Chapter 42: Why Did You Make Me Eat That Fish?

Wang Qian’s face was as pale as paper, her shrill voice almost tearing her throat.

“We ate that fish, and it turned into a vengeful ghost to take revenge on us. That must be it…”

Wang Hu stood up and slapped her. “Wang Qian, what nonsense are you talking about? It was just a fish. Dead is dead!”

Fish scales fell with blood, Wang Qian trembling uncontrollably, her fear reaching its peak.

“I saw the fish’s soul! I really did!”

She suddenly flipped over and sat up, grabbing Wang Hu’s collar, her expression frenzied.

“You killed that fish, so you’ll die first, then the two of us.”

A flicker of terror crossed Wang Hu’s eyes. “You’re lying, lying.”

Wang Qian pushed him away, turning to choke Hu Tao’s neck. “It’s all your fault! Why did you let Wang Hu kill that fish? Why did you make us eat that fish’s flesh?!”

“We’re going to die! We’re going to die soon! Hahahahaha…”

Her eyes were bloodshot, and the fish scales on her body exploded.

Seeing Wang Qian like this, Hu Tao’s mind went blank.

She couldn’t hear what Wang Qian was saying, desperately gasping for air.

“Help! Help…”

Wang Liangshan quickly pulled Wang Qian away. “Qianqian, calm down. She’s your mother.”

Wang Qian’s eyes were filled with resentment. “She’s not my mother! I became like this because of her, and Wang Hu.”

She began to recount what happened in Biluo Village.

A month ago, Wang Liangshan took his family on a trip south.

Wang Qian saw Biluo Village online and suggested they visit.

“Dad, the internet says Biluo Village has a very spiritual temple. If you make a wish there, your dreams will come true.”

Wang Hu scoffed disdainfully. “(Naive). Believing in this stuff.”

Wang Qian didn’t want to deal with her twin brother.

She and Wang Hu were born only five minutes apart. She became the older sister, and Wang Hu the younger brother.

Their mother often told her, “You’re the older sister; you should let your brother have his way.”

Wang Qian didn’t think much of it. Wang Hu fought and lied, and never called her sister.

Their relationship wasn’t good; neither of them could stand the other.

In the end, they still decided to go to Biluo Village.

The air was fresh there; they felt much better as soon as they entered.

The village head told them, “You’ve come at the right time. On the fifteenth of every month, kneel in the main hall, and the Great One will bestow good fortune upon us.”

Wang Liangshan took his family to the temple to pray.

Wang Qian looked up. “Why is it a fish?”

Wang Hu sneered. “This young master isn’t worshipping any fish.”

Wang Liangshan scolded, “If you’re not going to worship, then get out! Don’t make a fuss in the temple.”

He himself believed in Buddhism and knew a little about Buddhist statues.

Buddhist statues were the embodiment of gods; speaking ill of them in the temple, the gods could hear.

However, he found it very strange that the villagers here actually worshipped a fish.

The fish was carved from stone, coated with gold powder, and its eyes were incredibly lifelike and moving.

The stone statue shimmered under the sunlight, like a deity descending to earth.

Wang Liangshan felt a sense of reverence and involuntarily knelt down to kowtow.

Seeing his father’s behavior, Wang Hu rolled his eyes.  “Old man, you’re always muttering about gods and spirits. You’ll end up crazy one day.”

Wang Qian felt the same disdain for her father’s actions.

“Alright, let’s go for a walk. Dad’s going to pray for another day.”

The three of them wandered around. Wang Hu stopped at a fork in the path. “Go up this way.”

Wang Qian pointed to a warning sign beside them. “Outsiders are not allowed to enter.”

“This young master is going, and who dares to stop me?”

Wang Hu pushed over the warning sign and walked up, step by step.

Hu Tao, worried about him, followed.

There was no one else around, and Wang Qian didn’t want to be left alone, so she followed behind them.

The air became fresher the farther they walked. Wang Qian took a deep breath. “This is a good place.”

Wang Hu grumbled, “These villagers are up to no good, keeping such a good place closed to outsiders.”

Tired from walking, he cupped some water from a stream and washed his face.

Wang Hu licked his lips. “This water is so sweet.”

“Really?”

Wang Qian became interested, just about to cup some water in her hands, when she suddenly noticed a golden fish.

“Ah! Look! What’s that? It seems to be glowing.”

Wang Hu rolled up his sleeves and went into the water. “I’ll go take a look.”

The golden fish had its eyes closed, the water gently lapping against its scales.

When someone approached, the fish opened its eyes, wagged its tail, and swam towards him.

Wang Hu was ecstatic. “This fish is so beautiful.”

Wang Qian was equally excited. “It’s a koi.”

“They say encountering a koi brings good luck.”

Wang Hu’s eyes flashed with malice. “Koi… I’ve never tasted golden koi before.”

The koi swam closer and closer. Wang Hu picked up a large stone and smashed it down on the fish’s head.

Wang Qian frowned. “This isn’t at our house.”

“Wild koi tastes better.”

Wang Hu licked his lips and raised the stone to strike the fish again.

The fish seemed stunned and lay motionless in the water.

Wang Hu dropped the stone and grabbed the fish’s tail.

The koi suddenly struggled.

He pressed down hard on the fish. “Quick, help!”

Hu Tao pulled Wang Qian into the water. “Quickly help your brother.”

Wang Qian held down the fish’s body, and Hu Tao picked up a small stone and smashed it repeatedly against the koi’s head.

Bright red blood gushed out, staining all three of them.

Wang Hu dragged the fish ashore, took a lighter from his bag, and smiled sinisterly. “Outdoor barbecue.”

Hu Tao warned, “Son, things from the outside aren’t clean.”

Wang Hu expertly lit a fire. “What do you know? Things from the wild are the best!”

They were tired of eating the same old chicken, duck, and fish. He had eaten many wild delicacies: rabbits, pheasants, civet cats, hedgehogs, and so on.

Such a large golden koi must be incredibly delicious.

Wang Hu worked skillfully, Hu Tao helping alongside.  They didn’t need any seasoning; the aroma was rich.

The delicious smell made all three of them want to eat.

Wang Hu grabbed a piece of fish and stuffed it into his mouth. “Delicious! So delicious!”

Wang Qian tore off a piece of fish. “I helped earlier, so I deserve some too.”

It was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten; she even swallowed the bones.

Wang Qian wanted more, but Hu Tao slapped her hand away. “Enough. Little Hu killed this fish.”

Wang Hu devoured the fish, and Wang Qian’s mouth watered uncontrollably.

She swallowed. “Leave some for Dad.”

Wang Hu shook his head. “It’s the fifteenth today. He doesn’t eat meat.”

Wang Liangshan only ate vegetarian food on the first and fifteenth of each month, never touching any meat.

Wang Qian found no reason to eat more fish and stood quietly.

Her mother was so biased; she only gave the good things to Wang Hu.

In the end, Wang Hu ate most of the fish, while Hu Tao and Wang Qian only ate a small piece.

Remembering this, Wang Qian cried and laughed. “Hu Tao, I thank you so much! I thank you for your bias! Wang Hu ate most of that fish, so he died the fastest.”

“Haha, Wang Hu is going to die soon!”

Hu Tao lowered her head, silent.

At this moment, even in her foolishness, she realized the connection between the fish scales on her body and how much fish she had eaten.

Wang Hu’s eyes widened; something was wrong with the fish.

He jumped out of the bathtub, grabbing Hu Tao’s neck with one hand and slapping her with the other.

“It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!”

“Why did you make me eat that fish?!”