"Ghost, ghost, ghosts! There's a ghost, save me!" Erlaizi screamed as he ran.
His shrill cries carried far in the still night.
It sounded as if he had encountered something terrifying.
The villagers of Mo Family Village, most of whom had been sound asleep, were rudely awakened by his noise.
"What's Erlaizi up to now, sneaking around stealing chickens and dogs?" complained someone who had been awakened, grumbling in bed.
"Let him be. He's the kind of person who loafs around every day, not thinking of earning his keep with honest labor, instead always wanting to live off stealing from others. He's no use alive, just ignore him," his wife pulled the blanket over her head, turned over, and went back to sleep.
Erlaizi had a bad reputation in Mo Family Village; although many villagers were disturbed by his noise, not a single person was willing to go out and check on him. After all, he had a poor reputation, and now that something had happened, no one dared to go out.