Taishi Tang Jiwu traveled to Rizhao to attend the funeral of his friend, the An family patriarch. On the way, he passed a Hail God Shrine and decided to step inside to look around. In front of the temple was a clear pool where several red fish swam leisurely. One red fish angled its tail above the surface, seemingly begging for food, showing no fear even when people approached. Tang Jiwu picked up a stone, intending to strike the fish to startle it. A Daoist priest from the temple rushed out to stop him, saying, "The fish in this pool are all of the Dragon Clan. If you offend them, you are sure to invite hailstorms."

Tang Jiwu laughed, "Fish are always just fish; how could they transform into dragons? Daoist Master, you are stretching the truth unnecessarily." With that, he tossed the pebble into the water and strode away. Once back on the road, dark clouds gathered overhead like a canopy and refused to disperse. Soon, a rustling sound preceded the downpour: hailstones the size of cotton balls began to fall. He traveled several li under the barrage before the hail finally ceased.

Tang Mou’s younger brother, Liang Wu, who had been following his elder brother some distance behind, hurried forward to ask what had happened. Tang Jiwu looked around in bewilderment, exclaiming, "Was there a hailstorm? I didn't even notice. It must be the Hail God playing tricks on me." He continued on his journey, unconcerned, and after several days of travel, finally arrived in Rizhao.

Near the An family village in Rizhao stood a Guan Di Temple. A merchant happened to pass by, his carrying pole heavy on his shoulder. Suddenly, he let out a sharp cry, dropped his load, rushed into the temple, wrenched the great saber from its rack, and began spinning and slashing it about, shouting repeatedly, "I am Li Zuoche, the Hail God! I will accompany Tang Jiwu tomorrow when he calls to pay respects at the An residence. Please make the necessary arrangements, Master!" He repeated this several times before seeming to regain his senses.

When the An family heard this story, they were struck with great fear, knowing that the arrival of the Hail God inevitably brought destructive hailstorms, which would cause losses too heavy to bear. Thinking of this, the family members hastily prepared offerings and traveled forty li to the Hail God Shrine to worship, begging the deity for mercy and to spare them a visit.

Tang Jiwu scoffed, "That was just nonsense spoken by a merchant; why are you so frightened?" The master of the house replied, "You do not understand. The Hail God is extraordinarily efficacious; he frequently speaks through the mouths of mortals, and his words are never false. If we do not offer him tribute, wind and hail will arrive in the blink of an eye."