The spread of rumours was fast. In less than a day, fishermen near the southern border were discussing the possible occurrence of an earthquake.
Following Shangguan Xuanyi's advice, they began to observe their surroundings.
Interestingly enough, a woman who, as usual, was fetching water from the well at midday, discovered that her well water was inexplicably bubbling. Frightened, she screamed and ran out to call her neighbours. Many neighbours who heard the noise came to see what was happening.
This incident spread rapidly.
Others saw groups of bees and wasps flying furiously south. Some even saw snakes frozen to death crawling out of their holes in the ground.
Frantic catfish, abnormal well water, migrating bee swarms, winter snakes emerging - everyone was now more convinced that an earthquake was imminent!