With nothing amiss on Wang Qiao'er's end, the villagers dispersed and went home to rest.
Uncle Liu tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Sister-in-law Liu, annoyed by his fidgeting, sat up abruptly.
"What are you doing? Are you going to sleep or not?"
Likely afraid of waking Liu Hu next door, Sister-in-law Liu lowered her voice.
Uncle Liu sat up. "I feel like something's even more wrong."
Sister-in-law Liu shot him a look. "What on earth is wrong with you?"
"In Wang Qiao'er's yard, there were footprints from several people in the mud, but on my way back, those tracks just vanished. Isn't that strange?"
"What's so strange about that?" Sister-in-law Liu scoffed, unconcerned. "It hasn't been raining, so their feet weren't wet. Of course the footprints would get fainter and fainter."
Uncle Liu frowned. "Exactly. It hasn't been raining, so where did the water in her yard come from?"
