Yiyi Village by the Yiyi River has not had any major events for decades. Du Jin has always served as a shrine maiden in Yiyi Village, and she has never been married in her life, because the rule is that the witch must step down as soon as she gets married. Du Jin wants to choose a successor to the witch, which is a major event that has not been done in Yiyi Village for many years. Du Jin knew that he would die soon, so he pointed to the west on the sickbed, and the village chief found several daughters in the west of the village and brought them to see Du Jin.

Du Jin placed jade, bronze mirror, and white sparkle on the Nanmu square table. Only one girl chose Shira, and in this way, the ten-year-old cuckoo became the successor shrine maiden.

Du Jin died after appointing a successor. The new shrine maiden had never studied with Du Jin. The village chief mentioned the succession many times before Du Jin's death, but Du Jin only said that it was not time. The village chief can't, only the witch can have the final say in this matter.

The villagers felt that this was a haste to move. Dudu Juan's mother, Zou, disagrees. To become a witch, you need to experience life and death, so the people in the village asked the Zou family.

Zou said: "The juan was born with dystocia, and the amniotic water broke and did not come out when it was old. When the cuckoo hit the ground, its face was blue. Juanzi's father-in-law shook his head and said it was useless. I didn't believe it, I held the cuckoo in my arms, and finally relieved myself for a long time. The midwife was amazed and said that she was a blessed baby. That's what she said. ”

The cuckoo didn't believe what her mother said about her father-in-law. My father-in-law loved Juan the most when he was alive, and everyone in the family called her the nickname Juan'er, only her mother called her Juanzi. Every year, the first spring sprouts are picked and fried by her father-in-law and served to her, and the fish caught in the river is left to her by her father-in-law. Du Juan's father-in-law died when he was nine years old, and his mother-in-law missed his father-in-law too much, so she followed him in less than a year. Cuckoo only felt that her parents-in-law had gone to another place.

On that day, the witch was chosen, and everyone didn't look for the cuckoo for a while, so she went to the grave of her parents-in-law and put the berries she had just picked in front of their graves. When she got home, her father asked her where she had gone, and she pursed her lips and didn't speak. Dad was anxious and raised his hand to hit her, but was stopped by everyone and said, "Don't delay, go to the witch." With that, he hugged the cuckoo and left.

Cuckoo had never learned how to be a witch, and there was only one witch in each village, so the village chief could only send her to the neighboring village of Lanshui Village to learn from the witch Lin Yu. Lin Yu is getting engaged, and she has just designated her successor, who is also ten-year-old Lin Yu.

The village chief carried a bamboo basket of fresh eggs and two pheasants from the forest. The bag on the cuckoo's back contains the new linen clothes and new cloth shoes prepared by the mother, and it is rare to have new clothes to wear in the past few years, and the cuckoo is still wearing the old clothes of his mother.

The village chief first went to visit the village chief Lin of Lanshui Village, and the pheasant wanted to be given to him, but the village chief Lin naturally pushed it back, saying that this was the witch's business, and he couldn't accept it. The village chief said a lot of words, and Village Chief Lin reluctantly accepted it.

The eggs were given to Lin Yu, and the village chief was afraid that Lin Yu would push it back, so he only said that it was for the children to eat. Lin Yu didn't refuse. The village chief explained that Du Juan replied, nothing more than obediently, study carefully, do not disappoint the expectations of the whole village, etc., and after speaking, he will go back to Yiyi Village, and it will be difficult to leave when it is dark.

Lin Yu took the cuckoo's hand and said, "You call me aunt like Lin Yu, and eat and sleep with her." Just tell me anything. Then he said to the girl standing beside him, "Yu'er and Juan Er are good." ”

Both Cuckoo and Lin Yu nodded. Du Juan felt that Aunt Lin Yu's hands were warm.

Lin Yu touched the cuckoo's head lovingly, and said, "Your hair is dark and shiny, straight and smooth, it's really easy to touch." ”

Lin Yu heard it on the side and said, "Auntie, can I touch it too?"

Lin Yu said with a smile: "I have to ask Juan Ertong if I agree." So saying, he went to collect the eggs in the basket. She carefully placed the eggs in a clay pot and rested them in the shade under the corner, and the bamboo basket hung from the wooden rafters under the eaves.

Lin Yu asked Du Juan in a low voice, "Juan'er, is it okay?"

The cuckoo bowed his head and said, "Well, you can touch it." ”

Lin Yu's hand gently and softly smoothed her hair, and said, "It's so good." Then he smiled at the cuckoo.

They always have something to say. Lin Yu told Du Juan that she went with her mother to collect firewood a few years ago, and accidentally fell into a mountain stream, and her mother hurriedly called the village people to carry her up, and she almost couldn't wake up. When she woke up, she became the successor shrine maiden. She didn't know what the shrine maidens were going to do. Du Juan also told Lin Yu about his childhood, although they were not very old.

The sun is about to set, Lin Yu made the beds for them, let them fetch water, wash up and sleep, and talk about it tomorrow.

Du Juan and Lin Yu were huddled in the quilt and played, and suddenly heard the sound of a grass flute outside. Cuckoo asked, "Who is it?"

Lin Yu raised his index finger and put it to his mouth: "Shh, it's the future uncle Kan Zhe." When my aunt heard about it, she would go to meet him. They all sat on the steps in front of the door and talked endlessly. ”

The cuckoo asked, "What do they say?"

Lin Yu said: "Once I got up to drink water, I heard them say that Morning Glory Vega, there is no match, it's quite boring." ”

The cuckoo said, "Don't you want to talk about it for so long?"

Lin Yu said: "Who knows? Xu is going to get engaged, and if he is more familiar with his words, he will not be separated after marriage." The cuckoo nodded yes.

Lin Yu and Kan Zhe were still sitting on the steps, and Lin Yu said: "The witch of Yiyi Village came to study with me, and when we first met today, they were very kind. ”

Kan Zhe said: "It's strange, how can the witch of Yiyi Village learn from you?

Lin Yu said: "There is a reason for this. Ichimura shrine maiden Du Jin died as soon as a successor was designated. My master, Lin Qing, was the witch of Lanshui Village who received Du Jin's favor, and before she died, she told me that I must repay the favor, which is what I should do. ”

Kan Zhe looked at Lin Yu's side face and said, "I hope she is smarter, so you can step down early." ”

Lin Yu said: "Somehow I have a hunch. ”

Kan Zhe was puzzled: "What hunch?"

Lin Yu smiled and said: "It's not very clear, I feel that things are changing." ”

Kan Zhe said: "You said it and didn't say it. ”

Lin Yu beat Kan Zhe's arm: "You dare to say that the witch is talking nonsense?"

Kan Zhe hurriedly waved his hand: "Don't dare, I dare not listen to your words, Mrs. Future." ”

Lin Yu got up and entered the house, gesturing to close the door.

Kan Zhe said hurriedly: "Don't be angry, let's talk for a while." I came from Peng Village, ten miles away, it's not easy, how long will it take for us to meet. ”

Lin Yu said through the crack in the door: "Didn't you just come the day before yesterday?"

Kan Zhe was speechless for a while, and said, "Then I'll go, you tie the door." ”

Lin Yu said: "You still go to live at your aunt's house?"

Kan Zhe said: "Well, it's too dangerous to walk alone at night. ”

Lin Yu said: "You can go now." With that, he closed the door and fastened it. Kan Zhe stood outside the door for a while until the oil lamp blew out. He didn't know that Lin Yu lay on the bed for a long time before falling asleep.