordinary ornament, it is a magic weapon. I'm sorry to keep you in suspense about the effect of this magic weapon, but it will definitely satisfy you two. What do you think?"
【System prompt: Trigger the adventure event [Three-day appointment].
Mission description: Granny Li tells you a bizarre story and hopes you can help her protect her grandson Li Bao within 3 days.
Mission objective: Prevent Li Bao from being harmed by the mermaid within 3 days.
Mission Reward: A mysterious orb. 】
Hmm? Xiao Jie was even more puzzled. He originally thought that the mermaids came for the orb, and Granny Li's goal was to protect the orb. But now Granny Li directly turned the orb into a mission reward.
This completely confused him.
However, the mission still needs to be accepted. Perhaps the truth will be revealed when the properties of the mysterious orb are seen.
"Don't worry, Grandma. With the two of us here, those mermaids will never be able to hurt Brother Bao."
After accepting the task, the two men went to the lakeside to stand guard again.
Seeing that there was no one around, I suddenly whispered, "Brother Feng, there is something wrong with the story this old woman told. She is lying!"
(End of this chapter)