Folklore Supernatural Stories Heard from the Older Generation
Story
In Great-Grandma's childhood village, nearly every household grew wheat, corn, and watermelons. Times were tough, and people were reluctant to use oil lamps, so once evening fell, the village would be enveloped in darkness, with the stars shining particularly brightly. In the wheat fields, many foxes could be seen practicing alchemy under the moonlight—opening and closing their mouths as if reciting something—resulting in the fields alternately brightening and darkening. Animals often stole melons from the fields. Hearing this reminded me of Lu Xun's characters, Runtu and the "cha," in his short stories. Out of boredom, Great-Grandma and her sisters decided to take on the task of guarding the watermelons. They cheerfully went hand in hand, hopping and skipping to the fields.