Shen Zezhi: "Thank you, today's thing is something we don't know when we first arrive." We'll keep an eye out for it later. ”

The old stubborn waved his hand: "It's okay, I'll go cook." Rest yourselves. ”

Shen Zezhi and Ji Ziyue returned to the room, and they went out to take many pictures. Shen Zezhi opened the laptop and inserted the camera's memory card into it. Noriko stood behind him, and the two of them looked at the computer screen together. Judging by the photos, there is nothing special about this wood. And since the cemetery is in the middle of the woods, it is surrounded by trees that are difficult to spot outside.

Ji Ziyue said: "I just looked at the size of the cemetery, and it is estimated that this should be the place where the dead have been buried in Jiaojia Village for generations. ”

Shen Zezhi said: "Offending someone else's cemetery for no reason is a great disrespect to the deceased. So there's no problem with them coming and reprimanding us. But we sat at the edge of the woods for so long, and not one of us came to remind us that we were not allowed to enter the graveyard in the woods. ”

Ji Ziyue was puzzled: "But why did they do this?" ”

Shen Zezhi said: "In order for us not to run around, in case we find out about them." ”

Noriko asked, "What are they doing?" ”

Shen Zezhi smiled: "Do you remember what the old stubborn daughter Yingzi said at noon?" ”

Ji Ziyue thought about it and said, "She said that the daughter of the big dong family is gone. ”

Shen Zezhi: "That's right, they went to the kitchen to talk about it later." I listened to their conversations with the past, according to the meaning of the conversation. They are going to have a secret marriage. ”

"Secret marriage?" Noriko was surprised.

Shen Zezhi said: "Yes." Underworld marriage is also known as matching bones, yin marriage, ghost marriage, and spirit marriage. The death of both men and women after the engagement, or the death of children before the engagement. There are two types of secret marriages: "dead and dead" and "dead and alive". Yingzi is talking about the daughter of the big dong family and the younger brother of his husband. Listening to the meaning of her words, her brother-in-law should have been dead for many years, and Dadong's daughter was sick and did not live long, so the two families settled at that time. ”

Kiko showed a curious expression: "How to get married." ”

Shen Zezhi: "The secret marriage should also be introduced through the matchmaker, and the two parties will pass the portal post, go to the life hall to get married, and get the dragon and phoenix post." It is roughly the same as the traditional Chinese wedding process, but it should be that both parties to the marriage are dead, so the wedding is a mixture of wedding and funeral. ”

"Half of the gifts that the man sends to the woman are real silk rulers, gold and silver treasures; Half of it was a piece of papier-mâché leather, cotton, a clip, and a single garment, and two pairs of brocade boxes, which contained earrings, bracelets, rings, hairpins and other jewelry. On the night of the fixation, it was burned in front of the woman's house or on the grave. During the communication, the "goose cage", "sea of wine", dragon and phoenix cakes, elbows, and fruits sent by the man to the woman are all real, but the clothes and jewelry are papier-mâché utensils. The dowry sent by the woman is generally paper work, and after it is sent to the man, it is only displayed in front of the photo or tablet of the "groom" for half a day, and some are only carried around the man's courtyard for a week, that is, led by drum music, and sent to the nearby square for incineration.

The ceremonies listed above are not necessarily held in secret marriages, but the marriage ceremony is indispensable. It is a high day to build a greenhouse, feast relatives and friends, and light the sedan chair in front of the door. The wedding room is dedicated to the "hundredth" gods. A low table is set up on the kang opposite for the "groom" photo or tablet, and several plates of apples and dragon and phoenix wedding cakes are set up in front. And there is a big red flower, and the words "groom" are written on the ribbon below. The woman's 'boudoir' is offered a photo or tablet of the 'bride', as before, and there is a big red flower, decorated with a ribbon, and the words 'bride' are written. After the sedan chair arrives at the woman, the wife will take down the photo or tablet of the 'bride', and the wife will take it over and release the sedan chair. At this time, the father and mother of the 'bride' will inevitably cry loudly and chase them out of the house. It's not a happy atmosphere at all.

After the sedan chair returns to the man, the wife still takes out the photo or tablet of the 'bride' and places it on the offering table on the kang of the wedding room, which is juxtaposed with the "groom". And tie up the two photos with a red head rope (take the meaning of the red line drawn by the old moon), and reuse the red and yellow colored silk. Only if the wife of the marriage gives the whole god '100 shares' of incense and kowtows, even if the husband and wife worship heaven and earth. Then the tea room will bring 'a cup of wine', 'dumplings' and 'longevity noodles' to the 'newlyweds' in front of the photos or tablets. If the 'newlyweds' have younger siblings or younger siblings, brothers-in-law, etc., they will be called out and kowtow to the photo or tablet. The two in-laws congratulated each other.

After the above ceremonies are held, choose a good day for the 'auspicious day of the zodiac' to break the ground and bury, and the woman can rise to the spirit. According to the time designated by Mr. Yin and Yang, after the coffin was lifted, he immediately poured a bucket of water in the pit and threw down two apples. At the same time, raise the red paper money high. (The same is true for initiation ceremonies that are not for yin marriages.) The man digs a hole on the side of the grave, exposes the groove of the coffin of the 'groom', buries the 'bride' in this hole, and buries the 'husband and wife' together. After the burial, that is, in front of the grave, the wine and fruit are displayed, the red paper money is incinerated, and the marriage sacrifice is held. The father and mother of both the man and the woman (i.e., the two in-laws) weep and say 'great joy'. Since then, men and women have been treated as in-laws. ”

Ji Ziyue looked interested and said: "That is, to marry the dead daughter of the big boss and the dead brother-in-law of Yingzi." When will they get married? ”

Shen Zezhi said: "Tonight." ”

Noriko Yue said: "Tonight? Team leader, how do you know. ”

Shen Zezhi said: "Guess." ”

"Huh?" Ji Ziyue whispered: "Can you guess this casually." ”

Shen Zezhi smiled: "Want to see it? ”

"Uh-huh." Noriko nodded repeatedly.

Shen Zezhi said: "Let's just go out at night to have a look." ”

When he finished eating, the old stubborn man came out with a rare pot of wine. Shen Zeyi saw that the bottle of wine was antique, and he didn't know what year it was.

The old stubborn man opened the wine bottle and poured a glass for Shen Zezhi and Ji Ziyue and said, "You drank you yesterday, and today you taste the wine we brewed ourselves." ”

Shen Zezhi took a sip and said with a smile: "This wine is really good." ”

The old stubborn man showed a rare smile, and Ji Ziyue, who had been repeated, also took a sip of wine curiously, but he quickly put down the wine glass with grinning.

The old stubborn looked at him and laughed: "College students haven't drunk? ”

Ji Ziyue's face was already flushed at this time, and he didn't touch the wine at first glance. In fact, it's not that he hasn't drunk alcohol, but he hasn't drunk such strong wine. Noriko's parents are abroad, and he has lived abroad since he was a child, and he usually drinks low-alcohol red wine. Where have I ever drunk such a strong home-made liquor, so a glass is on the top.

Shen Zezhi took Ji Ziyue's cup and said, "Don't be surprised, Uncle Stubborn, my brother has been strict in his family since he was a child, and he hasn't drunk much. ”

Ji Ziyue said: "I'm sorry, Uncle Stubborn." ”

The atmosphere at the dinner table became lively, Shen Zezhi and the old stubborn drank cup after cup, and Ji Ziyue was eating with a smile over and over again. After eating, Shen Zezhi was already drunk and unconscious. The old stubborn man helped Ji Ziyue to help Shen Zezhi into the house. The old stubborn said: "I'll boil some hot water for you, you can help him wipe it and go to bed early." It's a lot of drunkenness. ”

Kiko smiled and thanked him, and after a while, the old stubborn man sent a pot of hot water. Ji Ziyue brought the water in, he mixed the warm water in the basin, washed the towel and prepared to wipe Shen Zezhi's face, but when he turned around, he found that Shen Zezhi was leaning on the quilt and smiling at him. The more Kiko looked at his expression, he knew that Shen Zezhi was not drunk. He handed him the hot towel and said, "You're not drunk." ”

Shen Zezhi took the towel and wiped his face and said with a smile: "How can I take you to see the underworld marriage when you are drunk." ”

"Secret marriage?" Kiko's eyes lit up.

Shen Zezhi closed his eyes slightly and said: "Seeing that the day is like this during the day, and the old stubborn man drinks for us at night, the purpose is nothing more than one, he doesn't want us to go out at night." ”

Noriko said: "But we don't usually go out at night. ”

"That's because he usually comes to watch us at home at night, and he is going out tonight, and he won't be at ease if he doesn't get me drunk." Shen Zezhi shook his finger and said.

Ji Ziyue said: "When will the old stubborn go out?" ”

Shen Zezhi said: "The time of the general secret marriage and the ordinary wedding ceremony should be relative. Ordinary Chinese weddings are celebrated before 12 o'clock. Therefore, the marriage should be made before twelve o'clock in the night. ”

Ji Ziyue said: "Then can we follow the old stubborn man and see the secret marriage?" ”

Shen Zezhi: "Yes." ”

Noriko crosses the road

"Why are they so afraid of what we see?" ”

Shen Zezhi said: "First, this kind of thing is not a happy event. Second, there are many taboos in the underworld marriage, and once someone collides with the underworld marriage, both families will suffer. ”

Kiko Yue worried: "Then let's go and be fine." ”

Shen Zezhi smiled: "With me, it's okay." ”

Shen Zezhi and Ji Ziyue turned off the lights and waited in the house after they were ready, and at ten o'clock in the evening, the door of the hall outside suddenly rang, and Shen Zezhi's eyes opened and came.

The old stubborn man closed the door lightly, he first walked to the door of the room where Shen Zezhi lived and listened, and only after making sure that the people inside were asleep did the old stubborn man go out. After going out, the stubborn man locked the door of the yard again.

As soon as the footsteps outside disappeared, Shen Zezhi and Ji Ziyue immediately sat down. Ji Ziyue lowered his voice and asked, "The old stubborn man locked the courtyard door." What are we going to do? ”

Shen Zezhi said: "Originally, we couldn't go out through the door, we went out over the wall." ”

The more eager Ji Zi was to follow Shen Zezhi out, and when he got outside, the more Ji Zi found that the moonlight was very good tonight, and it was not very dark outside. Shen Zezhi walked to a courtyard wall away from the gate, he took a few steps back and kicked on the wall a few steps up the wall, Shen Zezhi straddled the wall and rushed to Ji Ziyue below to stretch out his hand: "Give me your hand." ”

After Ji Ziyue grabbed his hand, Shen Zeyi pulled him up with all his might, and the two of them jumped off the wall.

Because he had already walked around the village during the day, Shen Zezhi had already figured out the location of the big boss and Yingzi's family, and Yingzi lived with her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Shen Zezhi took Ji Ziyue to Yingzi's house. Shen Zezhi whispered: "According to the custom of secret marriage, it should be a sedan chair made of paper in the southern household to go to the woman's house to pick up the woman's tablet." ”

The two of them came to Yingzi's house and found that there were really many people here, there were white candles lit inside and outside the house, everyone was busy, but no one spoke, and everyone's expressions were very serious. The whole scene was quiet and eerie.

Shen Zezhi pulled Ji Ziyue and hid not far away, looking here. About half an hour later, at eleven o'clock in the evening, the people of Yingzi's family came out. The leaders were dressed in black and wore strips of white cloth around their waists. They came out with something like a suona trumpet, and the instruments were also tied with strips of white cloth. Behind them was a small sedan chair, which was red, but made of papier-mâché. Two people carried a sedan chair and followed behind the musician, and next to the sedan chair was a middle-aged woman wearing a black dress and a hundred flowers. This is the "wife" who went to greet her relatives. In fact, it is a matchmaker. It was followed by a few people holding papier-mâché boxes, which were dowry. Among the people who greet the relatives, the men are all dressed in black and have white belts, and the women are all in black skirts and wearing white flowers.

As soon as the procession went out, the musicians began to play. Indeed, they played mourning music. Noriko pressed her voice and asked, "Is this a wedding?" It's a funeral. ”

Shen Zezhi said: "Both parties to the wedding have passed away. This is not a happy event. ”

Ji Ziyue nodded, and Shen Zezhi said again: "Do you know? In fact, funeral music and wedding music are the same song, but the beat is different. ”

Shen Zezhi trembled and followed the people who greeted his relatives all the way to Dadong's house. The big proprietor was ready, and when the musician arrived at the place, he stopped, and the "wife" standing by the sedan chair walked over and said a few words to the woman's parents, and then went in with the dowry. After more than ten minutes, the "wife" came out holding the woman's tablet, and a man behind her held the woman's portrait. Because there is a pull around, you can also see the girl on the portrait even if you hide in the dark. The girl looked so young that she should not be more than fifteen years old.

Ji Ziyue said: "Yingzi's brother-in-law should be about the same age as the girl from the big boss's family. ”

While they were talking about returning again, the "wife" put the woman's portrait and tablet on the sedan chair, and the woman's parents began to cry.

Ji Ziyue said: "Why are they crying." ”

Shen Zezhi explained: "If the parents of the daughter are not sad when she marries, they will not linger on the daughter. Especially in the secret marriage, if the woman's parents do not cry, the married girl is prone to resentment and the soul stays at home, resulting in the failure of the secret marriage. ”

Ji Ziyue frowned: "In this case, why do you want to do this secret marriage?" ”

Shen Zezhi: "Some people feel that they die unmarried, and they will be very lonely if they die without company." In fact, this practice is just to comfort the living. When a person dies like a lamp goes out, his soul will immediately enter the underworld, and those who have no sins will go to reincarnation, and those who have sins can only stay in the underworld to atone for their sins. In this way, the two people who married in the underworld will not be able to see each other after death.

The team over there walked back, and the more Kiko thought they were going back to Yingzi's house. Unexpectedly, he walked to the back of the village, and when he saw the woods, Ji Ziyue realized that they were going to the cemetery.