Bai Zhixuan asked curiously: "Where did you get the blue and white porcelain cup you mentioned? How come these sacrifices offered in front of the tomb are so high-end?"
Zhang Yongsheng said with a smile: "That's not a sacrifice, it's used to hold the sacrifice, just like the bowls and chopsticks we brought. The cup was left here without being taken away, so I took advantage of it."
Zhang Jianxiong suddenly interrupted: "You will take me to see it later, and we will also burn some paper money and burn incense for others. You have taken such a big advantage, so you have to show it."
Zhang Yongsheng pointed to a road to the west and said: "It's over there. It's only a few minutes' walk away. Let's go there in a while. It's very remote over there and is full of old cemeteries that are hundreds of years old."
Zhang Jianxiong nodded and said: "In the past, there was a road over there that could lead directly to the village. The distance was shorter, so the tombs in the early years were all there. Later, landslides blocked the road, so we opened it here. There is a way. In ancient times, the Zhang family also produced capable people, so the tombs there are better."
Han Aihua said with a smile: "When I first came here, your dad also took me there. Some of the tombs were quite large and had archways built, as if they were officials in ancient times. These types of tombs are not fashionable now, and they are of that scale. Even now, the tomb would cost a lot of money."
Bai Zhixuan smiled and said: "Auntie, it's not that it's unfashionable, but it's too expensive. There aren't many rich people. Where my grandfather's hometown is, their economic conditions are better. Some people have started to build luxurious cemeteries. The carving patterns and various complicated shapes on the tombstone look more like an emperor than an emperor."
"How much will it cost?" Zhang Yongsheng asked curiously.
Bai Zhixuan shook her head and said, "I don't know. I don't care about this, so I haven't asked about it. I heard that some of them also hired Feng Shui masters from outside. There are various specifications, and a tomb can cost tens of thousands." Others use marble, white marble, etc. to carve them, which is very labor-intensive and expensive.”
Zhang Jianxiong sighed: "Nowadays, rich people really know how to enjoy themselves. They even make it so exaggerated to go to the grave. My father said that in the past, this was all about official rank. It was not enough if you didn't have the official rank. Now there is no limit on official rank. As long as you have money, you can do it, and the social atmosphere is completely different."
Soon the family completed the sacrifice according to the procedure. They placed the sacrifice in front of the tomb first, and then followed Zhang Yongsheng to find the ancient tomb where the blue and white porcelain cup was found. This ancient tomb is not far away, just a few minutes' walk away, in a winding and remote place.
The regulations of this tomb are much more exaggerated than those of Zhang Yongsheng's grandparents. The various complicated carvings and writings are very impressive at first glance. Although it has not been cleaned for many years and is covered with all kinds of soil and fallen leaves, it still cannot conceal its solemn and solemn aura.
Zhang Jianxiong took Zhang Yongsheng to pay tribute to his ancestors. Although he was not a direct ancestor of his family, he was still an ancestor of the Zhang family, so it did not appear to be inconsistent. Because Zhang Yongsheng had taken advantage of him, he came to offer incense and offer sacrifices to express his gratitude.
Zhang Jianxiong looked at the inscription carefully and sighed: "This ancestor is quite famous in our Zhang family. It is said that he became a high-ranking official. No wonder the utensils in front of the tomb are so expensive. There used to be a big archway there. , more than three feet high, and was later demolished."
"Third grade official? How big an official is that?" Han Aihua asked curiously.
Zhang Yongsheng explained with a smile: "This is a big deal. Generally speaking, the provincial and ministerial levels are all third-rank officials. For example, the governor or the minister are all third-rank officials. Whether they are full or subordinate depends on the canonization above. Unexpectedly, we There were times when Zhang family’s ancestors were so wealthy.”
"Provincial and ministerial level? Wow, this is incredible. The eldest ancestor of our Han family was a county magistrate, and his descendants still often brag about it." Han Aihua exclaimed: "How many officials are there in the county magistrate? Huh? What is the equivalent of the current county position?
Zhang Yongsheng pursed his lips and said: "What does a small county magistrate have to brag about? It's just scraps. Usually he is an eighth-rank official, and the better ones start from seventh-rank officials. Those who are big officials cannot be promoted to the top."
Zhang Jianxiong sighed: "A small official has the advantage of being a small official, at least he will not get into trouble. Our ancestor was too big an official, and as a result he got into trouble, and even died without peace. His descendants were also sent to the army because of this. Then he never came back, leaving only a lonely grave."
Zhang Yongsheng said in confusion: "His descendants have been sent to the army, so why are there still such valuable utensils as tribute? Isn't this unreasonable?"
Zhang Jianxiong shook his head and said: "I don't know, maybe someone in the village secretly got it for him. When he was alive, he took good care of the people in the village. Many families received favors and gave birth to a few rich ones. People Maybe it was to repay the favor, so I secretly came to offer sacrifices.”
Zhang Yongsheng sighed: "The ancients said that being with a king is like being with a tiger, and now it seems that they are right. It is really disappointing that a third-grade official should end up without an heir."
Zhang Jianxiong patted Zhang Yongsheng on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Let's bow and leave. Don't disturb his old man. With his kindness to my family, we won't forget him when visiting our graves in the future."
Returning to the graves of Zhang Yongsheng's grandparents, the family packed up their things and went down the mountain, then drove back to the village. They had lunch at the ancestral hall at noon. At this time of year, many people from out of town come back to worship their ancestors. The ancestral hall also provides part-time canteen services and makes some simple home-cooked meals.
In the afternoon, Zhang Yongsheng followed his parents to visit a few familiar relatives in the village, chatting and gossiping about family matters, and did not drive away until four or five o'clock. It was almost six o'clock when they returned to the Zhang family compound. Zhang Xuewen's family had prepared a table of food, waiting for their return.
To Zhang Yongsheng's surprise, Zhang Qisheng came again, but this time he was alone, and his son Zhang Guifa did not come. Looking at the sad look on his face, he was a little restless, like an ant on a hot pot. . As soon as he saw Zhang Yongsheng, he came up to him, looking restless.
"Uncle, it's not good, your friend is fighting with people from the county." Zhang Qisheng secretly pulled Zhang Yongsheng aside and said anxiously.
Zhang Yongsheng was a little confused and asked: "Who did they fight with? Who from the county? When did it happen, and they didn't call me?"
Zhang Qisheng explained: "They are the friends you took to Mr. Zeng for medical treatment yesterday. They were being treated there today, and they happened to meet County Magistrate Hu coming to inspect. At that time, the old man was halfway through the process, and Lao Zhongfei asked them to stop. There was an argument, and then there was violence."
"What was the result? Who won? Was anyone injured? How was it handled?" Zhang Yongsheng asked anxiously: "County Magistrate Hu? Are you talking about the new Hu Yibo who came here last year?"
