Last night, my grandfather went to see the five Zhang brothers one by one. His main purpose was to warn them—to tell Zhang's fifth brother to keep several village dogs and big white geese in his home to prevent trouble from the yellow weasels and foxes. But the Zhang brothers misunderstood. They thought grandpa was coming to take my father's side and settle scores, so they were scared stiff and wouldn't even come out.
Early the next morning, Zhang's eldest brother wanted to talk to the fifth brother about whether they should go to my house and apologize to my father. After all, we were from the same village. It wasn't right for them to cause so much trouble, especially since they'd be seeing each other every day in the future.
But when Zhang's eldest brother pushed open the door and looked inside, he was so terrified he collapsed right onto the floor. Hanging from the beam was Zhang's fifth brother, swaying gently in the breeze.
Zhang's fifth brother had died in a very strange way. His tongue was stretched out long, his eyes wide open, bloodshot red veins everywhere, and his face had turned a deep purplish color.
Even more terrifying was the faint smile still frozen on his face—the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.
That exact same smile had been on Ma Laosan's wife's face when she died.
Just a glance was enough to send Zhang's eldest brother running to the village to gather people.
When everyone came to Zhang's fifth brother's room, they quickly noticed that hanging on the beam wasn't just him—there was also a yellow weasel.
The yellow weasel hung less than two meters from Zhang's fifth brother, side by side.
The yellow weasel had given its life to take Zhang's fifth brother's.
The villagers were horrified by this strange sight, and for a long time, no one dared to take down Zhang's fifth brother's body.
Around here, the yellow weasel is called "Huang Xian" (Yellow Immortal). The villagers both revere and fear these creatures deeply.
If a Huang Xian intervenes to harm someone, who dares to disturb its wrath? Touching it could bring the same fate as Zhang's fifth brother.
When my grandfather heard the news, he went there with Liu Pozi to take a look.
The moment Liu Pozi saw the yellow weasel hanging alongside Zhang's fifth brother, her face went pale with fear.
"This is bad. Looks like something terrible is about to happen," she said nervously.
My grandfather scanned the crowd coldly, seeing that Zhang's fifth brother's body was still hanging.
He barked, "So many people here, and no one knows how to take down the body? Hanging him here like this—is this acceptable?"
Still, no one dared to move. My grandfather had to walk over, drag a chair, and carefully take Zhang's fifth brother down from the beam. Someone handed him a blanket, and he gently laid the stiff corpse down.
Several of the Zhang brothers were there. When they saw my grandfather, Zhang's second brother, who had been acting recklessly, suddenly stepped forward and pointed at him.
"Old Liu, don't pretend to care here. Our fifth brother was killed by your Wu family. Everyone knows your family has a freak—a wild bastard born from your daughter-in-law and a Huang Xian. Every night, so many yellow weasels and foxes bring stuff to your house. We only beat your son up a little, and now you've got the yellow weasel killing our fifth brother?"
As soon as he spoke, the other Zhang brothers joined in, accusing my grandfather.
My grandfather's face darkened as he looked at them coldly.
"You little bastards, you gang up on my family while I'm not home, beating my son and even laying hands on my daughter-in-law and grandson. And you don't even care that your own brother is hanging from a beam? I take him down for you, and you have the nerve to mouth off? What, you want to fight me? Come on then."
He glared at the Zhang brothers with murderous intent.
Having killed Japanese soldiers before, his killing aura was fierce and palpable. The brothers didn't dare say another word.
Then Liu Pozi stepped forward and said, "Enough, everyone calm down. The dead are to be respected. Let's handle the body properly. Zhang's fifth brother wasn't killed by the Wu family—it's because you offended the Huang Xian that this disaster fell upon you. Let this matter end here."
Everyone knew Liu Pozi was the most famous exorcist disciple in the surrounding villages, respected and powerful. If she said it wasn't the Wu family's fault, the Zhang brothers had no choice but to quiet down.
Still, Zhang's second brother was furious. He glared at the yellow weasel's corpse hanging from the beam and did something unexpected. He grabbed a shovel from behind the door and slammed it down, knocking the yellow weasel's body off the beam.
Not satisfied, Zhang's second brother raised the shovel and started beating the corpse violently.
Liu Pozi rushed forward to stop him. "Don't disrespect the Huang Xian! You've already caused enough trouble. This will bring you great misfortune!"
But Zhang's second brother ignored her and continued, shouting, "That yellow weasel killed my brother! Can't I at least get some revenge?"
After a few shovelfuls, the yellow weasel's body was smashed into a bloody pulp.
Even Liu Pozi could only sigh sadly at the mess.
My grandfather returned home fuming, with Liu Pozi following. On the way, her face was dark, and she kept puffing on her tobacco pipe anxiously.
Back home, she sat down and sighed. "Little Jie's fate is like this—every three years a calamity. Either he dies, or someone else does. The trial has come again, but it's not over. Zhang family won't be at peace for a while."
My grandfather, still angry, asked, "Zhang's fifth brother is dead. What else could happen?"
Liu Pozi shook her head helplessly. "I can't say. Nobody knows what the Huang Xian will do. But Zhang's second brother abused the Huang Xian's corpse. That'll bring him bad luck."
Grandfather worried, "Will my grandson be in danger?"
Liu Pozi answered, "I can't say. We just have to wait and see."
Unexpectedly, her words came true.
That very night, something terrible happened.
Zhang's fifth brother, not yet buried in a coffin, suddenly sat up from the bed after dark.
This sight nearly drove the Zhang brothers insane with fear.