It is the eighth day of the seventh month of the seventh month of another year, and every household in Hell Village is decorated with lights, as if it is the New Year. Each family moves their large tables and benches to the village square and gathers together to wait for the annual celebration and banquet.

The events leading up to the festival are also varied, with the lion dance being an essential part of the annual program in Hell Village. Since the Tang Dynasty, this lion dance has become a popular activity in the court, the military, and the people. Tang Duan'anjie's "Yuefu Miscellaneous" said: "There are five lions in the play, Gao Zhangyu, each dressed in five colors, each lion, there are twelve people, wearing red foreheads, clothes and paintings, holding red whisks, called the lion Lang, dancing Taiping music." There is a vivid description of this in the poet Bai Juyi's poem "Western Liang Ling": "Xi Liang Ling, Xi Liang Ling, masked bearded people and fake lions." The carved wood is the head and tail, and the gold-plated eyes are silver-plated. Fenxun sweater swings his ears, like coming from quicksand. The poem describes the lion dance at that time. Over the years, the lion dance has developed two performance styles, the north and the south. Generally, the southern one is called the southern lion, and the southern lion is also called the awakening lion, the shape is more powerful, and the horse steps are paid attention to when dancing. The southern lion mainly relies on the movements of the dancer to show a powerful lion form, and generally only two people will dance one head. Hell Village belongs to the north of the Yangtze River, and the dance is naturally the northern lion, the shape of the northern lion resembles a real lion, the lion head is relatively simple, and the whole body is covered with golden yellow hair. The pants and shoes of the lion dancers (usually two people dancing together) are covered with fur, and the lion looks like it is already beautiful before dancing. A lion with a red knot on its head is a male lion, and a lion with a green knot is a female. The Northern Lion shows flexible movements, which is different from the Southern Lion's emphasis on power. Dancing is based on fluttering, falling, tumbling, rolling, jumping, rubbing and other actions.

This lion is played by a descendant named Pan Dong in the village, who is also considered to be the best among the young descendants in the village of Upper Hell, and he is also in the limelight on weekdays. The lioness is named Chen Qingyi, who is the daughter of Master Chen. I saw that dozens of wooden stakes were placed on the stage to form a circle, and more than 20 tables were placed in the center of the circle, stacked high on top of each other, and a hydrangea was placed on the table at the top.

The villagers gathered one after another, Shen Lu and Tian Qingqing were arranged to sit in the front row of the square, which can be regarded as a great courtesy for them who have just entered the village for a month. Sitting next to Shen Lu was a thin man who looked very shrewd, this person's name was Wu Zhi, he patted Shen Lu on the shoulder and said, "Brother Shen, you are really lucky, you can get into this first row in just a month, this person is more angry than people." ”

"Maybe it's because we just came here and got some special treat. Shen Lu said modestly.

"This has nothing to do with just coming, do you know how many rows I will sit in when I first come? I specially counted, I remember vividly, the sixteenth row, there are not so many people who will come at that time. ”

"How long has Brother Wu been here?"

"It's been five years, in the past five years, I have been studying hard, reading everything, asking everything, knowing a little bit about everything, and gradually becoming a know-it-all in the village, and my brother has no other skills, just by virtue of this, from the sixteenth row to the first row now, it is not easy, which is better than Brother Shen, ah, and this Tian girl, just came to the first row, this will take a few more years, I am afraid that I will have to be at the same table with the king of Hades during the banquet. Wu Zhi said with emotion.

"Brother Wu has been here for five years, and he hasn't thought about leaving?" Shen Lu couldn't imagine himself staying on this island for five years.

"Go out and do nothing, here I am still a jack of all trades, everyone respects me very much, I am nothing when I go out, if it wasn't for Bai Wuchang that year, hey, don't say it, don't say it. ”

Everyone had arrived, and Hades walked up to the stage, and there was silence in the square.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's been the eighth day of the seventh month of the seventh month of another year, twenty-five years, and every year I have to say the same thing, I am very pleased to see that our people in Hell Village are thriving, because it means that we have saved many lives, and I am very happy to see that we have saved our people in Hell Village living and working in peace, because it means that we have not only saved your lives but also saved your souls. Today, I want to announce something, come, come up. Hades pointed to Tian Qingqing under the stage.

Tian Qingqing walked on stage generously, except for Shen Lu, who knew in advance, everyone in the audience was puzzled, they couldn't imagine that this new girl had such a big face, but what they didn't expect was still behind.

"I am forty-five years old, and I have no children, and since I met this girl, I have liked it quite a lot, and now I take this good day to declare that the young girl from Tian Qingqing is a righteous daughter, and all the villagers in Hell Village are witnesses. Xiao Ling smiled.

"Ah!" everyone in the audience exclaimed, and some lamented the girl's life, and then said happily: "Congratulations to the king of Hades for winning the righteous daughter." ”

"Okay, let's celebrate the festival to the fullest! The lion dances!" Xiao Ling led Tian Qingqing off the stage.

Then the Beijing cymbals, Beijing gongs, and Beijing drums played in unison, and the female lioness jumped on the wooden stake on the stage, but the male lion had not reacted, and Pan Dong, who was holding the lion's head, seemed to be a little absent-minded, only to see him staring at Tian Qingqing, or jumping on the wooden stake under the reminder of the partner with the lion's tail.

The two lions kept changing their steps on the slender wooden stakes, very flexible, and everyone in the audience also applauded.

"Pan Dong's kid and Qingyi's lion dance skills are becoming more and more perfect. Wu Zhi also applauded.

"Indeed, the technique and footwork are just right. Shen Lu praised.

"Yes, I didn't expect Master Chen's daughter to be so powerful, hey, unlike me, I can't do anything. Tian Qingqing said with emotion.

"Miss Tian, no, shouldn't I call you Miss Yan, your status is this in our village, you don't need anything at all. Wu Zhi gave a thumbs up.

"Poof, what Miss Yan, my surname is Tian, and besides, the king of Hades is not surnamed Yan, hey, know-it-all, Miss Chen is good-looking, and her kung fu is powerful, so many people must pursue her." ”

"That's for sure, I'll tell you the truth, I've thought about it, but it's no show, everyone in the village knows that he and Pan Dong are a couple, I inquired on the side, this Pan Dong is ready to go to Master Chen's house to propose marriage after a while." Hey, this Pan Dong, it's not good to say, I always feel that he has some bad intentions. Wu Zhi said unwillingly.

As he spoke, the two lions on the stage had already jumped to the top of the table, and they were only one step away from the hydrangea at the top.

"This Pan Dong and Miss Chen are a pair, and this hydrangea will definitely be taken by Miss Chen. Tian Qingqing said.

"I don't know, but in previous years, Qingyi won the championship in one fell swoop, even if he didn't let it, he Pan Dong might not be able to win. Wu Zhi answered.

At this time, the two lions opened their mouths to pounce on the hydrangea at the top, only the female teacher seemed to be a little faster than half a minute, a good Pan Dong, seemingly unintentionally but intentionally hit the edge of the table with his knees, the table moved slightly to the left just hit the lioness lion tail dancer, the guy was hit in the knee, the center of gravity was completely empty, in order not to fall from a height, subconsciously pulled the lion body, and stayed on the table with strength, but Chen Qingyi suffered, a handful was thrown out, falling from a high altitude, everyone exclaimed, Master Chen stood up excitedly.

I saw a figure rise into the air, grabbing the falling lion's tail with one hand and Chen Qingyi holding the lion's head with the other.

"Okay," Hades applauded, "it looks like the leg is recovering well." ”

Pan Dong stepped down from a high place with a hydrangea, and the young man who danced the lioness and lion's tail also stepped down in shock.

"What's going on?" Hades frowned.

The young man said tremblingly: "When I just jumped up, I accidentally touched the edge of the table, and in a panic, I didn't think about it so much, and Miss Chen was almost fallen." ”

"I don't blame him, I accidentally hit the table and hit him, it's my fault. Pan Dong knew that he couldn't escape the sharp eyes of the king of Hades, so he simply admitted it directly.

"It's okay, it's inevitable that something will go wrong on this stage, but fortunately no one was hurt. ”

"Hades, Hades is happy to have a righteous daughter today, I want to give this hydrangea in the mouth of the golden lion to Miss Tian, I don't know if it's okay..."

"Okay, it's a good luck, hahaha!" Hades didn't wait for Pan Dong to finish speaking, and then he said yes.

Pan Dong walked in front of Tian Qingqing: "Miss Tian, as the saying goes: The lion rolls the hydrangea, good things are ahead, this hydrangea is given to Miss Tian, I wish you good luck from now on." ”

From a close point of view, this Pan Dongchang is also clear-eyed, but Tian Qingqing seems to have a kind of disgust with this person, but the public is so public that it is difficult to refuse, so he has to accept it: "Thank you, you go and see Miss Chen, I was scared a lot." ”

"Miss Tian is really kind-hearted. After Pan Dong said this, he reluctantly walked away, and walked towards Chen Qingyi, who was still pale: "Qingyi, it's okay, I was scared just now, next time I change to a lion dance, he completely cares about his own safety." ”

"It's okay, don't blame him, at that moment, people subconsciously saved their lives, but how could you hit the table?" Chen Qingyi was slightly puzzled.

"We were already half a beat slower than you at the time, and although I wanted you to win, I couldn't lose too much, so I picked up my pace and accidentally hit the edge of the table, hey, I knew I wouldn't have sped up. "Speaking of lies, Pan Dong came with his mouth open.

"It's okay, I'm going to thank Shen Lu. ”

Chen Qingyi slowly walked in front of Shen Lu: "Brother Shen, for saving his life, he will repay him with a spring one day." ”

"The girl was serious, and the situation was critical, and I just shot faster than others. Just now, Master Chen also came to thank me in every way. ”

"Miss Chen, don't report back to the spring, just go back and talk to your father, and let Brother Shen's article pass. Tian Qingqing quipped.

Miss Tian laughed, I have written many articles myself, and my father said no. Besides, you're Hades' goddaughter now, and you're more effective than I am. ”

"What, Miss Chen also wants to go out?" Shen Lu asked.

"Brother Shen, Miss Tian, tomorrow I will be the east, and I will have a banquet at home to thank you for saving your life, I don't know if you can appreciate your face. Chen Qingyi did not answer Shen Lu's question.

Shen Lu saw that she didn't answer, and didn't ask: "Miss Chen has a treat, she must arrive." ”

"Well, it must be there!" Tian Qingqing echoed.

In the evening, the celebration ended, Shen Lutian Qingqing walked by the village lake, Tian Qingqing was still holding a hydrangea in his arms.

"This hydrangea is quite chic. ”

"The hydrangea is okay, but the person who gave it doesn't like it, if only you gave it to me, so be it, I'll give you the hydrangea, and you give it to me again, even if you give it to me." ”

"Can it be counted like this, there are so many people in the square today, everyone knows that it was given to you by Pan Dong. ”

"I don't care what others think or think, as long as I think this hydrangea was given to me by you, it was given to me by you, hurry up, you say give it to me. Tian Qingqing stuffed the hydrangea into Shen Lu's hand.

"Okay, Miss Tian, as the saying goes: the lion rolls the hydrangea, good things are ahead, I wish you good luck in the future. ”

"No, how can you say the same word as him, change it, I don't like Pan Dong, and even hate it a little. ”

"Okay, I'll change, Miss Tian, thank you for saving me home from under the cliff, Shen Lu can meet you, it can be said that this life is in vain, I gave you this hydrangea." ”

"That's pretty much it. Tian Qingqing lowered her head shyly.

"Why do you hate Pan Dong?"

"Well, I can't say it, I just don't like it, maybe like Wu Zhi said, he has some bad intentions. ”

"I also think that during today's lion dance, he hit the table on purpose. ”

"How do you know?"

"Anyone with a discerning eye can see it, and presumably the king of Hades knows it too. ”

"Clear-eyed person, am I blind, why are you so anxious when you see Miss Chen's accident today, are you in a daze for someone?" Tian Qingqing pouted.

"What nonsense, I will save anyone who has an accident, won't you save me too?"

"yes, I've just got a crush on you!"