At the entrance of Shizhu Village, there stood a large stone table, its surface carved with a chessboard, and supported by six stone stools below.
Legend had it that during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, two wandering Taoists passed through this place, suddenly struck by a desire to play chess.
They carved rock into tables and chairs, inviting spirits from all directions to sit and watch the game.
They played for three days and three nights before the match ended.
After that, the two Taoists vanished without a trace, and the pesky spirits no longer troubled the villagers, bringing peace to the area.
Now, at the table's four corners, only remnants remained, the surface of the stone table worn and indistinct, and only two stone stools were left standing.
A locust tree had grown beside the original stone table, its roots thick and sprawling, tilting the table at an odd angle.
A group of elderly men and women were sitting under the locust tree.
Some were weaving clothes, others stitching shoes, and a few were smoking pipes and coughing.
Occasionally, they exchanged a few words but were otherwise lackluster.
From a distance, it was hard to distinguish them, their skin almost matching the bark of the old locust tree.