I used rebirth to bury his captivating gaze.

Chapter 51: All the chickens in this village and neighboring villages died mysteriously (Old Wang

Last time, the fat yellow hen in front of the old lady's window in the Yang family compound was eaten by something and left only bones and feathers, without leaving a drop of blood.

After that, every household in the village began to have their own laying hens die mysteriously one after another! The state of their deaths was exactly the same as that of the old yellow hen belonging to the Yang family's grandmother!

This incident began to spread throughout the village, and the iron rooster on the roof of Old Wang's house next to the west courtyard of Yang's compound also began to attract the attention of everyone in the village.

Wu Sanbao and Zhang Cuihua, always gossipy, had a new topic to spread. The two sat in front of the village's supply and marketing cooperative, on the edge of the large stone millstone, where a group of talkative villagers had gathered and began discussing the iron rooster on Old Wang's roof.

Then they began to suspect that their own hens, which were supposed to lay eggs, had suddenly turned into nothing but feathers and bones overnight.

Now we've found the root of the problem. There's never been such an incident before. It was only after Old Wang finished making that iron rooster and put it on his own roof that this mass chicken death occurred.

It's not chicken plague, of course; chicken plague would leave the carcass perfectly intact. Even if a weasel ate it, it would leave a drop of blood!

A group of Chen Erlais, who were chatting amongst themselves around a large stone millstone, said, "We'll all grab our tools and smash Old Wang's iron rooster in a bit."

“If we go and smash Old Wang’s iron rooster, won’t he fight us to the death? Do you even know what he used to build that iron rooster?” Wu Sanbao said with a look of horror.

Everyone started discussing, one sentence from him and another from each other.

Chen Erlai joked, "Of course, we'll use iron to guard the door and keep watch. Old Wang is an old man, he also has emotions and desires, and there's that little affair between him and Widow Li from the west end of the village."

"Hey Er Lai, you're one to talk about Lao Wang, aren't you? You're a bachelor too, and you and Widow Li haven't been idle either, have you? Haha!" Wang Er Mazi teased.

“Wang Mazi, shut your mouth. We’re discussing serious matters, don’t go around talking nonsense.” Chen Erlai became somewhat serious.

"What else can we do? Do you want to keep that stingy rooster around and let it continue to harm the laying hens we've raised with so much effort?" Zhang Cuihua said.

"No, that's not it. It's strange, though. Why do stingy men always seem to harm hens, while the roosters that don't lay eggs at home are perfectly fine?"

"That miserly man probably puts all his energy into the hen, and he might even harm her."

"That's right. Old Wang has never found a wife since he was young, so he resents women and uses his iron rooster as revenge."

"Alright, stop dawdling. The brave ones, grab your things. The timid ones, stay home. We'll meet here after dinner and go smash his iron rooster. After we're done, head back and get ready!" Chen Erlai said, heading home.

"Wow! When did Chen Erlai become so capable? I'm really impressed!" Zhang Cuihua teased, watching Chen Erlai's retreating figure.

"Yeah, even that scoundrel has turned over a new leaf, but my deadbeat husband is still the same old scoundrel, still always going to that widow Li's house in the west," Wu Sanbao said dejectedly.

“Wu Sanbao, you have to stop your man. If he and Old Wang start fighting over Widow Li again because of jealousy, then we’re doomed,” Wang Ermazi said with a grin.

“Wang Ermazi, my family’s affairs are none of your business. I don’t think you have the guts to join the team that’s going to smash Old Wang’s iron rooster tonight. Why don’t you go home for dinner, make preparations, and then gather here?”

"Wu Sanbao, isn't it because you just talked about your husband's dirty laundry? I might not have the guts, but you certainly did. You're trying to provoke me? If you're going to provoke me, go home and tell your husband to smash Old Wang's iron rooster too!"

"You, you Wang Mazi, no wonder your face is covered in pockmarks. Who knows how many women you cheated on when you were young?"

Did I trick you?

The two men talked until their necks thickened and their faces turned red. Finally, Captain Wang, who was walking by, shouted and dismissed them from their conversation in front of the supply and marketing cooperative and the large stone mill, ending their argument on bad terms.

In the evening, the courtyard of Old Wang's family next to Yang's courtyard was bustling with activity!

Old Wang, wielding a large iron shovel, was locked in a standoff with a dozen or so men from his village who had come on strong!

Old Wang's large shovel was itching to strike, but he didn't dare actually hit anyone. If things got out of hand, he wouldn't be able to afford the damages.

The dozen or so people were just trying to scare him. Their purpose wasn't to fight, but to destroy the culprit who was ruining other people's property, Old Wang the Iron Rooster, so that other people's hens could have peace!

Both sides are protecting their own interests, neither willing to give an inch, and neither willing to admit defeat!

At this moment, Old Wang's yard was clearly visible to the Yang family, his neighbors in the east courtyard, who were hiding in a corner. Several children could see everything clearly.

At the same time, it also attracted many villagers, young and old, to watch the spectacle. They gathered around Old Wang's open wooden gate, including Wolf Four, who happened to be returning home after being away doing fortune-telling, and came over to join in the fun.

Yang Yuqiu saw that Lao Wang and a dozen or so villagers led by Chen Erlai were locked in a stalemate, like fighting cocks, with each side staring at the other with their big eyes, neither choosing to attack first. At this rate, when would they be able to smash down that iron rooster on the roof? If they didn't smash it down, everyone's egg-laying hens would be in grave danger!

She glanced at Yang Zhi, who was watching the commotion beside her, and then whispered a few words to him.

Yang Zhi immediately nodded, turned around and quickly went to Wolf Four's side at the Wang family's door. He whispered a few words into Wolf Four's ear, and then the two separated. Wolf Four began to do what he used to do.

Wolf Four walked up to Old Wang, who was glaring at him, and whispered a few words in his ear. Upon hearing this, Old Wang immediately stopped staring and took a few steps back until he was back at the front door.

Then, Old Wang watched helplessly as several people climbed a wooden ladder onto the roof of his house, took the iron rooster down without a word, and threw it into the earthen courtyard with a "bang!"

Old Wang's heart also started racing.

Then several young men from the upper house, after coming down, began to use the large iron axes they had prepared to smash the iron rooster's body, head, and legs.

But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't break the iron rooster. They took turns using different tools, but it remained the same. Looking at his stubborn iron rooster, Old Wang's worried expression slowly eased.

Everyone started discussing it, saying it was really strange. Chen Erlai picked it up and took a closer look. It was just a broken piece of iron. Wang Ermazi also came over to take a serious look. It was made from the same tin can that had been processed. The iron sheet wasn't thick and wasn't as sturdy.

"Burn it with fire," Wolf Four said.

Everyone was at a loss. Wolf Four started to speak, saying that perhaps the fortune teller's words would be accurate, and there was no other way but to burn it with firewood.

Everyone pitched in to build a fire, and after burning for a while, the miserly man didn't change color; he remained unchanged.

When everyone was at a loss, Yang Yuhan gently blew a breath onto the iron rooster object.

The miserly rooster vanished instantly, leaving no trace. Yang Yuhan noticed that a moment before it disappeared, a wisp of white smoke shot out from the last part of the rooster's body...

The miserly fellow disappeared, leaving everyone dumbfounded. They had no idea what had happened or how he had suddenly vanished.

Then, everyone comforted themselves, deciding not to care about the reasons for its departure, and that it would be good if the miser eventually disappeared.

After the onlookers dispersed, Old Wang was left all alone in the west courtyard!