"Come quickly, everyone! There’s trouble! The black beast from the Back Mountain is coming down to destroy the crops!"
It was evening, and smoke was rising from the chimneys of every household. Hou Yong had finally managed to get the braised pork started after getting soot all over his face. Just as he covered the pot to let it simmer, a voice from somewhere in the distance began shouting at the top of its lungs.
Hou's father had been leaning against the threshold, puffing away at his pipe, but the moment he heard the call, he jumped to his feet. He tossed his pipe to the ground and rushed into the inner room, dragging a rusty old gun from beneath the wardrobe.
Chapter 40