When Zhao Yan and his family arrived in front of the Village Chief's house, a large crowd had already gathered. It was a dense sea of people, ranging from white-haired elders to toddlers learning how to speak. With so many people packed together, the noise was deafening, sounding just like a bustling vegetable market.
"What on earth is going on? We've been here for ages and the Village Chief hasn't come out to say a word. My Dalang is going to get a heatstroke," an older woman complained as she held her grandson. Struggling to support the child in the sweltering heat, she was already dripping with sweat, but she had no spare hand to wipe her brow. Her grandson was at that troublesome seven- or eight-year-old age where he would wander off the second she looked away, leaving her with no choice but to grit her teeth and tightly hold onto her precious golden boy.
An old man nearby, puffing on a dry-tobacco pipe, chimed in, "You said it. As soon as that suona started playing, my heart started pounding. I have no idea what's happened, and all we can do is stand here waiting."
Chapter 140