Chapter Seventy-One: Burning Offerings
I fell asleep groggily, and I don't know how long I had been asleep. Just when I was sleeping very soundly, I suddenly felt a cold wind blowing in from nowhere. I can't help but play a wit!
Then, he opened his eyes slightly. I glanced at the location of the second uncle, but found that the second uncle was no longer there.
I glanced at Deng Hu and them again, but I didn't see them either!
I couldn't help but be surprised! The drowsiness disappeared all at once!
I got up from the ground, only to find that there was no one in the whole outhouse except me.
What's going on? Where have they gone? Maybe it's because I'm so tired that I'm going to rest?
However, I immediately dismissed this idea. Because I know that the second uncle will never allow them to do this! Even if you want to rest, you will stay here alone to keep a watch.
I forced myself to calm down. Then, tiptoeing open the door to the East House. Want to see if there's anyone inside.
The reason I'm so careful is because I don't want to wake up the sleeping villagers. Also, I was afraid that if I opened the door, I would see a picture of no one else.
As the door slowly opened, I still saw the scene that I never dreamed of seeing. The whole room was silent, and there was not a single figure! Only a few white candles burned silently. The flickering light of the fire foreshadowed the fear and helplessness in my heart!
I didn't speak, just gritted my teeth and came to the door of the West Room. Although I can already guess the answer. Still, I had one last glimmer of hope.
But the moment I opened the door, my hopes were completely shattered! I'm the only one left in the old patriarch's house!
Where have they all gone? Even if there is any emergency, the second uncle and they will never leave me alone and run away!
Wrong! There must be something wrong here! I had to calm myself down.
So, I took a deep breath. Inadvertently, I glanced at the body of the old patriarch inside the coffin. Under the reflection of the surrounding candles, the shadow of the old patriarch flickered in the coffin, like a terrible ghost trying to break free from the restraints of his body and pounce on me.
At this moment, I suddenly heard what seemed to be someone talking in the courtyard. The voice was very slight! It's as if you're deliberately lowering your voice to speak! It's hard to hear what they're saying!
However, this was the most surprising thing for me!
I hurriedly turned around and ran out to see who was in the yard. However, when I came into the courtyard, there was no one to be seen!
This makes my heart chill! Did I hear it wrong? There is no one here at all!
Just when I wondered if I was too nervous and misheard, suddenly, the voice rang out again.
I hurriedly turned my head to follow the voice. This time, I finally saw a dark figure crouching quietly in the corner of the courtyard wall. Due to the light, I couldn't see it clearly. I can only vaguely make out a figure hiding there!
"Who?"
I exclaimed.
However, the figure paid no attention to me, and was still muttering something to himself.
I walked cautiously. As I got closer and closer, I realized that it was actually a child! At this point, he was crouching there with his back to me.
I wanted to greet him and ask him whose child he was. But then, I realized something was wrong! I don't feel a trace of life in this child! Isn't he a living person at all?
As soon as I thought of this, I was ready to pull my legs and step back. However, at this moment, the child turned back violently......
What kind of face is this? The whole face and even the whole body were drenched in blood. The face is covered with dense, criss-crossing wounds! What's more, at this time, the facial features on his face have already changed positions! It's as if it's a whole puzzle that has suddenly been broken and put together at random. It makes people look creepy!
When the kid saw me, he started crawling towards me. Every time he climbed, a piece of meat fell from his body. And he didn't care about any of that!
I quickly stepped back, but accidentally fell to the ground. Before I could get up, he had already climbed on top of me. Then, a pair of bloody little hands in the depths pressed down on my eyes.
All of a sudden, it was pitch black in front of my eyes!
My heart was terrified! Hurriedly reached into his pocket, trying to find blood money to deal with it. However, as I did so, I realized that my pockets were empty. My blood money is gone!
Just when I felt a chill in my back, the child suddenly spoke: "Uncle, don't be afraid! I'm not going to hurt you! Don't worry, I'm holding your eyes down because I'm so scary! I don't want to scare you! β
Suddenly hearing him say this, I was stunned! Immediately, my heart was inexplicably warm. Then, with his hands, he gently removed the little hands that were in front of me. I looked at his face with intertwined facial features and asked him the question I had always wanted to ask: "Are you a third baby?" β
The boy nodded, "Yes! I'm the third baby! Uncle, I came to you this time hoping that you could do me a favor! β
"Say it! What do you want me to help you? β
I asked the three children.
The third baby didn't think about it and said, "Uncle, I don't have any relatives anymore." Can you make me a clothed mound? Let me have a home! I still don't have a place to go! β
Hearing the words of the third baby, I felt a little uncomfortable in my heart. Hurriedly nodded and promised him: "Don't worry!" When your grandfather's matter is resolved, I will make you a clothed grave. All right? β
"Hmmm! That's great! β
As he spoke, he reached out again and pressed his little hand to my eyes.
This time, I didn't dodge. Because, I know it's a dream. It's a dream that the three babies gave me!
Gradually, my eyes turned into darkness again. By the time I opened my eyes again, I had woken up from my dream.
Deng Hu: They are still putting burning paper in the brazier. Only the second uncle was watching me quietly. Seeing that I woke up, the second uncle nodded and said, "Has he looked for you?" β
Hearing the second uncle say this, I couldn't help but be stunned! Surprised, he asked, "How do you know?" β
The second uncle explained: "We are the only one here who has the lightest eight characters, but you know this mystical technique. If he doesn't look for you, who else can he find? β
Seeing that the second uncle seemed to know everything well, I had to tell the second uncle about the situation in the dream.
After hearing this, the second uncle just said lightly: "Since you have already agreed, then, when this matter is completed, you will go and set up a mound for him." This is also a merit! β
I nodded, and said yes.
Just then, the village chief walked in. said to the second uncle: "Mr. Lin, it's almost time." Let's pack up and prepare to burn the lottery! β
The second uncle thought for a while and said, "Village chief, this time the burning of the color offering will be done according to the customs of your village." It's all up to you! I'll let Lin Shuo and them go with you!" β
Hearing what the second uncle said, the village chief couldn't help but wonder and asked, "Mr. Lin, aren't you going?" β
The second uncle shook his head and said, "I'm going to stay here and watch the coffin." β
Hearing this, the village chief stopped saying anything. Start beckoning the others to get up and get ready to go.
Soon, everyone was called out by the village chief. According to the village chief's request, everyone began to form a line.
Standing at the forefront is Deng Hu. And what he was holding in his hand was the last photo of the old patriarch. Behind Deng Hu were two big men carrying the offering table. After that, there are Xiaofeng, the five of them who wear linen and filial piety. As for the more than 20 people who helped, except for the two people who stayed behind to accompany the second uncle and Tang Xiao to watch the house at the old village chief's house, the rest were all here. Everybody's the same paper tie.
And so our vision began.
This time the place I went to was the entrance of the village. There is a custom in the village that people like to burn colored offerings here after they die.
After a while, we came to the entrance of the village. The village chief asked someone to put the offering table in the direction of the Yellow River, and asked Deng Hu to put the photo on the offering table. Then, the paper-tied ox cart and horse-drawn cart were dropped more than ten meters in front of the offering table. and gave Deng Hu and Xiaofeng a bundle of burning paper to each of them. Tell them to circle around the ox-cart and horse-drawn cart. Every time I turned around, I had to stuff some burning paper into the car and say, "Grandpa the patriarch has collected the money."
Just turn it clockwise three times, and then counterclockwise three times, and you're good to go.
Soon, Deng Hu and the others had already completed the ceremony. Both cars were also stuffed slowly.
Next up is the ignition!
The village chief lit a piece of burning paper with a lighter. Then, I put the burning paper on the car. In just a few moments, the two paper carts ignited a raging flame. The burning straw "crackles"!
Then, everyone put all the paper figures, paper horses, wreaths, lantern sails and other things in their hands on the fire. These things catch fire when they catch fire. In the blink of an eye, it was all on fire!
Gradually, all of us realized that something was wrong!
Because the flame in front of our eyes has been burning for a long time. However, it did not look like it was extinguished. On the contrary, the more it burns, the more it burns, the more it grows! In the end, a flame more than five meters high actually rose! Everything around is lit up by the fire!
Seeing this strange scene, the village chief couldn't make up his mind. He came to me and Fat Joe and asked what we should do.
Qiao Fatzi is a lord who is not afraid of heaven and earth, and immediately suggested that the village chief use earth to extinguish the fire.
But I hurriedly waved my hand and said, "No, this is a great disrespect to the dead!" Let's wait. Maybe it will be fine in a while! β