Yuan Shuai nodded and said, "I know a little bit about it, I have heard others mention that there is still an ancient 'ghost marriage' ritual in some remote areas, which is to find a partner for some people who have not yet been married, so that the souls of the deceased who have not been married can rest in peace, and secondly, the husband and wife who have passed the ghost marriage can also have a good care on Huangquan Road." ”

"Oh, it seems that you know a lot of young man, in this case, you should also know that during the dark marriage, outsiders are not welcome to attend the wedding, for fear that the strange smell will disturb the peace of the deceased, so in addition to the husband and wife's own family and some drummers, the invited guests are these paper figures in the courtyard, which is also a custom passed down from generation to generation in our village. ”

After listening to the old woman's explanation, Yuan Shuai was also relieved, but except for this place, there were barren mountains and mountains within a radius of dozens of miles, and there were wolves attacking them at any time, and they had no other way out.

After repeated requests, the old woman finally relented under Yuan Shuai's limping injuries and the tired appearance of the two, and she called out a middle-aged man in his early thirties from the house, and asked him to lead Yuan Shuai and Xia Molei to Qin Laohan in the west of the village to stay for a while.

After thanking the old woman, the middle-aged man raised a torch and opened the way in front of them, and led them to a house on the west side of the village along a winding path in the village. After knocking on the door, the door was opened by a young boy of about ten years, he had short bangs and short hair, and his thin body was wearing a shabby small padded jacket, but his big eyes were exceptionally clear and transparent.

"Ghost boy, is your grandfather asleep?" the middle-aged man asked.

The little boy shook his head, but stared at Yuan Shuai and the two of them curiously, and the middle-aged man smiled apologetically at Yuan Shuai and explained: "Don't mind, this baby was born with this kind of character, never likes to talk, and doesn't want to contact the people in the village." ”

Xia Molei knows the most about children's hearts, maybe she is also a child who has not grown up, she squatted in front of the little boy, took out a lollipop from the travel bag and handed it to the little boy, but the little boy ran back to the house with the thorn that he didn't take, and after a while, he helped an old man over seventy years old to walk out of the house.

The middle-aged man respectfully called Uncle Qin, and Yuan Shuai learned that this old man Qin was the only barefoot doctor in the village, which was called Jianghu Langzhong in ancient times.

Seeing a stranger visiting Qin Laohan, he was also slightly stunned, but when he saw Yuan Shuai's injured left leg, he immediately kindly asked Xia Molei to help him to the house first.

In the dim and dilapidated room, Qin Laohan cleaned Yuan Shuai's wounds with warm water, and then checked the injuries on his legs and comforted him, "Fortunately, there are no bones, just some slight bone cracks and abrasions." As he spoke, he instructed the little boy beside him to fetch his medicine box.

During the waiting period, Yuan Shuai roughly inquired about the situation of this village with Qin Laohan, it turned out that the village where they were located was called "Tomb Village" is a small village with a population of only a few hundred households, generally speaking, the self-sufficient survival mode in the village has existed for thousands of years, that is to say, this unknown mountain village has a very ancient cultural background, and it is no wonder that it still retains the "ghost marriage" ritual that is about to disappear.

"Grave Village, that name sounds terrifying. Xia Molei couldn't help but shudder.

Qin Laohan smiled heartily: "Speaking of the origin of the name of our village, it is because of a huge cemetery covering an area of hundreds of acres behind the village, according to legend, many people seem to have died here in ancient times, and it is also said that it used to be an ancient battlefield, and the two armies clashed, I don't know how many soldiers died in battle." However, no one has researched these things so far, anyway, since I can remember, this village has been called Tomb Village, and I don't know how many generations this name has been handed down. ”

After a period of sighing, the little boy also found a medicine box from the back room, Qin Laohan closed the conversation box and concentrated on helping Yuan Shuai's left leg with medicine, according to him, this herb was picked and developed by him himself, and it has a good effect on ordinary bruises, and sure enough, a layer of dark green ointment exuding a light fragrance was smeared on Yuan Shuai's wound, Yuan Shuai suddenly felt a coolness transmitted to the entire leg through the ointment, and the left leg that was still slightly hot and painful just now was immediately much more comfortable after applying the ointment.

After applying the ointment, the kind Qin Laohan promised them to stay here for a few more days to heal the injury on his leg and it was not too late to leave, but if there was any need, he would tell the child beside him, although this child did not like to talk, but his heart was not bad, and he was a good child who was diligent. After some encouragement, Qin Laohan left Yuan Shuai's house with the support of the little boy.

Looking at an empty earthen kang and a worn bedding, Yuan Shuai teased Xia Molei and said, "It seems that God has opened his eyes and exempted us from the tragic fate of sleeping in the wilderness, but Xia Xia will wronged you today to accompany my husband and I will cover a quilt and sleep on a kang." ”

"Think beautifully, it's all like this, and think nonsense, tonight you sleep on the kang and I will be next to the table for one night. ”

"Don't blame me for not reminding you in advance, the dew here is heavy and cloudy, and the night is not an ordinary cold, if you don't pay attention to it, you will be guaranteed a fever and cold the next day. ”

"But, but...... Oh, people's excuses......" Xia Molei lowered her head shyly, and there was no difference between the small sound of mosquitoes in her mouth.

However, Yuan Shuai still heard Xia Molei's whispering, and he reminded Xia Molei with a smile and no face, "What is there to be ashamed of, we are not here."

I fell asleep, I thought that you didn't sleep in the same bed with me at Sister Liu's house, and I ...... in the morning."

"Yuan Shuai—"

Xia Molei screamed angrily, just as the little boy outside the house brought some food to them, as soon as he entered the house, he heard Xia Molei shouting like a lion roaring in Hedong, and for a while, the little boy stood in place and didn't dare to move.

"Look at you, you are not gentle, you are not gentle, you are so fierce, who will dare to marry you in the future" said Yuan Shuai called the little boy to his side in a gentle voice, it was obvious that Xia Molei's terrifying side just now had left an extremely deep impression on the children, but the little boy listened to Yuan Shuai's words and walked to his side.

"Is this for us to eat? Thank you so much, did your grandfather sleep, I want to ask if there are any extra beds and insults in your house, that big sister dislikes you, this brother has become lame, and he doesn't even want to sleep in the same bed. ”

The little boy blinked his big beautiful eyes and replied in a low voice, "Grandpa is sleeping, there are three bedding at home, grandpa one, me one, and you one......"

"Look, it's impossible for you to sleep separately, we still occupy the children's room, I'll see what you should do when you get to these few knots~" Yuan Shuai smiled with an expression of "I'm going to eat you."

Xia Molei frowned, gritted her teeth, and made up her mind: "In this case, you and my little brother will sleep in the same bed, and I will take my little brother's futon and put it next to the table for one night, so it's okay!"

“...... Little brother?" At this time, neither Yuan Shuai nor Xia Molei noticed that the little boy was muttering this word softly, and a faint flush appeared on his face unconsciously.