#14 - Chapter 14: Corpse at the Bottom of the River

Cheng Feng was still young, with plenty of time and patience.

From the 26 large coins earned from selling fish, after deducting 4 large coins for miscellaneous household expenses, and then deducting 13 large coins and 4 small coins for Cheng Feng's bow purchase, Cheng Feng gave the remaining 8 large coins to his mother, setting them aside as emergency savings for the family.

Cheng Feng kept 6 small coins for his own spending money.

As Cheng Feng's performance became more and more impressive, his voice within the family grew stronger.

Not only at home, but the entire village knew that the second son of the Cheng family, Er Gou, had become enlightened and capable after his illness.

Taking advantage of this momentum, the third son and the previously selected children were also fishing together, forming a small group led by the third son.

Cheng Feng told the third son not to be too flamboyant, deliberately failing to catch fish with the net a couple of times, so that outsiders would think it was just luck.

However, Cheng Lei's swimming skills were excellent, and he could catch one or two fish every day.

So those who followed the third son were also in luck.

These past two days, there would be small fish for you, and in a couple of days, small fish for him.

There were only six people, and even if they divided the catch and went their separate ways, they could still divide it up.

Gradually, things returned to the way they were before.

Cheng Feng knew that once the autumn harvest was over, the river water would become chilling.

The fishing operation would naturally come to a halt, and his family's limelight would fade away with time, so it was time to stop.

In addition, Cheng Feng's previous plan for a cellar had been approved by his father.

After the autumn harvest, there wouldn't be much work to do at home, and Cheng's father prepared arrangements for himself.

The second son was becoming more and more opinionated, and the family was undergoing new changes, which was a good thing.

The old bed and mattress had already been piled up in the corner.

The dilapidated table and benches had also been replaced with new ones, and the old ones were placed in another room.

Knives, cutting boards, salt, and other odds and ends were basically stored.

But the space was indeed not enough.

In the past, he would worry about not having enough to eat in the winter, doing odd jobs here and there.

The work that the second son was now arranging for him would at least keep him from being idle this winter.

Old Cheng had now come to his senses and understood his second son's plan.

The eldest son and himself would farm to ensure a base, his wife would stay at home, cook, and take care of the house, and the second and third sons would fish to earn money and supplement the family income.

Now, everyone knew that the second and third sons of the Cheng family were good swimmers and had a knack for fishing.

Cheng's father was now very happy, and sometimes when he came home, he would swing his hoe a couple more times to dig the cellar.

Take it slow, don't rush.

These were Cheng Feng's original words.

And now, Cheng Feng and Cheng Lei had arrived at the place the big fish had mentioned.

In the river beneath the cliff.

Also thirty li away from the Liu Family Village riverside.

The location of the third person's opportunity.

Cheng Feng didn't know how much silver the big fish had seen.

But as long as there was information, he could verify it.

The height of the cliff made Cheng Feng, standing at the top, feel dizzy.

After estimating the length and width of the canyon.

Cheng Feng had a good idea in his mind, and even greater confidence came from the effect of the Water Avoidance Pearl.

After scouting the location, he had the third son watch from the top, not only looking down from above, but also being vigilant about the surroundings, as it was best if no one knew about this.

It was best to make a fortune in silence.

Jumping off the cliff was obviously impossible.

Cheng Feng chose to go downstream from the upper reaches, using the water to make himself more relaxed.

Two li of river water was not short.

Cheng Feng also had to look underwater to see if there was anything he had missed.

The third son didn't know what his second brother was doing.

But he still did his best, watching carefully.

After searching like this for three days, covering roughly the entire area, Cheng Feng still hadn't found anything.

The third son, seeing Cheng Feng looking helpless, finally couldn't help but ask curiously: "Second brother, what are you looking for? Is it so difficult?"

Cheng Feng smiled and said: "I heard people say that someone fell off a cliff here, and that person was carrying silver, and not a small amount. Second brother came to try his luck."

"Then I can help second brother find it too. There hasn't been a single person around these past few days, so there shouldn't be any problems," Cheng Lei really wanted to help his second brother.

Everyone could see the changes in the family.

It basically all started with the fishing tips that second brother gave.

Cheng Lei also really wanted to be able to help his second brother with something.

Cheng Feng looked into the third son's eyes and said steadily: "Second brother is just afraid that you won't have enough stamina in the water. There's not even a flat spot to stand on in the river. If something happens to you, second brother will regret it."

The third son also knew where his shortcomings were. When Cheng Feng tested himself before, the third son also tested his own limits.

His swimming skills had suddenly become much better, as if he had merged with the water, and he seemed to be able to stay underwater longer.

He was definitely better than before.

But second brother was second brother, from morning to almost time to go home in the evening, he could still swim, and during that time, except for eating and going to the toilet, he stayed in the water as if nothing was wrong.

Knowing that his second brother was right, he didn't continue to ask.

After going down the river for a few more days, Cheng Feng was losing confidence and prepared to end it today if he still couldn't find anything.

Consider the matter closed.

He was almost swimming to the middle of the river when he heard a shout from the top of the canyon: "Second brother, run, run! There's a big snake, there's a big snake!"

Cheng Feng didn't hear clearly at first, but after listening carefully, the hair on his body stood on end: "Damn it, there's a big snake in this ghostly place?"

How big would a snake have to be for the third son to see it from such a high cliff?

Sure enough, it was right to have the third son watch from above.

Without saying anything, Cheng Feng didn't dare to swim along the middle of the river.

He swam quickly against the mountain wall, but unexpectedly something underwater scratched him.

Cheng Feng was even more frightened.

"Damn it, could there be a water ghost?" Cheng Feng panicked when he was scratched.

He hurriedly shook off the thing that was hooking his calf.

It was a human arm bone.

He could vaguely see a rotten skeleton stuck in the middle of the rocks at the bottom of the river.

The rocks in front were large, and the rocks behind were small, and the gap was small, which caused Cheng Feng to not notice it when he was drifting by before.

But at this time, Cheng Feng couldn't care so much, and kicked the skeleton hand away with all his might.

The calm river surface behind him began to ripple, and a long, huge object loomed.

The cold scales undulating on the river surface were like they had been oiled, dark green with an oily sheen.

Just looking from a distance, Cheng Feng felt that one of those scales was as big as his face.

Cheng Feng was also swimming very fast, and his body's potential was stimulated between life and death.

Fortunately, the third son reminded him in time, and Cheng Feng's own swimming skills and speed were also able to withstand the test. Relying on the advantage of being familiar with the river these past few days, he quickly went ashore at the corner and fled this ghostly place.

Cheng Lei, seeing his second brother escape from danger, also breathed a sigh of relief.

He hurried to run to where his second brother had come from. No matter what, they should go home first.

He couldn't stay in this ghostly place for a moment longer.

Cheng Feng also went all out, running for a full quarter of an hour.

He was frightened and said: "Damn it, what a ghostly place, such a big snake, I'm afraid it could swallow me in one bite."

That shape was simply like the giant python in the Amazon rainforest in the movie 'Anaconda'.

"I'll take the third son home to rest for a while, and then we'll discuss it in the long term."

Cheng Feng was really scared.

This was another giant he had encountered after meeting that big fish.

Cheng Feng had encountered all of them.

"It's good to be alive."

He told the third son not to tell anyone about this, and then, supported by the third son, he went home.

Without recuperating for five, six, seven, or eight days, and building up his courage.

Cheng Feng didn't dare to say that he still had the courage to go down that river again.

The silver, he definitely had to get it.

He had worked so hard for so many days and finally found the corpse.

How could he give up now?

But the current situation required long-term planning.

He couldn't risk his life, and he also had to see how much silver was in that package.

With the silver, Cheng Feng could do many of the things he had planned.