Gumai Village.
Many villagers gathered in front of the main hall, and everyone looked in anxiously.
Because the villagers found out when the Duke's wife ordered the maid to pack her luggage.
"Today is a big day for our Gumai Village, and we would like to invite the Duke to stay and host the stove ceremony." The village chief took the lead in urging him to stay.
The smiles on the villagers' faces suddenly became heavy.
It seemed that if the British Duke and the Duke's wife did not stay, their stove-sacrifice ceremony would not be held.
The British Duke glanced at Mei Zongzheng and said, "Today is the most solemn day of the year for the villagers. It's a good chance that you are here. I, a bad old man, may not have much time to participate in the kitchen ceremony with the villagers." "
The British male looked slightly disappointed.
Mei Zongzheng knew that the folk customs of worshiping the Kitchen God and the Earth God were too important to the people.
In their minds, only by worshiping the God of the Earth devoutly can they have a good harvest in the coming year, which means they will not go hungry.
Mei Zongzheng glanced at Nangong Yuanyi.
Nangong Yuanyi nodded slightly. He knew this custom. In the minds of ordinary people, the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the kitchen stove was more important than the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lantern Festival and other festivals. No food meant no way to survive.
Mei Zongzhengcai said: "I haven't participated in the kitchen ceremony in Kyoto for many years. I miss it very much."
When the village chief heard this, he quickly said: "Then please ask the old gentleman to stay and pray for our Gumai Village, and forget the wishes of the villagers."
"Then excuse me." Mei Zongzheng said.
Suddenly, the faces of the villagers lit up with joy, as if the beauty in the world was at this very moment.
An Xiyue felt slightly sad. She prayed to gods and Buddhas to pray for God to bless the weather in the coming year and for the villagers to have enough food and clothing. This was actually like a bet. It all depended on luck. There were too few people in power like the British Duke who cared about the people.
If there were more people like the British public, they would not place all their hopes on God.
"Now that it's here, let's make peace with it." Nangong Yuanyi whispered in her ear.
At this time, both the British Duke and Mei Zongzheng were invited over by the enthusiastic villagers.
A Tian said with a smile: "The Duke and the old lady come to host the stove sacrifice ceremony every year. The villagers are looking forward to this day. If the Duke leaves, the villagers will not be able to eat well."
"A Tian, come and help." At this time, a villager shouted loudly.
After A Tian left, An Xiyue said: "Sacrificing stoves, gods, earth, and heaven are actually just delusions that people have when they are desperate."
Nangong Yuanyi didn't expect these words to come out of An Xiyue's mouth.
She had been raised in a deep house since she was a child, and she probably had no chance to come into contact with these folk customs.
"Does Yue'er also know about the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the stove?" Nangong Yuanyi suddenly asked.
"Well, I saw it in the miscellaneous notes." An Xiyue nodded: "After thinking about it carefully, I realized that what people are asking for may be their inner expectations."
"People can't live without expectations. Only with expectations can life continue." Nangong Yuanyi said.
An Xiyue smiled slightly but was speechless.
"What are we going to do next?" An Xiyue felt suddenly free.
"The scenery in Chengxiao is actually quite good. Let me take my wife to have some fun." Nangong Yuanyi's eyes flashed with a cunning light.
"Keep your voice down, don't be stupid. If you scream like this, it's easy to be exposed if someone listens to you." An Xiyue looked around. Fortunately, the villagers were busy doing their own thing.
At this time, a group of children jumped over from the other side in groups.
A little girl of six or seven years old took An Xiyue's hand, raised a smile and said, "Brother, you are so good-looking. Can you play with us and play knitting flowers?"
